Lucy looked at Gray completely confused and unsure of what the very unusual looking young man had just said. He on the other hand just kept grinning ear to ear.

"You're my what?" She asked.

"I'm your brother. Well actually half brother." He said. "But details, details."

"That's not possible you're...A beast."

"And you're rude." He said with a frown. "Such a shame. I thought a princess would have better manners."

"I beg your pardon but what do you mean half brother?"

"Don't those tutors of yours teach you anything? It means you and I share only one biological parent."

"I know what it means but how can you be my half brother?"

"Well you see your mother wasn't our father's only wife. He married my mother first. Back when he was the useless, good for nothing village drunk. But then your mother came into the picture and even though his first wife was completely devoted to him and pregnant, he still abandoned her so he could worm his way into the dregs of royalty."

"There must be some mistake. My parents were only ever married to each other."

"They lied."

"They?"

"Oh yes your mother knew that he was already married and she knew that his wife was with child. Yet she still pursued him, she still accepted his advances, and she still married him. Married him and treated my mother like she was some old cow when she herself was nothing more than a royal harlot."

"Don't you ever call my mother such things!" Lucy snapped. "I don't believe you! These are lies! You're not my father's son! There's no resemblance!"

"So? You don't look anything like the man either."

"I...Okay you have a point. But my father for all his faults would never abandon his wife and child nor would my mother steal away another woman's husband."

"Yes they would and they did. Not only that but they shamed my mother without any pity or remorse. However she somehow found it in her heart to be kind and sympathetic to Esme. She wanted me to feel the same but I just couldn't and when my revolting stepmother finally died I was very pleased."

Lucy was horrified by his words.

"How can you say such vile and cruel things?"

"I can because it's the truth. Our father and your mother were cruel to my mother and to me. In the end she got what she deserved. Now I'm just waiting for him to get his comeuppance."

"What about me?"

"Hmm?"

"For argument's sake, let's say this nonsense your spewing is actually true. Do you hate me too?"

"No. What reason could I possibly have to hate you? You weren't even conceived when this happened and it's not your fault that you're the spawn of a bastard and a harlot. So I bear you no ill will. In fact I have been wanting to meet you for years."

"Why?"

"Well we are family. I figured it would only be natural that we try to have some sort of relationship. Wouldn't you agree?"

"That depends on weather or not we're actually related."

"Deny the truth all you wish little sister but the fact is you and I share the same blood, regrettably the same father, and the same kind of magic."

"Magic?"

"Oh really Lucy. You're the daughter of a sorcerer, don't tell me it never occurred to you that you may have inherited some of his power?"

"Sorry to disappoint but no. I never inherited any power from him."

"Yes you have. Xavier's dark magic flows through his veins meaning any and all children he sires will carry dark magic in their veins as well. I have it and you have it. Granted unlike myself you're a late bloomer."

"Wait a minute, back up, you mean I can actually use magic?"

"Dark magic. Dark magic that's laid dormant inside you since birth but with my help that magic can be awakened."

"No thanks. I don't want anything to do with magic. Especially dark magic."

"Why not?"

"If you know my father than you know why. Magic corrupts people."

Gray suddenly burst into a fit of laughter.

"Oh little sister how naive you are. Magic does not corrupt people, people corrupt themselves. They allow their own selfishness, jealousy, and greed to mix with their powers thus turning them into monsters like myself. In other words only you can control if you turn out like our father or not."

"Somehow I'm not entirely convinced. Besides I don't really have any use for magic."

"Oh no? What if I told you that learning how to do magic would help you finally get out of this tower?"

Now Gray really had Lucy's attention.

"Why do I have to learn magic to escape? Can't you just transport me out of here or something?"

"I could but in the end it wouldn't make any difference. Xavier would only track you down and bring you back and you would be powerless to stop him. However if you knew magic you could not only escape but you could make sure that he never found you or would be able to lock you up again."

"You do have a point. Even so I don't know anything about magic. How could I possibly learn?"

"I would teach you of course."

"Why?"

"As I said we're family and family does help each other out do they not?"

"I don't know. I've read about creatures like you and they don't help anyone unless there's something in it for them."

"True but just as my mother took pity on yours, I take pity on you. You're trapped with our so called father with no means of escape. I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone, especially my little sister. So I'll help you free of charge just this once. That is if you'll accept it."

Lucy was still hesitant. Could she really trust this person? After all everything he had just said to her seemed completely unbelievable. He said as her brother? A child her father had with another woman? She had magical powers? Was it really true?

