*Rises from the ash and smoke dramatically*
I LIVEEEEEE!
If you got the reference then...here. You get a cookie. (::) Good job. XD
SO! I'm not quite done writing yet. But I feel like I'm close enough that I can start posting again? Only a few chapters left to write, and I've got five that are nearly completed. So, if I start posting on a weekly basis again, I should do okay. I'll keep y'all updated on my profile page, so if I disappear off the face of the earth again, look there first. But I don't think it'll come to that.
Arrest
"Where are we going?" Deniel demanded as they sped through the crowded first level of the King's Keep. "Kyle, slow down, would you?"
The Nindroid did not answer Deniel's question, and he did not, of course, slow down. Instead he began to climb the stairs that led to the second floor. Deniel sighed wearily and followed, though the longer he went along with this spy's antics, the more misgivings he began to have. This man was working Borg, the King's most wanted enemy. And, as if that wasn't enough, he was accusing Deniel's grandfather of attempting to assassinate the Princess!
Deniel could not believe that was true. Not in a thousand years. His grandfather was one of the most influential and powerful people in the country, yes. But he was also the Lord Rector- the leader of their religion which very firmly proclaimed peace. Their country had been blessed with long years of order and harmony after the horrors of the third age. Why would the Lord Rector want to undermine that?
He undermines it every day, though. You know the crimes he commits with the King in that Host-cursed dungeon… Deniel shivered. He didn't care if his grandfather assured him it wasn't actually a crime: killing people, even if they were part of a supposedly dangerous cult which wished to undermine the King's authority, was wrong.
…What if Kyle was right?
They reached the top of the stairs. There were significantly less people on this level.
"Through here," Kyle said, and threw open a guest bedroom door. Only when he had crossed the threshold did he realize whose room they had entered.
"What in Mena's name, Kyle!" Deniel hissed, glancing out into the hall to make sure no one had noticed them. "You can't just barge into the Lord Rector's room!"
"But I just did." Already Kyle was riffling through a dresser. "Shut the door, will you?"
"No! I won't be a part of this. I will report you."
Kyle leveled Deniel with a fierce glare.
"This…is an unfounded, unwarranted investigation," Deniel managed, flustered. "The King will execute us if he finds out what we're doing!"
"Nothing that hasn't happened to me before, though I can understand why you'd be scared of death," Kyle said quietly, gaze unwavering. "What you don't seem to realize is, if we don't catch this killer, she'll be dead."
Deniel hesitated, then growled and quietly shut the door. Hosts consume this Nindroid, but he was right. If the High General didn't have the time to carry on this investigation, then it was up to them.
"Let's make this quick," Deniel said. "What are we looking for?"
Kyle moved to the next drawer down. "An incriminating letter. The missing key to Tui's cell. A knife. Anything suspicious."
Deniel approached the bedside table, but hesitated. Their actions were nothing short of blasphemy. It was fundamentally wrong to suspect a Priest of attempting to murder a Blessed. Especially if the Priest in question was the Middle's Lord Rector.
He took a deep breath and opened the drawer. Nothing but a letter opener and a book of poems. This made Deniel pause: his grandfather had always shared his love of poetry. Deniel briefly flipped through the book, but, finding nothing of importance, put it back as he had found it and shut the drawer. He moved on to other places: under the bed, the chairs, and then the wardrobe. He pushed aside some hanging clothing- nightclothes, a uniform- and paused. There was a second uniform crumpled inside a bin on the floor of the wardrobe. He hesitantly picked up the the high-collared green coat.
"Kyle," he said. "Come here."
Kyle crossed the room and took the uniform in his gloved hands. "Blood," he said, hesitantly touching the black flakes that stained the sleeves. More speckled the front of the coat, tarnishing gold buttons.
"Where did it come from?" Deniel asked.
"Where do you think?" Kyle pressed his lips in a grim line.
Deniel recalled the image of Tui's stolen horse, eyes pecked out by birds. The stab wounds; the blood. It can't… It's not possible.
…Is it?
"This is enough evidence to continue the investigation," Kyle said. "Don't you think?"
Deniel did not want to believe it. His grandfather, the kindly old man with the soft voice and eyes that sparkled like light on the surface of a lake… Could that gentle personality be just for show? Was there a villain hiding beneath those Priestly robes, waiting for an opportune time to kill Vara or- Hosts forbid!- the King himself?
