Clarice made her way to the corner table where the distinguished white haired gentleman sat waiting for her. "Hi daddy..." she said, taking the chair next to him, rather then across from him. "I'd like to think this is a social call, but from the look on your face, I'd say not..." she studied the man before her for a moment, taking in the worried expression and the sad look in his eyes.   "Unfortunately, as it would have been much nicer circumstances to see you." He answered. He watched Clarice a moment, before asking casually. "How is Mr. Caine working out?"   Clarice smirked and leaned back in her chair. "He's doing fine. Takes a bit getting used to, but his attitude is no worse then any of the others... and he's good. Really good. Not as good as me, of course.. I can still kick his ass.. but I've noticed a few of the others..." she chuckled softly and rested her head on her splayed fingers and looked at her father. "So are you going to tell me what's up? Or are you going to change subjects a few more times yet...?"   "Well our conversation at the moment, must begin with Mr. Caine. How is he adjusting to being out of...Abadon's realm?" Her father asked, making himself comfortable.   Clarice raised an eyebrow but answered. "Fine I suppose. Obviously he's not hunky dory, but he's doing alright. I understand from his neighbors he's still having some doozy nightmares, and he gets a bit edgy at times, like he's expecting some one to come after him... " she sighed and sat up straighter. "I've suggested a therapist, but so far he's refused... although.. he does seem to be talking a bit to .. one of my people..."   Lord Chaos nodded his understanding, then sighed softly. "I'm afraid his paranoia is not with out fact." He said softly. "Abadon has indeed sent some one after him. I'm not sure HOW or WHY Abadon would send who he has...yet...because...the young man Abadon has sent, needs to be taken away from Abadon...as soon as possible, Clarice."   Clarice sat forward, her interest peeked. "Which is the real reason you asked to meet me... " she said softly. "Who is he and why do we have to get him away from Abadon? I mean, other then the fact that Abadon is Abadon...I don't relish the thought of taking on one of Abadon's assasins and trying to capture him... unless killing him suffices as 'taking him away"..?"    "Absolutely not, Clarice. He can not die...at any cost. The young man's name is Lexine." Lord Chaos shifted in his chair. "He's daughter of the seal. Which is part of why I can't understand why Abadon is sending HIM after Xander as Abadon knows this...But if Abadon is allowed to keep Lexine any longer, the seal will break."   Clarice sat back, her arms crossing her chest. "Daddy... how can 'he' be the daughter of the seal? The word 'Daughter' rather implies 'she'..." she sighed and suddenly held up her hand. "Never mind.. don't answer that... I ..I don't want to know unless I absolutely have to. That stuff makes my head hurt..." she rubbed her temples as she looked up at him. "So... we have to capture an assassin, hold him against his will... and get ready for a huge load of shit to hit us when Abadon sends his entire realm after us to get him back?? "   "You may not have to hold him at will if you can break Abadon's hold on him...But unless you want a rather untimely Armageddon, it would be very advicable to capture him, yes." He replied.   Clarice looked at her father and was almost over come with the urge to whine like a two year old, finally she decided to jokingly give in."Dad- dy.. we just got moved into the new building... these guys are gonna trash it...." she gave him a sulky face and then cracked up. "Sorry.. had to get that out. " she sighed. "Okay.. Lexine. Capture and break Abadon's hold on him. Protect Xander from him, and him from Abadon and his minions... " she gave him a soft smile. "Is there anything else you can tell me about what I'm up against with this guy?"   "Lexine's a fire elemental... rather good grasp of his abilities...And he's Auron's youngest son." He said casually as if it was no big deal.   Clarice's eyebrow shot up and she leaned across the table. "Gee, dad.. thanks for dropping that particular bomb on me." she hissed. "Since he's never mentioned a son named Lexine, I take it he isn't aware of this little fun fact?"   "No, I don't think he is. Lexine was born in Hell...his mother died giving birth to him there." He said calmly. "Lexine is one of Abadon's favorite slaves...in more ways then one. Again, not sure why he's sending him after Xander if that be the case...Abadon obviously knows something else about the boy. Lexine is unaware of what he is..."   Clarice threw up her hands and leaned back in her chair. "Damn daddy... care to make it any more interesting? You expect me to kidnap this guy and convince him we're trying to help him... and get him to believe all this insane sounding stuff about him?? PLUS, throw his father at him?! " she sighed and shook her head, her eyes never leaving him. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"   "Perhaps you'd find the task easier if I told you that the daughter of the seal has a guardian...and I rather believe that guardian is already with you." He replied, watching her.   She narrowed her eyes at him. "Is that good news?" she asked, returning his look. "If you say Eire or Nate, I'm throwing that glass of water at you and walking out."   Lord Chaos chuckled softly. "For your sake, no. In fact I believe it's your elven friend, Faal." He replied softly.   "Faal." she said, sitting back in her seat. "Faal Dominic is the guardian of the daughter of the seal.. who isn't a daughter..."she gave a soft snort. "Lovely... anymore to throw at me, daddy?"   "Its entirely possible Abadon is sending Lexine out to be killed... But I believe that's enough for you to go on." He said simply.      Xander thrust his hands in his pockets, walking along the trail in the park by himself, watching his feet rather then where he was going. Until he had to stop, over come by the feeling some one was following him. He cast a glance over his shoulder and thought he saw a flash of red hair, disappear in the tree line.     Clarice had her cell phone in her hand as she left the restaurant. "Hey Sylv... I need to know where Caine is." she said, slipping behind the wheel of her jeep. "Find out, will you? It's a bit of an emergency. Seems there's someone after him and we need to find them and catch them..." She started the engine, checking traffic. "Oh and get a hold of Faal for me, will you? I need him to call me as soon as he can.... and if Auron pops up, tell him I need to speak to him as well..."   She saw an opening and quickly left her parking spot, taking her place in line at a red light. "Call me as soon as you locate Caine and have a team ready to get to him. Thanks Sylv." she said, snapping the phone closed and turned her full attention to growling at the traffic.     Xander lingered a moment, then turned back to the trail, but he kept his senses open and half way down the trail, he knew for sure he was being followed. It wasn't until he turned the corner into a secluded area of the trail that his shadow stepped out into the open. Xander blinked. "Lexine?"   The red head smirked as he leaned back against a tree. His absinthe green eyes never leaving Xander and he raised one hand, a wicked looking chakrum suddenly appearing in it. He played with the weapon idly as he stared at Xander, flames flickering into life along its edges. "Lo Xander... missed me?"   "Define miss?" Xander replied cautiously, eyeing Lexine, his hands still in his pockets. "So...you playing assassin for Abandon now?" He asked softly.   "Well.." Lexine answered causually, watching the flames dance around the blades of the chakrum. "Some one has to." He added, looking up at Xander with a wicked smirk.   "You don't." Xander said, trying not to let the flmaing chakrum draw his attention. "Let someone else do his dirty work, Lex. you're out.. you could stay out...."   Lex bristled, coming away from the tree. "Dirty work? I already do his dirty work, Xander."   Xander noticed the way the red head was dressed, decidedly very feminine, "So one can see...Rather surprised he let you off the leash...or should I say, out of the bed room." Xander replied. Then regretted it when he had to duck the flaming chakrum and turned, with the thought to flee, only to get decked across the jaw by Lex, who'd appeared in front of him. Xander stumbled back and produced a set of sharp circular blades. "I don't want to fight you, Lex..."   "Then don't." Lex said with shrug and a sneer as the chakrum reappeared in his hand. "Makes my job easier."     Chaos cursed, as she found herself on the receiving end of a lot of loud honking and yelling as her jeep pulled a u-turn in the middle of the busy street. "Damn .. i was right there!" she muttered to herself. Sylvie's call telling her about Xander's trip to the park had set her growling when she realized it was the same park she'd been sitting across the street from with her father a short time ago.      "Yeah well, doll face I also like to stay alive." Xander replied. He wondered briefly if Lex was still bad at fighting the madder he got, but figured that probably wasn't the case any more.   "Yus, well, so do I...which is why I have to kill you." Lex replied, brandishing both chakrums now. He lunged at Xander.   The silver wolf slipped through the portal in time to see the red head lunge at Xander and reacted. He was already air born in his leap to tackle Lex when Nate stepped through the portal after him. Xander had just managed to block the chakrums with his weapons when Eire tackled Lex, who yelped and skidded on the gravel, before Lex managed to kick the wolf off of him and scramble to his feet.   Nate had a bead on the red head but remembered the warning he'd received not to kill him. Keeping his attention focused on Lex he began casting a spell, hoping Eire and Xander would stay clear long enough for it to hit. The wolf had already regained his feet and was circling Lex warily, trying to get between him and Xander.   "When'd ya get friends, Xander?" Lex sneered watching the wolf closely.   "Oh you know cupcake." Xander answered, seeing Lex's eyes flash and the feminine red head lunged.   Eire went to counter him, but the fire elemental suddenly wasn't there. Xander spun, he'd been waiting for that, and barely managed to stop Lex, grabbing his wrists. This was ridiculous to Xander. Abadon must of sent Lex to die. Not only was Xander taller, he was bigger then the petite red head and a better fighter. Although Xander had to give him the fact Lex wasn't likely to back down.   Nate finished his spell just as a shadow portal opened. "Lexine... we don't want to hurt you, but we will if we have to." Chaos said, stepping through the portal. She saw the red head try to turn to face her but Nate's spell held him in place.   "Won't hold long, Kay.. th' bugger's fightin' it..." Nate hissed softly as she stepped past.   "Xander... I suggest you join Nate." she said, her eyes on Lex as she walked around to face him. "I don't think you were sent here to kill Xander Caine, Lexine... I think you were sent here to die. I was sent to keep you alive... and away form Abadon...."   "Right..." Lex managed to say with obvious disbelief. "Some how I can't see the master giving me up that easy...not that he'd cry over me, but still." There was still a obvious disbelief in his green eyes, although there might have been a trace of panic too.   "I never said he'd give you up easy. I said I'd keep you alive and away from him. I know some things about you that make your safety and freedom from Abadon extremely important. I know you don't want to believe anything different from whatever you've been told... but that aside... you need to come with us. I have a few people you should meet... " she said, her voice soft but firm as she watched him.. she could see him straining against Nate's spell and was impressed that he was able to put such a strain on Nate.   "Yus, well, I'm afraid I have other things to get done with, then meet strange people. Not supposed t' talk t' strangers." He added with a completely innocent tone, despite the venomous look.   Xander did his damnedest not to snicker, he'd forgotten just how snot nosed Lex could be when he wasn't being beaten into submission.   "Not even if one of those strangers is your father?" Chaos asked softly, keeping Lex's attention on her as Nate worked on another spell and Eire shifted to human, taking a place behind Lex.   There was a visible wanted reaction of trembling noticeable in Lex despite the spell. "Lady, I don't have a father...I don't even have a mother, so..." Lex replied with obvious false bravado.   Xander was under the opinion if they just clubbed him, it would make things easier. "You're wrong, Lexine. Your mother died giving birth to you.... your father never even knew she was pregnant with you when she vanished. I spoke with him briefly while I was waiting for Xander to be tracked down... he's very anxious to meet you... as is your brother." she wondered if they'd be able to talk him into coming with them, or if Eire was going to have to make his move.   "Well I'm afraid now is not the time for tea...." Lex replied delicately. "So if you'd just be so kind as to let me go..." The chakrums appeared, he was getting some control back.   Chaos sighed sadly. "I'm sorry you feel that way Lexine. I was hoping you'd co-operate..." she reached up and played with her earring. "Get ready, Bull..." she said, her eyes never leaving Lex even though she was aware of Eire tensing behind him and Nate getting ready to release a final spell. The flames flared brighter and higher suddenly and he managed to take a step. "Now" she said and suddenly a portal opened between them just as Nate's spell hit. Half a second later, Eire crashed into Lex from behind, sending them both through the portal.   Xander had to appreciate the efficiency of that series of moves. "Well...good luck with that fire brand." He said causally, managing not to look nervous about the change of events. "You realize, he's not going to cooperate at any point..."   Chaos turned a sad smile to Xander as the portal closed and a second one opened before them. "Maybe, maybe not. At any rate, he's safely tucked away in secure cell where his powers are bound. He won't be leaving us any time soon. Won't really matter if he wants to or not. " she nodded to Nate who shook his head ruefully and stepped through the second portal. "The hard part is going to be keeping Abadon's goons away from him..." she waved a hand at the portal. "Go on... before someone else tries to kill you. I have to go claim my car before I get ticketed for parking in the middle of the lawn..."   Xander shook his head with a nervous chuckle before heading through the portal. Eire was just closing the cell and was sporting a bit of a scorched t-shirt. "Quick, that one." He said thumbing over his shoulder as he passed Xander.   Xander stared down the hall after him. "Don' suppose ye know wha's goin' on, do y?" Nate asked softly from where he leaned against the wall, watching the furious redhead pace back and forth, denied his fire and weapons by the spells encasing the cell. "All we got from Kay was tha' th' kid was sent t' kill ye and we had t' catch him and keep him safe.... damn strange way t' treat an assassin, ifn' ye ask me.."   "I haven't the slightest clue." Xander replied, watching him as well. "But I can guess. I find it really odd Abadon sent him...he has...no experience killing...He's Abadon's favorite slave...his bedroom toy. Used to be a friend...then he killed my sister."   "Nice friend. " Nate said with a snort. "Ifn' he killed yer sister.. means he's got some experience killin' now don' it? Ye don' know wha' he's been doin' since ye left, now do ye? Fer all ye know.. he mighta got hisself a promotion..."   "Might..." Xander snorted illy, with a sadistic but absentminded smirk. "I suppose I can imagine him as a fem fatale. Poor Auron..." Xander turned from the scene, his hands back in his pockets.   Something Chaos had said to Lex had Xander worried. "What d' ye mean, 'poor Auron'?" Nate asked, his attention pulled from Lex.   "Nah..." Nate said glancing back at Lex. "Y' don' mean... what Kay said... ?"   "Everyone knew Lillian was Auron's wife..." Xander said as if it were no big deal. He caught movement in the cell from the corner of his eye and glanced back in to see Lex curled up on the floor in the corner. For all his tough talk and hell cat reaction, Xander was aware he was scared. But he also wouldn't put it past the kid to be a rouse.   Nate looked back over to Lex. "Did 'e'eryone' include him." he asked softly, nodding towards the fragile looking boy curled on the floor. "Cause by th' sound of it... he had no clue he e'en had a da, let alone what his name was...."   Xander snorted. "You really think Abadon would have told him? Anything? That's not how you keep a favorite toy." He glanced over his shoulder to see Eire returning with a cup of coffee.   "So wha's the little sod doin'?" Eire asked, before peaking in, only to raise an eyebrow.   Nate gave a sniff. "He's either hurtin' from all tha' been tossed at him... or he's playin' possum... my moneys on a bit o' both.." He said, his eyes returning to Lex. "As fer y' Xander... ye said e'eryone knew...and tha' he used t' be yer friend... Why didn't ye tell him th' truth...?"   Xander rolled his eyes. "Cause one, I didn't know at that time, and two, even if I had, I couldn't have because of Abadon." He sighed with a shrug. "Frankly, I don't see how Chaos is going to manage to keep him here willingly..."   Nate snorted. "Ye don' know Kay.. ifn' anyone can do it, she'll find a way. 'Course, he's fine where he is, ifn' ye ask me. Don't need him willing... just secure an' safe..."   "Yeah, last thing we need is a fire elemental loose." Eire remarked with such dry sarcasm. Xander smirked darkly. There was the sound of a couple sets of footsteps behind them around the corner. Auron stopped in the door way, his eyes drawn immediately to the figure curled in the corner.   Nate looked past him to the young man behind him and took a breath. "Lards.. this is goin' t' be interestin'...." he whispered to Xander. He knew from experience that Auron's son Saffron wasn't the friendliest person around and tended to be rather hostile to just about everyone when first introduced. He still wasn't sure why Arcania had sent him to them... maybe it was just to be reunited with his father... but Nate had a secret suspicion that he was really there to annoy the hell out of them all.....   Saffron glanced through the window to see the red head curled up in the corner. "That's my so called brother...?" Saffron replied in a soft tone. "What is he...12?" Auron shot him a look that plainly shut him up.   Xander snorted, paused and replied "Go up a bit."    Nate rolled his eyes at Saffron's comment and turned his attention to Lex. "Red.. ye got company. Care t' pick yer self up off th' floor an' speak t' them? After all... we're not likely t' be goin' in there so ye can lay yer little trap on us...." Lex sat up a bit more, and looked in their direction with a blank expression, but he didn't move either.   "Basically, you've got his undivided attention, but don't expect him to speak to you." Xander replied.   "Great, what'd I got for a brother; a drag queen, or an idiot?" Saffron muttered, only to get hit in the jaw by Xander's fist, with no explanation.   Nate just shook his head. Eire he noticed was leaning on the far side, casually sipping his coffee with a grin on his face, obviously enjoying the show. "Ye know, Saffron... we can just kick yer out on yer arse and let yer da get acquainted alone...."   Saffron snarled at Xander. "What the hell is your problem?"   "Just, shut up. " Xander replied, before turning and leaving the hall. Saffron noticed the killer sparkle in Auron's eye and knew if he didn't shut his mouth, he was going to get brained, son or not.    Nate glanced at Xander as he left then turned his attention back to Saffron. "I'm sidin' with Caine on tha' one... y' say somethin' so blasted ign'rant again, an' my fist'll be kissin' yer face too... right before my foot kisses yer arse on its way out th' door."   "What ever." Saffron replied with a tone. Eire caught sight of the red head in the cell, staring at the floor, but an evident smirk on his face.   Nate snorted. "Why don' ye act like yer got a heart an' introduce yerself t' yer brother. I'm sure, him being yer fellow assassin an all... he'll be thrilled t' meet ye."   Saffron snorted. "You obviously don't know the first rule of assassin, never play well with the others."   Auron finally turned to face him. "Go." He said, pointing down the hall. His tone was incredible soft. Saffron blinked and opened his mouth, but shut it, turned and headed off. Eire snickered into his cup and got shoved by Saffron passing "   Auron... I hope yer other son is a nicer fellow.. tha' way when we give in t' temptation and beat th' shite outta th' first one.. ye still got one t' fall back on..." Nate said with a smirk as Eire choked on his coffee. Nate jerked his head towards the door and Eire shook his head, still coughing slightly red faced as he left the room.   There was a slight smirk from Auron who shook his head slightly, looking back at the red head in the corner, who was staring back at him, although his eyes were slightly round. "If Clarice has returned, let her know I want to speak with her." Auron said softly.    "Is tha' yer way of tellin' me t' get out?" Nate asked with a smirk as he pushed himself away from the wall. " 'Cause ye coulda just said so.. but Aye.... I'll check an' let her know." He paused long enough to lay a hand on Auron's arm. "No matter what, man .. don't let him out. An' don't go in after him. He may look harmless an' pitiful.. but he's a sly one. Ifn' he gets loose, we may loose him t'Abadon..."   Auron snorted softly and regarded Nate with a amusement. "I'm well aware of that. No worries." He said with a gesture, looking back at the cell. Lex was watching them with a calculated look, but other wise hadn't moved. Nate gave Lex one last glance before shaking his softly and slipping out, shutting the door behind him.   Saffron was leaning against the wall just inside the hall by the door to the stairway, and Nate shook his head with a soft snort. "Saffron... one o' these days yer gonna have t' get a hold on tha' wise ass mouth o' yers... sayin' shite like tha' isno' th' way t' yer father's heart, now is it?"   Saffron snorted, rolling his eyes. "Thanks for the family tips." He muttered, arms crossed. Eire was a little further up the stairs and could be seen silently mocking Saffron's attitude.

