Fifth was possibly the only person in all the humanoids she knew that she would allow to touch her unbidden. There were many reason but one in particular was that her skin had a form of natural heat to it. If not properly prepared it was not uncommon for someone to be burned simply by touching her. Fifth was usually safe because her mood was often calm in his presence and as such her skin was cooler than normal.

"Then I shall join you soon enough Fifth."

She gave him a wink with a seductive grin as he exited her chambers. She stared at the soul well in her hand and felt a tingle run up her spine. There was going to be a great deal of havoc unleashed upon the land. She was actually looking forward to letting herself go wild. She had been restraining herself for so long that she had grown somewhat bored. She slipped the soul well away making a note to give it back to Fifth when she met up with him at the gates.

Looking around she pondered what she should take with her. As a sorceress she did not keep as vast a selection of reagents as Fifth or other wizards because she did not need them for some of her magic. However under Fifth's guidance she had studied some of the finer things of wizardry and had discovered many useful things to augment her own considerable power. She slipped off her cloak reaching for the one with her primary components checking things over carefully.

There was one bag she eyes for a time before she grinned. She slipped in a pair of delicate gloves that masked the heat of her touch before picking up a black runed bag placing it at a specific place on her person. Satisfied she reached for her ashen staff and was heading for the door when her eyes fell upon the scroll detailing Rorie's failure. She was certain that the man would be given yet another chance before she would be called upon to flay the skin from his body. Despite everything she knew he was part of some grand plan and that was the only reason his failure was tolerated at all. With an audible huff she closed the door to her chambers before sealing it with several runs before making her way to the gates to meet Fifth. All the time she whistled pleasantly which caused many to quickly move out of her way.

It was well known through out the palace that the sorceress of fire only whistled happily when she was heading out to kill something... or... someone.

Fifth looked up as Piramay approached, flashing a thin, sinister smile he spoke, “Dressed to kill I see.” He winked and turned as she came up beside him and walked across the grounds until they were outside the defensive perimeter of the castle before he spoke to her, “I suggest we head to Nordmaar, there are plenty of human cities there in the jungles that can provide the souls we need to harvest energy. We need a minimum of 500 souls in the well, but I suggest we gather more, simply stated more is better than not enough. I anticipate that 500 will suffice but to be on the safe side we will aim for 1000.” He turned and smiled, knowing she would not protest.

“Nordmaar is remote enough that we can work unfettered. There are of course Knights of Solamnia working out of Northkeep, however the contingency is small and if they interfere we will simply add them to the harvest. I suggest we begin working along the coast, the town of Unger has around 400 people, as they die I will gather the energy, but the specifics are in the details. On average for every three people you kill I will be able to gather one soul due to the time it takes the soul well to harvest. It takes some time to gather the energy so my suggestion is for you to simply do your work and I will handle the delicate details of gathering the energy. If we run out of live bodies in an area we will simply move on to someplace else.”

He smiled and looked forward as they walked. He knew that she wouldn’t have a problem with the genocide that he was proposing, in fact he knew she would revel in it. About a kilometer from the castle he turned and spoke, “Are you ready?”

Rayann had never known anyone could love her the way Myth loved her and she couldn’t thank the Gods enough for sending him to her. While there’s was far from the traditional courtship, she discovered getting to know the warrior before she met the man was something she would always treasure. As she felt his arms hold her close to him, she smiled all the more knowing she would forever hold a place in his heart even long after she was gone from his side.

As she heard Kali moving around on the upper levels and felt Nol’s presence, she felt as though everything was the way it should be in her life now. With her head resting against Myth’s chest, she looked down at the ring on her finger and saw how it seemed to practically glow. She couldn’t help but wonder if she should tell him now or wait until she was absolutely certain. Deciding she would wait until she was positive, she looked up into his handsome face.

~And now we have a place to escape to when we need some space away from the demands of your duties and everything else in the world that will demand our time. Now Kali will be able to experience both of her parent’s lives. I wanted that for her more than anything. I’m so glad you were here with me to go through this. I don’t think I could have made it out of this without your love, Myth.~

Again she smiled and lifted her hand up to caress his strong jaw and let her thumb slide over his cheek bone.

Kali took a step back and looked at Nol. He smiled and said nothing, simply looking back at her. As they stood there and took one another in Kali found herself perplexed at the path she was now on. She was simply amazed at how fast her life had changed and that she was standing in this place. The tower seemed to reach out to her, caressing her with its presence. She could feel the depth to which her heritage grabbed at her and forced her to keep looking around this place. She walked by Nol, abscent mindedly touching her fingers against his hand as she walked by. She walked along the seemingly endless rows of books that lined the entire outer wall of the floor she was on. Lovingly she traced her fingers along the crimson red bindings of the spell books and recipe manuels.

