"We could have stayed at your place for the weekend. I hate the Itma festival," Liem said. He did not want to take them home. No matter how much she had apparently matured. Those that could take care of themselves went into the program. He could not trust Cearir's assessment. Nor his father's words. Both of them were gullible. He could not let himself hope. She was no different two years ago, and she had become very odd with him.
"I have not seen my uncle in five years, Liem, relax. I get that sisters can be alot." Kadir tried to urge the younger man to go home. He was the older and more mature one. "We could easily go to Sedai, just give it a chance for me?" Kadir said. He ruffled the young thirteen-year-old boy's hair. He had grown taller. His uncle had begged him on behalf of the boy's father. He felt a duty as the older and more mature out of their friend group. Not every boy that entered the program had a family that wanted him to return. In poorer clans, they were seen as a waste of time. Luckily, the program accounted for such boys. He had taken the mentorship program and had become friends with these three and four others.
"Do not blame me if anything happens." Liem said, remembering Leilanna at her absolute worse. He would be mortified if she attacked them physically.
"It cannot be that bad, Liem." Cerez said grumpily. He just wanted to find somewhere to fall asleep. The medical procedure had kicked in and genes turned on half a year ago and he started to grow. His body hurt and he just wanted to lay down. The transport finally made its way to the building and the door slide open with a hissing noise. Dorien was waiting outside. Seemingly fidgeting and bouncing as the doors opened.
"Ba-" Dorien started and then paused. That was his son, but he was no longer a chubby little boy. He was a lanky adolescent. "Son." Dorien said.
"Ha." Cerez chuckled, hearing the first syllables of the word. He would make fun of him later for that. Liem gave him a dirty look.
"Father. I missed you too." Liem said as he dismounted. He picked up his travel bag and ran into his embrace. His father was his sunshine. Liem inhaled the familiar scent of his father's fragrance. He smelled like a forest with the scent of fruit. That with his home's laundry fragrance soothed his nerves. Liem felt himself relax. He did not care that his mother had not come out. He preferred to take the boys to stay in the unoccupied courtyard and only come out when it was necessary. They had activities to attend to and things to buy for others from other provinces or those that could not come home. Cerez was wealthy and charitable. It was what drew him to the enigmatic boy to begin with. He had changed when he had returned months ago. He was bitter, but it did not change who he was to others. Liem envied Cerez. He had become very jaded from the others.
"There will be a banquet later, let me take you inside and we will catch up." Dorien said. The door of the main building opened in a swooshing manner. Dareem came running out of the building. He stopped and caught his breath placing his hands on his knees. "You are late." Dorien said to his Bind mate. Dareem gave Dorien an exasperated look. His forearm wiped sweat off his brow. He looked at his nephew.
"Kadir, my boy. Look at you." Dareem sputtered. The boy was set to outgrow him. His father, Harrit, was huge and was Dorien's replacement in the infamous war over him. Thankfully, his presence prevented a feud between the two Clans. He was supposed to teach this boy a fighting style handed down by their ethnic group traditionally. It was a rite of passage. It was always taught to the first born son and passed down through the Sedai family. Kadir would teach his uncle. Dareem caught his breath. "Let me help you with the bags." he continued and paused to catch his breath.
"Uncle. Are you alright?" Kadir said. He had retrieved both his bag and Cerez's from the Transport. They were not a problem for him to carry. Dareem came to his side."I am really alright. The sun is high, let's go inside and settle in." Kadir said looking at Dareem in concern.
"I was just in a hurry," Dareem said. He pat the boy on the shoulder. "But let's go inside. I have set you all up in the courtyard next to ours." he continued. Liem cheered inwards, things were going right. He could give any of his brothers a needed break. He saw Cearir looking from the building making a waving motion through a window on the second floor.
"Let's go through the Garage." Liem said as he finally clued in, something was wrong. It was too late. The front door opened with a swoosh. His sister had grown as well. She was not running, but she had seen him and the others and was on a direct path. He flinched. The group started walking towards the building. The way his father walked changed and his back stiffened as he saw her. Something must have changed when she learned he was coming home. Did she want to humiliate him in front of his friends?
"Is that her?" Cerez grumpily said. He looked at the curious girl wondering what brought her out here. She did not have a good relationship with Liem from what he told her. They would not be here often, if she was as horrible as he said it should not be too bad.
"Greetings Young Leilanna Allari." Kadir said as the group was intercepted by the girl. The girl blushed at him looking him up and down. He felt uncomfortable being looked like that, but luckily she was a child. She could not pick him. He blowed.
