Welcome back to Hello Charlotte everyone, I really hope that you guys enjoy this chapter. Please remember to VOTE and COMMENT, it means a lot to me and I like talking to you guys. Also, click the video it goes with the chapter. ~XOXO BUTTERBALL~

The song is Bleak December by Set it Off.

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-Kessel-

"Is there anything you want to eat? Perhaps a favorite food you like?" I asked the small Therion girl.

She hadn't told me her name so I just called her Lyssa, and so far she seemed okay with it.

For a moment she stared at me then, she shook her head slowly. I bit my lip as I crossed my arms. "Is there a certain type of food you can taste better?" I asked.

Ivo started losing his sense of taste around the same time he started learning to control his powers.

Lyssa tugged gently on the sleeve of my robe until I looked at her. She stared at me silently for a bit before giving a large grin.

"Eggs! I want eggs!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

Lyssa grabbed my hand as we began walking toward the palace kitchen. I got to work quickly, carefully fixing up some scrambled eggs and ham.

Behind me, Lyssa sat at the table humming and tapping her claws against the tile.

Once the eggs were done and on the plate, I held up the ketchup, "Do you want a smiley face?"

She nodded almost eagerly, her face lit up as she watched me apply the ketchup. Afterwards, I sat down across from her and massaged my temples as I felt a headache coming on.

A shudder ran down my spine as I heard Ivo's voice in my head.

"You say that you care about Charlotte but from the looks of it you're easily replacing her like an old pet."

"Shut up," I whispered under my breath.

"The main reason Charlotte is by my side is because you failed her. Just like you'll fail this girl."

"Shut up!" I growled slamming my hands down on the table.

A whimper entered my ears and I looked up to she Lyssa trembling and cringing away from me. I frowned and let out a small sigh before I grinned at Lyssa.

"It's okay sweetie, just a headache," I told her as cheerfully as I could manage.

"Um...Kessel?" she asked slowly.

"Yes, what is it, honey?" I asked.

Lyssa paused for a moment, almost as if she was wondering if she should actually speak. She bit her lip before she looked up at me.

"There...there's something odd about your soul. It's really weird," she said slowly and hesitantly.

"How is it weird?" I asked softly.

"It's a weird color and...it has a tiny hole in the middle. Like a donut!" She exclaimed as she shoved a fork full of eggs into her mouth.

I frowned deeply as I rested my forehead on my folded hands. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

It must be Ivo's doing. Therions are only good for their power.

I glanced up at Lyssa briefly.

Poison would be the most humane way but, if her body just absorbs it then maybe, a snapped neck?

I bit my lip and sat up straight as I heard footsteps that I knew all too well.

Caius came into the kitchen looking worn out and exhausted.

"Welcome home," I said as I gave him a small smile and a wave.

He sighed and shook his head without saying anything.

I got up and walked over to him. "What's wrong?" I asked knowing he'd tell me.

"I'm just tired," he mumbled.

I gave him a slightly sad smile. Then I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. "I'll say it again, welcome home honey," I told him in the cheeriest tone I could muster at the moment.

"Thank you, Kessel. That actually does make me feel a bit better," he said smiling a bit as I pulled back.

I leaned forward giving him a light kiss on the lips. "How about now," I asked before a slight smirk spread across my face. "Or do you need more?"

A slight red blush colored his cheeks and I felt his hands on my waist. "A...a bit more," he whispered.

I chuckled as I kissed him deeply this time. He let out a soft moan his eyes going half-lidded. I pulled back just as Lyssa came running towards us.

She stopped in front of Caius and looked up at him. "Are you my other daddy?"

I watched with a giant smirk on my face as Caius's whole face turned bright red and he became incredibly flustered. "I-I...um...Kessel...help please," he stuttered out.

I let out a snort as I picked up Lyssa adjusting her so that she sat on my hip. "Oh, that's right. I've been calling you Lyssa, do you have a different name?" I asked her.

She frowned as she played with one end of her hair. "No, my sister didn't give me one," she whispered.

So that was her sister we ended up killing. From the look of it, she was possessed or her body had been taken over by something.

"Oh that's right Kessel, I did end up finding Charlotte," Caius informed me.

I instantly looked at him my eyes wide. "You...did? What happened and why isn't she with you?"

It was only when Caius flinched that I realized that my voice had taken on an edge.

Caius adjusted his clothes slightly before looking me in the eye. "I tried to apprehend her but, she ran. She was quick and I couldn't harm her on your orders so I ended up pursuing her halfway across the town. She fought against me pretty violently. I did manage to inject her with the tranquilizer dart you gave me, however it didn't have an immediate effect. I was forced to stop when you ordered me to come back," he explained carefully.