Nol walked up behind Kali and placed his palms on her hips and whispered into her ear. “I supposed I am going to have to drag you away from these books.” She laughed and turned around, his hands brushing against her as she spun, “Yes you are…,”she looked up into his eyes, “…but you won’t have to try too hard.” She smirked and gave him a flirty wink as she pushed back off his chest and took a step backwards away from him again. She was toying with him now, and he knew it. “You know Nol, this is my ancestral estate, so I have a whole life to read the secrets out of these books.” He smiled and grabbed her, lifting her up and dashing towards the window, she screamed playfully as he leapt from the floor and they sailed through the air outside. He morphed into his dragon form and she was up on his back, sailing through the air. The wind against her face caused her to scream with joy and she clung to his neck tightly. He circled the castle several times and she spoke to his mind, ~ ’It is even more beautiful from up here!’ ~ He nodded his massive head and responded to her, ~ ‘I agree, when I was up here waiting for you I took note of that and knew it was a goal you needed to see.’ ~ She smiled and squeezed his neck as hard as she could, his statement that he was waiting for her touched her heart and she felt the flutter of butterflies in her stomach. She could not believe that she was in love, and with a silver dragon of all things. She laughed and simply allowed herself to live in this moment.

Several hours went by before they returned and as Nol landed on the emerald green grass out front of the castle Kali slid off his neck and landed nimbly on her feet. In a flash he was back to his Elven form and standing beside her. She stood and stared at the castle before her, taking it in again. “I am just amazed that this is my new home, a place of rest and quiet where I can come if I need a break from the world. I only hope that I live long enough to actually use it.” She turned to Nol and smiled sadly, “I don’t know what is going to happen when Mother and Father get pregnant, I mean, I can’t imagine anything like this has happened before, will there be two of me on Krynn?” Nol looked at her and nodded, his face was happy, but there was also a ting of sadness, “I don’t know Kali, I guess we need to wait and see.” She looked at him curiously. It was the first time that he didn’t seem to know the answer. Up until the conflict at the tower he was giving clues of what was to come, and in a way Kali almost hoped he was going to tell her not to worry, or fear not, or give some other verbal assurance that he had an idea of what was to come and that it was not worth worrying about… but not this time, this time he was as unsure as she was, she could see that in his face. She opened her mouth to say something but then stopped and simply looked at Nol lovingly, walking over and hugging him tightly.

The days after the retaking of Glen Durel and the Tower of Kells, Myth, Kalli and Nol settled into a routine that included spending time with each other as a family unit (to which Myth and Rayann accepted Nol as part of their family) and exploring the tower, castle and grounds surrounding it. The many different levels of the tower offered up something unique on each level. While every level contained books and tomes on them, there was something different as well.

One level was set up for cooking different regents and herbs together to make new ones. Another level was strictly devoted to botany with many different herbs and plants that were capable of just about anything. Myth even found some tea he liked. Another level was set up as a training area and the very top level was set up as a place of quiet peacefulness for meditating by anyone who wished to do so.

Each day Kali and Rayann took the time to stusy and practice their abilities. Kali was growing stronger while Rayann was learning how to blend the two magics together in a way that held the peace and harmony of Krynn together without upsetting the balance.

The wall that had been damaged when Rayann and Kali had ventured here after the battle at Silvanost was repaired with Rayann and Kali’s abilities. Once that was done, Rayann went through the castle room by room and made subtle changes to give the home her unique touch. While all of the furnishings remained, she rearranged them to her likings.

Each meal was shared together and a brief synopsis of the days work was shared as well along with laughter. Nol, as it turned out, was quite the story teller and everyone enjoyed hearing his tales. Night brought about a sense of peace, even with the passing occasional shower each individual found solace in knowing all was right in Glen Durel now.

Rayann took delight in seeing Kali grow not only as a mage but as a young woman with each passing day. There was no doubt Nol loved Kali very much and the feeling was reciprocated. She still found it hard to believe that just a short month ago she was facing off against her daughter. And with each day, Rayann became more convinced she would be telling Myth about his impending fatherhood.

