Chapter 37

She knew leaving the Mistresses' Chambers might bring attention to herself, but she was still so worried about her secret coming out she had to see the one person other than Dayena who would truly understand her peril. For a normal Vii Sen child of a Vii Sen visiting your birth parents was strictly against the rules, so for her to do it she knew she was risking a lot. But the truth was, ever since she'd accidentally found out where her parents were hiding, she'd been visiting them. A lot. Every chance she got in fact. After all, her demon blood made it possible for her to slip in and out of their place completely unnoticed.

Her visit with them had been brief as always and they'd both been pretty understanding when she'd explained her situation to them. They'd also been able to give her some pretty sound advice, but… she still wasn't sure. There was this almost certain dread lurking inside of her telling her Lus hadn't brought her excuses and that she'd be the link to break the chain. It was why after she left her parents place, she still hadn't gone back to the Mistresses' Chambers. Instead she made her way towards the playground she'd been in when she told Lus about her parents.

With all the extra powers her extremely mixed up blood granted her, she could tell he was there, even though she couldn't see him. She could also sense instantly something was wrong with him.

'Lus,' her voice was soft and cautious.

He made no attempt to reply, so she was forced to move into the playground in search of him. It didn't take her long to locate him, lying on the ground in a fit of convulsions. For half a second fear jolted through her body as her mind raced through a million and one thoughts trying to figure out a way of helping him. Before she could do anything, however, his body appeared to slow to a stop and he just remained lying there in a languished state of exhaustion.

'Are you… are you okay?' She knelt down next to him.

For a long time he just lay there, not reacting to her presence in the slightest. It worried Kisara so much she was just about ready to run off for some real help when he finally spoke.

'My Mum's pregnant and she's actually happy about it,' his gaze remained focused on some invisible point only he could see.

'Shouldn't she be?'

'No,' his voice was dull and heavily, 'she wasn't happy about being pregnant with me, so she's not allowed to be happy about being pregnant again. That's not fair.'

'Oh I can think of plenty of things much less fair than that Lus,' she shot him a serious look; being with her parents always brought out her logical side. 'I mean, I know it's hard and you'll hate me for saying it, but…'

'Save your breath,' he gave a heavy sigh as he slowly started sitting up, 'I know I'm being selfish and unfair, but… how can she have another baby?'

'I…'

'Kissy,' False's voice sounded from behind her, forcing her gaze to turn towards him.

There was a strange look on his face which almost appeared to match the one Lus was wearing.

'Who's he?' False and Lus appeared to spot each other at the exact same moment.

'Lus, False, False, Lus,' Kisara quickly introduced, 'and are you okay False?'

'No,' he shook his head, 'I'm seriously, seriously not okay right now,' his face paled more than slightly, 'I'm currently hiding from Ni.'

'Why, what did my dear cousin do now?' Lus struggled to his feet.

'You're the Face of Friendship's youngest, aren't you?' False eyed him up curiously.

'Soon to be second youngest,' he gave another heavy sigh.

'Then you need to tell me everything you know about your cousin. Like, do you know if he really cheats on Dee? Or if he really does have children other than the four sisters?'

'I don't know,' he shook his head, 'I barely know anything about the gods I'm related to, my parents thought it would be safer that way.'

'What is all this about False?' Kisara focused her gaze on him. 'What's Ni said to you?'

For a few moments False stared at her. Then he tilted his gaze slightly and gave her a grave look.

'He knows.'

'He knows?'

False nodded slowly and Kisara's heart felt as though it was about to stop beating.

'Knows what?' Lus frowned.

'Knows SK has a part demon working for him,' Kisara covered flawlessly, without batting an eyelid.

'But that's not all he knows,' False's eyes continued to hold her gaze. 'He… he knows who my true father is. Or at least, he claims he does. But I… I…'

'What is it False?'

'You're a Vii Sen, aren't you False?' Lus took a slightly unbalanced step towards him.

'Yeah,' he nodded, 'my mother's husband smashed my brains out when I was a week old. Because…'

'Because you're Ni's son?'

'What?' Kisara and False's voices sounded in shocked unison.

'How did you know that was what Ni was claiming?' False gawked at him.

'You asked me what I knew about my cousin and whether or not he had other children,' Lus shrugged, 'it didn't take much for me to put two and two together.'

'Ni's cheated on Dee,' Kisara couldn't help but feel slightly heartbroken, 'how could he do that?'

'You of all people aren't allowed to be surprised Kissy,' False sighed, clearly distressed. 'But I can't believe that I… I'm…'

'Look, it's more than possible he was lying,' Lus shrugged, clearly trying to be reassuring. 'But if you want to talk to someone who might know a little more about it than me, I can take you to Jo.'

'The Heir to Order you mean, Arados's sister?'

'You've met Ara?'

'Ni tricked me…'

'You haven't hurt him, have you?' Lus's hands balled into fists.

'Hell no,' False glared, clearly offended, 'I saved him, if you must know. That was how… how… how…'

'How what?'

'I saved him with a demon weapon.'

'Oh gee,' Kisara was suddenly filled with concern, 'what kind?'

'Apparently the kind that belongs to Ni.'

'Maybe he did it on purpose, to trick you into thinking you were his son, so that…'

'So that I can hurt and betray you,' False stared at her in a bizarrely devoted way, 'but I would never do that. You know I would never do that.'

'I know,' she smiled at him, feeling closer to her oldest friend than she had for a long while.

'Maybe we should talk to Arados, before we talk to Jo,' Lus tilted his head in thought. 'I mean, I think he'd get a little iffy with me if I didn't. Him and his sister aren't exactly getting on at the moment.'

'I had just about managed to gather that much,' False pulled a face. 'I also know I'd make for a pretty lousy spy, as I'd blow my cover within about five seconds.'

'You're trying to be a Balancer, not a spy False,' Kisara shook her head.

'Great and for that you need even more stealth,' he groaned, 'I don't have what it takes for this.'

'Yes you do False,' she reassuringly touched his shoulder, 'I know you do.'