This chapter is dedicated to EmNightscar. Thank you for your thoughtful words and comments!

I remember the first time nan showed me her sword. Before the sword chose me, her name was Gardenia, my nan's favourite flower. I didn't know if it was my imagination or an instinctive spirit of the sword, I always could smell the waft of gardenia whenever I was around nan. When nan passed away, Gardenia chose the only one not in possession of a sword.

That was me.

So, I wasn't really special. Gardenia had no choice but to bond itself with another master, but I didn't care. It was nan's treasure, and it was mine too. Gardenia allowed me to give it a new name and seeing the blade's reflection, all I could think about was Reflecta. The bond was easy and Reflecta didn't cause any trouble. It sounds pretty good, right? Except, I was worried that Reflecta simply didn't care who her master is anymore. Reflecta thought differently, though. My powers grew stronger everyday, as well as my confidence. And I knew, from that moment, that Reflecta was with me.

Nan was with me.

Being able to have a special and beautiful bond like this shouldn't be used for evil... shouldn't be seen as evil... but when Vel told me it was people like us who had hurt her, all I could do was stare.

"I don't know what you can do, Cass."

Stunned to silence, I simply uttered "what?"

"Yeah," Vel whispered, unsure of what she said, "can we even say it out loud around here? You know how dangerous they are?"

It was as though I was struck hard on the back of my head, and I didn't know what to do or what to say. I should defend my kind, I should-

"I know" was all I managed. I know, how cowardly I am... "Why are they doing this to you, Vel?"

"They know where Robin is," Vel continued, slumping onto a nearby chair, "and they forced me to come to this school so they could monitor me. They use me to threaten Robin and they use Robin and Jaxton to threaten me."

"God..." I muttered, "I have to tell Jaxton about this."

"You cannot tell Jaxton about this," Vel pleaded; her grip tight on my sleeve. "You might not know how he's like but... he's the type of person that won't stop until he gets to the end. He'll never stop searching for Robin but I bet it's all a trap and I'm at a loss at what I should do."

"But they'll hurt you," I shook my head, still a bit blank to the situation. "What do they want from you? What do they want from Robin?"

"I don't know," Vel shivered, "they want to contain me here. I bet they're watching us now. They know you're in my room."

"Well," my tone deepened, "come what may, Vel, I'm not going to let them hurt you."

"I can take care of myself."

"Clearly not," I retorted. "I have an idea. Come sleep at my room tonight. I don't want you to stay here alone."

"But-"

"I insist," I grabbed her shoulder and looked into her eyes, "your brothers can look after themselves."

"I'm not so sure..." Vel looked torn and I wasn't sure if I was making the right decision anymore, but I needed to get Vel out of that situation – if at all possible.

"Jaxton and Robin wouldn't want to see you like this. Jaxton would blame me if he knew that I walked out of this room without doing anything," I sat her down and spoke gently, "do this for your brothers. They want you to be safe."

Her eyes were teary, but her expression was calmer than before. Slowly, she nodded, her eyes occasionally wandering to corners of the room; frightened like a spooked mare. I rubbed her back, taking my time to ask her the next question, "did they hit you?"

She nodded once and rubbed her tears away with her palm, she spoke with quivering lips, "I've never let them touch me before. Today... I was a fool. They hit me, healed me and did it again. They always have a talk with me whey they think I haven't been... good."

Maybe that's a potential way we can lure them back.

My jaw clicked but I held back my anger, "how many are there?"

"It's always the same three," she uttered and then added, "they cover their faces, I don't know who they are."

"And are they in this school?"

"I think so," Vel sniffed, "two girls and a boy. They could be anyone..."

"Anyone in this troop?"

She shook her head, "from the looks of it, no..."

I pulled her up, wrapping her jacket around her, "let's grab some of your things and head to my room."

"Are you sure about this? They'll be watching-"

"Well, clearly they're using their eyes for the wrong purpose. So, if I manage to spot them," I glared into the distance, "I will personally go and pluck their eyes out."

***

Vel and I went back to my room, where I safely shut the door behind us. It began to drizzle outside, but I left the balcony door open; the air was too stiff in my room.

I padded to the kitchen counter and prepared a cup of rose and lavender tea for Vel to sip on. She was eyeing my room with a curious gaze; it was the same gaze I saw in Jaxton.

