A/N: Sorry for the late update. I had a statistics test last week. I hope you guys are enjoying this story so far. I apologize for updating the wrong file. ; I made a big mistake...I hope that you send me feedback. Enjoy.

Cold wind whipped around my face, rustling my hair. When I looked around, all I could see were grey clouds. We had journeyed far west for a few hours. All of the crying left me fatigued. I simply watched ahead, waiting for the dark sky to end. However, it kept going.

I felt us rise further in the air, shifting to the right. I unconsciously placed my hand over the bandage on my neck. "You are ashamed of the mark of death, Terra?" I heard Kuja ask. I looked down, trying to get the realization that he was there out of my mind. No matter what I tried, his presence would not disappear from my thoughts. We had both been silent since we left and I was able to forget he was there. Now that he had made his presence known, I wanted to do anything just to rid of his overpowering aura.

I leaned my face into the dragon's neck which was warm and comforting. I closed my eyes only to open them when the dragon jolted upward. I looked down to see that there was a dune below us. Several sand pits sank into the ground like watching giant hourglasses.

To my horror, we were headed straight for one of them. The dragon jolted upward a few more times before landing gracefully upon the center of the pit. We were slowly sinking down into its depths. I gasped and tried to dismount. However, Kuja's arms blocked my exit. "Is this how I'm going to die then!?" I yelled in terror. I did not want to suffocate to death! I wasn't going to be buried alive either! I struggled to free his arm from the exit. I heard him laugh slightly as we sank lower into the sand pit.

There was a moment that seemed to last forever as the sand opened wider and we were all sucked down to the black depths. I closed my eyes tightly, ready for the sand to infiltrate my lungs, readying my body to be crushed by the relentless rocks.

I felt nothing. It was as if we were soaring in the air again. Was this a painless death? I opened one of my eyes to see that we were indeed flying. There was a large castle below us, much like Alexandrian Castle. The color scheme was darker however and sand seemed to surround its borders. There was nothing but sand everywhere. I looked up toward where the sand pit should have been and I was surprised to find the sky, still a navy blue. It was as if the sand pit was only part of a nightmare and I had awoken to see us flying over the new building.

In all honesty, I had no idea where we were. I narrowed my eyes to see if there were any cities nearby. Nothing…there was just sand everywhere. I looked over my shoulder at Kuja in confusion. "The sand pit was only camouflage. It is much like Cleyra with the sandstorm covering the city. At least, before it was destroyed," he added.

"Cleyra…was destroyed as well!? Were you the one who did it!?" I accused.

The look in his eyes changed for a moment; a look of regret maybe? "No. It was your queen. Queen Brahne destroyed Cleyra."

I felt shock sink in quickly. So much had happened and we had all been oblivious to it, or my brothers just weren't telling me anything. There were too many possibilities. I heard about what happened to Burmecia, but I had gotten over that. My father was on good terms with the people of Cleyra though.

I shifted back to what Kuja had said before about the castle below us being disguised. "Why would you need to disguise this place anyway?"

"There are certain rats I wouldn't want invading here," he said with a sadistic grin on his face. I shuddered and turned back to face the castle as we looped around and landed at the back. "Welcome to Desert Palace," he said. I thought sarcastically why he would call it that.

He descended the silver dragon before me. I would have run for it if there wasn't the vast desert ahead and I had no idea where we were. There was also the fact that he immediately grabbed my wrist and tugged on my arm to get down. I was fearful at first because of my clumsiness. I was horrible when placed up in high areas.

I managed to get down from the dragon without much of a problem. I stared up at the magnificent beast. After a moment, Kuja pulled on my arm toward the entrance. "You have no reason to return now. You will die here," he said as he led the way. The doors opened as he moved his arm in the air without touching them. Could he use magic like Julian? I was pulled through the doors and heard them shut behind me. "The only way you'll be able to leave this place is by flight. The silver dragon only obeys me, so using him to get away from this place is futile. Also, I must inform you that there is someone else staying here at Desert Palace. Her name is Lady Hilda. You won't have to worry much about her. She's quiet and doesn't bother anyone very much."

