The Age of The Masrui

“Cain what’s going on?” Wren murmured sleepily as she dragged her case into the hallway a few minutes later. “Why are we packing?”

---

“Almost offended he didn’t ask me, mind.” Serena hummed as she moved to sit up properly then.

"I- our grandfather is alive, someone tried to take mom away and now we're all in danger? I- I don't know." Cain whispered.

"That's what all that noise was?" Tesni frowned as she joined them, frowning when Louis wandered out of his and Karsi's room. "Da-"

"One minute, Tesni." Louis whispered, calling down the stairs; "Dad, come up here and grab mine and Karsi's cases. She isn't awake yet, I'll have to carry her. We need everyone into the car, now."

---

"We don't know what is going on, right? Maybe there is a reason."

"I- our grandfather is alive, someone tried to take mom away and now we're all in danger? I- I don't know." Cain whispered.

"That's what all that noise was?" Tesni frowned as she joined them, frowning when Louis wandered out of his and Karsi's room. "Da-"

"One minute, Tesni." Louis whispered, calling down the stairs; "Dad, come up here and grab mine and Karsi's cases. She isn't awake yet, I'll have to carry her. We need everyone into the car, now."

---

"We don't know what is going on, right? Maybe there is a reason."

“I would lose days on some of the drugs they sedated me with.” Sean murmured warily, doing as he was asked and heading up to grab the cases before heading out with them towards Louis’ car

“I’m scared - I don’t know what’s going on.” Wren whined, reaching for her brothers hand.

---

“Better be a good reason considering he woke us up this early... you go back to sleep if you need it.”

Louis headed back into the bedroom, scooping Karsi up. "Come on kids, get to the car."

"I- nor do I.. not really." Cain whispered, grabbing a hold of Wren's hand and wandering down the stairs and to the car as Louis encouraged them.

Tesni frowned, hesitantly following.

---

"You sure? I can stay up..."

“Why does mommy get to sleep?” Wren asked as she followed them down.

---

“It’s fine. I need to ring Marcel and try get him awake and go over it. I won’t be able to sleep after, don’t worry about it.”

"Okay," Kadir sighed, settling back beneath the covers as he let his eyes close.

---

"She is special," Louis hummed, placing Karsi down in the front passengers seat and putting her seatbelt on before getting in himself. Waiting until everyone was in, including Sean, before setting off. "So, Cain; you'll be Uncle Altair tonight, ok? We'll go there first."

"I- okay."

Tesni wrinkled her nose, wrapping an arm around Wren's shoulder to pull her against her.

“Why can’t we all be together daddy?” Wren whined, becoming more and more restless. “I don’t wanna be on my own...”

"You won't be on your own, you'll get to play with Esme? You and Esme are best friends, hm? This is just the way it has to be, I am afraid."

"It's really that bad? What... whatever this is?" Tesni asked quietly.

Louis just nodded subtly.

“I want to stay with you and mom! I don’t want to go anywhere!”

"You don't have a choice, Wren. This is the only way to keep you all safe, okay? I don't want to hear another word about it." He answered firmly, pulling over outside of Altair's house and getting out. Opening the car door as he walked past it and pulling Cain's case from the boot. "Cain, come on - out."

"I- I don't want to. This is because of what I did, isn't it?"

"No, this is because of why you had to do it. Come on, it won't be for long..." Louis hummed, reaching his hand toward him.

Cain swallowed thickly, looking to Tesni and Wren.

Wren took her brothers hand, shaking her head - silently begging him not to go. Screeching in surprise when Sean gently leaned across to move her hand so Cain could go free.

"Hey don't touch her like that!" Tesni snapped, smacking Sean's hand with one of hers as she pulled Wren closer to her.

Louis shook his head, jaw tensing as he grabbed Cain by the wrist gently and marched him to Altair's door, knocking.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Altair asked as he opened the door, stepping aside so Cain could walk in. “What’s happening?”

"Not much time to explain; my father is alive, he escaped the Masrui who just tried to kidnap Karsi and was willing to kill us both. Cain saved the day and shot the threat, the other threat scarpered but there is only a matter of time before more of them show up. Cain is with you, Wren with Ronan and Tesni is going to the Rousseaux's over in France so it is harder work for anyone who tries to hurt them. Karsi, my father and I are going to go off the map; I havent worked that out quite yet. Here is Cain," He pushed his son in through the front door. "I'd say call me, but I will have to get rid of my phone so just... wait until I find a way to get in touch and be careful of Marlowe and Dorian - we both know they have links to those people so for all we know they are involved in all of this. You get the answer to one more question and then I need to go."

“I don’t believe for one moment my sister is happy with her children being split up away from her - where is she Louis? They tried to kidnap her?!”

"In the car; she hasn't woken up yet. I'm not happy about it either but this is the only way they are going to stay safe." Louis answered bluntly before turning and getting back into the car, not even waiting to put his seatbelt on as he drove off.

Cain swallowed thickly, watching the car leave.

“I’m not going to ask you if you’re okay kid... what do you need from me right now?” Altair asked as he closed the door behind them, taking Cain’s suitcase and setting it to the side.

---

“I want to be with Cain! Turn back!” Wren screamed then, moving to undo her seatbelt.

"Wren, don't be stupid; put your seatbelt back on." Louis hissed. "I am trying to keep you all safe here!"

---

"Which bathroom is closer? I - I need to throw up."

“I don’t want to go to uncle Ronan! I want to be with Cain!”

---

“First door on your left kid... I’ll get you something to settle your stomach for when you’re out.”

Cain nodded, heading into the bathroom and closing the door behind himself.

---

"I don't want any of this to be happening but I have as much of a choice as you do, kid." He answered sharply. Taking a moment to breath as the car came to a stop before getting out and opening the door for Wren, "Please, please don't fight me on this. I need you to be brave."

“Daddy don’t make me go.” Wren cried then as she got out, reaching for him with her hands wide.

---

Altair took the case upstairs to one of the guest rooms before heading to the kitchen and getting out a glass of water and some tablets for Cain.

Louis picked her up, kissing the side of her head and explaining; "We have to do this; spend some time apart so that we can all come back together. It is to keep everyone safe, you'll have Ronan.. you'll be able to play with Esme. It's just like a holiday." Grabbing the suitcase out of the back, he wandered over to the front door, knocking on it.

“No!” Wren sobbed, turning hysterical as Bella opened the door and gently reached her arms out to take her from Louis. “Daddy no!”

“Louis... what’s going on?” Bella asked tentatively as she took Wren in one arm, reaching for the case with the other.

"My father is alive, the Marsui are after him." Louis answered tiredly. "They tried to kidnap Karsi and she hasnt woken up yet, Cain shot one of them dead. I need to keep my children safe, Bella - the only way I can do that is by separating them. Karsi, my father and I need to go off the grid. There isn't any choice,"