~Chapter Twenty-Two~

   As soon as school let out, Vikki hurried home. He barely stepped through the door before dropping his backpack on the floor and heading right back out. He had to get to Delton’s.

  Dean watched him go, feeling the restless energy coming off Vikki. He wasn't sure what Vikki was up to, or why he was in such a rush to leave, but he decided to keep his mouth shut and let him go.

   When Vikki reached the house, he didn't hesitate. He knocked on the door. A moment later, it swung open, and a woman stood there looking at him.

   "Hello." She spoke. "Are you friends with Delton?"

   "Yeah, can I come in?" Vikki asked. She just stares at him for a few seconds.

   "Well don't stand out there. Come in." The lady said. Vikki stared at her confused.

   "Um... Okay?" Vikki came into the house. When he did, the woman closed the door.

   "Do you want any snacks?"

   "Sure. I'll take some." Vikki responded.

   "What?" The lady asks.

   "I said I'll take some!" Vikki wasn't sure what the woman's deal was, but she was starting to get on his nerves.

   "What? Did you say you want some?" The lady asks.

   "Nevermind. Where's Delton?"

   "The bathroom is down the hall." The lady walks away. Vikki was very confused about her. An older guy came into the living room where Vikki was. He was Delton's older brother.

   "Who was that woman and why does she talk like she's crazy?" Vikki asks.

   "That's my mom. She keeps forgetting to wear her hearing aid. If you're looking for Delton, he's upstairs in his bedroom. You should easily find it. It's the door that's open."

   "Finally, someone that makes sense." Vikki thought to himself and went upstairs. He seen a door opened and went over to the room. He saw Delton in his bedroom working on homework.

   "Hey, you actually came over?" Delton was surprised.

   "Yes, can you show me that house? I want to know if Katrina is at that house you spoke of."

   "Oh. Alright, come with me." Delton got off his bed and went out of the bedroom. Vikki followed him. They both went downstairs.

   "You know, some guy that looked a little older than you said that your mother keeps forgetting to wear her hearing aid. I got to know, how did she know someone was at the door?" Vikki asked Delton when they got out of the house.

   "My mom is weird. She always looks outside every 30 minutes, so you got lucky. She does this because one-time dad was outside banging and ringing the doorbell and she didn't answer him for over an hour.  It was hilarious. My brother and I had to open the door with our spare key when we came home from school" Delton laughed.

    "Why didn't he have a key?" Vikki asked.

    "I actually don't even know?" 

   "Anyways, where's the house?" Vikki asked. Delton pointed. Delton didn't say a word. He simply raised his arm and pointed. His finger aimed toward a house about halfway down the street. 

   "That house." Delton said.

   "I wonder if Katrina is really there?" Vikki thought to himself. 

   At Lancer's house, Jenny had come over to speak with him. Inside, Katrina was resting in the bedroom where she had been staying in. She woke up from a nap and heard muffled sound of voices drifting through the door. Curiosity took hold, and she moved quietly toward the sound. Staying out of sight, she began to eavesdrop on the conversation between Lancer and Jenny. 

   "So, you got The Great Blis here?" Jenny asks. "Where is she?"

   "She is having a nap in the other room. Are you sure she really is the one?" Lancer asked.

   "You think I am lying? You dare question our great leader? He said that he felt a presence about this girl and she could be The Great Blis. The one that has the god stone." Jenny smiles. "I don't know why though Damien keeps asking me the same damn thing over and over."

  "I don't understand how she could possibly be The Great Blis. She seems like a normal girl to me."

   "Again, are you questioning our great leader?! You know he will punish you for this! Your goal was to only capture the girl and when Nathanial is ready, you have to bring her to the cave!" Jenny glares at Lancer.

   "I am well aware of that! It's just I keep thinking we might have the wrong person. I don't feel like this girl could possibly be The Great Blis. I been with her for some days now and she doesn't seem to be aware of anything."

   "That's because she doesn't know anything. She isn't supposed to. Now stop questioning our master's orders!" Jenny left Lancer's house. Katrina came out of the bedroom. She was staring at Lancer. He turned around and looked at her.

  "W-Who was that? What did she mean?" Katrina asked. She wasn't sure what they both were talking about.

   "It's nothing to worry about." Lancer tells her. Katrina wasn't sure how she felt about it. Outside, Vikki and Delton watched from down the street. They saw Jenny walk out of the house Delton had pointed to. She looked furious. 

   "Who is that woman?" Vikki asked.

   "You think I have a clue?" Delton asked back.

   "I wonder if Katrina is really in that house. I need to get a closer look."

   "Are you crazy?!" Delton thought Vikki was crazy running over to that house. "I think I'll just wait here. I am not going over there."

   Vikki walked toward the house. He moved quietly, peering through the windows as he went. He was looking for any sign of Katrina. He just had to know—was she really in there? 

   "You aren't trying to hurt me, are you?" Katrina asked Lancer.

   "No. I am not." He responded.

   "Who was that woman though?" Katrina wanted to know who Jenny was. She wanted to know who she was talking about. It was obviously her and she felt in the dark and didn't have a clue what was going on.

   "She isn't important." Lancer touched Katrina's face.

   "Lancer...I feel....I feel like I miss my family. Are you sure they wanted me as a replacement? Did Dean really know?" Katrina asks. She looked upset.

   "I am sure of it. If Paul knew, then Dean knows."

   "But how... How do you know all of this information?" Katrina asked looking up at Lancer.

   "You want to know how I know?" Lancer asks her.

   "I do."

   "Your father told me before, Harold." Lancer admits.

   "My father?" The two were talking to each other in the living room. Vikki could only see a little into the living room through the window.

   "She is in there. With some old fart." Vikki thought to himself. Vikki glared. He felt like something in him made him felt angry. He felt like going in there and taking her out of that house, but he couldn't. "Damn him!"

   "You know you were my favorite student. I especially enjoyed days you came in class." Lancer tells her.

   She blushes a little. "Since the moment I met you, I thought about you." Lancer takes his hand off her face and brings her towards him. Hugging her. She felt nervous. "It doesn't make you nervous if I have feelings for you, do you?"

   "I...I don't know how to feel." Katrina admits.

   "It's fine. Do you like me too? I caught you looking at me a lot in class. More than any of my students."

   "Well..." Katrina wasn't sure how to answer.

   "Do you want me to call you your real name or do you prefer 'Katrina'?"

   "Just call me 'Katrina'. I am not used to... The other." Katrina buried her face on his chest. She was blushing red. Lancer takes one of his arms and moves it. He puts one hand on the back of her head.

   "I like you a lot, Katrina. I won't let anything bad happen to you."

   "I am not sure how I feel about all of this..." Katrina thought to herself. Outside, Vikki watched through the window. When he saw Katrina and Lancer hugging, his blood boiled. He was furious. 

"Damn him for trying to touch her! That disgusting old man pervert!" Vikki thought to himself. He watched them through the glass, his hands clenching into fists. He couldn't stand the sight of Lancer anywhere near her. To him, the hug wasn't comfort—it was a reason to be angry.