"Lady Hilda?" I asked as he continued to lead the way through the palace. The hallways were dark colors of deep purples and blues. Candles lit the walls, but did not seem to light the dark abyss.

He walked quickly through numerous hallways. I had a hard time keeping up. The floor beneath me was smooth thank goodness. We reached the end of a hallway after climbing some stairs. I was already lost in the labyrinthine palace anyway. Even if I wanted to find a way out, all I could see myself doing is getting lost in the process.

At the end of the hallway, he opened a door and threw me through the opening. I landed on my hands and knees. "You'll stay here unless I summon you," he said tiredly. I was confused again.

"Didn't you say that you would kill me?" I asked turning to look up at him.

"I said I'd give you a slow, painful death. A death a person such as you cursed with the name Terra deserves. Before I kill you though, I will teach you never to defy me again."

"It's funny that you say that," I said looking away toward the ground. "All I remember doing was asking you what you did to the city when it was in ruins. Why are you so defensive toward me just because of my name anyway?" I heard the door begin to close and I turned in alarm. "Hey, why won't you tell me anything?" I yelled.

He opened the door slightly to look back and say, "There are some things you're better off not knowing," he answered calmly. The door clicked shut and I heard him walking back down the long hallway.

I got up from the floor and looked around me. The furniture in the room was the same as in my old room save for where they were and how they looked. Everything seemed more elegant; it was disturbing. I hated the fact that things looked so fine that even the slightest touch might leave a blemish upon the perfected surfaces. I was used to the strong furniture at home where it would last and not look so fragile. I doubted if the furniture here was any different, but the look of it was too high class for me. I carefully made my way to a full-sized bed and sat upon it. The theme was dark colors…again.

I hadn't realized how fatigued I was until I rested my head upon the satin pillows. I hated how they felt. I was really becoming homesick. It didn't matter though considering how tired I was. To be honest, it WOULD take some time getting used to, but I could live with it for a while. I forgot to remove my boots and jacket, so I merely fell asleep in my day clothes.

I awoke to the sound of the door opening. I was on my side facing the wall so I didn't move and only opened my eyes; awaking my senses to the person walking towards me while they thought I was asleep.

I closed my eyes as I heard them stop before my bed. I could tell they were raising their hand toward me because I heard the rustle of clothing. I shut my eyes tightly, believing it to be Kuja. I didn't want to deal with him right now and I was still drowsy from just waking up. I shivered slightly as a warm hand dropped upon my shoulder. The hand was slender and delicate. I opened my eyes and shifted to see who it was. I found myself looking into eyes similar to mine, only with a lighter glow.

She was beautiful; dressed in a long flowing dress the color of lilies. An intricate crown sat upon her head that had several jewels dangling down the sides. From what I could tell, her hair was a deep golden color. Her face was pale, angelically pale and the smile she wore seemed to increase her angelic demeanor. "Are you alright?" she asked with a soft voice.

"Y-yes," I stuttered halfway between sleep and awe. I sat up straight and hung my feet over the bed.

"I'm glad," she responded sitting next to me. "When Kuja informed me of you, I just had to make sure you were okay. He didn't harm you or anything right?"

I couldn't believe how kind she was! She had all rights and power to treat me as a lowly peasant, but instead she chose to treat me as if I were her equal. "No," I said smiling. "He didn't harm me at all." I averted my gaze to the ground as I spoke.

"You don't have to act so humble around me. Like you, I too am a prisoner here," she said.

"A prisoner…?" I asked looking up in horror.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, but what I say is true," she said with a calm smile. She was so ladylike and kept her voice under control. I envied her slightly, but I didn't regret how I was.

"Why did Kuja kidnap you?" I asked.

"It's a long story, but I guess you'd enjoy hearing it," she said looking my way. "I am the Regent Cid Fabool's wife."

"You mean the regent of Lindblum?" I asked trying my very best to keep my voice steady.

