He had simple brown eyes. Lucius walked over and hugged Scarlet.

“Thanks” Lucius seemed to be happy for once.

“So which one is your girlfriend?,” Asked Adriel.

“Is it Scarlet? She looks like your type if your father is any indicator”.

Scarlet could feel her heart began to pound and her face blush.

“Or is it this young lady?” Said Adriel pointing at Aurora.

“I'm not dating anyone” Said Lucius.

Scarlet felt a bit of envy when he suggested Aurora may be his girlfriend. Morrie, Raven, Hex, and Allison were all waiting to add into the conversation.

“Hmmm, but this young lady looked just like what you told me that girl…”

“Shhhhhhhh” Said Lucius pushing Adriel out of the room.

Havana walked in and sat down as close as she could to where Lucius was sitting.

“What I miss?” Said Havana.

“Nothing much” Said Hex.

“So what do you think about the big guy” Said Allison.

“He looks like he fist fights bears for a living” Said Morrie.

“He has the same personality as Lucius when Lucius is drunk” Said Scarlet.

“I am going to do something stupid” Said Hex.

Scarlet knew she truly was if she was preparing them for what she was about to do.

When they walked back in Hex walked to the sound of Adriel’s heavy footsteps and said “Lucius where are you standing?”.

“Right here” Said Lucius talking a few steps towards Hex.

I got a bad feeling…

“I wanted to tell you I'm pregnant and you're the daddy” Said Hex placing her hands over her belly.

Adriel picked Lucius and Hex up saying “I knew it I knew it!”.

He had the biggest smile she had ever seen.

“I'm going to be a great uncle. I know I shouldn’t be saying it but I'm so happy. Even if you two are still to young” Said Adriel.

“It’s a joke we joke like that” Said Lucius.

“Oh… I knew that, I just wanted to play along” Said Adriel with a hint of doubt.

She knew he wasn't. Penelope walked up to Lucius and tugged at his sleeve.

“Will you date my big sister” Said Penelope.

“Well, aren't you cute” Said Lucius.

“Please, she likes your face” Said Penelope with emphasis on the please.

“How about, maybe” Said Lucius.

Scarlet wanted to tackle her sister and get her to stop talking. Her face was completely red and she knew it.

“Here,” Said Penelope handing Adriel the card.

“Get him to by my sister's boyfriend forever”.

Adriel blinked a few times and said “The thing is, I don't know if I can do that”.

Scarlet ran over and picked her up.

“She’s joking, it's just a joke” Said Scarlet.

They got back to normal banter and spent hours talking. Evelynn was there too. She was right beside Aurora.

“Well kid, I have to go. I don't want people catching on to me” Said Adriel.

“So soon?” Asked Lucius.

“Don't worry kid, I will be back a few days after spring break next year. And sweetheart take care of him. Kid take care of her” Said Adriel to Lucius and Athena.

He walked to the door “And one more thing, Do you have a boyfriend yet sweetheart?” Asked Adriel.

“I haven't met a boy who meets my standards. But I'll give you a call when I do” Said Athena.

He waved goodbye and left. “He is really tall isn't he?” Said Hex.

“Yeah he is, how can you tell” Said Scarlet.

“I felt like I was going up an elevator when he picked us up and his voice is up high. It sounded like he was seven feet tall” Said Hex.

“He is by the looks of it” Said Scarlet.

They all continued to talk till it was late.

“We have to go home” Said Scarlet.

“Want me to walk you home?” Asked Lucius.

“That would be great” Said Scarlet.

They walked out the door together and Penelope was slightly ahead of them.

“So why did Penelope say that you wanted to be my girlfriend?” Asked Lucius.

She wanted to say it.

Because I like you and she knows it

“Because she’s crazy” Said Scarlet.

She had not meant to say that.

“Oh”

She didn't know he found her to be very cute and the most physically attractive out of all of them, most of the time.

“Do you want to hold hand?” Asked Scarlet.

She forgot to wait for his reply. She grabbed his hand and he laughed slightly.

“What is it?” Asked Scarlet with worry.

“I could imagine Penelope being our daughter” Said Lucius.

Scarlet felt warmth cover her.

I can't she to annoying but we could make our own.

“Why?” Asked Scarlet.

“My mom has red hair and you have red hair. You don't look like her but, your hair” Said Lucius pushing her bangs out of her face.

“It just seems like I could fall in love with you if I’m as similar to my dad as people say” Said Lucius.

She had no idea what that meant but hoped he was like his father. She decided to build up all the bravery she had and kiss his cheek. He smiled a half smile.

“Is that a thank you?” Asked Lucius.

“Why would it be?” Asked Scarlet.

“Well, I was told it was customary to kiss someone to say thank you on some parts of Mars” Said Lucius.

“Well yeah but not always” Said Scarlet.

He got to her home and he hugged her goodbye.

“So are you two together yet?” Asked Penelope.

“No, we’re just friends” Said Scarlet.

She cooked some more rabbit and fed Penelope. She looked at how much Adriel had given her. She opened it and was able to see that it was a five, one hundred Mark bill. She had never see one and knew it was likely she would never see one again.

“Wow” Said Scarlet.

She knew just how much she held and felt joy. She would not be hungry for the next few months.

