-1ONYX

I woke up in the dark with a slight headache. I've had hangovers before but this wasn't any where near to one of the worst I've had. However when I woke up I realised I wasn't in the cliff circle where I practiced. I may've been drunk but I wasn't that bad I couldn't remember what happened. Two minutes of trying to recollect and everything came back to me.

By the look of this room and the view out the window I'd say Kai was loaded, which was one thing I didn't know. But that didn't change how I felt towards Kai right now. But the anger subsided from being kidnapped when I studied myself.

I looked in the mirror to see the extent of my injuries. My cuts were tended too but no one could do anything about the bruises on my face. At least I could put my hat on and use my hair to cover them. I had a shower and thought about how I could thank Kai. I was even bought new clothes, they were close to the same kind of clothes I had before they were torn. From what I could tell they were brand new, never been worn and felt better against my skin so they might be expensive too.

I stood by the window looking at the grounds around the mansion. I heard a knock at the door and a cheery old cook came in with breakfast. She greeted me in a friendly sort of way and I shot her a weak smile in response to her greeting.

After eating as much as I could she came back with Kai behind her. "Are you all right?" He asked. "Better than yesterday."

"Still in pain then." I knew I couldn't hide anything from Kai, except the bruises underneath my clothes that is. "Guess so. Thanks for the clothes and taking me in like that." The cook took the tray out and left us to it. "How long have they been beating you?" I shook my head. I didn't want to tell him about my life but he did all this for me so it would be unfair to not let him know why I'm here. "My aunt has been treating me like her own daughter, my uncle is going through a…bad time."

"How long has he been going through this bad time?" I didn't answer and Kai didn't press me for answers. "Why don't you go and tell the police?"

"You don't think I've wanted to?" I sighed before sitting back down on the bed and sighing. "My aunt loves him too much, but I think she's too scared to leave him in case he tracks her down. I know he would make sure she took the blame because he has connections in the police dept. He'd probably drum up something like self defence and would want me to testify as a witness…as if." Kai looked at me like he couldn't understand why I'd just run away or something. But then that would mean orphanage or foster home and neither sounded good. "I've thought about running away." Kai looked a little disturbed, like I could read minds or something. "But then he would blame my aunt and take it out on her. She hasn't had a trip to the hospital for a few months. She could fall down the stairs again in that time."

KAI

She seemed so carefree about this. Just goes to show how long she was used to living like this. I wish her uncle was here right now, I'd knock his teeth right to the back of his throat so he'd choke on them! I was surprised Onyx didn't cry, with her injuries I'm not ashamed to admit I would probably let a couple of tears go. But she wasn't the type of person to get beaten down without a fight. I could see the years of anger and hate accumulating in her eyes when she spoke of her uncle.

Just then the door opened and the sound of small feet padded their way in to the room. We turned to see Soraya coming in with a small vase of flowers picked from our garden. She came up to Onyx and presented them as a get well present with a card in them too.

At first Onyx didn't know what to make of Soraya's gift. But then she thanked Soraya who skipped out the room closing the door behind her. "Is she yours?" I nodded in answer to her question. "You must be very proud to have such a thoughtful kid like her. I lost that innocence too long ago to remember what it was like. Three years may not seem that long, but for some reason my life became very slow after my parents were…" She couldn't finish the sentence and I couldn't blame her. But still I saw no evidence of tears about to fall, it would've been less disturbing if she did cry. I thought no one could feel anger as much as I did, but then again I'm not always right.

I put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't…please, don't pity me." I could see she was also too proud to accept help, had she not been drunk to the point of not being able to move then I would probably be in the hospital. "Alright." I removed my hand from her shoulder and she seemed less agitated. "You've already done so much for me sir, I don't know if I can ask anymore of you. But there is something I must ask of you and I hope you can do me this favour."

"Ask your favour." She sighed and looked out the window. "Can you keep my families troubles a secret?"

"Why?" Onyx looked at me with pleading eyes. "Like I said he has powerful connections and will use them to put my aunt in jail instead of himself. She won't survive in jail and I wouldn't bet on that bastard doing so well either. So please, promise me you won't tell any of your friends…especially my teacher. All she knows is my family argue a lot, if she knew about the physical abuse then I won't be able to protect my aunt and he'll win if social services get involved." I didn't know if I could keep this promise but I gave her my word just the same. "If I find you like this again then I will keep another promise I made to myself Onyx. I'll beat the crap out of your uncle since you can't do it."

"Heh, heh, heh. That would be good to watch but he has powerful connections."

"So have I." She shook her head in an amused sort of way and looked back out the window. "When do you plan on leaving?" She shrugged. "I can go now if you want." I could've kicked myself for asking such a stupid question. "Your welcome in my house for as long as you like." She shook her head. "No, I'd better be getting back to pick up the pieces and help my aunt get back on her feet if the situation calls for it."

"Just stay for lunch and then go home, I'll give you a lift in my car." I didn't want her to go home looking like she was beaten and her uncle had won. I wanted some of her never say die strength to return so she could show the bastard he hadn't won over his niece.

I took her outside to get some fresh air in the garden and Soraya came too. "Come see my tree house." I watched as Onyx allowed herself to be dragged by Soraya to the tree house I built for her when she was a baby. It still looked strong and in good condition by the look of things. It was as though Mira had come back and was playing with Soraya again. But Mira would have a smile on her face and an occasion to laugh so I didn't think Onyx would be the best playmate for Soraya. But when Onyx was around my girl she became a completely different person. She laughed and smiled with her as they played in the tree house together. But Onyx still had a cloud over her head no matter how much an impact Soraya had on her.

After lunch Onyx's mood changed and she headed home. She tried to leave on her own but I caught up with her in my car no problem. "I said I'd take you home remember." She looked at me and sighed as she got in the car. "Drop me by the alley way and don't get involved no matter what you might hear sir, otherwise it's curtains for me and my aunt."

"Very well, but do me a favour. Enough of this sir crap, just call me Kai like everyone else ok?" She smirked and looked a little bit relaxed, until we stopped by the alley way that is. She got out the car, thanked me again and left. But then I mentally kicked myself as she walked away. I had the perfect opportunity to look at her bit beast and what do I do? I fuck it up royally!

But that went clear out of my mind when I heard her uncle shouting at her from the alley way. It took a lot of self discipline not to run in there and beat the crap out of her uncle. But I made a promise. I started my car and drove away from the noise without looking back.

I had a word with Soraya about not telling anyone about Onyx staying over. "Why daddy?"

"Well because if you told anyone but me about it then she'd get hurt." Soraya looked a little confused. I cursed the fact that children were smarter than they let on. But I think she got the idea and agreed to keep it our little secret.