79 Joanos' Story

It's been half an hour since they sat in her living room waiting for Joanos to speak. She figured he would need time to gather himself but this was ridiculous does he think she has all day to waste. Her blatter was full and her stomach is empty if he does start talking, she was going to slap the words out of his mouth.

When Mika began to crack her knuckles, Joanos finally choose to start speaking.

"Lixiss and I have been childhood friends, no, more like childhood sweethearts. On many occasions, I would tell my mother and father I wanted Lixiss to be my wife..." Mika could see Joanos was off reminiscing about his childhood.

"When we turned thirteen, talks like that would be taken more seriously. My mother knew I held Lixiss in my heart, she would make an effort to be "friends" with Lady Vanya, Lixiss' mother. My mother had always found Lady Vanya off. She also didn't think Lixiss was right for me, but I didn't want to listen..."

"The week leading up to my family's murder, Lady Vanya and Lixiss stayed over. They bought with them a strange man as their bodyguard. For the first couple of days, I found nothing wrong until I caught this "bodyguard" checking out the layout of the clan's household. At the time I couldn't believe what I saw, actually I didn't want my suspicions to be true...Hence instead of alerting my mother and father, I confronted Lixiss about it.

She claimed she didn't know a thing about it, and that I must be mistaken. Wanting to believe her, I let it drop but my gut wouldn't let it be."

Joanos pause to take a sip of his tea before continuing on.

"On the last day, I wanted to tell my father about what I perceived, but Lixiss had already told her mother what I detected. All three of them came to the residence, on the last day. They tied and put a sleeping enchantment on me. Unfortunately, they didn't know that my gifts specialize in dreams, though they had just awakened they were able to keep me awake long enough to overhear some of their conversations."

"Lixiss and Lady Vanya sold out my family to the Vlacca clan, resulting in the mass extermination of every member of my household. The only way I was able to survive was because my mother found me and placed me inside the barn. Saving my life until Lord Tasar found me. He told me that after my mother placed me inside the barn, my gifts probably kicked in, allowing me to sleepwalk which save my life...."

Hearing about Joanos' story, Mika didn't know how he could stand staying right next to his family killers all these years.

"Why didn't you tell Lord Tasar about what happened? I'm sure he would give you justice."

"...When I awoke, I didn't know what happen to my clan. When I was finally told I didn't know who I could trust, I didn't know of Lord Tasar was apart of it or not. After all, they are his wife and daughter, plus being underage, and the last member of my clan the only way to save the property from being taken was for a guardian to step in and claim it on my behalf."

"...and that guardian happens to be Lord Tasar..." Mika summed up the full picture.

"En."

Mika could understand his thinking. Your whole family has been murdered, and your only next of kin happen to be the husband of the killers who murdered your family.

However, she wouldn't let this cloud her judgment his family's deaths was not her fault. Joanos drawing her into his schemes for revenge didn't sit right with her, especially since she owes Lord Tasar for helping to cure her poison and face.

Mika evaluated the pros and cons of join hands in Joanos' revenge, was the mention of the 'Vlacca clan'. She did not know Lady Vanya was from the Vlacca clan the same clan as her second mother Lady Delju. This coincident was hitting a little too close to home, leaving a bad taste in Mika's mouth.

"So, where do I come in? Why are you drawing in an innocent bystander into your plans for revenge?"

"Lady Vanya thinks I lost my memories from that time. For four years I sat and waited to buy my time and to gain information. Lady Vanya thought that I'm still in love with Lixiss, and with me being the only survivor the only way for her to get her hands on my clan's wealth and lands is through marriage."

"So, you have been providing hinting that you no longer want Lixiss as your wife but me. Knowing Miss Lixiss would have a breakdown because of her drug use...? Thus, gaining Lord Tasar's sympathy towards marrying such a wife to you, setting Lady Vanya to panic that her plans were going to fail."

"En, pretty much. By now, she most likely has suspected that my memories were never lost, and in her trepidation, she'll contact the Vlacca clan."

Mika had to admit she wanted to see his plan succeed, just for the fact that she hated people like Lady Vanya. Yet, she needed to think of her safety as well as Saavi's and Kaze's.

"If I join you in this plan, how can you protect me?"

"Don't worry, I am stronger than you think." Joanos smiled reassuringly.

Mika was taking a sip of her tea when Joanos answered her question. She wasn't prepared for his reply which causes her to spit the tea out onto Joanos' face. Saavi rushes to hand Mika and Joanos napkins, wiping the spilled tea from her lips Mika looked at Joanos in contempt.

"You!?.... I'm sure even I can kick your ass!"