The next day, Jen’s Mansion, Brian’s P.O.V.

“Hey, kiddo.” I say, sitting next to Capri on his bed. Jen’s guest rooms are a lot nicer than ours, I notice. Then again, I’m no interior decorator. (Jen, apparently, has an aunt who is.)

“Hey…” He replies sullenly.

“Aw…” I say, just a tad mockingly, but only in the spirit of fun, “What’s wrong?” To show I’m just kidding, I put an arm around his shoulders and pull his head on rest on my shoulders.

He tiredly rolls his eyes at me, “I’m worried…” He replies, taking off his glasses so they don’t dig into my shoulder and placing them on his lap.

I rub his upper arm comfortingly, “About what? Kym and Jimmie? Don’t be. Kym can’t catch diseases anymore, and she wouldn’t have let Jimmie stay if whatever it was Tami had was contagious.”

“Let her stay?” He repeats confusedly, “It looked to me like Kym didn’t have a say in the matter.”

I chuckle amusedly, “Of course she did. She’s our leader. But you’ve got to understand, there’s this… Weird understanding between Kym and Jimmie. One that I really don’t understand, and am, frankly, jealous of. Sometimes it feels like Jimmie’s the second in command… If I had asked to stay behind, Kym would have told me no. And if I’d insisted on it like Jimmie had, she would have simply thrown me out on my ass.”

Capri interrupts, “That’s not true! Kym loves you, she wouldn’t hurt you…”

We both blush at that statement. I cough, replying, “Yes, well, still. She wouldn’t have let me stay.”

Capri nods, “But it would only have been in your best interests.”

“I know.”

Lexis enters the room, “I’m bored. Anyone want their fortunes read?”

“There are fifteen guest bedrooms,” I say, “How did you know we were in this one?”

Capri rolls his eyes boredly, “Because she’s Lexis, that’s how.”

Lexis smirks, “That’s right.” She shuts the door behind her and climbs onto the bed, sitting across from us, Indian style, at the foot of it.

“Alright, let’s do me.” Capri says, also settling into an Indian sitting style and putting his head in his hands.

Lexis pulls out a Tarot deck from her sweater’s pockets and shuffles it. Then she lays down three and puts the rest of the deck aside.

“Go ahead and pick up the first card.” She instructs Capri.

He does, and I look in confusion at the picture on it. It’s… Me. I’m wrapped in white linens, toga style, that flow from the top of the card, as if I were dressed in curtains. My face is in profile and looking into a mirror that I’m holding out idly. Underneath the picture and at the bottom of the card, in italic print, it says, ‘THE REFLECTION’.

Capri lays the card back where it was, to the right, and tells me, “Brian, why don’t you pick up the next card?”

I choose the one on the left and pick it up. This one has Krystali on it. She’s wearing a plain, brown and white, medieval peasant’s dress with a white bandana. She’s sitting on an old chair, and looks tired. But she’s smiling, and holding a baby in her arms while two small peasant children, a boy and a girl, sit beside her on the ground. At the bottom of the card, it says in medieval print, ‘THE MIDWIFE’.

Lexis picks up the last card, which was in the middle, and shows it to us. This time it’s Kym. She’s dressed in female ninja attire, with her arms crossed in the shape of an ‘X’. In one hand, she holds four kunai, one in between each finger. In the other, she hold four shuriken in the same fashion. Her mouth and part of her nose is covered, as ninja’s usually are, and she’s wearing a forehead protector with the sign of Scorpio on it. The jumper she wears underneath is black, and robe she wears in front is maroon. At the bottom of the card, in italic print, it says, ‘THE KAISERIN OF ASSASSINS’.

“Interesting.” Lexis says idly, “First of all, the Reflection. It can stand for things returned, truth, and brotherly or motherly love. Secondly, the Midwife. It can stand for compassion, the desire to help others, and motherly or sisterly love. Lastly,” She looks pointedly at Capri for this one, “The Kaiserin of Assassins. It stands for secrets, usually dark ones.” Capri looks a little scared and guilty as she says this, so to calm him down, she adds, “That… And, of course, death, rebirth, healing and transformation.”

“…And?” Capri ventured after a moment.

“Well, it can mean a number of things. But what really matters is what you think it means… What do you think it means, Capri?” She asks.

Capri glares at her deeply, clenching the bedcover, “I don’t know, Lexis.” He grinds out, “How about I tell you when I figure it out?”

Lexis grins like the Cheshire Cat and looks at him through lazy, half-lidded eyes. For some reason, she is absolutely ecstatic by his answer, “Please do, Jonathan.” She replies.

They glare for several seconds. I’m about to say something, anything, to break the uncomfortable silence, but Lexis suddenly turns and smiles amiably at me. I gulp in no small amount of fear. Her sudden transition from crouching tiger to content kitten is frightening, especially since now I’m the mouse she’s got her eye on.

“Brian,” She starts, “Tell me, what is your moon sign?”

