Leanne closed her brown eyes. It's just your imagination, she told herself. Nothing more. Slowly opening her eyes, she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out again. She should have known that scent could only belong to one thing. Gathering her courage, she prodded the body.

In a rush of panic, Leanne realised she could feel herself seeping into the dead woman.

Suddenly, the scene shifted. A flash of silvery mist flew across the young girl's vision. Leanne was in a hallway she dimly recognised as her own. Two women stood near her. One she saw was her mother, Lady Jeanett. The other was of medium height, with long brown curls and tearful blue-grey eyes.

"Mama?" Leanne stepped between the two women. Neither responded. This must be a magical working, like in Papa's books, Leanne thought. She considered her Mama's companion for a minute. Wasn't that the dead woman from the painting, the one her Papa had been friends with? What was her name? Veralidaine Sarrasri.

"What are you doing here?" Startled, Leanne looked up, before understanding that the question was directed at Veralidaine.

"I had to see him."

"I told you to keep away from him!"

"You're the only one who wants that! I love Numair, and he loves me."

"The greatest mage in Tortall can't love the offspring of a hedgewitch. I've never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life."

Veralidaine raised her head. "Oh no. He's far more likely to love a slut. But, so long as it brings the money in, hey?"

"Are you calling me a prostitute?"

Her eyes sparked. "Each to her own."

Leanne's mother narrowed her eyes. "You will pay for that. You will pay for everything you've done." She drew a dagger, until then unseen, from behind her back.

Leanne sensed Veralidaine wouldn't have been so rash if she'd known what Lady Jeanett was capable of. She looked extremely frightened. Rubbing her cheek, her voice could barely be known as a whisper when she next spoke. "I'll keep away from him." Mockingly, the older woman shook her head. Veralidaine swallowed, panicking. "I'll leave the country, forever, I promise."

Again, the taller brunette shook her head. "I want you out of his memories forever."

The smaller woman began to back away, her breath coming short. A nervous smile appeared on her face. "How would you explain my death?"

"I wouldn't." Jeanett traced a finger along the edge of the knife. A shallow slit began to bleed heavily, transforming her white skin. Veralidaine had walked herself into a corner, with no place to run.

Leanne watched, horrified, as her mother advanced on Veralidaine. She saw the whole thing; the blade being dug into the younger woman's chest, Veralidaine dropping to the floor, a cloth being produced to stop the blood. Blood was everywhere. There seemed to be no end. Tears were flowing down Leanne's face. She was desperate to hide, to shut her eyes, anything to get rid of the picture in front of her. Something in her made her keep watching, as the blade was cleaned, as the servant was called to remove the body, and paid to keep his silence, and finally the lifeless body being dragged away.

Leanne saw her mother wipe her hands clean, of both the blood and the incident, and walk away. Finally, she managed to close her eyes, feeling, with a sense of distinct relief, that her body was returning.

Her mother was a murderess. The very thought chilled Leanne. My mother killed an innocent person.

At that moment, footsteps echoed down the stairs.

--

Well, that's enough for today. Whew; I updated 3 fics and started a new 1, all in 1 day! And, I still found time to review other people's work.
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know I killed Daine! God, I've only been a member since May 16th, and already I've killed Alanna twice, Thayet, Roald, Alanna and Jon's predecessors, Daine, Raoul, a Scanran prince, a Copper Isle Queen, AND a Carthaki general! Quite a lot, for 1 person, in just over a month! Is it me, or am I morbid?
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!