Auron clasped his hands behind his back, reguarding the redhead in the corner of the cell. Lex stared back at him. Auron mused silently that Lex had the appearance of a kitten knowing it'd been cornered.   "Are you always so quite?" Auron spoke softly. Lex stared back at him. "Not supposed t' talk to strangers." Lex replied.   Auron smirked slightly. "Well, I'm Auron...doesn't quiet make me a stranger anymore, does it?"   A stranger is some one who you know nothing about." Lex replied in a soft tone.   "That's why one talks." Auron replied. Lex drew his knees up higher, resting his chin on them. "What do you want me with me?"   "Not what you're thinking." Auron replied, watching Lex.   "You don't know what I'm thinking..." Lex replied with a hiss, absinthe eyes flashing.   "So tell me." Auron replied.   "Why? I don't do therapy." Lex retorted, getting to his feet. He paced the small room, trying not to ignore the door and the man on the other side. Auron watched him with a wary eye.     Nate snorted again and brushed past him, heading up the stairs where he punched Eire in the shoulder for the hell of it as he passed by. "I'm goin' t' see if Kay's back yet... care t' join me?" he asked then stopped and turned, slappin' Eire upside the head. "Tha's fer gettin' yerself a cup an' not bringiin' yer best friend one. "   Eire smacked him back in the arm as he stood. "Ye wouldn't 've liked it anyway, not fresh." Eire replied with a smirk, carrying the empty cup but going with Nate anyway. "So do we know anything about this kid, other then being another slave for Abandon? I mean why we keepin' him safe...other then it bein' Abandon..."   "Have t' ask Kay fer th' full story.. but apparently he's Auron's kid... just doesnae KNOW he's Auron's kid." Nate said softly as they headed for the for the second floor. He debated whether to try her office or head straight to reception and ask whoever was at the desk. "All I can tell ye, is th' kid reeks o' trouble.... e'en worse then Saffron..."   "I've seen it before." Eire said with a nod. "The ones who are just trying to survive are the more dangerous. The more backed into a corner, the more vicious. And yet...this kid doesn't strike me has having any...experience dealing with this kind of thing..."   Nate snorted softly as he pushed open the door and headed down the hall, pausing to knock at Chaos's door before popping his head in and giving a holler. "Nope... " he said, closing the door before continuing down the hall. "I don' know, E... he could jus' be playin' t' the waif look he's got goin'... plenty o' folks out there play t' ther appearance t' catch folk off guard..." he sighed. "but I think yer right... I think he's just a kid tryin' t' get through a hard life..."   "A hard life may not be the best way to sum it up, but yeah." Eire nodded, "I don't think it's an act, mate...call it instinct, But I think if we corner him to much, we're gonna get burned... so I'm puttin' me trust in Kay...just hope she knows what she's doin'..."   "Are you insinuating that I don't?" Chaos asked as she leaned around the corner from where she'd been standing at the desk. "Have either of you seen Auron or Faal?"   Nate snorted and elbowed Eire. "Aye.. Auron's down stairs with our guest.. he asked me t' find ye and let ye know he wants t' see ya. Havenae seen Faal though.. not since yesterday.." Chaos sighed and nodded to the girl behing the desk and slipped past Nate and Eire, heading for the back stairs.     Chaos eyed Saffron curiously as she found him pacing outside the 'detention' room. "Waiting for your turn to meet him? Or did you get kicked out already?" she asked softly as she appraoched. Saffron looked up at her and scowled, not bothering to answer, just waving a hand at the door as he turned and slumped against the far wall. Chaos shook her head softly and opened the door, slipping quietly inside.   "Why don't you just let me go and I'll be out of your hair." Lex said finally, giving Auron a look. Auron chuckled softly and glanced over his shoulder to see Chaos enter. Lex also saw her and bared his teeth in a sneer.   Chaos shook her head sadly at Lex and went to Auron's side, slipping an arm around his waist. "How are you doing?" she asked softly. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner... "   "Well we've just started the introductions." Auron said lightly, slipping his arm around Chaos' waist. Lex eyed them, standing in the middle of the cell hugging himself. "Unfortunely he hasn't introduced himself..." Auron looked back at Lex. "Now would be the proper moment for that." He was aware of a wince that went through Lex, and raised an eyebrow slightly.   Chaos waited for a moment, watching Lex then sighed. "Lexine... do you go by Lexine? Somehow... I can't see you going by that... let me guess.... Lex?" she took the snort she received from him as 'yes'. "Lex... we're not going to hurt you. All we want is to keep you safe from Abadon and his minions. And I'm sure your father would like very much to get to know you ....."   "Its kind of an oxymornoic statement, wanting to keep me safe from Abadon, considering he owns me." Lex replied, looking at the ceiling rather then them.   "This is your chance not to be owned by him." Auron replied.   "Lex.." Chaos said. "Do you want to be his slave? Don't you want a chance at a real life on your own terms instead of... instead of being someone's property? We can help you have that." she sighed. "Look, whether you like it or not, you're staying here where we can keep you safe... what you choose to get out of it is up to you."   "On my own?! Lady, my whole 22 years of life has been his property! You expect me know anything else?" Lex snapped coldly. He glared at them both. "Fine, keep me here...or try to anyway..."   Chaos sighed again and leaned her head against Auron's chest. "Damn .. he's as thick headed as his father..." she muttered, before turning slightly to look at Lex. "Look.. if you were anyone else, or less important, I'd hand you right back to him myself if that's what you want. To each his own, and if you want to live as a slave, fine.. i won't stand in your way... Unfortuneatly... I can't do that with you. Handing you back over to him would mean.. well.. very bad things..."   Lex looked back at her. "Very bad things... you don't know what you're getting yourself into...You think he's just going to leave me here...?"   "How did you get those scars?" Auron asked, Lex's arms were bare. Lex stared, looking down at his arms, then back at them, slightly wide eyed. "Is that how you want to live, adding to those scars?" Auron asked.   "Leave him, Auron. "Chaos said softly. "Some people who are raised with such severe abuse as he must have been are too afriad to be free of it... give him some time at least. " she looked over at him. "As for you question.. yes, Lex, I do know what I'm getting myself into... and my people. My name's Clarice.. most of my friends call me Kay... but you may have heard mention of me from Abadon.. he knows me as Lady Chaos. " she gave a slight smirk. "He'll be thrilled to find out you're with me...."   Lex stared at her, he was trying to hide the scars on his arms at the same time. "So why is so vital to keep me against my will?" He demanded. "Or do you and Abadon have such a history you take pleasure in stealing his favorite toy?"   Chaos smirked. "Well... I'll admit, i'm a tad giggly over the thought of how pissed off he's going to be when he finds out....." she said with a smirk, leaning into auron. "But the truth is... i'm doing this because I have to. My father told me something about you, Lex... that something, is the real reason you're Abadon's favorite.. why he keeps you so close... and why we have to keep you as far form him as we can...."   "Secret and lies..." Lex hissed vemoniously, stalking back to the corner.    "No one's lying to you...not here anyway." Auron replied. Lex clamped his hands over his ears.   Chaos reached up and took hold of Auron's shoulder, pulling him around to face her. "Come on, Auron... he's not ready to talk or too listen... and i'm not sure what to tell him anyhow. I'll call for a guard to stay with him if you want to take a break...."   Auron cast a look at Lex who was sitting on the floor in the corner again and sighed, shaking his head. But he nodded to Chaos, moving towards the door. He was aware Saffron was still in the hall.   