PART FIVE: NO MORE MERCY, NO MORE RULES

Chapter Sixty-Four: Hazel Sees Bhodie Again

Nightfall, 9PM (Astorian Galactic Time) 11PM (Frieza Stellar Time), 1AM (Calmagian Royal Mountain Time)

Princess Hazel Carr-Chloe was holding Caline, who was asleep in her arms, near Hazel and Gohan's bedroom window. Hazel was worried about her husband who was out fighting Frieza's minions. The last word she had heard from him was that he, Rojal, Dedron, and Jaca had managed to kill almost all of the Upper Low-Levels of Frieza's forces, and that Dedron was battling some Egimarian named Towanda. Hazel held Caline close to her, as she worried about her Gohan. The black Human woman from Earth was still amazed to this day how much her life had changed since she had left Earth to be part of Capsule Corp's space exploration program. She missed her home still, but now it seemed like a dream to her, a place that she would only visit in her sleep. She was not the same Hazel Carr who used to love a good beer and clubbing when she had free time. She was now a princess and a Technician who helped to build space ships for the Astorian people, and she had also started a music program for the young people of Chloe. Of course, it had taken the parents of Hazel's students to overcome their shock of some of the lyrics in the songs that Hazel taught their children, and some of the songs had been banned.

Hazel could remember the trouble that started with Riccan and Nikon running through the halls, holding hands and singing some songs from the Earth music hip-hop group, Salt N Pepa after listening to one of Hazel's CDs on her CD player without Hazel's full knowledge. Hazel had unthinkingly let them borrow her CD player, but she had not known that Riccan and Nikon had picked one of the more shocking pieces of music to listen to. Astorian children have excellent memories, and they can remember a song and all of its words after listening to it just once. Riccan had proudly recited the entire words of the song of Salt N Pepa's "Sexy Noises Turn Me On", to his poor mother, Gracina, who had been horrified by the lyrics. Riccan and Nikon had taught all of the children of their age group and above (except for Tayla, who was still at Kami Orchida's at the time) the lyrics of three of Salt N Pepa's bawdiest songs, which included "Sexy Noises Turn Me On", "None of Your Business", and "Let's Talk About Sex" much to the eternal horror of all the parents and grandparents in the Clan of Chloe and their servants. After hearing Rojal and Dedron singing "None of Your Business" (and giving them an icy reprimand that neither boy had forgotten to this day), Gorna had given Hazel a sharp dressing-down that nearly drove her to tears. Even Shalila and Gohan, who were usually the ones most understanding of Hazel's Earthling ways, had been properly shocked.

After that embarrassing incident, Hazel had Natala and Gracina (who was still in shock) go through the songs to help her decide which ones should be kept out of the reach of the Clan of Chloe children and teenagers. But even then, Hazel still hesitated to this day to play any of her Earth music around her Astorian in-laws. Now that Hazel herself had children, she could better understand why her in-laws were particular about what their children were exposed to.
Hazel looked at her own children sleeping in the bed that she and her husband had been sharing for the past couple of weeks. Little Mantros and Aurora were snuggled together under the heavy covers. Both of them had their mother's dark skin and Mantros had his mother's coarse, napped hair that had curls tight as a sheep's. Aurora had her mother's skin color, but she also had her father's softer Astorian hair that was black and soft as rabbit's fur. Hazel looked at her children with love, and then she laid Caline down in the bed beside them and covered her up.

She heard someone knock.

"Aunt Hazel, may I come in?" asked a female voice.

"Yeah, I mean, yes, sure, Natala," Hazel told Raakon's wife, the wife of Hazel's nephew-by-marriage. It felt strange to Hazel to this day to have nieces and nephews older than her, even if they were by marriage only.

Hazel was sitting on the edge of her bed in her pink satin nightgown, trimmed with marabou feathers at the neck when Natala entered. Hazel was fond of Natala because she considered her to be one of the least judgmental people in the Clan of Chloe, and one of the more open-minded. Natala, like Shalila and Gohan, tried to understand Hazel's Earth culture. She knew that Natala was from another Clan, the Clan of Cornsilk, which was a clan better known for fine healers and scribes than warriors.

"I am worried about Raakon," Natala told Hazel nervously. "I haven't heard from him since he left to fight."

