Among the Ashes Chapter 51

Among the Ashes


Why? Why are you still here with me?
Didn't you see what I've done?
In my shame I want to run,
And hide myself
But it's here I see the truth,
I don't deserve you

But I need you to love me,
And I, I won't keep my heart from you this time
And I'll stop this pretending that I can,
Somehow deserve what I already have
I need you to love me

Your love makes me forget what I have been
Your love makes me see who I really am
~Barlow Girl "I Need You to Love Me"

Chapter 51
Contact



A chill wind swept over the parapets of the Black Fang Fortress, and Manasa shivered, drawing her cloak more tightly around her shoulders. Swords in hand, she paced the battlements, keeping watch through the darkness. She tipped her chin up, watching a thick, black swirl of clouds crawl over the pale moon, deepening the night around her.

Torches burned on the side of the guard tower, glowing with a faint halo of light through the cold. A few flakes of white caught the red, flickering light, floating softly downward to join the mounds of snow accumulated on the parapets.

Manasa trudged over her beaten path in the tightly packed snow, circling the tower again and again in endless monotony through the night. Another blast of wind hit her face, stinging her skin with the bitter cold. A painful shudder ran down her spine and she moved behind a pillar, seeking refuge from the wind.

She settled her shoulder against the archway and stared out over the edge. The massive stone fortress seemed to rise, seamlessly, right out of the mountain itself. The towering foundation of rock sank deeply into the roots of the mountains as they spread out in all directions. Her eyes roved, out and beyond the darkness, across the endless expanse of snow-covered peaks and deep, rutted gorges.

Suddenly it seemed ridiculous, and maddeningly pointless – having her stand here at the top of this tower, with her blades at the ready, set to defend an already impenetrable fortress. Circle the tower. Night after night. In the dark, and the cold.

Just find a way to keep moving. Keep moving.

Manasa let out her breath in a puff of white fog that drifted from her mouth, then dissolved into the darkness. Her boots pushed over the snow, and she circled again, winding her way behind the guard tower. The little points of light from the torches faded as she rounded the corner, shutting herself off in darkness. She lingered here a moment, watching the snow fall all around her.

She leaned her hip against the parapets and leaned over a little, peering down the craggy cliff side. A thick layer of fog had settled over the mountainside as the storm rolled in. The blanket of swirling clouds rose up, like steam from the depths of the gorge. Sharp, jagged rocks poked their heads up above the surface of the sea of smoke, drifting in and out of view with the rolling of the fog.

So far below. So dark. Cold. And quiet.

Silent as the falling snow.

Even the wind died down, settling in an ever-present, unmoving chill over her skin.

Manasa leaned over a little farther, pressing her stomach to the short wall of stone as she stared into oblivion.

One hand gripped the bricks before her, her nails digging little trenches through the snow. Her opposite hand moved across, clutching her frozen wrist. The long scar throbbed against the chill, like a vein of ice running up her arm – colder than the skin around it.

Snow fluttered from the darkness above, down, swallowed by the darkness below.

Nothing down there. It looked strangely calm in its fatal gloom.

Untouchable darkness.

Where it wouldn't hurt anymore.

Just make it stop.

Warm tears prickled in the corners of her eyes, stinging against the cold air.

She leaned over the wall a little further, and closed her eyes.

I don't want to hurt anymore.

"Manasa!"

She jerked forward with a gasp. Her stomach dropped, and for an instant she felt like she was falling.

"Manasa, you worthless rat! Where are you?"

"Here." Her chest heaved and she wiped her hand hastily across her eyes, surprised to find tears dripping down her cheeks. She sniffed, drawing in a whiff of air so cold that it burned her nostrils.

She let her breath out shakily in another trailing stream of smoke, and circled around the guard tower.

"What?" she called as she stepped under the torchlight, spotting two men, hooded and cloaked beneath the snow.

"Kau wants you," the forefront man said sharply.

Manasa narrowed her eyes, still straining to subdue her heavy, shaky breathing.

"Get out of here, Borden, I don't have time for your crap!" Manasa snapped. She snatched her swords out of the snow and started pacing again.

"Listen, you little – " Borden swore as he lurched forward and pinned Manasa against the tower, squeezing her neck. "I'm not up here in the middle of the night for fun!"

Manasa gasped, and glowered at him, clawing at his hand with her fingers.

"Kau wants you, so get your skinny little – " he cussed again, "down there!" He spun her out of his grasp and pinched the back of her thigh before she could stumble away.

Manasa stood for a moment, unable to even find the strength to scowl at him as she caught her breath.

"But I – " she stammered. "I just went on a raid two weeks ago. Is he sending us again?"

"Why don't you go ask him yourself?" Borden bore down in her, his red eyes flashing in the torchlight.

"Don't worry, Nassie," the second guard chuckled. "I've got it covered up here." He moved a little closer. "Unless you want to stay with us and have some fun?"

He wrapped his hand around her waist and she went still, waiting for them to finish.

"Empty guard tower, right over there." Nerin leaned his face in close to hers, his pale skin glinting beneath the snow. "Whatd'you say?" He pinched her waist. "Ever tried a human?"

Manasa shut her eyes, breathing shallowly.

"Better not, Nerin." Borden admonished. "She's not worth the trouble if we make her late."

"Yeah, I don't like broken ones anyway." Nerin pushed her hood back and dug through her hair for her half-severed ear. "Bitten by a snake, Nassie?"

Her fists clenched as his fingers neared it.

"Stop," she breathed through her teeth.

"Then get going!" Borden ran his hand across the back of her hips, then swatted her forward.

Manasa stumbled away from them, determinedly not looking back as they cackled. She clamored down the wooden ladder, her shaking hands nearly slipping against the wet snow. She jumped the last rung and landed on the level below, walking numbly across the wall. Her cold fingers fumbled with her swords, trembling as she fought to replace them in her belt.

Manasa ducked under and archway and into the inner hallway, following a long line of torches. She threw her hood back all the way and shook her hair out, throwing little half-melted flakes of snow through the air as she stomped down the hall.

Her mind raced, cursing Borden and Nerin and everything else. She felt a little clench in her heart, glad for the shield over the fortress that kept them out of each other's heads. Just listening to them talk was enough to make her sick. She scratched at her wrist a little as she wound through the corridors, trying to dig their filth from her skin.

At least before it had just been Navarre. She never would have dreamed that the moment he left, the rest of the lowlife scum that called themselves men would descend on her like a swarm of hornets. Pinching and biting and touching – never giving her a moment's peace. But at least they didn't….

