"I would like to head back now. I have to report to Aldridge and guide the rest of the hunters back. Don’t fret over the past. What’s gone is gone we have to keep pushing forward," Silver offered a curt nod to Xiran.

"I appreciate all the help you and your organization have provided me but I will not rest until I finish what has been put into gear," Xiran shook hands with Silver. All the animosity between the two men forgotten and replaced by mutual respect. Only if Aselia could see that.

Once Silver was gone, Xiran stood there for a while before Zirius found him.

"Señor!" he called him in a broken voice from behind. Xiran turned to face the ever-smiling boy who was visibly distraught. His face was lined with so many worries making his shoulders slouch

"How is Arimie?" Xiran quickly inquired, his eyes desperately roaming on Zir’s face for he could sense his desperation.

"She is...hanging on..." and he broke down. Covering his face with his hands, he began to openly cry. His body convulsed with raw emotions. This disturbed Xiran to another level.

How many more people will his father hurt?

How many pieces will he have to pick before this tyrannical rule will come to an end?

With a bleeding heart, Xiran leaned closer and hugged the grieving boy. Patting his back, he held him in a tight comforting embrace.

Knowing how his heart must be breaking over and over again. To find the person you love in such a state after so many years, would break anyone down. Xiran couldn’t even imagine what he would do if Aselia was taken like this. So he just held Zirius close to him, reassuring him that he wasn’t alone until he got a hold of his emotions and his cries subsided. He lifted his face to gaze at Xiran while wiping away the remaining tears with the back of his hand.

"Thank you... for rescuing her, at least I have her back," his voice came out feeble.

"No one is going to hurt her anymore. That’s my promise to you Zir. Take all the time and resources you need for her healing process. Let me know what I can do or provide," Xiran placed his hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner.

He had grown to like this clumsy boy in the nine months, his funny jokes and permanent smile had kept Xiran from slipping into total darkness and it was time to return the favour.

"I will Señor. I am going to get some food for her. She is malnourished and her HB level is dangerously low," he answered with a heaviness that made his ever-shinning eyes dim.

"Go, I will talk to the doctor and make sure she is treated as a high-priority patient."

Zirius told him about the doctor who was in charge of her and Xiran headed to his office.

Meeting him Xiran discovered that they were still running tests on her but the first inspection doctor had done, revealed that she had been occasionally raped and tortured.

The rage Xiran experienced turned his body into a bloody inferno and he wished to burn his father in it and inflict as much pain on him as he had done on others.

"I want that girl to be your utmost priority. Use every means to make her comfortable and run every test there is. I want her to recover in no time. Keep me updated on her progress. I won’t tolerate any slacking in this case. Do I make myself clear?" his firm voice and icy glare told the doctor he was dead serious.

"Yes, Señor!" doctor vehemently nodded his head.

Just then his phone began to ring. It was Rivan. He answered:

"Hey! How is Irlana?"

"Come, she is asking for you."

"On my way," Xiran cut the call and after giving some further instructions to the doctor he went to meet his sister.

Opening the white door of the hospital room, he entered and found her sitting on the bed with Rivan standing beside her. They were talking and smiling at each other but seeing him, Irlana’s smile vanished and was replaced by guilt.

Seeing him Rivan said:

"I have to go look for Irlana’s mother now. I will let you two catch up," giving Irlana’s shoulder a gentle squeeze, Rivan nodded at Xiran and walked outside, closing the door behind him.

"Hey! Little sister. How are you feeling?" he plastered a small smile on his face so she won’t feel overwhelmed because of him, he knew she would be drowning in guilt and blaming herself for everything.

"Hey! Better, at least physically. Emotionally I am a wreck," her small voice sounded sending a punch to his gut. He quietly approached her and settled down on the edge of the bed so he could face her. He took her hand in his and softly pressed it. A lonely tear trickled down from her left eye at his action.

"Irlana, I can’t change the past but I can ensure you that the future will be brighter than the past. I won’t let him hurt you anymore," with his other hand, Xiran wiped her tear. It was hurting his already wounded heart to see her cry.

"I know, but I have caused you so much distress, so much pain. I don’t know how you don’t hate me. You should have let me die, you should have let me go. Aselia would have been safe and our father’s atrocities would have ended," her lips wobbled and more tears dribbled out of her ocean-blue eyes.

"That’s enough," there was a hint of annoyance in his voice, his forehead had furrowed and his eyebrows crinkled together as he spoke further:

"How can you even think like that? From the short time you have known me, did I ever give you a reason to believe that you were less important? Do I look like a person who would sacrifice his sister?" his eyes bore into Irlana’s as she sucked in a deep breath and stammered:

"N...no, but Xifin was ready to do it."

"I am not Xifin or my father. I would never do something so callous. You are very important to me and will always be and no I will never blame you for what happened. It was not your fault," with those words he moved closer and hugged her, letting her know she had someone who would keep her safe now. She nodded, too emotional to speak and whimpered in his chest, he let her be for a while.