Chapter 8

I was so surprised, I dropped the book. I ran onto the balcony and down the stairs, right to Kai's desk. He sat there, humming a little tune, and working on some paperwork. I stood right in front of him, with an accusing glare on my face. "You're Lite's brother! You're the Cloak Keepers brother! And you didn't tell me!"

He looked up at me, and gave a little frown. "My dear, if you were brother to the most evil being on Jandell, would you go around telling people that? I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I expected you were going to find out soon enough anyway. And, it is my business telling people my last name."

That gave me a pause. My anger backed down and my heart took over. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry Kai. I assumed you were like him, and I became angry. Forgive me?"

Kai gave a nod and said, "Of course."

"So, since you're his brother, could you tell me a bit more about him? How is he still alive and you're so . . . old? No offense-" I added hastily.

He smiled, his eyes crinkly. There was something so inviting and grandfatherly about him. I hoped we could be good friends, if he could trust me again. "Well dear, didn't someone tell you about how his Cloak took his humanity? Well, it also took away his soul. He is eternally damned to live forever, but without purpose. Although, I suppose conquering the world is his purpose. But he can only do that with the Cloak. That darned Cloak, it took his humanity. If only it hadn't, perhaps I could have talked some sense into him... I do miss him.." His voice trailed off, and he shook his head. "Sorry. Anything else you want to know?"

I put my hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. Losing your brother like that must be terrible. I assume you were close. And no, there's nothing else. I just wanted to learn a little more about him. Perhaps we can talk again."

Kai put his hand on mind and squeezed it. "Perhaps dear. May I ask you if you put the book back on it's shelf correctly?"

I jolted out of my thoughts. "Oh! Sorry, I dropped it when I found out about... you. I'll go put it back."

I walked back up the stairs into the musty room. I inhaled, loving the booky smell. I've always loved the smell of old books. They smell comforting in a way. I reached down to the book. It was flat on it's back, the page with the family tree pointing toward me. I closed it.

For some reason, something seemed unfinished. As if I had left something very, very important. I was wondering whether I should open the book back up, but then I realized it was late and I should probably get back to my room. I put it back on the shelf and went back to Kai.

I thanked him for his help and said I would visit him again. He nodded and said to me, "I'll follow you. Have to get ready."

"Ready for what?" I asked him. He gave a little shrug, his eyes twinkling. "You'll see."

I shook it off. Whatever it was, it must not have been too important. Walking up to my room, many thoughts were circling my head. I hadn't gotten any closer to solving the mystery of why the Cloak had been found in the warehouse, although my theory was screaming my name.

What if... it was a trap?

Yes, a trap. Perhaps the Cloak Keeper had wanted me to find it, to make a connection. Then when we lost it once again, and had proof the Cloak Keeper was back to full power, we would go after him. A carefully designed plan, executed perfectly. That is, if I was even correct. But it didn't really matter if it was a trap or not. If we didn't get the Cloak back, Jandell would be in grave danger. So we have to get it.

Even if I find proof of it being a trap, we would just be more careful.

When I opened the room to the dorms, the lights were turned off. I walked in, confused, my hand fumbling on the wall for the light switch. "Hello?" I called out

Suddenly the lights turned on, the flash of lights blinding my eyes. "Happy Birthday!" I heard someone shout. "Happy Birthday!" Many more shouts.

I almost choked. When my eyes grew accustomed to the light, I looked around. Balloons and lights were everywhere. There were mini confetti cannons in the corner, and a table filled with presents, with a giant cake. Then my eyes focused on all the people. There were all the members of The Four, Godmother, Alex, and other people I didn't know.

I stumbled over to Trish. "What is this? It isn't my Birthday!" I was confused out of my mind. Just then, Kai walked in with a party hat on his head and a fancy suit on. This must have been what he was "getting ready for".

"Of course it is silly!" Trish giggled, an unusual sound for her. She must really have been getting into the 'Birthday spirit", which there shouldn't have been, since it wasn't my birthday.

She shoved a calendar into my face, a red circle around the date "April 15th". I almost cursed, but stopped myself in time. "I- b-but'' My face was red with embarrassment. I had forgotten my own Birthday!

"How d-did you know?" I stammered. "And how could I forget?"

Trish laughed, and slapped my shoulder lightly. "Well, it's been pretty busy, so it's entirely fine to forget! And Kai here told us we were going to throw a Birthday party for you." Kai grinned.

My head hurt from all the thinking. "B-but Kai doesn't know me that well! And we didn't meet until today! H-how could he know to throw him unless I told him my Birthday! Even if you're going to throw it in the future, you have to have something that will tell you to throw it, in that future! It- doesn't make sense-"

Trish gave me a sympathetic glance. "It's better for your brain if you don't think about it. Basically, since you told him now that today is your Birthday, he could tell in the past. It's confusing."

I shook my head, trying to get all the thoughts out. "W-well thanks. This means a lot!" I looked over to Kai and grinned. "Thanks Kai."

Alex ran over to me and grabbed my hand, grinning. "Happy Birthday Lia!" I grinned. I felt an urge to peck him on the cheek, but held myself back. Now was not the time.

"Can I show you everyone we invited? They all want to meet you!" I nodded and entwined my fingers with his. "Lead away, Alex."

For the next hour, I was pulled around to meet every person in the room. Each conversation went something like this:

Person: Hey Lia! I'm (insert name here)! I've heard a lot about you from (insert person's name here)!

Me: Wow, nice! Thanks for coming to this party, even though I didn't organize it!

Person: No problem! Nice to meet you!

I was having fun, dancing, and chatting with my friends when suddenly Trish yelled, "Present time!"

I ran over to the table I had seen earlier, and sat down on a chair. Trish came up behind me shaking her head. "No, no no, you sit here." She pointed to the ginormous balloon chair at the end of the table.

I flushed. "I have to sit there?" I'm not one for attention. Trish grinned evilly and nodded.

I groaned and sat down, knowing there wasn't anyway out of this. For the next half hour, every person who had come to the party gave me a gift. Alex gave me a little cat stuffed animal, Godmother gave me a bag that never fills up, Jasper gave me a little bag of fortune cookies, and Ben gave me a painting kit. He even gave me a small smile!

Trish came up to me smirking. "Lia, my present is outside. I'll give it to you once we eat cake."

I rolled my eyes. "Trish, you know I hate surprises." She just grinned and pulled me to the cake. It was a two-tier vanilla cake, with the design of a dragon in red frosting at the top.

Handing me a knife she crowed, "The birthday girl gets to cut the cake!"

I cut the first slice for myself and put it on a plate, then handed the knife to Trish. She cut slices for the rest of the guests, while I sat back down on my balloon chair.

Once everyone had a slice, I dug in. For a while, nobody spoke, too busy eating the delicious cake. Then Trish stood up, raising her glass of soda. "A toast to Lia!"

Alex, Trish, Ben, Jasper, and Godmother walked towards me. I had been conversing with another guest named Emily, who was about my age. Alex nudged me with his shoulder. "Time to see Trish's present."

My heart started beating faster. "Can't you give me a hint?" He shook his head, smiling.

I sighed, following him outside to the indoor park. We walked down a path to a little grove. Trish pushed aside some branches and said "Behold! Your present."

I gasped, my hands flew to my mouth.