~November 2025 Vaight Manor~

Nicolas Casillas rapped on the door to the Vaight Manor.

Darien crossed the hall and yanked the door open on the chain.

Nick?!

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Nicolas raised his eye brow at the greeting. "Can I come inside?"

Darien frowned. "You're insane. Just being here could kill you. Have you missed the whole Purger list?"

"So, are we going to stand out here and wait for the purgers to spot us or are you going to stop being an idiota and invite me in?" Nicolas said.

The chain was unhooked and Darien drew aside. "Do come in." He said in a lofty manner. "And explain what the hell you are doing here."

"There is a mattter, a rather... delicate matter I would like to discuss with you. A matter, I'd rather not have anyone over hear." Nicolas looked suspiciously around. "Where is your father?"

Darien shrugged. "An excellent question. I think he went out...but I can't be sure."

He pushed a small button hidden inside the ironwork of a small light. "This way." He walked through the wall, which did not appear to have changed even slightly.

He had no idea why he was following Nick's instructions.

Maybe he was just tired of fighting.

Nicolas raised a brow and put his hand through first. Convinced that the wall was not solid, the rest of him followed. "And your sister?"

Darien shrugged. "Again, no idea. I don't-" pay all that much attention any more...

The room behind was marginally brighter, and much less black. He flopped into a dark blue armchair and shoved a small pile of papers off another. "Pull up a chair."

Nicolas dusted off a vacant armchair and sat down. "Charming... room you have here. I don't suppose you get many guest."

"I don't think it's just the room's fault." Darien muttered.

He sat back. "So...what is this mysterious thing you cannot mention within one hundred metres of another living soul?"

Nicolas sighed and dusted an arm of the armchair. "Christmas is coming soon. Any plans?"

"I don't believe that was all you came to ask." Darien folded his arms.

"Why are you really here?"

"I hate you, Vaight. Did you know that?" Nicolas confessed. "Probably not the biggest national secret."

"But... I can't do it. I thought I could. I told myself I hated you. But with Christmas drawing near... I couldn't take your place at her side. It's just... wrong."

Darien scoffed. "Hardly."

"...What?"

Was Nick really saying what he thought he was?

"She's miserable without you. She tries to hid it sure, but I can tell." Nicolas said seriously. "She cries every night without fail."

Darien felt guilty. And tried not to show it.

"Why would I believe you? And even if I did, what the hell could I do? Do you want me to put your cousin in danger?!"

"The only thing she's in-danger of at the moment is hurting the baby with all of that crying." Nicolas said smoothly. "There are ways around the Purgers. Tricky, but there are ways."

Darien scoffed. "What the hell has that to do with me?"

"I thought I made that clear." Nicolas said. "If you go back to her, she'll stop crying. Happy ending."

"It's your responsibility to stop her crying now." Darien replied, in as emotionless a tone as he could manage.

Nicolas was slightly surprised by Darien's answer. He thought he would jump at the opportunity. He tightened his jaw. "Don't you want her back?"

Darien sighed. "It doesn't matter what I want, does it? The world doesn't give a sh!t about that."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Besides, it's not like that will fix everything. It won't fix anything."

"What the bloody hell are you yapping about?" Nicolas said getting slightly annoyed. "What do you need? She wants you, you want her, what else could be stopping you?"