Chapter 22 : Ravel pointed at mother

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"–what you did! I never got a chance to learn from her, mother! Always, 'You're too young, Ravel.' 'When you're older, Ravel.' Why would you trade her?"

Mother turned from Ravel when she noticed us arrive and, looking directly at me, said, "Ask your brother."

I wasn't sure what was happening, but I had a very bad feeling. Father looked disappointed in me; Raycal looked like his usual, unpleasant self; and mother looked downright vindictive. Something was very wrong.

"What happened?" I said to no one in particular, just wanting to learn what was going on.

Ravel pointed at mother and opened her mouth, but mother spoke over her, her eyes still locked on mine.

"I fixed a problem you created with your immaturity, Riser. Perhaps this lesson will finally get through to you where others did not."

"What lesson?" I asked, my panic growing by the second.

Ruval's mouth fell open disbelievingly. "Mother…surely you didn't?"

Mother just smiled at him.

"Ruval, what's happening?" I said, asking the one person who I thought would actually give me an answer.

"When I left to get you, Lord Gremory entered our box. He was saying that you slighted his daughter and shamed her by not fighting her yourself. He demanded we give him the bishop that trained your queen."

The world around me faded away. Time seemed to slow down. The only thing I was able to focus on at that moment was my mother's smug grin.

"You didn't…" I said, refusing to believe she'd do something like that.

"Clarissa had forgotten who held her leash. I have no use for such a rebellious bishop." She was grinning as she said,

"Now all I need to do is pawn that queen of yours off to the lowest bidder. She has been a corrupting influence that needs to go."

Ever since I had been reborn into this world, into this body, I'd struggled with the fact that I had new parents.

The parents I had when I was a human were fantastic. They taught me right from wrong, and sacrificed more than I was able to understand for a long time to keep me happy. When they died, it hurt, but I moved on.

In this life, my parents had seemed great. They were happy to have me, and went out of their way to keep me safe.

Then they finally let me start experimenting with my power, and they both stopped conversing with me.

I would only see them at dinner times, and even then I only really talked to Ruval and Ravel.

Even Raycal had grown apart from me. When I brought Yubelluna home, I was met with disdain and borderline disgust, but I hadn't cared.

I didn't think it would turn into anything serious. I thought they still cared about me – that they saw me as a son and not as a tool.

But in that moment, looking at my 'mother's' vengeful smirk as she drank in my shock and pain, watching my 'father's' disappointed eyes stare indifferently at my pain, I realized the truth.

They stopped caring about me a while ago, if they ever did in the first place. No parent would draw such sadistic pleasure from their child's suffering.

"You are no longer my parents."

My words shocked the room into silence. Ravel ceased her screaming, Ruval's protests died on his lips, and Raycal stopped yawning to actually listen for once.

"What did you just say?" Lady Phenex asked, her eyes narrowing as she took a threatening step forward, something I hadn't noticed she did before, but now was remembering several independent instances of.

"You are no longer my parents." Turning away from them, I faced Yubelluna. "If you want to–"

"I go where you go." she interrupted me, determination laced in her voice.

I nodded once and engulfed the two of us in a teleportation circle.

"Now listen here, you little–"

Whatever Lady Phenex was about to say was cut off by my teleportation. The main hall of the Phenex mansion had been exchanged for a wrought iron fence.

"Where are we?" Yubelluna asked.

"The den of our enemies." I walked forward and knocked on the fence, knowing the wards placed on it would alert someone that I was there.

A few moments passed, then a guard walked up to the other side of the gate. "State your business."

"I'm here to retrieve something from Lord Gremory. I am willing to pay for its return."

The guard studied me for a moment before the gate opened. "Follow me." he said, walking towards a manor in the distance.

We walked on in silence. Down a gravel path, lined on either side by flowers of various shapes and colors.

The great mansion in the distance steadily grew closer, until we were right up to its tall doors.

The doors were opened, and the guard led us into a large hall not too dissimilar to the one in the Phenex mansion.

Standing at the top of a set of stairs waiting for us, a smug grin on his face, was the red-haired form of Lord Gremory.

"Riser Phenex. I must say it is a surprise to see you here."

Clarissa. What do you want in exchange for her?"

"The witch? Why, she's a valuable piece, but I suppose I'd be willing to trade her if you were willing to publicly apologize for hunting my Rias, and state that you were the aggressor, attacking her unjustly."

"I wasn't aware that the Gremory house made a habit of lying. I'll have to pass that along to anyone who will care to listen."

Lord Gremory laughed. "I understand your position was not ideal, boy.

But you hurt my daughter, so I'll tell you what, I heard you have a mutation bishop among your Evil Pieces. Give me that bishop so I can give it to my daughter, and you can have the witch."

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