Lex pulled a bobby pin from his hair, as he watched Auron and Chaos, he fiddled with it in his hand and begin bending it.   Chaos paused in the doorway, letting Auron step into the hall. "Talk with Saffron.. I think he needs you right now.. this isn't exactly easy on him you know.. I'll stay with Lex until security sends someone... I can't leave him alone.." she said softly as she called secuirty and gave her request. Auron nodded after a moment and she grabbed his collar, pulling him donw for a kiss before slipping back inside.   Auron turned to Saffron who was leaning against the wall. For a moment they stared at each other, Auron shoved his hands in his pockets, then nodded with out a word to the hall, staring for the stairs. Saffron followed.   Lex was still twisting the bobby pin about, working the metal, softening it. Then finally it snapped in half. He ignored Chaos' presence on the other side and turned away from the door, With the broken end of the bobby pin, he began scratching his lower wrist with it, over and over again, bitting his lip from the sting.   There was a soft sound from across the room as Chaos watched him and she frowned. She tilted her head a moment and shifted to demon. After a moment she shook her head sadly. "Why do you do that, Lex? Hasn't he hurt you enough? Why hurt yourself...? You can't kill yourself... I won't let you.."   Lex kept digging at his wrist, watching the skin break and first signs of blood. "Why does any one cut?" He asked back softly, his back still to the door.   "I don't know, Lex. I know different people have different reasons... I know pretend to know them or understand them. It's not something I've ever thought of doing. Personally, I've always perferred hurting others to hurting myself... " she said walking closer. "I can smell the blood Lex.. I can hear your heart... I'll know if you go too far..."   "You bleed just to know you're alive..." Lex muttered as if it were no big deal, still scratching at his wrist. The blood began to flow a bit more. "To answer the question, I cut because...its...easier to deal with physical pain then emotional pain." He snapped defensively.   "Is it easier to handle... or hide behind?" she asked softly, walking around the free standing cell until she could see him again. "All you're doing is pushing it aside.. it's still there and getting bigger every time you do that... sooner or later, it'll crush you. You should face it while you still can..."   "Face what?" Lex replied, pausing on his scratching to survey his wrist. "That my whole life has been little better then a dog? That either way, whether I fail to kill Xander or try and escape Abadon, he's going to kill me anyway? Oh maybe not kill me...probably chain me to the bed again...Not bad that...I've gotten used to being chained to the foot of his bed. Where I've spent the last bloody eight months as it is..." He went back to scratching and cutting.   Chaos sighed and squatted down. "And yet you're in such a hurry to go right back to being treated like a dog or being chained to his bed. Even though I'm here offering a chance at a life without that..."   "Well that's just it isn't." He said, then gasped softly as the broken pin cut increasingly deep and the blood began to really flow. "You should try it from my point of view...seems to me I've only gone from one prison to another."   Chaos sighed and cast a spell similar to the one Nate has cast earlier, freezing Lex in place. She then slipped inside the cell , pulling the door closed behind her and took the pin from him. "You're only in here because you plan on running back to him otherwise." she said and examined his wrist. With a sigh she pulled a hankerchief from her pocket and pressed it to the cut. "I can't let you do this Lex... if I have to, i'll have you tied down. Don't make me do that." she said softly, looking into his eyes. "I can be a cruel heartless bitch if you'd perfer me to be Lex. I'd rather not be with you .. but I can. The choice is yours."   "Whats one prison from another?!" He hissed. "Guilded cage or stone walls, it makes no different, it's still a prison, I'm still a slave!"   They heard a door closing one the stairs and woman's voice. "Kay." Rue came down the hall, followed by a tall young man with brown hair. "Eire said you were down here..." Rue glanced at the red head in the corner.   Chaos glanced at Rue and waved her back as she stood. "You don't have to Lex. That's what I'm offering. Think about it. And I meant what I said.. if you try to hurt yourself again.. or hurt any of my people... I'll have you bound." she left the cell, sealing the door behind her and released the stasis spell from Lex, then turned to Rue. "This isn't exactly a good time Rue.... and you know I don't like people down here." she said nodding to the man with her. "You should have left him upstairs."   "Yes, yes, I know." Rue waved her off. "The ass followed me down anyway." She gave Rowen a look, but his attentions where on Lex. "But our friend over there is why I'm here anyway. Turns out he's not the only assassin Abadon's sent out after Xander." She said softly, Chaos knew her well enough to know Rue probably knew some of what was going on to begin with.   Chaos snorted. "I kind of figured that. That's why Xander's here." she glanced over at Lex for a moment. " Aside from the fact that I know how important Lex is to his Master... it feels like he was sent after Xander with the purpose of being killed himself..." she looked at Rowen and scowled. "Ravenscourt." she said and pointed a finger at the door. "Out." she said.   Rowen shrugged, glanced at Rue, who nodded back toward the door. "Yeah, sure." He muttered, aware Lex watching him. Heading for the door, he looked back at the fire elemental, meeting his gaze. Lex dropped his, looking away.   "Haven't been able to get rid of the prat all day..." Rue muttered about Rowen shaking her head. "Aside from that...you're right..." Rue said softly. "Because this other assassin, is to kill Lex, regardless if he succeeds with Xander or not...however, it's simple fact that Xander out powers the boy...Xander would have ended up killing him self defense...only to have the other assassin come after him..."   "Are you getting all this, Lex?" she called over her shoulder. "He's as stubborn and pig headed as his father. Refusing to listen to anything that doesn't fit into his own ideals... although... Auron has been much better lately... and I'm not sure even he was as bad as Lex..."   Rue chuckled softly and glanced at Lex, noticing the red head was staring off down the hall toward the door Rowen had left by. She raised an eyebrow. Chaos noticed Rue's look and followed Lex's gaze herself, growling softly under her breath before hissing softly at Rue. "I don't like that guy, Rue... I get the worst feeling when he's around... I wish you'd ditch him... he's trouble waiting to happen, I know it..." she glanced back at Lex. "And I don't want him around here..."   Rue looked thoughtful. "Ditchin' him is the hard part...trust me. Besides, while investigating him, it's easier to keep him in front of me...As for not being around here. No problem..."She watched Lex look back at them, slightly flushed and frowned. "Don't worry, he'll stay away..."   "Hmm... 'don't worry' she says.... you worry me whenever you say that. It leads to... bad things happening. Things I SHOULD worry over.." she snorted softly and turned back to Lex. "Looks like he made an impression on our guest... and since he didn't say anything to him... that worries me too. Would worry me more if I didn't know Lex is safe form any spells and such at the moment..."   "Have I ever given you reason NOT to trust me?" Rue replied with a smirk and sparkling eyes. "Oh well, you know Rowen. He's British AND a charmer..he doesn't HAVE to say anything...which leads to the fact that the kid there must be interested in boys rather then girls...shame, he's kinda cute..."   Chaos snorted. "I don't like charmers... they're.. smarmy... especailly britsh ones... cheeky smarmy..." she said. "Forget it Lex.. he's trouble. You don't need any more of it."   "What?" Lex looked up at them, blinking wide eyes.   Rue raised an amused eyebrow. She moved closer to the cell, studing him. After a moment, she chuckled softly, turning back to Chaos, her back to Lex and said in a whisper. "Brave act he's putting up...surprised you haven't detected just how afraid he is...I gotta give him points for the acting ability though."
