Amber pressed her back up against the old stone alter as she surveyed the quiet landscape beyond the temple. So much sand and water, a calm wind that rocked the trees as the moon stared down at it all. Normally, this was a place of comfort for her, but not anymore. Now the very sight of this place twisted her stomach into a dozen knots, and made the emotional battle in her mind intensify tenfold. Now of all times, the gods wouldn’t communicate with her, when she needed them most.

The truth was out now, for some. Nearly everyone hid themselves behind their idiotic assumptions, and blamed her for everything. They didn’t know... how could they know?

How could they not understand what it could do, after it nearly killed Bowen?

How could she even face it?

Why, out of so many people both past and present, was she picked to do this?

How could she destroy it once and for all and keep the promise that she made to Seril, and stay?

Amber clutched at her head as the flurry of thoughts pounded at her mind. How? Why, why, why?! So many things had gone wrong. The Mirror was out, trying to merge with people. Few believed her, saying she had a choice to not do it. To not open the gate. She didn’t, no matter how many lies they tried to throw at her. She had little choice when Angel first brought her to this place. She had no say in whether or not she would be The Key. She knew the price of fighting what was meant to be...

The book spoke of ‘The Four’, and fittingly, she could only foresee four possible outcomes. Three made her sick with fear and regret. One of them filled her with some form of hope, but with each step she and this being took towards the end, one small chip was beaten off of that hope.


Gods help me. Please....

Seril rolled over underneath the token Hufflepuff sheets. His eyes darted instantly to the young lady, asleep, beside him. She looks so beautiful right now, so peaceful, but he knew the turmoil that brewed inside of her. It was an un-matched power, one that was barely sensible even to the professors of this haven. He tried to make sense of the predicament he was currently facing, but still no answers found their way to him.

How could he have fallen so hard for her? How could he love her so much, without knowing the truth hidden beneath her skin? How could he help her make it through this situation?

The questions stood out to him amongst a sea of others, yet he didn’t need the answers just now. He was satisfied enough, just being with her. He told himself he would bring her through this, and that he would stand by her no matter what happened.
And all the while, the evil continued to stir inside of him. This curse, this horrid spirit that had taken Seril as a shelter for the time being. He wanted to explain it to her, so desperately, but he didn’t want more people getting hurt. He wouldn’t let himself be the cause of pain towards those he loved.

And still, a thought came to him. Perhaps destiny isn’t such a ridiculous idea. Maybe Amber was the key for more than one gate, maybe Amber was his key as well. The thoughts flurried in his mind, almost torturing him. A few deep breaths and the certainty that she would still be there tomorrow was all he needed to clear himself and calm back down.

Seril rolled over underneath the token Hufflepuff sheets. His eyelids became heavy once more and he fell back asleep.

_________________
"The last man on Earth sat alone in a room.
There was a knock at the door."
-Frederic Brown

(Note: Anyone who got dragged into the plot, or is watching it, feel free to post on here.)

Three outcomes remained in her mind as gazed out across the entrance hall. What hope was left for the fourth outcome was smashed to bits. Someone sent me another stone, but who? They were too late anyway, I was too stupid to realize what it was for, and now the stone I need is in the hands of the Aurors. If that bastard had waited five minutes before pointing me out, I could have figured out what it was for, but it’s too late now.... The only thing I could use to channel the thing inside me is lost now.

She chewed absent-mindedly on the bandages that she had wrapped on her hands the day before.

Shh... Shhh... It’ll be okay....

Amber closed her eyes and slowly shook her head, ignoring any looks she imagined she was getting. Would it? I’m going mad, I know it. Maybe it would be a good thing if- No! No! Don’t think like that, don’t ever think like that! Finally she looked out across the hall again, and seeing no one, hurried to her common room.

Can’t eat...
Can’t sleep...
All I have left is the few friends who are standing by me, my family, and Seril.


Will they be enough to keep me sane?

Alexis climbed into her bedsheets and folded her hands behind her head. She sighed loudly before talking to herself outloud. "Once again, the hero goes unidentified and blank."

She took the large Hello Kitty stuffed animal from next to her bed and cuddled it. "That is what she gets for messing with an artifact... and stealing Seril. Hopefully, through what I've done..." She pauses for a moment. "...This is my fault...I... No. It's her fault. I only..." She sighed out again. "Sleep on it."

--------------------------

She woke up the next morning with her arms tightly wrapped around the stuffed animal. "I hope they remember I did this for them. Good thing I told them I wished to remain an alias... Hopefully, The Aurors will be more accepting of my request because of this."

Amber gripped the faded black sheets tightly as she opened her eyes.

Where Am I? Wh-... Home. I’m at home. The one I grew up in, the first of three...

Amber slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position, narrowly avoiding knocking over the various items that were strewn about on the small bed. Groping around in the darkness, she snatched up her alarm clock long enough to look at the time. Three in the bloody morning. Lovely. Without hesitation, she tossed the alarm clock onto the pile of clothes beside her bed, before sliding off of it. Navigating through the mess that hid the floor from memory, she pushed herself up against the wall and flicked on the light. Cursing as it temporarily blinded her, she stumbled back the bed, barely avoiding several painful encounters with whatever had gathered up in the room over the years.

I may as well pack up now, since I'm going to head back to in the morning. Without a second thought, she kicked the pile of clothes by her feet, reaching down to pick up a small chest once it was within view. With a sigh, she lifted the chest onto her bed, opening it as she looked around. School things, clothes... Carelessly, she tossed the things into the chest, before sitting on the bed, and turning to the small objects, books, and papers that were kept in disorder upon it. Scooping up the objects, two badges, she eyed them both with an odd expression on her face. She placed her house badge into the chest with care, before looking back to her prefect badge with a more critical expression.

I thought I could help make a difference, stop the violence, among other things, that seem to be swallowing the school up. But now I am simply a part of the cause, and there are more useful people then me. I need to see Professor Sprout about giving this position up. All it is one more worry, one more weight, one more duty... something I can’t handle.

Amber simply tossed the prefect badge into the chest before moving onto the papers. Notes... Notes for herself about what she read in the Daily Prophet and her own prophecy. Two men, two mirrors... Two beings within me so far. Two more to come. I need to speak with that bartender at The Hog’s Head about what happened there. Then.. maybe I should pay a visit to the Headmaster. Gathering up the papers, she stuffed them within the ornately embossed leather book that had been sitting beside her. Once this is all over... Perhaps I should gather up more of the stolen artifacts. They belong to the gods and to some extent me, the High Priestess, and not in the hands of some low-life collector who doesn’t realize their purpose.