She hoped they would send her on another raid. At least then she could get away for a while.

A shaky breath ran through her and she stopped for a moment with her back against the wall, trying to pull it together. She squinched her eyes shut and leaned over her knees, breathing sharply.

A small sob caught in her throat, but she pushed it back, fighting off the burning in her eyes. It didn't do any good to cry. It never did any good. There was no one there to listen. No one who cared.

"Banan," she whispered through her clenched jaw before she could stop herself. She shut her eyes tightly and curled her arms around herself. Her head tilted back against the wall, as though trying to force her tears to flow backwards.

"Goddesses above," she choked in the back of her throat, staring up at the dark ceiling through a blur of tears. "Oh, Banan, I miss you…."

"A prayer to the heavens." A thin, crackled voice cut through the silence, and Manasa jumped.

She whirled around, laying eyes on a small, withered man in a cloak, standing just feet away, down the hall.

"Though they do not speak back." The man spoke gently, and took a step closer. "Closed… for far too long."

Manasa wiped her eyes, staring at the stranger, unable to speak.

"Whom have you lost, child?" He stopped beside her.

She stopped, frozen for a moment.

"It doesn't matter," she said tightly and shrugged away from him.

"But, of course it does," he replied. "You're obviously hurting – that means it matters a great deal."

Manasa turned back to him slowly, wiping her eyes.

"Banan," she said quietly. "My – my brother."

The old man sighed heavily. "The loss of a brother – a pain I know all too well."

Manasa swallowed, watching the man with a sense of fear she couldn't quite understand, though she couldn't bring herself to walk away.

"I've watched many generations of my family pass away." His dim, foggy red eyes seemed to stare right past her, though she felt incredibly exposed before his gaze. "It never gets any easier."

"No," she replied shakily. "No, it doesn't."

"You're one of the orphans, aren't you?" he asked fondly. "One of Kau's children."

The sound of that made Manasa squirm, but she answered, "Yes."

"He is an amazing man, bringing so many of us together like this. Giving us a home." He stared straight ahead, unblinking. "Tell me, child." His breath rattled slightly in his chest. "How did you lose your brother?"

She hesitated again, but didn't really see a point in resisting. It didn't matter either way.

"In the Plaines Battle," she said dully. "Four years ago."

The old man shook his head, and his thin lips curled. "Saccaen swine," he spat. "Savages, the lot of them – destroying everything we struggle and strive to build for ourselves. Never letting us exist in peace."

Manasa's eyes narrowed with a complimentary flash of rage.

"No doubt they took your parents as well?" he said slowly, his voice falling back down to not much more than a breath.

"Yes." Her chest heaved and she scowled down at the floor. "Our whole village… burned to the ground."

The man sighed once more with a shake of his head. "A tale that is far, far too common among us."

"I just – " Manasa balled her fists, shaking. "I wish I could – "

She didn't know. Nothing would change it. But she couldn't stop feeling angry.

"You can." The man straightened his thin shoulders, and reached out blindly to put his hands on her arms.

She flinched a little, shocked by his ice-cold grip, but stood still, mesmerized and horrified by his presence.

"Change is coming, Manasa," he said quietly. "Kau is giving us the chance."

"Kau." She gasped, jerking away. "I'm late!" She staggered back, shivering slightly from chill of his touch. "I have to go!"

"Go." He nodded calmly. "He is expecting you."

Manasa took a few slow, quivering steps backward. His blank eyes never left hers, and a chill ran up her spine, even as she turned. Her mind flashed as she ran, unable to shake the uneasy, off-kilter feeling the man left in the pit of her stomach.

She'd never even mentioned her name.

Manasa shook it off, trying to bring herself together as she neared the door to Kau's chamber. The guards perked up as she neared, raising their swords.

"Kau – " Manasa panted as she came to a halt at the doors. "Asked to see me."

The sentinels nodded, then stepped aside to open the door.

Manasa's heart clenched as the hinges creaked beneath the heavy weight, and she slowly walked inside. Fear rose up in her again as she moved in slowly. Kau never set up raid missions himself. And she wasn't worth anything else. Certainly nothing that would warrant speaking to him personally.

The doors slammed shut behind her and she jolted to a stop, barely able to breathe.

"Step forward, Manasa." Kau's distantly familiar and instantly terrifying voice echoed through the chamber as she drew near.

Manasa forced her eyes up from the floor, swallowed, and made her way slowly forward. Her eyes fell on Kau, sitting in his throne at the end of the hall. She let out a little breath. At least he wasn't in his silver mask. She shivered involuntarily. Then again, she glanced at his red eyes and couldn't be sure whether or not she would actually prefer him hidden.

Her boots moved softly across the floor, and her eyes darted from Kau's face to the man next to him, sending another jolt through her heart. The old man from the hall met her eyes with his dead, sunken ones, and his brittle lips curled with a smile.

"Hello again, child." He spoke with his rickety breeze of a voice.

Manasa's jaw dropped slightly, but she didn't speak. Her eyes jumped across the room, to the other faces lining the walls, watching her approach.

She neared the dais, where Kau sat upon his throne, and stopped, dropping to her knees. Trembling, she bowed her head to the ground, then waited.

"Rise." Kau ordered.

Manasa rose to her feet, then stood still, heart thundering, and eyes fixed to the floor.

"You asked for me, Lord Kau?" she said as evenly as possible.

"Yes, Manasa," Kau replied, then glanced to his left. "Lord Vale recommended you, specifically."

Manasa's eyes darted from Kau to the man at his side as she put it together.

"L-Lord Vale?" She took an involuntary step back, nearly falling to her knees.

"Forgive me," she pleaded, panting through her staggered breath. "I didn't know it was you."

Manasa thought back to the conversation in the corridor – scanning for anything she said that could get her imprisoned, tortured or murdered on the spot. She'd heard all the rumors of the newest member of the Four Fangs. Just like everyone else. How he could rip your mind open from miles away. How he could torture you without laying a finger on you. How he was the most terrifyingly powerful being the Black Fang had ever got their hands on.

But hardly anyone had seen him. And now, here he was, hand-picking her for a task so massive that she couldn't even wrap her mind around it.

"I'm sorry," she begged, bowing her head. "Please."

"Calm down, child," Vale replied, his voice a little less slinky than it had sounded before.