"Oh I know he's afriad... and angry... doesn't change anything. If scaring him more is the only way to get through to him, I will. I may not like it, but i'll do what i have to to keep him safe." she said softly. She glanced back at the doorway wondering what was taking security so long.   "And maybe...you just need the right person to talk to him..." Rue replied softly. "Chances are, he's not talking to you and Auron because...you intimidate him. And don't say you don't intimidate people, Kay...that's what you do. You're not happy unless you are." She said with a smirk.   Chaos snorted, smirking. "I'm trying not to intimidate the boy.. I've been good, I promise." she chuckled softly. "But I know... I've got them tracking down Faal...."   Rue raised an eyebrow. "Faal...yes...there's some one whos a charmer...thought you didn't like charmers..." She said with a smirk. Lex was eyeing them, before looking at his wrist, with it's dry blood. He considered pulling another pin and staring on the other wrist.   "Faal's not a charmer... he's just... Faal." she said. " and he's his guardian. Lexine... I have a straight jacket an will use it.... leave it alone..."   Lex's head snapped up at the words straight jacket and dropped his hands in his lap. "Most likely an unwanted guardian." Rue said softly. She looked back at Lex. "I think...if the kid can be convinced of the truth, you'd have no problem getting him to stay safe..."   "Yes, well, you can't break twenty two years of servitude." Came a soft voice. Rue glanced over to see Xander leaning against the wall.   “We can try, Caine. He deserves that much at least. Same as we’ve given you.” Chaos said softly. “Any idea what’s keeping security? I asked for a guard quite a while ago…”   Xander shook his head with a shrug. "Wasn't aware any one else was on their way down here. Think Faal's back though...could be wrong." Rue moved over to Xander's side, looking at him, she frowned slightly. Xander looked back at her with a raised eyebrow.   "Oh... not sure if you two have actually been introduced... Rue Lyoncrest.. Xander Caine. Xander's our newbie." Chaos said with a smirk at Xander. "Oh, damn .. right... Lex.. this is Rue... " she crossed her arms over her chest. "I hate introductions.. such a pain in the ass... and if Faal's upstairs, why hasn't the bugger called me??"   "Well he probably just got in." Xander replied with a smirk, before nodding to Rue with a different kind of smirk. "Pleasure."   "Charmed," Rue said in reply dryly, but smirking slightly. She looked back at Lex. "And ditto." She added.   Lex raised an eyebrow. "That isn't even a real word, you know." He said softly.   "What?" Rue raised an eyebrow.   "Ditto...it's not a real word." He said.   Rue paused, amused. "Uh...no I think it is...if you look at a dictionary."   "It is not..."Lex replied, and something dawned on Rue.   "Oh...well NEWER dictionaries have it...You read?" She asked, moving toward the cell.   Lex looked up at her hesitatant to answer. "Yus..." He said softly.   "What do you read?" She asked.    Lex shrugged, confused. "Anything."   Chaos watched the two for a moment then turned to Xander. "Would you mind stiucking around here with Lex and rue for a moment? I need to go smack a certain fae around for ingoring my pages.. I'll be back in a minute... I just don't want that boy left alone at all..."   "And you don't trust...Rue?" Xander asked with a raised eyebrow.   Rue heard that, but ignored it. "Well anything is a wide subject...Lex was it? Hmm. Lex...what is that short for?"   "Lexine..." He muttered.   "Charming name." Rue replied. "Much better then Ruewena."   Lex looked up at her, unbelieving some one was actually carrying on a coversation with him that didn't have to do with Abadon or being a slave. "So what are you favorite books?" Rue asked.   "Um...I don't really have a favorite..."   Chaos glanced back at Rue and Lex. "Yes, I trust her... but there's someone in this building I don't trust.. so while she's distracted, I'd perfer someone I DO trust watching her back..." she said. "Do you mind? I promise I'll be quick."   "Ah yes, Ravenscourt, saw him upstairs. Slimey bastard." Xander nodded. "No problem." He gestured her on.   "Surely you've read some classics." Rue said with a smirk watching the boy. She'd sparked his interest to be sure.   He shrugged. "Milton...Dante..."    "Oh those kind...Never Chaucer? Or Shakespear?" Rue replied. "A wretched soul, bruised with adversity, We bid be quiet when we hear it cry; But we were burdened with like weight of pain, As much or more we should ourselves complain." She said in a soft seductive tone.   Xander raised an eyebrow.   Chaos noticed where his attention was an snorted softly. "Yeah.. thanks. I know it'll be a hardship for you..."she said sarcastically, pausing by his shoulder to whisper in his ear as she passed. "Don't drool too much... "   Lex narrowed his eyes one her at that quote, before looking away and answered. "I must be cruel, only to be kind, thus bad begins and worse remains behind." Rue fienged mild surprise and impression for the rather cunning retort.   Xander blinked. " I wasn't...right..." he shook his head, watching Chaos leave.   Rue chuckled, turning away from Lex, allowing him to believe she'd finished with him. "Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince, and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."   Lex blinked, still confussed then he narrowed his eyes and countered again. "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below, words with out thoughts never to heaven go."   Rue was doing her best not to be appaled at that one. When it came to a littarery mind, this boy was a genious.   Xander was eyeing her and Rue smiled, saying softly. "You rarely meet some one of such quick literary intelligence. Even if he hasn't read Shakespear, he knows the cordinated lines to each line of mine."   Rue turned back, leaning against the wall, and watching Lex who was watching them. "You have very pretty eyes, Lex. Did you know that... The color of Absinthe."   "Absinthe?"    "Yes...you know what Absinthe is, don't you?"   " 'Absinthe has a wonderful color, green. A glass of absinthe is as poetical as anything in the world.' Yus, I've been told that one before..." Lex muttered in a misrable whisper and Rue raised an eyebrow.   "Oscar Wilde..." She remarked. "I knew him..." She grinned. "Charming man...obsessed with the Green Fairy."   "You knew Oscar Wilde?" Lex raised an eyebrow.   "Oh yes, used to..drink absinthe with him. Real charmer, handsome too, but he was more into pretty boys..." She watched Lex look away at that. "Oh I see..." She said softly. "Yeah, Abadon's preference too..." Xander muttered. "Not that Lex complains..way he was actin' in the park, rather suggest Lex loves it."   "SHUT UP!" Lex cried, getting to his feet. Xander raised an eyebrow.     Chaos made her way up to the second floor and slipped into Faal's office without bothering to knock first. The front part was empty of anyone but she walked past the comfortable seating area and around the screen that seperated his desk from the rest. He glanced up, one eyebrow raised as he set aside a file. "Generally people knock before waltzing into someone else's office..."   "Yes well.. generally people answer pages marked 'urgent'." she said and whacked the side of his head.   Faal rubbed his head and looked up at her. "I tried... all I got was a notice saying you were unavailable..." he said and leaned back in his chair. "But here I am... Care to fill me in on the 'urgent' part of seeing me?"   Chaos grabbed her cell and flipped it open, growling at the dead battery light that blipped pitifully at her. "Damn! I KNOW I charged this thing.. it was full this morning..." she tossed the phone on his desk and leaned on it. "Yes... you are the Guardian to the Daughter of the Seal... who i happen to have locked up in the detention room as we speak.."   Faal sat in silence, just looking up at her with a slightly shocked expresion on his face. "You can't be serious... sweet Terra , you are serious. " he said and rubbed the back of his neck. "How do you know this? Wait a seocnd... Why do you have the Daughter of the Seal locked up in our basement??"   Chaos smirked. "Because he was sent to kill Xander... and Abadon is out to kill him. My job is keep him safe from Abadon."   Faal raised an eyebrow. "You're keping Xander safe from Abadon... What does that have to do with the daughter...?"    Chaos rolled her eyes.." No.. I'm protecting Lexine from Abadon.. the daughter of the Seal... is a boy."   Faal stared up at her with an odd look on his face. "That... complicates things a bit. The Seal doesn't do well with .. complications... " he finally stood, automaticaly smoothing down his slacks as he did so. "I'd better meet him if I'm going to be his guardian... he's an assassin, you said? Charming..."     Rue straightened up a bit, she wouldn't step in just yet, but she had a feeling she'd probably have to. "Well didn't you, Lexi?" Xander replied with a sneer. "After all, you've certianly never showed any distaste when he'd screw you in the main hall."   "Shut up! Just shut up Xander!" Lex hissed, but there was a tremble in his tone. "You don't know anything about it..."   "I know enough...I know you killed Evie!" Xander snapped back.    "NO!" Lex answered hysterically. "I did not! I didn't!"   Xander when to open his mouth, when Rue grabbed his shoulder. "Enough!" She growled. "Do not say another bleedin' word, Xander." Her tone was soft but very authortive.   Chaos groaned softly as they reached the door way. "Wonderful.. Thank you so much Xander.. glad I could 'trust' you..." she said, the sarcasim plain. "When I asked you to watch... I meant 'watch'... not antagonize..." she turned and walked to the cell. "Lex.. this is Faal Dominic... Faal, this is Lex. Why don't you two get aquainted.." she said and spun on her heel to glare at Xander and Rue until they preceeded her out the door.   Rue gave Xander a glance, catching the sheepish expression on his face. "So thats it, is it? He...killed your sister?' She asked softly.   Xander sighed. "Yeah...no, I don't know..."   Lex turned away from everyone on the other side the moment he'd seen Chaos return. He ran the back of his hand over his cheeks, getting rid of the stray tears he definitely didn't want anyone else to see. Xander didn't know shit.