I left Vel to sit on the window seat on her own and settled to sit on a single sofa nearby.

"This is too troublesome for you," Vel said, though I could see she was more relaxed, "I should head back soon."

"Don't worry about anything," I chuckled to try and lighten the mood, "if you feel guilty, all you have to remember is... I forced you to have a sleepover."

Vel chuckled and sipped gently on her tea, twitching back when she realised it was hot.

"Have you seen your brother recently?"

She nodded, "a few days ago. We're both keeping secrets from each other."

I oddly felt like the middlewoman. I knew Vel's secret and I knew Jaxton's secret (well, some of it). Except, I wasn't allowed to tell either party.

"I still don't like the idea of not letting your brother know about this," I sunk further into the chair, "he'll be furious when he finds out."

"That's why we won't let him know," Vel looked into her cup of tea.

"Vel," I brought her attention back to me, "you shouldn't let them treat you like this."

"I know..."

"When they come back again," I inhaled deeply, "I'll be there with you. We'll beat the crap out of them."

Vel gave a wee smile, "thanks, Cassie."

Before we could continue our conversation, I already saw Jaxton slipping through the gaps of the balcony door, holding a dark metal box that was all too familiar.

My box of crystals. He couldn't have picked a better time.

"Sweet, I'm hooome-" he froze when his eyes caught Vel's purple ones. "Vel?"

Three of us went still for a full minute until I shook my head and stood from my chair. "Jaxton, what are you doing here?"

It probably looked pretty obvious from my eyes that I was alarmed. My gaze flickered between Jaxton and the dark box he carried, and I couldn't help but tense up.

"I... um..." he spared a glance at the box he held.

"Sweet?" Vel blurted, a look of surprise, "are you two dating?"

"No!"

"Not yet, at least," Jaxton helpfully added. He raised the box, "I brought back your art box."

"Art box?" Vel's eyes sparkled. "You do art, Cassie? Nice!"

I allowed a nervous smile to blossom, "ah, yes, as a hobby..."

Jaxton calmly placed it on the wooden buffet and flopped himself on a nearby chair, "I see you two are having a nice chat."

Vel's instantly plastered a smile on her face, expelling all of her previous nervousness and fear, "don't change the subject, I didn't expect the balcony-visits with Cassie!"

Before I could retort, Jaxton had a look of amusement on his face.

Oh, don't you dare-

"Our relationship," he gestured between us, "it's complicated."

I almost choked, "excuse me?"

"We've been on and off," he hooked his elbow over the backrest of the chair, "we would have our arguments but we would always find a way back to each other."

I had to put down my cup of tea before I spilt it, "that's not true."

"See? She's doing it again," Jaxton narrowed his eyes, a grin on his face, "it's okay, sweet. Break my heart, I'll stay strong.

Vel covered her mouth to stop herself from bursting into laughter while a wild blush, as red as the flames of hell, erupted on my cheeks.

Oh god...

Vel chuckled, "I don't know if Jaxton is telling the truth, but that interaction was too funny."

Phew! At least the sister knows!

"At least you know how he's like," I sighed.

"Still doesn't explain why he's popping into your room," Vel shrugged and stopped my retort with a raise of her finger, "I understand, you don't have to tell me. As Jaxton said, it's complicated."

Oh, those pair of devils...

I let out a frustrated groan and flopped back down on the couch, muttering curses under my breath.

"Hey, what sort of paintings do you do?" Vel said, a curious glint in her eye. She placed down her tea. "I take Art as a subject here. Can I see your art box?"

Jaxton and I both tensed.

"You don't want to see it," Jaxon was the first to blurt.

"You two are acting suspicious," Vel raised a brow. "What's in it?"

I quickly added, "well, I gave it to Jaxton and he's probably made a mess of it. Did you?"

Jaxton nodded slowly, relaxing back on the chair, "indeed, I did."

"Why does Jaxton need it? He's a science nerd!" Vel stood up from the window seat. "Are you two hiding something from me?"

"How do you know I'm not doing an experiment with it?" Jaxton also stood up, blocking her way. He leaned close to her, placing his elbow on her shoulder. "Besides, Velvet, I'm thinking there's some confession you need to make."

"What? Me?" Vel glanced at me for help, so I took the chance to divert the situation; muddy the waters (evil laugh).