"Yes, My Lord." Manasa stopped, tensing on the spot, though she couldn't look either man in the eyes. "How can I be of service to you?" She crossed her arms behind her back to mask the shaking in her hands.

"You are aware, Manasa, that we are at war." Kau leaned forward slightly.

She hesitated a moment. That wasn't exactly what she was expecting to hear.

"Yes, sir." Of course she knew that. Everyone knew that.

"For thousands of years we have struggled to reclaim the lands the humans stole from us, and I am proud to say that the tide is finally turning."

Manasa lifted her chin slightly, listening.

"Another Emblem has been unearthed," Kau announced impressively.

"The – the Emblems?" she stammered. What could this possibly have to do with her?

"Yes. The Dragon's Bane. The Slaying Emblem. The most blood-soaked, powerful weapon of them all." Kau's lips curled hungrily. "After a thousand years," he sighed, "it is within our grasp."

Manasa stood still, trying to take it all in while her mind kept running in wild circles.

"Where – how did you find it?" she asked.

"With patience," Kau answered imperiously.

"Twenty-seven years of patience." A hard-lined, middle-aged Sentei spoke up from the sidelines, picking up a low wave of chuckles from across the room.

"For which you have been well rewarded, Savir," Kau replied.

Manasa looked at the man – a stranger to her – and he stared right back.

"Patience, Sir?" she said, turning to Kau, just to break the silence.

"Yes, Manasa. Thanks to the help of a very old friend, we now have two of the nine Emblems in our hands. And because of Savir, we have two more walking right into our hands." His lips curled a little. "Show her, Vale."

Vale stepped forward and with a twitch of his hand the floor in front of Manasa began to melt. She staggered back in shock as a figure appeared, seeming to rise out of the floor.

She stared down, trying to catch her breath while holding back a scream.

A man lay on the floor at her feet, bound and chained at the ankles and wrists. He lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling with blank, cold eyes that looked almost dead in his sockets.

Tight, pale skin stretched across his face and his ribs protruded visibly through the skin of his impossibly thin body. For a moment Manasa wondered if she was staring at a corpse, then his chest rose slightly, then sank with breath, and his eyelids blinked slowly.

She took another step back, wishing he would stop staring at her like that. Pleading in paralyzed silence. But his frozen eyes never left hers and she couldn't stop looking right back.

Despite his desolate appearance, he was not old. The lines of his face were broken and dilapidated, but she could see the structure of a man in his prime behind the emaciation. Her heart stuttered in horror. She wanted nothing more than for him to vanish not only from sight but from existence.

"That's the problem with being immortal, isn't it Bramimond?" Kau stared down in disgust at the withered man at Manasa's feet. "No matter what Vale does to you… you just can't die."

Bramimond shuddered weakly at Manasa's feet, and she took another step in retreat.

"Having an original member of the Enneaus at our disposal has been invaluable to us, Manasa." Kau turned back to her. "Thousands of years of knowledge are locked in his thick skull, ripe for the picking. Vale has extracted quite a bit already. He led us to our first claim. And now, with the information Savir supplied us with, we are on the hunt again – closing in with every passing day."

Manasa swallowed sickly, looking from the crumpled heap of a being writhing weakly on the floor to Kau's cold, gleaming eyes.

"Does he make you uncomfortable?" Kau furrowed his brow.

Manasa gagged back a rush of acid in her mouth, but forced her head to shake. "N-no, Sir."

"Liar." Kau smiled in self-satisfaction. "Take him away."

He waved his hand at Vale, and Bramimond sank back into the floor. The red carpet seemed to swallow him, then spread itself over the hole. His body vanished, like a corpse returning to the grave.

Manasa shut her eyes for a moment, trying to rid her memory of the sight, though she couldn't anymore than she could bring her frantic pulse back down to normal.

"We have located the third and forth Emblems in Hyrule," Kau explained. "The Hylian Princess herself is, at this moment, carrying them back to Aritia. You will meet up with them there, and bring them to me."

Manasa stared for a moment, then blinked. "M-me?"

"Yes, you," Kau replied sharply. "Lord Vale has recommended you for the job. He seems to place a great deal of confidence in your ability to see this through."

"I have faith in the child," the man from the hallway spoke up from Kau's side, his blank eyes staring straight through Manasa. "She is the one we need."

Kau's eyes crawled back from Vale to Manasa.

"You will go to Aritia," he explained. "You will locate Anri's Emblem, along with its blood carriers, the prince, Marth and his sister, Elice. You will also locate the Hylian Princess Zelda."

"She is a blood carrier as well?" Manasa asked, then curled back instantly in fear.

"You will bring her to us." Vale's voice rose dangerously. "That is all you need to know."

"You will bring all three of them, and the Emblem, to the pass at Groebän, where I will have a rendezvous team in place to apprehend them." Kau elaborated. "All three." He stipulated. "Do you understand?"

Manasa stood for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Yes, Sir. But I – how am I supposed to do that?"

"You will go as Ciara," Vale explained, "a fictitious Etrurian Priestess, sent by the council to bring their Emblem back to Etruria to keep it safe… from us."

Another wave of chuckles pulsed around the room, and Manasa cringed into herself. She felt like she was surrounded by a pack of dogs, waiting to pounce.

"As you wish, My Lord," she trembled, "but I still… don't understand." She paused, swallowing the dry lump in her throat. "Why go to the trouble of luring them from Aritia? Why not send in a raiding party and – augh!"

Manasa screamed as she jolted backwards onto the floor. She lay for a moment in a daze, feeling the faint tingle of electricity pulsing over her skin. She flinched in the aftershock of pain, and slowly crawled to her knees, panting.

"You will not question our Lord and Master." Vale spoke calmly, burrowing through her with his foggy eyes.

"He's a useful toy to have around, isn't he?" Kau smiled viciously.

"I am sorry, My Lord." Manasa leaned over her knees. "I would never question you."

"The little Teiter's got a point." A heavy-browed, dangerous looking young man, no older than Manasa herself spoke up from behind Vale's shoulder.

The entire room tensed at Keagan's use of the word, but he simply narrowed his eyes and kept speaking.

"Let me at Aritia." He cracked his knuckles. "Burn it to the ground, then sift through the rubble for your blasted Emblem." He leaned his shoulder against a pillar. "Works for me."

"Will you muzzle your beast?" Kau hissed at Vale.

The spiky-haired young man bore his teeth and growled, looking far more animal than man.

"Keagan," Vale snapped. "Hold your forked tongue! You will get your chance at Aritia. After the Gate is open."