"Yes, the Regent of Lindblum. While I lived with him, I noticed that he was trying to pick up on girls at the nearby pub. I was upset naturally and I wanted to put an end to his childish actions. He was turning into a womanizer and I was greatly disturbed because of it. I decided one evening that I would teach him a lesson.

"That night, I made sure he was dead asleep. I got up as quietly as I could and put a curse upon him," she said with a small smile. My eyes widened slightly. Who was being childish here? She continued, "I turned him into an oglop. I then left with his new airship which he proudly named after me; the Hilde Garde. After my great escape, I was stopped by a certain silver-haired man. He took possession of the Hilde Garde and I had no choice but to accompany him. Roughly speaking, I was kidnapped by him," she finished with a smile upon her face. "Although, I'm beginning to miss my husband a lot more than I thought I would."

I was a little speechless. I didn't know how exactly to respond to this. A highly respected ruler had run away with her husband's airship and turned him into an insect. It sounded so bizarre. I merely smiled nervously accompanied by a shaky laugh. "Are you sure that was a good thing to do?" I asked apprehensively.

"I wanted him to stop being such a womanizer. That's what he gets for chasing other women," she responded.

"I see. So do you know a way out of this place by chance?" I asked.

"Not really," she said sadly. "I don't mind this place much though. Kuja takes really good care of me and tells me about his goals."

"His goals…? I thought he was the angel of death. Is such a being allowed to have goals?" I asked.

She nodded. "He is still a living creature."

"Creature…" I said with thought. "What exactly is Kuja?"

"You mean that you don't know?" she responded softly.

I shook my head. "He never told me. He keeps saying that I am destined to die and he hates all things that carry the name Terra."

"I see," she said looking down at the floor. "Well, he is certainly not a creature you would want to mess with. He told me that he's immortal."

"Immortal? I know that because he's the angel of death," I said.

"No, he's immortal because he's actually…" she broke off. I stared at her, unsure of why she suddenly stopped talking.

"That's quite enough, Lady Hilda," I heard Kuja say from a corner in my room. He emerged from behind a pillar. "We don't need Terra learning things that are pointless."

Hilda looked up at Kuja and stood from her seat. "I understand," she said with a warm smile and a bow. "I'll just be leaving then. I'll be in my quarters if you need me. I'll see you later, sweetie," she said waving lightly over to me. She then left out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

The discomfort came back; his presence still overpowering as ever. I would have done anything at that moment to sink into the shadows if only to avoid his gaze. More than that, I wanted to know what he was. I was so close to making a breakthrough, but nothing seemed to make sense. I thought that by now Kuja would have seen how slow I was and opted to tell me, knowing that it wouldn't have made much sense anyway. Even a guess or a hint would be just fine.

He simply stood there, leaning against the pillar that was his previous hiding place. He watched my every movement. I could feel his gaze just watching. It was unnerving and caused me to want to throw something at him or yell at him to stop staring. I was becoming infuriated by the minute, though I would never sum up the courage to tell him so.

It felt like hours were passing with him staring at me and I kept my averted gaze to the ground. I felt like a beaten dog, receiving invisible punishment for something I had yet to understand what I did wrong. The fatigue nipped at my mind. I was still dead tired and I managed to sleep for only a few short hours before Hilda walked in. A few more minutes passed before I lost concern about what I did in front of Kuja.

I fell back upon my bed, closing my eyes easily. I felt at ease even though he was there. Sleep was what I desired more than anything else. I had been so restless before tonight. It was so nerve-racking to experience all that had happened, from tripping in the streets, to encountering the angel of death and cursed with the mark of death, to nearly drowning in the lake, and embarrassing myself in front of the townsfolk. To be honest, it was relaxing to get away from everything, even if this was the destined place for my grave. I was calm, willing to accept things as they came. The great saying 'out of sight, out of mind' really came in handy now.

As I lay there slowly drifting to sleep, I wondered what it was that my brothers were doing at this moment. Were they concerned for my disappearance? What about Hana and Autumn? Would they be alright when they woke up and realized I had gone? What would Ember think? Does he even think of the family as individual members and not just a pack of people? We weren't wolves, we were human. Would he care enough to think about me individually? I didn't know.

