The next day was a rather peaceful one. At least that's what the day felt like anyways, the sky was a bright vivid blue, the day was crisp and cool as autumn was just around the corner, and there was a nice breeze that liked to sweep by every once in a while. Ben honestly loved this kind of weather. So much so, that he took in a deep breath in once he stepped up to his rental car. Guinevere would honestly be pissed if she knew he rented a gas-powered car, but he didn't exactly have a lot of options at the rental.

It was nice of Yui to let him park outside of her home last night, even nicer of the rental company to bring the car there.

"I wouldn't get used to it-" Sicily suddenly said fro beside Ben. Ben turned his head to look at her. "It's gonna rain."

"There isn't a cloud in the sky."

"Yeah, well I can tell you from experience, it's gonna rain. The clouds will roll in." Ben didn't feel the need to respond to her statement. Nope, they both just piled in the car with Ben being the one behind the wheel. "You know which way to drive right?"

Ben couldn't stop his eye roll. "Yes, I know which way to drive, despite what you may think, I do know my way around America." So, with that, he took the car out of park and went on down the road away from Yui's house.

Then there was just silence between the three of them. Twigleg was sitting in a cup holder between the two of them. The silence must have lasted maybe ten to fifteen minutes before Sicily broke it. "You know, I've never been to a Native American reservation."

"You know... " Ben paused for a moment before giving an awkward little laugh "Neither have I… I mean I've spoken to many Native Americans before but never been to a reservation."

Sicily straightened herself up in her seat and looked down at Twigleg, Twigleg blew her a little kiss. "He's so cute, where'd you come from?" Sicily changed the subject and extended her flat palm out so Twigleg could climb up on it.

"I was made by an alchemist."

"... You didn't make him Ben?"

"Me? Oh no, no. Ich bin nicht sehr schlau." Ben gave a bit of a nervous laugh. Twigleg let out a sudden annoyed 'Tsk' before smacking Ben on the arm lightly.

"Stop saying things like that, you are very smart!" Twigleg gave Ben a good scolding.

"What did you say?"

"That he's not smart- which is a lie!" Twigleg stuck his tongue out at Ben at the end of his sentence. Ben only chuckled again and took one hand off of the wheel and simply 'booped' Twigleg's nose in response with a small smile.

"Are there others? Like you?" Sicily asked Twigleg.

"Uh… No, unfortunately not, It's only me, but I hope to meet another homunculus one day!"

"Oh, the last of your kind? That's so sad! I couldn't imagine such a fate-"

Ben cleared his throat and Sicily quieted down. She knew what that kind of noise meant. Ben said nothing and reached up to pull on his earlobe.

"I don't mind it! Yes, it can get lonely, but I have Ben and all of the other Greenblooms, and I'm okay with that." Twigleg gave Sicily a sad little smile in return. Sicily couldn't help but frown a little at that. It was rather sad.

"Hm." Ben hummed and Sicily could see him eyeing the rearview mirror.

"Is something the matter?" Twigleg was the one to ask once he noticed Ben's frown. Ben's eyes shifted from the road to Twigleg before he smiled and focused back on the road.

"Nein." Sicily didn't need a translation to know what Ben had just said.

"You know, maybe I'll learn German. We have that class in school, maybe next year I'll learn!"

Ben gave a bit of a breathy chuckle in response. "I didn't know you were in school, I figured you were homeschooled."

"No, we go to public school, a bit of a surprise what they teach let me tell you, but regardless-"

"Then why aren't you in school now?"

"Because it's a small town and everyone thinks we're terrorists." Sicily placed Twigleg on her shoulder as she said this. "I mean before you came in Amadeus was telling us how his tires got slashed because of the accusations… Then again Amadeus has a bad habit of making enemies."

"Elaborate?"

"Well, his windows got smashed before any of this happened, I know for a fact that he's been in a couple of fistfights on the side, and he's not shy about pointing a gun at someone. Trust me, I had to stop him from shooting Ludwig."

