They arrived in the district, Fangla. But they didn't stop, they decreased their speed to avoid hitting anyone but it was still obvious that it was still a contest. Finally they pulled over at a gargantuan manor. Curiously, Qilin didn't complain anymore, in fact she got out of the car as if she was possessed. Liuxang parked his Trooper and climbed out along with his troop, he was carrying the brother in a piggy-back. Fiona stood next to him like a secretary, and Shi Long felt a small pang because of Shih-na. Franziska got out, along with Miles, and they surveyed the grandness of the manor. There were dragons that glared at them, one held a pearl, the other a roundish baby dragon. The twins and Kay just followed Liuxang.

"You know the male dragon is the one holding the pearl, and is the father. The mother is the one holding the baby," Liuxang commented trying to ease the tension. It looked as if it came from a horror movie and it didn't help that it was night when they reached the place.

Liuxang was staring at something, Franziska and Miles noticed, it was an old man with a gold-topped walking stick, it was clear that he was old but his hair was as black as raven's down and next to him was a butler or a secretary, he didn't hobble just like Alba, he walked with an air of dignity and respect. Liuxang and Qilin bowed, though Liuxang's was stiffer.

"So the black sheep has come back to the fold," the old man said as he approached Liuxang. Liuxang stood up and Qilin glared at him, it was disrespectful to stand unless said.

"Indeed, I have come to ask medical assistance for my brother." Liuxang answered looking at him straight in the eye. "He may be part of the Heilongs but he has done nothing."

"He was a Pailong?" Liuxang stiffened even more. Nothing but the truth must be said now.

"Yes, he is Huoniao, Qilin's twin brother, I stole him away. I wanted a brother so I took him."

"Why?"

"Because he would be used as a bargaining chip and I had no one to care for, so seeing Huoniao when the pillar fell on him, I wanted him. He would be weak and mindless and a prisoner of his own body." Liuxang didn't flinch when Qilin slapped him. He felt all eyes of Miles, Franziska, drilling into him with hate, but he won't mind. He knew he deserved it, deserved it all. He was a bastard.

"All of you will stay in the mansion I have prepared for you, this mansion, since there has been talk about reuniting Zhengfa. The prosecutor shall have the best rooms since you have saved Zhengfa from an economic crisis and you Shi Long you are a hero also."

The two prosecutors bowed. Shi Long merely smiled and nodded his head. Qilin shot him a look that could have killed a normal man. Liuxang had a ghost of a smile. There would be bigger troubles.

"Well, you used to live in this place, didn't you?" Liuxang asked.

The old man nodded.

"I see, so the room must have been kept untouched."

"What do you mean? I think it's safer if I have the room you're having," Shi Long squabbled.

The old man sighed and handed Shi Long the keys. Without even bidding them good-bye, the butler or assistant drove.

"You want the room I talked about, you can have it, you just won't like it."

They entered the house and were startled by its splendour, only for it to be broken by Liuxang's cool voice. "The room is top left, the fourth room.

Shi Long felt a sense of foreboding emanate from the room, Miles and Franziska must have felt it too for they hid behind him. Shi Long unlocked the door with the key.

为什么？杀了你。恨你。死亡。你怎么敢！

Those characters filled the scarred room. Miles paled, it was exactly in his room. Liuxang could only smile bitterly as he faced Qilin. "Why did you do this?" Liuxang asked.

Qilin paled. "I – I know who killed my parents, I wrote that to warn that person."

"So who killed them?" Liuxang asked.

Qilin pointed at him.

It was quiet, Miles was afraid Liuxang would do something fairly unhuman, but Liuxang didn't even do it, in fact what he did terrified them even more. He laughed.

"So it was you?" Franziska asked.

"Could you prove it?" Liuxang shot back and just like that, he left. Fiona ran after him but the Yatagarasu trio stayed behind.

"So what do these words mean?" Kay asked.

Shi Long didn't want to translate them, but he knew they would just press him, he said aloud," Why? Kill you. Hate you. Death. How dare you!"

Qilin quivered and sat on the floor. She hugged her knees, rocked herself, and cried.

Franziska explore the manor feeling adventurous. Suddenly she heard movement, she turned around. Big shiny green eyes caught her attention, it was a cat. She hesitated but then followed the shiny eyes. It slipped into a room, and Franziska entered it. The cat was gone, the window opened, and a small box tied with a ribbon was on the bed.

Kirsten Festl.

Mama.

The Mama who left her for another man. The Mama who left her family in pieces. Who just gave birth to her and then left her. Or at least that was what Manfred said, Papa. She opened it, surprised to find the letters addressed to Qilin. She opened the oldest.

Dearest Franziska,

Today is your third birthday and I am not with you. I am back in Frankfurt with your grandfather. It was a pity you never met Grandmama, she would have loved you. Did you know what your first word was? It was Objection! You yelled it at me because you deserved a cookie but I didn't give you one. Qilin has been corresponding with me. She updates me about you because she gets to the mailbox first, at least that is what she told me. Please be nice to her and to that Miles boy, they both lost someone dear to them.

Love, Your Mother, Kirsten

"Oh my god," Franziska wept. She didn't hear the footsteps coming.

Miles was shocked to see Franziska crying. "Are you alright?"

"Papa, Papa ..."

"What about him?"

"He lied to me, he said Mama didn't love me, and left me and Papa for another man, he – he lied to me," Franziska wept. Miles put her head on his shoulder.

"There, there, Franziska, it's alright."

"It's not alright, I don't know her, it's been years Miles, I don't know what been happening to her, for all I know shoe could be, could be..."

"Shh, Franziska, she gave you letters, didn't she?" Miles rocked her. "Let's read them."

"Not now Miles, I feel so tired, of all the lies, of the hypocrisy, of everything. I'm tired."

Miles wrapped his arm around her and rocked her until she fell asleep. Without realizing it, he also fell asleep.

Shi Long, Miles and Franziska were in a plane full of flowers. On top of each flower was a paper crane and animals all sorts, Likui, Specks, and Huang Gan were by far the largest and they ran past them to a figure whose back was turned to them. The figure was unmistakable. They ran to her.

The animals stopped when they reached Qilin, and the three were still running. She picked up Specks and stroked his head to his tail. As soon as she touched his head, the skin peeled off to reveal a dragon. As Qilin's hand gave one stroke, Specks sprouted scaly golden wings and flew. That was the time they finally reached her but Qilin's face started to have a crack line, and she, like Specks, grew wings of white feathers. She flew to the sky and faced them, as shards of her face fell away. Her wings suddenly wrapped around her, like a caterpillar in a cocoon enduring metamorphosis, but even the wings changed into an ugly black colour, just like a crow that had taken a bath. After a moment the wings opened. Before them was Liuxang.

All three woke up. Quickly they raced at all rooms looking for Liuxang, opening doors frantically.

They burst into the last room and before them was Liuxang unwrapping his bandage and exposing dark black circles on his flesh.

Liuxang kept himself composed, he smiled as he saw their faces. I'm not human. "These are the sins of my family."