The next day......

The next morning I wake up to a bucket of cold water.

I gasp as the chills run down my face and chin. I look up at a Lam Lathi recruit who tells me to “wake up.” He grabs his shield and rifle by the doorway and leaves the room in silence. Moment's later Alana walks in. She smiles. She had all the memories she wanted for now.

“Good morning” Alana gestures silently. She uses her leg for the motion and scrapes the top of her foot over the floorboards insultingly. I didn't want to even think about what it meant. I already knew. I look down at the bloodstain on the floor. They had cleaned up Melinal's body, while I was sleeping. Alana walks quickly toward me. She lights a single candle and pulls up a chair from the side of the room, She turns it around and sits on it, making sure to place it right between my legs. I could feel her breathing. Alana rests her arms and chin on the back of the chair. She arches her back tauntingly, before speaking softly.

“Be still, Atjani. Not all suffering ends in vain.”

Alana moves the chair closer. Her eyes coat with silver and she possesses me one last time.

“This again,” I mutter.

“You wouldn't leave without a kiss farewell, would you?” mocks Alana.

I watch as Alana forces me to kiss herself. When its over, she leaves my body and gets up from her chair. She pushes it aside and straddles me once more, wiping the tearing liquid from her eyes.

“You're sick,” I mutter.

“Then wipe your mouth.”

Alana pulls out her knife from near her boot and flips it around her hand. I hear a snap, as she slices easily through the ropes. She cuts me loose and I move my hands and wrists. It felt good to move again. I wipe my mouth out of spite.

Alana looks at me a little annoyed. I could tell she didn't like my reaction. Everything she did had a hidden reason. She was pushing my limits and I couldn't be sure what she was doing. She was always a few steps ahead. At least that meant she knew how to bring Melinal back. She had to be right about that, or I was going to plot my revenge and slit her throat.

I stare coldly at Alana and shove her off me. She easily retains her balance and backs away from me, as I stand on my feet. Only the slight chiming of her tempest chains keeps me aware that I was in no position of hurting her or making demands. Alana plays around with her guardian rings before letting them dangle by her boot legs.

“Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it. Just help me bring back Melinal,” I mutter.

Alana smirks. She walks closer to me. I could see her frosty breath from0 of all her nearby tempests. The candle was flickering, letting her know more than what she let off. Alana was very aware that resistance fighters also has possessor beings floating around. Whatever she was about to say, she wanted it to stay a secret.

“I don't want your obedience Atjani. I only want you to do what I believe you are capable of.”

Alana pauses.

“I want you two to do two things. I will help you, because I want to.”

I listen carefully and Alana smiles to herself.

“There is a messenger of ours, who has a picture. It's part of a bigger one called The Far Away Dream. I want you to find her and bring me her picture. Her name is Lani Mercallahs.”

“Why don't you just do it yourself?,” I shoot out. “Too lazy?”

Alana continues. She didn't look to amused “It would look bad if Lam Lathi was stealing from their own sacred messengers. We need someone with a different reputation. Your escape has been planned. No one will know I set you free.”

“Why not just ask her for it. She should be loyal enough to do dumb things,” I mutter.

“We already tried. It has sentimental value. She won't give it up. Her tempests have let mine know.” Alana becomes more serious. She didn't quite like what she was doing, being a messenger herself, but her respect for Lam Lathi was unwavering. I could tell she had her own motives from time to time, but nothing that she didn't believe was for the better overall. That didn't make her perfect and she and I both knew that. Alana continues. I listen to her careful pace, as it taps the floor.

“Lani is headed to the Felokyle. It would look bad if we couldn't protect our messengers and their treasures on our own home turf. The Felokyle is controlled by the Neandelerians. It is more.... “out of our range.” That is where I am sending you. I even have a flying machine for you, and trip to Neandeleria when it's over,” Alana smirks and waits for my eye contact.

“Don't mock me. What's part two?”

“You will join us to steal The Far Away Dream in Cepertine. Once we do, Melinal will be your living friend again. I will be faithful to you, Atjani, so long as you will be faithful to me.”

“That works. Now, let me get the hell out of here”

I push passed Alana giving her a hard shove out of my way. She lets me have my way, and watches me head to the door. I slam it open, only to be stopped as she calls out to me. I turn as Alana plays with her tempest chains. She touches her leather corset, as if to say it was a gift from her “heart.” Alana plucks a tempest ring off her line and tosses it to me.

“I will be your tempest, Atjani. I will be your dancer, if you will be my sacrificial lamb.”

“Like I said Alana. I trust you enough to try your plan. Don't mock me.”

I slam the door as hard as I can. I open the door just to slam it again. I was so angry I could slit my palm. Alana already told me what I needed to do. Deep inside my head, were some of her own memories. She chose them wisely and there was nothing I could use to get back at her. In those memories, she had told me all I needed to know to be successful.

I rush passed several Lam Lathi soldiers and they hold up the hand-sign for Lam Lathi. I was headed to get my equipment. They were more loyal to Alana than Lam Lathi itself. It wasn't a big deal to me. I would head out of the city in secret, though.

All I could think about was getting Melinal back. It was a straight shot for me. It was a one way ticket to my old self. I think about the memories that Alana uncovered in me. I would rather be there than here. I'd either rather be in that miserable place of Capara. At least they were known as dancer killers and mercenaries. We had something in common.