But along with that joyful elation came bitter reality. While their daughter’s birth would soon come to fruition, so would the fact she would be forcefully taken from them. By Rorie, at that. While Rayann could forgive her brother for anything else, she knew she would never be able to forgive him for taking Kali and making her endure the things she had to endure. Even now she knew if there was any way she could trade places with Kali, she would but that was not what fate had in mind.

Taking a deep breath, Rayann turned from the window that overlooked the rolling, grassy hills of Glen Durel and headed through one of the many corridors of the castle. Myth would have to return to Silvanost soon and she wanted to spend as much time as she could with him. All too soon, their world would be turned upside down once more and she knew they would need the strength each offered the other to make it through the dark times ahead.

The days of peaceful rest were passing quickly, but they were a welcome change to the vigorous activity that had encompassed their lives since the attack on Silvanost. Kali was enjoying the time of peace; even though she had a feeling it would be short lived. Glen Durel was feeling more like home every day. Every now and then, when she was alone the two human white robed figures would appear to her. They never spoke; they simply looked at her and smiled. As their appearances became more frequent so too did the time they would linger. She had opportunity to really look at them, studying their features and their mannerisms. It was clear to her now that these were her grandparents, Lachlan and Deidre Padraig. Deidre was especially interesting to her, the resemblance between her and Rayann was incredible, and it was obvious in every way that they were related. The most noticeable difference was the flaming red hair of her grandmother. Other than that the two almost looked like they could be twin sisters. Lachlan was much sterner looking in his face and stature, but there was a looming kindness in his eyes. Kali would often laugh about how she would not want to be on the dangerous side of one of this man’s lectures, yet she knew his correction would probably be snowballs compared to how she was raised in the Dark Queen’s castle.

During her study times Nol would leave for hours at a time so she could get her nose into the magical books contained within the tower. She devoured every single book she could, transcribing the new spells into her own book as well as committing everything she could to memory. It was fascinating to her how much knowledge was contained within the tower of Glen Durel despite it not being a “true” wizard’s tower.

--

She walked up to the top most floor of the tower of Glen Durel and found her mother in study. She was going to slip by quietly and bury herself in her own work when she stopped and turned, looking at Rayann. She was concentrating and Kali dared to reach out with her mind to feel her mother’s thoughts. She audibly gasped and Rayann turned her head quickly to lock eyes with Kali and gave her a smile. Kali returned the smile and walked over to Rayann, kneeling down beside her mother who was seated in an oversized leather arm chair. She could feel the conflicted sadness and excitement in her mother’s mind and she didn’t know if it was her womanly instincts or the magic coursing between them, but somehow she knew, “You’re pregnant are you mother?”

She saw the look in Rayann’s eyes and she smiled brightly, reaching down and feeling her mother’s stomach. Though there was no visual sign yet she could feel the rock hard evidence as her mother’s uterus had already started tightening up. Kali looked down at her own hand on Rayann’s stomach and then back up to her mother’s gaze. “Wow, it’s amazing to think that I am in there, yet here. I am probably the only person to ever walk Krynn who will feel herself kick from the outside and the inside simultaneously.” She leaned forward and hugged Rayann tightly, feeling the conflicted emotions in her mother’s heart. “I don’t yet know what this means mother, but somehow I know things are going to work out in the end.”

~I didn’t think it would be quite this soon, truth be told. Although it shouldn’t have come as such a surprise. Still….I thought perhaps we would face this later than now, but I can’t stop the wheels of time. I haven’t told your father yet so please don’t give it away. I was waiting for the right time. Though I’m sure he’s aware of something different about me. And before long he’ll pick up on the smaller, physical changes before you get big enough to cause the usual sign of pregnancy.~

Rayann glanced down to see Kali’s hand on her abdomen and couldn’t help but see how strange it was to know she carried the girl within her womb right now and yet she knelt next to her with her hand over the place in her body she was carried within her mother. Rayann placed her hand on Kali’s cheek after the girl hugged her tight and gave a small smile.

~I wish we didn’t have to face what lies ahead of us as far as you are concerned. If there was any way I could whisk you away and hide you from the world, I would. But you’re such a vibrant, beautiful, full of life young woman….it would be more of a crime to prevent you from experiencing the world. Or better put, the world from experiencing you.~

Rayann’s small smile faded and she stood up from the chair then, walking over to the window that overlooked the rolling hills. Sighing heavily, she shook her head.

~It’s not the fact you’ll be taken from us, Kali. It’s the fact of what you’ll have to be subjected to that worries me more than anything. While I know in the end, you will still turn out to be the young woman I’m standing here talking to today…..~

Rayann closed her eyes and put her hands on her lower abdomen where she knew Kali was growing each day within her womb.