Thinking about Julian made my stomach wrench. I really loved and cared about him, and I could bet that he felt the same way tenfold. I fought back tears as I imagined his sorrow-filled face.

I felt a hand press upon my neck. My eyes shot open, widened in alarm as I saw Kuja's hand rip off the bandage over the mark. I stifled a scream from his proximity. How did he get so close without me hearing him? I heard everything! "I feel ashamed when you hide the gifts I give you," he said.

I had the urge to hurt him then. What kind of gift was death anyway!? I held my tongue however and cringed noticeably at his proximity. "D-Do you need something…?" I managed to whisper loud enough for him to hear. I was paralyzed.

"To answer your question from two nights ago, I don't hate you," he said clearing his throat. It sounded as if he was having a hard time with this topic. Had he ever had someone care for him before? Were his parents as gentle and kind as mine? I knew nothing about him and he claimed to know so much about me through the power of the elements. Maybe he truly wanted someone to understand him. I shuddered noticeably at the thought. "Is something wrong?" he asked in response to my shudder.

I shook my head. "N-No… nothing is wrong," I breathed. I tried my very best to keep my composure. I wanted to be there to listen to what he had to say if anything. I had to take responsibility if I truly wanted to learn why he hated my name so much. "Why don't you hate me if you hate my name?" I asked almost involuntarily.

I heard a distinct sigh as the rustle of clothing signaled that he had stepped away, possibly turned toward the door. "It's complicated," he resolved.

"I have time," I suggested.

"You wouldn't understand," he admonished.

"How would you know? I understand more that you perceive me to. I may not get things at first and it may take me several tries to get something right. However, I promise you that I try really hard to honestly understand things. It may take a while, but it's not impossible for me to comprehend things."

There was a long, awkward silence. I felt the fatigue pulling at me again. I pushed it from my mind as it threatened to pull me into sleep. "Terra," I heard him say. The syllable sounded as if it was tainted when it fell from his mouth, almost as if it were a curse word to his mind. "The word itself is an abomination," I heard him recite as he left out of the room.

With him gone, I was finally able to close my eyes and drift into the world of forgetting. I did not want to come back to the reality that I had been kidnapped; taken from the family I longed to protect even if I couldn't do anything to protect them.

I didn't know how long I had slept, but when I finally woke up, the sun shone brightly through the pastel tinted windows. I blinked my eyes repeatedly as the sun streamed in blue over my eyes. I sighed as I sat up. My head felt heavy and the soundless room didn't help it feel any better.

I carefully got to my feet, rubbing my brown colored eyes. When they had adjusted to the new brightness, I peered over at the door and recoiled to the wall. There was a black creature with yellow eyes dressed in dark clothes and a funny hat watching me! I blinked several times, hoping the sight of the new being would disappear. In response, it too blinked its yellow glowing eyes. I felt myself shaking. I had never seen something like this before in my life! Sure I had heard about them; how they devastated Lindblum and killed its citizens, but I never thought I'd encounter one here!

After a minute had passed, nothing happened. The creature didn't lash out at me or start throwing fire spells. I managed to stop shaking. I racked my brain to remember what Julian had called them. "You're a black mage, right?" I asked the odd creature.

It merely stood for a moment; watching me. I cocked my head to the side and gave it a questioning look. With a quick glance to the door before looking back at me, it nodded apprehensively. I couldn't help but smile. It was so cute! "Do you…have a name?" I continued.

Its eyes moved in a confused way. Finally, after another duration of time, I heard a small voice say, "I don't have a name. However…my number is 279."

I smiled broader. The boy before me wasn't terrifying at all like how Julian said. Of course, he did elaborate and overemphasize on most of his stories. "Why do you only have a number?"

Number 279 put his hand to his chin and looked up at the ceiling. "I'm not sure if I'm allowed to tell you. Master Kuja didn't give me instruction of what I should speak of if you began talking to me," he said in a childlike voice.

"I understand," I said looking down. "Orders should always be followed. I shouldn't compromise your position, Mr. 279. However, if it's alright with you, I'd like to give you a name just so I don't have to call you by a number, okay?"

