Climbing into the truck, she nodded. "Don't skimp on the details Aja."

"I'll try not to." she said as she got behind the wheel. "But like I said before, some of these old paths...lead nowhere good...and they are hard to speak of even now." she put the truck into gear, glancing over at her sister. "And I'm never going to stop trying to protect you. Ya do realize, yer stuck with me willing ta kill anyone who messes with ya, right?"

"Right, and perhaps you could erm....quit coddling me" Just a little?" She said with a kind smile to her twin. She didn't mean to sound patronizing.

Aja snort giggled when Ajia said that. "Me" Coddling people?" she chuckled. "I think mah crew would fall over with laughter if they heard ya say dat."

"I'm not your crew though, and I didn't say people....I said me." She made a face at her twin.

"Fact remains. I'm not the over gentle type." Aja said as they drove along. "And here's where we wind up in trouble." she sighed. "I don't see any of what I do, as coddling you. I don't see you as one of my kids, JiJi."

"Then why must you insist that I am one" I'm the same age as you. Just because I cope with things different as you doesn't make me less mature than you." She said with a sigh. "I don't know how many times I've said it, but I'll say it again and again. I'm no child Aja, nor do I appreciate feeling like that's how you see me. It makes it harder to speak with you, because it feels like I'm talking to my adopted mother....which was a pain in the ass." She looked out the passenger window," I hate associating you with that memory, too."

"Ji....this is why we're takin dis trip now." Aja took a deep breath. "There's something else I need you to see. For you to understand." she glanced over at her sister staring out the window. "And ya never did promise not ta go any further out on da blue fer me."

"I have no plans of going further on the blue Sis, because Ocyna is going to be a part of my world some day. The more I learn about it and see it, the better I'll be able to help Owen when the time comes." She was smiling just a little. "And I look forwards to that challenge Aja."

"I'll take that as a promise then." she exhaled a little. "Like I said, if they find you instead of me..." she exhaled. "There will be a very big hole in the world when I'm done with them." Aja found it hard, if not impossible to keep that edge of rage out of her voice. It had appeared only once before, when Tristan was killed.

"I can live with that." She nudged her sister ever so softly. Ajia was attempting to calm her sister's nerves just a little," But yes, I promise not to go further."

"Thank you." Aja said. "I'm sure ya are aware, of recent trips I've taken. Maybe not what happened on them, but that they happened." she trailed off to see what her sister did and didn't know already.

"I've heard hints." She admitted," But not all of it." There were whispers in the lair, mutters on the docks, but nothing solid to put two and two together.

"The most recent trip was fer Hochi. Tryin ta fix something he messed up on, cause like you, he doesn't know what all is out there on da blue. He thinks he does and he barrels into it...." Aja trailed off again regaining her self composure. "And he lost people who counted on him to keep them safe."

There was a frown to that, her eyes falling back to her sister. "Is that why he's been acting like he is?"

"Yes." Aja admitted. "It's what I fear can happen to you." explaining herself has never been easy. Harder still when she wanted to protect them from her life. Or repeating her mistakes.

"Was Hochi aware that it was going to happen" That he might lose men?" She asked curiously. Ajia tried to understand how he felt, but she couldn't grasp it. She was so inexperienced.

"I honestly don't know." she sighed. "Damn kid took up my habit of keeping his guilt to himself." she shook her head.

"That seems to be another Bird trait, that takes up different extremes. I dwell on what could have been our lives, you dwell on guilt, Ajay I haven't begun to wonder what he dwells on..." Nor did Ajia even think she wanted to try.

"Ajay wants to restore the family name. He wants to make up for all of what Serm did." she sighed. "Not that he needs too, but damn our family stubbornness. He's gonna keep trying." another shake of the head as she made a few turns. "Hochi, learned by watching me. And I wonder sometimes, if I taught him well enough, or even the right things." Aja made a face about that as she stared at the road ahead.

"Are you kidding" That boy is going to be the biggest, kindest, and most good hearted man Arcadia has to offer, or Tristan, Padriq, and Rico will beat that into him." She said softly, a cheeky grin on her lips. "Padriq is going to be their step-dad after all."