Quickly shaking her head, she gingerly put the book on the side table, before turning to the pink book. The record of my early years at Hogwarts. Of what happened at the temple with me and my sisters. They followed so blindly then like I do now. They lost the faith which I somehow kept. I will be the one to pay for it when it is all over. I hate them for it, but I also love them, even if they abandoned me. At least the past has taught me how easily fear consumes me, like it had begun to do so once again. It controlled me for a time, but I am better then I was before, though I lack the innocence and good heart I once did. I am tired of being controlled like that.... I better burn this book, at some point.

Reaching into the chest, she pushed her clothes out of the left corner, which she stuffed the book into before piling the clothes on top of it once more. She glanced down at the clock that was now half-hidden in the pile. 3:33 am. Time really does fly. She pushed herself up, stepping carefully to the broken mirror perched dangerously above her empty dresser. Already she was looking better, more rested, though her eyes still betrayed how worn out she was. Maybe now they’ll stop trying to help me, they don’t understand. They can’t help, and I have dragged too many people into this already. What hell I know I’m getting from some since I ‘dragged’ Seril into this. I didn’t want him involved... I don’t want him hurt, but apparently it’s too late now. I wish he had told me sooner about that... thing.

Amber buried her face in her hands as she tried to contain the chaos in her mind. I should get some more sleep. When I wake up, I need to pretend everything is okay, that nothing is going wrong. I will need to do so at my second ‘home’ as well, though almost everyone knows something is wrong. As for my... true home, the Temple... Something is happening there that I am not to be a part of until it spills out of their plane and onto ours. Perhaps these beings are a cause of it, and the fight is to contain them for some time... Perhaps it is about my punishment... Perhaps-

Amber quickly shook her head again as she went back towards her bed. No, I need to stop thinking like this. What ever happens when the final two beings join me, I will deal with when the time comes. First, I need to find out where the mirrors are going.. And how to better control my new ‘friends’. Snapping the chest shut, she placed it onto the floor before climbing onto the bed. As she slipped beneath the sheets, she began to mutter a prayer, though she knew they could not listen to her. Not yet.

Amber stared blankly at the crystal clear water within the fountain in front of her. She felt - thought she felt - the rise and fall of Angel’s chest as she spoke with John. Amber simply sat there, with her head on Angel’s shoulder, ignoring much of their discussion; not caring about what she wasn't sure was real. Nothing in the world seemed real but herself... it was all just an endless dream. So she would simply stand or sit anywhere, staring at things as she got lost in her thoughts, pulling out only to add a comment that would always seem more to herself then anyone else.

John was foolish enough to let one of the mirrors in him willingly. He acts so superior now, yet he is one little sheep that has strayed from the flock, only to take steps closer to the butcher’s shop. It amused her, though she knew her duty was to destroy the thing within him. It irritates him so much that even with the mirror in him, the three manifestations within me are more powerful. It is interesting to watch him twitch as she cast without any use of her wand... when she ignored his threats.

Even so, she knew he would likely attempt to harm her at some point. He acts as if I’m scared when I refuse to stay close... I can see what he is now.. Something not afraid to pull a knife out and drive it through one’s heart at the mere thought of gaining more power. In this dream, whatever happens to me is for real, I think. With a small smile, Amber closed her eyes as she tuned in to the seemingly distant conversation. I wonder how much of this she believes. After a while of waiting, Amber felt Angel gently pull her up, dragging her to the Hufflepuff commons.

Chaotic thoughts flew through her head, as she looked back briefly to what had happened before the mirror found John. It had found Serin... tried to get him to do something for it, like it has, or will do, with others. The three simple words it used pounded in her head.


Kill Amber Ramsay.

"I am going to be the savior of this world." Alexis repeated to herself as she stepped out of the halls and onto the sand. "No one knows me, No one loves me, No one cares. If I should die saving this hell-hole then at least let it be known for what I died for." She turned her head and looked at the place she had exited. "You whom I thought so evil in doing these things to us three... You whom wants the world..." She shoke her head. "...You are still evil, but for now I will cooperate to rid this evil from our plane. This is my home and with your protection I will make sure it is livable..."

She stepped onward. "Kill Amber Ramsay? No... That I do not intend... I will kill those that are infused inside of her... and whomever else has these things inside of them. No one expects me... No one knows me... No one loves me... No one cares..." She pulls the blade from her bag. "Once you are fastened... None of those creatures will be able to escape my fury." She tightly grips the blade causing her hand to split open on the edges, her blood slowly sliding down the blades face, glowing a bit more crimson in the nights sky.

"This curse... Is my blessing."

_________________
"I'd rather die and be wrong, then be right and watch the world end." ~Alexis~

"Hey, you... CATCH!" ~Iris~

"Awooo? Werewolves of London!?" ~Nina~

((Note: Some of this may be a bit outdated...that's cause I'm slow at these things!))

.:: Day of Merging/Caging ::.

Screaming. Horrible screaming in the dungeons, again. He dashed out of the commons, following the screaming, going towards the Ancient Runes classroom. That's where it always was. That's where it was again. He began to search around, looking for the source of screaming, and looked back sharply as the door opened, immensely glad that he had cast a disillusionment charm on the way to the room.


As Amber entered the room, Ray manifested in front of him, and moved forward, beginning to speak quietly to him. He learned the screams were from a trapped ghost, reliving their own death over and over. Ray asked if he wanted to join the ghost, and did not explain how. Then Ray asked, "Do you know who else needs to die?" He shook his head, responding, "I can name a few..." Ray turned, and pointed directly at Amber, "Her." He continued to look at Ray after that, watching as he, or it, moved over to Amber and begin speaking.

After a few moments of speaking to Amber, Ray shifted into what can only be considered his true form. He was a Mirror. Shock reverberated through John as he dashed after Amber and the Mirror, intent on helping her kill it, or caging it so that she could.

As they neared the Entrance Hall, the creature turned, heading back towards John, who stopped, shocked, and stared. The creature knocked John down, and began to merge, while Amber yelled for John to run, and attempted to kill the creature, or scare it away. He saw her failing to, and urged the creature to merge. If she couldn't kill it as it was, then he would will it to merge with him, and she could kill it that way.