"Yeah, that search is going real well!" Keagan growled. "We've been halfway around the continent looking for Ninian's brat! And all we've managed to do is pick up a few stragglers and slaughter almost everything that's left of my people!"

"Silence!" Vale shouted, and Keagan lurched to the ground, twisting and flailing as though he were on fire.

Manasa's eyes burned, staring in breathless horror. The Manakete writhed in such pain that his features distorted, elongating into the half-formed shape of a dragon head. His hands expanded into claws, and he roared from the floor, spouting smoke and sparks from his nostrils.

"Learn your place, dog!" Vale sneered, and sent a final blast at Keagan that sent him hurtling across the floor into the wall. "Or you will be the first dragon we test the powers of Anri's Emblem on."

Keagan leaned heavily against the wall, panting and snorting bursts of flame from his nose. His body quaked, slowly reverting back to human form.

"Do you understand?" Vale asked, his voice lowering back to an oily crawl.

"Yes," Keagan barked, still wheezing. "Yes, My Lord."

"Good." Vale answered, then turned back to Manasa. "And you, my dear?"

Manasa froze, her chin trembling wordlessly.

"You see, child, we have already sent raiders to Aritia, and they have failed, miserably. Their defenses are far too strong, and their leaders very well protected. It would take a full-scale invasion to accomplish what we want – a feat," Kau glanced at Keagan who quickly bowed his head, "which we are not yet ready for."

"But we will be ready," Vale replied solemnly. "Soon enough."

"Yes, we will." Kau agreed. "But first, we must use more subtle tactics, and lure our prey to us. Can you do that, Manasa?"

"Y-yes, Sir." Manasa forced out the words, her mind still a whirl. "And… and if I'm found out?"

"Believe me," Savir stepped forward with a smug grin. His face melted and his body shifted – red eyes fading to blue, long black hair shortening to thick, blond waves, and his Sentei attire melding into the polished uniform of an Aritian soldier. "You won't get caught." He chuckled.

Manasa looked him over, shivering a little at the gleam in his eye.

"When you get there, be sure to tell Marth that Alan sends his greetings." Savir's grin curled maliciously, and another roll of laughter filled the room.

Manasa cringed a little at the sound, moving her hand around to clutch at her wrist.

Savir leaned back against the wall, and let the ripple of transformation run back over him, washing Alan's visage back into his own.

"Tell her what you know, Savir," Kau ordered.

Savir bowed slightly and stepped forward. "The Emblem Marth carries is in the form of a star-shaped pendant that he believes is nothing more than a family heirloom used as an engagement tradition." He rolled his eyes slightly. "I saw him hand it over to the Hylian Princess with my own two eyes."

He smiled, and his red eyes shifted momentarily back to blue.

"But, Vale has driven her back to Aritia," Savir continued. "Find her, find Marth, and you will find Anri's Emblem."

"It's as simple as that, Manasa," Vale replied. "Go to Aritia, gain their trust, and we will take care of the rest."

"Yes, Sir," she replied weakly.

The question why me hung on the edge of her lips, but she didn't dare ask. She was nothing. A guard and a petty thief, sent out once a month to raid nearby villages for food, money and supplies. Ordinary, easily replaced, and utterly expendable.

Oh. Her heart sank a little. But it didn't change anything.

She would do it and likely fail, dying by the hands of her enemies in some forsaken, foreign land she'd only ever heard of. Or she could refuse, and die on the spot.

Looking up into Vale's eyes, there was no question in her mind. At least in trying, she had a chance.

"I accept the mission, my Lord Kau." She bowed. "I will fulfill my duty, or die trying."

"Precisely." Kau nodded. "We will keep in constant contact with you, Manasa. You will report everything back to me. Any failure to communicate, any breech in protocol, any act of defiance will be considered an act of treason. At that point, the only question that remains will be whether you die by my hand, or whether the humans string you up first."

Manasa's heart clenched sickly, throbbing against her temples. "Yes, Sir," she breathed.

"You leave at dawn," Kau went on. "Here is everything you need to know."

He gestured, and Vale extended a small scroll.

Manasa bowed, and stepped forward tentatively to accept it. Her fingers curled around it, but Vale did not let go.

"This is your chance, child," he said quietly, his breath rattling in his throat. "To repay Kau for taking you in, when the humans left you with nothing. To avenge your family. To bring salvation to our people after three thousand years of suffering."

He took a deep, sucking breath, and Manasa resisted the urge to cringe openly in disgust.

"You are a part of something bigger than yourself, Manasa. We are all counting on you."

His fingers let loose the scroll, and Manasa drew it to her chest.

"Banan would be proud of you." He touched her shoulder again, and she quivered uncontrollably.

Silently, she nodded, and took a step back.

"Go, child." Vale lifted his chin.

"And do not fail me," Kau threatened. "We'll be watching you."

Manasa met his eyes for less than a second before her gaze fell to the floor. She nodded stiffly, feeling her heartbeat thundering against her chest.

"Yes, My Lord," she whispered, then bowed, and fled from the room.

***

The sun slowly crept up over the snowy mountains, casting a cold, grey light into Manasa's window. The shaft opened gradually, spreading across her stomach as she lay, perfectly still, on her back on her bed. She took a deep breath of cold air, shivering a little.

Night had passed in silence as she lay, unable to even find the strength to crawl under her covers. The biting cold all around her served as a constant reminder that she was not dead yet. The hours had passed slowly since she returned to her room after her meeting with Kau. And Vale.

She shuddered with a chill deeper than the cold.

It wasn't that she wanted to stay. It was the dread of leaving the hated sanctuary she understood so well. She could deal with isolation, with constant degradation, with loneliness and misery so all-consuming she dreamed of dying. Just to get away.

But not like this. Not in the hands of the human demons that had slaughtered her parents, murdered her brother. The ones responsible for her life here. The very ones who had left her forsaken and alone for so long she couldn't remember what it felt like to be happy.

For the first time in hours, Manasa moved, jerking to the side to pound her fist into her pillow. They deserved to die. She hated them all – humans and Sentei alike. They deserved to suffer, as she had.

Her heart raced a little as her mind fell back to the one fear she could never escape. He was out there, somewhere. Four years ago he'd left, thinking she was dead. But she knew he wasn't. He was out there, somewhere, wandering. Maybe looking for her. Waiting for her.

Her tears stopped, and she lay still.

