Chapter 33

'How goes things H H?'

The look on her face as she turned to face him was one of great pleasure. He knew she was pleased to see him; she always was. That was the way he liked it.

'I'm pretty sure I'm ready to deal with anything now,' she turned back towards the table she'd been working at and began concealing a number of weapons and vials within her clothing, 'I just need to know the where and when.'

'Well I think I'll be able to help you out with that one,' the certainty of the voice which sounded from behind them could only mean trouble.

'Who are you?' Helen frowned, as they both turned round to face the school clad boy.

'I'm the one who tipped the Council off,' his eyes purposefully narrowing in on Ni, 'and I could tip them off to a few more connected things too, if I wanted. But as you're the ones dealing with the case I thought I'd tell you directly.'

'Not a fan of dealing with the Council?'

'Who is?'

'So what are these connected tip offs?'

'Yes,' Ni filled his voice with deeply warning tones, 'what are they?'

'That depends Nichee,' the lad deliberately stretched out his name, 'on whether or not you've breached our little agreement.'

'What agreement?' Helen's eyes flicked curiously between the two of them.

'Well I only tipped the Council off because Nichee here agreed to be the one to take the case,' again the boy's eyes taunted Ni, 'you see, the children in danger are being currently held up in hell and what with Nichee being such an expert in that department.'

'Hell?' Helen half squeaked in shock. 'You never mentioned that was where they were.'

'Didn't I?' Ni pulled his face into a tight smile, his eyes narrowing angrily in on the boy. 'Well I was planning to wait until you were ready to go before I mentioned that little side note.'

'Why are they held up down there anyway?'

'Because their kidnappers aren't demons,' the boy smirked, 'and everyone knows a non-demon can't make it down to hell unnoticed; therefore whoever was trying to protect the children would be tipped off long in advance.'

'Oh I see,' Helen nodded slowly, 'I guess that does make sense.'

'Of course,' he shrugged casually, 'but then again, that was another thing old Nichee here and I had agreed on before I went to tip off the Council.'

'Wait, you were the one to move them down there?'

'I didn't say that,' a strange smile pulled across his face, 'but I didn't not say it either.'

'If I'm dealing with things down in hell I'm going to need a few more things,' Helen's expression became more thoughtful.

'Well you have more than enough time to prepare; my sources tell me they won't make their move till tomorrow.'

'Okay,' she turned to leave, 'I'll see you soon Nichee, but I've…'

'Go,' Ni tried to keep his voice as level as possible.

As soon as she'd left he turned on the boy. He was amazed he'd clearly managed to get a hold of Crovell's Chaos already and maybe that was why he was here now, trying to antagonise things. But the look on the boy's face told him there was more to it than that.

'So what title did you opt to go by?' Ni remained calm, trying not to give the boy an opening of any kind.

'The Teen,' he shrugged, 'I thought it was the most appropriate at the time; especially considering how insecure I was when I first came into being,' he began examining his nails in an almost bored fashion. 'But Crovell's Chaos quickly sorted that out. The second I started feeding off of his chaos our whole little arrangement came flooding back to me.'

'That doesn't explain why you're here,' he shot him a look, trying to maintain control. 'In fact, wasn't our little deal that you'd stay away until you'd taken down all three of the First's mortal immortal children? We wouldn't want the brats interfering now, would we?'

'Actually that would only have prevented three of the brats from interfering,' the Teen continued to examine his nails, 'you didn't say anything about going after the mortal member of the trio, the Sen Kayma, his bit sister or your little brother.'

'The Sen Kayma and his bit sister aren't powerful enough to be a problem, but feel free to help yourself to them if you so wish. As for the other two; the mortal has other pursuits right now and my dear baby brother… let's just say I have my own plans for him.'

'I suppose that's understandable, but it doesn't explain why you stopped me from completing my end of our little deal. You do remember what that was, don't you? I'd take out the First's youngest three and you'd make it so I'd be permanently in control.'

'Of course I remember what it was.'

'Then explain to me why you decided it was a good idea to send your little minion after me right when I had the youngest where I wanted him.'

'I didn't send one of my minions after you.'

'Oh please, the kid was toting one of your trade mark weapons.'

'He was?'

'I know all about you Ni remember; I have access to all the knowledge the First has.'

'The First doesn't know everything about me.'

'Yes, but your grandmother knows enough.'

'You're not going to unhinge me so easily Teen,' Ni laughed and shook his head, 'I wasn't lying when I said I didn't send anyone after you.'

'Then who was the brat with your weapon.'

'A Balancer I've managed to coheres into working for me. A new recruit.'

'So you did send him…'

'No, I sent him on a recon mission, to check up on you. It's not my fault he's still too much of a goody goody to let you be.'

'It's nice to know you trust me Ni.'

'Please, you're a born traitor and we both know it.'

'Well thanks to your little recruit it's now going to be impossible for me to get anywhere near the youngest.'

'That's fine.'

'Really?'

'Just get Jo out of the way for me, Arados's agoraphobia will be enough to keep him at bay for now anyway.'

'I thought you might say that,' the Teen rolled his eyes.

'Just go and finish your assignment will you?'

'As you wish; just don't expect me to leave your little brother alone. I was promised Light and I will get it.'

'I don't think so Teen,' he glared, 'you will leave my brother alone.'

'Why?'

'I told you I have plans for him and I will not have you screwing them up.'

'Why not? You screwed up mine.'

'That wasn't intentional.'

'Wasn't it?'

'Of course it wasn't.'

'Then why did your recruit use one of your weapons Ni. No one uses one of your weapons without your permission; especially not people you've only just recruited,' anger burned in the Teen's eyes. 'So if you weren't taking a hit out against me, then why…'

'There are other explanations to all things,' Ni maintaining control over the situation.

'Oh really?'

'Yes, really. Maybe you need to think about this a little.'

For a few moments the Teen examined him. Then he laughed lightly and turned his head in a curious manner.

'Oh I see.'

'Exactly; so it wasn't my fault.'

'No, but it will be if you don't get him under control Ni,' the Teen began walking away.

'Oh I will,' he promised, 'just give me a little time.'