"I always hoped he would learn from the guys. Cause jist me isn't enough." JiJi had come close to her other fear, the one of a mother wanting her son to have everything and not having that knowledge to teach it to him.

"Padriq's good with kids Aja, he'll whip some sense into that boy if he doesn't have any." Ajia was saying, and Aja couldn't disagree with her assessment. But that wasn't in her thoughts right now, not with where they were going. Ajia looked back out of the window over the scenery as the traveled. "Where are we going?"

"Some place I keep my biggest regrets. A place that reminds me of what the cost is if I get it wrong." she said solemnly as they made another turn. This one onto a lane, lined with majestic trees. Their branches creating a canopy over the road. "This is the place that I never want you to have build, and carry around in your memory, JiJi." they got to the end of the road, where another type of cemetery lied. This graveyard held hundreds of graves. The brilliant white tombstones laid out neatly in rows. Aja put the truck in park, and shut off the engine. "This is what it cost from me not knowing enough. From me insisting that I wasn't a child." she paused letting that last line sink in before she spoke again. "Those that lie here.....are dead. Because of me." Aja sat still there in the drivers seat of the truck, looking beyond the windshield to the graves. The people she failed before.

She sat there just staring out the window, this was not the most comfortable place in the world for her to be. She rarely brought anyone here. Ajay knew, these were Ballentine lands, so of course he knew about this reverent piece of land Aja used to bury the dead she was responsible for. Of course, he tried to console her as she had them moved her from where they previously laid. No amount of "there's no way you could have forseen that happening, Aja" was going to make her feel any better or bring any of them back.

The day she moved them here was still crystal clear in her memory. Her own personal penance for her failure. She hadn't even mentioned it to Rico where she was going or what she was doing. Tanner had warned her, over and over what could happen. She hadn't listened. This was her own creation, so when she was able, she moved the dead here. To a precious resting place.

Watching the graveyard crest over the hill Ajia went silent, her lips parting and a soft breath pulling into her lips. A tint of green coated her cheeks as she sat there, staring at the tomb stones. Stepping from the truck, she looked over the sacred ground with awe and revery. Drawing in a breath, her chin lifted to the stars that loomed above it. There was a small trail of tears sparkled along her cheeks.

Aja came out of the truck after a moment, walking quietly up next to her sister and stood there silent as those graves.

"Why do you do this to yourself?" Ajia didn't expect an answer, but she asked the question anyways. All the while she clenched her fists at her side. "Why do you punish yourself and cling to their deaths when you should be celebrating their lives?"

"To remember." Aja said quietly, there would be arguing here. Not from her. "To make sure I never did anything that would cause this kind of loss ever again." Aja motioned out over the graves slowly, her voice low, filled with the guilt that came when she visited here. It was the first time, however, that anyone else had ever heard this tone from Aja. "This is the cost. For not knowing enough, for barrelling ahead into something I had no business getting into." Aja stepped forward and her hands gripped the fence surrounding the grave yard. She took a long moment to look over the headstones before she turned her head to look at her sister. "This. Is what lingers in mah head everyday when I wake up, it's there. It keeps me mindful to treat the lives I am entrusted with, with care. It keeps me from going too fast, or too far. This place. These souls. They are mah teachers. My guidelines." she reached out and took Ajia's hand. "They can be your guides...so you can be as great as Ajay and I know you can be, without having to pay this price."

"To become great, one must overcome hardship Aja. I can't learn from your lessons, because I didn't experience them." She paused, thinking of how to word it before finally saying," You can tell a child no around a stove or a hot fire, but until they burn themselves, they'll not fully understand what it is you're trying to prevent."

"You still see the cost." Aja said. "See the effects of the fire."

"Yes I see the cost, I'm aware of the cost and the effects, but in all honesty Aja. I may know the effects of a burn, see the scar it leaves behind, but I don't know how much it hurts, or the true damage that has happened to the nerves and mindset because of the fire." Ajia gazed over the graves and swallowed softly.

"And that, is what I want to save you from." Aja said squeezing her sisters hand. "I know you won't fully get it. I can't think of how to go around that, but "." she looked out at the graves. "This. Is a whole body burn I don't want you to have."

