It started to get late. The sun was setting and even the guards locked the front door and left. Tala stood there looking at the locked doors with despair. It was getting colder by the minute. Tears started to well up in his eyes. He started to cry but due to the cold even the tears started to freeze on his face. What would he do now that he was all alone? Had Kai abandoned him? Where should he go now? Back to the bridge and hope Kai was there waiting for him. All of a sudden it was like he was lost. A newspaper flying slowly with the wind rolled towards him. He grabbed it wrapping himself in it as a defense from the severe cold.

Kai unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the big car. Alfred also came running out of the driver's seat. "What is the problem?" Kai turned to face the man and felt as if he had seen him somewhere. Struggling with two thoughts at once, he was disillusioned for a moment. A car stooped behind theirs and a tall man in a big green coat came out looking rather annoyed at the sudden stoppage of the car in front of him. "What is the problem Alfred?" Kai froze hearing that voice. He had heard it before and remembered it clearly.

"We don't have time for any delays. Master Voltaire would be waiting for us and he is not quite merciful when he is angry." "Yes you are right. We should get going." "Hey but what about my friend? Where are you taking me? I will not leave without my friend." "We don't have any time to listen to your whines and complaints boy, so just get in the car!" Not having the upper hand in the situation, Kai obeyed the order given to him by Boris.

It was indeed a long journey and Kai was apparently not allowed to touch anything and he wouldn't even if he was. He sat in the back seat of the huge black car silently. The driver, Alfred was continually looking at him while driving which made Kai feel even more uncomfortable. Out of boredom and sheer tiredness after the long tournament still wearing the medal around his neck and the check to the money in his pocket, he went to sleep.

When he woke up he saw that he had been placed on a bed. A warm and soft bed. For a minute, he didn't move enjoying a luxury that he had never had before. In the abbey they slept on the floor with a torn cloth. (This could be the mat in summers and blanket in the winter.) If they had been excellent in training they could sleep on "beds" which had no mattress just a very thin layer of padded cloth.

After a while when finally he became a little active he looked around him. It was a huge room with large windows covered by thick dark blue curtains which were concealing any light from the outside. It contained a big closet and a dressing table. A book case filled with lots of thick and heavy looking books. Big black door led to another room which Kai assumed to be the bathroom. He got up and walked around the room and stopped at the closet. Some warm and clean clothes hung there with a note pasted on the front that said.

Master Kai,

After you wake up please wear these clothes and come downstairs for dinner.

Alfred.

He dressed as he was instructed and came out of the bedroom. Only to find a huge mansion like house. He felt his jaw dropped a little as he looked around the dark but magnificent indoors. Taking a random path, he passed door after door, looking in wonder at the darkness and the cob webs that surrounded the place. 'Looks like no one has been here for a long time now.' He thought as he finally reached the stairs that led downstairs.

Not knowing what to do, Tala roamed around the city aimlessly in the city. Tears were falling from his face like a stream. Snow fell and a mist covered the city. The weather became colder and colder. Finally he came to a stop. His feet were numb due to the cold. He sat down on a nearby bench. A street lamp's dim flickering light illuminated the bench. The park was empty as it was already past midnight. The tears suddenly became sobs. For the first time in his little life Tala felt alone. From day one Kai had always been there never letting Tala feel depressed or sad. He even took Tala's punishments sometimes. Kai was the family Tala had never had and had always wanted. Now that he was gone, Tala felt deserted, alone.

This city which he was exited to explore, now, he didn't want to be here anymore. "Kai!" he screamed "Kai!"

His voice echoing through the deserted park.

"Ah master Kai, I see you woke up and dressed yourself." Kai looked at the aging man. He was smiling at him. "take any seat on the dining table. Any seat you like. What would you like to eat?"

Kai didn't say anything. Alfred as if used to the silence just beamed and left."I'll whip you something up myself." Kai glanced around the dining room. As any other room in the mansion it was also dark and evil with an eery silence. The wall contained huge family portraits. Different people stared out of them. The only thing resembling throughout were their crimson eyes.

"I wonder what happened to all these people."

He was brought out of his thoughts by a clank of plates. "here you go eat up." As Kai advanced his hand towards the sandwiches he noticed that Alfred was staring at him, smiling. "is something wrong?" Kai asked. "huh? Oh… sorry." Alfred shrugged and left the room.

Kai stared as the old man left the room. He frowned. 'the old man is wasting my time.. I have to get out of here' He started thinking about Tala and a strange feeling of dread crept up. He pushed the plate away, getting lost in deep thought.

"hey..."

Tala opened his eyes weakly. The sudden light too bright for his eyes. He sat up and rubbed his eyes and looked at the person who woke him. "Kai?"

He was disappointed to see that it was just an old man, who apparently wanted to sit on the bench. Tala nodded and got up from the bench, uncertain of where to go next. He felt hungry and immensely cold. He decided to head back to the bridge and wait for Kai.

After Kai had 'finished' his breakfast. He was taken to the a lavishly furnished room. Alfred told him to wait there and that soon someone was going to be there to see him. Kai wanted to ask who this certain person was and when will he able to go back, but before he could even say anything, Alfred left the room and locked the door from the outside. Kai kicked the nearest chair in anger and sat down, waiting for the man to come back.

Tala ran towards the bridge, hoping and praying in his heart that Kai would be there. But his heart sank at the sight of the empty bridge with no sign of Kai anywhere. Tears welled up in his eyes as he sighed and slowed down, slowly walking towards his makeshift bed.

"We finally found you."

Hi again. really sorry for the very very late update. A lot has been happening and I haven't had any inspiration to write anything these days.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed or faved this story. I'm really glad that you guys still love this story. :D Hugs for all of you. :D