Chapter 24

Crovell couldn't resist a chance like this. How could anyone? It was just too perfect an opportunity for creating some chaos and he was the Heir to Chaos after all. To make things even better the Teen appeared more than willing to hang around with Crovell, after he'd somehow managed to swindle the lad away from Duke and Mai.

'The First is your father?'

'That's what I've been saying, isn't it?'

'Yes,' the Teen nodded, 'but there something a little odd about it.'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean, there's nothing.'

'What do you mean nothing?'

'I mean, the only person I have any kind of feeling towards is…'

'You mean there's nothing for anyone else.'

'It's like a complete and utter blank. I know who you all are, well kind of. But other than that there's nothing.'

'That is strange,' Crovell frowned, 'it's not like Dad to be so single minded about anything.'

'But it is like a Nameless.'

'But aren't the Nameless created from the First's own state of mind? So in order for you to be so single minded Dad had to be too.'

'Maybe becoming the true face of the First has changed his feelings for Mai,' the Teen shrugged, 'and that's why there are no feelings for anyone else.'

'Changed his feelings how?'

'I don't know; I think that's what I'm here to work out.'

'He still loves her,' Crovell suddenly became defensive, 'he has to still love her. She's his Calcanto. And the First's Calcanto. She's a Win part. She's…'

'I didn't say he doesn't still love her; it's just… different.'

'Different how?'

'I don't know. Just different.'

'You have to find yourself still as in love with her as you always have been,' Crovell felt himself becoming strangely agitated by this conversation. 'My Dad and Mai are meant to be together forever. Do you understand that? Mann Standing, I came out here to screw with your head about something, but not this.'

'You wanted to screw with my head about something?'

'I'm the Heir to Chaos, I'm not happy unless I'm screwing with something.'

'But what was it you wanted to screw with me,' the Teen frowned.

'Not your feelings for Mai, obviously,' Crovell turned away from him. 'I never miss an opportunity for chaos and this time I was after a good kind of chaos.'

'A good kind of chaos?'

'It would have been for my sister. She needs acceptance. I figured if I screwed with your head enough, when Dad came back she'd get it. Then maybe, finally, I could be enough for her.'

'And now?'

'What?'

'Do you still want to screw with my head a little?'

'Hell no! I want you to get your feelings for Mai sorted.'

'Why is that so important to you?'

'He chose her over my Mum.'

'Is that the only reason?'

'No, but it's the best one. I think.'

'Is your wish to get that sorted more important to you than acceptance?'

'Everything is more important to me than acceptance. I couldn't care less if my relationship with my sister was ever accepted by anyone. My sister is the one who needs that, not me.'

'So you really were only willing to get it for her sake.'

'She needs it more than she needs me. I want her to need me that much. I need her to need me that much. That was why I thought if I could get it for her then… then maybe… maybe she'll see that I'm enough.'

'What if she doesn't?'

'She has to; I can't live without her.'

'That's a little unhealthy though, isn't it?'

'More than you know,' he shot the Teen a look, before giving a heavy sigh. 'This is Chaos.'

'Your feelings for her?'

'Everything. Everything is Chaos.'

'And you don't like that it is?'

'No, I love that it is. I couldn't exist if there was no chaos. If I wasn't Chaos. That's why everything around me is always so confusing and I wonder how I'm ever able to keep my head about it. But I do and it's wonderful. I love her and its Chaos. And I love the Chaos.'

'More than you love her?'

'At least as much.'

'It must be wonderful to feel so passionately and so certainly.'

'It's no different to your feelings for Mai, I'm sure.'

'Ah, but I don't know what my feelings for Mai are, remember.'

'You blush every time she talks to you, that's got to be a good sign.'

'I blush because she makes me feel like a little kid,' the Teen shrugged, 'that doesn't mean I love her passionately. That just means I find her somewhat attractive.'

'You love her,' Crovell insisted, 'I know you do.'

'Because she's my Calcanto?'

'Exactly.'

'And a Win part?'

'Even more so.'

'But what if that doesn't mean anything to me anymore?'

'It does. It has to.'

'But what if it doesn't? What if she doesn't mean to me what she used to? What if she means something different now? What if I don't love her?'

'You do.'

'What if I don't?'

'Stop it,' Crovell childishly pressed his hands over his ears, 'stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it. I'm the one who's supposed to be screwing with things. Not you. Not you!'

The Teen snatched at his hands, pulling them away from his ears and forced Crovell to meet his gaze. It was then, in that single moment, that Crovell saw it. The Teen might look like a good little school boy, but the innocence was only skin deep.

'I could never have screwed with your head, could I?' Crovell half breathed the words.

'Underestimating your own powers of Chaos, are we?'

'You do love her.'

The Teen began laughing strangely, shaking his head slightly as he did. He held onto Crovell for a long period of time, making Crovell's head swim sickly.

'You're far too easy to break,' the Teen met and held his gaze, 'did you know that? Oh mighty King of Chaos, stand in the ruins you've created for yourself.'

'Why are you really here?' Crovell felt weak beyond belief.

'Wouldn't you like to know,' pulling himself away from Crovell, the Teen began to stalk off.

'Whatever you're planning, you won't get away with it.'

'Stand in your ruins Chaos, your kingdom has fallen.'

'I won't let you get away with this!' Crovell forced every ounce of his remain strength into the words.

'You don't have a choice,' for a moment the Teen stopped and glanced back towards him, 'I am Chaos now.'