Banan was there. And her mother. And her father. Maybe there she wouldn't be alone.

She clutched the pillow closer, burying her face until she could barely breathe. The pillow cut off her air, but she lay still, waiting as the world went black.

Just end it now.

"Manasa!" A sharp voice boomed through her door and the wall shook with the force of three thundering knocks.

Her arms loosened around the pillow and her face shot up. She coughed and rolled over as she blinked the haze from her eyes.

"Manasa!" The voice screamed again, and his pounding threatened to break down the door. "Get out here!"

Shaking, she rolled from her bed and staggered across her apartment to the front door. She leaned her forehead against the wall for a moment, trying to catch her breath, then wrenched the door open.

"What?" she snapped tremulously, then gasped as Borden pushed into the room, backing her up as he advanced.

"You listen to me," Borden growled, towering over her as he pushed her against the wall. "I hope you're happy, Manasa, because now, it's not only your – " he cussed, " – on the line, but mine, too! And as cute as yours is," he pinched her, "I really don't give a – " he swore again, " – whether Navarre's whore lives or dies."

He pressed a little closer and Manasa shut her eyes. Her heart raced and her throat went dry.

"In case you haven't noticed, Navarre's gone!" Borden glowered down at her, turning her chin up to look him in the eyes. "He's not here to protect you anymore. And neither is your brother. This is your mess, Manasa. And when you screw it up, you'll have no one to fall back on but yourself."

"W-what are you talking about?" she snarled, feeling tears burn in her eyes as he squeezed her cheeks.

"You and your little mission. What, are you Kau's pet now, too? Moving up in the world are we?" He cocked his head to the side with a simpering sneer.

"Shut up!" Manasa screamed and ripped from his arms. "You just stay away from me! This has nothing to do with you!"

She tore for the door, but he grabbed her shoulder and stopped her in her tracks.

"Unfortunately for both of us, that's not true." Borden glowered. "Say hello to your contact, Manasa."

Her stomach dropped and she glared at him, shaking. "You – "

"You think I want any part of this?" He squeezed her arm tightly. "I'm just telling you now – do not screw this up for me! I have no interest in dying for your incompetence."

"Oh, don't tempt me," she seethed. "If I'm going to die anyway I might as well take you with me!" she screamed, lurching at him wildly.

Borden grabbed her other arm and slammed her back against the wall.

"You pretentious little slut!" he shouted. "I am not taking the fall for – "

"Hey!" Her door pushed open and a second man stepped in.

Borden froze with his arms still pinning Manasa to the wall.

"Legault." He nodded stiffly. "Just… briefing her… on the procedures."

"Yeah, sure." Legault sneered. "Get going, Borden. We're leaving in five minutes."

Borden hesitated, panting slightly with the remnants of his fury.

"Now!" Legault barked.

Borden grunted in the back of his throat, then released Manasa with a jerk and stormed from the room.

She stood still, her back pressed to the wall, trembling uncontrollably.

"You ready to go?" Legault asked.

Manasa let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes, but nodded.

"Good." He held open the door, and Manasa had no choice but to push herself up from the wall and walk through.

I didn't even look back. Even then, I just knew… I'd never be coming back.

Manasa slammed the door behind her and followed him.

We left that morning. For Aritia.

Marth flinched in the darkness, as Manasa's voice carried him away. Back home – to his castle.

I watched you, you know. For days. Just outside your castle. Through the windows. From the balconies. Waiting for the moment to strike – for some opportunity that would open you up to me, and let you trust me.

You were so quiet then. Reserved. Isolated. Always went off on your own. Even when your friends were around. I could see it in your eyes.

In the woods, on the outskirts of the Aritian wilderness. She looked up at him from Ciara's eyes, sitting on a rock beneath the trees, under the darkness.

She watched him for a moment before she jumped to her feet and followed him deeper into the trees.

"You know, the more you refuse to tell me about these things, the more I want to know," she said as she caught up to him.

Marth kept his gaze fixed in the distance and didn't reply.

"I think you're just doing this on purpose," she went on, "having a little joke at my expense."

"Oh, yes, because I have a wonderful sense of humor," he rolled his eyes then looked to her, "if you couldn't tell."

"I know you do," she said with a nod. "It's in there, somewhere. It can't hide forever, and I intend to find it."

Even when I knew I was bothering you, and you just wanted me to go away.

"I was shot in the leg," Marth said in a low voice. "It never healed right."

Ciara watched in silence as he turned and started back towards the clearing.

Even then, I couldn't. I knew you were lonely.

Like me.

The lights shifted, and Marth found himself in a different wood.

I didn't understand you. I still don't understand you. Not really. But I want to. I've tried….

The rhythmic plodding of his footsteps fell silent and Manasa held her breath. The trunk behind her shook as Marth leaned heavily against it. His cloak scratched against the bark as he slid to the ground.

Just feet away. Sharing the darkness.

His gently shaking shoulders sent a shiver through the tree trunk, right through Manasa's body. Over the wind she could hear his ragged breathing, and every so often a quiet gasp. The lump in her throat swelled and throbbed until she could hold it no more. She felt herself crumble beneath the rain like sand washed away in a storm.

I... could feel you there. Marth's voice broke through. But I couldn't see. I don't understand. Why didn't you tell me?

I was running.

From who?

No, Marth.

I want to understand.

Please….

Manasa -

Navarre's eyes flashed, red as flames beneath the rain. Manasa backed away as he leered down at her like a ravenous beast awaiting its kill.

"Navarre, please… you can't do this to me," she cried, hysteria taking her. "He wants them alive. If you mess this up, they'll kill me! You know they will!"

"And I won't?" he asked with a raise of his eyebrows. He extended his arms and pushed her back. A few stumbling steps and she crashed into the wall of the cliff-side.

"You're in way over your head, Nassa." He lowered his face her ear and hissed.

"Just tell me what I want to know, and we can both be happy. Make me force it out of you…" Navarre slipped his massive hand around her neck and squeezed until her whimpering faded into desperate wheezing. "And I might not be as gentle as I was last time."

His free hand drew his knife and brushed it against her right ear. "Do you want a matching set?"

No - Manasa gasped.

Marth flinched.

The vision went black.

Marth breathed in the darkness, listening as she cried.

Manasa?

Silence.

I'm sorry….

Don't be sorry, Marth. It's my fault. It's all my fault.

Her voice tightened and the vision shifted. To the tavern where Navarre stood, drinking his triumph over a freshly bleeding corpse.