Chaos shut the door behind her and hissed at Xander. "What the hell are you doing? He was sent to kil you.. but you KNOW it was just a suicide mission.. he doesn't know that.. but everyone else does! I'm trying to get him calmed down enough to think about things and agree to let us help him so i dont have to keep him under guard.. and you're provoking him!! Are YOU INSANE!!" she hissed and growled.. turning a look on Rue... "Deal with him... you seem to have a way with men today... I'm going back in. You.." she said pointing at Xander, are not invited." *   Faal heard the others leave and stood watching the young red head as he stood with his back to him, obviously wiping his face. "I'm sorry for whatever Xander said to hurt you. We seem to have an abundance of young men here who use their mouths without first establishing a link to their brain..." *   Rue chuckled sofftly and grabbed Xander's arm, who looked startled. "Come on, Xander, lets go talk." She said, leading him away from the door and wondered where Rowen had gotten off to. * Lex snorted, with a slight sniffle, "Xander's never been one for brain power..." He muttered. He took a breath and turned back around, aware he must look completely pathetic. "So, it rather seems I'm on display here..all of these people coming down to gawk at me...a bit unfair." he said defensively.   "Yes I suppose it is. Unfortunately, we have to keep you safe from a certain fellow, and considering you tried to kill one of my employees.. this is really the only place we can be right now. I'm sorry about that." Faal said, watching the young man curiously. The clothing he wore had a definate feminine feel to them and yet he seemed perfectly at ease in them. He was obviously frightened and yet fought against his fear and managed to hide it well. He caught his breath as Lex looked up and he found himself suddenly staring into the most stunning green eyes he's ever seen.   Lex looked at him, crossing his arms over his chest, then remembered his arms were bare and turned away a bit, which didn't do much better because the top he was wearing showed the scars on his back. "Yus well, I wasn't left with much of a choice...it was either kill Xander or be killed...Although that looks like it was even less of a choice if what the other red head said was true and there's another assassin on the loose." Lex answered, his tone softer. "And frankly, no one's given me a reason, a REAL reason why I'm stuck in here other then keeping me away from Abadon...good luck with that."   Faal smiled softly. "Yes well.. Clarice isn't one for explanations or speeches. She perfers to handle the more physical side of things while the rest of us explain why.." he let his gaze wander over the scars that criss crossed the slim arms and back and sighed, imaging what the boy'd gone through to bare them. "I can tell you why if you really want to know. "   "Well I'm certianly not objecting to the idea." Lex replied softly, dryly, looking back at him. "It would be rather nice to know...I don't get alot of information. In fact to be quite honest, I don't usually DO this kind of thing."   "Which kind of thing would that be? Assassination attemps, or hanging out in a cell with a bunch of ...strange people... " he asked with a smirk.   "I heard that." Chaos said softly with a smirk. She turnred to Lex. "I'm sorry to interrupt.. I just wanted to appologize for Xander and ask if I can get you anything... are you hungry at all?"   "Assasination attempts...My whole life has been spent in a cell...I'm quite used to that..." Lex answered in a softer tone and looked at Chaos. He didn't answer right away, but looked away from both of them, shaking his head slightly. "No...thank you..." There was no hostility or sarcasim, if anything, just a wry confusion.   Chaos nodded and turned to Faal, resting a hand briefly on his shoulder, then turned and left to find Auron. Faal heard the door close softy behind her and reached out with his rarely used abilities to flick the locking mechansim. "I'm sorry to hear that... I suppose that's partly my fault. If I'd know about you and my roll in your life, Lex, I would've come for you... I'm sorry."   Lex raised an eyebrow, looking at him with obvious confussion. "What do you mean?" Hearing the lock, he stumbled back away, eyes widening. He knew what being left alone with a man like this meant...   Faal sighed. "Your mother's name was Lillian, was it not? She was the Daughter of the Seal... a very impostant person. She.. 'guards the Seal.. if she dies, the seal breaks and the world as we know it.. well... the word 'Armegeddon' comes to mind..." he said. " Every daughter has a daughter who becomes her heir... but your mother didn't have a daughter... YOU are her heir. And every daughter of the seal has a guardian.. someone who is choosen by the fates to spend their lives protecting her... I've only just learned that I am your guardian...."   Lex stared at him with wide eyed innocene. But yet he wasn't quiet stupid enough to disbelieve it. He remembered Evie telling him before she died that he was to important to loose and that was why she was trying to hide him. "But why would Abandon want me dead...Why not just keep me locked up the way he had been."   Faal smiled sadly. "I don't know, Lex. Maybe he was waiting for something... maybe he had a change of plans... all I know ,is that if you die... Hell reigns over the mortal realm... in a very unpleasant way. Perhaps he was merely waiting for the right time...." Faal studied the fragile looking boy infront of him for a moment, trying not to stare into those eyes again in case he lost himself. "I won't let him get a hold of you again. I'm sorry I failed you in leaving you in his possesion for so long... I should've known somehow..."   Lex swallowed, he was trying to figure out if he could believe him or not. Experience told him not to, that the kindness obviously had an underlying motive. he shrugged and managed to reply softly. "Well I'm certianly here, now..."   "Yes. As am I. I'm sorry for the way things are, Lex. I hope you will think about everything you've been told and consider letting us help you. I'd hate to think of you having to stay in here..." he let his gaze wander over the bare cell; nothing but a six foot by six foot magically reinforced cage in the center of the room. He was careful not to get too close, feeling the iron of the bars even from where he stood. "I'll see about getting a cot or something...."   Lex shook his head. "No...what's the point of going through all the trouble...everyone's taken pains in pointing out I'm just as good being here as anywhere else..." He pulled out the rest of the pins in his hair, letting it fall. "I don't really expect to be treated any better here then there...At least no one's threatening me with whips."   Faal watched the red hair fall and sighed sadly. "I'm sorry you feel that way. It doesn't have to be this way. If you'd let us help you.... all you have to do is swear to not run off or try to kill anyone... we have guest room upstairs... ones that have beds and furniture and no bars ..." he chuckled softly. "I suppose you'd have to trust us enough to consider that though..."   "Yus, well, trust comes hard from my point of view." Lex replied, moving away from his spot back to the far corner. "Everyone here seems to think I enjoy being Abadon's toy...alot they know. But hey, I'm used to not being considered as anything more then that. But the truth is, I DON'T like it...but there isn't much I can do..." He gestured to the collar. "If I'm going to be down here for awhile, can I ask at least one favor?" He added softly, looking back at him.   Faal just looked at him for a moment, the boys attitude leaving him with a heavy sadness and the wish that he'd found out about him a long time before... finally he gave a soft smile. "I can try, Lex. I can't promise anything, but I can certainly try.. as long as it's within reason.."
"With in reason..." Lex actually smirked, not sarcastic, but amused. "Do you think it would be with in reason if I could have a book?" He asked, watching Faal.   Faal raised an eyebrow. " Assuredly... You're certainly asking the right person. Any book in particular, or author? Or do you have a perference for a certain subject...?" he asked, a faint sparkle coming into his eyes at the request.   Lex shook his head slightly. "I'll read anything...benifits of hiding in Abadon's library." He sat down in his corner, his legs crossed and hands in his lap.   Faal tilted his head to one side as he regarded him. "You need to give me a bit more to go on. I have an extensive collection. Classic, Modern, fiction, non fiction.... poetry..... how about a year?" he asked with a soft chuckle.   "How bout Faust...got a copy of that?" Lex asked, with a raised eyebrow. He decided to play a bit. "Perferably in the original German. IT looses something in translation."   "Of course. I have two copies of that in German, both first editions, one signed.... of course if i'm going to lend either of those to you, I trust you'll treat them properly?" Faal asked, relieved and intrigued that he hadn't asked for one of those modern science fiction horrors that were being passed off as literature now a days...   "Well I admit, I don't have my gloves with me, but I can assure you it'll still be in prestine condition when I've finished reading it." Lex replied dryly, his head titled to the side and giving him a look that suggested even thinking of mistreating a book was out of the question.   Faal raised an eyebrow at the look. "Then when a guard gets here, I'll go retrieve it. I'd call up for it, but Sylvie's the only other one aside from myself who has the pass key and she's out for the day." He shifted slightly, moving a bit to the side to put a bit more distance between himself and the bars... "Is there anything else I can get you? A chair, or perhaps a cushion to sit on at least?"   "No, I'll be fine." Lex answered, he continued to watch Faal with his head titled to the side. His eyes gave the impression of innocent curosity. He realized the only way he was going to get out of the cell was to play good.   "If you're certain..." Faal said. "I have a request of my own, if you'd be so kind?" Lex's curosity was peaked, just who was he dealing with? 'It's only fair after all." He replied softly.   Faal smiles softly, a faint blush staining his cheeks. "Here I am your guardian ... my entire life sworn to keeping you safe... and I know next to nothing about you... "   Lex blinked. "What do you want to know? There isn't much." He replied.   "Everything." he said simply and sat down on the floor across from Lex. "I want to know everything."   Lex stared at him a long moment, obviously confused. Then he looked away, moved his legs to draw up his knees. "Well that'll be a conversation of a total five minutes." He replied dryly.   "I find that extremely difficult to believe." Faal said softly, watching him. "You said you used to hide in a library.. and you're obvioulsy well read and fluent in at least German. My guess is if you know and read German, you must know Latin.. and most likely French as well since there are so many excelent works written soley in those languages. And as you said, they translate poorly..."   "Yus, I read German, French, Latin and Greek. I speak Latin and french fluently. I can also read Russian." Lex replied. "Abadon's library was like...a giant history book. I was reading all fluently by the age of seven. I was born and raised in hell. I was put in the collar at the age of six, and thrown in Abandon's bedroom at 12. I was responsible for Evie's death at 15, and..." Lex trailed off.   Faal felt his heart squeeze painfully at his words, even though he'd already known his life had been a decidely unpleasant one. "I'm sorry. If I'd only known..." he said quietly.   "What?" Lex asked darkly. "There wasn't anything anyone could do! The ones that tried to protect me, ended up dead. Those I thought were friends, betrayed me. There isn't anything for it, I belong to Abadon and he's taken great pleasure in reminding me of that."   "No, Lexine... you may have belonged to him, but that's over. He'll never lay a finger on you again, I swear it. It's my place to protect you from harm, and I will. "he caught himself looking into twim pools of absinthe, and swallowed at the sudden lightheadedness that overcame him. "And I could've done something, Lex... if I'd known, i'd have taken you some place safe...."   Lex stared at him for a long silent moment, a part of him wanted to believe all that, and he was close to giving in to that..."No." Lex muttered finally, looking away. "Pretty words, but nothing more. I know my place."   Faal shook his head sadly. "It's not your place anymore Lex. Even if you wanted to return to Hell to be Abadon's slave.... I can't allow you to. Your safety is too important." He shifted, drawing one leg up and resting his arm over his knee and stretched his other leg out . He frowned at the closness of the iron to his foot and shifted sideways. "You might as well accept your new place... because your old life as a slave is over."   "New place? What new place?" Lex replied with a tone. He was slipping, slowly becoming hysterical. And hysterical wasn't good...   "Your new place in life as a free man. A non- slave. " Faal said softly, watching his reaction. "I know it'll take some adjusting, but you strike me as a highly adaptable person, Lex. you'll be fine. I'll help. I was a slave once myself, so I know something of what you've been through..." he said, unbuttoning the top couple button's on his shirt and pulling it aside to show the scar he bore around his throat.   Lex's gaze slipped to the scar and he stared a moment, before shaking his head furiously. "But you don't know Abadon...you don't...he'll come after me...So it doesn't matter..." there was more fear slipping into his tone.   "Let him. First he has to escape the wards binding him to his realm... and then he has to deal with me. He'll try, but he won't get you, Lexine." Faal said, letting the shirt fall back in place but leaving the buttons undone. "I know you have no reason to trust me or believe me on this.... but if I have to.. I'll go after him and make sure he can never come after you again..."   Lex shook his head again, before shoving his hair out of his face. "You're right, I don't have a reason to trust, I don't have a reason to trust ANY of you! And you don't have a right to keep me here!"   Faal sighed. "Fine, Lex... obviously you're having trouble with the whole concept of freedom and your place in it. Understandable considering you've never known anything except slavery. Perhaps you'd be more comfortable looking at this in a different light until you're more comfortable with the idea. From now on you no longer belong to Abadon. You belong to Lady Chaos. Or if you perfer, you can think you belong to me. Either way, we're not letting anything happen to you or anyone take you away from us." he looked at Lex, trying to ignore the odd fluttering in his stomach he got everytime those green eyes met his. "I for one, will die to keep you safe."   Lex stared at him, rocking slightly. "Can't very much think of being your slave like that...slaves aren't protected like that." He muttered, lowering his gaze to his hands.   "They are if they're prized possessions... you would be my prized possesion if that makes you feel better.. although I loathe the thought of 'owning' someone, let alone you..." he said softly, looking away from Lex toward the wall. He could see the redhead out of the corner of his eye and considered turning back around so he sat facing him again, but the boy's subservient attitude combined with the presence of the iron was starting to bother him. Plus the odd fluttery feeling he was getting was unnerving him as well..   . Lex's head snapped up and his eyes were wide with an innocent expression with the words 'prized possesion'. "Why?" he asked in a whisper.   "Why what?" Faal asked, shifting a bit further away from the iron, thinking it might be the reason he was feeling so odd. "Why do I loathe the idea of owning you? Because I was once a slave, Lex... it's a horrible thing to be owned.. or to own someone. People should be free to choose their own lives..." he said, pulling his knees up and looping his arms over them, one hand slipping behind his neck to rub lightly at the scar...   "No...why would you even consider me a prized possesion?" Lex replied.   Faal glanced over at him, surprized. "Because..." he said, trying to decide how to explain it. "I'm your guardian... protecting you is what I was born to do... and you certainly seem like someone worth protecting. " he said, feeling his face grow warm. He turned away, looking down at his hands instead. "I'd like to know you better, Lex.. but from this short time, I already know you're a very specail young man."   Lex looked a mix between startled, confused and fearful, staring at Faal. The he jumped at the sound of some one at the other door, and remembered something about Chaos having called a guard.   Faal glanced over his shoulder to see a wraith flit through the doorway and pushed himself to his feet with a tired sigh. "I'll be back shortly.. see that he isn't disturbed." he said then turned to look down at Lex. "I've enjoyed talking with you, Lex. I'll go get that book for you now.. but if you don't mind... I'd very much like to talk with you again.... "   Lex stared after him a moment, then looked a way. "Thank you...' He muttered, but didn't quite know what to say in reply to the rest. Faal smiled softly before turning to go. "So... should I expect any more gawkers to come peer into my cage while your gone?" Lex asked, trying to push aside the confusion and hide behind his attitude.   Faal turned and glanced back at him. "Only if you want them too, Lex... if someone comes that you'd like to talk to.. just tell your guard here and he'll allow them in..." he said softly.
"I see..." Lex replied, with a slight nod, and for some reason added. "Thank you." Not that he expected any one to show up he'd want to talk to right now. Especially not Xander...   "Your welcome, Lexine... that goes for the opposite as well... if anyone appears that you don't want too see... your guard can take care of that as well. He's here to protect you as well as protect us from you..." he said softly and turned, nodding to the wraith before pulling open the door. After a last glance back at the young red head he left the room, heading for the Archive.. * He hadn't been gone very long, when some one else appeared. It was the young man with brown hair. He waited patiently as the wraith informed him the terms and for a moment, Lex didn't acknowlege him, the young man turned to leave. "Wait..." Lex said softly finally. Rowen smirked, before turning back. "My apologizes for not speakin' earlier." Rowen said, approaching the cage. He glanced at his watch, timing things... * "How's he doing?" Chaos asked as Faal came towards her and Auron. He snapped his head up in surprize, not having been paying attention to where he was going. "Ah.... alright I suppose. He's requested a book to read... I'm fetching it for him. He's having trouble adjusting to being liberated from slavery... I suppose it's understandable considering he's never known anything else... but it's rather…uncomfortable... I told him if it helps him to understand, to consider himself as belonging to one of us now..." he gave a shudder. "As much as I detest the thought, he seems to draw some sort of strength or reassurance from the security of belonging to someone...." * Lex watched the young man closely. "yus, well..." Lex muttered. Rowen smiled charmingly. "The names Rowen. And ye are?"  "Lexine..." "Ye bored of this group yet, Lex?" Rowen asked casually. Lex raised an eyebrow. Rowen continued to smile. * Auron gave a soft sigh and glanced down the hall towards the stairs. Chaos reached out and gave Faal's hand a squeeze. "I know.. but you did the right thing, Faal... we should be trying to make him feel comfortable and by forcing him to accept things our way..." she gave a small shrug. "Your turning it around to put things in a way he's comfortable with is the best way.... it doesn't matter how it makes us feel.. as long as it helps him." *
"Maybe.." Lex answered softly. Rowen moved around the cell closer to Lex, Lex watched him closely, but drew back away from the bars when Rowen crouched beside him on the other side. Rowen held his gaze. "Ye don;t have to..." Rowen said softly. Lex stared back at him, unable to look away. Rowen judged he had a few more minutes before his distraction went off. * Faal sighed and glanced back down the hall. "I'd better go find that book I promised him." he said softly and with a soft sad smile slipped past the couple on the way to the elevator and the Archive.   Chaos sighed and turned to slip her arms around Auron and lean her head against his chest. She felt his arms tighten around her in return. "When Saffron first appeared on my doorstop I had no clue what inviting him in was going to set in motion... but it's brought me you and the memories of the life we had together... And now in addition to one soon to be step son who seems to make it his mission in life to try to irritate me to the point of murder... I have a second soon to be stepson who... defies explaination at the moment..."   "Yes. life is certianly strange." Auron replied, wrapping his arms around her. "I just hope the boy will except help." * "Don't have to what?" Lex replied, staring back at Rowen. Rowen smiled softly. "Lots of things...be stuck in there...go back to Abadon...I could help you, Lex." He said softly, holding Lex's gaze. * Chaos closed her eyes and listened to Auron's heart beat for a moment. "I think Faal's on the right track... at least until he becomes more comfortable with us and can accept everything..." * Faal quickly made his way through the stacks, going unerringly to where he knew the book he wanted was. He quickly removed it from the shelf and slipped it into the cloth bag to protect it, and
