Hiro guided Keshiema to her new room. Her exhaustion showed in her eyes. As he helped her to her chair, a wave of protectiveness washed over him. "I'm sorry I left so suddenly before." After bringing her to the Academy, the Elders tasked him with helping her transition. By the time he left, they were as close as siblings. They had kept in touch until his most recent assignment, but that was over five years ago. This time, he had been absent for far too long. He wanted to keep her safe, but his duties as a Hunter would always come first.

  "I understand." She said, raspy from a mix of crying and fatigue. "You have responsibilities as a Hunter."

  "Yes, but," he paused as she let out a yawn. "But it wasn't fair to you."

  "I never resented you for leaving. It was a long five years, and I'm sure it won't be the last time you leave, but it's not like you had much of a choice."

  "Thank you for understanding, Kesh." He patted her on the shoulder and left the room with a less guilty conscience.

  After a quick shower, Keshiema looked around her new quarters. Her old room was barely more than a bedroom with an attached bathroom, similar to the guest rooms she used earlier – though not quite as elegant. This was more like a miniature apartment. It had a living room, complete with a small couch and coffee table. The kitchenette was a nice addition if only she knew how to cook. The bedroom alone was bigger than her dorm.

  As for her personal belongings, the large dresser held her casual clothes, and her ATGs hung in the closet. The gift basket from earlier was in the bathroom. She looked for her journal in every drawer of every room. ‘Probably still in my dorm room.’ She made a mental note to retrieve it as soon as she could.

  The folding mirror on her vanity stood open, so she closed it, carefully securing the latch in place. At long last, she crawled into the oversized bed, nestling in under the soft down comforter, and sinking into the cloudlike pillow. Then she saw it, peeking out from behind floor-to-ceiling curtains. Two large mirrors mounted on either side of the window, staring, watching, threatening.

  “Nope." She huffed, jumping out of the king-sized bed and dragging her pillow and blanket to the living room. After triple-checking for any other mirrors, she curled up on the couch.

  ***

  An eerie, quiet stillness settled over the forest. Absent was the soft breeze that usually rustled the trees. Gone were the birds whistling their lively songs. The fireflies, usually dancing and chirping throughout the clearing, were nowhere to be seen or heard. The warm crackling campfire had been long-extinguished. Even the creek was silent this evening. Climbing the enormous oak tree, she settled on a sturdy branch and closed her eyes, hoping to enjoy the rare moment of auditory peace. Silence was a luxurious gift in her world. Though her ears were much less sensitive in Ethera, she still enjoyed the moments her ears could take a break.

  Sensing another’s presence, she opened her eyes to see Damien landing on the branch in front of her. "Have I kept you waiting long?"

  "I can't complain." She sat up and dangled her feet over the edge. "It's actually nice to have a moment to myself."

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  "I see. Would you like me to leave?" Her eyes widened and her heart raced. The thought of Damien leaving gave her a chill she could not explain. "Don't worry, Keshiema, I will always be here for you. Always." She smiled, but her anxiety still lingered. "May I?" he held his hand out as if to help her up. She took his offer, and he pulled her close. His embrace felt safe, familiar. "Better?" She closed her eyes and buried her face in his shoulder. He wrapped his wings around them, and her anxiety started to fade.

  "I can see something in your eyes, Kesh," Damien's voice turned dark as he whispered the words, "and I don't like it." Her chest tightened as images of him attacking her in the labyrinth swarmed her mind. His muscles tensed. The air between them thickened with a mix of fear and trepidation. "What's wrong? Why don't you trust me?" He forced himself to ask.

  "I," she thought about arguing, but he was right; she did not trust him, not completely. "I'm sorry." She pushed away and was almost surprised when he let her go.

  Damien stepped back to give her more space. "I understand. You have been through much in your life. Trust is not easy to gain from someone as heartbroken as yourself."

  Keshiema stepped off the branch, landing gracefully on the balls of her feet. Damien followed, using his wings to slow his descent. The moon lit the clearing with a clean, fresh, serene glow. Twirling in the moonlight, Keshiema smiled, the memories of Merihim’s test fading into the depth of her mind.

  Damien found himself awestruck by her beauty. The way the moonbeams brought out the metallic-silvery tint in her blue hair caused his breath to catch. His stomach flipped, and his heart thumped loudly in his chest. He needed to keep her safe; it was his purpose. But beyond that, he wanted to protect her, to hold her, to listen to her heart and give her everything she could ever ask for. But what he wanted never mattered; he was a prisoner, a slave. Eventually, he would have to follow his orders.

  Opening her eyes, Keshiema watched him every time she turned past. She could see his admiration, and then, for just a moment, she saw something dark pass swiftly through his eyes. She stopped dancing as an aching shiver passed down her spine.

  The world around them slowly lost its vibrancy. The muted colors told her what was coming next. Turning gray, she took a step back as he approached her. When he held out his hand expectantly, she froze. Frustrated, Damien snatched her hand. "I need you to forget." Pulling her close, he covered her star.

  "No!" Keshiema screamed as her energy faded, and the ache grew into a nauseating pain. "Stop!" she fell to her knees, her eyes filled with hatred. "You're hurting me!" she shouted. Keshiema screamed until the pain became so fierce, she could not even do that.

  Damien clenched his teeth, feeling every bit of her agony. "Bear through it, Keshiema!"

  A vague memory unlocked deep within her. It took everything she had left, but Keshiema reached up with her free hand and rested it on Damien's cheek. "Why would you save me then, if you just were going to hurt me later?" Tears of betrayal overflowed her smoky gray eyes.

  Her tears filled him with contempt. He hated himself for hurting her, but told himself he had no choice. "Please!" he yelled at her. "Stop crying! Just give in and the pain will stop!"

  ***

  A dull ache lingered in every muscle as Keshiema woke. "Water." She struggled to sit up. She heard a clanging in the kitchenette and turned to see Hiro bringing her a glass of water. "What time is it?"

  "A little before noon. I was passing by when I heard you screaming for help." Concern marked Hiro's voice. "I tried to wake you."

  "Screaming..." Keshiema struggled to remember her dream, but instead, she found a sudden migraine. When she gave up, the headache faded. "Friskalia don't wake from dreams unless we're in physical danger or sense an aura of malice."

  She eyed the water he held, remembering the nurse poisoning her. Reminding herself she had nothing to worry about with Hiro, she took the glass. But still, she hesitated. When he turned around, she sent her aura through it to neutralize any possible contaminants.

  "Would you like me to escort you to the dining hall for lunch? It should be ready shortly."