“Uh, um…” I stutter. Women like her have always terrified me. Totally unpredictable and more often than not angry with you, and you never know why. Even if they aren’t angry at you, you feel like they are, and you never know when they’re going to blow up. One minute they’re social butterflies, the next they’re absolute psychopaths. (A.N. This is actually starting to sound like ME, more than anything…) My mother and sisters were like that, and they managed to instill a phobia in me for women like them that I don’t think will ever leave me. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Lexis like a sister, she’s just –

“Brian, aren’t you going to answer me?”

--Utterly terrifying.

“S-Scorpio.” I answer, “My moon is in Scorpio.”

“Really? Mine too!” Lexis answers. Honestly, as if I hadn’t guessed. “What about you, Capri? What’s your moon sign?” When Capri remains silent, she goes on, “Not gonna answer? Fine, I’ll guess… Impulsiveness, spontaneity, determination, an excitable temperament, impatience… Why… It seems to me that your moon is in Aries. …Well? Am I right?”

Capri nods tersely. I blink in surprise. Until Lexis brought it up, I would have never guessed… But it does make sense. I wonder how that will affect him when he’s older…

“Do you know all our moons signs, Lexis? Did you look us up, or did you just read our minds for the information?” Capri says, getting a little peevish when he says the ‘read our minds’ bit.

Lexis laughs condescendingly behind her slender, finely manicured hand, and leans in closely, so that she’s face to face with Capri, “Oh, a little bit of both, I suppose. …Though, with you, it all too obvious by the way you act. But… Dear me… Aren’t Scorpio and Aries completely incompatible…?”

They are silent for several seconds, their eyes locked on each other. More than likely they are continuing this conversation mentally. I cough to let them know I’m still present, and Lexis slowly looks up and fixes her deadly blue eyes on be, one eyebrow questioningly arched.

“But if you’ll remember, Lexis… Capricorn and Scorpio are compatible, as are Leo and Aries.” She continues to stare, questioningly as ever, “…Um… K-Kym’s moon sign is Leo…” I clarify.

She closes those piercing eyes, eyes that are as equally alarming as Kym’s and mine, and turns her head away from me, smirking, “…So they are.”

I breathe a sigh of relief when she leaves the room and turn to Capri, “…Capri… Do yourself a favor, and never challenge women like that. You’ll never win, ever.”

He turns and looks me right in the eye, for a moment looking much older and just as frightening as Lexis, “…Like hell.” He grinds out, and leaves as well.

I sigh. Kids these days! They never listen to their elders…

Two minutes previous, normal P.O.V.

I thought you said you’d given up on her… You said ‘there were other fishes in the sea’!

…Hmm… I did say that, didn’t I, Capri?

Yes, you did!

Well… Then you should know, I’ve recently discovered… That although there are other fishes in the sea… She’s the only one I want.

…Well, then, it looks like we’re still rivals, aren’t we?

…Capri… Don’t fuck with me. You’re not going to win. Ever.

Before Capri could mentally reply, they were interrupted by a cough…

May 15th, The Blackburne Manor, Ette’s P.O.V.

“Are you done with that?”

Nod.

“Does Fried Calamari sound okay to you?”

Nod.

“Are you heading off to bed now?”

Nod.

“Two lumps of sugar, right?”

Shake, one finger upwards.

“One then?”

Nod.

“What is your freaking problem?!”

Pause.

I huff and bend down to pick up the pieces of the cup I threw.

“…I beg your pardon?”

It’s my turn to pause. That’s the first time he’s talked to me in days.

“…I said,” I repeat slowly, “‘What is your freaking problem?’ You’ve barely even said anything to me since… Well, since we kissed…”

“We? I do believe it was I who kissed you. You didn’t even respond.”

I summon him some more tea and place it in front of him, hotly replying, “That’s because it lasted less than a second!” I sigh, calming myself down, “…Listen, Andrew... I really like you!” His eyes widen at that, “I do! You’re smart and funny and strong and totally sexy!”

“Ette, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Granted, I’ll admit that I’m intelligent, but… I’m none of those other things.”

“Who told you that?” I urge.

He rolls his eyes, “Nobody told me.”

“Then Nobody doesn’t know what they’re talking about.” I kiss him then. I put one hand on each side of his head and tilt mine to the left, exploring his mouth. At first he doesn’t respond; surprised, I think. But then he cautiously reacts to my tongue, running his lazily across my palate. After a few moments we pull away, panting heavily.

“What’s wrong with me?” I ask, “Why is it you feel so uncomfortable around me?” When he doesn’t answer, I venture further, “Is it because I’m so feminine? I mean, granted, I’m not into women either, but that’s only because…” I stop when I see his horror-stricken face, “…Andrew…?”

He closes his eyes tight and his face contorts, as if he’s about to cry. You’d never imagine such a serious, masculine man like him crying… I just wish I knew what it was I said that was so painful for him! I wish… I wish he’d open up to me!

“…P-Please leave…” He says after a moment after he’s gotten control of himself.

“Andrew, please, just talk to me! Tell me what I did--!”

