I awoke with a headache the next morning- a strange reaction after a victory yesterday. But today was bound to be a day dancing around mine bombs and ignoring the elephant in the room.

     Looking to my side I notice the empty bedsheets.

     I don't have to search too far to find him. I sit up and see him staring out the window, his back towards me.

     Lying back down not wanting to face the day, I attempt to drift back into blissful dreams.

  "Just gonna tackle this like I do on a school morning."

     Xalale must have the same idea and after a few minutes goes by, gets back into bed. Neither of us fall asleep, though, I can tell.

   Lying there, I realize that Elle and Coxen don't know I'm still here; they would probably want to know.

     That's my motivation to get up, but it's my only one.

 I get up and slip on yesterday's dress then walk over to Xalale.

     "Get up, get dressed, and meet me for breakfast. I have to do something first so I'll be there a little later."

  I don't wait for a response that I know probably won't come anyway and head out the doors.

Not bothering to knock on the doors before entering, I let myself in.

     It felt eerie to begin acting like this was my home when it really it wasn't. I had been here for far too long.

     They were eating something at a table. Elle sat with her back facing the door, while Coxen was positioned at the perfect angle to see who was coming in.

      Coxen notices me first, a shocked expression crossing his face then morphing into a question. Elle took note of her brother's change and turned around. Her reaction was completely different.

     "Mallory!"

  Her hug warms me and I can't help by break into a smile.

     "What are you doing here still?" Her joy turns into concern. "What happened to the solution Sephora gave you? Did it not work?"

      "No, I didn't use it."

       She leads me to the table and offers some of their breakfast.

      "I'm good. I'm about to have breakfast soon."

       They both share a look of sadness for me.

      "Maybe there's a different way to send you home?" Coxen says.

      "None yet."

       Elle gives me a determined look. "Well, our promise still stands for you, Mal. We will get you home no matter how long it takes."

        I give her smile, but it's burdened by the thought of the situation before me.

       Coxen shifts in his seat a little, hesitating to say something, then looks at me cautiously like he's afraid he'll offend me with what he's about to say.

       "So Elle and I are grateful for your help, we really are...but...we don't- we've been thinking-"

        I nod for him to continue.

       "We need to go home back to our village."

       "We're grateful for everything you've done," Elle hastily adds. "But we've been away from home for too long. This doesn't mean we won't stop helping you get home, of course."

       I give them a reassuring smile.

       "Guys, don't worry, I get it. You need to go home. I appreciate all your help, but don't feel like you're obligated to stay here."

        I knew how uneasy and vulnerable they felt around Xalale and the hatred they had for him, so it seems better to have them leave, especially when there's already enough hostility in this place.

       "So when are you leaving?"

       They look at each other and Coxen answers, "Tonight, hopefully."

       "I'll help as much as I can."

       They both breathe a sigh of relief. I can tell Elle wants to cry but is holding it in. I for one am so tired of crying that I'm sure if I tried nothing would come.

       "I gotta go." I hate to cut this off so abruptly, but there are nuclear wars to postpone.

       As I head off towards the dining hall I can't help but feel envious of the two of them. They have a home to return to and can do so with ease. I would miss their presence here, but I would prefer them to be away from all this tension.

       I'm rounding the corner when I spot Xalale standing outside the dining hall. It doesn't seem like he just got there, but is rather waiting for me.

      "Hey."

       He doesn't say anything to me, making me think that he's still upset at me.

       I enter first and he follows.

      Aelita is already there, sitting at the head of the table, relaxed and poised.

      "Morning." Her voice still carries the same chilly tone it did yesterday.

      We take our seats not saying a word to her.

       "Alright, how to relieve some of this tension?"

       "Did you sleep well last night?" I ask, trying to be civilized.

       "I did. How did you sleep?"

        I pick up a fresh looking orange and try to cut it.

       "Fine."

       "Any vicarious dreams?"

        I shook my head. Like that, the conversation died, leaving us in another tension filled silence.

       "I meant to bring up a pressing matter last night, but emotions were running rather high."

        She had my attention, but I could tell her words were meant for Xalale, who hasn't contribute anything to this pitiful conversation.

        She continues calmer than an undisturbed river. "I unfairly placed on you the burden of ruling before it was your time. The situation was unavoidable and I apologize for that, as well as my sudden absence. But now I'm here, prepared to accept my responsibilities again."

        I glance over at Xalale, who remains unreadable except for the way he gripped his utensils.

       "It seems we've come full circle, just like the raven and the crow."

       She said that like it was something of importance between the two of them, to which I can't figure out what.

       "Get to the source of the matter." He snapped.

       Her placid act finally wore thin and her splenetic demeanor returned.

       "I want my crown back. I left as queen and now I am returned. I never passed it down to you, therefore it is mine to rightfully reclaim."

       "Unfortunately, mother, that is not the case. You can't come back, unexplained, and expect to receive your title back."

       She appears to want to respond, but instead relaxes her ridge posture and recovers her calm demeanor.

       "A fair point, but not one to fight with."

       "Explain to me how?"

       "To be genuinely honest, I cannot fathom how you managed to run this entire kingdom for so long by yourself."

        "You are making a diversion."

        She sighs, setting down her utensils. Her calm facade has faded yet again from the looks of it.

        "Yes, I am making a diversion, but that ceases to matter from what the original topic was. I want my crown back."

