SHADOW'S POV

The room was big. And almost empty. It was cold, dark and, for lack of better words, scary. The boys took one step in, and shot out again, Larrikin walking back out after them, looking worried.

Rue stayed by the door and he leaned against the door, his eyes closed and his hand shaking. Erskine stayed beside him.

"Are you okay?" he asked his hands hovering over Saracen's shoulders.

"So much blood. So many deaths were planned here," Saracen croaked. I looked around to see Siren's face which was ashen and almost gray-looking. She was gripping onto a marble throne, her knuckles standing out. I had only ever glimpsed the chair through a closing door. It looked uncomfortable. Maxi rocked back on his heels and watched us carefully. Siren exhaled and then sat quickly. A leather strap wrapped around her wrist and she squeaked.

"Siren," Dexter walked closer but the girl just shook her head.

"Don't watch."

I closed my eyes. There was a hiss and yelp.

"Okay," she whispered. I opened my eyes. Siren was standing again, away from the throne, clutching her hand. The table was smeared with blood.

"A chessboard," Skulduggery turned from looking at one of the many maps along the wall.

"Used to control the army that the Loss families lead or served under. The head of the family sits there and controls the army. Or they assign someone to it. The family have toppled civilizations with this," Maxi shook his head. "I don't like it."

"This way, Amortia can't dispute about being head of the family," Siren said evenly.

"Amortia's married to Sylvester, correct?" Hopeless asked. I flinched and nodded and everyone turned to me.

"Amortia is power hungry. Sylvester is a disgusting man, who has done the worst things," I curled my hands into fists and stared at Hopeless coolly. "She'd insist that Siren and the two boys go into her care. They would be forced to take on different magic and would be shaped into mindless lumps. She came close enough to succeeding with me. No punishment is beyond them. That's the most distressing thing. If she wants them dead, he'll kill them."

"Or worse," Siren muttered and I flinched. I didn't know what he did to her. But he had destroyed my little sister. And he would do it to my little brothers as well.

"So stay away from them," Ghastly said. I nodded slowly.

"Harder than you think," a warm voice said. I turned to see Hestia, the matron. She smiled at Siren and smoothed down her hair. She looked at me and Maxi and chucked our cheeks. "If you want to avoid them you're too late. They're coming up the drive."

"What? I'm not here," Siren snapped and stood and went to walk out the door.

"You have to face them as head of the house," Hestia said gently. "Be brave."

"Larrikin and I will mind the boys in another room," Hopeless said soothingly. "You'll have Erskine, Dexter and Saracen to protect only you. I can see it on Dex's face, he's determined, not to let you down."

"Okay. Cyrus, come with me, I need to change," Siren ordered. She stood slowly and then walked to Cyrus who was waiting at the door. They walked off and left us in silence.

"What did they do to you?" Ghastly asked. I took a short breath.

"Many things. All that have made me so scared of my own shadow," I smiled slowly, sensing the irony in this. "That I made it my weapon. I was beaten and burnt and hung but the thing that scares me worse was they drowned me. Pushed my head under the water in a bath and then just leaned on my neck. And waited. I don't remember it in detail. Just his face, leering, asking 'was it dead yet?'"

Maxi was pale and clutching at his hair, his eyes a mask of terror and horror. But his eyes were so angry and so sad. The Dead Men were awfully quiet. Suddenly Dexter cursed and his hand flew into the wall, plaster crunching inwards.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"No problem," I shrugged.

"If they did that to you," he continued slowly. "What could they have done to Siren?"

"A lot worse," Maxi growled. "She was a sick child and I let her and you go to that bastard's house!" His growl turned into a shriek. Suddenly Hera, Hestia's sister was in the door.

"Enough!" she said sharply, making my brother freeze. "You are a man, not a child. Put that stupid behavior to rest. Come downstairs."

I mentally thanked her. Maxi wouldn't lose control of his magic if he was mad, but he had a gun and I wasn't too optimistic. He sighed through his nose and walked over to me. His hand grabbed the back of my shirt tightly. I looked at him, to see he was still grinding his teeth.

"Come on," I said, and our fingers intertwined. I looked at my twin, who looked scared and angry. I squeezed his hand and just like when we were little, he lead me out and down the stairs. And just like when we were little, I was wearing a suit while he wore jeans. His eyes were dark. Maxi looked like he had fallen from grace.

We walked down and I glared at my evil relatives who were looking around as if they owned everything. My cousins, who didn't have a taken name, Lucien and Prescilla, were picking things up and trying to slip them in their pockets only to have them carried out by air again. I glanced over to see Skulduggery staring at them. The Dead Men descended, making my cousins and uncle look nervous. Only Amortia seemed indifferent.

"Where is your sister?" she asked. "I have come to challenge-"

"Challenge my mother and father's decision," my sister's voice was calm, cool and collected. I watched as she walked down the stairs, in a black dress. In a way, she looked dead. Her skin was so pale and I knew Siren had a habit of holding her breath for minutes at a time. She seemed to float and made Cyrus, who was usually light on his feet look clumpy and clumsy. She drifted to a stop and smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

Siren was harsh and cold. I was a nervous wreck. My palms were drenched with sweat. But Maxi... Maxi was everything left of the Loss Family. Molten eyes and a smile made for war.

Amortia took a step back.

"Get out of my house Amortia. Do not forget, I know everything running through your head. And the walls whisper secrets," Siren's voice was soft, dangerous. Amortia stared at her and then threw out her hand. Icicles shot out, sharp enough to razor through Siren's skin. A wall of flames flew up and she stood unharmed, staring calmly ahead. Erskine's hand was out, his face dead.

"Those who oppose the true Loss family-" Sylvester started but he was cut off by Siren's laugh.

"Then you are in trouble. Cross me and your walls will seep blood tonight," she whispered. "Sleep tight, uncle dearest."

Sylvester stared at her. I hummed the tune to Scarborough Fair and he stared at me. His hand raised and I flinched at the pain that flared in my chest. I grabbed my chest and suddenly Maxi was in front of me. He turned and snarled a low threatening sound and I could see him shaking. Before he could pounce, mist rolled around her our feet.

Siren's eyes were closed as she sent the hands, searching, feeling across the ground. They dragged themselves across the ground. Then wrapped around Sylvester. He stood staring ahead. Then he dropped to the ground screaming.

Sorry it's been so long. I've been so busy from school. Sorry.