quickly made his way to the back stairs. * Lex blinked and Rowen felt a twinge of annoyance before redoubling his efforts. "Daughter of the seal or not, you could have a normal life...away from Abadon...I can help you there too..." At the same moment, Rowen's distraction went off, the power failing, but a lot of the wards going fuzzy as well, a magic bomb of sorts. Lex startled looking around. "I can take ye out of here Lex, if ye really want it..." Rowen said urgently. * As the lights flickered and died Chaos and Auron both cursed. "Shit... Chaos said, suddenly shoving away from Auron and running for the stairs. "Lex..." * Faal felt the magic waver a fraction of a second before the lights went out and hurried his way down the steps, a lurching in his stomach as he thought of Lex possibly in danger. "Please.. let me get to him in time.." he said, certain the red head was in danger. A sudden flare of golden light lit up the stair well as the pheonix swords appeared in his free hand, the book tucked safely in his other arm as he ran. * Lex shook his head a fraction. "No...I can't...I..." His voice sounded pitiful in his own ears.    "Lex, I've only got a fraction of time t' work with 'ere. If ye wanna leave this place...now is that moment." Rowen said gently but urgently and then his hand was through the bars, offering to Lex. * Chaos and Auron were brought up short as they reached the landing by a commotion in the garage. Frantic yells for help sounded some where in the darkness and Chaos cursed softly. "Where are those damned emergency lights?" she hissed and left the stairwell, hoping the guard was keeping Lex safe. Auron glanced towards where he knew the cell lay, worried about his son.. but the frantgic yelling rose into a shriek and he ran after Chaos. * The wraith who was to guard Lex, had ventured into the hall at the power outage, taking up a post outside the door to the room, intent on stopping anyone form trying to enter...   Lex looked at the offered hand, then at the door. "Lex, thank about it. They're not about to let you out of this cell...they think you'd kill Xander. But if you come with me...you don't have to even do that...you could escape from all of it...No Abadon, No Xander, no Chaos..." Rowen said in the same tone.    Lex looked back at him, something flashed momentarily in his eyes. Then he took Rowen's hand. * Faal hit the landing and heard the commotion from the garage. He hestitated, his fear that Lex might be in danger warring with the knowledge that someone definately was... He caught the sound of Chaos and Auron's voices echoing back to him from the darkness and turned, intent on finding Lex.... * The moment Lex took Rowen's hand, Rowen opened a shadow portal over both of them. It closed around them, and when it opened again, they were standing on a roof of an apartment building, that had been tranformed into a garden. Lex's eyes swept the place as Rowen let go of his hand. * Faal felt his stomach give a flip as he reached the door and slipped past the wraith into the room..... and found it empty. The golden light form his sword lit the room and the small cell at its center clearly... "No..." he said, his eyes wide. "Shit... no..." he said, staring around for some sign of how he'd vanished. * " the building is owned by a friend." Rowen said. "Its very well protected, both magically and phsycially, and I know he'll be glad to help us..."    "Really? Us?" Lex replied, looking back at him. "Yes, us." Rowen answered with a smirk. "If I'm going to help you, some one's got to help me..." * Faal stopped at the door to question the wraith then flew out to the garage to find Chaos. The lights flickered back on shortly after he entered the garage, although at half power, and he quickly spotted the problem. Charli had apparently been working on one of the cars when the power failed and the jack dropped, pinning her beneath it. By the looks of things, it had started to roll slightly at some point and the front right tire had started to roll over her leg. Auron and Chaos had been trying to free her and with the power back on, Auron hit the jack and when the car started to rise, Chaos pulled Charli free. "We have a problem...." Faal said as he joined them. "Lex is gone... the guard said he had a visitor shortly before the power went down.... Ravenscourt..." * "Let me introduce you to him." Rowen gestured to the stair well. "I really think I should be going." Lex replied. "Where you gonna go Lex, if Chaos' people don't find you first, Abadon will..." Rowen pointed out.   "I'm not trading one prison for another again." Lex replied with a sharp tone, back away from Rowen.   "Nonsense, who said anything about a prison, my child." Came another voice from the stair well and an older man with silver hair a bit past the shoulders stepped out onto the roof, elegantly dressed in a suit. * Auron cursed and sprinted for the cell. Chaos just groined as she knelt by Charli. "RUEWINA!!!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.."I knew that boy was trouble...." she muttered. "Find him Faal.. you're his guardian.. isn't there some mystical crap you can do or something?? We can't let Abadon find him..."   Rue appeared near by, looking slightly annoyed. "Do you have to yell so loud? I was only in the kitchen..." * "Lex, meet Mr. Simon LiVed." Rowen said by way of introduction "Mr. LiVed, Lexine." LiVed smiled charmingly and pleasently. "Charmed to meet you." * Chaos growled at Rue. "Damn it.. I told you that boy of yours was trouble... he's taken Lex! you better hope nothing happens to that kid, Rue... " she said, finishing her spell to bind Charli's leg until they could get her to the hospital. She didn't appear to have any other injuries aside from a few scrapes and bruises. Nate and Eire pounded down the stairs and emerged into the garage with Xander hot on their heels.. but rather then enter the garage, he went straight for the cell..   "How did Rowen...Wasn't the kid underguard?! The guard should have had explict instructions to let no one but yourself, Faal and Auron in there, no else!" Rue ran her hands through her hair, turned and headed for the door.   Xander pushed the door open looking at the empty cell, but it wasn't hard to pick up the residue of a shadow portal. * "Lets speak some where more privet." LiVed said, motioning to the stairs. Lex hesitated, then shrugged and headed for the stair well. Rowen exchanged a look with LiVed and they followed. * "The boy wasn't a prisoner, Rue.. he was here for protection... the guard was in the room to keep him safe from harm... Lex was fine when the power went down and the guard shifted to stand outside the cell to better guard the room... he wasn't aware the magical wards had failed as well, allowing portals inside... " Faal said, running a hand back over his head. "It's my fault... I said he could speak to anyone if he wanted... its a secure area of the building... no one except employees should have even known about it..."   "Not now, I'll track Rowen down." Rue said with a gesture, already removing her cellphone. Xander came back out and caught her arm. "No need to, I already know where they're at." He said. Rue raised an eyebrow. * LiVed led them into his office and motioned for them to sit. "Now then. I believe you're in need of protection..." Lex raised an eyebrow. * "E, Nate... Charli needs to get to the hospital.. one of you take care of it, would you? I don't care if you take her yourselves or get someone else too... just get her there as quick as you can." she stood and saw Auron emerge from the hall, his face blank. She glared at Rue as she slipped past them, heading for Auron.   Faal, meanwhile had latched onto Xander's arm. "Where! " Xander blinked, Rue glanced at Chaos with a sigh, before looking back at Xander. "I cant tell you where where, I just knew where they went. Elementals can track other elementals shadow portals...follow them in most cases..." * "I wouldn't exactly say protection..." Lex muttered. "But I would...Abadon after all, is Abandon." LiVed said, before pressing a hidden button. A few moments later, the door opened again and a young woman with a vicious shade of lime green hair stepped into the room, coporately dressed. *   "Xander... WHERE." Faal insisted, inadvertantly squeezing his arm.   Chaos caressed Auron's face as she reached him. "We'll find him, hun. He'll be alright...."   Rue turned off her phone and answered for Xander. "The L coperation's second building. Down town." * "Lex, this is Ms. Meeks, her specialty is Third Person Defense...A body guard so to say." LiVed said pleasently, Rowen looked a little displeased to see LiVed bringing HER into this. "Ms. Meeks, this is Lexine...in need of a body guard." The girl nodded to Lex. * Faal was already heading for his car before she'd finished speaking, the sword forgotten in his hand until he reached for the door and saw he still held it in a white knuckled grip. He scowled and the sword vanished back to where it had come from as he opened the door and slipped inside. He called up the map of the city and searched for the L corporation .   "He doesn't even let me finish by saying I know some one on the inside..." Rue said with a look, watching Faal go. Xander snickered. * Lex shook his head. "With all due respect Mr. LiVed..." "Nonsense. And of course you are most safe in this building." LiVed said. * Auron and Chaos saw Faal rush off and came over to Rue and Xander. "By Faal's hurried exit, I take it you have a lead on Lex's where abouts?" Auron asked, his hand tightening slightly on Chaos' waist and she gave a squeeze in return.   "Yeah, The L Corperation down town. what he didn't wait around to hear is there's some on the inside who can help." Rue said. * LiVed and Rowen had to step into the hall to take care of something else, leaving Meeks and Lex in the room together. She perched herself on the edge of the desk, watching the red head who was picking at a string on the hem of his shirt. * "Rue, Faal's not the most patient person when he's feeling guilty over something... and right now he's feeling like he failed Lex. Let's hope the boys alright... I'd hate to see how Faal would take it if he'd been hurt before he got to him..." Chaos said, looking towards the ramp leading out and around to the laneway, resting her cheek against Auron's chest. At some point, the boys had taken Charli and she realized she had no clue when they'd done it... she'd been a few feet away most of the time and had no recollection of seeing them move her... * "This is rdicilous, I'm leaving." Lex said finally getting up. Meeks shrugged. "Lets go. where ever you want." Lex looked at her. "My job, is to stick with you, aslong as I'm with you, I doubt Mr. LiVed would complain, so you're not bound to stay here..." Meek said getting off the desk. She began escorting Lex toward a side door while he was staring confused at her.