Chapter Twelve:

Xavier's fingers drummed the desk incessantly as he occassionally glanced out the window. He saw children playing loudly outside, their cries and joyous laughter somehow had the opposite effect of affection on him. Xavier turned away bitterly, looking back at the workload at his desk.

His door opened and Hank stepped through, looking quite worried. Xavier looked up immediately, "Is everything alright?" He asked, noticing Hank's expression. "Did they find her?"

"No, I..." He sighed, closing the door. "There's a rumour going around about Ekka. Apparently, you found a monster under the school." Xavier sighed, running a hand over his bald head. "Are you alright?"

"No," he huffed. "Sitting here isn't finding Ekka any faster."

"Charles," Hank sighed. "You need to be here."

"I know," Xavier replied, fingering through a few pages. "I know, but... She's out there, and the staff have been searching all night. They're already hindered because the staff with specialties in tracking can't help."

"We can't help that," Hank argued. "Charles, her mutation is practically created to oppose that kind of mutation."

"I know, but..." Charles exhaled helplessly.

"We could try Cerebro," Hank suggested. "Reach her mentally, speak some sense into her."

Xavier thought it over, then nodded, moving his wheelchair out if the way. "Are you going to try?" Hank asked.

"It wouldn't hurt," Xavier replied, rolling towers the door and quickly out of the room.

~.•*•.~

Xavier led the way down the end of the quiet hallways. Hank walked behind his wheelchair as he put in the code to open the doors to Cereboro.

Cereboro was a machine Hank invented several years before had had been perfecting ever since. It allowed telepathics - but mainly Charles - to expand their range of their mutation. This allowed him to use the device to see all the mutants in the world.

It had been a bit... Nauseating, when he and Hank first developed it, but over time, he perfected the device. Now, he was able to use it with ease, a major step up than before.

Hank watched as Charles zoned in on Ekka. She was walking down a street several miles from where the school was, and still far ahead of the teachers. Xavier tries to communicate with her.

~.•*•.~

Ekka walked beside the street quietly. Brownie was nearby, but had thankfully been hidden by the foilage of the woods. Ekka stopped, feeling as though she was being watched. She looked around, and so did Brownie, but she saw no one.

Then, she felt it. The feeling of something crawling into her mind like a snake. Ekka screamed, rather loudly, grabbing her skull with both hands and falling to her knees.

'Ekka,' She heard Xavier say into her mind, but Ekka didn't respond, she couldn't think straight. Father was back! She assumed. Father was coming back for her! He was going to kill her now!

'Ekka, calm down,' Xavier assured, but Ekka didn't listen. Tears filled her eyes and she sobbed loudly. She didn't want to die. She didn't want to die!

Suddenly, Xavier's prescense in her mind disappeared, leaving Ekka alone and on the side of an empty road to cry. Brownie came to her, licking her face as she cried into her hands.

Ekka glanced up at him and gave him a weary smile. It took her a few minutes to muster up the courage, but eventually she stood and continued to - reluctantly - walk.

~.•*•.~

Xavier ran his hands down his face, groaning. "She's not going to listen to reason," He said finally. Hank stood beside him, silent as the man talked. "She's exceedingly sensitive to telepathy. Did you see how she looked around before I even spoke to her? If she can respond like that to something like Cereboro, how will she respond to the faculty?"

"Only a few of the faculty are psychics. The rest have different mutations that you know she won't be able to counter as easily." Hank replied calmly. Xavier pulled out of the room and Hank followed as the doors shut tight behind him. "For example, Doctor Wilson, his ability or umbrakinesis will be very helpful in this situation. That and Ms. Nighthall's neutralization will be key in this situation."

Xavier frowned, "The students - especially the upperclassmen - will notice the sudden disappearance of faculty."

"We can tell them that there was an external issue, one that doesn't involve the school," Hank reasoned.

Xavier was not convinced. He rubbed at his eye, but slowly nodded, agreeing with Hank's words as he disappeared down the hall.

~.•*•.~

Ekka had been walking for nearly a day now. The sun down beared down on her, and she was tired, hungry, and desperately parched. Brownie noticed, and moaned. He wanted her to ride him, but Ekka shook her head sadly. If she road Brownie down the street, it would attract attention and Ekka didn't want to get caught.

Then, she saw something in the distance. Ekka couldn't quite see what it was at first, but after several more minutes of walking, she saw it was a sign. It was a tall sign with english words.