"I haven't heard from Gohan since the last time," Hazel told her worriedly. "And it's snowing and hailing outside all of a sudden, and he's fighting in that mess! How did that happen? Calmagian weather is awfully weird-and scary. I hope both our men our doing okay."

"How did it start snowing and hailing?" Natala wondered. "It was sunny and clear when our warriors and healiors went off to battle. What's going on with the weather? I asked Queen Kildara about it, and she could offer no explanation, except that it's supposed to be summer here. Toria and Marya have sequestered themselves in their closet again in order to receive an answer from our ancestors, or hopefully, Kami Orchida. The Calmagian priests have been praying to their deity, Kami Ankor to help save the Calmagians. Normally, I would not malign a deity's name, but where is Calmag's Kami when all of this is going on? Doesn't he know that his people are suffering and dying every second? If it had been Astoria, and Kami Orchida, she would have never stood for it. She would have eventually intervened when those Saiyans had come to abduct Tayla, but Tayla and the others were able to stop them. My Arlina is praying to the East Kai, to see if she will intervene."

Hazel had only recently learned fully about the universe's deities, and she had heard Toria, the High Priestess of Astoria mention that Kami Ankor was a powerful, but neglectful and sexist Kami who was given more to drinking and seducing the Calmagian women than to actually doing his job. Kami Ankor, from what Hazel had learned from conversations between Toria and Marya, had been disciplined twice for mating with mortal women, something that all deities were strictly forbidden to do. There had been a rumor going around Astoria (a rumor that Kami Orchida or Toria refused to confirm or deny) that Kami Ankor, who was half-Calmagian, one-quarter-Sistrai, and one-quarter Reznakian (proof that Sistrai and Reznakians were capable of having children with humanoids), had a son in hiding that he had with a Calmagian maiden, a child almost as powerful as he was.

Hazel shivered for just a moment, now remembering the snow and cold. She then thought about someone, someone who had grown up in Alaska in the United States on planet Earth, a strong human man, brash and arrogant, and yet he had attracted Hazel like no other until she had met her Gohan…

…A man whom she had almost given her virginity to instead of Gohan…


Six years before….

Hazel Carr and her crew had been stranded and lost in space for two months, and they were still waiting for rescue teams. She had been openly flirting with Bhodie Lett during that time, trying to take her mind off of their peril. She loved his light brown hair, mustache and beard, and he made her feel beautiful and adored. They had shared several steamy kisses in the closets throughout the space station, and he made Hazel want to do anything for him. Hazel had under exaggerated when she had told Shalila and Dirkan that her raging passion for Bhodie had been "a bit of a crush".

He had nicknamed her "Hazelnut", and the way that his fingers would dance along her bare brown skin would send tingles up her spine. Hazel had thought that Bhodie was dashing and powerful and strong-and extremely aggressive, for Bhodie wanted to make love to her, and Hazel wasn't ready to have sex yet.

"Bhode, it's too soon," she had told him softly, one occasion when Bhodie had reached under her blouse and tried to unhook her bra. "We've only starting seeing each other for six months. I'm not ready yet."

"C'mon, Hazelnut, you want me and I want you. I love you, baby, and I want to be with you. Please for Bhodie!" Bhodie had made his characteristic puppy dog expression, which made Hazel laugh.

"Not yet, naughty boy!" Hazel cried out, amused. "I don't give myself to a man that easily!"

"Are you religious?" Bhodie had asked her. Hazel hid a smile, for she knew that what Bhodie really wanted to know was how soon they could have sex.

Then he asked her, "Are you a virgin?"

Hazel grew uncomfortable, and then she nodded.

Bhodie had grinned wickedly. "I can easily remedy that condition," he purred. "All you have to do, my sweet Hazelnut, is just let me-" And kissing her neck, he began trying to peel her thin silk blouse off. His hands started to roam all over her body, too roughly. He was moving too fast for Hazel, and Hazel promptly pushed away from him and stood up, rearranging her blouse.

"You talk about virginity, as if it's some disease that has to be cured!" she cried indignantly.

"Sure is, baby, and I am the ultimate remedy," Bhodie said with a devilish smile.