The front door clicked open in the distance, setting Manasa's heart racing. A pair of boots hit the floor, and Marth stepped into view, his eyes roving over the tavern.

With a final surge Manasa pulled Navarre around the corner, moving out of sight. Just a few more steps and her hand pushed through the back door. She shoved Navarre out into the alley, then let it slam shut behind her.

Manasa opened her eyes as the darkness of Navarre's shadow fell over her. Alone now.

"You're mine, Manasa!" Navarre reached out and jerked on a fistful of her hair, wrenching her head to the side. "No one touches you but me. Everything you do, every part of you – every last hair on your worthless little head belongs to me!"

She opened her mouth to scream, but caught herself.

"You're mine!" Both of his hands shot out, slamming her shoulders against the wall. "And you have the nerve to tell me no?" he roared, shaking her.

"But, I – "

"You let him touch you!"

"I didn't – "

Navarre struck her hard across the face, cutting her breath off into a sharp gasp.

Manasa, I was right there! On the other side of the door. I could have -

I couldn't, Marth. I just… couldn't let you see. I couldn't let him hurt you, too.

Manasa… why?

Why?

"Do you get some kind of sick satisfaction out of making my life a living Hell?" Marth asked with a chuckle.

"Is making you laugh really all that bad?" Manasa smiled.

"Not as bad as a flock of bad-tempered fairies, I guess." Marth grinned back. "But close."

"I was right." Her eyes sparkled. "I knew I could find it."

"Find what?"

"Your sense of humor." She patted his cheek, and turned away.

Without realizing it, Manasa withdrew the strip of Marth's tunic from her pocket, winding it around her fingers. She shut her eyes and ran the scrap of cloth beneath her nose.

Manasa breathed in, drawing the scent, the essence of him in. She dug her nails into the soft flesh of the pillow, and she nuzzled her face more deeply into the fabric.

She tilted her head, and breathed in through her nose, as her sobs slowly quieted. Warm tears still stung her eyes, and she let them run down her face onto the bed.

Marth's hand crept to her chin, inspecting her face.

"Please," he breathed, his voice falling so softly that it came as nothing more than a breeze through his lips. "Talk to me."

Manasa grasped his wrists, and slid her hands up his arms, holding to him to keep steady. Her hands moved across his shoulders, and settled around his neck. The heat from his skin seared against her as she pulled herself closer. Barely able to breathe, she tilted his head, and pressed her lips to his jaw, once. Then again.

"You've done more than enough," she whispered, letting her lips brush against his skin. She shut her eyes, forcing the hot tears out, burning a trail down her face.

So close. He was here now. Warm. Soft. Real.

Her fingers caressed his cheeks, beneath his eyes, across the bridge of his nose, to his lips. She stroked them tenderly until the light pink skin gave way beneath her touch. His lips parted, releasing hot, quivering breath against her skin.

Manasa's heart stopped beating altogether, as he leaned closer. Her arms tightened around his neck, and she kissed him.

Her lips closed over his, moving in a desperation she didn't know she was capable of. She gasped quietly, unable to breathe as she felt the faint pulse of blood when he moved his lips to join hers. She flexed her fingers then closed them around his neck, holding them both together.

Gasping for breath, she leaned back, her fingers still gripping his neck.

Marth blinked, staring at her in a daze. He couldn't catch his breath. Manasa felt each heave of his chest against her body, echoing the pounding in her veins. His arms stayed locked around her, as though paralyzed.

"Who – " he panted quietly, his eyes searching hers. "Who are you?"

Manasa ran her fingers lightly across his bangs, then down his temple.

His lips quivered as she tilted her chin, and kissed him once more. Softly.

"Manasa," she whispered.

"Zelda?" Elice's eyes widened and she jerked out of Manasa's hold. "What is going on?" she demanded.

Manasa froze, with her back to Elice. Her fists clenched and she shut her eyes, feeling the familiar tingle as she started to transform. Like water pouring over her head, she faded from Zelda's body back into her own.

"I didn't want to do this." Manasa's voice lowered nearly to a whisper. She stared at the ground in front of her, letting her muscles coil in anticipation.

Elice's scream barely had time to leave her lips before Manasa whirled on her. Three sharp movements, driving her fingers into Elice's neck, temple and forehead, and her voice strangled into silence. Her body crashed to the ground, thunking against the wooden planked pier like a slab of stone.

Manasa propped Elice up against the wooden crate, then bound her wrists and ankles.

"Listen to me." She caught Elice's limp face in her hands and turned her chin upward to face her. "I'm leaving you here. We're still fairly close to main road, and your brother's not too far from here, down by the docks. Your paralysis will wear off soon, and when it does, just start screaming. Someone will hear you." Her voice nearly lowered to a hiss.

"I have just one request." Manasa closed her eyes, feeling her throat constrict, though she couldn't choke the words back.

"Tell your brother to go back home… no matter what happens here today." Her eyes burned beneath her tightly clamped lids. "I didn't mean to cause you all so much trouble. Your lives are worth a lot more than mine ever was, and I – " she stammered, "tell him I'm sorry." She swallowed. "I just wish – " Her voice died in her throat.

"I'm not what you think I am," Manasa whispered.

"Hello, Elice."

Manasa spun on her heel and stumbled back as Navarre's shadow fell over her, darkening the already heavy gloom of the shipyard. She ran, only making it a few steps away before he materialized in front of her. She gasped as she bounced off of his chest.

"Stop it!" She swung her fists, but his hand shot out, knotting in her blue hair, and she strangled back a cry.

He pulled her to her feet, nearly ripping the fistful of hair out by the roots. Her feet left the ground as he swung her sideways, slamming her body against the wall of the boathouse.

"Game's over," he hissed. He jerked back, and closed his fist around her neck.

Struggling for breath, she lost the strength to hold the transformation any longer, and Elice's body faded away, back into her own.

"I hope you enjoyed yourself last night, Manasa." He squeezed tighter, clawing his nails into the skin of her throat as she wheezed. "Whatever you and that human did better have been worth it, because when I cut him open and let him bleed to death like a stuck pig," he paused, letting his breath rumble in his throat, "it will be all your fault."

A flash of heat exploded in Manasa's chest and her leg shot out with every bit of strength she had left pent up in her body. Her knee struck between his legs once. His eyes widened.

She kneed him again, and his fist loosened just enough for her to catch her breath. She spun out of his grasp, bringing her elbow down against the crook of his arm like a hammer. His joint buckled and his hand fell away. Before he could lurch forward again she vanished, reappearing behind him with her knife in hand.