"We Birds are funny things, Aja. You are the protector, the mother hen so to speak of the family.." Glancing to Aja, Ajia smiled, Aja laughed a little at the comparison..."But even then, the mother hen has to let the chicks out of the nest. Ajay is very much the big bird, the eagle looking down on high over all, talons ready to defend his nest and his family. In one way or another, the two of you have suffered great things, great pains, and I, I was spared that and brought after those times of pain and burns. So in essence I'm the baby, the one you have to protect from knives, fires, and well anything that could harm me. But by doing that, doesn't that keep me from accomplishing adulthood" While I have you two looking out for me..." She paused, resting her hand on her twin's shoulder," I'm not going to be able to make any of my own mistakes or choices." Knowing that she had said that made her nervous, but she took a deep breath and added," Does that make sense?"

"Aye." Aja said taking one more look out to the graves. "I felt the same. With Tanner." she paused. "Our family traits...that stubborn...I can do it damn it, attitude...gets us into as much trouble as it brings great success." Aja thought for a moment then looked to Ajia. "Just as it will you. I know I can't save ya from dat." she cracked a smile. "Today being one of those moments that I know it as sure as I'm breathing." another pause. "Doesn't mean I won't try keepin a flame thrower out of yer hands."

"I know, but ya gotta remember. If mom and dad were around, none of this would have happened and you would have been as protected and pampered, and as much of a child like princess as me." Teasing her with a small smile.

"But that isn't what happened." Aja said looking at Ajia. "For either of us." she shook her head. "Ya got screwed. I think more than Ajay and I did sometimes." she exhaled slowly. "I had Tanner. Ajay had loyal palace members. Who did you have?"

"The very woman that betrayed our parents because of Serm's bribe." Ajia said bluntly. Her lips pursed a little. That wet nurse that stole her away in the middle of the night didn't protect her, tend to her, or even show her kindness. She left her on the doorstep of a bitter man whose only dream was to have a son and instead got Ajia. "I don't know yer life. Cause well...neither of us like to go backwards." Aja nodded again to the graves. "I can crack da past, give you that glimpse." she then looked at Ajia. "I ask that you recognize it's not something I do. Ever. Not even fer Padriq." she exhaled. "So I ain't good at it."

She nodded a little and turned her back to the graves. There had been enough of looking back for today, hadn't there" She looked to her sister," I know you don't do it, I don't do it either. The fondest memories of my life are the ones that happened when I found you and every day sense. Even if you are an ever loving pain in the Bird ass."

"Hello, Pot." she hip nudged her sister lightly. "Seriously though...when I asked ya ta promise not to venture out...past da routes..." Aja took a deep breathe. "I hate da guy, but I ain't worried about him. Da ones out there ...are worse if ya can imagine it, than Anubis." she kept her sisters eyes then. "This is who I protect ya from by askin ya fer that promise." depending on how this part went over, Aja would decide what else got told about them.

"I am not going to risk my life by not taking the routes needed, Aja." She promised as she let out a small, small sigh," Owen, you and Ajay would kill me if I did."

"Not kill." Aja gave a little smirk. "Maim...nag...lock in a dungeon. But not kill." she winked at Ajia.

"If you say so." She nudged her sister and mused. "And I know you don't like Owen...ya just, ya have to give him time. He grows on you."

"Like fungus?" Aja perked a brow looking slightly more amused now.

Ajia started to laugh at that, "No, no, no. Picture it this way. It took me forever to get through the pampered prissy lifestyle to get the man to try." She smiled softly. "And when he did....He was as passionate a man as Padriq or even Tristan. He really wants what?s best for his people, and for me."

"I'll consider it." Aja said..."But he's not our core issue." she motioned between them. "The other stuff...da other halves and all that...Those aren't what what keep us apart." Aja came away from the fence. "Fair assessment?"

"Fair enough." She agreed as she started back towards the truck.

