A darker grey building towers over me reminding me of my smallness. Banker clones brush past me in their dark suits, cramming into every remaining cre...ice of the elevator. The morning passes with sounds of the air conditioning humming, struggling to cool the horde running to and fro throughout the building, with learned hurriedness. Fingers rapidly click click click on faded black keyboards. Only the darkest roast coffee can awaken us. And even with that, our senses remain asleep to the natural. They knelt there, teased and mocked by the gang. “What is your name?” the man beside her asked. “Alyssa,” she responded sharply. “I’m Thomas, Thomas of Valedon,” he whispered. Strangely enough, Alyssa was heading to Valedon to become their breeder. Thomas began to tell her how he had managed up a prisoner in the jungle. On and on he went, talking for what seemed like hours about how these men had raided his village and taken him. Tired, her eyes began to droop, almost shutting as Thomas. I didn't kill him.More tears exploded from me. Thrak's strong arms wrapped about me. He held me to his broad, scarred chest. I shook as I wept in relief. I didn't kill him. The words chanted through my mind as only throat-tearing sobs escaped my mouth. I didn't kill him.“I'm sorry,” I choked out. “I'm sorry. I'm sorry.”I kept sobbing the words, clinging to him. He scooped me up in his arms. He was so strong. I nearly killed him. But I didn't. My magic didn't take another innocent life. He. Hallo'ween was over and All Saints Day had begun The Queen had not paid the Tithe on time. With a cry of inhuman rage the Queen departed. The world seemed to sigh in relief at her absence. Janet allowed herself to breathe again. Tam Lin, doing his best to use her cloak as a bath towel, scarcely noticed that he was saved. "The baptism was a bit much, don't you think?" he said."It was just an excuse to give you a bath. You smell like a barn."It was a warm night all of a sudden. The stars were.