I need to give a couple of warrning for this chapter. one, it's kinda short (only three pages in size 14 Bookman old style), two it's also kinda sad. in fact it's probably the saddest chapter I've written for this fic. But i will say there is a reason for it and that will be revealedlater on, or if it's not obvious, in LoAS

read on...

THE SECRETS OF THE LIGHT

Rin stood on the front deck of the Surprise, lightly drumming her fingers on the railing as she gazed down at the glowing city below.

Her mind was seriously messed up. She knew what happened when a Dark sister or brother met their Silver counterpart, but a part of her was praying to the Moons that Carlos wasn't Tannir, because if he was, she knew what Silvites and Blackites also couldn't do together.

"Rin?"

The Dark girl turned around suddenly, her eyes wide in surprise.

Carlos stood there, framed in the doorway leading inside the ship, a concerned look on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked, "We're leaving soon and I wondered where you were. Anif told me you had something you wanted to talk to me about?"

Rin nodded nervously, before taking a deep breath, and stepping towards him.

"Yes I do," she said quietly, trying to find the right words, "I wanted to…explain why I thought you were Tannir…when we first me,"

Carlos frowned, as he walked out of the doorway slightly, "You said that this Tannir looked like a male version of you, and seeing I look…disturbingly…like you, you assumed that I was Tannir. I can understand that.

"It's not just that," by now Rin was almost toe to toe with Carlos, looking uneasily into the Commander's eyes, "Another thing that Silvites despised about the House of Blakoshan, was that…that…"

"If this is getting too difficult for you…" Carlos offered.

"No, I must say this," Rin looked determinately directly into his eyes, "For some reason, no one knew why, A Dark Sister or Brother is automatically attracted to their Silver counterpart when they look at each other."

If Carlos's eyes widened any further, his eyes would have fallen out of his head.

"And you thought that I was Tannir…because you were attracted to me?"

Rin nodded guiltily, "It is sad though, for despite this, a Blackite and Silvite couple would not be able to produce offspring."

Carlos still couldn't get his head round the fact, "You're attracted to me?"

Rin nodded, before looking back determinately into Carlos's eyes.

"There is one way to determine whether or not you are my Silver Brother,"

"But I told you I'm not a Silvite," Carlos said with mild exasperation.

"I must be sure," Rin's eyes became desperate, "Please?"

Carlos held her gaze for a moment, before sighing, "Oh alright, what is it exactly which proves I am who I say I am?"

Rin only grinned slyly, before leaning close to him, closing her eyes…and kissed him gently on the lips.

The effect was almost instantaneous. Carlos was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling that this was so right. Without even thinking about it, he circled his arms around her waist, deepening her kiss as she lay her hands gently on his shoulders.

They held for a while, neither of them remembered for how long, before Rin broke off, a small smile on her face.

"You…are who you say you are," she murmured, gently (and slightly reluctantly) detaching herself from his embrace.

"So why do you look so sad?" he asked, carefully brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

"Because I cannot be with you," she sighed, looking into his sky blue eyes, "You and I must remain apart. The continent of Sitlos must remain hidden,"
Carlos's frown reappeared, "Why?"

"I cannot say now," a tear rolled down her cheek, "And I may not be able to tell you for a while.

Carlos tried to comfort her, "Why can't you tell me?"

"Because it is not your time," she said in barely a whisper,

Then she fled.

Carlos stepped onto the Bridge a moment later, a whole mesh of thoughts going through his head. Anger, anguish, despair, sadness.

He slumped into his Captain's Chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully. To his surprise, he wasn't actually thinking romantic thoughts about Rin, in fact he only thought of her like that when she was in his line of sight. When he thought of her now, he thought normal thoughts about her. He shook his head, trying to organise it into some kind of order.

"Captain?"

Carlos looked up to find Mr. Mowett looking concerned.

"Are you alright sir?"

Carlos smiled, to his surprised not at all forced, "I'm fine Mr. Mowett, Set a course for home. Ahead full.

Mowett still didn't look convinced, but he nodded, turning back to the Helm, "Mr. Bonden, Ahead full, heading 2-1-0-0."

"Aye sir, 2-1-0-0-,"

(7)

Rin curled up into a corner of her room, her tears now falling freely down her cheeks.

"Rin?"

Anif looked in, his face full of concern, "Are you alright?"

Rin looked up at her younger brother, a picture of sorrow.

"Oh Anif," she whimpered, "It's him. I prayed to the Moons that it wouldn't be, that I could truly love him, but I can't I just can't."

"Who?" Anif knelt down in front of his sister, "Who is it?"

"Tannir," Rin broke down on his shoulder, "Carlos is Tannir. He's just genetically altered to look human. And what's worse he doesn't know it. We kissed and I entered his mind and…oh Anif, I haven't felt this since our parents left us here,"

She continued to cry as Anif held her tightly.

He knew it wasn't Carlos's fault, and he knew that eventually Rin would calm down, but until then, he sat with his crying sister in his arms, not being able to shake off the feeling that they had not seen the last of Commander Carlos Nathaniel Meridian.

I think it's kinda sad, dunno about you. Read and review and let me know. Oh, on a secondry note, i don't know if i've said this before, but if you've ever been on my profile and click on the homepage link, you'll get transported to a little website i'm building to give more infomation about LoAS and TVNW (That's my new Acronym for this fic) Currently it's got short character bios and info on the seven Houses of Arcadia old, but when i get back from holiday in four weeks time, i should have a Ship page and a FAQ ready for you.

Keep Reading and reviewing, you make it all worth while.

Dearing