Welcome to Gaia! ::

Lewis nodded, "right....right. that makes sense. of course." he glanced between the members of the group nervously before nodding, "ok. right." he stood up straight and pulled the cloak of Prime Minister around his shoulders before stepping out behind Al, his eyes scanning the crowd but not seeing.

Leo slipped his arm into the crook of Elliot's and let go of Oliver's hand, the boy stepping to the side and bowing his head as he'd been trained. Leo held his head high and smiled at Elliot, knowing he was probably pale, but still able to keep himself together. "I love you," he whispered to Elliot before walking out into the crowd. he felt the eyes on him, those knowing eyes, but he refused to meet any of them, keeping his eyes locked forward and a smile across his lips.

Tsume entered last, standing with his shoulders squared and glaring at any who dare even look his way. he was here to guard his people, he dared anyone to come near. funny how weak these fat lords and ladies were, they were cruel and wicked, but when faced with a predator, they all pissed their pants just the same as those they lorded over.

Istavia grinned and took Alvaro's hand, shaking it as he clapped him on the back, "Thank you, thank you! and now, with the guests of honor here, let us begin!"

the party was rather more of a gathering than anything else. there were entertainers and food, plenty of both. the nobles wandered and spoke with each other. slaves and servants ran to fetch their master's refreshment or to set up their chairs for them. very few had slave chairs, only those wearing the most jewelry and extravagant clothing, obviously showing off their wealth. Istavia allowed himself to be taken away from his so called guests of honor as he flit from group tp group, speaking and scaring the nobles, enjoying himself.

Leo stayed at Elliot's side and Oliver at his. Lewis never once left Al and barely spoke, only nodding to the few nobles brave enough to speak to their group. it wasn't until the sun was setting that the women began to leave. Istavia had been sitting on his throne impatiently for the past hour, tapping his fingers on his knees, but soon the time would come. Leo thought about leaving, but when the time came he saw the door that lead to their rooms was guarded, making it impossible to go. Istavia wanted them there, all of them. Leo felt his stomach clench in fear, what was the man planning?

there was a knock on Kashi's door, "Kashi, it's me." Tsume said, knocking again, "Kashi, it's ok. it's me, you can unlock the door. i brought you some fresh food from the party, they're having a bot of a break so i snuck out for a second."

When the last of the women left, Istavia stood, excitement in his eyes. "And now, now the real party begins." the cage began to lower to the ground, the nobles hurrying to get out of the way. "Many of you will remember that i had an older brother. a cowardly fop that wanted to end the age old traditions of our people and bring about a new age." Istavia circled around the cage as he spoke, his hands held behind his back, "really, he was pathetic. why change what has worked for our people for so long? he was a coward, ran away and was never seen again. well, not until almost seven years ago." he stopped, now, facing his guests. "I found him, hiding in the forests of Falia with the bests and creatures of darkness and magic." he glanced around the room, having the attention of the entire court, "and, being the good brother i am, i decided to save him from those creatures that had infested his mind with peace. Saved him, and brought him home." he held up his hand and the curtain fell, revealing his brother chained inside. "looks young, doesn't he? can't figure out why, maybe something they fed him there, but all the same," he shrugged and looked over the nobles, "here he is. the traitor of our people and foolish would be king." his eyes locked onto Leo's and he smirked, "we're having a regular family reunion."

Leo was clutching to Elliot, but when the curtain fell and he saw his father he let go, taking a step forward. "Oh gods," he whispered, tears spilling from his cheeks, "spirits above and below, what has he done to you?" but then Istavia stepped between himself and his father, hiding him from sight. Leo focused on him and felt something he'd never felt before in his life. white hot rage. "Release him!" h snarled, stepping forward, his eyes locked with the king's. "release him, Istavia. you have no right to treat him this way!"

Istavia couldn't help it, he laughed. "And now his son steps forward, his b*****d child of a Falian whore. Tell me, Lily, do you want to see your father? to be with him again?" he stepped aside and opened the door of the cage, holding it wide for Leo, "then go to him." the chains kept George from being able to move, but Leo could certainly go to him.

Tsume knocked again, "Come on, Kash, it's me! i brought you some fruits and some veggies since you don't like meat. there's some really strange ones, but i already tried them and they are ok. they taste really good, i've never seen any like this before. i wanted to share with you, just open the door a crack so i can pass them through, ok?"

Leo hesitated a second before glaring at the king, "No. I will not fall for your trick. release my father, as rightful heir to the counsel of Falia, son of the rightful king of Reta and future queen of Nalaenir i order you to release him."

Istavia's eyes darkened, a sign his nobles knew well. they began to hastily make an exit, hurrying away before they were caught in the king's wrath. "you order me?" he smirked and snapped his fingers, the chains dropping from Greg's body and the man himself falling to the ground. "you know all too well that releasing him means nothing, little boy." the three slaves that he'd stolen in the night stepped forward, their eyes blank as they obeyed his silent command. all as one, they jumped on Tsume, who was trying to sneak up behind Istavia, Heather drawing a blade and pressing it to his throat. "you cannot stop me. none of you can." he looked at the people behind Leo and smirked. "the arrogant little prince, the idiot king and his faithful whore, picked up at our borders. what can any of you do to stop me?"

Tsume chuckled, a slight hiss being heard in the dark sound, "at least i tried." a key was incerted into the door and it was pushed open, past the pillows. inside the frame stood Tsume, smiling gently at Kashi. "see? it's me you silly." he had a platter full of food and stepped into the room, "no need to be afraid, you can see for yourself it's me."