As the creature fully merged with him, something inside him snapped. He could still see what was happening, but he felt odd. The power pulsating from the creature inside him was affecting him, and he felt himself begin to split. He observed with no little worry as he started speaking to Amber, and Brennan, grinning and mad with power. He wasn't doing that...but a part of him was. A part of him, mad with power, had now become dominant. As he noticed this, one thought ran through his head, reverberating against his skull.

Kill Amber Ramsay.

==============================================

.::The day of the tournament::.

He sighed as he walked to the Tournament grounds. He had almost forgotten it was today. Seril, Greg, Jack, and Alexis...the champions of the Houses. He idly wondered who would win. He could feel the power of the Mirror in him, and he could feel the other half of himself, the half that wanted to cage that magnificent power so as to destroy it, trying to fight its way out.

He would tell his dear little sister that their fight must be postponed, at least for today. Innocents needed healing, and he would not let them lay injured just so he could kill her. Especially not with so many witnesses to see the deed done.

He arrived during Seril's turn at the challenge, and went straight to the Medical Tents, greeting Callie and Brennan with a perpetual grin, and then turning the grin onto Amber. His little sister was here. She refused to speak, but he knew she would see the logic, even if he was ignored. She would try nothing...not with so many witnesses.

He grimaced as he moved away from Amber...His other side almost took over there. The side that wanted to cage the power, and get rid of it forever. The side that thought only of saving lives, and healing others, and not of gaining power. He would stay way from the others, and he would try to suppress that half of him. Luckily, or unluckily, he failed to suppress it, and the other side took over. He stayed silent, in a corner, watching the others, suppressing his other half, and attempting to destroy it.

===============================================

.:: Day after the Challenge ::.

He had successfully suppressed the other half, and possibly destroyed it. He had only managed to suppress the Mirror, and he was not sure how long that would last. He had good-byes to say, and he had to say them fast, in case his other half took over again. He went to Greg first, having a geniune laugh over the state in which Alexis left him, before checking in on Sierra.

He then went to Seril, only to find Amber and him there. He waited until the others had left, before speaking to the two. A close brush with death met him, as he tried to be friendly with Amber, only to receive a kama to the stomach, for his effort. She wanted him dead, and demanded that he go. He left, not wanting to risk her wrath, while he still had good-byes to make.

Hope. Something he had not had since the Merging. It shone like a sun in his vision, one small bit of hope, amidst the blackness of despair. He had managed to suppress the entity, for now. He wasn't sure how long it would hold, but he would fight it with his entire existence.

His only hope now, it seemed, lay within one person. The Champion of Slytherin, Alexis Muune. Doubt was scarce, and what doubts there were, were fleeting. He had talked to Greg, and he had said that Alexis mentioned being able to "Fix it". He didn't care what it meant, if it meant release from the abomination he had hoped to cage.

As he sped down the hallway, moving as silently as possible while running, he thought to himself, "I was a fool to think I could cage it...Maybe...no...Alexis /will/ have a way to get rid of it...Regardless of the consequences to myself, I'll get rid of this thing." He shook his head, and continued on the way to the common room. He would find her there, whether now or later, and he would ask, or beg, her help. She would be his savior from his darkness.

As he sat in a chair near the fire, in the common room, he began to drift to sleep. His thoughts were erratic, and turbulent, his eyes flitting open and closed as he fought to stay awake. His last thoughts, before passing out were, "I only hope poor Little Sister can forgive me for my arrogance, and trying to cage it..." and his eyes drifted shut, for the final time that night, as he slipped into uneasy nightmares.

Amber stood silently in front of the weathered stone alter, gazing down at the two cards she placed there minutes ago. Two cards, the High Priestess, and the Queen of Swords. The first belonged to her, the High Priestess of this nearly forgotten place, and Key to one of the current ‘problems’ at Hogwarts. Oddly, during the last Divination class the card had been drawn for none other then that girl with the tail, Alexis. Amber had drawn the Queen of Swords, and while she could not be sure, she had a feeling that card belonged to Alexis.

Years ago, she did not believe that divination could spill out any sort of truth. But after this year, she believed in Tarot readings, at least. Over the past month, they have given her some of the answers she searched for. She doubted it would lie to her now, but she knew she would not know how they were connected yet. Amber carefully scooped up the cards with her right hand, staring at them for a moment longer. They looked somewhat.. Fuzzy.. Fake.. Not real... This dream refuses to end for now. Amber stared out at the tranquil wasteland of sand and water. A dream in which I control what happens, If I dare.

After the wind gently pulled the cards from her hands, Amber took her time walking down the familiar stone. When her feet touched the sand, she glanced back for a moment. The turmoil here continues, I am ignored, and I must seek my answers elsewhere. A loud pop echoed through the area as Amber found herself facing the gates that would lead her back to Hogwarts. Without a thought or word, Amber pushed the gates open, walking through and onto the grounds, when her mind drifted back to the day’s events. The names of those she had healed in some manner ran through her head.

Peeves
Bowen
John
Sierra
Gregory
Seril...
I healed them when no one else at the time could do anything. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of being a nurse... a healer... How many lives could I have spared? How many... She paused for a moment, staring up at the ceiling of the Hufflepuff commons. Briefly, four words from the Prophecy came to mind. ‘Life spared. Life lost.’ A strange smile crept it’s way onto her lips as she filled with a sense of duty... a second duty. I’m given this power to destroy the mirrors.. But until I track them down, I could save so many lives. If I am right about where the mirrors have hidden themselves, four are dead that I know of.

I can heal some of the damage they have caused, and so much more. I am not a failure if I can do this. With this gift, I can give or take life. The mirrors choose to take.. And I choose to give as much as I can! Laughing loudly, the tall girl twirled around, her white and gold dress spinning about her. I will give to those who believe me, and to those who don’t. I will give to everyone, no matter what they have done. Everyone sins, everyone kills in their own way. Everyone deserves another chance. Slowly, she came to a stop, dizzy but still blissfully unaware of any looks she was given as she stumbled towards her room.

So much left to give.. She struggled with the key for a moment, but she managed to make her way into the room with minimal swearing. This dream seems so real, sometimes, though I am the only real thing in it... or am I? Kicking a pile of dirty clothes aside, she closed the door and hurried to her bed. With a small grin, she jumped onto it, giggling as she bounced for a moment. Leaning over the foot of the bed, she grabbed her small chest, heaving it onto the bed. Quickly forcing the lock open, she tossed the top of the chest over, peering inside for a moment.

