The guests left to their own houses several hours later, and the two chimera cleaned up after them. They'd wanted to actually *see* the chimera creation process being done before attempting to do so themselves, but Darius had gently let them down by telling them that he didn't have all the supplies to do so.

Ademu seemed glad to have the house empty again but for the three of them, but as Darius watched Drow methodically do his chores with a blank expression on his face, he knew something was wrong. Drow's actions were harsher and more aggressive than normal, and he was polishing a table over and over again, scrubbing at the surface he was more likely to take the polish off than putting it on.

After a while of watching Drow and just seeing the young man's frustration grow, Darius eventually called out, "Drow, stop that and come over here."

Drow sighed and tossed down the rag he was using, shoving his hands into his pockets and then walking over to where Darius sat in his usual overstuffed chair. Standing in front of the older man, Drow slouched and refused to look Darius in the eyes. "What do you want?" he groused.

From Ademu's spot where he was busy sweeping the floor, he glared at Drow for speaking so to Darius. Drow, he thought, should have more respect towards their father...

However, Darius was nonplussed, though a little surprised. Even though Drow was more... casual, around Darius than his brother, Drow was never rude. He decided that there was something going on with the elf, and he wanted to know just what was bothering his son.



"Take a seat, Drow," Darius said, indicating the couch set at an angle to the chair. "Let's talk."

Drow dropped into the couch, and once more wouldn't look at Darius. For once Darius decided not to chide Drow for wearing out the springs in the furniture.

"Drow, what's wrong?" he asked.

Drow shrugged. "Nothing," he muttered offhandedly.

"That's not true," Darius pushed. "You have been acting oddly ever since my companions came over." He paused, considering. Could they be the reason...? "Were you frightened by them? They wouldn't hurt you. Be curious, yes. But they wouldn't harm you in any way."

Drow shook his head. "No, that's not it..."

"But there is something wrong?"

The pitch-skinned youth sighed, and studied his toes for a moment. "I... was just wondering..." He looked up and into Darius' face. "Does Ademu and I... have souls? I mean," he rushed, looking away. "We were created, but did we gain souls when we were? What will happen to Ademu and I when we die? And, if we don't have souls... does that make us, I don't know... any less real people?"

Ademu from his spot snorted. "You think too much," he announced.

"Ademu, be quiet," Darius snapped. "This is really bothering Drow, and it'd be good if you discuss this with us in any case. Come here and sit down." Ademu, doing what he was told, sat at the same couch as Drow but at the far corner. "Now," Darius continued. "Drow, you tell me. Do you think you have a soul or not?"

Drow glanced up at him and shrugged. "I don't know. I like to think I do, but I'm not really certain..."

"How about you, Ademu?" Darius asked.

Ademu also shrugged. "I don't know either. But, personally, I don't really if we do or not. I mean, we're here right now, right? What does it matter if we have a soul or not?"

"Idiot," Drow hissed. "We may be alive right now, but what about when we die?"

"When we die," Ademu responded. "We die. Why bother worrying about it?"

"I worry," Drow growled. "Because I don't like the thought that I might be just a lump of flesh and bone, a machine that would just break down and rot away somewhere!"

"Do you really think that, Drow?" Darius questioned. Inwardly, he was rejoicing. He'd finally found out what Drow was so aggravated about. "Do you really think that you're just a machine of flesh and bone? That you have no soul?"

Drow wordlessly nodded.

Darius took a moment before continuing. What answer he gave the boy could either settle his fears or break him, and he cared for the boy. Loved him like the son that he claimed him to be. Finally, he said, "Drow, answer me this; Do you laugh?"

"Huh?" here both Drow and Ademu looked flabbergasted. "Of course I do. Ademu, too."

"Do you smile when you're happy," Darius continued. "When you're sad, do you frown? When you've done something you shouldn't have, do you feel guilty?" Drow nodded to each of those questions. "Those are all expressions of a soul," Darius stated. "That is what gives human beings, and you two, souls and separates you from mere animals." He felt at that point saying that some people felt that animals, too, had souls would just start up another thread of worries. "So yes, if you feel all those things, You have a soul."

Drow sighed quietly with relief, and looked up at Darius with those glowing red eyes, a small smile on his face. "Thank you, father," he said.

Darius reached over and ruffled Drow's moon-silver hair. "It was no problem, my son."

At his spot, Ademu pouted. "I still don't see what he was worried about."