The small mage nodded a little more enthusiastically than before. Could it be he was excited? Was it such a rare thing to be treated as if he were human? Of course, they were known as murderers on the outside world, but as far as war goes, soldiers just follow orders.

I turned to the window and thought for a moment. What could I call him? He wore such strange clothes and was feared by millions for his abilities. However, there seemed to be something else; something that was commonly overlooked by people. He was irresistibly adorable and had such a kind demeanor compared to the rumors I had previously heard. "What about Fenn?" The mage nodded happily causing me to smile once more. "That's great! From now on, I'll call you Fenn."

"What's your name then?" Fenn asked approaching slowly to sit next to me.

"I thought Kuja would have told you. All he does is rant about how much he hates my name," I said trying to hide my sadness. People usually hated me for more rational reasons than just a name. "My name is Terra," I said softly.

The mage turned away. "That…makes sense. Terra is a rare name to come by on Gaia," Fenn said.

I looked to him questioningly. "Do you know why he hates it then!?"

The mage shook his head. "Although," he began. "I often hear him shouting in his quarters at times about the name Terra. He hates that name with a deep passion it sounds like." Fenn turned back to me. "I don't see why he could hate you though. It's just a name, anyway."

"That's what I said, but he told me that even if I were to change my name it wouldn't matter. I think he hates me even though he doesn't say so himself," I said putting on a smile.

"Is it possible to truly exist?"

"What!? That came out of the blue. Why'd you suddenly ask that?"

"It's just…beings that are like me expire quickly and we are told that we are mere products. However, I understand things, and I feel…emotions I mean. I have been sad and happy the same as everyone else. I don't understand what makes me different from anyone else," he said shaking his head.

"I see," I replied. "I guess that in a sense, we are both very similar. I won't exist for too long now." I pointed to the black mark upon my neck where Kuja had removed the bandage. "I have been marked by death and I will die as soon as Kuja wills it," I smiled.

The mage looked at the symbol and I could see his eyes wincing. "You have a soul, but why are you so content on giving it up?" I could hear his fragile voice cracking with the emotions he seemed to hide. "How can you simply smile and accept death without a fight!?"

I stood up and kneeled in front of the mage. "Hey, it's alright!" I said patting his shoulder. "I'm fine with it because it's been three days since I received this mark. I'm used to the idea by now so it doesn't really bother me all that much. Sure I've left a lot of things behind, but it's not like I'm going to die without a cause. The only true reason I left, is so that my family would be protected. I care a lot about them. They sacrificed a great deal when our parents passed to the next life."

"You don't understand!" Fenn yelled. I jumped back slightly in alarm.

"W-What don't I understand?" I asked shakily.

"When you die…you won't go to any spirit world," he said between sobs. "Instead, you're spirit will be eaten by the abomination that creates the mist!"

I raised an eyebrow. "I think you're confused. When we die, as the old legends say, our spirits will ascend to the lifestream that keeps Gaia alive. The lifestream is the birth and death of all."

The mage shook his head. "No! That's not true! Your spirit will be eaten by the great Iifa Tree!"

I had heard of that somewhere before. "The Iifa Tree…?" He nodded furiously. "Where is this Iifa Tree?"

The mage gasped. "I…I have to go now. I'm really sorry, Terra." He got up and walked to the door, leaving through it and closing it securely behind him.

I hoped I didn't offend him in any way. He seemed so sensitive and kind. He didn't deserve to be shunned with the rest of them. He wasn't brainwashed, but I feared that he would be or at least be in the stages of being brainwashed. I cringed at the thought. How could someone so kind turn so evil? Were all the black mages like that before being turned against humanity?

My stomach grumbled suddenly. I felt disappointment slip in as soon as I realized that the last meal I had was dinner last night. One thing I would surely miss was Julian's cooking. I clutched my torso in hopes that the noises would stop. "By this time right now, I would have a bite to eat and then leave to do the daily shopping. Maybe I would check out the store where Ember works," I said aloud with a sigh. I actually found myself missing Ember. I longed to hear an insult from him just to hear his apathetic voice. Even if it was cold, it still meant something to me. He cared; he just never found it useful to express his care.

