"Oh hey Kestrel!"

Cassandra jumped off the couch and gave the redhead a hug, more like wrapped her arms around her waist since Kestrel was taller.

Kestrel hugged her back. She quite liked the young girl.

"Hey Cassandra," She said.

"How's Dune?" She asked, her eyes lighting up like a child on a Christmas day.

"He's great," Kestrel said with a little laugh.

"Glad to know that!" Cassandra smiled.

"Where are Chameleon and Scarlet?" She asked. Chameleon had brought her over and after they had went inside, he had excused himself as she made her way to the living room.

"Chameleon is talking to Mama, about something, thankfully not fighting with Sal, and Scarlet is coming here right now," She blinked innocently as Kestrel stared at her.

After a few minutes, Scarlet poked her head inside the room, "Can I come in?"

"Sure," Cassandra said.

Scarlet stepped inside, waving at Kestrel in greeting. Kestrel waved back.

She plopped down in one of the armchairs and gestured towards the couch "What are you waiting for? Sit."

The other two females sat down on the couch.

"So you're friends with Dune now, huh?" Kestrel asked Scarlet. Scarlet started tapping her chin with a finger, pretending to think and staring at the wall.

"She's ignoring you," Cassandra told her "Because she doesn't want to answer the question."

Kestrel rolled her yellow eyes.

Chameleon came inside, a conflicted expression on his face. He looked up and smiled at them, taking a seat on the couch beside Kestrel.

"You okay?" Kestrel asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm fine," He gave a faint smile. But Kestrel knew that 'I'm fine,' meant anything but that the speaker was really fine.

"May I come in?"

Before Chameleon could say anything, Cassandra put her small hand on his mouth and called "Sure."

This is gonna be sooooooooooooo much fun, Cassandra thought devilishly.

Salamander stepped inside, rubbing his neck nervously.

"Since you guys know that I killed Kate," He mumbled the last part, pain evident on his face "I'm going to tell you another thing that I did."

"Don't tell me you've murdered someone else," Chameleon snapped, standing up.

Kestrel grabbed his wrist, just in case.

The look on Salamander's face confirmed Chameleon's suspicions and he clenched his fists tightly.

"Just spit it out already!" Chameleon nearly shouted, but Kestrel's affectionate hold on his wrist kept him from doing so.

"I-" He couldn't get himself to speak the words "I-"

"Salamander Laurens Carter, I am going to kill you if you don't tell me right now!" His outburst caused everyone in the room (except for Cassandra of course) to flinch.

"IkilledPapa," He said quickly, tears forming in his eyes.

It took them a few seconds to realise he had just said. And when they did:

Scarlet immediately buried her face in a cushion, shaking.

Chameleon sat back down, his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry," Salamander whispered and ran out of the room.

Cassandra, who looked like she had known all along, got up and ran after him, "Sal!"

Chameleon's breathing had become quick and shallow. Kestrel placed an arm around him "Chameleon?"

Tiny sniffling noises told her that he was crying. She pulled him closer to herself.

He rested his head on her shoulder, his face buried in the crook of her neck. His tears felt wet on her neck but she didn't care. She softly stroked his copper hair as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Her presence was all that he needed. He knew he could cry in front of her and she wouldn't tell him to "grow up". He knew she would listen to him without criticising him. He knew that he loved her, but what he didn't know was that she loved him back.

"He, he-" He tried to say something but was cut off by his own silent sobs.

Kestrel said in a hushed voice, "Shh, breathe, breathe."

He did as she said. Breathe, breathe.

After he had calmed down a bit, he mumbled "He killed Papa. I can't believe he did that."

"I know," She rested her head on top of his "But he did it for a reason, I'm sure of that."

He nodded.

The door open and Cady stood there, looking at them.

That's when they realised how intimate of a position they were in, and let go of each other. The two stood up, Chameleon hurriedly wiping his eyes.

"Chameleon, what is it?" Cady asked. She nodded towards Kestrel "Oh and hello Kestrel. I'm sorry I couldn't come to meet you. I hope we can meet after I talk to Chameleon. Again."

"Mama," He whined "I'm okay."

"You shut up, Chameleon Samuel Carter, and we're having a chat." She crossed her arms, holding her chin up as if daring him to argue with her.

"Fine," He muttered.

"Come on now, sweetie," She ushered him out "Go to your room, I'll be there in a minute."

She turned to Scarlet who was curled up on the armchair, her face buried in the cushion she was hugging.

But Kestrel had already got to her.

Cady mouthed at her "Are you sure you can handle her?"

Kestrel nodded. Cady smiled gratefully and went out of the room, closing the door behind herself.

She perched on the side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Leave me alone," Scarlet mumbled.

"Scarlet," She urged, lightly pulling at the cushion "Scarlet, you better take that cushion away from your face before I pull the full name card on you too."

"Do you even-" She cut herself off "Oh yeah, after all these years, of course you know. Do you remember it?"

"Scarlet Christine Carter," the other girl replied smugly "Mine?"

"Kestrel Dani Blood," She said fluently.

"Good," Kestrel smirked "Now you've stopped crying!"

"There there," She patted Scarlet on the head.

-----

"Sal," Cassandra knocked on the door "Can I come in?"

"No," came his muffled voice.

"I'm gonna come in anyway," She opened the door and stepped inside, shutting the door.

She walked up to the bed, where Salamander was curled up in a small ball, his head between his knees.

She sat down in front of him "Sal?"

She gently cupped his face in her hands and lifted it to meet his glistening eyes.

She stroked his cheek with a thumb, wiping his tears "Sal, stop blaming yourself. I know it's not your fault."

"But they don't think so." He mumbled.

"Who cares what they think?" She said "I know you, Salamander. You're my brother. We love you just as much as we love the other siblings."

"Would you say the same about Chameleon?" He asked with a sniffle.

"Yes," She said confidently "He loves you no matter what he says to you, or how he treats you. He loves you too."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.

He hugged her back.

"And if you blame yourself again, I'm gonna slap you so hard your head falls off." She said with a warning tone. He cracked a small smile.

Hey guys!

I'm back!

How are you all today?

I'm good.

How was the chapter?

It came out faster than I expected.

Anyways, this probably came out fast because I'm really wanting to finish this book. And after that...

That's for me to know, and you to finger out later.

Quote of the chapter:

"If you blame yourself again, I'm gonna slap you so hard, your head falls off" ~Cassandra

That's it for today.

Bye!