So, I'm trying desperately to get inspiration for this chapter. Part of me wants to rush ahead and another wants to take it slow. I have a few ideas and I'll sort through them as I write. That said, I wouldn't exactly call it a filler… I honestly don't have the slightest clue what I'm doing. *sigh* If it sucks, tell me. Nothing left to say, I'll just write. Read On!

Phelos

In my sleep, I dreamed. I dreamed that I flew over a beautiful forest and underneath me, a forest was filled with my elder brothers. My father called to me from below and I landed on a branch. Rephaim stood there with the rest of them, come to save me again. Then he morphed into a raven and flew away, leaving me alone. Again. Thankfully, my dream fell away. I expected to awake but found myself in the darkness, the voice appearing once more.

"Hello, Phelos," the voice said. I grimaced.

"Let me rest in peace!" I yelled at it. I heard her chuckling.

"Patience. I simply came to check the progress of your mission, child of Kalona." I sighed, just wanting the voice to go away.

"Yes,-" I stopped and realized my dilemma. "I don't know what to call you. You refuse to tell me your name."

"I still refuse. But, you may address me as Madame."

"Yes, Madame. It is going as to be expected. He is… wary of me. But, that is understandable. But, I believe I am making progress."

"That is good. Farewell. I am to see you soon." I heard the smile in her voice and the world of sleep faded and I opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was brown eyes looking at me. I then realized who the brown eyes belonged to.

"Damien," I said in shock. I soon collected myself. "Hello." He smiled at me, truly smiled for the first time, as if amused by my shock.

"Hello, Phelos. How are you?" He was considerably cheerier, but the shadow of despair lingered darkly in the warm brown of his eyes.

"I am well. Would I be prying if I asked what has caused the sudden change in demeanor?"

"I cried," he answered simply.

"Does that not represent sadness?" He smiled at me sadly.

"It does in a way. It is more of a release of sadness. It can make you feel better." I thought I understood. I said nothing and he got up to prepare the food he'd gotten for me. My leg, as I'd promised, had healed completely. Now very few of my ribs were healed completely. I only had a little time left to accomplish my task. If I lingered after I was done healing, it would seem strange. Unless I… I did not want to but I had no choice.

"I brought you a bowl of cereal. There's milk in the kitchen." I nodded. I stood, wanting to do it myself, and then fell from the wooziness. Apparently, my head fracture was still causing problems. Damien rushed to scold me for attempting it and then did it for me. I was touched by his kindness to someone he did not even trust. That was the action that would change the course of my life, for that was the action that finalized my decision. He brought me my cereal and I spoke.

"Come sit here. I feel I owe you an explanation to my condition. I feel I may as well begin at the beginning."

Damien

I sat without question and silently awaited the beginning of his tale.

"When I was young, I like to think of myself as lucky. Somehow or another, my mother survived my birth. Her name was Adrina. She loved me, the only one besides my brother. But, my mother was killed by one of her own people when she attempted to protect me when Father was trapped. In those years, when Father was angry, he would find one of us to take it out on. Most often, it was me. And, if it got too rough, Rephaim would step in and calm Father. Obviously when we were spirits, I received no beatings. But, they resumed when the Tsi Sgili freed him.

"I lived in constant fear. When Neferet trapped him, I was grateful. I was relieved that I was free of his angry eyes and hard fists. When he was awakened, he found my brother Kreone a fit victim for a while. But, when we returned to Tulsa, his anger at the Tsi Sgili was delivered to me. Rephaim was distracted and came to my rescue less and less. None of my other brothers cared and I cannot count the number of times I thought I would die.

"Then, Rephaim left and my father found I, once again, to be a good target. Rephaim was gone entirely- which was the source of Father's wrath- and I really almost did die. I would have died if not for you, Damien. For that I am eternally grateful." He finished his tale of woes and I sat speechless. An awkward silence formed but I could find nothing in my immense vocabulary to word my feelings with.

"I'm sorry," I finally said meekly. He simply nodded.

"I know. That is why I told you. Because you are kind enough to feel sorry for a monster such as me and you deserved to know why the curse of myself has been bestowed upon you." I was stunned silent once more. I held in the words I wanted to say but then I could no more. They sprung from my lips with no more thought then breathing.

"You are not a curse," I said softly.

"What?" he asked. It was my turn to shock him now.

"You are anything but a curse. You have given me a distraction from my sorrow and something to focus on. You are finally someone who I can speak to without them having to be busy and leave. You will sit in listen. I realize you have no choice, but still I am grateful. So, Phelos, you are not a curse, but maybe somewhat of a blessing." I smiled meekly and I saw a glint in his eyes that spoke volumes; that said he would smile if he had lips.

"I am glad you have come to think of me so," Phelos said. His voice was wary, as though he was afraid of the way he phrased his words. His next question shocked me. "Do you trust me, Damien, son of Nyx?" My answer shocked me even more.

"I believe I do." In a sudden change of topic, his curiosity led us to the topic of my parents.

"What of your parents?"

"I don't talk to them much. They can't accept that I'm homosexual so they try to change it. But, I cannot be changed and grew weary of them trying. So, I call them now and then for Christmas or birthdays and vice versa. But, that's as far as that relation goes." Phelos nodded. We sat and talked for a while and I felt my hate for him dissipate. I could not hate him, not just for his blood. He committed many less violent crimes than the other Raven Mockers, Rephaim included.

"You must be going," he said eventually. I looked at the window. At the horizon, the sky was grey.

"Goodbye, Phelos." I paused and decided to honor him with the vampyre farewell. "Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again." He nodded and returned my words. I turned and walked out the door, my heart lighter than it had been in ages. Driving home, thoughts of both him and Jack filled my mind.

So, not suckish. I think I did good things with the chapter, so good for me. Good for you too. If it had sucked you would have had to read it and that's just sad. So, let me know what you thought. I'm pretty good at just winging it. And, now you know much more about Phelos. But, I'll stop giving you my opinion and instead wait for yours. Forever yours, StevieRae2011, signing off!