Cassiel's office-aftermath-I5DT

[Kyra Raphael]

"Its my fault." Kyra said, when the tears had stopped, or at least paused.

[Michael Asters]

"Don't be ridiculous," Cassiel said, his arm around his daughter, and an aura of 'maybe I'd better wait until later to bother Lord Cassiel' projected around the door. "None of this is your fault. You had no say in any of this, you were actively kept out of all of this."

[Kyra Raphael]

"But if I hadn't...if I hadn't gotten involved with Daniel when I did...if I hadn't decided to defy her, if I hadn't gotten my parents and Grandma Penny to back me up when he became my consort...they might still be alive. She might never have gone over the edge and made this power grab to start with."

[Michael Asters]

"This is not your fault," Cassiel said firmly. "There are many, many people who are at fault here, who had treacherous intentions, and who were perfectly willing to let this happen. You had no intentions other than to live your life, with no harm toward anyone. You did not cause this."

[Kyra Raphael]

"Then why does it feel like its my fault?" Kyra asked in a small voice.

[Michael Asters]

"Because you have a good heart," he said, just as quietly. "Because you don't want anyone to get hurt, especially people you care about. Because you feel that you should have been able to do something, no matter what."

[Kyra Raphael]

"I guess." Kyra replied "How could she do it? How could she?"

[Michael Asters]

"I don't understand any more than you do. To some people... people aren't people. I suppose that's the best I can describe it."

[Kyra Raphael]

"I knew she was manipulative. And that she thought that individual happiness was a minor concern. But I never, thought, I never realized.... that she's be capable of something like this."

[Michael Asters]

"And that's because you want to believe that people are as good as you are," he said. He caught his finger under her chin and turned her face toward him. "And that's not something that should change. This... is far and beyond what should be suspected of anyone."

[Kyra Raphael]

"Thanks." Kyra said quietly "So, whats going to happen to my family?"

[Michael Asters]

"The ones who had anything to do with it will be Judged with the rest of the traitors. The ones who had no knowledge of it... well, nothing will happen to them."

[Kyra Raphael]

Kyra let out a sigh of relief "....and....the ones who are found guilty?" she asked hesitantly.

[Michael Asters]

"Won't be decided by me," he said. "So I don't know."

[Kyra Raphael]

"I just wondered." Kyra replied "I don't care what happens to Gran-to Livia, but my aunt-she taught me how to use my power, she kept me from going nuts when my power first manifested, and I couldn't stop feeling things. I hate her, for what she did to Daniel. And yet....I don't want her dead, either."

[Michael Asters]

Cassiel sighed. "And yet, she used that same knowledge of your powers to make Daniel insane, both to destroy him and to insure that Genosha would have no warning about the attacks. I don't think that she'll be killed... I don't expect the courts to be altruistic, but they'll want to show that they're better than she is. But unfortunately, my rather personal stake means that I can't intercede for leniency."

[Kyra Raphael]

"I know that." Kyra said "This is.....I don't even understand why-what was she trying to accomplish, really. In the end, what does it matter, if you have to kill everyone you love, that you should love, to accomplish it."

[Michael Asters]

"I can't think of how anyone could do anything like that to people they loved," he agreed.