~I wish I could protect you from what’s to come for you. As soon as I found out you were my child, I felt a love for you I never knew could exist. And now that I know I carry you within my body and that you will indeed be the child I give birth to, that love I feel for you has grown ten fold.~

She turned to look at Kali then and the love she felt for the young woman showed in the depths of her lavender orbs.

~All I can do is hope that somehow, in the deepest recesses of your mind, you feel this love I have for you while you are away from us. And while you will be told vicious lies about your mother’s supposed death, you will somehow know in your heart I am still very much alive and eagerly awaiting the time when we will be reunited.~

Kali would feel the conflicting emotions within her mother again. The sadness knowing what Kali was going to go through but such happiness at knowing they will be together again one day. The way they should have been from the beginning.

Kali listened to her mother and at first she couldn’t help but smile as she responded, ~ ‘You didn’t think it would be quite this soon? You … DO know how babies are made right?’ ~ She had switched to missive, knowing this was her mother’s preferred method of conversation. It was still foreign to not speak with her tongue, but she understood and complied with no hesitation. ~ ‘I understand mother.’ ~

She stopped at that and hesitated to continue with the conversation. She understood her mother’s words, that was certain, but she was struggling with her own inner conflict about the looming events on the horizon. As she had been getting to know this castle she was also piecing together the visions she had initially had about her abduction. This was the place, all this had already happened, she was standing in the very place where she would be born, and where her Uncle would abduct her. She had even taken the time to find the exact hallway where the confrontation between Myth and Rayann would occur. She had stared at the exact spot where she had seen her unconscious father, lying on the floor, bleeding and near death, she had stood where she saw her wounded mother, reaching out and screaming at the dark robed figure holding an infant of only a couple months in age. She had walked to where she had seen the portal, the portal that would transport she and Rorie to her fate.

Kali turned and looked at Rayann, her eyes were full of tears and she whispered, “That cannot be helped must be endured. Endure I shall. I can tell you though, for the first time I am not willing to simply accept fate under the guise of accepting a path.” Rayann would knew that Kali was referring to her being in love with Nol. Kali had never known true love until she had come to know her parents, shortly followed by Nol, a creature who seemed to love her before she had ever met him, that was something that still baffled her.

She looked at Rayann and began to cry softly, ~ ‘I don’t want to leave you and Myth Mother, yet I know it is what must be done so the events of this world can unfold as they must… more importantly, I am not sure what is going to happen to me once you give birth, I simply don’t see how I can exist twice in the same place, it’s unnatural and it can’t happen without consequences of some kind, the natural balance of the world won’t stand for it.' ~

Rayann walked over and put her arms around her daughter, holding her close. Closing her eyes, she rested her chin on the top of Kali’s head. Like Kali, Rayann felt her daughter’s emotions and knew she was just as conflicted as her mother.

~I know, Kali. I know. There’s no way you can be here as both infant and young adult. It’s simply impossible. I’m selfish enough to want both yet realistic enough to know I can’t have it both ways.~

She reluctantly released her embrace on Kali and stepped back, resting her hands on Kali’s shoulders. Giving the young woman a bright smile with misty eyes, she blinked away the tears and nodded.

~But, we’ve still got a while before any of that happens so I say we make the most of it while we can. Right? Now, if I’m not mistaken, you were walking like a woman on a mission when you came in here. What were you getting ready to do?~

Kali listened to her mother and nodded as she spoke to her. As her mother mentioned her purpose in coming to the top of the tower she reached into her robes and withdrew the blood red spell book that lived with her as a constant companion. ~ ‘I was coming to study, just as you were up here doing I suspect. Nol went to stretch his wings and give me a few hours to recommit my spells to memory. I must admit however, I have finding it easier to remember my spells, more so than usual, I don’t know if it’s the peaceful week or something else… ~ She became silent a few moments and then suddenly blinked, looking at Rayann… . ~ ‘… I’m … uhh… sorry about that.’ ~ She smiled with a slight blush and shaking her head she grabbed her mother’s hand and walked to the balcony that encircled the whole upper level. She stared out across the mountainous landscape and leaned against the railing. ~ ‘I still love knowing that you grew up here. I can almost hear you and Rorie running across the landscape laughing and figuring out where you fit in the world…’ ~

It was obvious that Kali was enjoying this time with Rayann, but she was also in deep contemplation. Knowing her as well as she did now, it would be obvious to Rayann that when a puzzle was presented to Kali she thought about it constantly. Her mind was engaged in a never ending dance of moving the pieces, trying to figure out the best strategy and solution. Rayann would know that her attention was there, with her mother, and Rayann would feel the genuine warmth Kali was feeling regarding being here in these moments, but there was a lingering distance in her mind as she focused her attention also on the looming fate that awaited them all.

