Chapter 8

With a strange level of calm, Mokuba presented himself to Ni. The youngest of the original children of the Mistresses sat thoughtfully on his throne. The look of contemplation on his face made Mokuba wish he had the power of telepathy; being able to read the evil gods mind would have been a huge advantage in this situation.

'You have some nerve in summoning me Ni,' he levelled his voice with just the right amount of aggression, 'this isn't how our relationship works; what hell kind of game do you think you're playing?'

'Are you insinuating that my kingdom is some kind of game?' Ni's voice toned with amusement as he deliberately avoided answering the question. 'Because if you are then I may have to reconsider my tolerance towards you and your wife.'

'What tolerance?'

'Don't you think I've noticed my demons going missing?' He rose to his feet. 'There's virtually no one left in the ice caves now and don't even get me started on the city.'

'So we've been a little hungry over the last few years, it's not like anyone's going to miss a few little demons.'

'I've missed them.'

'Ha,' Mokuba rolled his eyes, 'the only thing you miss Ni is…'

'You don't know the first thing about me,' Ni cut him off, as he somehow managed to slam Mokuba hard against the wall. 'So don't you ever try to suggest you do or I'll…'

'You'll what Ni,' he met and held his gaze, 'try to kill me? Because I'm not afraid to test out a little theory I might have about my Veronsen powers working against you gods you know.'

'You don't have the guts,' Ni pulled himself away from him, 'and even if you do, it doesn't matter, because it won't work.'

'Why not?'

'When the multiverse reset itself I asked it for something and that something was you and your wife,' his gaze locked fiercely with Mokuba's, 'and anything I own can't destroy me, that's just the way things are around here.'

'That goes against our little arrangement Ni,' Mokuba wagged his finger at him. 'And I wouldn't be so sure about us not being able to destroy you; where there's a will there is always a way.'

'Is that why it's taking so long for you to get those brats of yours under control?'

'Spying on us also goes against our agreement,' Mokuba glared at him. 'I'm starting to think I should have just gone to the restless directly; clearly you're incapable of sticking to your promises.'

'Well you have my parents to thank for that; always breaking their promises to me because that idiot of an older brother of mine did something else to make the heavens think he was marvellous.'

'Aw, what's the matter Ni, couldn't stand living in your brother's shadow?'

'Why else would I be the way I am?'

'Oh no,' Mokuba shook his head, 'you're not getting away with that one. You're the way you are because this is how you've chosen to be. It has nothing to do with your exceptionally wonderful big brother. And I should know, I spent a lifetime living in my brother's shadow and I don't blame him for the way I am now.'

'Interesting.'

'Not as interesting as the point of you summoning me here Ni,' he folded his arms, 'so would you care to tell me why you did that again?'

'I want to help you with your little problem.'

'What?' Mokuba frowned at him.

'I want to help you with your children and your lack of ownership of them,' he smirked. 'I figured if I was going to create a Veronsen army, I might as well actually have an army.'

'We are not and will never be your army Ni.'

Swiftly Ni moved so he was stood shoulder to shoulder with Mokuba, he then turned his head slightly so their eyes were locked. For a few moments a tense silence surrounded them, as a cruel smile stretched its way across Ni's face.

'Oh you are my army, whether you want to think of yourselves that way or not. And because you are I can help you get your children back.'

'Really?' Mokuba cocked an eyebrow.

'Oh yes and I've already got all the pieces I need in place in order to be able to do it, just waiting to be set into motion. All I need is your agreement and your children will be yours within the week.'

'Within a week, huh? How do I know I can trust you? I mean, you've already broken the terms of our original agreement.'

'You can't trust me,' he smirked, 'I am the devil after all. But I'm not asking for anything in return for this and you know it's the best chance you've got.'

'Do I now?'

'Yes.'

Silently Mokuba watching him, weighing him up. Then, stepping away, he turned and started making his way out of the room.

'Whatever it takes Ni,' his voice was steady and calm, 'I want my children back, whatever it takes.'

Joey was just making Arados something to eat when Mai entered the kitchen. Since he'd fully become the First his feelings towards her had become stronger. Unfortunately everything in his head still felt so strange and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get that across to her. He was beginning to worry that it was going to start affecting their relationship, but even that felt impossible for him to say.

'Hey,' Mai flashed him a loving smile, making his heart do sixteen year old boy summersaults, 'Duke said he'd chaperone Crovell and Jo for me.'

'Oh, right,' he felt himself turn casually away from her, trying to hide the fact he was blushing.

It was a weird, he felt as though someone had taken him back to the beginning of his relationship with his wife making everything feel new and strangely naughty.

'You're being weird with me again,' her voice toned strangely.

'What?'

'The last few days you've been acting strangely with me; is there something you're not telling me?'

'No,' he kept his gaze away from her.

'Not even the fact our daughter is pregnant?'

'Huh?' His eyes rose to meet hers. 'How did…?'

'So you did know about that then?'

'Yes,' he squirmed.

'And you were planning to tell me when exactly?'

'I'm sorry, with everything else that was going on I just…'

'Forgot?' It was clear from her tone she wasn't going to believe that.

'No,' he admitted, 'I didn't forget, I just couldn't find the words.'

'Why not?'

'Because…' he hesitated.

How could he find the words to tell his wife fully becoming the First had reduced him to the state of a sixteen year old boy whenever he was around her?

'Arados…' he eventually managed, 'I've been so worried about Arados lately; I felt it was important one of us was there for him. And as you've seemed more concerned with Jo, I thought…'

'You thought what? That you'd just be there for him and completely forget the fact that you have two other children?'

'That's not it.'

'I'm worried about Arados too Joey,' she appeared to blink back tears, 'but…'

'I'm sorry Mai,' moving across to her, he pulled her protectively into his arms, everything in him turning to jelly as he did, 'I should have told you about Jo. But it's been so weird living in my head this last week that I feel… I love you Mai.'

'I love you too,' she curled herself into him, 'and I know this whole situation hasn't been easy for you. But it's not easy for me either, I just wish you'd remember that.'

'I do,' he swallowed hard. 'Do you want to take Arados's dinner to him?'

For a few moments Mai was silent. Pulling away from her slightly, he allowed himself to study her face. The sixteen year old which resided in his body suddenly felt as though he was staring at her for the first time, whilst the rest of him tried desperately to suppress those thoughts.

'What's wrong?' Joey tentatively stroked the hair back from her face.

'I could have… should have talked to both of our children about what was going on in their lives. I knew… I knew Arados was gay and I said nothing to him and I knew… I knew there was something wrong with Jo, but I chose to ignore it. No wonder neither of my children trusted me enough to come to me with their problems.'

'Hey, hey, it's not your fault Mai; they didn't let anyone help them,' gently he leant into kiss her, his heart pounding hard in his chest as he did. 'I know… I know it's hard, but we just have to learn to live with that.'