*8*

(PREVIOUSLY ON DARKNESS BEFELL US)

"We both know the etocrites sent that missile, all this detecting is wasting our time, we need to prepare our weapons for an attack very soon," Tora said resting her acbook down

I know we were all hoping it was sent from somewhere else but we knew it was the etocrites and this time we are going to be ready for them, the elders and the keepers in the East have been wielding weapons ever since the first attack and also our protection dome has been put up, it had been open for a very long time because we thought we were safe

. . . . .

(NOW)

Karth (narration)

I arrived at the tower with Noth and when Rik entered the tower everyone's eyes landed on him, well it had been long since they last saw him and maybe also wanted to kill him, I could not tell, they just kept staring at him until I got their attention, I ordered everyone to gather around,

"I believe Farath told you about the etocrites, yes it is true the Karan found an etocrite dead body on their border and also we are going to get help from the Karan security duty when they attack and Rik here is the leader of the Karan security duty," I said and everyone nodded but also they had questions, lots of them,

"I am sorry Leader but aren't we supposed to be killing this man here, he almost killed Nen," Sel said earning yeses from many of the security duty

"I mean does she even know that the man who almost left her disfigured is here, as in you brought him here to the tower," another commented

I looked at them and then looked at Rik who was looking down, I just shook my head, "Look everyone I know most of you are angry at Rik but I say we put all that aside and focus on the real problem here which is the etocrites and their queen," I said and still there was murmuring

"I am going to kill you and that is a promise, watch your back," Caz shouted from the back pointing at Rik

"Caz not now!!" I shouted back at him and he was quiet

"Everyone dismissed," I said and they all left

When everyone left, I noticed Nen stayed behind and even when I approached her and touched her shoulder she was still looking at Rik, I had to pull her and take her upstairs

When we reached my room or our room, yes it will be very soon, Nen sat on the bed and it looked like she zoned out,

"Why did you bring him here?" she asked looking down,

"Nen we need help, a lot of help with the etocrites, yes I know we have Xasv but we still need help from anyone that offers it, who knows maybe those creatures multiplied in number maybe thousands," I said sitting next to her

"Did you bring him here to test me?" she asked looking in my eyes

"What are you talking about?" I asked in confusion

"To make sure you get that trauma out of me, to make sure I see him so much that I stop fearing him," she stated like it was obvious but to be honest I did not know what she was talking about, that made sense but it is not why he is here

"Nen he is the leader of the Karan security duty and offered to help with the war," I said touching her and she flinched from my touch, to say I was hurt was an understatement, I could not believe it

"Nen look I am sorry I brought Rik here but we need help," I said moving off the bed

She got up and looked at me for a long time and moved to the door, "Nen come on," she turned and looked at me, "Did you tell Farath?" she asked

"Yes of course I had to," I replied in an obvious tone

"And you could not tell your partner, that is all I needed to know," she said simply and left

I just sat on the chair and breathed in hard, well I was stupid I accept that, the first person I should have told that Rik was coming back with us was supposed to be Nen and then Farath, I dreaded the part when she had to meet the one person that kept her up for months, I remember clearly she would have nightmares and everyone of them ended with Rik, sometimes she would shoot up screaming his name in horror, then other nights she would not sleep she would just stay up staring on and also her voice was lost for a over a month because of her screaming, I remember I would pull her close and try to take her mind of it but it just would not help,

And also to add her brother leaving, I think her brother leaving even caused her trauma, maybe she thought her brother was the only who could protect her from everything, I do not want to get between her and the brother I don't want to know why he left he was a grown man by then so he knew what he was doing, so I could not question that and also it was his choice and also getting back to the part where Noth said Caz could be working for someone, I had not forgotten about that part, if he was working for someone we were going to find out in the end, we always do

. . . . .

Nen (narration)

When Karth called all of security duty for a meeting, I almost fainted from what I saw, I could not believe Karth had the guts to bring him here, he knew what that man had done and still he brought him here, the whole time Karth was talking I was zoned out yes I could see his lips moving but I could not hear, all I did was look at Rik

Then I saw Karth move closer to me saying something and touched my shoulder but I could not hear what he was saying I just kept staring at Rik, for some reason facing him after all these years did bring something out of me, was it fear, was it standing up to the person who almost disfigured my face, I just could not stop staring at him but he kept looking down

I was pulled away and taken stairs, I only realized it was Karth's room when I saw the double doors, Karth pulled me inside and helped me sit on the bed, I just had one question for him and it kept playing in my mind,

"Why did you bring him here?" I asked looking down,

"Nen we need help, a lot of help with the etocrites, yes I know we have Xasv but we still need help from anyone that offers it, who knows maybe those creatures multiplied in number maybe thousands," he said sitting next to me

nd then something came to me, a question I did not think about before we came to his beautiful room,

"Did you bring him here to test me?" I asked looking in his eyes,

"What are you talking about?" he asked in confusion,

"To make sure you get that trauma out of me, to make sure I see him so much that I stop fearing him," I stated like it was obvious,

"Nen he is the leader of the Karan security duty and offered to help with the war," he said touching me and I flinched from his touch, I could not believe it I did that I did not want to do that, maybe because I was angry at him for bringing Rik to the tower

"Nen look I am sorry I brought Rik here but we need help," he said moving off the bed and I knew he was guilty

I got up and looked at him and moved to the door, "Nen come on," I turned and looked at him, and I had one more question,

"Did you tell Farath?" I asked

"Yes of course I had to," he replied in an obvious tone and that is when I knew where I stand, he tells Farath and Noth first and not his partner, yes I might not be the leader or second in command of security duty but I was still security duty and not to mention his partner,

"And you could not tell your partner, that is all I needed to know," I said simply and left

. . . . .

I walked to my room with lots of questions on my mind and when I got in I found Santi sitting on my bed,

"Hey," she said with a sad look and I could not help but wonder what happened she had just got with Farath and he was already hurting her, wow that quick,

"What did he do?" I questioned sitting next to her,

"What? What are you talking about?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow,

"Farath....I mean you are looking sad and I just immediately thought maybe Farath did something," I said raising my shoulders,

"What.....no no no no....Nen I just heard that Rik is back that is why I am here to see how you are doing," she said getting off the bed,

"Santi I know and I do not want to over think about him being here, Karth says he is here to help but so help me if I come face to face with him.....I mean I just don't understand why Karth did not tell me they were going to come back with him and I bet he told Noth not to tell me, I am sure he thinks he had all of it figured out," I said and looked off to the corner

"And I am angry with Karth I just do not understand why he brought him here why didn't he take him to Clay's place," I asked rhetorically,

"And you have every right to be, he should have thought of you first before telling anyone else," she said,

"He told Farath instead of me, I know I am just regular security duty but then I am his partner he should have told me before anyone else," I said looking at Santi and she nodded in agreement, still giving a sad look,

"You know even if you stay angry at him right now you will always not stay long without him," she said smiling and I could not help but smile too because she was so right.