I know he's not above killing. Deniel's thoughts again went to what he knew happened to followers of the Retired God in the dungeon below this keep, and his plan to massacre the people of the South. But killing Blesseds? Surely he wouldn't!
"We need to find out more," Deniel said. "Does he have an alibi? Where was he during Tui's murder?"
"Not sleeping, that's for sure," Kyle said. "I was on the one to seven shift outside the foyer doors. From across the room, I saw the Lord Rector go up and down the stairs countless times throughout the night."
"Maybe he was just restless," Deniel said. "I know I would be, if I were planning the murder of an entire realm. He might have been praying."
"Don't you First King-followers need to be at one of the Temples to pray?"
"Well…" Deniel paused. "It depends on the type of prayer. The higher prayers- like, say, matters of salvation for yourself or someone you know, and confession of sins- need to be offered at a Temple through a Priest, but we can pray about everything else at any time. Also, I don't think the Priests need to be in the Temple to offer higher prayers."
Kyle's smile was amused and, to Deniel's annoyance, a little condescending. "Such a funny religion… I don't think I'll ever fully understand it."
"Look, I don't see how this is important right now," Deniel said, bristling. "We need to get out of here before someone finds us."
"Of course," Kyle said, and put the bloody uniform back in the wardrobe.
After a hasty overview of the room to make sure everything was in its place, they fled the room. Deniel strode anxiously down the hall: he wasn't sure where he was going, and he didn't really care, just as long as it was away from that bedroom.
"So…" Kyle said. "What now?"
Deniel's mouth was dry as he considered. "I don't know," he admitted. "It would be impossible to call him in for questioning. He's too powerful."
"Mmm," Kyle grunted. "Also, that would draw attention to ourselves. The only advantage we have right now is that he doesn't know we're on to him. If we file for a warrant, chances are we'd be placed under even higher scrutiny than he would."
They reached the top of the stairs and stopped, silent. There was nobody around; Deniel did not remember the keep ever being as quiet as it was today, with most all the Guards currently marching to the South.
"So, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt," Deniel said. "Let's say that the Lord Rector is behind all this. Let's also say that we can't bring this to the attention of any of our superiors. Where do we go from here?"
"I asked you first," Kyle said. He smiled, shrugged, glanced about with eyes that seemed sharp and shrewd enough to see through walls- and possibly souls, too. "I'd suggest tailing him, but that would be difficult. I'll have my bird watch the exits and alert me if he goes outside, but that's the best she can do… I've gotta go. You never saw me."
"Go?" Deniel repeated, startled. "Go where?"
Before Deniel had even finished the question Kyle was dashing down the stairs. Deniel moved to follow when a sound down the hall reached his ears. He whirled, and panic struck him as he saw High General Derek emerging from the King's study, followed by a pair of Guards.
Deniel saw the say the High General looked at him, and knew he could not avoid this confrontation. Breathing deeply, he waited for the High General and his companions to catch up to him.
"Deniel Waren?" the High General asked, towering over him.
"Yes, sir," Deniel said, and was surprised to find that, despite his frayed nerves, his voice was steady. He saluted.
"What impeccable timing. I was just speaking with the King. He tells me that you were with the Princess after the attempt on her life early this morning?"
"Yes, sir."
"I also heard that you told untruths to the King when he questioned you on the matter."
Hosts, what was Deniel supposed to do? If he continued to stand behind the lie he'd told the King, then he'd eventually be found out. But if he told the truth…
"…Yes," Deniel said, and cleared his throat. "I very humbly apologize, High General. The Princess was embarrassed because she wasn't allowed out of her room, I think, and wanted me to lie for her. If I had known the trouble it would cause, I would never have done it."
"Hmm." The High General looked skeptical. He motioned to his escorts. "Arrest him."
"W-what?" Deniel stammered, unable to fight back as the two Guards grabbed him by the arms. "Sir, please don't do this!"
"Nobody said you were guilty yet," the High General said impatiently. "Please, calm yourself. You're merely being detained until I can figure this out. Guards, find him a cell."
"There's no time for this!" Deniel exclaimed, struggling as the Guards started to drag him away. "Listen to me, sir, please! The Princess is still in danger!"
"Which is why you're being detained."
"Surely you don't think I'm the one who tried to murder her!"
"At the present, I know nothing, soldier," the High General snapped. "And if you really care about the Princess' safety you'd do well to quiet down and cooperate with me. I only want to ask you some questions."
"And you need to take me to the prison to do that?"
