Charon sat at the kitchen table for some time after Augustus had stormed off deep in thought. She knew that both Kizmat and Fein would do their best but she also knew that Mortis had no intention of breaking the bond between them, it was the nature of the demon but she had her own plans, thoughts and idea’s he wasn’t privy to. It was a couple of seconds before she realised she was no longer alone, without turning she smiled and sat back in the chair.

“Hello Kali, long time no see. How’s Wiz?”

Kali emerged from the shadows, sweeping gracefully across the kitchen to the chair next to Charon. She swayed gently there as though slightly distracted by something.

“Hello Charon. I do so wish you wouldn’t call him Wiz, he gets very fussy about being called by his correct designation when he’s been around you.”

She smiled despite the minor remonstration. Charon looked sideways at Kali.

“Where is the little fluffball anyways?”

Kali rolled her eyes dramatically and gestured with her right hand.

“He is currently involved in trying to get the young man on the computer upstairs to stop flapping his arms at him. He’s a very attractive young man you know.”

Kali looked at Charon with a slightly lecherous and leery look. Play-acting. Charon shook her head.

“You don’t change much. What brings you here anyway?”

Kali’s face took on a much darker look now as she watched Charon cross the kitchen and switch the kettle on. She tapped the back of the chair with her fingers.

“It would seem that you do. There is some sort of irritating link between you and I which always draws me here when you are feeling troubled about something."

Charon chuckled.

“Irritating link? Is that what I am to you? You always were annoyed by the fact I’m older than you.”

Kali swung round faking a pout, she pushed her bottom lip out dramatically.

“You are older by a mere one minute and ten seconds, however, it doesn’t make you any wiser.”

She strode off gracefully towards the drawing room, she made a sign in the air above her head and several minutes later Tawiscara appeared and circled the room before settling onto the chandelier and tilting his head to the side, apparently looking for someone. Kali tutted at him. Charon finally limped through the doorway with two mugs of tea and set them down on the coffee table. She looked up at her sister’s vulture.

“Heya Wizzer! How’s life?”

The vulture hopped sideways, eyed her and then screeched loudly. Charon laughed at him.

“Sounds about as good as I feel then.”

Kali had already noticed the pronounced limp but had chosen not to mention it. They both sat down opposite each other, neither saying anything to the other. Tawiscara flew down and perched on the arm of Charon’s chair eyeing her closely. She knew that Kali was reading her thoughts but didn’t stop her, she watched as Kali’s face registered slight shock then started to laugh.

“Oh my word! You branded the fruitloop?! Three times? He must be hopping mad, furious, and insane with rage. Oh how inspired!!”

Charon grinned.

“There is another problem, I don’t trust Mortis to keep his word and I have no idea what he has planned for the ‘unbinding’ ceremony. Its too much of a variable, I don’t like to take that much of a risk.”

Kali nodded.

“I see your problem.”

They both seemed deep in thought for awhile. Tawiscara hopped clumsily across the floor and then perched himself on Kali’s shoulder. Charon absentmindedly sipped at her tea. Kali frowned for a moment or two.

“Of course there is the little known fact that we are indeed twins.”

Charon looked at Kali sarcastically.

“No? Really? I’d never have seen that in a million years. Like wow! I wondered why we looked so alike. Why didn’t I think of that?!”

Kali tilted her head at Charon, one eyebrow raised as though about to scold a naughty child.

“If you would allow me to finish a sentence once in awhile you might learn something or two. Only Damien knows that you have a twin, everyone else who knew is no longer around. Tawiscara would not be out of place gliding around Castle Mortis, I’m sure we could come up with some sort of plan. Perhaps if I went in your place, I doubt if one single person would notice.”

Charon snorted.

“Yeah, until you open your mouth to speak. People are going to want to know when I started attending elocution lessons.”

Kali screwed her nose up at her.

“Do try to be a bit more positive in your thoughts. I could study your patterns of speech and how you would address Mortis, how you move etcetera, etcetera. How I am going to move like a wounded elephant is beyond me but then I like a challenge?”

She ducked as Charon threw a cushion at her head. Augustus came barrelling through the drawing room door and then stopped dead as he stared at the two faces looking at him curiously. He looked from one to the other, he stuttered trying to get some words, any words, out. Charon chuckled.

“Its okay Tawiscara is fully housetrained you know. He didn’t crap on your computer keyboard did he?”

Augustus was now staring at both Tawiscara and Kali. Charon looked round at her twin sister and the vulture, then looked back at Augustus.

“Ah. Yes. This is your Auntie Kali-Anat Death. In case you hadn’t noticed we’re twins.”

Kali grinned, amused by Augustus’ struggle to take in this information but she knew who he was immediately. His true identity hidden away in his own mind, very clever. One look into his mind also told her who his father was, she wasn’t surprised, she knew that although Charon had lied many times to protect other people, she knew in her own mind that she hadn’t lied about the boys parentage, not to her anyway. Augustus finally managed to get a sentence together.

“What the hell is going on?”

Charon gestured at Kali and Tawiscara.

“Your auntie and her pet vulture have come to visit for awhile. Hope you don’t mind.”

Kali stood up and curtseyed.

“Ah, m’lud very nice to make your acquaintance.”

Charon shot a warning look at her sister, Augustus looked at her sideways wondering who the crack pot was but it was obvious that they were twins, there was very little difference between the two and the only thing that gave any indication of different upbringings was the way they talked and carried themselves.

“How come you never mentioned an Auntie Kali? Do I have any other weirdo relatives I need to be aware of?”

Charon raised her eyebrows in mock shock.

“Lets see…well there’s your grandfather Doctor Damien Death, your auntie Nightshade but I think she’s dead now, you have quite a lot but they all disappeared some time ago. Damien took most of them with him on his ‘mission’”

Kali nodded in agreement and gestured for Augustus to sit down. It was going to be a long morning.