Nobody follows Vaeri outside. They're all either too stupefied by her insane decision or too shocked by Anya's... insane decision.

I'm not pretending that it isn't obvious that Adalia didn't actually want the twins here. I'm not pretending that it isn't obvious that Adalia never wanted me to return to Azaevelum. I'm not even pretending that I think Lani and Anya have no real reason to save our home.

But they're still part of this group, and while Felaern does technically bring the total number of people on Lantana's side to six again... Lani and Anya make up a third of Lantana Aletris.

I just don't know what to say about it.

I understand. They want to go home, see their family, do all the things kids should do... and they should be able to.

So should we, of course, but why do our problems have to be theirs as well?

I don't even know what to think about it.

Nobody's saying anything else, now, and Cira definitely heard the conversation during his conversation with... did Felaern say 'Mrs Fernshore'? I'm pretty sure I know that name... oh, whatever, it really doesn't matter.

So he's got no questions. No questions that the rest of us don't have, at any rate.

"Kat, your dad's a Gateway Fixer, right?" Felaern asked eventually.

"Yeah. You know this. We all know this!"

"So he can send them home?"

"Probably...?"

Cira tapped his foot thoughtfully, glancing at the ceiling. "Then that's the plan. Find Lani, save her, and then get the twins out of here. Anya?"

"Sounds alright. How about we get on with that?"

How do Lani and Anya manage to confuse me most when they're not together?

Seriously. Almost-identical twins should be the most puzzling when then they're next to each other — why can't I work them out when they're separated?

Because you know what a healthy relationship with a sister looks like.

Be quiet.

"Kat?"

"Yeah?"

"You okay?" Anya's eyes are filled with concern, which... why? Why should she be worried about me when her sister's in danger?

She cares about Lani. Any fool can see that much.

My hand's tingling, I notice dully, but turn my attention to the mental crisis I'm preparing to bury myself in. Apparently.

And then I'm tasting something that will not stay consistent at all — for no reason, because nobody's using magic. Not even me.

Bitter and then sweet and then some sick mix of the two.

"You look like you've just sucked on a lemon," Anya comments, looking mildly interested. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

Felaern — who doesn't know about my magic-sensing — and Cira share know-it-all looks, as if they both know what's going on. Cira doesn't even know how it works, anyway. Why would Anya's remark bring anything remotely close to the truth to mind?

"Cira, can you burn this guy?"

Vaeri's extremely serious question is met with a grand total of five blank stares, even one from the young child nobody knows the name of. She glances between us all quickly before sighing, moving aside to reveal someone that I don't recognise.

And I don't think anyone else does either.

They've got bloody scratches across their face, very fresh injuries if the red stains across their shirt are anything to go by, and while they're looking around at us like they're seeing us... I can see the truth.

"Nice to, uh, meet you."

"Right. Well. Anyone willing to give him their name?"

"To give them," they correct, looking slightly pained. "And don't give me your name, human-girl."

"I'm not a total idiot, thanks very much," Anya snapped. "I will, however, tell you that my name is Anya."

"You definitely didn't work that wording out yourself."

"You're absolutely right. My sister's the 'fairy expert', in the vaguest sense of the word."

"Mhm. And...?"

"Felaern."

"Cira, but I imagine you worked that out already."

The child doesn't give an answer. Neither do I. The weird shifting taste in my mouth will not go away, and I imagine it has something to do with this stranger.

"Hello?" Vaeri snaps.

"Right. What's your name?"

"Ryo Tenebris."

"I'm Kat."

Ryo laughs, albeit weakly, and then their gaze flicks to the child who's glaring at them with an impressive ferocity. I try my best to swallow the foul taste as best I can when I can tell that it's lessened, but it's horrifyingly constant.

Whatever they are doing, they're not stopping.

And I need them to.

"Kat."

Vaeri does not look impressed with me.

"What is it?"

"For crying out loud, stop zoning out."

"Give him a pass, alright?" Anya and Ryo say at almost the exact same time, and then Anya frowns.

"How do you know about Adalia?"

"I thought—"

"Because he's Mallory's son."

Since nobody knows who Mallory is, this announcement is also met with confusion. Though Anya makes a guess first, because that seems to be her way.

"For one, they're Mallory's child," she groans. "And is 'Mallory' part of MALIS or...?"

"She's organised the whole thing, pretty much," Ryo mutters. "That's not her real name, of course — few fae would really be stupid enough to hand their names over to humans, allies or not... but there's little point me telling you her real name, is there?"

"But you—"

"In complete fairness to myself and 'Kat' here, we're not actually trying to hurt you."

"Your little 'project's' members kidnapped my sister!" Anya snaps.

"I... yeah... no, that's entirely correct..."

"As I said, Cira," Vaeri said, glaring at Ryo, "burn him."

"Right! Let's not do that! We're in a house, in a fairly small living room — we are not setting people on fire!"

"Is that really your justification for not killing me?" Ryo asks. "We're inside? And anyway, I said I wanted to help you!"

"As if," Felaern laughs. "Who'd actually go against their own mother?"

Who'd try to kill their younger brother — passively — and then kill one of his friends because he didn't die?

I don't quite shake my head in an effort to make the thought go away, but it's close.

It's not like I can't believe Adalia would try to kill me. It's not like I don't believe that's what her intentions were when she left me in Terrenfell. It's not like I believe she isn't going to try killing me outright now.

It's not even hard to rationalise it, if what she says is true.

That's it, though. Rationalising is a 'why they can do it' thing.

What I don't understand is how she could do anything she's done over the past... ten days or so?

It's been such little time.

"You... you alright?"

When I realise I'm looking at the floor, and lift my head, the room's empty except for the young child — who's standing at the door, giving me a funny look.

"Sorry. What's... where did they all go?"

"Outside, duh."

Something smashes, which is the only cue we need. The two of us are out of the house in seconds, only for the child to stop dead in their tracks.

Because right in the middle of the street — surrounded by several of the men of MALIS — is Adalia.