Chapter 7

Lian opened his eyes to the sand shifting under him like it was alive. He shrieked and clambered to his feet. He glared around him and angrily crossed his arms over his chest, "Kala! Stop that!"

Kala rose from the sand nearby, looking amused and very pleased with himself, "What's the matter, Mii'lian? Did I wake you up?"

Lian flopped back onto the ground, "You did."

Kala's amusement faded, "A good thing I did though. You should be in class."

"Father didn't send you, did he? He never sends you."

Kala shook his head, "No. He didn't. He sent Daria'lis. As always."

Lian's eyes narrowed, "Then why wake me up?"

Kala shrugged, "I wanted to hear you shriek. It's always an entertaining sound. And it's not often you sleep out in the open like this."

Lian rolled his eyes and threw a handful of sand at Kala, "Go away."

Kala calmly sent a wave of sand Lian's way.

Lian sat up, spitting out sand, "You ass!"

Kala laughed, "You're welcome." He dissolved into particles of sand.

Lian continued spitting out sand and coughed. "'You're welcome.' God dammit."

"Mii'lian!"

Lian rolled his eyes, "I know. I know. The water is dangerous. Blah blah bl-" He stopped suddenly. His eyes widened in realization. "The water is dangerous," he whispered. He scrambled to his feet and stared at the ocean in wonder, "People haven't looked everywhere."

"Mii'lian!" Daria grabbed his arm.

Lian pulled away from him and hissed, "How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?!"

"Then listen to me!" Daria commanded.

"I'm listening!" Lian snarled, "Just stop grabbing me!"

"What are you doing out here again?" Daria asked coldly, "You're supposed to be in class."

"I was messing with Kala," Lian explained shortly.

"Stop lying, Mii'lian. You don't ever talk to Kala."

Lian's anger faded instantly. He stared at his older brother, painful surprise etched into his face. The anger quickly returned tenfold, "I'm not lying! He threw sand at me!"

Daria wasn't convinced, "We'll see what Kala has to say."

Lian's jaw hung open. He didn't have anything to say, but wanted to say something. Anything really. Convince Daria, somehow, that he was telling the truth.

Daria either didn't notice or ignored him and stalked away.

Lian's teeth clicked as his mouth closed. He lowered his head and gaze and followed his older brother.

Daria filled Seth'ius in on everything and Seth'ius sent Daria to get Kala.

Kala walked in, a carefully crafted calm expression barely hiding his intense discomfort, "Yes, Father? Daria'lis said you wished to speak with me."

Seth'ius motioned dismissively to Lian, "Is it true that you and Mii'lian were messing around in the sand by the ocean?"

Kala nodded, "It is."

"And you did not go into the ocean?"

Kala shook his head, "Of course not, Father."

Seth'ius nodded and turned to Lian, "You know that you should be in class. That is your responsibility. Your duty. Treat it with more respect. Don't leave your room until I say you can. Is that understood?"

Lian nodded but didn't raise his gaze, "Yes, Father."

"Go," Seth'ius ordered.

Lian left the room. His steps were quick, short, and tense.

Daria turned to Kala in disbelief, "Really?"

Kala nodded, "I would never lie to Father, Daria'lis. You know that."

"You never talk to Mii'lian," Daria insisted.

Kala stared at him for a moment. He shook his head and the calm expression returned, "We're still family. And just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it never happens. We mess with each other quite a bit." Kala turned on his heel and strode away.

Loc appeared in front of Kala in the hallway, "You omitted some details."

Kala sighed, "Really, Loc?" He crossed his arms over his chest, "Do you eavesdrop on everything?"

Loc shrugged, "Who knows?" He cocked his head to the side, "How come?"

Kala shook his head, somewhere between amused and annoyed, "Mii'lian has seemed a little off the past few days."

Loc smiled, "You noticed too?"

Kala nodded, "Most of us have. The only one blind enough not to is Daria."

Loc nodded, "And the only one that isn't here to see it is Aria."

Kala nodded. He instinctively waved his left hand. He winced and grabbed his wrist. "Is that all you want, Loc?" He asked.

Loc held out his hand pleadingly, "Can I have another statue, please?"

Kala sighed and held up his right hand. A rock appeared in it and sculpted itself into a figurine of a rabbit. He gave it over to Loc and watched his younger brother skip happily away with a smile on his face. He shook his head.

"Kala."

Kala turned to see Mayu standing behind him. He smiled warmly at her, "Yeah, Mayu?"