        I know that tone. It was one my mom used with me, especially when I was younger. It was an "I'm not asking, I'm telling you how it's going to be" tone of voice.

        The daggers shooting from his eyes matched with the edge in his voice.

        "This discussion is over. I am keeping my title as king."

        "Do not act as if you have authority over me!" She stands up so fast, the plate in front of her crashes to the floor.

        "Well that escalated quickly."

        She doesn't stop there in her anger and makes her way to where he's sitting.

        "This is how you treat me after so many years of my absence-"

        Xalale gets up as well, dark clouds rolling off him as well.

        "I am the king, I create the laws and I am in control-"

        "I should probably do something about-"

        "Sit down and hold your tongue."

         I eased back down even though she wasn't telling it to me. Her volume never increased to the point of shouting, but it carried such a powerful command that I've never heard before- even from my own mother- that it was impossible to disobey and ignore. The air in the room stilled and it was very clear who was actually in control here.

        What startled me more than her ordering command, was the fact that Xalale sat without putting up a fight. That look of anger and authority faded faster than it had come.

       Aelita now had full control over this conversation and she knew it. Her smooth, chilly manner returns, but not with a distinct sharp edge to it.

      "How did I raise such a foolish, disrespectful boy? I gave you everything you needed to be successful as king and you heeded none of it. I find that more so perplexing than disappointing."

       She walks slowly around him like a shark waiting to strike.

      "Do you remember the last words you said to me before I left?"

       He keeps his eyes trained on the table, the expression in them unreadable. I keep myself on a low profile as well, but I don't think I even exist to the two of them at this point.

       She gives a quiet, humorless chuckle. "I believe you called me a hypocritical bitch."

        "Okay then." That told me perfectly- as if everything else didn't- where these two stood with each other. It seemed war worthy, the hatred between the two of them.

       "I raised you to be so much stronger than what you have demostrated to me thus far."

       "I still stand by what I said to you that day." He spoke just above a whisper, but it was harsh whisper, one filled with malice.

       "You disappoint me, Xalale."

       The sound of utensils and plates clashing mixes with the scrapping of the chair against the floor. Xalale is in motion before my mind can even catch up.

       The sudden burst of anger remains unpredictable between these two.

       My mind sharpens once I catch a glimpse of something silver in Xalale's hand. I stand up but no words come out fast enough, no warning leaves my mouth.

       As it turns out, no warning is needed from me. Aelita possesses reflexes I could only wish for. Her outstretched hand blast the dagger across the room, leaving it encased in a new frozen state. In the same action, she unsheathes a dagger of her own.

      I notice the familiar gleam in his eyes and realize what it means. His fist are clenched and the negativity in the room building. Dark shadows creeping from his fist. With that, I finally find my voice.

     "Xalale!"

      He looks over at me, distracted for a second. Aelita salvages the moment and swings him, causing him to reel back.

     "Put the dagger down." I order. It was strange, I never dish out commands like that.

      Aelita mustn't be too used to receiving such commands, especially from some no name like myself. She throws me a cold stare that does nothing to faze me since I've seen that same look from Xalale a thousand times before.

     "Put the dagger down and leave the room, Aelita." I try to add a hit of gentleness to my voice.

     She stands there- almost with a defiant air- for a few seconds then sheaths the dagger and regains her calm composer without losing the frosty air about her. Walking to the door like a true queen, she glances back then exits the room.

     "I can't survive with people like this."

     I rush over to Xalale and kneel down beside him.

     "Did she cut you?"

     He refuses my help and gets up on his own.

     "She got you on the cheek."

     It doesn't appear to be a very deep cut, but blood is flowing. He presses a hand to it trying to slow the flow.

     "We should clean that. I'll ask for some damp clothes."

     "No, don't."

      I look at him with confusion. His eyes are harden with anger.

     "Why not? You're hurt."

     "I'm fine. Besides, I won't give her the satisfaction of knowing that I couldn't handle the pain."

     "What are you talking about?" I cry. "You are hurt. What does it matter that she knows?"

      I must've pushed the wrong button because he tosses me a stoney look and moves away.

     "I'm starting to understand why you didn't want her here." I say, trying to get back in his good graces.

     "Crazy doesn't fall too far from the tree." I should've guessed that since Xalale has major problems his mother would have a few of her own. "Let's hope I never get to meet his father. I can't begin to imagine what he's like."

      "What are you going to do?" I ask.

       I follow him down the hall trying to get answers about how to fix this new problem.

      "I'm not going to do anything. You brought her here when I told you not to."

      "Yes, but she is your mother."

      He stops, causing me to nearly run into him.

      "Stop trying to use that excuse, Mallory. She may have borne me, but she is far from being a mother to me."

      Seeing the hardness in his eyes, watching the blood from his cut run down his cheek, hearing that from him, it made me pause and really take everything in. I frown.

      "This maybe strange, but that's probably one of the saddest things I've ever heard someone say to me. It really is."

      I'm being dead serious. I had never been told anything more depressingly sad in my life.

      The hardness in his eyes fades away a little and now he just seems tired.

      "Look," I start. "I'm going to try to calm things down and talk with her. You should really clean that cut before it becomes infected."

       The hardness returns but not as strong as before, he turns away and begins to head down the hall.

     "I will be in the throne room once you're done." He says not looking back.

      "Right."

       He'll probably never clean that cut, but what do I care? I have a situation that needs serious fixing.