"I said that I'm not ready to have sex yet, Bhodie, and I mean it!" Hazel hissed. "Don't get me wrong, Bhodie, I do like you a lot, when you don't try to jump my bones right away, but I am not ready for that next step yet."

"Well, when will you be ready?" Bhodie wanted to know. It was rare that a woman refused his advances, and Hazel was one of the few women that did not instantly go to bed with him. He considered her a challenge.

"When I feel that I am ready, you horny dog! When I feel that I can trust you completely, as a partner for life, a potential mate, and not a fling. I am not going to be any man's 'ho or mistress or one-night-stand. I am trying to make a life for myself and my family, Bhodie, and I can't risk having a child out of wedlock or getting AIDS or some other disease. If you want me, Bhodie, you're just going to have to be patient."

Bhodie waited patiently enough-for about three more weeks. He and Hazel were having a private dinner together after their work was completed (Bhodie was a pilot, and Hazel was a technician), and Bhodie plied her with his best champagne, which he had brought all the way from Alaska. He kept telling her stories about his home state, and Hazel had consumed five glasses of champagne. Hazel was getting tipsy, but she was so enchanted that night by Bhodie and his stories that she had forgotten how much alcohol she had consumed. Before she knew it, she and Bhodie were in bed, with her only in her bra and panties and Bhodie in his boxers. Bhodie was trailing kisses all over Hazel's body, and Hazel was wrapping her legs around his waist. Bhodie was grinning widely, after he had unhooked her bra, and he was now sliding her underwear down her legs. He had already removed his boxers, and Hazel could feel him pressing against her, ready to take her.

"No, Bhodie, please," she moaned in drunken protest.

"Yes, sweet Hazelnut, for you've kept me waiting for so long, baby," Bhodie purred, as he prepared to take her and make her his. He was on top of her, with his strong, muscular arms wrapped around her slender brown body. Hazel felt herself weakening, and now she wanted him too; she couldn't help herself.

If it hadn't been for Jung Su, a fellow crewmember, Hazel would have given in to her urges that night.

Jung Su had knocked on the door of Bhodie's bedroom, and she had called, "Hazel, the Captain wishes to speak with you."

"Tell 'im it'll have to wait!" Bhodie moaned, as he kissed Hazel's neck.

"It's urgent, Bhodie. Hazel must see him immediately," Jung Su told him. Hazel tried to crawl out of bed, but Bhodie's body prevented her from doing so.

"I heard her, Bhode," she slurred. "I have to go. Let me up."

"Not yet, baby," he crooned. "Captain Malready can wait, but I can't."

Hazel had tried to get control of her senses. "Bhodie, I have to go, I am sorry." And she tried to rise again, but Bhodie pinned her down, and he began pressing himself against her again.

"No, Bhodie, let me up!" she cried.

"When we're done, I will. Relax, Haze, you're going to love this," Bhodie purred, holding her down beneath him. Hazel struggled against him, but he held her firmly.

"Let me go!" she cried, fear seeping in. "I don't want to do this anymore! Let me go!"

"No way, baby," Bhodie told her wickedly, not budging an inch.

"Someone help me!" Hazel cried in terror, and at that moment, Jung Su had opened the sliding door from outside with a remote controller and entered the room.

"Get off of her!" Jung Su had screamed.

After several minutes of struggling, Jung Su had pulled Bhodie off of Hazel and knocked him unconscious. Hazel was shakily thankful to her rescuer, and Jung Su had been furious with Bhodie. She bluntly told Hazel that she was better off without him.

"You deserve better than that garbage," Jung Su had told Hazel the next morning after Hazel had recovered from a hangover. Hazel had thanked her already.

She sighed to Jung Su, "That's the tenth relationship that I had that went down the toilet. Every time I date a man, all it seems that he wants to do is jump my bones. Why can't I find a man who wants me for me and not my body? I don't want to make the same mistakes that my sisters made and have a baby out of wedlock or worst. I want better than that. I was sort of hoping that Bhodie would be different."

"You must be wait and be patient," Jung Su had told her softly. "Wait long enough and the right man will come when you least expect it."

"You sound as if I should wait for a prince or something," Hazel had jeered.

Jung Su said half-jokingly, "Waiting for a prince to come? That might not be a bad idea, Hazel."