Ekka hadn't read any English in such a long time, but she tried to sound it out. "Sss... H... Shh... Eel... Sh-eel? Sheel?"

Without anyone to correct her, Ekka assumed she was right. She quickly found the Sheel building and then turned away, disgusted. It reeked of the smell of gasoline. Ekka blinked, coughing and waving at her nose. She wanted to turn around and find somewhere else to go, but there was no where else.

Ekka sighed, looking at the Sheel gasoline building. There was a small door and a few colourful signs beside it. Maybe... Maybe there was food?

Ekka turned to Brownie, "I am going in," she told him. "Stay in the woods, do not make a lot of noise, okay?" Brownie whined, and Ekka looked around to make sure nobody heard. "Shh! It will only be five minutes. In will find food for you too." He moaned again, but quieter this time. Then, he turned and went into the woods.

Ekka turned around and headed towards the small building. She held her breath as shs walked past tall pillars, with numbers and words on then she couldn't read.

Finally, she made it inside, and she breathed, looking around. There was a young man at a counter, playing with a small device in his hands. She closed the door and it made a small jingle. Ekka jumped, surprised, looking up to see a bell next to it.

Ekka marveled for a second before remembering why she was here. She glanced at the man, who still hasn't looked up, and then at the shelves. It held rows and rows of food. Ekka nearly drooled. She hadn't eaten in so long, and what she did eat was only scraps to keep herself alive.

Ekka made sure she was out of sight of the man before frantically shoving as much food as she could into her shirt and any other open places. She found something that looked like meat and took that too. Ekka continued to hold as much food as she could, when she suddenly heard the bell jungle again.

Ekka froze for a second, but realized she didn't have much time. She went to the side, grabbing a big jug of water, but she quickly realized it was too heavy for her - and she had too much stuff in her hands to carry it.

Ekka decided to leave the water and turned back around to grab more food. She nearly yelped in surprise when she saw a man standing there, staring at her. She dropped half the food in her hands, but didn't try to pick it up. If he caught her stealing, he'd send her back to Xavier and she's be stuck in that cage again. She couldn't go back there! She couldn't!

Ekka didn't realize the man was talking. She was too busy panicking and trying to find somewhere to escape. "... Where are your parents?" He asked calmly. Ekka shook her head, tears threatening her eyes, her lip quivering. She was so tired and hungry, she didn't want to go back.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," the man said, stepping towards her, but Ekka moved away immediately. The man saw this and looked down, picking up one of the bags of chips. He opened it and held it out to her. "Here. Take it."

Ekka stared back at the man, but he didn't look like he wanted to hurt her at all. Slowly, she reached out with her hand. Her missing pinkie and burnt finger was displayed to the man and he stared, shocked. Ekka snatched the bag from him while he was still surprised and quickly ate the chips as fast as she could. She didn't want him to take it from her.

"Wh... What happened to you?" He asked, shocked. Ekka was too busy eating to say anything. The child were delicious, but her throat was still dry. "Who did this to you?" He asked again when Ekka had finished the bag.

"I did," she said softly. "I was bad. Father punished me." The man stared at her and it took Ekka a second to realise that he was sad, but he was sad for her.

Ekka frowned, but didn't say anything. The man held out a hand to her and Ekka flinched, backing away. "I'm not going to hurt you. I want to pay for the food," he told Ekka, but she still didn't move. He took this as miscommunication and then said, "I'm going to pay for it, because if you try to steal it, you'll get in a lot of trouble."

Ekka frowned, weighing her options, but finally decided to stand, not taking his hand. She quickly began to pick up the food that she needed, making sure to get some for Brownie. Then, she looked around, finding the packaged meat and holding a much as she could bear.

Finally she looked up at the man hesitantly, and he had just been giving her strange looks, but didn't say anything. "C'mon," he beckoned, and Ekka slowly followed, holding all of her food close to her body.

The man at the register finally looked up from his device and frowned at the copious amounts of junk food Ekka carried. "Put them up here," the man instructed and Ekka obeyed hesitantly. She took set the food on the counter so the man could punch it into a machine.

When Ekka finally finished, the man dig into his pocket, pulled out a leather wallet, and handed a few bills to the man. He pressed something on the register that made Ekka jump in surprise. The man looked down at her, almost smiling.