“You did nothing wrong!” He roars, typing furiously at his keyboard in an attempt to ignore me, “Now, if you’d be so kind, please leave me to my work!”

I get a bit choked up myself, but I don’t say anything. I don’t trust my voice right now. I turn and leave the room, taking his used dishes with me.

Same place and time, Andrew’s P.O.V.

I light the violet leaves ablaze and take a sip of the tea in front of me, taking in a deep breath.

“Mum? Are you there?” I venture uneasily. Though she comes every time I summon her, I’m always paranoid that, one day, she might not. My fear is in vain though, she appears before my eyes like she has many times before, smiling as brightly as ever.

Her brilliant blue-green eyes sparkle as she looks at me, sizing me up, “Oh, Andrew! Look at how handsome you’ve become!” She throws her arms around me, or tries to at least. It always baffles me how she insists on trying to embrace me when she knows that no matter how many times she tries, she’ll never succeed.

“Mum… Whose idea was it?”

She looks surprised for a brief moment, but then she starts smiling again, albeit nervously this time, “Why, Andrew, whatever do you mean?”

“It was Father’s idea, wasn’t it? It didn’t matter to you whether you had a son or daughter, you were just glad you could even have children… Right? But… Why me?”

She looks sadly at me, as if she’s about to cry. I feel so guilty, I hate making my mother cry. But… I must know why…

“…Andrew…” She starts, casting her eyes down. She’s silent for a few moments, as if she’s still trying to make up her mind, but then she looks up, her eyes finding mine and locking with them, “…I-It was completely random! Your father wanted a son so badly… And we had been trying so long, had tried every legal fertility drug we could find… When I finally got pregnant… Your father was so happy… All he could think about was how he was going to raise his son to be like the knights of old; saving damsels in distress and fighting evil… But then you and your twin sister were born… Your father didn’t want to believe it… He just picked you up in his arms, and… That’s when he knew… He swore… You were his son.”

I sigh heavily, “But… I’m not. I never was.”

“But Andrew--!” She starts, but I cut her off.

“Mum… I knew for a long time… But I always went along with it, because I didn’t want to disappoint you… But… I could’ve still been a knight in shining armor! You didn’t need to confuse me like that…”

“Could you have, truly, Andrew?” She interrupts, her voice growing steadily impatient. It’s as if she’s talking to a young child; a very stupid child. One who fails to see a very obvious point that anyone else would have seen with no trouble. She raises a transparent hand to my cheek, “It’s a curse to be a woman, Andrew. We are underappreciated and very few of us will ever be able rise above the stereotypes and unfair standards set against us. These damned hormones that control us… I always wanted to be strong enough to leave your father… To take you and Ione and just leave him… But every time I tried he’d beat me down… And I’d cry every time! Because I was weak… That’s why I never said anything… That’s why I let him raise you the way he did… I wanted you to grow up strong… And you have!”

“Yes, Mum, I am strong…” I reply, “But it’s not because you raised me as a male… All that’s done is confused me. Even though you raised me like one, it doesn’t make me a male... I’m still strong, I’m still a knight in shining armor… I’m still saving my own damsel in distress and doing a pretty damn good job of it, too! This is what you wanted for me, isn’t it? I did it all… So does that make me a man?”

My mother stays silent for a moment, trying to find the right words, “…Well, not technically, but that’s not what matters!”

“…You’re right.” I reply, “It doesn’t matter. Man or woman, I’m still Andrew. And if that matters to someone else, then…” I stop there, “Mum… It’s been great talking to you. But I have a few more things to figure out… I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

She nods mutely, floating back into the underworld without another word to me. She’s obviously disappointed.

But that doesn’t matter. I now know that being me… Being Andrew… Is more important than being male or female… Now I just need to know if someone else thinks the same…

Unknown time and place, Normal P.O.V.

“She’ll survive… Won’t she?”

“I’m afraid so. But buck up, she won’t, can’t, live forever.”

“…I never properly thanked you for your help...”

“No need.” A shrill laugh follows, “After all, you keep things interesting around here!”

“…I don’t understand you, Navopia...”

“You don’t need to. You just need to keep me amused and you’ll have the revenge you so desire. That seems like an equal trade, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, but… What do you have against her? I have a perfectly reasonable… Well, reason, for wanting to kill her… You seem to be doing it with no other incentive than your own amusement. Not that I’m complaining, but why…?”

“Suffice to say, dear, that like your terribly fascinating sister, there is much more to me than most people realize… Ever so much more…”

“But what about Ealia, Barriocius and Krysembra and those other morons? What if they manage to kill her before I can?”

“They won’t. They might manage to take down the others, but they won’t take down her. And I promise not to destroy the universe until you’ve had your revenge… Though… They don’t need to know that.”

“…Thank you.”

“I said there was no need for that. You don’t see Corvus or Crater bowing in gratitude, do you?”

“I suppose not…”

“Now, dear… When the time comes…”

“Hmm…?”

“Give ‘em hell.” Another mad giggle, then she disappears.

“…Sister… Soon… You will pay.”