"I'll kill you!" Manasa's voice tore violently from her throat and she jerked forward, knife poised.

"You'll have to!" Navarre screamed. "Before I kill her!"

She stopped, her heart thundering. A cold sweat ran down her sweltering brow, sending a chill up her spine.

"Elice!" she gasped breathlessly. "You – you don't even know where she is!"

"You think I haven't been watching you?" He bellowed. "Every step you've made since the moment you walked into this city, you naïve, stupid little wench!"

"You don't know what you're talking about!" she screamed, her chest heaving as her mind scrambled for a way out of this.

"Thanks for the present." Navarre's lip twitched as he sneered up at her, taking a step back. "She's just the appetizer, Nassa." The rumble in his chest made her blood run cold. "I'll be back for you."

"No." Manasa shot forward, and Navarre vanished.

I tried to stop it.

"No!"

I never meant….I was just trying to save her…

Manasa's scream echoed across the dock even after her body vanished into thin air.

…from becoming like me.

The vision fell dark, and silent.

Manasa… how? I – I don't understand.

Me neither. Nothing makes sense anymore. Nothing's made sense from the moment I met you. I don't know what I'm doing or… anything at all.

"What happened to you?"

Manasa glanced down at the bruises on her wrists, and pulled back.

"Nothing." She shook her head frantically.

All I know is that from the moment I laid eyes on you, I felt something. Something I'd never felt before, and still don't understand. You were alone. And I was alone. But when I was with you… I wasn't.

He reached out for her arm and she jerked away, staring at him with open fear.

"No, Marth, please," she begged. "Don't touch me."

Marth held up his hands in innocence. "I'm not going to hurt you."

I think you still were. But it didn't matter. As long as I was close.

"It's deep," he said, inspecting the wound. He touched the dried blood lightly with his finger, and she winced.

"Who did this to you?" he asked, peering into her eyes.

And the longer I was with you – the better it felt and the more it hurt.

He could see tears welling in her eyes, but she quickly glanced away and stared at the ground.

"No one," she replied defensively, though she trembled. "I just got hurt – when I fell."

But it didn't take me long.

Marth ripped a strip of cloth off of his tunic with his teeth and took it in his hand. Her breath went shallow as he leaned forward again to touch her arm.

"I didn't know you knew my name," he said as he bound the wound.

"What?" she asked tentatively.

"You called me 'Marth.'" He looked up at her and smiled. "No 'Sunshine' today?"

Manasa stared back at him and blinked. Then, a hint of a smile appeared on her face.

Much faster than I let myself admit.

"Oh," she replied. He could feel some of the tension slip from her body.

He carefully knotted the ends of the bandage together, then looked up at her again. Their eyes met.

"I know your name," she said quietly.

His fingers lightly moved across the bandage, then went still.

Marth cleared his throat and released her.

"That should help." He turned away.

Manasa took a deep breath and moved away. She drew her knees up, and rested her chin on her arm with her eyes fixed in the distance. Her fingers wrapped around the bandage on her arm, holding on tight.

I never thought I'd be going back. But then I met you. And now, I know. It isn't my fate. Not my destiny to die.

This is my choice.

And I still know. No matter what you think of me. No matter what you do. I can't go back, Marth.

It's like looking at the sun. I can't see in the dark anymore.

They sat in silence, feeling each other's breath on their lips. Pulsing with the beating of their hearts.

Manasa's fingers twitched on Marth's cheeks, and she opened her eyes. Her heart hummed against her chest, steady and unbroken.

Marth blinked, inches away from her, his forehead pressed to hers, bound together with a cold sweat. Her grip on his face never faltered as she raised her eyes to meet his.

Manasa's lips trembled with a breathless whisper that tingled against his skin.

"I can only see you."

She stared ahead, watching the firelight flicker in the depths of his deep blue eyes. He blinked, trembling, and she could see the tears beading there.

"Marth?" Carefully, she slid her hand down and ran her small, slender finger beneath his eye to catch the moisture. He shut his eyes and leaned into her touch, letting the tears escape, and roll down his cheeks.

"Marth, no…" she whispered, quivering against him. Her hands slid back up, cradling either side of his jaw, her fingers moving lightly against his cheeks.

"Why?" she breathed.

Marth leaned in and his arms closed around her, pulling her against him. Manasa buried her face against his neck, feeling an instant release of emotion. A sob wracked through her and she let it go, crumbling against him fully.

"I'm sorry," she wept, squeezing hot tears from her eyes that tingled against his neck. "Marth, I'm sorry. I'm sorry…."

"Shh," he hushed, and his hand moved to her neck, cradling her gently as he rocked her back and forth.

"Marth," she sobbed, her heart throbbing against his chest. Her hands clutched desperately, holding on to him – needing his touch like she needed air to breathe. "I didn't want you to see – " her voice caught, choking with tears. "I didn't want you to know…."

Marth swallowed roughly, pushing back more tears. The visions of Navarre striking her, hitting her, beating her like some kind of animal – it twisted his stomach with such rage he knew that if he let go of her he would explode. He couldn't be mad at her - this fragile, broken little being curled up in his arms.

He held her close, leaning over her as she huddled in his lap, like a protective shield around her, trying to lend her strength.

Despite everything he'd seen, her eyes remained the one image he couldn't escape – the way she looked at him, speaking in silence, without words.

Marth closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head as she knelt, still trembling in his arms.

"Manasa," he whispered, rocking her softly. "It's okay."

Her heart leapt at his simple words and for a moment she sat still. Her sobs quieted slowly, but she stayed locked around him, feeling each and every one of his breaths against her cheek. The slow, gentle rhythm sent a wave of calm through her as she sat, soaking him in.

Marth stroked her arms a little, and she closed her eyes again, melting against him. She'd never felt anything like this before – that she could hold him, let him hold her, and know that she was safe.

"Manasa?" He spoke again, his voice a little calmer and steadier than before.

Her heart jumped at the sound of his voice, and she raised her head a little, shifting to meet his eyes.

He moved, and a shudder ran through his body. He cringed to the side, gritting his teeth.

"Oh!" She gasped and jumped back. The cool air tingled against her hot, sticky skin and the sudden exposure drew her eyes to a dark red stain of blood across her tunic, then to the wound in his side.

"Marth." She crawled around, hastily wiping her eyes as she moved to look at it. "Let me see," she said gently, reaching out to him.