"I'll drag you all the way to the Fallen Kingdom if I have to, if it means I'll have my information."
"But sir-"
"Another word and I'll have you cashiered." The High General waved dismissively to his Guards. "Off with you. I'll be down shortly."
The one-street village of Pregnda had been quiet to begin with, but as Kai climbed out of the carriage he couldn't help but feel as if he'd entered a ghost town.
"Where is everybody?" Cole asked Dyani, Nindroid that had received them immediately after disembarking the Lord's Compass in a secret bay several hours ago.
"The women and children are all either indoors or underground," Dyani said quietly, holding out a hand to help Lou from the carriage. Dyani had been created to look like a young man in his early twenties, with shoulder-length black hair and deep brown eyes. "Most of the men- and Nindroids- are in the South."
Despite continual prodding, Kai had been unable to get Dyani to talk about the situation in the South. Dyani insisted that it wasn't his place to share that information: The Doctor would tell them everything they needed to know once they arrived.
And it drove Kai crazy. He glanced southward, wishing that he could just grab a horse and rush home immediately. But he needed information first.
Once Lou was out of the carriage Dyani offered a hand to Cole, who swatted it away and struggled to the ground on his own. Breathless, face red from cold, he leaned on his cane beside Kai and looked over the empty street. Smoke billowed from several chimneys on the avenue, but aside from that there was no sign of life; no voices, no movement beyond the curtained windows.
"It chills one worse than the cold," Lou murmured. "Where is this keep of old Borg's?"
"Right this way, sir," Dyani said, gesturing to the house nearest them. Unaffected by the cold, the Nindroid hopped up the steps and knocked on the door with an ungloved hand. A moment later a young woman- likely another Nindroid- opened the door.
"I have to tend to the horses," Dyani said to Kai. "You know the way." He nodded to the woman at the door and returned to the street.
"Yeah." Kai waved farewell to the Nindroid as he walked inside, followed by Cole and Lou. The woman shut the door and, saying nothing, ushered them into the bedroom, where she pulled up a rug and opened a near-seamless door in the floor. Stairs, dimly illuminated by lanterns, stretched deep underground; Kai could just barely see the guard standing at the bottom.
Without a word the three men descended the staircase. At the bottom, Kai recited the password- given to him by Dyani during the short journey to Prengda- and they were admitted into Cyrus' keep.
"Welcome back, milords," the guard said, looking with curiosity at Lou. The Prince glanced away. "The Doctor is waiting for you. Hall three, room three-twenty-two."
Kai nodded and strode across the large central room. Then he paused, turning back to see that Cole was lagging. Lou patiently kept pace with his son. Restless, Kai waited for them.
"Sorry," he said as they finally came up beside him.
Cole eyed him with exasperation and kept moving forward.
Cyrus' underground keep was a sterile, strictly organized place. Floors and walls of smooth, pale, man-made stone, with no rugs or even wall ornamentations to break the monotony. Strange white lights- powered by the same source as the Nindroids, Kai guessed- were set into the ceiling at intervals of about five paces.
And yet, the stairs are lit by lanterns? Kai wondered, puzzled.
He pulled off his cloak and gloves as he walked, savoring in the comfortable warmth of the air. He had never been able to figure out how this place was heated: there were no open fires, except in the kitchen. Last time he was here, he'd been too preoccupied with other issues to ask. Besai with the plague…Jay healing after the loss of his leg…Cole dealing with his grief after Overlord faked Sage's death…Kyle helping them find their Blades under the weeping willow in burned-out Genesan…
Hosts. Were those memories truly his? The Kai who had survived so long on the Dark Island under Overlord's domination had come out of the ordeal an entirely different, entirely new man.
And right now, all that man wants is to find out if his family is okay. Anxiety turned Kai's stomach. In only a few minutes, he would know the truth. But could he bear to hear it?
Moons! His whole family was probably dead. His father, whom Kai had not parted with on good terms. His mother, whom he'd last seen weeping under Nya's tree. His unborn sibling…
Get a grip! Kai took a deep breath and fiercely brought his fears back under control before they could become manifest in his expression.
A woman hastened from a room just ahead of them. She froze when she saw Lou and Cole, then slowly backed into the room again and shut the door.
"Is it all right for me to show my face like this?" Lou asked. He had crossed his arms in front of himself, his shoulders bent with discomfort.
