*Downstairs*

“Please tell me Power of Word isn’t your first Gift?” Stryard questioned the little girl. Victor answered, “No. It’s Power of Touch-more accurately she can heighten or lessen an emotion like fear or lust.”

A jagged distortion of a smile engulfed Stryard’s features. “Good, I have no fear-.” Alex stared at Stryard forgetting once again how frightful he could be but to him he looked like a prideful kitten. Moments later Alda Cassidy walked in with her mother wearing a fluffy smoky ballerina dress. She walked purposefully over to Sryard and intertwined her hand into his pulling him down to her level. She looked up. “You are not Seth.” She didn’t asked, but possessing a mysterious maturity stated as one would state there name. “Why would I be a name I don’t know?” he asked. “And what is your name?”

“You don’t remember,” her eyes began to water. “You saw Alda Casidy on her birthday.” He bent down on one knee like the knight he was in her mind. “That was not my question.” he smirked. “I never knew your name.” he whispered into her ear a message only she would understand.

“What kind of conversation could you hold with a child?” Alex’s jealous interrupted Alda Casidy sharing her name causing Victor who was mindlessly rubbing his fingers through Tsukii’s hair look up and observe Alex shift from Stoic prince to Brat Prince.

Moments later Vessuillus walked in an ash grey slim fit suit accompanied by his wife wearing a bright creamy purple dress embroidered with shimmering silver swirls decorating her back like thin violin. Their attention was immediately fixated on Alex and Stryard having a friendly intimate chat and knew in fact it was Stryard. Cassandra began to shake. That was her son. She wanted to run over and embrace him so tightly; she would not fail this time, but just as she took a step in their direction Ves firmly grabbed her arm. “I Love You.” He whispered making her skin crawl then relax.

Everyone turn their attention to the King and Queen once noticed, some offering small bows and smiles with the exception of Stryard. He straighten elongating limbs prepping for defense if need be; Confirming that he was him. Her boys were together at last. Cassandra thought he looked so handsome in his gray and black ensemble. Alex complimenting him in his purple. They went from face to face: Alex and Stryard, to Alda Casidy and Eliane, to the Twins, and Elizebeth (still furious from Seth’s no show to her plans) to Cameron dressed in orange matching his sandy hair, ending with an acknowledgement to their guest Victor and his slave Tsukii. “Now everyone’s gathered tell me your reason for dinner.” Ves and Cassandra took their sets. Him at the end and she next time him across from Alex.

“Of course,” Victor Stated. “Well I make this simple since you took my only heir and wife, I would like my daughter back in my home learning my family ways before her seventh birthday ( in two months). Also, for compensation for making a father worry so deeply I would like to the Dog of Nobles.” Hating every word the man said, Ves was left with very few words. “Well this is something to discuss over dinner.” A crooked smile much like Seth’s cracked across his face everyone felt the tension between the two gentlemen especially the kids even those that may have forgotten.

Twelve years ago, thunder and lightning decorated the castle and all the children were playing a game called I am the Monster. Two kids were to hold hands to make a two faced monster, one head to be nice and one to grab the kids once found. Stryard and Alex was the Monster. Hiding from the Monster three year old Gabriel was under the Grand piano. “Gabrie it’s me,” Gabriella wasn’t able to pronounce his name yet. She couldn’t find him anywhere til all of the sudden she was yanked to the floor. Gabriel hugged her back crossing his legs around her waist. “you always no where I need you-” The monster caught them.

“Come out,” called Stryard the good head.