"It's oka-ah!" Marth couldn't manage to finish his protest before he grimaced with another ripple of pain.

Manasa glanced at his face, then slowly stood took his hands.

"Come here." She pulled him to his feet and led him to the bed.

Without another word she turned back to her supplies, and carefully washed his wound. A small fleck of wood caught in the cloth and she leaned a little closer. She tilted the lantern, shedding a beam of light into the wound.

Manasa glanced up at him, but he simply clenched his jaw and looked forward with a small nod. Carefully, she reached in, and plucked a shard of wood from his flesh. A little twinge ran through him and his muscles tightened, but he didn't move.

Manasa held her breath and reached in again. The warmth of his blood washed over her fingers as she painstakingly dug through his open flesh, extracting a few more shards. His teeth gritted and he breathed out sharply through his nose, but didn't utter a sound.

She closed her eyes, crying for him as she reached in again, feeling his muscles clench. Her fingers pushed aside a flap of skin and she shuddered, then jerked, pulling a long, jagged splinter.

Marth flinched, grunting in the back of his throat, and Manasa leaned forward to catch him.

"I'm sorry," she gasped, holding his shoulders with her hot, blood-stained hands.

"S'okay," he mumbled a little breathlessly. "It had to come out."

She nodded back, swallowing a dry knot in her throat. Marth sighed and leaned back, closing his eyes. Manasa soaked a cloth with a cleansing potion, then pressed it over the gaping, bloody hole. His muscles tensed against the slight sting, and she watched, waiting as the lines on his brow slowly smoothed out.

"Hold it?" she asked softly.

Marth's hand moved around, taking her place in holding the cloth over the wound. Manasa turned, dipping her hands into the little basin of water. She shivered from the cold, feeling goose bumps spreading up her arms as she washed the blood from her hands.

When she turned back, Marth had opened his eyes, watching her. A little flash of heat rose on her cheeks and she glanced down, gathering her bandages.

Manasa leaned forward a little, listening to her the sound of her own breathing as she reached around his torso. Her fingers moved softly, wrapping a clean bandage around his waist, once, then again, until the wound was covered. Slowly, carefully, she tucked the end of the bandage in, securing it.

Her fingers lingered, for just a moment, touching his stomach through the cloth. Her eyes moved up to his shoulders, and the streaks of blood her hands had left there. She leaned a little closer and pressed the wet cloth to his shoulders, washing the blood from his skin.

Once he was clean, she closed her eyes and let out her breath, sliding her hands back into her lap.

"There," she breathed. Her chin tipped down and she stared at the floor, nervously tucking her hair behind her ear with a shaky hand.

"Manasa?"

Her head jerked up at the sound of his voice, sending a patter through her heart.

He met her eyes for a moment, just looking at her. She looked back, and she could barely breathe.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Manasa closed her eyes and nodded, deafened by the pounding of her heart against her temples.

The mattress creaked loudly beneath her and she glanced up to see Marth getting to his feet. He crossed the room and opened his pack, searching for a moment. He stood up straight and Manasa glanced away as he gingerly pulled a shirt on over his bandages.

She blushed suddenly and kept her eyes down as he walked back, feeling her pulse pick up again. For a moment her mind raced, wondering what was going to happen next. Before she could settle on anything, Marth stopped at the side of the bed, and lowered himself to the floor.

Manasa watched anxiously as he settled his back against the bed with a sigh. She sat, utterly still, behind him on the bed, her legs dangling just inches from his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" she asked shakily. Her fingers crawled along the blankets, slowly reaching out for his shoulder.

Marth nodded, then opened his eyes, turning slightly to look up at her. "I'm more worried about you."

"Marth – " she laughed, but it choked off in a fresh bout of tears. "I – you just found out I was sent here to kill you," she trailed off, fighting back a sob. "And you're worried about me?"

A smile broke through Marth's lips and he leaned his head back with a weak, clipped laugh. He reached up and slid his hand over hers on the bed. His fingers curled, and he gently pulled her hand into his.

"That doesn't really matter now, does it?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

Manasa swallowed a painful, burning lump in her throat, feeling the heat transfer to the tears welling in her eyes.

"No," she whispered. Her fingers trembled in his hand, and she closed her eyes. "That's not who I am anymore."

Marth looked at her, his mind flashing back to the vision he had seen of Manasa on the parapets of a fortress, just months ago. Standing alone in the snow, leaning over the edge in desperation.

He squeezed his fingers gently around hers.

"I don't think that's ever who you were," he replied softly.

Manasa nodded weakly, and leaned forward, covering her eyes with her free hand. Quiet tears streamed down her face, releasing the tension and strain from her body. She cried, and he held her hand in silence, now and then running his thumb across her skin.

The moments passed and she sank, deeper and deeper until, in exhaustion, she curled up on the mattress, still holding his hand. Eventually, her tears ran dry and she lay, breathing quietly against his pillow. Her eyelids fluttered, then slid heavily over her eyes. She curled up tighter, keeping hold of his hand, like an anchor, holding her steady.

The heavy fog of sleep crept over her mind and she lay still, breathing slow, and deep. A slight tingle ran through her, though she barely stirred as she felt him turn, and carefully pull the blankets up over her. She blinked slowly, watching him resettle on the floor beside her, and resume the gentle stroking of her hand.

The lantern flickered on the table, and she watched his faintly glowing silhouette as he settled his cheek against the edge of the mattress. His eyes moved to hers and she watched the flames catching the light of his irises in a soothing, rhythmic pulse that slowly lulled her to sleep.

"Marth…" she whispered as her eyes fell closed.

He lifted his head slightly, waiting.

"What's going to happen?" she asked without opening her eyes.

"Don't worry about that now," he replied gently. "I'm going to take care of you."

Marth went still, waiting for a response, but Manasa was already asleep. Her slender back rose and fell with her deep, even breath. His eyes scanned her brow, half-hidden by her veil of dark, silken hair. The firelight danced against the clear, defined features of her face from her softly pointed chin to her small, curved nose. The creamy skin of one shoulder peeked out from beneath the blanket, brown and smooth.

Beautiful.

He reached out his hand. Trembling, he brushed the back of his knuckles against her jaw. She mumbled once again, a soft sound, barely more than a breath on her lips, and he withdrew his hand.

Marth sank his cheek back against the mattress with a sigh, and slowly closed his eyes, carrying the image of Manasa with him into his sleep.




*****