Saya got her old room, but it wasn't as she had left it. She could see that it had been empty for quite a while due to the thick layer of dust. Nevertheless the boxes and full drawers revealed her just as the stains on the carped that someone had been living here.

"Tomorrow we will clean and tidy it up," Monique had promised.

After showing her the room Kai had gone to get her some towels. Meanwhile she searched the boxes and drawers for a pyjama. When he returned Kai found the two Chevaliers helping her.

"What is he still doing here?" he said with a distrustful glance to Solomon.

"I am looking after Saya," he responded calmly.

"I am sure she is old enough to look after herself."

"Why can't you still trust me?"

Kai didn't answer. When Saya heard the words she looked from one to the other hoping to find out, what they had talked about.

"Why wouldn't you trust him?" she asked.

Kai turned to Haji and asked: "You didn't tell her?" Saya's eyes widened. What secret was it this time? What did they want to keep from her?

When Haji saw her puzzled gaze he found the answer to the question he had been asking himself for the whole day. Why hadn't he told her what Solomon had intended to do when they had fought? Because he didn't want to burden her with the truth.

Before Saya could ask any questions he changed the topic and said: "I found one", holding up a long white nightgown.

"Well than goodnight" Kai turned to go, but instead of leaving the room he held the door open as if he was waiting for someone to go through. He stared at Solomon who was turning to Saya to accept her orders.

"I don't think I will need protection tonight", she said, "You may go." He wished a good night and went away with her brother, obviously to his satisfaction. Before he left, Solomon threw Haji a glance of gratitude, as quick, that no one else could notice.


Saya lay awake for a long time. She was sick of all the secrets. Who was Hikaru and what did he plan? What could they actually know about him and how could they find out? She wondered whether it was possible that other chiropteran queens existed. But to answer this question she didn't know enough about herself. Where did her mother come from?

Apart from that she couldn't forget Kai's and Solomon's words as well. Why didn't her brother trust Solomon, but Haji? Weren't they both included in the fight in which Solomon lost his thumb? Maybe there was something else she didn't know. She had tried to ask Haji, but he wouldn't answer. He had told her that it wasn't of importance anymore, that everything was fine and that there was no need to worry.

He was sitting at the window looking outside, his back turned to her – alive. She had ignored him the whole day just after finding out, that he wasn't dead. She felt guilty for it, now that she supposed he wasn't the one to be blamed for what had happened in this fight – or at least not the only one.

Saya had become tired and could hardly stay awake. "Haji", she whispered half-asleep, "goodnight."

He turned around and settled himself near the bed, his hand resting on the sheets. Saya grabbed it and gently hold it. "Goodnight", he answered quietly.