Kai looked at the older man with sympathy. For the first several weeks after Overlord's defeat it had been difficult for him to so much as glance at Lou without feeling sick with anxiety. It was through Lou that Overlord had hurt Kai and countless others. Murder, rape, psychological and physical abuse. All committed by those hands which now trembled, so frail and incapable of violence.
But Lou was not Overlord. It was not fair to treat him as if he was.
"Cyrus knew that you were coming," Kai explained. "I'm sure that he told all of his refugees about you. They just…aren't ready to see your face yet. It isn't your fault."
"Yes," Lou agreed quietly, his green eyes dim. "Yes, I suppose you're right…"
They passed many more people on their journey through the who had been rescued while Overlord still had possession of Colvyr's body several winters ago didn't recognize Lou. Many others were native Ninjagians: Way-believers who were only here to help the refugees, and had no personal connection to the Dark Island. These usually gave a start if they noticed his or Cole's eyes, but they had no fear.
"There it is," Kai said, pointing to a door numbered 3-2-2. He knocked, and almost immediately the door was thrown open. Kai stepped back, startled.
"Kai, Cole!" Cyrus nodded politely but hastily up at the visitors from his wheeled chair. "Welcome back. And Prince Lou. Wonderful to see you again after all these years. Come in, come in. I've been waiting for you." He backed his chair away from the door, and the three entered.
Room 3-2-2, it seemed, was a library. Kai had never been in here before- indeed, he hadn't been aware that such a room existed within this keep. Floor to ceiling shelves stood against all four walls, filled with more books than one would think possible to hold without breaking under their weight. Tables, couches, and even a grand piano filled the remaining floor space.
"Oh…" Lou breathed. "It's been so many years since I've seen a proper piano… May I?"
"Ah- of course," Cyrus said, surprised. "Go right ahead. And you two, please have a seat. Are you all right? You look a little…"
"We're fine," Cole said, lowering himself stiffly onto a couch and propping his cane up beside him. "A little beat up, but that story can wait. Kai is champing at the bit. Let's hear about what's been happening here."
"Your letter to Jay mentioned something about the South," Kai said, taking a seat next to Cole. Lou sat at the piano and, after stroking the polished wooden lid, he lifted the fallboard and began to play. His melody was slow, almost hesitant: it was clear that he hadn't played in a long while.
Cyrus' expression dimmed. "Yes, of course," he said, adjusting his spectacles. "I knew you'd want to dive right into that. "How much do you know?"
"Nothing," Kai said. "Your men wouldn't tell me anything."
Cyrus sighed. "I hate to do this to you. I know you're weary after your time on the Dark Island, and I wish that you could have had a more joyful homecoming."
"You and me both," Cole said. "But we've got to deal with what we've been given."
"That is the truth, that is the truth…" Cyrus' smile was grim and humorless. He shook his head. "I'm sure you already suspected the truth from my letter, Kai, so I will say it straight. Your father is dead. He was murdered by the Southern Lord Rector a month ago."
The heavy cloud which had been looming over Kai for over a week now finally settled in his chest. He sighed, lowering his head into his hands, and closed his eyes. So his worst fear was confirmed. Kai would never have the chance to apologize for his harsh words in the White Rose.
Why had the Southern Lord Rector, of all people, done this terrible thing?
Somehow, after a moment of effort, Kai managed to push aside the brunt of his sorrow: after journeying across the entire ocean fearing the unknown, it was almost- to his shame- a relief to finally know the truth.
He felt Cole's hand on his arm and straightened, wiping his cheeks. He wondered how he should feel about the fact that there were no tears in his eyes.
Mourn later, Kai. Mourn later.
"And…my mother?" Kai's voice was a whisper.
"She is alive, I think," Cyrus said. "After your father's death, she put Lord Zane in control of the South. The first thing Zane did was write up a formal document announcing his secession from the country. He banned all Guards and Priests from the realm."
"Wait," Kai cut him off. "The South seceded?"
"Yes."
"What prompted Zane to do such a stupid thing?"
"I think that seceding was your father's ultimate goal before he was killed," Cyrus said. "But his reasons and timing were certainly more carefully designed than Zane's. That boy has quickly driven the South into a rut in your father's absence. There is no order, no true defense against Garmadon's coming attack. Zane was nearly assassinated by the same Lord Rector that killed your father. But Josi managed to save Zane. She killed the Lord Rector and his accomplice, a lesser Priest.
"After the attempted assassination, Zane wisely stepped down and allowed Driniah to have command again. She has been doing the best that she can, but since High General Peran deserted, there isn't much she can do to restore order. King Garmadon and Regent Santi's armies are on the march. They'll arrive in the South by the end of the week, and then…" He pursed his lips.
