Ta-dum. I bringeth with me another chapter. It's funny - one of my reviewers hit right on the truth. n.n

Raine: Does that mean you'll finally end this demented tale?

...It's getting there.

Raine: -Groan-

Oh, please. You've been through worse than this. -Eye roll- I know. I wrote most of it. xD

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It really was a hideous ceiling. It really, truly was. She was sick and tired of staring at it - thus, she was not. Raine, being alone in her room as she was for the moment, had gotten out of bed. She was currently slipping on a fresh shirt brought by the other girls, taking care not to reopen the wound. Her old one couldn't very well be worn any longer. But for now, she was going to walk. And she didn't want to go out with no top but a bandage and her overcoat.

It seemed to her that they were all being rather protective. And what good was it to lie around in bed when she was the only one who could see and communicate with this soul thief? She would rather pass on spending the rest of her likely limited days in fear of what he would throw at her next. Eventually, one of his schemes would succeed. And she would really die.

So how could she just stay in bed, staring at the ugly wooden ceiling, with that kind of thought buzzing around in her mind constantly? Maybe she ought to shove one of them off of a cliff, just so they could know how it felt, she mused bitterly.

Raine sighed quietly in the wonderful sunlight and warmth this spring day provided. Thankfully, she was not intercepted by any of her self-proclaimed body-guards. She might just have whacked them over the head, no matter who it was, to make her point.

She would have given a nice, leisurely stretch - but she did not. She might be up and around, but she didn't really want to harm herself further. Their precautions were nearly ridiculous. Hers was sensible. So she lifted her face to the sun for just a few seconds, and delved into her walk.

"I never knew you were such a rebel," remarked a deep voice at her shoulder, harboring amusement. Raine jumped a little and looked up at Regal. She hadn't even noticed him come up - quite a feat, considering his size and build.

"I'm not rebelling. I'm walking," she replied, turning her head back to watch the air in front of her as she resumed her stroll. "And I don't think I can hardly be blamed for wanting out of that wretched place. I might truly go crazy."

"No, you can't be blamed. But we are only trying to keep you safe," he reminded her.

"There's a difference between protecting someone and going overboard with it. You've all done the latter. So thank you, but I'm not a child. And it accomplishes nothing to sit there waiting for my seven appointed parents to tell me I'm no longer grounded."

"I'm glad to see you're feeling better," he mused. Oh, she knew what he meant. And he got a reproving scowl from her. But she wouldn't dignify that comment with a response.

"I've decided that I will no longer be Death's plaything. He claims to have had something to do with the shots before. He doesn't leave me alone. And I don't really fancy living a life of paranoia and fear. This ends today."

"We've been researching those shots," Regal told her. "It seems as though it was just a horrible accident. There was a criminal seeking refuge here in Sybak - the authorities were granted permission to use any force they deemed necessary. Unfortunately, some of their so-called force affected civilians." He nodded to her. "There were a few students who got a taste of it, too. Although, none as serious as you."

Raine sighed. "Which would seem to indicate that he did play a hand in there somewhere. And that's exactly why I'd rather not stare into oblivion until I heal enough for him to kill me anyway. Or, at the very least, make another attempt."

"I believe any of us would feel as you do now."

"...Then why are you treating me like a precious heirloom to be stored and protected until it rots?" she half-snapped.

"Because we want to keep you safe," he replied, his voice remaining smoothe and calm even as hers had risen just a bit. "I'm not so sure you would take our side if it were someone else in your position."

She glowered at him, resenting his argument. But, alas, he may have been correct. "I suppose so," she sighed in resignation, the scowl fading again. "But it's not someone else - it's me. And being that as it is, I can rebel if I so desire."

Regal chuckled quietly at her side. They fell into silence - Raine wasn't certain why he was still walking with her. But as long as he didn't try to drag her back to the inn, she was fine with it. Maybe his presence would keep Death at bay for a while.

As they passed by the library, she heard a familiar sound, and halted at once. "I always get..." it began, and she whispered the rest along with it, "...what I want..." Her eyes widening, she looked toward the innocent-looking library doors. "You won't escape..."

"Raine?" blinked the Duke, looking down at her.

"The book," she murmured, something dawning on her. "What if... What if that's his anchor?"

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-Gasp- Le livre! Sacré bleu!

Raine: ...Why...are you speaking in French?

-Shrug- Because I love the language. And I'm learning it. So I wanted to put somethin' in there.

Raine: Oh, brother.

Genis?

Raine: -Thwack- Idiot.

OW!