"This is my nephew, Kadir of Sedai. He will be with us for a week for the Itma festival. He will be learning from me primarily and the boys will sit in so they will not interfere with your activities and planned gathering." Dareem said. She had been chosen to be Itma in the parade this year and would be going to various events.
"Father, can you come and help me with my hair." Leilanna said, ignoring Dareem and Kadir. Dorien's shoulders shrank. If he did not she would surely throw a fit, he would try and foist the task on others.
"Cevez is really great at doing elaborate styles, why don't you ask him?" Dorien said in quick response. He did not want to be partial, he was forced into it. He gave her a pleading look. She turned around in a huff and started to walk in. He sighed in relief. Liem looked at his father gratefully.
"I am sorry about that." Dorien said looking to Dareem and Kadir. Kadir shrugged of the behavior and the group followed her into the building. Liem took in the familiar sights. He looked for Cearir, he wanted to speak to him about what was going on. The group silently walked through the building before his Father opened up the door to the residence in which they were staying in. Cerez found a bed and plopped down for a nap. Kadir placed his bag in the room and followed Dareem out. Liem settled down on a bed and closed his eyes. The long transport ride across the planet.
They awoke and cleaned up for the Banquet. Leilanna watched from her place at her table. She was relatively quiet. But her eyes fell noticeably on Kadir and Cerez. The night passed quickly and they found themselves retiring early, as was their usual habit. They would be taking Cerez to a spot recommended by Kai later to board tomorrow morning.
Outside the courtyard Leilanna stood with a carving knife and a med kit. In order to trigger the tool she needed she would have to feel fear, her heart would have to be pounding to trick the tool. Ilai Tovo had taught her how to do this. The knife was in case running in place did not work and she could trick the sensors. She had snuck out. She could not get them out of her head. Leilanna jogged in place in her bedroom wear and pictured something scary. The red icon did not come up like it did before. She took the knife, raised it and stabbed herself in the thigh. She stopped as she shuddered in pain. The icon came up. She interacted and incapitated the two visitors successfully. Leilanna sat on the grass and pulled out the knife with a hiss. She quickly tended to her wound.
Leilanna quickly made her way into the residence. Her brother would be in the farthest inward room. The others would occupy the matriarch room. She opened the door to the matriarch room. The two fully incapacitated men laid on the bed. She touched Cerez's body and picked up his shirt. He looked like a boy still. She climbed up Kadir's body and tugged his waist band down. She shimmied up his body and was about to straddle him when the lights flipped on and shocked her. She knocked a glass of water open.
"Leilanna what are you doing!" Liem said, looking at Leilanna in horror. He captured an image of Leilanna and then hit the alarm. The doors of the room locked automatically. He ran to the bedside and released Cerez from the incapacitation of the tool. Leilanna squirmed and tumbled off of Kadir, nude from the waist down. Cerez awoke from the alarm, looked at Leilanna in shock and then felt the residual effects of her manipulation on himself. He felt violated, he awoke Kadir and stood and kicked Leilanna off of his friend with a big boot.
"What did you do to me, what were you going to do?" Kadir said, disgusted. He was shocked. He shed tears. Liem grabbed her bottoms and threw them on top of a shelf in the room. Leilanna groaned from the floor. He could not do much to her. She did not have the tools necessary to kill Cerez or harm him yet. It was not too long before there was a beating on the door.
"I was curious." Leilanna said. Her face red. She rushed to the door and tried the handle. Cerez climbed off and quickly pulled her back.
"That is why you have learning materials. What you were doing was assault." Cerez said. Liem looked at him, a horrified look on his face. He now understood that everything that Liem had said about his sister was not an exaggeration. Liem opened the door when he heard the sound of all the adults from the courtyard next yard shouting at the door. He opened the door.
"Leilanna! What are you doing?" Allurai shouted, horrified at her daughters' semi-nudity in a visitors' room. Dareem rushed inside to console his nephew. He saw him crying. He cast an angry look at Dorien. "Kadir of Setton, Cerez of Halid. I will give you a proper explanation and compensation for this", Allurai said, trying to smooth the situation over the situation.
"I know what happened. Your daughter touched me and was going to assault me. You will indeed be speaking with my Mother about this." Kadir said. He stood from the bed angrily and went to grab the two boys' bags ready to storm out. It would take sometime by foot, but his Clan home was within walking distance. He could not leave either boy here. Liem was right.
"Kadir, Cerez, I am so sorry," Liem said. "I have images. I do not even try to get her out of this with money." Liem said, turning on his mother. "I will leave with them. It is unsafe here for me too. She might want revenge." Liem said. He decided to abandon this bag. These were just things.
"Liem!" Dorien shouted. He felt like his son was making the situation worse. He watched as his son ignored him and left with the others.