Mayu returned his smile, "Father wanted me to ask you to check on the state of the cliff. Make sure it's still stable."

Kala nodded, "Of course."

"What would you like for dinner tonight?" Mayu asked.

Kala tapped the fingers of his right hand against his chin thoughtfully, "Um..." Eventually he stopped, "Stuffed shells, please."

Mayu nodded, "I'll see what I can do."

Kala smiled, "You're the best, Sis."

Mayu chuckled, "I try." She placed her hand on his head for a moment before turning and jogging away.

Kala skipped down the stairs and out into the courtyard. He disappeared into the stones that made up the path and reappeared in the garden.

Tasha played a game of catch with Kayla as he walked up.

Both girls lifted their heads.

Kayla ran up and gave him a hug. She grabbed his right hand and dragged him over to Tasha, "Come join us! We're playing a game!"

Kala smiled but shook his head, "Sorry, Kiddo. I don't have the time right now. I got something I gotta do before dinner or Father is gonna be angry with me."

Kayla pouted, "Okay."

Tasha nodded to Kala. She glanced at his left arm, "How's your arm?"

Kala shrugged, "As good as it ever is these days." He looked around, "I hate to interrupt but you wouldn't mind helping me out real quick, would you?" He looked hopefully at Tasha.

Tasha nodded, "Of course. I'd be more than happy to help." She glanced at Kayla, "How dangerous is it?"

Kala shook his head, "It's not dangerous at all. We're just checking the integrity of the cliff. Regular check up type stuff."

"Mind if Kayla comes along?"

"Of course not," Kala shook his head. He led the girls out of the courtyard. He disappeared into the cobblestones and reappeared on the other side of the gate instead of opening it.

Kala turned to Kayla once they reached the beach, "Stay here alright? We'll be right over there." He motioned to the cliff, "Call if you need us."

Kayla nodded, "Yep!" She sat down on the ground and smiled up at her siblings, "I'll draw in the sand until your done!"

Tasha nodded, "Alright." She paused, "Remember, don't stray too far. Or we won't be able to find you."

Kayla nodded, "Yes, Tash."

Tasha smiled. She followed Kala to the cliff.

Kayla started to draw her family as stick figures in the sand. She drew all eight of her siblings and her parents. She giggled to herself about how not like who they were supposed to be they looked. But once she finished that drawing she got bored. She got up and started walking around in what amounted to a decently large circle.

Motion at the edge of her vision caught her attention. Lian was making his way down the beach, but sticking close to the tree line that marked the forest that was nearby. She grinned and ran up to him, "Lian! What're you doing out here?"

Lian stiffened and stared at her, "K-Kayla? I'm...uh...not doing anything?"

Kayla cocked her head to the side, "You don't sound so sure."

Lian barely contained the panic rising in him, "Listen, Kayla, you gotta promise that you won't tell anybody you saw me here."

"What are you doing?" Kayla asked curiously.

"Well...I'm...uh..."

Kayla gasped, "Are you going into the water?!"

"SSSSHHH!" Lian hissed.

"Sorry!" Kayla murmured.

Lian swallowed and glanced around nervously, "Promise you'll tell no one, Kayla. I can get into a lot of trouble."

Kayla grinned excitedly, "Can I come?"

"Are you insane?! No!"

Kayla's face fell. Her eyes started to redden and fill with tears, "You think I'm insane?"

"No no no no no!" Lian insisted, "That's not what I meant! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't cry!"

Kayla started to cry.

"No. No. Please." Lian started to really panic. He glanced around and ran his face down his hands. "Fine," he said suddenly, "If you stop crying I'll bring you along. Like you want."

Kayla sniffled, "R-Really?"

Lian nodded, "Yeah."

Kayla leaped up and hugged him, "Yay!" There was no trace of tears in her eyes anymore. She wiped her cheeks and grinned.

Lian sighed, "C'mon."

Kayla followed him towards the water. He waded into it without hesitating. The moment he came into contact with it it started to move and flow. Kayla hesitated. The water wasn't supposed to move. It never had.

Lian saw her standing at the edge of the water, looking from him to it and back again nervously. He held out his hand, "C'mon. It's not scary or dangerous. I promise."

Kayla swallowed, "You promise?"

Lian nodded, "I'm the god of the sea, remember?"

Kayla nodded, "Yeah!"

Lian grabbed her hand and gently led her into the water. He created an air bubble around her that would allow her to breathe as they were submerged.