Ben let out a noise that told Sicily that he didn't care much for that information. "I'm just going to ask… is Amadeus going to be a problem?"

"A-A problem?" She stuttered a little.

"Yeah."

"I…" She felt her heart flutter a little. "I can't answer that, Ben." She admitted after a few seconds.

"Alright." Ben smiled at her, but Sicily didn't feel at ease, and the fact that he was constantly checking the rearview mirror was unnerving her anymore, so much so that she went to turn around, but Ben had stopped her by placing his hand on her shoulder. "We're here."

This caused Sicily to forget about what might have been behind them and turn back to the front. Sure enough Ben was pulling into a reservation. 'Wow, talking really does help time fly.' Sicily thought for a moment.

Sicily couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable, the things people say about Native American Reservations were pretty spot on. Dusty old homes on a barren landscape, some trailers, other rickety old homes built with wood or brick, while some looked somewhat modern. Ben pulled up to, what looked to be, a small store with a coke, that looked like it was still from the early 2000s, sitting out front. He then found a parking space, put the car in park, and shut the engine off. "Okay… this should be the place."

Sicily was quick to notice a couple of people looking their way. People coming out of their homes to look at the strange visitors. Ben made another shot to the rearview mirror before exiting the car. Sicily focused on Twigleg. "I have a bad feeling…" She muttered softly.

"You don't need to worry, Missus. Guinevere knows Akando pretty well, and she would never send Ben anywhere too dangerous."

"Describe 'too dangerous'."

"You have nothing to worry about!"

Sicily groaned but still reached for the handle and got out of the car. Standing up she didn't close the door, not yet, she was eying the rather large group to start to form around their car. She was already ready to go back and hide in the car. Ben, on the other hand, seemed pretty lax at the moment.

"I've been sent here by my sister, Guinevere Greenbloom. I'm looking for the one named Akando." Ben spoke firmly and clearly to the group of people looking at them. Sicily looked at some of them while they all started muttering amongst themselves. She saw a couple of children in the throng and one little girl caught her eye, this girl couldn't be older than five. She looked at Sicily and she just had the widest grin on her face. She then started tugging on her mom's skirt for attention.

"Does this have anything to do with the recent attacks?" A male voice suddenly called out causing Sicily to look at who was talking. A teenager, no older than she, male, tall, with dark skin and hair, that was braided in the back and, man did he look fine. Sicily couldn't help but blush at him as he approached Ben. Sicily could see that he had a chiseled jawline and some peach fuzz on his face.

"Yes… We were hoping to talk to him, Guinevere told me he might know something."

A couple of them shared looks before the teen that originally spoke just nodded. "Follow." Sicily finally shut the car door and she followed behind the teenager while Ben simply walked beside him.

"Thank you," Ben was the first to speak to the teenager. "May I have your name?"

"You're not a faerie are you?"

"Me? Oh heavens no. My name is Benjamin."

"Oh, good." The teen gave a bit of a nervous laugh. "Jase Wheather."

"I'm Sicily."

"The one from the news?" Jase looked back at her for a few moments before walking forward. Sicily felt herself blush a little.

"Uh, yeah, that one."

"Where's your other half?"

"At home."

Jase gave Sicily a narrowed eyed look before looking forward. They walked in silence for a few moments. Sicily looking at Tiwgleg every once in a while making sure the little Manikin was doing okay on her shoulder. After a bit, they arrived at a small hut.

"Akando is in there."

Ben nodded "Thank you, Jase." Ben went to go in and Sicily went after him, but suddenly her arm was grabbed.

"Not you two."

"Hey!" Sicily frowned suddenly. "I'm with him, and so is Twigleg."

"It's fine, Jase-" Ben tried to smooth it over, but Jase pushed Sicily back behind him, almost causing Twigleg to topple off of her shoulder. Sicily had several things she now wanted to tell Jase off for, she did not feel like being manhandled right now, but Jase spoke before she could.

"Only you. That was the deal-"

"-Jase…" an elderly voice suddenly rung out as the front door to the little hut opened with an elongated creaking noise. "It's quite alright." There was a pause. "I see no harm in this woman or the creature on her shoulder."