"What sort of confession?" I challenged and Jaxton's green eyes glimmered with mischief.

"I suppose you'd know," Jaxton raised a brow, "you two just had a heart-to-heart girl chat, right?"

"You interrupted before we got the chance, now you can shoo," I waved a dismissive hand and when I saw that Jaxton was reluctant to leave, I gave him a shove, forcing him onto the balcony.

I slid the balcony door shut.

"Care to explain?"

"You have great timing, Mister," I sighed forcefully, "you're sister and I are going to have a sleepover."

"Uh, okay?" Jaxton tilted his head, "so?"

"So... nothing!" I gestured. "I haven't got her to spill yet."

He raised a brow, bent down so he was staring at me at eye-level, "and I can trust you, right?"

"What sort of person do you think I am?"

He half-shrugged, "I don't know, Cass."

I don't know what you can do, Cass.

I felt that memory ring painfully. I frowned and looked away, urging him again, "I'll let you know. Don't blame me if I don't get anything out of her."

"And if I do?" Jaxton smirked.

"Just leave," I glanced nervously back into the room, "I have to go in case your sister gets too curious with my 'art box'."

"My sister is no snooper."

"Says the one who is."

"Fair point," he said, grinning even as his gaze left me. He turned but I stopped him with a grab of his arm.

"Hey..." I started quietly, "you should watch your back. At all times."

"I see someone cares about me."

"I'm being serious," I said, unsmiling. "Besides, why should I care about someone who doesn't care about me?"

He widened his eyes, "what! You think- fine, yes, I don't. But you know something, don't you?"

His expression faltered with mine.

He doesn't trust me, but that's only normal.

"There are eyes everywhere. Last time, you with your fire alarm and all... they might target you. I feel responsible for dragging you into my business."

He was quiet, "you didn't drag me into your business, Cass, you saved my life."

I glanced up and he was staring at me, a slow smile forming on his lips.

"Who's 'they', by the way?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "Anyone... students, professors...anyone who wants to get rid of people like me and anyone associated with people like me. That's why you should be careful."

"Don't worry about it," he slanted a smile, "I can take care of myself."

God, these two are so similar.

"Again, says the one who almost died on my bathroom tiles."

He chuckled lightly, "Alright! I see your point. But even if I'm in danger, I still have you on my side, right?"

"I thought you didn't trust me," I crossed my arms, grinning when he was.

"I think I'm starting to," he said, giving me a playful salute before flipping over the railing.

He's starting to? Is that a good choice? What would happen if he knew that people with the Blades of Iridescent were beating up his sister and threatening Robin with his life?

"You two are totally dating," Vel guessed bravely when I walked back in, "and if not, then my brother likes you."

"What gives you that wild thought?" I was surprisingly calmer. I eyed the box, untouched on the buffet.

"The way he looks at you."

"Really?" I said, unconvinced.

"I know, I know..." Vel giggled, "I used to think it's fake, that the whole 'your-eyes-the-window-to-your-soul' thing is just fantasy, but that's only because the person who's being looked at doesn't see it. You don't see it, Cassie. You don't notice the way he looks at you."

I furrowed, stifling a chuckle, "elaborate, please?"

"You're just going around, being you, but me... I'm the third-wheeler here," she laughed at her own wording and I couldn't help but mimic, relieved she was happier. "And the third-wheeler sees everything."

I dismissed it with another laugh, "pray tell, what does his gaze look like?"

"Hard to describe," Vel glanced up to think, "almost like you're the most precious thing he's ever seen... I could see he's happy."

My expression faltered and for once, I seriously considered the prospects of being with Jaxton. Of holding his hand, hugging him, kissing him... but then, there was that unpleasant clench in my stomach that shook all my thoughts away.

"Of course everyone would look at me like that," I struck the pose of a majestic Greek statue, "I'm the symbol of beauty."

"Oh, stop! I'm getting second-hand embarrassment!"

We laughed it off like it was all a joke and that Vel was looking too deep into it. The truth was, whether it was friendships or relationships, it won't work when we both have secrets.

***

A/N

There's absolutely nothing to worry about, Cass. The author and the readers have sailed the ship, it shall not sink, so just go ahead and throw yourself into Jaxton's arms.

Jaxton: Cass, I love you! *wide open arms*

Cassie: *thinking* what if he doesn't like me?

Till next time!

L