Alvario looked at the group and cocked his head to the side, "you really think so little prince?" without need for spoken orders, he forced their minds to obey him, making all but Leo kneel on the ground, Leo he kept frozen in place, unable to move. "now be good little boys and watch." he looked Leo up and down and made a face, "ugh, don't need for that thing growing inside of you. it only makes you weaker, but i know-" he looked to the cage and smiled coldly, "brother, cut it out of him." he held a cutlass out for his brother to take, knowing that he would be as helpless to stop him as he was that glorious night six years ago.

"Dad-" Leo whispered, his voice breaking, "dad fight it! please, don't do this! you're stronger than him, please!" he was crying, trying to break free, but that cold, relentless power held him still, held him in place and refused to let him go.

Tsume came running to the door, looking down at the body before stepping over it and coming towards Kashi, "What happened, are you ok?"

"No, Dad, please!" Leo screamed, but it was too late, he closed his eyes, waiting for the pain, for the loss, unable to free himself, but it never came. a warm body hit his and Leo opened his eyes, looking down to find Oliver's tiny body between himself and his father, the blade buried into his chest, saving Leo at the expense of himself. "N-No," Leo whispered, Istavia's hold breaking, allowing him to catch the falling boy, "No, Oliver!"

Oliver looked up at the lady, no-man. the king had said he was a boy. a pregnant boy. "sorry, master," he said softly, smiling at Leo, "i couldn't let him hurt you..." he gasped in pain, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, "th-thank you," he whispered, "thank you for freeing me..." Oliver's eye closed and he grew limp in Leo's arms, the blade still in his chest.

"Ah~h," Istavia sighed, looking at the boy. "hmm, surprising, forgot about the little s**t." slaves didn't even register to him, just another object in the room, which is why he hadn't frozen the boy with the others. "A mistake i won't make again, now, brother, you've failed me..." he smirked, his eyes gleaming darkly. "punish yourself and kill your son. i don't need someone like him." Istavia hadn't freed Leo, Leo had broken from his grasp and as much as he tried, Istavia couldn't grab a hold again. there had to be some consciousness for him to be able to control the mind and the moment the boy had been stabbed, Leo's mind shut down. "how boring, i can't use a broken slave."

the second Tsume fell, but in the doorway stood Leo, looking in with horror written across his face, "Kashi,w hat have you done?" he cried, moving in towards Tsume, towards Kashi. "What are you doing, put that down!"

Istavia looked at his fallen brother and laughed. he laughed so hard, he doubled over, his hands clutching his stomach. "you-utter-fool!"

Leo's head lifted when he heard the order to kill him, but his father's smile-the look in his eyes as he plunged the dagger into his chest that grabbed his attention. it was the laughter that snapped something inside of him. he lay Oliver on the ground, the boy's body having grown cold as he stood and faced his uncle. "Your rein of terror has come to an end." he held up his hand, pointing his palm toward the still laughing king, "and i shall be the one to end it." his voice was that of many, his own joined by the voices of all who had suffered and died at this man's hands.

Istavia stopped and looked at Leo, still smirking, "what can you do, little boy? i'll just take control of you once again!" he sent out his power, but found it blocked. "what-?" he took a step back, his eyes widening as he looked into Leo's eyes. they were glowing, but more-they were cold. cold and hard as ice, the compassion and pathetic gentleness in his eyes were gone, all that was left was the same thing he saw in his own eyes every day. "oh-ho! look at this, the gentle healer turned killer. you are a child of Reta after all!" he smirked and held his hands out, sending out so much power it was physically manifesting, snapping forward like a red whip, but once again it was stopped, a wall the same color as the ocean rippling as his power it hit. "YOU WILL BE MINE, BOY!" he screamed, sending out everything he had.

"I think not, Uncle." Leo said softly, his hand closing into a fist.

at first it seemed as if nothing had happened. Istavia looked around, actual fear on his face, but when he saw that nothing had changed he laughed, "Ha! You're powers are useless boy!" spittle flew from his lips as he said 'boy', but instead of falling to the ground, it hovered before him. his eyes widened as he looked down at his hand. he was sweating, but-his sweat wasn't running down his body. it was floating up into the air, forming an ever growing ball in the air. "What-" he gasped, seeing the sweat was slowly becoming red. "W-what are you doing?" he looked at Leo, but was met with those cold eyes once more, a shiver running down his back. "N-No, stop it! what are you doing, stop!" his blood, his actual blood was flowing from his body, from every pore. Istavia screamed, pain rippling through his body as it was drained of every last drop. It only lasted a few seconds, but it seemed like hours as Istavia's body shriveled and turned to dust.

Leo opened his hand, shaking as he looked at what was left of his uncle. but he couldn't stop, not yet. he knelt at the side of the two who had given their lives. he wrenched the blade from his father's chest and threw it away before touching their foreheads and closing his eyes. light pulsed from his body and down into the still forms, slowly covering them and setting them aglow. when Leo pulled away, the blood surrounding their bodies were gone, the wounds closed. he stood and looked at Elliot, his eyes still hard, still cold, but they softened, if only just a little. "i have killed," he whispered, his voice still that of many. "i am a murderer-" blood red tears slid down his cheek as his eyes slowly softened, the voices dimming down until it was just his own once more, "i killed him-" he whispered, looking down at his hands. "i killed him-"

the three bodies changed, shifting back to the forms of one man. his talent had been cloning, the ability to make himself look like whoever he want and have as many of himself as he chose, but now he lay dead in the main room, his life gone without Istavia to control him.

The three bentiens snapped back to themselves and looked at each other before seeing who they were on. they jumped off Tsume and clutched to each other, looking around in fear. they had been asleep, but now they were here...all memories of what had happened were gone.