The door opened with a loud creak. I looked up to see Lady Hilda. I immediately stood up and offered a proper bow. "My lady," I said quietly.

"Raise your head. It's alright; you don't have to be so proper around me. I may be a government official, but that doesn't mean that I will sentence you to death if you misaddress me."

"R-Right," I said looking up and standing up straight. She was as magnificent as always. I felt rather inferior with my attire. I was a peasant and I was dressed for combat. She smiled at me though, as if I were her equal.

"Come with me, Miss Terra," she said gracefully. "It's time for breakfast."

I stared at her slightly confused. She was willing to eat a meal with me, a peasant. It seemed farfetched, but her smile was genuine and she wasn't lying. "Kuja instructed me to stay here," I said quietly.

"Oh? No need to worry," she said excitedly. "He isn't here right now. He has stepped out for some other business. When he returns, he should retreat to his quarters and not bother with us. You'll be back in your room before he knows it."

I thought about her words and finally managed to say shakily, "A-Alright then. I wouldn't mind getting something to eat. I really am hungry though. At home, my big brother Julian always cooked for all of us, my other brothers and I, that is."

"You have elder brothers? That's wonderful." She led me out of the room through the maze of hallways. I was afraid she might get us lost, but her footsteps kept the same smooth pace without fail.

"Yes, I have four elder brothers. Before I was kidnapped, our family got bigger with three younger siblings! I was so excited because I gained a little brother and two younger sisters!"

"That must have been rather exciting. I am happy for you. What did your parents say?" she asked. I stopped. She turned back to me. I stared indefinitely ahead. I couldn't think of a way to respond to that. After what Fenn had said about where spirits of the departed go, I was greatly uneasy. I had always thought that the spirits would go back to the lifestream or heaven from where they originated. "Oh my, did I say something I should not have. I'm deeply sorry, Miss Terra."

I shook my head, breaking from the standstill of being lost for words. "No, no! It's not your fault at all! I was just caught off guard and I didn't know how to respond. Please don't blame yourself. I was the one who couldn't answer your question," I said putting up my hands in apology.

"Alright then, let's just put that subject behind us for now," she said with an apologetic smile. We both continued throughout the hallways without talking. The silence was quite relaxing for me though. I looked around at the walls. There were intricate designs and glowing torches above my head as we passed. There were many balconies we passed that led to lower levels.

We both arrived in a dining hall. It was just as elaborate as most of the palace. As we both sat down, several black mages came in and set down platefuls of food. I stared at the entrees before asking, "Is Kuja a prince?"

Lady Hilda looked up suddenly. "I'm sorry. What was that?"

"Is Kuja a prince?" I repeated casually.

She tilted her head to me. "I'm not really sure. I've never asked him. I really don't have conversations with him. He mostly monologues about his plans to me," she said.

"What about the black mages? Are they under his control? Is he the one brainwashing them?" I pressed.

She wagged a finger at me and added a wink. "Ah, ah, I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone. That sadly, includes you as well. As a respected lady, I can't tell anyone else's secrets."

"I see," I sighed and took a bite of toast. Why did Kuja keep so many secrets anyway? Who was I to tell? I didn't really know anyone here. I usually kept quiet and besides, who would believe an ordinary kid like me?

"You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" I heard Lady Hilda ask.

I looked up to her in alarm. "Thinking about who!? Why would I be thinking about anyone? I was merely thinking about the routes in this place that could lead me to an exit."

"You're not very practiced in telling lies, are you?" she said with a light giggle. "I know how it is. You are lovesick."

"What!? Lovesick!?" I stood up from the table, the chair clattering on its side in doing so. Why in the world would she think I was lovesick!? "I'm not even interested in men! I have too many other things to occupy my mind with!"

I heard her chuckle lightly. "Most girls your age are exactly the opposite, however, even if you deny you have no interest, your eyes say different. I've been in love too, Miss Terra, so even you can't conceal how you truly feel," she said.