The other, bored looking man handed the taller one a bill and a few coins before motioning to a few paper bags. The man took them and began to carry them outside. "C'mon," he called behind him and Ekka followed. He did have her food, after all.

Reluctantly, Ekka reached up, trying to get into one of the bags. The man stopped for her, bending down, allowing Ekka to dig into the paper bag, until she finally pulled out the long stick of meat. Ekka hurried over to the other side of the Sheel-that-smelled-like-gas.

"Brownie," Ekka called out to the bear playing deep in the woods. "Time to go." Ekka waited a few minutes as a big red truck pulled up beside Ekka. It was just the man, and he looked a bit confused.

"Who are you talking to?" He asked, but was quickly given his answer. A moment later, Brownie finally came from the foods. He shook himself and grinned. The man stumbled back, shocked, a hand pressed against the front of his pick-up truck. "That's... That's a bear," he said, staring at Brownie. Ekka had opened up the long meat stick and was feeding it to the bear slowly.

"Yes," Ekka agreed, "He is Brownie."

"You're feeding a bear," the man said. As if he didn't believe his own words.

Ekka realized this and looked away, "I am sorry," she said. "Brownie and I can go." Ekka turned, completely willing to go and keep walking, but the man stopped her.

"No," he said, and Ekka turned around, along with Brownie. He looked from her to the hear. Then, ran a hand through his messy blond hair. "... He... He can sit in the back." Ekka looked the man over, making double sure he wasn't trying to kill her, but finally nodded.

The man moved to open the back door, allowing Brownie to climb inside. Then, he opened up the side door and Ekka did the same.

Ekka watched the man come around the side of the car, and climb in. He started the engine and began to drive up the street Ekka came from.

He glanced back a Brownie a few times, a frown tugging at his lips, "I hope he has his shots," he said, half-joking.

"Brownie has shots," Ekka replied and he glanced at her, an eyebrow raised.

He hummed, glancing back at the road. "What's your name, kid?" He asked.

"What is yours?" She replied a bit skeptically. When she thought about it, it was a bit too late for that. She was in his car and he was driving.

He chuckled, "Lucas Donovan, at your service," he grinned.

Ekka stared at him, "Ekka," she said softly.

"That's a pretty name," he commented and Ekka furrowed her eyebrows, not quite knowing what to say to that. "What's your last name, Ekka?"

"My last name?" She asked, confused.

"Your surname," he amended, but it didn't help.

"I do not understand."

Lucas frowned for a minute, before saying, "Where are you from?"

"France." This shocked him and he glanced her way.

"You're French?" Although he recognized her accent as certainly quite foriegn, he'd never guess French.

"Yes."

"And," he glanced back at Brownie through the mirror. "The bear is too?"

"No. Brownie is a bear," Ekka replied and he started laughing. Ekka blinked, she didn't know what she said that was funny. Americans are strange.

After he calmed down, he said, "Okay, Ekka from France, where are your parents?"

Ekka frowned, looking down at her dangling feet. "My... My father is dead," Ekka said softly and Lucas immediately stopped smiling. "And I never had a mother."

"Oh..." He swallowed thickly. "Then... Where do you live?"

"In a cell." This statement nearly made the man swerve off the road. Ekka jumped, eyes wide and heart racing. Brownie moaned loudly from the back seat.

"Sorry, I'm sorry," he apologized quickly to both of them. "Ekka, you live in a cell?!"

"Sorry," she whispered, trying not to cry.

"No, no, that isn't your fault," he assured her and Ekka nodded slowly and sniffed. "Good god..." He muttered before asking, "Do you know who kept you in there?" Ekka nodded, "Who?"

Ekka was hesitant. If she told him what Xavier did, she would be in trouble. Xavier wouldn't... Kill her, would he? Ekka swallowed, if he found out that she told someone that he kept her in a cell, he would never let her out again. She'd be stuck down there, forever, and Xavier wouldn't care. He'd just go about his life. And Ekka would die.

Ekka shook her head, and the man nodded, "It's alright. You don't have to tell me." Ekka didn't say anything. They reached a stoplight and he glanced at her, taking in her malnourished, gait look. "Do you want something to eat?" He asked and Ekka nodded.

He grabbed the paper bag and handed it to her, before starting to drive again. Ekka sorted through the bag and Brownie moaned. "I am looking," she told him. Then, Ekka pulled out a pack of beef jerky. It took her a minute, but she opened it and gave it to him.

