Gray couldn't believe it.

He couldn't believe that Tartaros was coming over.

He couldn't believe that is parents kept such a secret from him.

It was frustrating.

And it took all his energy to not ask anything during breakfast the next day.

"So, Gray," Mika started, eyeing Gray.

Gray looked up from his plate and met with Mika's eyes.

"I thought you liked waffles?"

"I do." he replied.

"Then why aren't you eating it?"

This was when Gray realized that he hadn't touched his food at all, he had been too caught up on his parents keeping secrets from him that he forgot to eat!

"Sorry," Gray mumbled, before cutting a small piece of waffle and popping it in his mouth.

"Hmm," Mika didn't looked convinced, but she left it at that. The last thing she wanted was an argument between her and Gray. With all the business with Tartaros, there was a lot in her mind.

"Did you sleep well, son?" Silver asked.

Gray nodded.

"Alright," Silver paused and looked at Mika. Mika nodded.

"Get ready after breakfast, you're going over to a friend of mine."

Gray felt his heartbeat increase. Here it was, they were pushing him away - again. Everyone knew how cruel Tartaros was and he understood that they were protecting him. But, he wasn't a child anymore! He could use magic as well as Silver or Mika, they should treat him as their equal! They shouldn't send him away during the time they need him the most.

Sure, he was their son, and Mika and Silver loved him. Gray knew all of that, but, he wanted to stay there - with them, making sure they were alright. Making sure Tartaros didn't do anything to them.

Gray mustered up all his courage and asked "Why?"

"What?"

"I said, 'Why?'" Gray repeated.

"Well," Silver started. "Because, they just moved and need help to settle in."

"Don't lie."

"I'm not lying, Gray, they need a young man who can help them unpack."

"You are lying."

"Gray!" His mother warned. Silver raised his hand, signalling silence.

"What brought this on, Gray? You never speak like this..."

"Maybe the fact that you both," he looked at Mika. "Are lying."

"Like I said before, Gray, we are not lying."

Gray had enough. He stood up and slammed his hands on the table.

"You aren't lying? You aren't lying? Ha, funny thing, because you told me you sold all you merchandise when they had actually been confiscated. Do you not call that lying?"

Silver looked at Gray, his mouth forming an 'o'.

"Gray, how did you find out?" Mika asked, her voice dangerously low.

Gray ignored her and continued. "And, Tartaros is coming over. And you are sending me away to unpack? I don't know about you two, but I call that lying!"

"ENOUGH GRAY!" Mika yelled, surprising both Silver and Gray. She took a deep breath.

"Go to your room, right this instance, young man. And I don't want to hear a single word from you. You will go over to Silver's friend's house, whether you like it or not!"

Gray looked at Mika for a few seconds - wondering whether or not to argue. He finally huffed before stomping to his room.

"I just wanted to help, why can't they understand that?" Gray muttered to himself before plopping himself on the bed feeling miserable for misbehaving.

Mika sighed.

"Should I apologize?" she asked Silver. He slowly grasped her hands and gave them a supportive squeeze.

"I don't think you should."

"But,"

"He misbehaved, and he knows that - which is why he went to his room." Silver stated.

"But, he was right. We were lying. Do you think that we should have - perhaps - told him the truth?" Mika asked.

"Neither of us knew how this would turn out, Mika. There is no point in dwelling in the past. What happened, has happened. Now, let's focus on getting Gray away from here and 'welcoming' Tartaros."

Mika nodded and hurried off to clean the house.

Silver sat still. He knew what Tartaros was after. They were after him. His magic, to be precise. They had, forever, wanted him in their group - he even considered it once. But, when Mika became pregnant, he knew this was a bad choice. So he politely refused.

Bad idea.

Because, since then, Tartaros have been doing everything they can to make their lives miserable. He never told Mika but, this wasn't the first time they had confiscated his merchandise. He never wanted to worry her. But now, it was too much and they requested a meeting with him.

Well 'requested' isn't the word.

More like demanded.

Either way, he just hoped Tartaros was in a good mood.

Otherwise, Gray might be left an orphan.

"Alright, you better be a good boy, Gray," Mika said.

She was standing outside Silver's friend, James' house. Jame's house was around 10 minutes away from theirs. That way, Mika hoped Gray would be safe.

After saying goodbye to Gray, she increased her pace and walked towards her house. Tartaros would be coming anytime now, and she wanted to be there. If she wasn't, Tartaros would suspect something was up.

Tartaros would probably talk about whatever they wanted. Hopefully, it was money or land - that way, Silver could pay them. After he paid, Tartaros would leave. Mika would go back and pick Gray and they'll all live happily ever after.

Little did she know that Gray had other plans.

'Alright!'

Gray grinned to himself. He was sitting on the couch in James' house while James and his wife were working. They were mechanics and were constantly busy. They didn't want Gray to feel bored so they made him sit on the couch with a plate of biscuits and a childish movie on the TV.

Instead of watching the movie, Gray was planning on what he could do. He decided to leave James' house and go back to his. He would hide in the backyard - that way, he would know if Tartaros tried something against his parents.

He slowly got up and tiptoed towards the garage where James and his wife were working.

'Good, they're still working.'

He slowly opened the door, trying not to make it creak and stepped out. He grabbed his shoes and tied the shoelaces. He looked through the window to make sure James and his wife weren't watching.

And then, he ran.

After some time, he slowed and started walking instead. He was taking a different path since he was going to the backyard of his house, not the front.

He grinned happily and hummed a tune to himself.

This was the last time he smiled.

For he committed a terrible mistake in the next few minutes.