Snatching up two pieces of parchment within, she quickly began to write a small note with a broken quill on the smaller piece of parchment.

‘Drogo,

The mirror is out of John now. How he did it, I don’t know, but we no longer need to kill him. It ran off before I could catch it, but I have a idea about where it went. If you have time, see if you and Regriam can find out anything about those two men in orange who were at the Hog’s Head and started that brawl. The bartender didn’t know much at the time, but who knows what everyone else there knows.
~ Amber.’

She stared down at the note. Her messy hand writing was worse then usual, and there were many spots of dripping ink where she had paused to think or simply stare at something on the walls. But it would do. She set it aside, and moved to the letter.

‘My dearest sister,

I have a few things I need to tell you. First, John no longer needs to be killed. I think he managed to expel the mirror, perhaps with a little help. I had to fix the damage it had done to him. A good thing, as I don’t think I could have killed him if everything went off as planned. When we were plotting.. I couldn’t stop thinking about what we had done to Drith... Anyways, now that the third mirror is on the loose again, we have to turn our attention back to this group of men, who dress in orange. I will tell you everything once you get back, but I think all of the mirrors are going to them. I miss you dearly, and eagerly await your return. Love, Amber.’

Amber set the letter aside, pulling out a small white cloth which she flattened out on the bed. Leaning over the end of the bed once more, she forced her hand beneath the mattress, pulling out a document. She stared at it, her cheerful look shifting into a forlorn one. Closing her eyes, she tossed into onto the cloth. The promise... I will keep it as best I can, but incase... at least they’ll know what to do with my things. Bowing her head a moment, she reached into the chest, withdrawing a pink book.

Flipping through the pages, she paused as she came upon a picture. Two years ago, when she and I had fights for fun, I had a picture of us taken as we fought. She won that time. Turning the picture over, she stretched out her arm, grabbing the quill for one final time.

‘Don’t give up hope, Sister, like I did once. We are both stronger then people think. Together, we can do anything if we put our minds to it. No matter what happens, I have faith in you.’

She flipped the picture over again, carelessly dropping the quill on the covers. She stared at the photograph for what seemed like hours, before hesitantly picking it up, and placing it on top of the cloth as well. After placing the letter to Angel in there as well, she carefully folded the cloth. Grabbing the ribbon wrapped around her neck, she tugged it off, revealing the scar left over from the knife wound from many years ago. I should have died that day, but I didn’t. Maybe that was the day I should have realized something was different about me.. Something is special about me.

Gingerly wrapping the cloth up with the ribbon, she set it aside to mail later along with the note. Turning her gaze to the seemingly distant ceiling, her hand silently groped it’s way beneath one of her pillows, grabbing a hold of something cool and hard. Pulling it out, she stared at the cross, the chain attached to it entwined with her fingers. It was a simple, silver cross, other then the amber stone placed in the center. What a gift...

Slowly unwrapping the chain from her hand, she slipped it over her head, letting it fall into place on her chest. Pushing herself off of the bed, she came face to face with her reflection in a small mirror on the wall. Who am I?


I am a goddess among mortals, and a mortal among gods.

Alexis laughed madly as she locked her door behind her. "This is serious... If what that idiot John said was true... she really believes that this is the work of some idle... some god." Her laughter stopped suddenly. "This...is serious though." She frowned.

"It escaped from John, I am back to square one on capturing one of these things before she gets them all. --- She seems to be able to track them down, I may have to keep a very close eye on her." She paused. "Divination... Tonight I drew the High Priestess card, which seems like a pious godly person like Amber. Hmm, She drew a Queen of Swords, It could mean me. I wonder."

She dove onto her bed. "What if I trick her, tell her I will help her capture all these beings for her and one of them I will drag back to my source? ...No, Seril would screw me." She rolled over on her bed. "Stupid, Seril... Why are you never there for me... when I can admit it... I need you."

--------------------------

She woke up in the middle of the night beads of sweat dripping down her forehead. "Hell!" She quickly pulled her clothing on. "I can't sleep at a time like this! I must prepare to punish the evils that dare proclaim to be a god. Either it is Amber... or someone is manipulating her. Perhaps it would be worth going to this temple... I'll need a disguise... Cover my tail at least."

She barreled down the stairs and out the doors, narrowly dodging Filch's cat as she blasted down the halls, cutting back up the stairs to the main hall and turning down the north hall and out the back, she continued up towards the willow and stopped to take a breather there.

"Maybe, I should talk to my source about these orange...men."

Almost... almost... I can do this... The brain damage has been fixed... Now the connection. His soul... He needs his soul back in. Amber opened her eyes, blinking as she found herself in a strange new room. I wasn’t here before... Her gaze roamed around her new surroundings, quickly focusing in on a corner, where an old man sat on a chair. “Hello?” A frown formed momentarily on her lips as she took a hesitant step forward, letting go of Donald in ‘reality’. She got no answer, as if the old man could not hear her.

Speaking again simply yielded the same result as before. Trying to place her hand on him, only resulted in her hand going through him. Confused, she frowned, only to turn quickly as she heard a voice behind her. Donald’s soul... After a few attempts of grabbing him, despite his cries of protest, him being unaware of what she was doing, Amber channeled the magic into his soul, sealing the connection to his body once again.