Then, Ekka pulled out the huge bottle of water. She tried to open it, but the top was sealed too tight and hurt her hand. Lucas noticed her struggle and held out his hand. "Let me see," he said and Ekka gave it to him. He opened the bottle with ease and handed it back to her.

Ekka took it and began drinking large gulps. She drank so much that she had to stop for a minute so she wouldn't choke. Then, she began drinking again. Brownie moaned and she stopped and handed the bottle to him to share. He took it and drank from it too - but his movements made more water spill in him rather than get in his mouth.

Ekka let him finish it and grabbed another bag of chips to eat. Brownie pawed her shoulder and Ekka turned, "What?" She asked. He shook the water bottle, which was empty. "I do not have anymore. I only got one." Brownie moaned, frustrated, "What do you want me to do? I thought we split that so we're good."

"You talk to the... Uh, To Brownie?" Lucas asked, glancing at the bear and Ekka.

"He listens," Ekka replied, before turning back to the bear. "Wait, please." Brownie moaned, but got quiet and sat back.

Lucas was surprised by how obedient the bear was, it was as if he really did understand her. "How old are you, Ekka?"

"Nine," she replied.

"Are you in school, yet?" Ekka frowned.

"No. Not anymore."

"Why?"

"I was bad." Lucas didn't respond to this. Instead, he turned down the street and entered an gated off area with a lot of huge, castle like house.

Ekka pressed her face against the mirror, shocked. The houses were so big, Ekka thought they would go on forever. And, the outside looked so elegant and expensive.

Finally, Lucas turned into the driveway of one of the big, pretty house. He got out of the car and opened the door for Brownie and then Ekka.

Brownie came up to her, the fur around his mouth and face was wet from the wasted water bottle. Lucas reached back into the car to grab the grocery bags out. "C'mon," he said, motioning her towards the door.

"I know you love Brownie, but is it alright if he stays in the backyard?" Lucas asked as they walked to the door. Ekka's eyes widened. "It's not that I don't like him," he said immediately. "It's just that we don't usually have pets in the house, unless it is cold out."

Ekka nodded, then turned to Brownie. "Can you go to the backyard?" Ekka asked, and Brownie moaned. Ekka wrapped her arms around him, hugging his neck, and then Brownie followed Lucas around the side. He opened up a gate and Brownie bounded inside. Then, he came back to Ekka, and smiled. "Alright, now let's go."

Lucas led her to the house and used a key to open the door. He didn't need to, though, because a tall man with dark hair answered it.

The other man's hair was dark and spikey, as if he had a million needles on his head. His skin tanned, an almost honey brown colour. "What took you so long?" He asked, frowning. Then, he looked at Ekka and his eyes widened. "Jesus, you kidnapped a kid."

"What!?" Lucas said, offended. "I didn't kidnap her, let me explain! C'mon, Ekka." Ekka hesitantly followed and the dark-haired man closed the door behind her.

He glanced at Ekka, an eyebrow raised and Ekka gulped, looking away.

Ekka focused at the rest of the house, it was very spacious, but also decorated nicely. The wallpaper was a vivid blue, but very detailed with intricate designs. The inside was neatly furnished, a small table near the for holding a small stack of mail. There was an open walkway to a small side room that held a a pair of sofas, a coffee table and a larger desk near the side. In front of the desk was large windows with white curtains drawn to the side so the sunlight could shine in.

Ekka watched as Lucas took off his shoes and set them beside the door with the rest of the straightened pairs of shoes. Since Ekka wore no shoes, she could only stand there quiet and listen to their whispered conversation.

"Yes, but she's a kid, Luc!" The dark-haired man was saying. "And you found her at a gas station. You can't just take kids like that, it's illegal."

"Adrian, she was trying to steal like ten bags of chips. And, look at her," they glanced at Ekka, she flinched, looking back down shyly. Was she not supposed to be listening to them. Would she get in trouble if she did? "She looks like she hasn't eaten in months."

"We can take her to the police, they can take her home," Adrian said.

"We... Can't do that either..."

"Why not?" Adrian demanded, sounded a little exasperated.

Lucas turned to Ekka and smiled gently, "Ekka, come here, please." He said and Ekka squirmed nervously. She didn't want to get in trouble. They both looked agitated. If she got between them, she didn't want to get hit. "It's alright. He's not going to hurt you."

Slowly, Ekka walked over. "Can you show him your hands?" Lucas asked and Ekka looked up at him, hiding her hands immediately.