"I just barely met Kuja! How could you suggest such a thing!?" I yelled.

"Now, I never mentioned the love interest being Kuja, did I?" she added.

I felt my face burn with embarrassment. I did the most logical thing that came to my mind at that moment. I ran. I left Hilda's sight. Honestly, I was only sixteen for crying out loud and the jerk wanted me dead! The idea was absurd!

I finally had to stop for breath. I used my knees to support me as I breathed rapidly, my heart pounding furiously against my chest. I used the nearby wall for support as I felt my knees ready to give out.

I slowly crept along the wall, using it to steady my balance. I pulled away from it and continued running, trying desperately to find my way back to my room. When I rounded a corner, I nearly ran into another black mage. I skidded to a stop, falling sideways, able to avoid collapsing upon the unexpected creature. I landed upon my right wrist which made a sickening snap.

"A-Are you alright?" I asked looking up at the startled mage. They simply looked down at me before running off around the corner. I started sadly after them. I finally managed to stand. I winced before looking down at my wrist. It was aching badly and I couldn't move it very well. Almost every two seconds, I felt a sharp pain shoot up my arm. "Oops…" I mumbled. It wasn't the first time my wrist had been snapped. The first time was when I was playing with Ferris and Deryo. Maybe that's why Ember was apprehensive about me hanging around with them.

I continued walking, struggling very hard to remember where I had walked through while being guided by Lady Hilda. There were so many turns I had taken then that it was quite difficult for me to remember. After reaching a dead end, I slumped against the wall. "I give up," I said closing my eyes. I knew I would get lost in here. I should have kept my attitude under control instead of run out like that.

The hallway was warm. I half expected the place to be freezing cold; enough to see my breath come out as fog at least. To my surprise, it was comforting. I was comfortable leaned against the wall; so much, that I fell asleep again. My only guess as to why I was so tired was that the thought of death was somewhat depressing. I knew it was unhealthy to sleep this much, but what could I do? I was stuck in some odd castle in a place I didn't know where.

I awoke to the sound of the footsteps that made the disturbing echo noise. I hoped it was a bad dream. I didn't want to deal with anything right now. I kept my eyes closed as the echoes came louder, moving closer to me.

He stopped when he was approximately two feet away from my sleeping form. "You got lost?" I heard him ask. I didn't reply. He sighed before I heard him take a few more steps closer and the rustle of clothing as he kneeled down in front of me. I struggled to keep my eyes shut and maintain their relaxed position. His aura, uncomfortably close to mine, almost caused me to open my eyes or cringe deeper into the wall. I could feel his gaze upon me, daring me to awaken. When I was about to open my eyes, I felt his arms slide underneath my body. My body twitched slightly in alarm, but he didn't seem to notice as he stood up, one arm under my back, while the other under my knees.

I could hear his footsteps moving, more vividly than ever. My ear was pressed to his chest. I could feel his heart palpitating at a clear rhythm. I felt my heart rate increase at an astronomical speed. I prayed that he wouldn't be able to hear it at a distance. The moment lasted forever as we continued down the hallways. I lost track of whether we were moving right or left; captivated within the sound of his majestic breathing and radiating warmth.

I heard a door creak open as we walked through. The warmth disappeared as I was gently set down upon the cold sheets. I felt his hand brush a strand of hair from my neck where the mark was. His fingers passed over it. It felt like he was taunting me. He promised me death, but he acted so kind. I wondered what he would get merit for in all this.

His hand disappeared from my neck as the sound of his clothing moved swiftly in the air as he left. The door closed, sending an echoing click throughout the room. I finally opened my eyes, aware of where I was. My body felt weakened; drained. I had slept too often. I needed to get up, but my body felt so heavy. I managed to sit up. I brushed my hands over my neck and felt an almost involuntary smile appear on my face. Realizing what I had done, I removed my hand and shook my head, attempting to clear out the thoughts of his image.

Was Lady Hilda right? Was I falling for Kuja? No…that idea was impossible. It was best left alone; out of sight. No matter how much I tried however, his image would not disappear.