She didn’t even have time to smile before her vision went black, and she collapsed onto the ground.

~~~~~~~

After several attempted moves of the tall, unconscious girl, she ended up in the third floor of St. Mungo’s. She lay there beneath the thin cotton blanket, utterly unaware of the conversation taking place beside her. Next to her, stood Madam Pomfrey, and the Headmaster himself. They alone, including Brennan who stood by the wall, invisible to everyone, heard what was said in that conversation.

“Whatever magic is in her is more powerful than anything I have seen before. I believe, unfortunately, that in the end it will consume her.”

A red headed figure ran through the catacombs and stopped among an alter, catching her breath before looking up and speaking, "...Awaken..."
A loud scream emitted thought out the entire tomb causing Alexis to shudder. The entire tomb distorts into very awkward contortions before finally settling down. Alexis placed both of her hands on the handle of her curved sword, "What the hell was that?" The distortion slowed even more and a pained breathing began causing Alexis to frown, "Are you hurting... in pain because of these things, these 'Mirrors?'

A growl began and quickly worked it's way up to an explosive roar, "They were just used!"

"All of them!?" Alexis asked as a look of dismay and worry overcame her.

"So much power," The creature growled as it shouted, "That girl just about ripped a new hole through this plane with the .. last use."

Suddenly Alexis lashed out at him, "...Are you going to tell me how to stop her now then!? Before it's too late... before these false 'idols' are released!"

The growling continuing, "If she is allowed to merge with another one ..."

"...Then for the love of all that is reality in this damned world... let me do something!"

The creature growled out in a taunting manner, "And what do you have in mind, hrm?"

"...We cripple her... Or we push her through her own damned portal! Show her what she is dealing with... Or... you teach me those f***ing spells! --- "This is -my- world... my home... and all you have been doing is telling me you have a plan... and now its crumbling... the entirety is crumbling." She hastily continued, sounding rather furious, "So this time... you will be including me... or we both can kiss this world good-bye, Right!?"

With an angry roar it spoke again, "If you had very well listened to my eariler order and dragged the wing one down here! Then I might of have been able to do something sooner!"

"The winged one is -worthless-... He is without a damn care in the world. You know as well as me his mind is f***ed up and you wouldn't have been able to control him like you wanted... I'm the only one who even thinks about listening to you..."

With another growl he speaks, "And again you had missed the point. If you only knew exactly how much raw power he possessed .. and how weakened mentally he was .. he was easy pickings! Now even that now wouldn't be enough! Her powers have grown .. to levels beyond even myself!"

Alexis looked towards the alter sternly, "...Are there others like you... roaming this world?"

"And why is that important," He growled lowly.

"Because... we need all the power we can get... abandon Seril if you hadn't already. I already have a human spy among them." Suddenly casting her sword to the side. "I don't care what the hell I have to do."

"And abandon the one thing I have? To keep a eye on this adbonimation freak that she has become," The growling figure muttered, "The boy is otherwise completely worthless ... stupid mortal idiot ... letting the heart get in the way." He then lets out another roar.

"As I said... we need your other half... or would you rather half of yourself be weak. I have a stupid mortal idiot listening to me... telling me what is going on... So you... better learn to trust me, instead of being a stubborn idiot. You choose the wrong person to merge with! --- I don't care if I have to merge with any of your freaky friends and suffer more distortion to myself... but we need all the power we can get to combat her and ultimately stop her."

"And you expect this mortal idiot to keep his word? He turns his back on everyone else the first moment he gets!" He seems to contemplate, then growl more, "You have a death wish now?"

"Pfft. I have nothing else to fight for... if you arn't willing to let me defend my damn home then I have -nothing- else. --- All I know and love... are dead or have left me for some evil fiend, besides... if we don't do anything now... we both will die anyway."

The creature falls silent in thought. "A willing slave ... I need the boy here .. in this very tomb .. to even undo my magic."

"I have one main rule... if we share bodies..." She frowns, "As long as -I- am concious and doing well... let me remain in control... you can tell me what you would like me to do whenever we need to work together."

He growled sounding bitter, "And you think you would know more then myself mortal?"

"No... but I know what our magic is capable of better then you do... If I can act and you can tell me what to do... Old magic... and new magic will be able to work side by side. Besides... Two minds... mortal or not work better together. --- You underestimated me before..." She states confidently.

"Powerwise .. the winged one is still the best host .. but power isn't going to matter much anymore .. fine, if you want to seal your deathwish!"

"You assume that I will die?"

"Souls have already been extracted from the plane .. they will demand payment soon enough."

"I assure you... I am the punisher... I will not be the one dying...

An eerie laugh fills the catacombs as he harshly continues, "The girl .. is doomed to die, doomed .. but how much of the world she wrecks .. before it occurs..."

"...I will get Seril now... and bring him back now...Okay...Then together me and you will find and kill the men in orange... the others using these creatures!" She pauses before speaking further, "Obtain more power and then the girl herself... right?"

He growls out in response to her, "Yes .. they all must die .. Go .. get the foolish boy!"

She simply nods and turns on the spot.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Moments later another bang erupted as Alexis popped into view, tightly holding on to Seril, "Oi... What are y-...."

Alexis quickly cut him off as he looked around, "...Just shut up and stay! You are being freed..."

Seril asked her as if he didn't quite get it the first time, "......why.....would you bring me here?"

"You are... being freed!" As the various doors click around them, locking themselves.

"What are you talking about?!" He slowly looked around at the doors, "See what you did? Let's go."

"The mummy is leaving you... ...No more pain..."

"....bullsh**." Seril replied, "He won't leave until he has what he wants."

"...No... I'm sacraficing myself... so you are done... after this you can leave."

".....you're doing what?" Looking completely shocked and horrified.

"Just shut up and let him leave you."

"No, tell me what's going on." Seril demanded.

She frowns lightly, "I pardon'd your release in exchange for myself."

"Why would you do that? Are you insane?" He said as he stared at her, suddenly he was forced to look away when he heard the growling of some ancient language.

As if she didn't hear it she spoke, "Because... you are an idiot... you should go and be happy with Amber... and let me live with the mistakes in -my- life... once this is done.... you don't have s*** to worry about."