"Come on, Jung; you have got to be kidding! The only princes that I know of who aren't old enough to be my father, are still young enough for me to be arrested for statutory rape should I look at them the wrong way. What sort of prince is going to want me anyway? I may be getting a college education, but I'm still nobody really. Just a girl from the slums who managed to pull herself up by her bootstraps, as my Nana would say."

Jung Su said seriously, "Maybe there are princes of other worlds in outer space. I've always wondered about life from other planets, haven't you? I know that I sound silly when I say this, but there could be civilizations out there in space similar to ours, and maybe there could be even intergalactic police forces and princes. You never know, Hazel."

"Yeah right, some Prince from a faraway planet is going to come sweeping here into our solar system and rescue me, and then he's going to take me to this faraway planet where I'll live happily ever after with people who can fly and fight bad guys like in the sci-fi movies. C'mon, Jung, you know that I don't believe in aliens from other worlds. The best I am hoping for is that we can eventually find another planet someday to occupy. If there is intelligent life out there, they are probably avoiding us like the plague," Hazel said with a small laugh.

Jung Su couldn't help, but laugh herself. "Maybe, Hazel, but seriously, you should wait for a man who will treat you like a princess, even if he is not a real prince. Save yourself for the right man; it will be worth the wait; I wished that I had waited."
Hazel smiled ruefully. "Thanks Jung, seriously, I will keep that in mind."

Bhodie had tried everything he could that day to get himself back into Hazel's good graces, and possibly her bed, but Hazel was still furious that he had tried to take advantage of her that way. "I'm not speaking to you; leave me alone!" she had snapped.

"C'mon, Hazelnut, I said I'm sorry. I know that I was a jerk, so let's kiss and make up, huh?" Bhodie had pleaded.

He would have kept begging for her forgiveness, for he did really want to get her in bed and be her first man, but then that fateful message from a Commander Zarbon had come up on the space station's radio, a message that would began to change Hazel's life as she knew it forever…


Present time…

"Aunt Hazel? Aunt Hazel?" Natala's soft, velvety voice brought Hazel Carr-Chloe back to the present.

"Sorry, Natala," Hazel apologized, and she was about to ask what Natala had wanted when she saw a shadow, a male humanoid shadow in the snow-encrusted window. The window was so blurry that neither Natala nor Hazel could make out whom the visitor (or intruder) was.

Hazel cautiously approached the window, and she heard a strong voice that was usually husky, but occasionally whiny at times.

"Open up, please! It's freezing out here! My hot buns are becoming frosted! Hurry!"

Natala was confused by the strange words, but Hazel understood them-and recognized the speaker.

"Bhodie?" Hazel asked, stunned. "Bhodie, is that you?"

"Hazel Carr? Hazel, you're alive?" Bhodie Lett gasped, as he continued to rap on the window.
"Hurry, Hazelnut, hurry, my buns are becoming frosted by the second!"

"I recognize that phrase "hot buns are becoming frosted" anywhere!" Hazel cried with a mixture of joy and shock. She hadn't thought much of Bhodie's past actions, but she was glad to know that he was alive.

"Hurry! I'm freezing, baby!" Bhodie moaned aloud.

Hazel struggled with the locks on the window, and she helped Bhodie into the warm room. Natala grew uncomfortable with Bhodie's presence in the warm bedroom, and her instincts told her not to trust this stranger, even though Hazel seemed to know him.

Hazel noticed Natala's discomfort when the normally hospitable Astorian princess wouldn't greet Bhodie or rush to his aid. She told Natala companionably, as she shut and locked the freezing window, "Relax, Natala, it's okay. It's my old friend, Bhodie, and he survived! He was the only survivor other than me from when Zarbon and Dodoria invaded our ship. He's okay, a bit pervy at times, but he's not a bad fellow."

Natala nodded politely. "Greetiens, Bhodie, excusen." (Hello, Bhodie, excuse me.)

"What the hell is she saying?" Bhodie wanted to know, as Natala went to stay near Caline, Mantros, and Aurora. She hovered over them protectively, and Bhodie couldn't help admiring Natala's curves through her saffron caftan. He emitted a low wolf whistle before he could stop himself. Natala had rich, caramel-and-cinnamon hair and deep, large blue eyes the color of new denim. Bhodie grinned slyly to himself, and he leaned over to Hazel. He forgot about translating Natala's strange words for the moment, for Hazel was still young as ever and cute.
Bhodie smiled; he could have both women, if he wanted to.