“The big guy gave me the card back what should I do with it?” Asked Penelope.

Scarlet looked at her own card. The phone number was odd. She decided she would call it later.

“Read my a bedtime story” Said Penelope.

“We don't have any books we used our last one for the fireplace” Said Scarlet.

“Well make up a story”

Scarlet walked her sister to bed and tucked her in.

“How about I just get you a book tomorrow?” Said Scarlet.

She cleaned the house and got to bed. She woke up at night to the sound of tapping at her room's wall. She looked through a small crack in her wall and saw Lucius.

She ran outside and said “What are you doing!?”.

“Standing?” Said Lucius.

She felt like it was very romantic of him to visit her in the night. But in the back of her mind was the question of how he got passed all the thugs that would have snached him up in a split second. Not to mention the entire slum was a maze of twisted trails.

“No I mean why did you come here” Said Scarlet.

“Just come with me” Said Lucius grabbing her hand.

She could only hope it would be something cute. He walked her to a large house and walked in.

“Stand here” Said Lucius.

She did so and felt light enveloped her. She opened her eyes to see a world beyond her wildest dreams. She could see floating mountains with a single massive tree connecting them all. Animals bigger than skyscrapers flying through the sky. The clouds in the setting sun looked like nebulas. She noticed where she stood and was at her wits end. Nothing was beneath her feet. “I need you to hold this” Said Lucius. It was a dark ball with cravings.

“Try not to move” Said Lucius.

Light began to grow from the center of the ball. It seemed to be spitting light out. The red setting sun looked beautiful.

“Got it!,” Said Lucius. “I just save the world no need to thank me”.

He walked over and she felt the ball vanish.

“What was that thing?” Asked Scarlet.

“A bomb I made to reset the sun” Said Lucius.

He had made her hold a bomb and here she was hoping they were gonna do something cute. All that hope for her to just be holding a explosive.

She felt anger and turned away from him.

She felt dizzy looking down but tried not to.

“Well let's go” Said Lucius.

She took a moment and pinched herself. She was not awake. She felt his hand press against her face and she woke up in her bed. She looked at the clock and saw it was five in the morning.

“Was I dreaming?” Said Scarlet.

She tiptoed out of the house and walked to the house he had taken her. She opens the door and found tables. Several finely crafted objects lay across the tables. Tiny cities made of steel, stone, wood, and glass. She walked through the house and found weapons everywhere. Some strange objects that seems to shiver as she walked by. She saw a large bird standing on a table. It was an owl by the looks of it but it seemed like it had been born of the darkest shadows of the abyss. It was hard to see if it had eyes or not. It's eyes seemed to blend into the darkness of its face. It spread its wings that seemed to go on for infinitely. She felt her heart slam against the inside of her chest.

That thing was no bird. She turned and saw a negative of the bird she had just seen. It looked as if corrupted light had woven itself into feathers and a beak. It opens its eyes, all six of them. The darkness in its eyes seemed to grow. Scarlet was unable to move as it to unveiled its massive wings. She sprinted faster that she thought possible. She slammed the doors and held them shut. She regretted looking inside. She didn't want to know what those monsters were but hoped she would never see them again. She ran from the house and got home. She looked out the door hoping she would not see them flying after her. She was happy to see nothing.

“Hey” Said Penelope.

Scarlet screamed and turned to face her sister. Her sister was on her tippy toes.

“You scared me” Said Scarlet.

“Boo” Said Penelope making jazz hands for whatever reason.

“You little dork” Scarlet ruffled her hair with a smile.

She was still shaking but did her best to hide it. Penelope always freaked out when she did.

“Your boyfriend called and asked if you wanted to join him for dinner later” Said Penelope.

Penelope bobbed her head side to side and shimmied her shoulders. She looked at their nearly disintegrated plastic phone and walked over to it. Scarlet called Lucius and heard Evelynn.

“Sorry kid Athena isn’t here”.

“It's me Scarlet. I was wondering if Lucius was home?” Scarlet was tapping her foot.

“Yeah just hold on a second he is in his room” Scarlet could hear Evelynn’s footsteps as she walked to his room. She waited a few moments and heard.

“You to look so cute together” fly out of Evelynn’s mouth.

“Thanks Evelynn” Havana’s voice was slightly muffled.

“Who is it?” Asked Lucius.

“Scarlet, she is wondering about your date” Evelynn just so happened to say what Lucius should have.

“It's not a date, and may I please have the phone?” Asked Lucius.

“Hey” Scarlet was playing with her hair as she spoke.

She wonder why Havana was in his room at six in the morning.

“Would you care to join me for dinner at one and don't worry about clothing, Athena was kind enough to drop off the dress I picked out of for you” Said Lucius.

“That sounds great, so should I meet you at your house?” Scarlet had moved on to pulling at her shirt.

“No, I'll pick you up at twelve. See you then. Goodbye” Said Lucius.

She placed the phone back and walked to the front door. She found the package and took it to her room. Her room was more like a renovated closet but was big enough for two small beds. She opens the box and blushed. She was not expecting anything like this. It was a very skimpy outfit. It would barely cover anything. The thin black lace and it also came with a blindfold and pair of handcuffs.