Jase stayed tense for several seconds before he backed down. "I'm sorry, Grandpa…"

'Well, that kind of explains it.' Sicily thought. She then stepped around Jase and over to Ben. The moment she was next to Ben, he quickly took Twigleg back.

"Come…" Akando spoke from the darkness of the hut, beckoning them to him. So, they did.

The very moment Sicily stepped inside the darkened hut all she could smell was the overwhelming scent of sage. It took all her power not to scrunch up her nose. Jase shut the door behind them surrounding them in darkness for only a moment before Akando lit up a couple of candles.

He was old. Older than Ben, Older than Pastor Larry. Older than anyone Sicily has ever seen. His age shown with deep wrinkles and saggy jowls. Akando looked up at Sicily and Ben and she could see that he was blind, his eyes an unnatural milky white. This would probably explain the darkness. Still, Akando knew his way around. Akando said nothing but brought his hand out towards Ben and used his two fingers to silently call him over. Ben obliged. He brought himself closer to Akando. Akando reached his hand up to feel Ben's face.

"Interesting, you and Guinevere are siblings, but you don't feel alike."

"I'm adopted."

"That would explain it."

Ben backed away once Akando was done he focused on Sicily. He brought his hand out the same he had done with Ben and called her over with his two fingers. She looked at Ben a little nervously. "It's alright, he's just feeling your face, he can't see you, but he can feel how you look," Ben explained to Sicily. So, she forced herself to relax and she leaned forward so he could do just that.

It was odd for Sicily. She's never had anyone feel her face like this before. Akando first brought his fingers around the sides of her face, then down the bridge of her nose, around and above her eyes, her cheeks bones, and finally, he finished around at her chin and her jawline.

"I would ask to feel your other friend's face, but I fear he may be too small for that."

"Yes, I am very small, my name is Twigleg, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine."

Sicily heard something move in the darkness behind Akando. She felt unnerved as she could clearly see something move in the shadows. All she saw was the tip of a snake tail and she stood up. "Sir, there's a snake behind you!"

"I would hope so!" Akando moved his hand out to his side and as if on command the snake moved towards his hand and started to curl around his arm. "I don't know what I would do without my little Queen."

This snake was not little. This was a banana python, easily about ten or so feet, with horns on top it's head- wait. Sicily had to do a double-take. Yep, this snake had horns. Akando cooed and stoked the snake from the top of its head down. "I believe I have your sister to thank for caring for Queen?"

"Oh, yes." Ben smiled. Twigleg didn't look so at ease as he clung onto Ben's face for dear life.

Queen procced to stretch herself out across Akando's shoulders. She looked at Sicily and flicked her tongue out a few times before resting her head down. Sicily, realizing that she was still standing, slowly sat back down.

"Now, on to business? You're here to talk about the recent attacks? That's what Guinevere had told me, that you believe it maybe something from the Kaw?" Akando's tone changed a little, almost a little accusatory.

Ben opened his mouth to try and defend himself or his accusations, but in the end, he must have found it best not to lie. "Yes. But, I don't believe it was the Kaw themselves, just something from legends, hidden away? Because if I'm right… this thing had to have been lying dormant."

Akando reached his hand up to give Queen a little pet. "I feared this day would come."

Sicily was honestly not expecting those words to come out of his mouth, and it was honestly taking away her optimism on the situation. "Pardon?" She was the one to ask as a nervous chuckle left her mouth in response.

Akando didn't respond right away, instead he stood from his spot. "Ohanzee."

It was like the room became twenty degrees cooler. Sicily honestly wished she had a jacket or something as she started to shiver. She wasn't alone. Ben seemed to be a little unnerved and she could see goosebumps raising against his flesh.

"What is this… Ohanzee?" Twigleg was the one to ask. "... A...dragon?"

"Dragon? No. A monster in the shape of a dragon…"

"...I knew it…" Ben whispered suddenly. "I knew it couldn't be a dragon. What is this Ohanzee then?"

