I returned to my room soon after though not before I gave Jace a quick kiss on the cheek. The way he blushed you'd think I kissed him on the mouth which just left me grinning from ear to ear.

"You seem in a good mood." Liliana pointed out, joining me as I walked quickly to my room. "Even after a training session with Chandra and Beefslab? I have to say I'm slightly impressed."

"I did take a break in the library, reading about the guilds of Ravnica." I replied as I slowed, thinking. "Wait, Beefslab? Who's...oh do you mean Gideon?" I asked and she nodded, giving me a tiny smile.

"I doubt reading in a dusty old library made you this happy." Liliana answered and I frowned slightly, walking in step with the necromancer until I raised my eyebrows. "Yes I know what happened between you and Jace." She added and I groaned, rubbing at my eyes with my left palm.

"I thought that was our secret." I muttered and Liliana actually laughed as we reached my room. "Please don't tell anyone."

"Ailis, calm down. It's a little unbecoming." Liliana sighed and I coughed, cheeks burning.

"Look just promise you won't say anything?" I replied and when she nodded I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Not that I would have felt it I supposed with my strength...

I left Liliana in the hallway, heading for my room to take a few minutes to myself. With my back turned I didn't see the tiny smile on Liliana's lips as she headed off to find the Guildwatch.

"Now this is a better idea. No one can give me grief in here." I sighed, lying back on the white blanket covering the mattress. "I still can't believe Jace actually kissed me back."

Why does that confuse you?

"Why do you persist at reading my mind, Jace?" I grumbled, hearing a laugh in my head as I sat using my elbows as leverage. "That is not funny. If I could read minds I wouldn't intrude on private thoughts."

Once again I know when you're lying, Ailis. Being you you wouldn't be able to resist taking a peek.

"Jace, just come in here." I snorted and he grinned, standing outside my room. When I heard a light knock I raised my eyebrow at the door before I responded. "The door's open."

"I know that, Ailis. I was being polite." Jace replied, turning the doorknob. Now standing in the open doorway he cracked a smile as I lay back, one leg dangling off the bed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what, Jace?" I asked and he actually sighed, closing the door gently behind him. "Jace, this is getting really annoying."

"Chandra told me that you freaked out when she conjoured a flame." Jace explained and that made me sit, eyes widening as he approached the bed.

"Of course I did! You know what happened to me when I...died. Why do you sound surprised?" I answered, lying back as he reached the bed.

"I only found you lying dead with a sword thrust through you. I don't know what happened other than the one time I probbed your mind. The thing is I want to try again but I need your permission first." Jace told me and I snorted, arms crossed when he sat beside me.

"Why ask? Just search my mind and maybe you'll know because I certainly don't." I grumbled and he shook his head, one hand reaching for mine. I could feel his hand clutching mine and despite the fear of knowing what he could unearth.

"I won't search your mind without asking first, Ailis. Reading idle thoughts is child's play compared to searching deeper into your mind." Jace said, nodding when I gently squeezed his hand. Really I was afraid to use anymore of my strength in fear of breaking his hand. "So are we in agreement?"

"I do want to know why my village was targeted, why I was murdered in cold blood so...I'm giving you my permission to search my mind. I have to know why this happened." I whispered, swallowing a lump in my throat and he nodded. Carefully he raised his hands and I flinched as they pressed against either side of my head, making Jace smile.

I promise this won't hurt you...physically.

Oh well that's a weight off my mind, Beleren. Kind of.

I heard a faint chuckle, at the same time feeling a presence in my head. Resisting the urge to narrow my eyes at him I stayed as still as I could, curious as Jace's eyes glowed blue.

Try and think back to your home. Maybe something that happened before...

I can't really remember anything except the moment you found me...wait. I think something else happened that day. I remember a fight with some man and his two friends when they entered our village. My father is..was...the village elder at the time and I remember him being angry that these three strangers didn't even have the respect to speak with him first.

Is there anything else you can tell me about this man?

Well he had short blonde hair, bright blue eyes the color of the sky and he was wearing really expensive clothing at the clothes had his initials sewn into them...I think they were '

I didn't notice you paying that much attention to our clothes.

Jace, I don't think that matters right now. Anyway he showed up and instead of speaking directly to my father he started to hit on me the moment we laid eyes on each other. I know he was attractive but I didn't like the way he acted, like he could do whatever he wanted just because he was rich. I know it sounds weird but his eyes were so cold and when he tried to put his arm around my waist I pushed him away, leaving him red-faced. His friends laughed as he glared at me, muttering under his breath that he always got what he wanted.I didn't think much of it when I walked home. He left me alone for a full day and I thought that maybe he'd gotten the message, that I wasn't interested. Until a day later when he made an advance towards me, trying to grab my arm and pull me into a kiss. I think I backhanded him and he fell on his rear. He ended up walking away with dirt and grass covering his butt.

