Outside the elegant stained glass, but very thick and fully protected windows. The storm continued to rage on throughout most of the night and into the next day. The harsh wind continued to howl brutally through the towns throwing open windows and blinding white snow fell all around covering freshly made footprints and bloodstains set deep within the snow itself. The people cowered in their hoses holding their crucifixes' tightly and shouting prayers that would never be answered.

It was harsh and brutal on the outside of these thick and strong walls and was seen as a curse to those on the outside. However Berwick liked to think that the remnants of Rhea were protecting them from the evil ones. He even thought the weather was strangely beautiful. While inside, where all the house and rooms were all very warm thanks to his master. He offered a silent thank-you next to the older boys bed. He opened up one eye. The reprimand of his master still fresh in his young mind. But he couldn't help himself. They looked so magnificent. The boys sword sparkled with gold and he swore that the hilt was made out of gold and strangely wonderful small jewels all around the edge. Why the lady didn't have a sword as great as his was beyond his small mind to comprehend. With much difficulty he tore his eyes away from the sword propped up against the opposite wall. The very sword that took tremendous effort for the men just to get off his winter scared body. They had a lot of fire burns on them afterwards. He found it incredibly fascinating to say the least. Berwick dipped the cloth into the bowl once more returning to the girl... and met icy cold blue eyes glaring up at him.

Time seemed to freeze for the both of them. Berwick licked his lips feeling a bit of sweat on his face. He could see the lady's eyes. He saw confusion but not fear. That was good, he thought. Secretly he suspected that master Jeager had left them in charge of them was that they would take to a child better then an adult. "Hellos miss," He said softly hoping it would win her over with a smile.

Annie frowned but not at the small child but where they are. If they had been captured by them this would be the last place she though they would take the two of them. Laying on a feather bed with silver blue sheets that matched the room they were in. And, from what she saw the rest of the room, it was large, brightly lit, spacious, cleanly and well decorated. Beautiful oil paintings lined the walls Pictures of green mountains and fresh springs. Once more as she sat up she saw Carlos' sword was in the room. Who knows perhaps they were safe. She glanced at Carlos on the bed next to her breathing a sigh of relief that his wound were finally healed.

"Kid... where am I?" she asked as the door opened up. Annie looked up to see a man wearing thick clothing coming inside the room carrying a tray in his hands.

"Ahh, good. You have recovered. My name is Gresha Jeager, young lady. You were found by my colleague and friend Kirouchi Moto last night. I see you have already met Berwick, he smiled putting a hand on the young boy's shoulder. "Rest assured you have nothing to fear form us. Although most of this human race has fallen into madness we however stay true to the Goddess' teaching," said an older looking man that Annie remembered from the other day who came in through the open door carrying a tray of soup setting it down on a desk beside her bed. The boy hoped down from his stool taking the other bowl from the tray and placed it on the desk next to Carlos."Rest ushered we will not betray you to the enemy." Grisha said softly as Annie looked between the two of them.

"I see then. Thank-you," Annie said softly her eyes hovering towards the the snow outside. Grisha nodded and looked towards Kichirou. The two older men both nodded in silent understanding and left towards the door, the bowls of soup left on trays by the bed leaving Annie alone in the room with Carlos. "They need their time, we will check on them in a few hours." Annie heard the man say to the young child and Grisha before they left down the stairs. Minutes passed in silence as Annie chewed slowly on the bread that had been brought up along with the soup as the snow blew all around the world outside. Clocking the mansion in a filed of icy invisible white. Snowflakes fell in piles on the walkway making any movement there hazardous to say the least. The temperature dropped to below freezing outside. The people escaped to their houses trapped in the dank darkness of what was their own creations Huddled in thick blankets next to dull fire. Praying for the end of the vile weather.

But who was there to listen?

Extra bit of deleted conversation between Carlos and Annie from the next chapter...

"Hey Annie? ...Do you ever feel like we're being watched? Like our actions, thoughts and words are just being written down right as we speak? So that they can be enjoyed by people so they can make money? And in the hope that they will buy our clothing and laugh and cry at our actions...?"

"Carlos... I think you hit your head on something," Annie said. Without looking up from her book.

"I conquer..."

You can tell why it was deleted...