Rayann studied her daughter’s face and when she saw the blush, Rayann couldn’t help but chuckle softly and nod.

~When your heart has found a home, rather it be a place such as Glen Durel, or with a kindred spirit such as Nol, you find normal, everyday things do become easier. Like memorizing these spells. Peace of mind can only be achieved when the heart is at peace as well. And I believe your heart is at peace with Nol. As mine is with Myth.~

As Kali took her hand and they stepped out onto the balcony and Rayann felt the cool air of her homeland drift over them, she smiled as she looked out over the beautiful rolling grass.

~Yes. It was a wonderful place to grow up. And Rorie was always the adventurous one. It seemed like his ideas always got me in trouble some how. He would have these wonderful ideas and when we would go see if we could do them, something always happened and I would be the one holding the cards, so to speak. Of course I didn’t mind. It’s not like he forced me to do anything. I was m ore than willing to go see what we could get into with him. And I had my fair share of grand ideas. But no matter what, we always knew we loved each other and we had each other’s back.~

She grew silent for a moment as her eyes danced over the area and Kali would see several visions pass through her mind as her mother shared her childhood the best way she knew how. Rayann chuckled again and shook her head.

~Strange thing is I still feel like I’m trying to find my place in this grand world. While I know it’s with Myth and you, I know there’s much more I have yet to experience before my days are done. And I intend to enjoy every single one of them I’ve been given.~

Looking over at Kali, she tucked some of the young woman’s hair behind the slightly pointed ear and smiled lovingly.

~Just like a young woman I know.~

Rayann knew Kali was looking at the world from every angle she could. The child’s analytical mind matched her father’s to no end. She couldn’t believe how much of Myth had been passed down to her and felt pride in knowing Kali was well aware of her father’s inherited trait. Rayann knew she was a strong, young woman who didn’t let the world push her around and she was so glad for that fact.

~So let’s get some studying in before it gets too late and the men will be wondering when we will emerge from our cocoons.~

Kali listened and delighted in the images that flashed into her mind, it was almost as if she was a third party observer, watching a young Rorie and Rayann frolic in the emerald green highlands of Glen Durel. The memories were so clear it was as if they were her own. She watched Rorie in particular, his strong laugh and they way he looked at Rayann so lovingly was a stark contrast to the Rorie she had known. He was loving to her, but there was always a lust in his eyes for power, and the laughter she heard in the memories was deeper and more warm than the laugh she had always known. She could not help but focus on this fact, how could he change so sharply. In just the month she had known Rayann the lies she had been told about her were obviously gross fabrications of the truth. Rayann was NOTHING like she had been taught, and in the memories flashing in Kali’s minds eyes, this man was a completely different creature. She turned and looked at Rayann, her mouth instinctually opening and speaking, “What in all of Krynn could make Rorie turn from such a happy, life giving person to one who would stoop to the deepest levels of hate and revenge? Something MUST have happened when you left him! I can’t see such differences in him to be simply a change of heart, it’s too different.”

She stared out into the wild, her mind racing, everything made sense to her, yet at the same time, nothing added up. She turned and looked at her mother as she mentioned getting back to their studies, “If it’s all the same Mom, I think I would rather not study right now, and simply sit and have tea. If I am truly bound to only a few more months with you, I want to spend it getting to know you better, and being your daughter rather than studying. Don’t get me wrong, I am a wizard, and I know what I must do, but lately, as I said, things are working so much smoother… I would really enjoy just having tea.”

Rayann shook her head. Like Kali she didn’t understand the deep rooted hatred she felt from Rorie aimed at her now. While she could understand his anger at what she had done, she didn’t understand the intensity behind his feelings for her. Especially, as Kali had pointed out, for him to become almost exactly the opposite of what he’d been prior to Rayann leaving him behind to move on with Myth.

~I have tried to find why Rorie is such a changed person from the brother and man I knew and for the life of me, I can’t figure it out.~

A tray of tea appeared on the table on the balcony and Rayann walked over pouring a cup for Kali and herself before she sat down in one of the chairs on either side of the table.