"... Ohanzee… was someone I once knew… Once a person like you or me, a person that was twisted by their own selfish and greedy desires."

"Wait… Ohanzee was human?" Sicily just couldn't believe it. If what Ludwig said was true and Ohanzee did look like a giant dragon-like Firedrake then how did this happen if they were human?

"Yes, a human-" Akando reached his hand out and grabbed Sicily's hand. She almost pulled away, but he pulled her forward, up to her feet. "A person that had set fire to our once peaceful village, they killed hundreds of us, children, women, it didn't matter to Ohanzee."

"Rewind, please." Ben stood up now. "How? Why?"

Queen looked at Ben and stuck her tongue out a few times at him before turning to Akando and lazily wrapping herself around his neck, clearly, she wasn't aiming to choke the poor man, but to get herself some much-needed warmth- but then she raised herself to Akando's left ear and started to… well, snap her jaws rapidly in his ears. Sicily then realized Queen was talking to Akando.

And he clearly understood every word. "Queen doesn't think the details of what happened are too important. Therefore I won't bore you with too many."

"...TL;DR?" Sicily asked. Twigleg, Ben, and Akando looked at her in question. She sighed 'Old Geezers…' "The basics."

"Ohanzee was a troubled youth and we honestly should have seen the signs of their betrayal, but we didn't and they sold out our village to the Spanish and helped them burn it to the ground. Ohanzee killed so many of us that day, but we still retaliated. I could only watch as the remainder of my village attacked the Spaniards, but I had my sights on Ohanzee."

"You weren't always blind then?" Sicily questioned him.

"No… but because of what I did next I can say I didn't have my sight for long."

"Akando… what did you do?" Ben seemed to catch on.

"I've given up my sight to seal Ohanzee away. I couldn't bring myself to kill Ohanzee...So, I locked them away, underground. Because of such, they've been festering in their hatred and anger and in time it turned them into the beast they were on the inside."

"I don't understand-" Sicily shook her head but then Ben cut her off pretty quickly as his eyes narrowed.

"I do, you used magic to seal them away, didn't you?"

Akando had a rueful little smile grace his lips. "An eye for an eye, or in this case… a heart for two eyes."

"Akando-"

"I didn't have a choice!" Sicily jumped at Akando's sudden increase in volume. "You weren't there…"

"What did you do?" Twigleg was the one to ask this time. He sounded as equally worried as Ben had.

Akando turned away from them. Sicily was only now noticing the soft pitter-patter of rain that was trickling down on the roof. "Ohanzee didn't deserve death's mercy after what they had done! So… I locked them away, deep underground with magic. I took out her still-beating heart and hid it away-"

"-Wait-" Sicily noted the lack of logic fairly quickly but was shushed.

"You still kept them alive… That could only mean you know your way away black magic…" Twigleg accused him pretty quickly.

"Yes, I knew of black magic at the time, and I still know of black magic to this day...I don't practice it, not anymore. At the time, I was angry and vengeful for what Ohanzee had done. So, I had tortured her the way she did me! Ohanzee killed my wife and two of my children! I was lucky to have one of my children survive the ordeal-"

"-You keep calling Ohanzee 'She' you keep fluctuating between pronouns… why?" Sicily asked him after a few moments.

"Ohanzee is no longer human, therefore their gender doesn't matter… but Ohanzee used to be my sister."

"Jesus Christ." Ben shook his head as he muttered out. Ben started to pace the floor as it was clear his mind was going at least a hundred-miles-per-hour. The rain was starting to splatter more heavily against the roof. Sicily swallowed a rather big lump in her throat.

"There's a way for us to fix this right? To kill her for good?" Sicily finally asked after a few moments of awkward silence.

"Find her heart…"

"Great! Simple! Where is it?" Sicily was only met with more awkward silence. She felt herself start to sweat after a few more seconds passed with no answer. "Akando?"