Though on the other hand nothing he did gave off the feeling that he was lying. He looked at her directly in the eye with each word he spoke, he didn't sweat or shake. But not everyone felt squeamish when they lied.

"I can see that you need more time to think it over." Gray said reading the conflicted expression on her face. "I'll give you three days to make up your mind. After that I'll be back to hear your answer. But just so you know this a once in a lifetime opportunity. If you turn me down then that's it. You'll never get this offer again. At least not for free."

And just like that he was gone.

...

Greige had binoculars, a digital camera, and a tape recorder into his backpack. All the tools he needed to spy on Elkis tonight and learn the exact information that she was going to learn. It might have been risky to most children his age to sneak out and spy but he was almost a natural at it. He was gifted with the three S's. Stealth, subtly, and silence.

"Greige you're going to get caught." Nasha told him. "And Elkis is not the kind of adult you want catching you."

"In regards to Elkis you couldn't be more correct, as for the former I'll have you know that I have never once been caught in the act of sneaking."

"You lie."

"It's true. How do you think I survived getting bullied in foster for ten years? I started out just hiding from them just to avoid getting pounded but as I got a little older I learned to do it as a means to learn their secrets and disadvantages."

"That sounds so wrong."

"You call it wrong, I call it survival. Those older kids were merciless and the adults were pretty much useless so I had to rely on my wits. Learn to be one step ahead of my harassers and to do that I had to learn about them. I remember this one boy thought it would be funny to lock me in the cellar but when I listened through the vents I heard him mention his extreme arachnophobia. So while I was in that cellar I caught a spider that was hiding down there and later slipped it into his bed. He woke up screaming in the middle of the night like a girl."

"Okay that is pretty brilliant." Nasha admitted. "But that spider wasn't venomous was it?"

"Of course not. It was a cellar spider. Perfectly harmless." Griege assured her before grinning deviously.  "Although he didn't know that."

"You know you scare me sometimes."

"I'm smart. What's so scary about that?"

"You're also twisted."

"Twisted is such a strong word. I would say crafty."

"Well I just wish that you'd be like normal boys and play video games or something."

"I do I just don't play them to the point that I'm a brainless zombie. And if we're really going to talk gender role expectations here, look in the mirror."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well why don't you ever act like a normal girl?"

"I do so."

"No you don't. You're rude, you never brush your hair, you always resort to shouting or violence to solve a problem, you barely smile, and you don't even wear a bra."

"Shut up you little creep!" She shoving him.

"See what I mean? It's always violence with you. Have you always been this hot tempered?"

"Only when noisy, perverted little boys go through my stuff."

"That was a one time thing and only did it to find my binoculars. If you had just given them back to me when you borrowed them I wouldn't have had to look in your drawers."

"Like I believe that!"

"It's true! I'm not a pervert! Especially where you're involved!"

"Why you little-"

"Kids!" Elkis called from downstairs. "You're not fighting again, are you?"

"No ma'am." They answered. "We were just talking."

"Good. Now come down here. I want to talk to you."

Elkis just wanted to explain to them the usual rules and expectations whenever she left them in Nakku's care. No fighting, do your homework, no going out after dark, it was school night so they had to be in bed by nine, and no giving Nakku any trouble. Little did she realize that two of those rules would be broken tonight.

"I'll be back around eight." She said. "There's a roast in the oven for dinner. If anything happens, call the police and hide in the closet."

"Don't worry Elkis if something goes wrong there won't be any need for the police." Nakku said. "I've got a gun."

"Since when?"

"Since last Tuesday. I finally saved enough money to buy one."

"Oh dear Lord! What idiot would sell you a gun?"

"Hey I happen to be very trustworthy in matters of firearms."

"Nakku you can't even read."

"Ugh! For the last time I am not illiterate! I just have trouble with certain words!"

"I don't care! No guns! I don't trust you with one."

"I paid good money for that gun. I'm not getting rid of it. Besides this is my apartment. I got rights."

"Fine but at least keep it locked up where the kids can't get to it."

"No duh! You really think I'd leave a gun out in the open with kids here?"

"Just make sure they can't get to it."

"I already have. It's in a locked safe box that I have hidden somewhere only I know about. Relax."

"Alright." She turned her attention back to Nasha and Greige. "Be good."

"We will." They nodded. 

Elkis then put on her jacket, grabbed her purse, and left the apartment.