Once he let go, she sat up again. She blinked. His mouth had pressed into a thin line, and his eyes were half closed. Mari didn't know what to make of it.

He sat back. "So, there are a few things that I need clarification on. You said your words weren't your own, even though you said them. Just now, you said mentioned a 'they,' and a 'Muraad.' What do you mean? Who are you referring to?"

Mari pulled her knees up and set her head on them. "It is ... Um... They are... I call them the Seven. Muraad is one of them. They were the ones whose words you heard. They spoke through my voice. I do not know how better to say it."

Dainan hummed. His face was neutral. Mari had no idea if he understood or not. Mari admitted to herself it would be nice not to be the only one confused for once. She cleared her throat and asked, "Why do kings and queens need a symbol of power?"

"It's so everyone knows that they're the king or queen. Without it, it's not obvious. I mean, kings and queens don't inherently look different from everyone else." Dainan's face softened. "Will you tell me more about the Seven? If it makes you upset, or if it's too personal, you don't have to."

Mari paused, taking a moment to think about it. She didn't want to talk about them, thinking about them left her with a dark, painful rolling in her gut. He called it alone; the thought that the Seven left her alone hurt. Why would she want to dwell on that pain? But... Mari was beginning to like Dainan. He answered her questions, and he didn't make her feel stupid. Maybe talking to him about it wouldn't be such a bad thing. She lifted her head up. "I'll tell you about them. There's Rekema, she's in charge, and Muraad, who's closest to her and who I like best. Then there's Bidkar, the twins Mallory and Meeko, and then Apep and Balak. All of them have been with me since for as long as I can remember; although, my memory isn't that great. They're not like me or you; I've always known that. But that day, in the throne room, they were with me, but you only saw me; it finally became real to me."

"Why are you the only one who can see them?" Dainan asked.

Mari shrugged, almost tipping the crown off her head. "I don't know. I just know I'm the only one who can see or hear them, except when they take over. They can control my movements and use my voice to speak their words. Every time I've seen you, or really anyone, they've been in control. This is the only time I've ever talked to another human with my own words."

"You expect me to believe that?" Dainan asked. His voice did not sound unkind. It came across to Mari as utter confusion; she understood. It was as if the idea was so new and strange he just couldn't quite get it. Mari couldn't blame him.

"I have no other answer. I have no proof. How can I prove what only I see or hear?" Mari stood up. She didn't want to go, for she had so many more questions, but something in her told her it was time to leave. Mari could tell she had given Dainan much to think about. She should let him be.

Mari headed toward the door, forcing her gaze ahead. Rekema wouldn't look back.

"Will you come back?"

Mari took a breath. She didn't have to always do what Rekema would because she was not Rekema. Mari didn't quite know what that made her, but she knew it brought her to that cell. She glanced behind her, and the frown on his face caught her off guard. "Do you want me to? You just said yourself you don't believe me."

Dainan glanced her over, looking at the crown. He gave her a small unhappy smile. "I desire not to be alone."

"Then I will come back." Mari returned the smile. It didn't reach either of their eyes. She left, and as she let the guard lead her back to her room, she couldn't help but be pleased with herself. She enjoyed talking with someone who would listen. Whether or not he believed was a different matter, but he had listened to her, let her talk. It was new, but Mari found she liked this particular new.

* * *

Mari knelt; her hands filled her sight. They were caked in brown and red. She tried to breathe, but every shaky, shuddering breath felt like a knife in her chest. She forced herself to look up. Her vision blurred. She rubbed at her eyes; the grime smeared across her skin. She blinked, and when her vision cleared, she gasped, wincing at the pain in her chest.

There were so many humans all around her. No one moved, except for herself. Houses, buildings, she had seen them once, when she had first broken through the wall, they were gone. All of them were scattered in pieces across the ground.

With a grunt and more pain, Mari forced herself to stand up. She swayed, and for once, no one caught her, forcing her upright. The only thing keeping her upright was herself, frail and weak as she was.

She coughed, trying to spit out the rough, dry feeling in her throat. Mari stumbled a few steps forward. "Is anyone here?"

She glanced around. No one answered. She forced herself to keep walking. "Anyone?"

She raised her voice, still searching, "Anyone else? Anyone at all?"

Her foot hit a chunk of stone. She hissed as she forced herself up from her fall. She choked at the pair of open eyes right in front of her. The crown rested in his hands on the ground.

"Mari."

She shot up, scrambling to get away from the figure in front of her. She twisted and turned; her hair flew about blocking her vision as she spun. "Muraad? Rekema? Mallory? Meeko? Bidkar? Apep? Balak?"

"Mari."

"Who's there?" Mari could not find anyone. She bowed her head, and her shoulders shook. "Please, anyone, anyone at all. Don't leave me alone here."

Something moved; she heard it.

Pain erupted in her stomach. She grabbed it, stifling her groans.

"Had enough?"

Pain in her head. She held it, tearing at her hair, unable to stop the inhuman shriek which tore from her throat.

"Then let's keep going. There's always more left."

She tore at her ears, breaking skin, but her actions did nothing to stop the voice.

"Always more. More, until there's nothing. No one left."

Mari's voice gave out. She could make no more sound, but the voice didn't stop. It was what the voice said next that finally registered with her. When she could no longer speak, Mari finally realized.

"No one left in this forsaken land. Do you feel it? Now that you've gotten a taste of it, how can you not? That pure, utter desire? The desire to leave nothing left? To leave this in your wake?"

Mari turned around, seeing herself wearing the stained crown.

It was then, always then that she woke up, screaming, crying, tearing at herself as if she could somehow tear the nightmare out of herself with her hands.