~He always sought more power, even as a youth he had that hunger, but the emotions I feel coming from Rorie now are nothing short of malevolent. Nothing like what they were when we were growing up and even as young adults. Not once did I ever feel hate coming from him. I could feel his dislike and mistrust of another being, but nothing like this. I can’t help but wonder if he’s been hypnotized, for the lack of a better word. It’s as if the love he once felt for anyone, especially me, has been tainted and turned into nothing less than sheer, raw hatred.~

Rayann sipped her tea and furrowed her brows as she looked out over the beauty of her childhood home. Kali had hit a nerve when she mentioned Rorie’s distinct change. Rayann had noticed it the two brief times she’d been close to her brother and it bothered her to no end. What exactly HAD happened to him?

Kali listened and contemplated Rayann’s words. It was yet another puzzle she felt compelled to solve. As Rayann turned and looked out over the landscape, Kali spoke, “When I was growing up in the Dark Queen’s castle, there was no loyalty to anything. Loyalty to anything meant you had a vulnerability, a weakness, and another would manipulate and use that loyalty against you. The forces of the Dark Queen, specifically the upper ranks, are like a pack of dogs. Everyone distrusts everyone, I admit, even I didn’t trust Rorie. I knew he was my uncle, and I did love him in the family sense of the word, but I constantly focused on how I was going to surpass him and replace him as the Dark Queen’s favorite wizard. I too constantly looked for a weakness that I could one day exploit.”

“I don’t think he was under any sort of spell, I would have figured that out. I was on the celestial plain with him for over 120 years. I would have detected it, somehow, I know it. He often talked about his sister, and how much he loved her, and it always felt genuine. He also talked about his ‘sisters killer’ however, you, and he showed raw hatred. I think it’s just his new found, unfettered lust for power that has caused his emotional shift. You are half of a whole, just as he is. You will never be complete, nor will you ever be able to wield the power you were supposed to be able to wield without the other…” She paused and Rayann would see the sudden clarity of thought come into Kali’s face, “… that’s it, that’s why he is coming to kidnap me!” She turned and looked at Rayann, “The link! He always talked about the link, I never understood, I mean, I knew what the link was, but not the significance. We would spend hours, DAYS, working on linking our minds! He was trying to reestablish what he was born with, with you. I was a means to higher power for him, because he is trying to fill that gap, he thinks it will bring him back to his ability to cast.” She stood and looked out over the landscape and then turned, leaning back against the railing and looked at Rayann, “Unlike you, my link with him, though not like you were born with, or what he wanted, was NOT severed when I left him. He might think it was, but I never broke it, nor did he.” She looked at Rayann with absolute clarity as to what she would need to do, “This is what I need to be working on, and perhaps the secret lies within this tower, perhaps THAT is why he sealed it so tightly. Yes, I am sure he meant to hurt you, but maybe he came back for a deeper purpose then revenge, perhaps within these walls lies the secret to securing his mind with another wizard, I mean, it makes sense, your father and mother were researchers, study bugs, he would have known this, I BET THAT’s WHY….,” her voice trailed off, and she began staring at something in the middle of the room behind her.

As Rayann listened to what kali was telling her, it made sense. Like her daughter, Rayann saw the whole situation with a clarity that chilled her to the bone. His link with Kali was nothing more than a tool for him to use and once he got what he wanted he would…..

”By the Gods…”

Rayann’s voice slipped out of her lips and it was filled with such terror that it couldn’t be hidden. Once Kali had given him what he wanted, he’d have no more use for her. The ONLY way he would keep her around is if what he sought would also go away if Kali were killed. But somehow Rayann didn’t think that was the case. With the way Kali talked about the Dark Queen’s court, she knew in the pit of her stomach Kali would be discarded like yesterday’s trash when she gave him what he wanted.

No. She couldn’t let that happen to Kali. Somehow she had to find a way to protect her daughter if she could. But for the first time in her life, Rayann felt helpless. Knowing she had to let all of this play out for fear of jeopardizing Kali’s life, she felt a tight band of fear constrict around her and start to rob her of her rational thinking and breathing.

Forcing herself to calm, she tried to find a logical solution to all of this but every avenue she explored she came to the same conclusion: Kali’s life depended on letting what they knew to be the future happen. It was a bitter pill to swallow and as Rayann felt that bitter pill stick in the back of her throat, she closed her eyes for a brief moment. When she opened them up, she saw Kali staring at something. Getting to her feet, she joined her daughter at the railing of the balcony and turned to look into the room.

~What is it Kali?~