I let out a sigh. "I want you back out there, Ivo will want to leave the town as soon as Charlotte is on her feet," I commanded.

"Yes sir," Caius said as he nodded.

"Oh yes, one more thing Caius," I called out to him as he began leaving.

"Yes, sir?" He asked as he turned to face me, his head tilted to the side.

I took a deep breath. "I order the use of force against the target. Just be careful with Charlotte. If you can capture her without resorting to force then do, however, if you absolutely must use only the amount of force that you need to. Are these orders understood?" I command.

A relieved-looking smile spread across Caius's face as he nodded before leaving.

Did I do the right thing? I just hope that she doesn't think I'm trying to treat her like the people of Meludias did. Maybe I should've sent Seras, but Charlotte would probably have a stronger if not bigger reaction. Especially considering her mother.

"You did the right thing, from what you told me this Charlotte girl seems like quite the fighter. She won't go quietly if she'll even go at all."

Lyssa let out a short shriek and I sighed. "Eizen, how long have you been out there?" I asked as he came through the balcony doorway.

He was plucking brown feathers out of his clothes as he brushed them off. "Well, I flew back from the recon mission. But I got back here around the time you and Caius were getting hot and heavy. I spent a good few minutes standing out there as a hawk and terrorizing the smaller birds that passed by," Eizen informed me.

He smirked as he approached me and Lyssa, Lyssa turned away from him hiding her face in my chest.

"What do you want?" I asked immediately.

"Well, I came to report that I found absolutely fuck all, besides death and the usual devastation. And one more thing, if Caius fails why not send me and Lorithia. She seems bored too," He told me.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

"If you're bored I can give you more paperwork. Lorithia is a grown woman and can ask for things herself," I told him in a calm tone.

"Aw, you're no fun. Fine then would you mind cooking me breakfast, I wasted a lot of energy shifting today. I had to shed my skin about four times," He told me as he yawned. Then he walked past me into the kitchen.

He is really fucking lucky he's useful and reliable.

Despite my annoyance, I walked back into the kitchen. After I sat Lyssa down at the table I turned to Eizen. "Let me guess you want something incredibly sugary," I said.

"Wow... a man after my own heart," he mumbled as he yawned again.

I rolled my eyes before I began getting out the ingredients for chocolate chip waffles.

Eizen did this a lot, especially when we went to school together. He would always come over to my dorm after training and demand that I cook him something full of sugar. It just kept happening so I just gave up in the end and gave him a key to my room.

It's always chocolate chip waffles too. He won't give me a straight answer as to why though.

As I cooked I could hear him talking to Lyssa. "You know that soon you're going to be eating people like Kessel, right? You're going to be a monster," he told her.

Even though Eizen was tired I could still hear the smirk in his voice.

Lyssa let out a small whimper. "N-no I'm not, I'm a good girl. I always have been. I wouldn't eat daddy Kessel," she protested.

Eizen let out a small hum. "It takes only one drop of blood, that first taste of the power and meat then you'll be as bad as someone Daddy Kessel knows."

"Stop antagonizing her Eizen, she's a little girl," I warned him.

"She's only a cute little girl at the moment. I'm not antagonizing her, I'm toughening her up," he sighed.

I looked over my shoulder in time to see Lyssa hop out of the chair and run to my room whimpering. I let out a loud sigh as I turned the stove off.

I turned to Eizen. "Why in the hell did you feel the need to do that to her?" I demanded.

Eizen frowned at me which was very uncommon. "So that when you kill her, she won't bother herself with wondering if I'll save her," he told me bluntly.

My eyes went wide. "Y-you..."

"Don't worry I'm the only one besides you who knows. Even for all of Lorithia's reading, she couldn't figure it out. You need two more right, they'll be a bitch to find. I won't tell anyone, I could care less, it's why I'm letting you know how much I know now," he sighed.

I crossed my arms as I stared at him. "And how long have to known?" I asked slowly.

He shrugged. "I had an idea but I wasn't sure until Lorithia, Seras and I watched you make Caius. That's when I knew for sure. I'm a shapeshifter, I spend minutes sometimes hours analyzing people and creatures so that when I shift into them I can copy every one of their mannerisms and behaviors. Watching your behavior was second nature," he told me.

I let out a small chuckle. "I should've known it would be you. But I figured if I was able to keep you away long enough you'd never notice. So what do you actually want?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, if I did I would have said something way beforehand. I just want someone I can be useful to, someone that I can be close to... " he told me softly.

Then he smiled gently as he spoke, "Now can I have my waffles?"