"What's wrong with her hands?" Adrian asked, suspiciously.

"It's alright," Lucas assured her. "He's not going to do anything to you, I promise."

Ekka looked back and forth between the two men for a minute, but finally did as she was told. She showed Adrian her scared finger and two missing pinkie fingers and Adrian gasped. It was loud enough that it shocked Ekka and she backed away immediately, tripping into Lucas.

Lucas steadied her so she didn't fall down, "It's okay." He promised, calming her tense nerves, and Adrian bent down to her level.

Ekka showed him her hands again, this time, they were slightly shaking.

"Wha... What happened?" He whispered, too shocked to talk in any louder of a tone. "Who did this to you?"

"I did," Ekka said and he looked up at her, horrified. "I was bad, so Father punished me. I did this to myself."

"Why?" He asked softly.

Ekka was silent for a minute, then, she held out her fingers, starting with her left pinkie. "I tried to run away and he caught me. He... He killed my friend for that and took my finger." She held out her burnt index finger. "I told on him, and they made him shut down the circus. He was angry and made me burn my finger. I also got lashes."

"'Lashes'?" Lucas repeated. He didn't know this.

Ekka nodded and motioned to her back. "Lashes." Finally, she held out her more recently severed pinkie. "I tried to escape again, but he found me." Ekka looked at Adrian, who had a look of permanent shock on his face. "I was bad. I did this to me. If I am not bad, I do not get punished."

Adrian was speechless. Ekka backed away, and Lucas gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "We can't call the police," Lucas told him. "We can't bring her back there." Adrian started to pace, covering his hands with his face.

"You said she hasn't eaten any real food?" He nodded and Ekka squirmed, but nodded too. "It's still early, and I think we have a few eggs. After that, you can take a bath and... We'll figure out what to do."

Lucas wore a huge smile and he wrapped a arm around Adrian, who scowled and shrugged it off. "I get it. Come on," Adrian huffed, turning to go into the kitchen.

Lucas smiled at Ekka, his happiness unwavering. "C'mon," he waved and Ekka dutifuly followed.

The kitchen was just as big as the foyer. Its walls were the same blue, matching the rest of the house. There was a granite counter in the center of the room and a white stove on the side. Brown, wooden canines were on the floor and above her over the stove.

Outside of the kitchenette was a wooden table, set with the blue table cloth. Ekka gawked at the sheer amount of dishes that were clean and collecting dust. She glanced out the window as the two men cooked and talked. She saw Brownie chasing a large white dog. She was happy and he was gentle. They both were making noise, she barking loudly and him moaning as they played.

Ekka turned back to Lucas, who was talking with Adrian as they cooked the eggs. It had began to smell very good and her mouth watering.

"Mi... Mister Lucas?" Ekka spoke up gently and the man turned her way, smiling.

"Yes?"

"When can Brownie come inside?" Lucas froze, as if forgetting about Brownie.

Adrian glanced up from the bowl he was whisking eggs with, "Who's Brownie?"

"My friend," Ekka said, but Lucas had turned a deathly pale.

"Right, uhm, another thing," Lucas said, stepping around the counter so he put some distance between himself and Adrian. "Brownie is her pet... Bear." Adrian dropped the spoon and it clattered against the side of the mixing bowl.

"He's her what!?" Ekka flinched and Adrian noticed, lowering his voice. "Lucas, are you serious!?"

"He was harmless!" Lucas defended Brownie. "And, a bit cute. Look, he's outside with Blanca. Nobody's dead. I don't think he can even kill a fly."

"Brownie kills flies," Ekka frowned. "He likes to eat them."

"See!" Lucas smiled, but it was strained, "Adorable..."

"It is a little disgusting," Ekka admitted. "If he sneezed, flies come out." Lucas made a face, but the smile he wore was still wide.

Adrian wasn't buying it. He glanced at Ekka and then back at Lucas. "¿Y cuándo ibas a informarme que trajiste un oso a casa, Lucas? (And when were you going to inform me that you brought a bear into our home, Lucas?)"

"It would've come up eventually," Lucas tried to mend, but Adrian scoffed.

"¿¡Finalmente!? (Eventually!?)" Adrian looked out the window, and then ran a hand through his hair, trying to process this. "¿Puedo entender que no llame a la policía por ella, pero Lucas, en serio? ¡Eso es ... Es un oso completo! (I can understand not calling the police for her, but Lucas, really? That's... That's a whole bear!)"