"Humans," Cole said decisively, kicking off his boots, "are idiots."
Lou chuckled his agreement from the piano bench.
"But Zane isn't human," Cyrus said. "And that fact was made starkly clear from the first hour that he took command of the South. The grief of losing his father…oh, yes, Lord Julien died of the plague, leaving High General Santi as regent…sent Zane over the edge."
"And no one attempted to help Zane?" Kai demanded. "Who were his advisors?"
"His advisors were the Queen, Lady Driniah, and a couple of my own people," Cyrus answered. "But Zane would not listen to them. I'm sorry, Kai. But I'm on the opposite side of the country from Sheshin, and a wanted man: there was no way that I could go down there myself, and communication is slow between realms." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Moons, this whole situation is a mess… I haven't even explained this predicament with the King, and the confusion regarding his alleged daughter, Varasach…"
Cole, who was in the process of removing his gloves, froze.
Cyrus noticed his reaction. "Oh, that's right. You wouldn't have known… You all were captured by those stone warriors right as-"
"Vara's alive?" Cole demanded.
"Yes," Cyrus answered. "And- this was before the secession- when she was well enough to travel I sent her to the South with Josi. I thought perhaps the two of them could help Zane and Driniah find the Way… But Garmadon himself entered Sheshin Keep and kidnapped Vara, claiming that she was his long-lost daughter." Cyrus waved a hand. "Details are fuzzy, and don't make much sense, but somehow at about the same time Zane and Garmadon had a parley. It didn't go well: the King discovered my alliance with the South and immediately decided that the realm had to be destroyed."
"Hold on a minute," both Kai and Cole spoke at once.
"This is all a jumbled mess," Cole said, cutting Kai off before he could speak. "So, let's go over it again. Lords Kaytake and Julien are dead. The South seceded from the country, and Zane made no plans to defend it from the King's Guards, who are on their way to massacre the South because you are their ally. And Vara is alive?"
"And she's a Princess," Lou added from across the room.
"Ah, yes! Thank you! How could I have forgotten that?" Cole tossed his gloves onto a nearby table. "I thought she was born in the West before Overlord came back. How could she be his kid? And is she safe?"
"She's all right. I have a spy in the King's Keep watching her. She appears to be well."
"This girl," Lou said, fingers dancing across the keys with a steadily increasing tempo. Oddly, his voice sounded stronger than before. Perhaps piano (eased, relaxed, comforted) him, as the violin did for Cole. "Son, didn't she have red hair?"
"Yes," Cole replied.
"Nobody in our family has red hair," Lou said. "Except for your mother, who married into the line."
"That is the mystery we've all been trying to solve," Cyrus said. "I don't suppose there's a chance that-"
"No," Lou said. "My daughter died as an infant. Vara is not mine, or Aika's."
"So…what does that mean?" Cole asked.
"It means that the King had been sleeping around," Lou said simply. His right foot bobbed up and down on the pedal. "Which is nothing new. My uncle was never one for settling down and choosing just one, even after he married poor Misako. It appears that, in this case, his prey was able to escape before their child could be terminated."
He says it so frankly, Kai thought with surprise.
"So you think Vara is the offspring of a mistress," Cyrus said, looking equally surprised by Lou's frankness. "If that is the case, then she's far less eligible to the throne than the King has been claiming. Especially since Cole is here."
"I am not becoming King," Cole said firmly. "Trust me. I'm the least eligible person for the job."
"Oh…" Cyrus said, looking as thought he'd been chastised. "I see."
"Look," Cole said. "Regardless of who Vara's parents are, I need to rescue her. She can't become Queen! The poor girl doesn't have a clue what she's doing. She would become a figurehead to be lorded over by her advisors. A slave again."
"And I need to go to the South," Kai cut in. "My poor mother… I can't imagine what she's going through right now. And the entire South, for that matter." He stood. "Cyrus, do you have any other information? Is the river frozen, or can the Guards only cross by bridge? Do you have scouts-"
"Slow down, Kai," Cyrus said. "I'm afraid that I don't have solid answers to these questions."
"I have to go, then," Kai said. "Now. How much time do I have until the troops reach the South?"
"It depends on the route they take, the weather, and how they're transporting their supplies, among other complicated variables," Cyrus said. "Anywhere between a day and a week. I'm sorry I don't have better information for you."
