Instead of death, Daniella had awoken to a life that had seemed the same at first but was entirely different.

She looked around the guest bedroom to find that Miss Fiona was gone. She couldn't have gone far, Daniella figured, since all doors that led into the main part of the castle were still locked.

She wasn't sure why, but she wanted to help Fiona. The girl was in danger, if Riccardo hadn't found her already, and Daniella wanted to stop whatever he or Lorenzo would do. She recalled what had happened to the girl before, and didn't wish a similar fate upon Fiona.

She made her way out of the bedroom. It was dark outside and the air was chilly. Daniella removed her stiff jacket and stood for a moment, enjoying the tingling sensation that the cold produced on her bare forearms. After a few minutes of this, she put the jacket back on and went down a flight of stairs, wondering where Fiona would have gone, listening for footsteps or growling.

After a while, she heard a sound. Was it the girl's voice? She stood as still as she could. She heard it again, deciding that it was definitely Fiona's voice, heading back toward the courtyard.

She watched as Fiona led the dog toward the main gate. The foolish girl would never get that open, unless she had somehow acquired a key…

Daniella held her breath. If Miss Fiona were to escape, would Daniella follow? She felt the sudden need to break free of this place. Here, she had little control over her life… She laughed aloud. She had never thought about control, never needed it. She had seen books about the world, but had never felt a desire to see anything beyond the castle until now.

Her laugh had startled Fiona, who was looking up to where Daniella stood, her eyes wide. She struggled with the key frantically, dropped it on the floor, tried again, and then gave up in defeat. She slumped against the gate and the dog nuzzled her hand.

It was the wrong key. Daniella had never had the privilege of owning a key to any of the gates that led out of the castle's walls, but she could obtain one.

She walked as silently as she could to the girl, who only noticed her when she was close by. Fiona started to scramble away.

"Do not run from me," Daniella said, trying to keep a calm tone of voice. It was difficult, however, as she was excited at the prospect of leaving the castle. "I will help you."

"Y-you attacked me!" Fiona exclaimed. "I thought you were dead!"

Daniella said nothing, unsure of how to convince the girl that she was sincere. She held her hand out for Fiona to take, but Fiona stood up on her own, keeping some distance between herself and the maid. The dog growled softly as Daniella tried to walk closer to Fiona.

Daniella tried not to let it frighten her. "I will get the gate key for you," she said. She turned on her heel and started to walk away.

"Wait!" Fiona said.

Daniella stopped. Did Miss Fiona want to stay? It seemed as though she really wanted to get out, but perhaps Daniella was mistaken. She was still new to many emotions, although what she knew of them was somehow instinctual. Still, she could not be sure yet. So she turned around again and waited for the young woman to speak.

"Th-thank you for letting me go earlier," Fiona said hesitantly. "I… just want to go home. I don't even know what azoth is, really, or why everyone wants it from me." She trailed off, looking back at the main gate nervously. "I truly do want your help, but I'm not sure I can trust you."

"Trust," Daniella repeated. She played with the word in her head. How could she… gain Miss Fiona's trust? She wasn't sure what people did to earn it.

Debilitas had had a key to the main gate, Daniella was sure of it. She had seen it when she had gone into his hut to clean (which wasn't very often as it was not high up on her list of duties) and she hoped that it was still there.

As she made her way to the hut, she realised that Fiona and the dog were following her, although from a safe distance. Perhaps the dog would ward off Debilitas if he came to the hut while they were there. Daniella hoped so, since she did not want to have to deal with the big fool thinking that she was a doll. Perhaps he thought Fiona was one, too. Daniella wondered if he had been a bother to Fiona at all.

Upon entering the hut, a rancid stench invaded Daniella's nostrils. She tried her utmost to find the key without having to touch anything, but after a few minutes of searching, she accepted that she would have to. Eventually she did find a large key, one she believed to be the one for the main gate, hidden among some of the dolls.

Fiona was waiting outside the hut, the dog sitting obediently at her side. Daniella considered going straight to the main gate with the key, but remembered Fiona's comment about trust, so she handed the key to the girl and followed her to the gate.

Fiona kept glancing over her shoulder, and Daniella wasn't certain if it was to check that she was following or to be sure she wasn't going to attack her again.

Dawn was breaking, illuminating the castle's walls with a soft glow. Daniella had never known how beautiful the sunrise could be. As they neared the main gate, she realised that she felt remorse for what she did to Fiona. She would deal with that later, though, since she was inches from freedom.

Fiona inserted the key into the lock, and once again, struggled to turn it. She looked down at the dog, thanked it, smiled, and tried again. The key turned easily this time, and Fiona pushed the heavy wooden gate open.

She walked a few steps onto a path that led into the forest beyond, then turned back to Daniella. "Thank you," she said, managing a weak smile before walking away, down the winding forest path, disappearing among the trees.

Daniella remained motionless. She could leave, too, but what would she do? She knew nothing of the world outside of the castle. What was it like? Where would she go?

She looked back at the castle's main door. There was nothing left for her here. She stepped out of the main gate, feeling a rush of excitement at her liberation, and walked leisurely down the pathway. She stopped every now and then, enjoying the sights, sounds and scents that the forest offered.

"Miss!" Daniella called out after a while. Both women had been keeping to the path that led through the forest, and thus she had caught up with Miss Fiona.

Fiona looked startled as Daniella touched her arm. "Please don't take me back there!" she cried.

"I want to come with you," Daniella said.

Fiona's expression was puzzled, but she did not refuse. She nodded, her features still baffled, and continued slowly down the path.

Daniella was comfortable with the lack of conversation, as she had never had to talk much. She didn't know what she would say if Fiona did expect her to speak, in fact. So, they walked along in silence.

Daniella enjoyed the greenery that surrounded them. Again, she was astonished that something so simple could be so lovely. A little river ran near the path at one point, and she was delighted by the sound.

After several hours they came to what Daniella figured was simply a bigger, paved path, where they stopped.

"A road!" Fiona exclaimed. "Surely we can find our way from here." She said the word 'we' with slight hesitation, looking at the dog, then at Daniella.

Daniella waited for them to continue on, but Fiona sank to her knees on the grass near the 'road'. She began to weep, and Daniella realised this was bad. She let it go on for a while, though, since there was nothing else she could do.

"I'm terribly sorry," Fiona sobbed eventually. "I'm just so, so tired. So much has happened; it's just all too much to take in. My parents… my parents can't be dead! They can't be…" Her wails became even louder.

The dog was rubbing his nose against the girl's head. Was he trying to comfort her? Could Daniella comfort her, too? How? She gently touched Fiona's arm.

Fiona quietened slightly. Whether it was because she was, indeed, comforted or actually startled was hard to tell. Daniella let her hand rest there, though.

"I'm so sorry," Fiona apologised again. "I'm fine. I'll be fine."

"Miss," Daniella said. "We should go. You will need to have a meal soon." She had always been ordered to cook once a day, and had eaten only then, so she would be fine for a while.

"I… I suppose you're right," Fiona admitted, standing up. "But which way should we go?"

Daniella realised that neither of them knew. This was an opportunity for her to make a conscious decision. For a fleeting moment, she felt nervous, but then she felt a new feeling – courage. They had to go on, and they had to make a choice. Miss Fiona was weak, so Daniella would have to take the lead. She would decide, and she would be in control. She turned to the left and made a wide gesture.

Fiona looked at her with hopeful eyes, and turned to the dog. "Come, Hewie," she said.

"Hewie," Daniella repeated.

Fiona gave her a genuine smile and they began their journey down the old, forgotten road.