"....I'm an idiot? How does that even make sense?"

She stepped away from him cautiously. "You made so many bad choices!"

"What? Where is this coming from?"

"...You... You should just close your mind... let it out..." She said hesitantly.

"No." He spoke quickly.

"Seril... Please... Let me do what I want to do... I make this sacrafice... don't deny me more."

"No. I'm not letting him kill you."

"I'm not going to die!"

"Yes, you will. I won't do it." Seril retorted.

"It's an exchange... You leave... he enters me!"

"And then what? He's going to kill you and Drado to come back to full power." Seril says very matter of factly.

"You can then go frolic in the fields with your damned new friends." She replies bitterly, "That is what!"

"No. F*** you, and f*** your fields."

She rolls her eyes in his direction as she hides her own emotions, "You've cause me too much grief, Seril... too much... and I am finally making a decision... and you are going to let me do it... I want you ro live better."

"~I've~ caused you grief? Oh please, don't give me that. Especially not here."

"Well make it easy.... give me what I want---"

She suddenly gets cut off by the growling voice, begining with a sickening laugh. "Yet .. this is the boy, who wants to doom both of our worlds .. along with the rest of the fools."

Seril turns and looks back to the altar for the voice as Alexis lowered her head. "You don't know anything about what she's doing! ---Come on, Alexis. Let's get out of here."

"We know shes releasing things... ---Gods... which are not gods... ...Rather devils...." Alexis said quietly.

The booming voice once again fills the tombs. " Fool ... Are you that arrogant?"

"Are you siding with him?" Seril looked at Alexis with an upset face.

Alexis suddenly lashed at him, "You went against me long ago when you deny'd to save this world with me... I have no choice Seril!"

"When did I do that?"

"Outside... when I told you... Amber was to doom us all... ---And who the f*** did you trust!?"

"Before the challenge? I told you to do whatever you needed, as long as you didn't hurt Amber!"

She continue'd as if he said nothing, "...Not your friend of many years... not the bleeding heart who cared about you for a long time. ---You were against me... you should have been with me..." She looked as though she was about to cry, "You begged for the week... She almost killed this world... moments before."

"And now John's out of it, so we don't need a week. So go for it!"

"...Seril... I don't want to be against you..."

"Then don't."

"All I ask you is not to get in my way--- if you can't stand by me... then I can't wait for you to see the truth."

"Fine, I won't stand in your way. But I won't let you kill yourself."

She looks up to the ceiling, "Whenever you are ready to make the switch... Phantom."

"No. I'm leaving." Seril quickly said.

"Seril..."

"This is the stupidest idea you've had! ---And you expect me to stand by and watch?!"

"....Seril.... ---If you leave me now... I will die anyway."

"You won't change my mind." He stated very matter of factly. "Stop making stuff up."

The booming voice once again fills the catacombs. "You will see soon enough idiot boy .. what she has done to this world .. and what she is going to do .. if she is not stopped. --- This girl speaks .. truth"

"If you kill her, then say goodbye to your host!" He shouted back at the voice. "I'll drown in that lake, or I'll jump off of that f***in' tower."

The voice laughs, "And you think that is going to stop me ultimately?"

"He's not going to kill, now let's go." Seril quickly said to Alexis. He ultimately ignored the voices question.

"You are just about useless to me now .. go ahead .. oh wait, you are locked in this room!" The bitter laugh erupted from the room.

"Come on Alexis. Let's go." Seril spoke up again.

"...No." Alexis replied.

Seril demanded, "Now!"

"...Seril... I said no." A loud scream emitting again though the entire room causing a huge disturbance in the area. "Ugh...The fabric is tearing? ---...Not again..." She struggled.

"What are you doing?"

"It's Amber..." Alexis replied to him.

"Amber's not even at school. He's lying to you!"

"...I know shes not at school... shes opening portals to his world... to let them out!"

"She's helping people at Saint Mungo's!" Seril said angerly. "She's no where near the temple."

"She thinks she is helping people.. she is only prolonging the demise.... that she is to bring."

"Listen to yourself, Alexis. He's filled your head with these wild ideas that don't even make sense."

"And it makes sense that your girlfriend...speaks to gods and brings 'mirrors' into her body which give her unimaginable power... ---Her gods will use her.... her gods will end us." She yelled. "...There is no reasoning now.... you've made up your mind."

"The "mirrors" don't go into her. She's killing the mirrors."

The voice crept out again. "And that is what the foolish girl thinks .. she is doing!" It began to laugh cruely.

"Once again... you've choose her twice now... Over ME!"

"Because you're not making any sense! You're siding with someone who's threatened to kill us all!"

"And you, Seril, You are siding with someone who will kill us all! ---I thought you... you of all people would be able to stick by me and understand.... but no... I see this has been nothing."

"Understand what? All you ever say is she's trying to kill us, or we're all doomed. --- You don't have any proof and you don't have any plan!" Seril yelled back at Alexis.

"...These creatures have almost killed this planet before." Alexis pleaded.

"Oh right, you witnessed that didn't you?"

"And you witnessed her gods?"

"---I never said I believed in them!"

Alexis begged, "...Then why do you side with her!?"

"Because she's not working with some spirit that wants me dead. ---And don't say she is, because you have no proof."

"...Thats why you are being free. ---...You won't be killed... if I am wrong... I will be the one who suffers not you. However, if I am right and I don't act... everyone suffers." Alexis said very quietly.

"Think about how much more powerful he'll be if he puts his spirit into you, being already marked. It's not only foolish, it's irresponsible." Seril yelled at her.

"She brings power into herself.. and I doubt you call her that... Phantom... do it now!"

"~If~ you're right? You don't even know!" Seril seems to begin to concentrate but nothing happens.

"I'm done arguing... Like I have said.... you like her more then me.... You will always side with her."

Thr voice quietly laughs at Seril. "Something wrong boy? ---Look what you got us into now!"

"...Just give up... and you can go... I'm done... arguing."

"Of course you are. I've broken all of your arguements." Seril begins to look around.

The voice laughs even louder, "Always your answer to walk away from the problem .. not today boy."

"I'm finding a way out of here." Seril claimed as he looked around again.

"You won't..." Alexis replied to him quietly.

"We'll see."

"...Phantom... just take yourself from him."

More chanting over comes the tomb in the same ancient langanage.

"....colloportus! Colloportus!" Seril shouted.

The voice boomed as Seril tried to escape, "There is no point running! Now .. you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?"

