Scarlet couldn't believe this.

She never would've guessed(well she did once, but didn't say it out loud) that Salamander had been possessed by a spirit. A spirit who wanted vengeance on her father, Sam, because said man had killed his wife, Madonna. Why did Sam kill his wife? Because his wife had tortured Cady.

She should've been able to! Why couldn't she? It could've prevented a lot of bad things from happening.

She currently sat on a hospital seat, just outside the room Chameleon and Salamander were inside, her face buried in her hands. Kestrel was sitting beside her, a gentle hand on the girl's back, the other holding a phone to her ear.

She had dialed Dune's number as to tell him her whereabouts.

"I'm at the hospital," She said into the speaker.

"What!?" Dune's voice exclaimed from the other side.

"No no! It's not me who's hurt!" She reassured him.

"Then who?"

"Chameleon and Salamander."

"Oh no. Don't tell me they hurt each other that badly."

"Well, about that..."

"Not now. I'm coming to the hospital. I need to see those two for myself."

"Sure. Bye."

He bid his own goodbye and hung up. She pocketed the phone and turned back to Scarlet. She knew it wasn't the shot that was bothering, but something else.

"Scarlet?"

"What?" She mumbled from between her fingers.

"I'm going inside. You'll be okay?"

"I'll be fine."

"By the way, Dune will be here in a few minutes."

"Mhm," She nodded absentmindedly, her face still covered.

Kestrel gave her friend's shoulder a gentle squeeze and got up. She went inside the room.

Scarlet still sat there. She sat there for a short while when footsteps sounded, coming towards her.

She sensed someone sit down beside her.

"Scarlet," a familiar voice said, "What is it?"

She quietly shook her head. But Dune noticed the tears glimmering on her fingers. He placed an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm fine, Dune,"

"No, you're not. Now, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying."

"That's a very poor lie."

"Oh fine."

"What is it, for real?"

"Why do you even care?"

"Because we're friends, right? And friends are supposed to care for each other."

She put that remark aside to ponder over later.

"It's Sal," She said after a lot of hesitation, her hands still covering her face.

"What's wrong with Sal? Is it because he's hurt?"

"No. Remember how he had..." She stopped before the next words, choking back her whimper, "killed Papa and Kate?"

"Go on."

"It wasn't really him. He had been possessed. He was just a puppet."

"Oh..." He trailed off, choosing his next words carefully, "And you feel bad for blaming him?"

She nodded.

"Scarlet," He bit down his chuckle, his hand gently caressing circles on her back.

"Shut up," She mumbled, a slight hint of amusement lacing her voice nonetheless.

"If that's the case, then what are you doing sitting here? Go inside and tell Chameleon and Kestrel, apologise to Salamander."

"I know, I know..."

"Then?"

"Oh fine." She admitted.

"Good. Now stop crying."

She removed her hands from her face and wiped at her tears. He reached his other hand towards her face and gently wiped at the tears trailing down her cheek. She didn't stop him.

When all the droplets had been wiped away, she tilted her head up to look at him, amber eyes meeting obsidian ones. He was so gods-damned tall, as tall as Chameleon and Sal.

His hand grazed her cheek and lingered there for a minute before he drew it away; she almost whined as his arm came off her back. Almost.

He stood up, she followed.

"Well," She started, "Let's go inside."

-----

As soon as Kestrel entered the room, her eyes shot towards the bed she knew Chameleon was lying on. And boy, was she ecstatic to see Chameleon sitting up, awake, his amber eyes already on her.

She raced towards him and her arms immediately wrapped around his neck in an embrace, careful not to hurt the bullet wound on his shoulder.

"Chameleon!" She cried, burying her face in the crook of his neck and shoulder. He almost grunted from the force of her hug, but his arms found their way around her, hugging her back tightly. Well, as tightly as that damn wound allowed him to do without shrieking in pain.

"Kestrel," He mumbled in her hair, breathing in her scent of oranges and mint and something that was purely Kestrel.

"I'm so sorry," She apologised, her fingers softly grazing those bandages with a feather touch.

"That's okay, I don't blame you," He assured her.

"You really shouldn't be apologising to someone who has shot you."

"Fair point," He said, running his hands through her fiery red hair, "But then again, you're not just someone."

Wait, what? She thought.

"Come ag-" Kestrel was cut off by a knock at the door.

"Come in," She called without thinking.

The door opened and Dune and Scarlet stepped in, closing the door behind them. The former looked at them and raised an eyebrow. The latter just looked at them questionably but happily. That's when they realised that she was sitting on his lap, and their arms were locked around each other in an intimate embrace.

Kestrel quickly coaxed her arms off his neck and stepped out of his lap and comforting embrace as quickly as she could without feeling awkward.

"Scarlet, Dune," Chameleon acknowledged the two, "You both are here too."

"There's something I have to tell you," Scarlet blurted out, her feet fidgeting nervously.

"Please do. But before that, take a seat."

Scarlet refrained from rolling her eyes; always the polite gentleman.

"Let Sal wake up," She said, settling herself down in the chair beside Salamander's bed. Dune sat down in the one at Chameleon's side. They sat in silence, waiting for the other copper haired twin to wake up. It was a good few minutes before he finally did.

"Sal?" Scarlet asked, leaning above him.

"It's me." He groaned, "Why does my shoulder feel like it's been pierced with hot needles all over?"

"You were shot," His sister replied softly.

"No wonder."

"Now, let's begin. And let me tell you, you probably won't like this."

Hey guys!

How are you all doing?

I'm good.

How was the chapter?

Any theories or thoughts? All your opinions are special to me.

This chapter lacked one thing: the awesomeness of Cassandra, if I do say so myself. Oh well, she'll be there in the next chapter.

I'll let you guys decide the quote of the chapter, as I can't choose myself.

Quote of the chapter:

"That's a very poor lie."~Dune

Bye!