Chapter Four

Talk Over Pancakes

"Why didn't you tell anyone what was going on, Dara?"

That was what the boys called her now. It meant "moonless night" or "darkness" in ancient Persian.

"He would've hurt the younger ones. We couldn't." Midnight turned and stared at the younger team members, who sat in a corner playing with their dolls. Butterfly, a little girl of four, was playing with her ballerina doll, Wendy with her ghost rag doll, and Tannis with her little Phantom of the Opera doll. Finn and Wing, best friends age seven and eight, whittled blocks of wood with their pocketknives.

"So, you stayed quiet to protect them. Who would you say he hurt the worst?" The policeman, Sgt. Mathews, was trying to get a testimony from Team Halloween. Midnight wasn't all to happy with that.

"Winter. He hurt Winter the most. Her, Finn, and Julian. But, mostly Winter."

"And, what did he do to you, Ms. Wolf?" Winter took a minute to gather her thoughts. Then, sighing, she answered. "Have you ever jumped out of a window? No, I didn't think so. Have you ever been assaulted while getting ready for bed? No, I didn't think you'd been. Well, I didn't exactly jump out of a window. I got thrown through a pane of glass out a window. Landed on my back on top of a dumpster."

"Did he ever sexually assault any of you girls?" Midnight held up three fingers. Winter held up seven. Mathews stared.

"That was yesterday, by the way." Julian murmured. Mathews' eyes bugged.

"You got to be kiddin' me!" Midnight shook her head. Mathews decided he ought to change the subject. "What about the little ones? They look awfully scrawny."

"Now, I wonder why that is. Oh, wait, I remember. It was because they had to skip breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the last three and a half days because Vlad made them train." Midnight snarled. "Of course they look scrawny. He starved them half way to death. He likes us skinny so he can tell which rib he's broken that day." Midnight took a sip of chocolate milk. It cooled her temper. "Sorry. I am slightly stressed today. Can the guys come out here now?"

"Why do you want them here?" He asked suspiciously. The only one there was Sara.

"Because, the kids trust them, Mariah and Winter are friends, and I really want Kai here." She gave him a wane smile.

"That's good." Kai murmured from his position behind Midnight. "Because I wanted to be here too." Kai sat next to Midnight, glancing at her questioningly. She nodded. Just then, Tannis ran up.

"Hi, Kai!" She glanced up at him hopefully. He nodded, and she popped up on his lap. Running his fingers through Tannis's silky curls, he stared at the police officer.

"How long have you two known each other?"

"Um. I'd say about three or four days. Why?" Midnight asked curiously.

"Well, you seem pretty close for only four days. Have you ever met before, at a tournament or something?" Mathews inquired.

"Yeah. As a matter of fact, we did. Before I joined Halloween, I used to practice with the Blade Sharks every once in a while. Three or four times a year, I'd go to the warehouse and use their dish. Kai battled me a few times. We never managed to beat each other. But, all we'd do is say, 'Hey, wanna spar with me?' and the other would say, 'Sure, why not?'" Midnight shrugged. Mathews gazed at her shrewdly.

"So, you maybe saw each other perhaps once or twice a year, max. For about how long?"

"About an hour, maybe two. But, that'd be the maximum." Kai said.

"Uh-huh. And, why would you want Kai here with you for this if you only hung out only occasionally?"

"We've been hanging out more over the past few days, and the kids seem to really like him. And. he's a nice guy." Midnight noticed Kai blush a little.

"Uh-huh. What would you consider a nice guy?"

"I don't know. Um, well… he'd be handsome… always considerate of others, has a cool temper, determined, and very sweet, in his own way."

"And Kai is all these things?"

"Yeah, I guess so." She shrugged again, slightly embarrassed. Kai blushed harder.

"Has Kai ever... hurt you, Ms. Vaperio?"

Midnight's head shot up. Kai's face remained expressionless.

"You are one sick-minded individual, aren't you!? Kai would never hurt anyone unless he absolutely had to. He most certainly wouldn't hurt me, no matter what!"

"You're so sure of this guy who you maybe don't know as well as you think you do." Mathews murmured. Midnight sat back.

"If Kai hit me, I'd tell you. Trust me. He can't hold the kids over my head like Vlad could, because he can't stick them back into some crummy orphanage and beat the snot out of them like Vlad could. So why don't you stick with your criminal, not your witness. Jerk." Midnight was getting extremely agitated. How dare this… this scumbag of a cop come and try to hurt Kai!? Kai's a gentle as a lamb in spring time. That's why…. Midnight broke off her thoughts before she wandered into dangerous territory.

"Well, that's all I have to say. Contact me if you think of anything else."

"Go away." Midnight said casually, as if the cop were far, far beneath her notice. The cop left, and Midnight, emotionally and physically exhausted, laid her head on Kai's shoulder. Kai stiffened, but then relaxed, and laid his cheek on top of her hair.