"Now." Aja moved towards the truck. "The people. The missions. I am protected from ever being taken slave...as horrible as they are, the Quistguard clan gave me some pretty intense protections. Granted, in their own self interest. But...all the same. I have them. Ya don't." she looked at her sister seriously. "This is why I worry about someone finding you. Ya don't have them." she waited then to see if her sister would catch the main meaning of those words.

"But you have the means to find me whereever I go. Remember" How is that different?" She sort of understood what her sister was saying, but she had to admit she had an air of confidence that Aja wouldn't let her catch too much trouble and danger. There was just too much protective measures made by her sister for that to be the case.

"And there's that." Aja pointed as she opened the truck door. "They get you, they could find me. Before I'm ready ta take "em out."

"How does that work?" That part she didn't get at all. "These men will stop at nothing to stop me. Torture. Just another weapon they wield in pursuit of what they seek." she looked across the truck seats to her sister, waiting for the puzzle pieces to fall into place.

"Why do they want you so badly Aja" What is it you're not telling me?" She said as she stopped and stared at her twin, having yet to climb in the truck.

"Ya know we have skills, yeah?"

"Yes and so does every person I've met in Rhy'din." She answered her sister.

"So do they. And our abilities, are different than yer average RhyDin City resident." Aja said and sighed. "Least they know it about me. They don't, however, as far as I know, know about you." Aja moved the truck back towards the site. "Which is why all this princess business makes me nervous and has made it so I have to move faster on getting them, before they get you."

"What do you mean our powers are different?" Ajia hated playing blonde, but she required further information. "And if they received you as an infant, wouldn't they have known you were one of two?"

"Those are good questions fer da mages." Aja replied. "As fer da twin thing. Not even Ajay knew fer years that there was two of us. So very few others knew it. And Serm' No way would he have mentioned it.." Aja negotiated the road back. "Give more power away than he was going to get on his own" Not a chance. His damn greed spared ya mah life at least."

The mention of Serm kept her silent. She swallowed a little and slid into the truck. There was a deeper hate of that man, of her own blood, than she had ever had in her lifetime of anyone else. The fact that one of her kin could do something so calculating and cold made her sick, sometimes it kept her up at night questioning what would push him to think that by destroying blood he'd get the power he desired. Ajia felt that in truth, Serm was robbed, because he would have held more power with such a loving family at his side.

"Now. I've recently taken a huge chunk of their power." Aja said with a grin before returning to be serious about the information. "So..they're wounded, but by no means less dangerous. Ya corner an animal, they become unpredictable."

"Yes, and you put your scent out there for them. You did that when you took that chunk of power." She shook her head and mused," You're going to have bloodhounds after you soon Aja."

"The ones that could've ratted me out," she said with a tint of malice. "Didn't quite live ta do it." Aja paused a little and parked the truck back at the work site. This would've been the first time she would mention the things she's done in order to eliminate the threat that had lingered in the background her entire life and since she escaped their clutches. "There's not a loyal to them soul alive can put me at dem scenes. Remember, I don't wanna add ta dat graveyard. I plan every step. Plan for things ta go wrong. Leave no trace, get no trouble." she sighed. "But they know fer damn sure they're being hunted."

She nodded to her sister, letting herself go silent again. There wasn't much she could say. She'd rather listen to all there was to say while she could. While Aja gave her the chance to.

"So. While I play bad guy chess with them...I worry what happens if they see you. They are a deadly bunch. Power, they want it...but they may settle for .." she made air quotes then "my death."

"I see." Ajia processed that final bit and nodded. "I won't stray off the route Aja. Promise."

"Cool." she breathed a sigh of relief, the first in a while. "Well. Let's finish this up. "Fore the men think they can just run off when they want." she cracked a grin at her sister. "We'll torment Ajay later...perhaps beat 'im at chess or something."

"Good luck there. The man's a pro when I'm not trying to read his mind without him knowing." She said with a small laugh.

"Ya cheat!" she laughed. "Crafty. Sis. Crafty." Aja slid from the truck and tugged her gloves out her back pocket as they went towards the work site.

It wasn't everything. But it was a start. A bigger dent in the wall between the sisters. The rest' Well, you'll just have to keep checking back to see what else happens, won't you?

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