Chapter 16

Lian paced the room. He felt like he was going to be sick. His mind raced. If Daria was here then undoubtedly their father wouldn't be far away. And he had been gone for twelve weeks. Twelve weeks without returning home. After telling Daria he was returning to the palace. He jumped and squeaked when someone knocked on the door. His heart rate rose and his breathing got shorter. He swallowed, "Yes?" His voice was shaky and nervous.

"It's Vala. Can I come in, Kid?"

Lian sat down on his bed and pulled his knees up to his chest. He wrapped his arms around them and rested his chin on them, "Yeah. Sure."

Vala opened the door and closed it behind her, "What's going on? You came in in a rush."

Lian shrugged, "Um...I'm just..." He shifted so his arms were on his knees and buried his face in them. He took a deep breath. It wasn't like she had anything to do with what was going on. And he was almost certain she'd die if she tried to help him. This was Ravnica after all. The home of the previous God of the Sky and Sea. His father would not be kind. And if he told her then her death would be his fault. If he told her there would be a lot more than just the blood of a mouse on his hands. And he could barely live with himself for that.

He swallowed and lifted his head to look at her, "I'm just stressed. For some reason it was all so overwhelming today." He chewed on his lower lip, "I mean, it didn't used to be like this."

Vala shrugged, "That happens sometimes. It doesn't necessarily need a trigger." She studied him, "Have you had problems with crowds before?"

"Well..." Lian was silent for a while. He swallowed again, "Back on my world people weren't the nicest to me."

Vala nodded, "Sometimes those things can come back up without a trigger." She smiled, "And it's okay to not go out everyday. Your friends will be fine with it if you just tell them."

"But that's what we do," Lian argued, "We go out in the mornings and then we spend the afternoons messing around and then we watch a movie."

Vala chuckled, "And that's good. But when it gets to be too much, it's better to just stay in."

Lian nodded, "Okay."

Vala patted his head, "And don't be afraid to talk to us. We're more than happy to help you, Lian. We just have to know that you need our help."

Lian nodded, "Yes, Ma'am." He smiled, "I will."

Vala smiled, "You know where to find me if you need me, alright, Kid?"

Lian smiled back to her, "Yes, Ma'am."

Vala got to her feet. She turned to leave but turned back to him, "And Lian."

Lian looked up at her.

"I mean it," Vala insisted, "Get me if you need me. You aren't a bother. Whatever I happen to be doing, your well being is more important."

Lian's eyes widened, "R-Really?"

Vala nodded, "Absolutely." She left the door open behind her when she left.

Lian didn't bother to close it. He walked over to the pile of supplies he had left and sat down in front of it. He would finish Spell Breaker and then he'd pack up and leave. That way if his father got angry it was at him and him alone. At the very least Spell Breaker would keep him alive. Even if it was destroyed shortly afterward.

He shoved a couple of books into his backpack and popped open the window. He might just be able to stay on Ravnica. He would just have to outmaneuver his father and older siblings long enough that they gave up. Assumed he was dead. It would take a long time. Likely long enough his current friends would die of old age before he could see them again. But here on Ravnica, at least there was a chance he'd be able to make new ones.

Lian dropped down into the empty courtyard of the mansion. Scaling the fence was easy. He silently apologized to Vala, Ral, and his friends and disappeared into the alleyways.

Shanniah and Jexus made it through the doors into the mansion first, quickly followed by the other three. Shanniah darted into Vala's room without knocking, "Lian's siblings are here!"

Vala was instantly concerned, "What happened?"

"Lian was uncomfortable and not really paying any attention all day," Jexus started.

"I tried to talk to him, asked him if he was alright," Hailey continued, "He told me he was fine. But then he got really tense and said he needed to come back here."

"And then his sister and brother came up to us and asked if we had seen him at all," Sammy added.

"I told them no," Shanniah admitted fearfully.

"Is he here?" Zven asked.

Vala nodded, "He was up in the room."

They all turned to go barreling up the stairs but Vala stopped them, "If his siblings are here I doubt he's still there."

They all stared at her in horror.

"You mean...he left?" Hailey asked.

"Is he going to be alright?" Jexus asked.

"Oh, he'll live," Vala nodded, "It's his mental state we're going to have to worry about. Especially if they find him." She fixed a hard stern gaze on all of them, "The five of you are going to stay here. Do not leave this mansion. I am going to look for him."

"But-"

"No buts." Vala ordered. She shook her head. Her voice was dark and quiet as she continued, "None of you know how to defend yourselves against something like this. They are gods. You are children."

They all lowered their gazes.

"Yes Ma'am," Shanniah nodded.

"What happens when you find him?" Hailey asked.

Vala took a deep breath, "Honestly, I don't know. All I know is that if his initial reaction to his biological family coming here is to run, then it's probably best they don't find him." She nodded to the group, "Don't stay up too late, Kids." She marched out of the mansion.