Chapter 42

Jo couldn't believe how hard the Teen was to find. It didn't make any sense for him to make himself so obscure, when he needed to be found in order to take what he wanted. It was even more annoying when she found she couldn't track down Duke's location either. It was like they were playing a giant game of hide and seek, forcing her to check out every single dark and dingy place she came across; something she wasn't a fan of at the best of times and these definitely weren't the best of times.

'You shouldn't have come after him Jo,' Duke's voice suddenly sounded from behind her. 'You were safe until you did. Don't you get it? He wants you vulnerable. He can't take your Order else.'

'He can only take my Order if I am Order.'

'You're always Order Jo,' as he spoke she felt him move right in behind her, 'just like Crovell was always Chaos. He can feed off of you without having to work you up too much.'

'Ni's influence on the Teen made him demonic.'

'Yes.'

'And you don't want to save my father from that?'

'I can't, you know I can't.'

'You've betrayed Crovell,' her voice remained calm as she refused to turn round and face him.

'No, I haven't. I didn't have anything to do with the Teen taking Crovell's Chaos.'

'Then you're about to betray him.'

'You would say that,' the Teen's voice sounded from somewhere ahead of her, 'you'd just love to have my slave in turmoil, wouldn't you?'

'He's in turmoil anyway,' she peered into the darkness ahead of her, trying to make him out, 'I'm certain he wishes he could be doing anything right now but work for you.'

'I'm sure,' the Teen step forward, revealing himself to her, 'or at least I'm sure that's what you want to believe. Because you can't handle the thought your lover's precious Daiosen might betray him.'

'You can't hurt me,' Jo gently placed a hand over her stomach, 'if you've truly been sent by Ni, then you can't hurt me and you know it.'

'Because of the child,' the Teen laughed, 'you really think Ni's interested in your bastard?'

'He seemed to suggest he was,' she remained calm.

'Well he's said nothing to me about it,' he shrugged. 'But that might well be because nothing I do to you could possibly hurt it.'

'Are you sure about that?'

'I'm taking your Order Jo, not your life.'

'Isn't that the same thing as far as I'm concerned?'

'I don't know, Crovell seems to be living without his Chaos.'

'You may not have killed him when you took it, but he's far from alive and you know it.'

'You know he's feeding off of you right now, don't you Jo?' Duke's voice broke into the conversation making Jo's heart almost leapt in fear. 'By remaining so calm about all of this you're giving him exactly what he wants.'

'Why are you telling me that?'

'Why shouldn't I tell you that?'

'Because…' her eyes flicked up to meet the Teen's, 'because he wants me to know it. He wants me to know he has me.'

'That's right,' the Teen swaggered forward, bringing himself so close into her she couldn't help but squirm uncomfortable.

'Leave me alone,' she tried to back away from him, only to find Duke holding her in place.

'Now why would I want to do that?' The Teen placed a hand either side of her face and forced her to meet his gaze.

For a few long moments she could feel exactly what he was doing to her. But more than that she could also feel exactly what Crovell had the moment he'd realised what was going on. And worse still, she knew it was too late. She knew no matter how hard she tried to get away now it wouldn't make any difference. He had her. Her head began to swim sickly, as her whole body became unbearably weak. Even though she knew every single one of her powers were still there, she felt as though she'd been stripped of them again. She felt weak and mortal. She felt…

'No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No,' the scream poured out of her as total and utter chaos wracked its way through her mind. 'No. No. No. No.'

'You were almost as easy as he was,' the Teen laughed, as he backed away, 'but a lot less fun.'

Duke let go of her and she crashed heavily down to her knees, almost completely unable to concentrate on anything that was happening around her.

'Oh might Queen of Order, what has happened to your kingdom,' the Teen taunted, as he and Duke began to walk away. 'It's all dark and chaotic now. Could it be… could it possibly be because I am Order now?'

Anxiously Catilin watched her daughter sleep. Duke had been gone all day and that wasn't like him. To begin with she'd reframed from being too worried, figuring he was avoiding her for betraying him. But after Ahna had informed her of what had happened to Veronie and Crovell… For half a moment Kasey appeared to stir. Her daughter had always slept soundlessly, that was why Catilin had gone to watch her sleep. Because Kasey's calm slumber always settled her nerves. For Kasey to stir now…

Agitatedly Catilin ran her fingers back through her hair, before lowering her right hand to her side and tapping one of her fingers against the wall she had her back pressed to. She kept the tapping as soft as possible, hoping the noise would settle, rather than further disturb her daughter.

'Don't wake now,' she kept her voice as low as the tapping. 'Please don't wake now. I couldn't stand everything being wrong.'

'Mum?' Drake's voice sounded from the doorway to the right of her.

Turning towards him, she easily read the anxiety in his face. It was clear he knew something wasn't quite right, even if he wasn't sure what it was.

'Your Dad's missing,' she could hear the tremor in her voice as she tried to force a smile onto her face, 'but I'm sure he'll be back soon.'

'Why is he missing?'

'I did something he told me not to; so he's a little upset with me right now.'

'Is that really it?' Drake frowned. 'Or is that just what you hope it is?'

'I don't know, but I couldn't stand it being anything else.'

For a few moments they were both silent, then Drake's eyes turned towards where his sister was sleeping.

'What is she?'

'What?' Catilin frowned.

'I'm a Sen Kayma,' his voice was strangely level, 'but what is she? She has to be something too, right? That is how this works, isn't it?'

'I don't know,' she shook her head, 'I've never seen her use her powers.'

'Why?'

'I don't know,' she pulled her face, 'but I know she doesn't like that thing on your wrist.'

'You don't think she could be a Sen Kayma too, do you?'

'Nu-uh, why would there be two?'

'I don't know, why wouldn't there be two?'

'Because the Lutonis are all so unique so why shouldn't my babies be as well?'