"What did you do?!" Alexis stayed silent, watching him her hair pouring out of the hood cascading her left eye. Seril continued, "Alexis...you're not yourself anymore."

The laughter covered the area before a blast of lighting struck, an ancient fiend appearing. The creature garbed like a mummy. It then lets out a roar.
"Get back in me!" Seril shouted.

"Do not kill him..." Alexis spoke to the mummy. "That is all I ask."

Speaking with a cracked voice the mummy opens its mouth, "For too long .. my power has been lying dormant, wasted inside a mortal fool as aggorant as yourself."

"What, you think she'll serve you any better?"

The mummy looks over to Alexis, "It is not the most ideal host .. your failure to bring the winged one .. has hampered my efforts .. but no matter .. the current trend is that this world suffers and dies under her unchecked presence."

"As opposed to yours."

"There will be nothing left .. of either worlds! Yet .. you seem to want that" The mummy replied to Seril.

"You can't prove what you're saying is even true! You just want us to believe it so we'll trust you. Well congratulations, you duped her already!" Seril looked harshly at Alexis.

"...Thanks for the faith... Seril." Alexis spoke finally.

"Well what do you expect?!"

"I knew you cared..." She responded dryly. "I've always expected you to trust in me..."

"And you want to question my eons of knowledge! Compared to the silly faith .. of an idiot girl?" The mummy boomed!

"Yes I want to question it. Because it's a lie!"

"Are you that blind?" The mummy growled at him, "Have you seen what has been occuring? Because of her!? The very farbic of magic itself has been getting ripped .. distorted .."

"And she's fixing it. You can't prove the world is going to end." Seril said.

"She is being mislead." Alexis replied.

"So are you!"

"No..."

"Yah."

"I have my rights to believe..." Alexis stated. "...This is wasted... we are losing time...phantom."

Seril looked at her, "What do you plan on doing!?"

"Saving the world."

"You don't even know what you're going to do!"

"... No... You don't know what I will do... you fear it." She snapped!

"Tell me!"

"No... I'd rather you fear."

The mummy laughs and draws Alexis closer. "I am ready now ..."

"Alexis!" Seril shouted causing her to look back at him. Suddenly the mummy hits Seril with a beem of red light pulling something from him.

"....f*** it!" Seril targeted the mummy and casted many feeble spells at him, they all reflected with ease. "He is just like the Mirrors!"

"Waste of time ...Your mortal magic is no match for me! I exist on the same plane .. as those horrid creatures!"

"I knew it! And you didn't listen!" He aims his wand at Alexis, causing her to quickly cast a spell directly at him, that stunned him and then other to stunt his thought. "...get this off of me! Alexis....let me go"

The mummy spoke. "Believe what you want .. boy .. you will see soon enough .. what that girl brings for us all.

"...We merge?" Alexis asked as the Mummy approached her. "I envoke thee."

"Alexis! Stop!" Seril pleaded. "You can get rid of him, right now! While he's exposed!" The mummy's body beginning to glow red. "Whatever you did to me that first time, do it now!"

"...Then we'd die in a few days... no... I envoke thee." She spoke again. The mummy screams and roars again, as another beam of red light emits, hitting Alexis. "Ugh... Uhnguh..."

"Stop! You idiot!"

She wraps her arms around herself, gasping a bit. "Ugh... uhmnguh."

The mummy screams again, as it lets off another light, before the mummy disappears in a blast of lightning, She groans loudly, before releasing a loud scream. She then falls down to her knees breathing heavily, she appears to be writhing in massive pain.

"....you idiot...You're the dumbest girl!"

The voice in the open again. "And you think you have been better?"

She coughs a few times, shaking on her hands and knees.

"You see what you've done. You jerk!"

Alexis sounding as though she has been jammed inbetween two walls. "I made the ultimate sacrafice... for all mankind..."

The voice came from her again, "Why don't you run off home to your idiot girl now?" The doors unclicking.

"You made a stupid choice! SHUT UP! I hate you! I wish I would have never walked in here!"

She coughs. "Hate yourself... I did this for you."

The voice came from her again. "You hate the wrong thing .. Your stupid choices have forced me to this resort .. you are worthless .. now go home!The girl is doomed to die ultimately .. so you might as well make the best of it."

Alexis begins to sputter in her own voice. "You've never given a damn about me.... not how you should of..."

"Fine! I hope you're both happy. Don't bother me anymore."

"...Good...bye...." Ans with that Seril left Alexis where she was on the floor.

_________________
"I'd rather die and be wrong, then be right and watch the world end." ~Alexis~

"Hey, you... CATCH!" ~Iris~

"Awooo? Werewolves of London!?" ~Nina~

(( Just a small note for those her care: I -was- going to include bits of conversations near the end, but, I had restarted my computer one point and forgot to turn my screenshot program back on, which is why there is very little included. Sorry! ))



Amber slowly opened her eyes, focusing immediately on the ceiling as the first of many thoughts ran through her head. Where the hell am I? She lay there, completely still as she sorted through the thoughts in her head, before tossing the sheets back and pushing herself into a sitting position. As she did that, a wave of dizziness passed over her, and she covered her face with her hands. How long have I been out? After her mind had cleared some, she lowered her hands so her gaze could roam around the room. St. Mungo’s? No... I can’t stay here... If the last of the four arrives, it’ll have to get up here... and I’m sure they have enough questions as is.

With a quiet grunt, Amber forced herself up off of the bed, stumbling for a moment before she regained her balance. Taking careful steps towards the door, cautious even though it still all seemed like dream, she slowly worked her way over. Once she had crossed the large room, she reached forward with one hand, gingerly taking the doorknob. Taking in a deep breath, she attempted to turn it. Locked? Keeping a hand on it, she muttered to herself as she cast a spell. “Alohomora.”

Upon hearing the faint click of the door unlocking, Amber turned the doorknob, and pulled the door open enough so that she could peek out into the hall. Her eyes widened in fear at what she saw, and she carefully closed the door, locking it with a quick spell. The purple uniforms were imprinted on her vision as she rushed back to the bed, the thought to keep quiet barely forcing it’s way through. Oh gods, please let them leave once they realize I’m fine.

Amber rubbed her temple with one hand as her thoughts rushed back to that night she saved Drith, and the questioning she received shortly after. He was so close to uncovering what happened, what we did. If they try again, will they get everything? Amber lowered her head back onto the pillow. She tightly closed her eyes as she felt her stomach knot up as the fear welled up inside of her. If everyone finds out how I helped Donald... what will they do? She curled up on the bed, her hand groping down for the blanket. As she pulled the blanket over herself, her thoughts retreated into the back of her mind. A blank look covered her face as she stared at the far wall, silently waiting for the healers to come.