Then, the two men began to argue in the same language Adrian spoke. Ekka only watched, partially understanding a few words they threw at each other, most of them being 'oso' or 'bear'.

Ekka turned around, noticing a door that was partially uncovered and lead outside. The two were still arguing, not paying attention to her, so she slipped quietly out of the chair and went to the door. Luckily for her, it was unlocked. She turned the doorknob and stepped into the backyard.

Brownie and the dog, Blanca, were jumping around each other and making noise. As soon as Ekka stepped out, Brownie turned and ran towards her. Ekka held her arms out as the bear pushed into her with his paws. Ekka wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing it

The big white dog yipped and came beside Ekka too. "Hello," she greeted her. Ekka held out her hand and Blanca sniffed it with her wet nose, then she licked between her fingers. Ekka bent down and rubbed her fur.

Brownie moaned, he always got jealous easily. Ekka looked past him at the toys, "Go grab one, we'll play." Brownie listened and a minute later, he was back with a ball in his mouth. Ekka held out her palm and he dropped it.

Blanca saw the ball and got excited, sniffing at it and barking. Ekka threw it as hard as she could, and they both chased after it. Blanca caught the ball and ran back to Ekka, slobbering over it in her mouth.

"May I?" Ekka asked, holding out her hand and Blanca dropped it. Ekka picked it up and threw it again and they both ran again.

Then, the back door opened and Adrian came out, Lucas right behind him. Adrian was staring at her, and Ekka frowned. Blanca tried to place the ball in her hand, but Ekka didn't grab it.

Brownie came to Ekka side, standing in between her and Adrian. He didn't recognize the man and was trying to protect her. "Do not growl at him," Ekka said quietly, patting his back. Brownie turned to her and Ekka scratched him behind the ears.

Brownie stopped growling, but he didn't move from inbetween them. "You talk to the bear?" Adrian asked.

"I talk to Brownie," Ekka corrected gently. She didn't like him calling Brownie 'the bear'. It sounded like he wasn't good or had feelings.

"Sorry," he apologized, out of habit. "Why do you... Uhm, talk to him?"

"He listens to me," Ekka replied. "I... I do not have anyone else to talk to..."

"How long were you in... The cell, Ekka?" Lucas asked gently.

Ekka frowned, looking down at her fingers to help her count. "It is cold now so... Spring? Since spring?" Ekka didn't remember what day.

"That's over half a year!" Adrian said to Lucas, almost furious. Ekka turned away, Blanca was nudging her palm with her wet nose. She picked up the ball and the two animals moved quickly, and ran as soon as she threw it.

The two adults whispered to each other again, Adrian running a hand down his face and Lucas with his arms crossed. Ekka tried not to listen in this time, and focused on their game and Blanca's barking. Finally, Lucas called to Ekka, "C'mon."

Ekka set the ball down and followed Lucas inside. Brownie moaned, but Ekka promised that she wouldn't leave him.

Adrian was about to step back into the kitchen to cook, but Ekka tugged on his pants leg. He stopped and Ekka backed away. She didn't know if he would be upset that she did that. "Yes?" He asked, waiting for her to speak.

Ekka twisted her fingers, "If... If you do not like Brownie... He and I could leave..." She said, looking at him, waiting for his orders.

Adrian furrowed his eyebrows and said, "Why would you leave?"

"Brownie and I were bad... You... I..." Ekka bit her lip, she didn't know how to explain this to him. It had became second nature to Ekka to make people angry. She usually tried not to anger Father in the Circus, but he always got angry so Ekka tried to stay away from him. He always seemed to find her, though. Even at the school, Mr. George was always upset with her she could tell Xavier was never happy with anything that she did.

But, now Adrian looked at her, and Ekka was his eyes soften. He bent down on one knee so he could stare her in the eyes. Ekka felt uncomfortable, but she tried not to move away. "Ekka, I'm not going to send you away, ever," he promised her. "Just because Brownie... Shocked me, it doesn't mean that I won't treat you like a person."

Ekka frowned, "'Like a person'?" She repeated.

"Yes," Adrian said. "You're a person, so I'll treat you like one."

"I do not understand," Ekka replied, eyebrows furrowing. "Why would I not be a person?"

Adrian smiled and motioned towards the barstool. "You'll understand eventually," he promised. "Come sit down and eat."