"It's all right. Thank you, Cyrus."
"Of course, Milord. You can take whatever you need for your journey. Warmer clothes, food, a horse, money for travel expenses. Eh…" He hesitated, glancing at Kai's belt. "I assume you brought your Blade, or another sword, with you from the West?"
Kai's jaw tightened. He carried Moonsong, now without its Gem, thanks to Overlord, inside his scant luggage which was still in the carriage. But Moonsong was an insufficient size to use in combat, now. And even if it were possible, Kai wouldn't bear to wield it again, especially to kill: the mere thought seemed obscene. Like swinging around a corpse.
"No," he said, feeling Cole's eyes on him. "I did not."
Cyrus seemed to sense there was something wrong, but he did not press for details. "I see. Well, then, you may select another weapon of your choice from the armory on your way out."
"Thank you for your generosity." Kai turned to Cole. "What will you be doing?"
"I need to get to Vara," Cole said, predictably.
"I don't know if that's possible," Cyrus said. "At least, not without revealing yourself to the court. Like it or not, you are the heir to the throne. If you show your face in the King's Keep there will be no avoiding that responsibility."
"But I need to go," Cole said firmly. "I haven't seen her since she was sick. She must have been so scared when I left her… She's probably still scared. She can't make it out there without me."
"My spy says that she's been doing just fine," Cyrus said. "I know how much you want to see her again, Cole. But if you're not willing to step forward and participate in the politics of this war, then with all due respect I think you should stay out of sight, to keep things from getting any more confusing."
Cole glowered, but did not argue. Kai felt some sympathy for him: he knew how close he and Vara had been before he'd been dragged off again to the Dark Island, leaving Vara on what they'd all thought was her deathbed. And now she was alive, and Cole wasn't allowed to see her! It would drive Kai to the brink of insanity if the same thing had happened with himself and Nya-
Shhh…
Kai suppressed the thought of his sister. That was a subject he was not yet emotionally equipped to unbox from the recesses of his mind.
"I'll do my best to sort out this mess," Kai said, though inwardly he was trembling. Hosts, he had no experience with leadership! He had always been the delinquent son who'd rather paint a landscape or go birdwatching than sit through lectures about diplomacy or economics. "Cole, I'll try to figure out what I can about Vara for you. Negotiate her release, if I can. In the meantime…I'm sorry. Maybe it would be best if you stayed here."
"What?" Cole demanded, indignant. "Kai, I came here to help!" He searched the other faces in the room. After not finding what he was looking for, he looked to Kai again. "If you guys aren't going to let me go to the Middle, then at least let me go to the South. I can't stay here by myself."
Kai hesitated. It would be good to have Cole with him. The thought of dealing with the South alone daunted him. "But you can't ride horseback," he said. "You'd have to take a carriage, which is slower…"
"You shouldn't be riding horseback, either," Cole argued.
"Perhaps not. But this is an emergency, and I don't have time to plod along at a pace that won't hurt your-"
"If I may," Cyrus cut in, "my personal coach rolls over rough roads with minimal jarring. I also have a brace that Cole could wear. It takes some getting used to, but it should keep you from feeling too much pain during the journey." He looked between Kai and Cole. "I assume that Ronin's Gem partially healed you both?"
"Yes," Kai answered.
"That's good… Nevertheless, I would like to have you both examined briefly before you leave."
"There's no time!" Kai said.
"Yes, there is," Cyrus said firmly. "I will order my people to prepare your coach and supplies. I will also send a Nindroid with you as a bodyguard on your journey. While this is being organized, I want all three of you to go to the examination room. Ah, and Lou, will you be going South with them?"
"I don't think so," Lou answered, scaling up the keys slowly, then placing his hands on his lap. "If it's all right with you, I think I'll head to the Middle on my own."
"Are you certain?" Cyrus said. "What are you planning to do?"
Lou stood from the piano, a glint in his eyes. "It's been so long since I last went home," he said. "It's about time we had a family reunion…"
Oh, Lou, you punk. You make me so happy. XD It's good to see Kai and Cole again, too, huh?
What? You think that Cyrus gives better summaries than I do? Pah. Whatever, nobody asked you. XD
Thank you all so much for your patience! I truly hope that I won't need to put this on hiatus again. There's only about two months' worth of weekly chapters left, I think, so brace yourselves. 0_0; It's so weird to think that this story is actually ending.
Reviews are appreciated~! I'll see you next week. Have a good one!