~~~~~~~~

Amber clenched her fist as the healer left her alone in the room. She was recovering quickly, but they wouldn’t let her out. Nor would they remove the guards from her door, and no visitors would be allowed in either. Now we wait. Amber pushed herself into a sitting position, staring up at the ceiling.

“Pssst.....Howdy, kid.”

Amber glanced down as Bren’s invisibility spell faded away, revealing him to her. A welcome sight after realizing she would likely be stuck in this empty room for a long while. Their chat was brief, but she found out what she needed to. She had been unconscious for over two days... And the ball was to be later that day. Once it was over, Amber watched him curiously before he disappeared again beneath his spells, to slip past a healer as she came to check on Amber. Maybe... Maybe I should do that. Slip by when no one is watching... I need to see Seril. I need to.

~~~~~~~~

“Alohomora.”

Amber whispered the spell a second time as her hand gripped the doorknob tightly. An impish grin made it’s way onto her lips as she, and the men outside the door, heard the clicking noise as the lock was dealt with again. She pressed herself against the wall as she listened to the men talk. One is going to come in... When he does, I run for it. She crouched down as the door slowly opened, and one of the men walked in. He stepped further into the room, unaware of Amber’s figure beside the door. Now!!!

Amber jumped up and sped out the door. She didn’t look back as the shouts for her to stop filled the halls. Bastard has a spell up that can see through my spells. Rushing down the steps, she nearly tripped over herself multiple times. It had been so long since had run around like this. Her chest was beginning to burn with pain, but she pushed herself forward and past anyone that got in her way. She could hear her heart pounding... It had been so long since she had a rush like this. She jumped out onto the street, and continued to run for her life. Just a bit further...

Quickly she rounded a corner, and a familiar, loud pop was emitted as she found her suddenly at the temple, away from that lonely place. Freedom...

~~~~~~~~

Amber closed her eyes for a moment as she and Seril walked forward, their arms linked. The last champion and ‘date’, which is what she was, to walk up for the opening speech. She opened her eyes, that blank look returning as she stared past the people gathered, ignoring not only the looks from the crowd, but the men who had come to take her back. The Headmaster had tried to arrange for me to stay for the ball, but would they have listened? She quickly dismissed the thought as she turned to face Seril with a weak smile as the music began to drift through the air.

It was moments like these that made her happy, and made her forget what was happening to her and those she loved. She laughed quietly as they danced and talked for quite some time. She never even noticed the fact that several students were watching them, or trying to get their attention. Her focus was completely on Seril, until by chance she looked over his shoulder and noticed Bren and Angel in the corner. The thought occurred to her that she still needed to inform them of what happened. Once they had stopped dancing, Amber dragged Seril to them.

Amber barely had a chance to open her mouth when the Headmaster pulled her aside to inform her that he could only convince them to let her stay for the first dance. As she turned around, a pained look crossed her face as she watched the group of her friends. She stepped back to them, quietly speaking as she told them what she had been told. Just looking at them, she knew none of them were happy with this.

She cringed as Seril raised his voice as he expressed his anger at this. She was losing focus on those around her as she felt a small pain growing in her chest, like her heart was sinking. Don’t make it harder then it is.... please, don’t. She could only hide her emotions as she linked her arm with Seril one last time after saying her goodbyes. She was quiet as they were lead out of the ballroom and into the entrance hall, heading to the grounds and past the gates. So much that could be said, that will only make it hurt more.

After passing by the gates, Amber had to pull her arm from Seril as he tried to keep a hold on her. They say it’ll be safe for me there. I’m not safe anywhere. But here, I’m at least happy with him around. Unable to think of anything else, Amber mouthed five words to him as she grabbed the hand of one of the men before disappearing.

You look almost real, again...

~~~~~~~~

Amber turned her back to her guards as she stalked back to her bed, her temper flaring up inside. A temporary emotion to numb the pain. When she heard the door close, using the last of her strength, she picked up her pillow, flinging it across the room. She watched helplessly as the pillow just bounced off of the wall, and landed on the ground.

“Damn it!!!!” She yelled out, and fell back onto the bed as tears began to pour down her cheeks. She curled up, cradling her head in her arms as the tears continued to flow. Years of regret being released in a single night. Why can’t they let Seril visit me? I need him, so much... When he’s not around, the void he fills hurts... so much.

Unknown to her, she would be allowed visitors with one of the guards in the room to keep watch the next morning. For now, however, it was her time to weep because of the injustice of it all.

Amber stared over at her tidy bed, a small frown on her lips. She still wasn’t used to seeing the bed neatly made up, with everything put away in it's proper place. I tried to shape up, but half the time I still flash back to the times everything I owned was a complete mess. When I straightened out my things, my life became filled with discord, just another mess that I have trouble cleaning up. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs as she directed her gaze up to the ceiling. And now I’m going to begin to separate myself from this place. From now on, I will only be in here to sleep, eat, and to see Seril. Until I can find somewhere else that would be ‘safe’ to live in. No more classes for me, I’m tired of learning what I won’t use. No more parties at The Green Door. No more letters home. Just me and Angel at the temple. Straight from imprisonment at St. Mungo’s to a self-imposed exile, of sorts.

Amber ran a hand over her face, before pulling it back to stare at the stunning tattoo that took up the entire palm of her right hand. A hesitant smile made it’s way onto her full lips as she saw ‘Agatha’ looking back at her. I felt so connected to them when I first came into this. They protected us, the priestesses. I, ‘The Knightess’, as Angel used to call me... I protected my sisters as well. Now... Angel speaks of wanting ‘the old Amber’ back. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply, trying not to get herself upset. Though, in the darker places in her mind and heart, she had the feeling she had stepped over that line long, long ago. I am a goddess among mortals, and a mortal among gods. I no longer belong anywhere. I no longer belong with my family, and muggles. I no longer belong here at the school or in the world it is a part of. And I sure as hell don’t belong up with my gods, or in the void.

I’m stuck in this hellish life, where once I find inspiration, it is taken from me. Where people who can’t, or don’t, understand what is going on. They simply cling to me, shun me, want me dead, or claim I will destroy the world. I will show them otherwise... Somehow. Before the gods choose to collect the debt I have created by saving lives. Opening her eyes, she directed her gaze to the door so that she could watch Seril walk in. Bren is right... I need to be more careful.. I need to stop playing hero before it kills me.

"The pain... The pain... too much pain." She sighed. "They all turn from me, one by one. I am now in this almost completely alone. Drado is out cold and who knows what he'll claim happened when he awakens. Life is so cruel, no one can possibly understand. The people that cling to her side like they are some transfigured wart, then her herself whom sacrafices all this power... causes the world to alter with her spells... causes massive pain amongst magical beings of strength."

She wandered her room. "I am alone, I am all alone. No one loves me, No one knows me, No one cares..." She winced a bit. "...It's all coming true. Like all heroes... I have been ignored because they see me as evil, wrong, and manipulitive. I am no different then any tradgic hero, I will save them all... and will die alone. The world will hush a rumoured whisper of what I have done. Until the lies and expelling extriments start to show otherwise---- How -I- tried to kill the world!"

She circled back to her bed. "They call me unstable, I...." She whimpered. "Can I do this alone?"

"I am the black sheep. I will prove I am more saintly then all of them..."