Charon stared at Spade for some time, she allowed the intensity of the silence grow until Spade was in danger of saying something else, perhaps even continuing and there was no need for him to say any more. Her face gave very little away but her mind was racing along at least a hundred miles an hour, most were questions and very few thoughts were for Spade. Mostly she wondered what his motives were for telling her so close to the match –up.

“You are quite possibly the most selfish person I have ever had the misfortune to be related to or even know. Did you really think I didn’t know? Had it ever occurred to you that Mortismere only ever wanted me so he could immerse you further in the dark arts? Everything I have ever done for this family has been to protect someone else, mostly at my own expense.”

Spade’s brow furrowed.

“What do you mean protect? Are you saying you were trying to protect me? What the hell from exactly?”

Charon shook her head.

“The only people who knew about you, Damien and Julie were you, me and Damien. It never went further than that. Damien knew you had manipulated your and his DNA to create me and Kali and yet he still took me in. It was a huge risk on his part, I could have turned out like you and yet he told me, even as a child he told me that you were my real father but that I had to keep it a secret from you. We had to protect you. He knew then that you could not and would not ever be my father but that I would need help and guidance along the way.”

Charon held up her hand as Spade began to interrupt, to protest that it hadn’t happened like that.

“Please don’t interrupt Spade. Damien knew Mortismere had me at his castle and what you were doing but do you really think you would still be sane, alive even, if you had known that I knew. I don’t think you knew about Kali though even though you say you set out with the intention of creating twins, I think Kali was and still is a bit of an unknown quantity to you. Perhaps you shouldn’t be so afraid of Serin. You certainly won’t be able to beat him in a match, as a twin you can read each others thoughts before you even have half a chance to stop the thought.”

Spade stuttered before recovering himself.

“You think you know everything don’t you? Well you don’t, you have no idea what it’s …like.”

Charon stared at him.

“Do you really think I give a shit Spade? You contact me only hours before the most gruesome match you could come up with to spin me some fucking sob story about how hard your life’s been. Well boo fucking hoo, welcome to the real world Uncle fucking Spade and don’t think this changes a god damned thing between us. AND one more thing, I have no real interest in that belt, I only agreed to the match to get a chance to give you a damned good kicking!”

Spade hauled himself straight in the bed…….