For a moment I heard silence then I actually heard Jace laughing in my head and I giggled. Then my face paled as I saw another memory, a roaring flame and screaming.

He came back that night...that monster tried to take me back to his village by force, wanted me for his wife he said and when my parents tried to help he locked them in their house. He...threw a lit torch on the roof and I could hear them screaming, my father telling me to run into the woods.

The sounds of terrified screaming blocked out all sound as I saw my house engulfed in flames, the cries of my parents as they desperately tried to escape through the blocked door. Resisting the urge to rush into the fire to help them I ran for my life, tears streaming down my face as their cries ceased and all I could hear were the flames as they burned my only home to the ground. The smell of burning flesh invaded my nostrils as I ran and behind me I heard laughing. When I turned my head I saw the murderer of my family running after me on foot, his two friends a short distance away.

I ran faster, nearly tripping on a tree root as I headed deeper into the darkness of the forest hoping the shadows of the trees would hide me. Coming to a fork in the road I paused, taking the path on the right that lead deeper into the forest and as I looked for somewhere to hide I heard footsteps getting closer. Soon I was out of breath and I paused, heart racing only to feel a hand roughly grab my shoulder and I spun around to find my parents' killer standing before me with a sword levelled at me.

"Last chance, girl. Come with me and become my wife or you'll leave you here for the wild beasts." He promised and for a moment he held out his hand. With a growl I shook him off, spitting at his feet and he raised his hand. Striking me with a vicious backhand he threw me to the ground, leaving me dizzy and my cheek throbbing. "You bitch!" He snarled grabbing my arm nearly pulling my arm out of socket before he pulled me towards his chest. That's when I screamed, his sword ripping through my stomach with a burst of bright red blood.

My scream of both fear and pain echoed through the forest as my murderer let out a laugh, his two friends reaching us just as a brilliant light enveloped the four of us, momentarily blinded us just before I vanished.

I'm so sorry, Ailis. I shouldn't have pushed you.

I didn't even realize Jace had retreated from my mind until he shifted on the bed, his eyes no longer glowing. I just sniffed, wiping fresh tears from my eyes. Shuddering I raised my head finding Jaces staring directly at me, his brilliant blue eyes watching my face.

"It's not your fault, Jace. You had nothing to do with my parents' murder, that monster did. I just wish I'd known sooner so I could have..." I trailed off then, swallowing a lump in my throat as Jace raised an eyebrow at me.

"So you could...Ailis, you're not seriously thinking about going after him are you?" Jace asked, his other eyebrow following the first when I snorted. "Ailis, that's..."

"Stupid? You were going to say 'stupid' weren't you?" I asked, arms crossed when he turned his attention to the wall behind the bed. "Hey it's not like he can murder me a second time." I pointed out, casually pointing to the spot where he'd stabbed me.

"Ailis, that's not the point. You could get hurt and we don't know how strong your healing ability is. Besides we don't even know your murderer's name do we?" Jace asked watching as I fiddled with the blanket.

"You know how annoying you are right now?" I answered after a full minute passed and Jace stared as I raised my head, eyes narrowed. "About being right, Jace?" I added with a sigh and he grinned.

"I've been told that, yes." Jace answered, that same smug smile on his face as I climbed from the bed. "Now where are you going?" He asked as I reached the door, my hand now resting on the doorknob.

"That's a good question. I have no home to return to and no way to find the man that killed me. What do I do now?" I answered as I looked at the door only to hear footsteps. I turned around letting out a high-pitched yelp when Jace stood over me. "If I wasn't already dead you would have given me a heart attack." I complained, pushing him back a step and trying not to laugh when the mind mage stumbled.

"Ailis, you can planeswalk." Jace told me once he righted himself and I blinked at him. "I know that your spark ignited the moment you died."

"Jace, stop talking. Right now." I snapped at him, hoping he didn't go back on his promise and read my mind. Instead of anger all I could feel was a deep loneliness at knowing I had no family and that I was unable to join them because of a weird twist in fate. "Or I might do something we'll both probably regret." I swallowed but Jace didn't listen instead he stepped forward, setting his hand on one of my shoulders.

"I know you're hurting, Ailis. It's a lot of take in all at once but trust me, okay? I'm here to help you." Jace explained, seeing tears spilling down my cheeks.