"I had no part in her heart. I've gone blind…"

Ben let out a word in German and judging by his tone it wasn't exactly a kind word. Sicily looked at Ben who was now dragging his hands down his face in a very exasperated fashion. "Well… if it was magic shouldn't there be a reverse spell?"

"No-... Yes… Ugh." Ben took in a deep breath to calm himself before giving her a proper answer. "Yes, there is the possibility of a spell-like that to be reversed… and… Well, Twigleg, do you want to answer this one?"

"A couple of things! It's black magic, so we'd need someone who knows the trade! Obvious neither Ben nor I know how to perform black magic," Twigleg started as he stood from Ben's shoulder. "Not just that but black magic almost always needs human blood to work properly, or worse a sacrifice…" Both him and Ben shuddered at that. "But more importantly… black magic is almost literal when it comes to "an eye for an eye." to do something this extreme will cost something in return. Isn't that right, Akando?"

"Most certainly…"

"So… this means finding Ohanzee's heart is our only option."

"... They'll attack before you find their heart, I can promise it." Akando added in. Sicily watched him give Queen a little pat on the head. She felt her heart sink, of course, Ohanzee was going to attack again and Sicily wasn't an idiot. Ohanzee was heading for Harksville next and they only had so long before that attack would take place. It's already been two days since the last attack… it wouldn't be much longer now. Ohanzee was a ticking time bomb and they needed to defuse them fast.

"Well…" Ben placed both hands in his pockets and let out a sigh. "Thank you for having us, Akando. You really did help shed a lot of light on this mystery."

Akando brought one hand out for Ben to take, which he did respectfully. "One more thing before you go? All I know about the heart is… you'll know when you're close. It radiates powerful magic."

"That…" Ben's tone changed suddenly. "That does help. Thank you…"

With that they took their leave, Sicily giving Akando handshake on her way out.

Sicily was instantly bombarded by rain, but she didn't care. No, she kept in step with Ben. "What next?"

Ben shook his head and Sicily could hear the slight irritation in his voice. Jase was waiting for them in the car.

"So, you know?" Jase challenged them. His shoulders were squared and he looked almost ready to start throwing hands.

"Yes," Ben just chose to ignore Jase's body language and tried to walk passed the Native American, but Jase suddenly grabbed Ben his shoulder and pulled him back. Sicily took a step forward to try and stop Jase, but Ben was faster. Ben grabbed Jase's hand and just twisted it to get him to let go. "Talk to me like an adult-" Ben let go of Jase's hand. "Don't use violence."

Jase's face turned angry and he narrowed his eyes at Ben. "You know if you find Ohanzee's heart and kill it, you'll kill Akando in return. They're connected!"

Ben's face turned slightly sour. "I've figured that might have been a possibility… Akando seemed older than I originally thought. Talks of Spaniards and what not… but Jase, you must understand that I don't want Akando to die… but you have to see the bigger picture here. Ohanzee isn't going to stop-"

"We can reseal her back-"

"That's… still dark magic, and it's not even certain! Do you want to leave her alive for future generations to deal with? She got out once already!"

"After being sealed away for hundreds of years! You'll be long dead and nobody else has to die-"

Ben put his hand up. The universal sign demanding silence. "I'm not doing black magic, that's one, and two: I'm not going to shrug off my responsibility for someone else to take." Jase's face turned angry and he turned to Sicily before giving her a piece of paper, which she awkwardly took.

"Give me a call when you want to do the right thing."

Jase then stormed off.

"Wow… he doesn't want Akando to die…" Sicily looked at the paper, just a phone number, and flipped it over only to finally shove it into her pants pocket.

"Obviously...Not, I can't say I blame him. Akando is his Grandfather… I know if the roles were reversed… or if it were Barnabas… Bah!" Ben shoved his hands back in his pockets. "This isn't an easy choice, I want you to know this…" The rain started to pour down harder. Twigleg tried to hide in Ben's jack, but it wasn't doing much as Ben was getting just as wet as Twigleg at the moment. "Let's go, we should tell Yui to prepare for an evacuation."