"Those are my terms. You have just one chance at freedom. We can fight once more ... with each party clearly knowing the terms of both victory and def...at."I left that hanging in the air ... and sat back on my haunches. I watched the little red head deliberate like the predator that I am.CarielI knew a Third Sphere Erelim who had been bitten by a X'irel on a routine cleansing. He had been haunted by the pleasure that it had given him. His mind was in turmoil until High Seraphim Achael used. None of the other cameras indicated any action either.I did wear my pistol. We walked around the pond and enjoyed it. Alice was enjoying the sights including two deer that we flushed by accident. She said, “The animals here don’t seem to have quite the fear I would think most would have.”I replied, “I haven’t hunted this land since I purchased it. I may harvest a deer next season but it’s not a high priority. I enjoy the land and my pond. I’ve tried to leave it all as natural as reasonable.. ***** After dinner, as some random film played quietly on the television, Megumi and I cuddled upon the bed, neither one of us paying any attention to the film. Judging by the music, the coarse language, and the number of gunshots, it was probably an action film, but I genuinely did not care about what was coming from the television. My only care was for the foreign student atop me, the beautiful angel gracing me with her presence and with her love. I thought briefly of the week which had. I’ll give you the key, so you can lock it when you go.’ She nods, contemplating the skyline. I get the feeling I’m interrupting something. ‘Okay, then,’ I offer lamely, ‘I should go.’ And I do. -=- Jennifer gives me a look as she waves me by. ‘He hasn’t locked the door,’ she says, ‘but he’s definitely not happy.’ I toss her a guilty smile, but I don’t break stride. Squaring my shoulders as best I can, I open the door and stride forcefully into his office. Bennie is there, talking on the phone..