He intended to.

"Been a while, Hazelnut, how've you been?" he asked her huskily, embracing her in a warm bear hug. "I hope that you can forgive me for being such a jerk the last time."

Hazel tentatively hugged him back. "It's alright, Bhodie, just glad to know that you're alive. What happened to you? How did you escape?"

"Got lucky, babes. I survived, and I'm okay," he said nonchalantly. "Hey, have you been waiting for me all of this time, or have you moved on?"

"I-I moved on, Bhode," Hazel told him. "I married someone else, and two of those children in that bed are mine. I never did make it bad to Earth again, but I'm happy. I have had a good life."

"Who's the lucky man?" Bhodie wanted to know.

Hazel told him unthinkingly, "A prince, Bhodie, a real prince. He's also the Chief of Intergalacticpol, the intergalactic police force."

"Whew," Bhodie said in a low whistle. "You hit the jackpot there, Hazelnut. Thought a lot about you while I was Frieza's prisoner, and I won't lie to you, babes; I wish it had been me that you married. Maybe if I hadn't tried to jump you so soon, I could have been the father of those kids."

"Umm…maybe," Hazel said uncomfortably. "But that's in the past now, Bhodie, and I am happily married. I'm glad that you're alive, but we can't pick up where we left off; that's not possible."

"Your royal hubby wouldn't have to know, babes," Bhodie crooned. "But if you insist on my moving on without you, I can always get acquainted with your friend here." He inclined his head towards a nervous Natala, who was fervently wishing that he would leave.

Natala said as bravely as she could, without looking at Bhodie. "I am not interested in you. I myself am happily married with children."

"Doesn't bother me, if it doesn't bother you," Bhodie told Prince Raakon's wife easily, still wanting both her and Hazel. He had always wanted to try a threesome, but he had never met anyone who was interested, not even the Ginyu Girls.

He was trying a clever pick-up line for Natala, when suddenly Caline's body began to shake violently. The frightened little girl then started tossing and turning and screaming in pure terror, "No, Alberm, please, don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me! I'm sorry that I angered you! Don't hit me! No, don't make do that! Don't make me do that! Don't make me take you into my mouth! Please, I don't like that! It makes me sick! You knew that I threw up the last time! Don't, I don't want to! Don't whip me! No, not the belt! Anything, but the belt! NO!"

"Caline, Caline, wake up!" Natala cried in distress, trying to shake the terrified Calmagian princess awake.

"Let me go, Alberm, please, I won't make you angry again! Don't whip me, please! No! Don't hurt me, please!"

Mantros and Aurora woke up, scared. Aurora began to cry when she saw Caline screaming and shaking. "Mommy!" she screamed.

Hazel rushed to both of her children and gathered them into her arms, holding them tightly to her chest. Natala was still trying to revive Caline, who was crying and begging Alberm for mercy in her dreams. Caline would not awaken, for she was too scared, and she could not breathe.
Bhodie stood still in place, paralyzed, as Natala finally woke Caline up. Caline emitted a sharp, piercing scream, as she fell into Natala's arms.

"Caline, Caline," Natala said worriedly. "You are safe now. Alberm is not here. He is far away. He will never hurt you again."

Caline threw herself bodily into Natala's loving arms. Natala cuddled her close and held her tight.

"You just had a bad dream, sweetheart. Alberm is never going to hurt you again. We will protect you from him. You're safe now, for Hazel and I are here. No one is going to hurt you again. It was just a nightmare, love, just a bad dream." Natala's voice was low and soothing, and her arms were gentle and kind; she reminded Caline of Gracina.

"It was real!" Caline sobbed. "It was real, Princess Natala, it was! Alberm did make me those nasty things with him! It happened-on the last night that he coupled with me. I was sick, very sick, and Alberm wanted me to pleasure him and take him into my mouth, but I refused, and it made him angry! So he beat me and made me do everything he wanted and more! Whenever I told him no, he would whip me with his belt, just like Father used to when I infuriated him. I ran away from him and found Tayla. Tayla fought him off and saved me, for he was going to kill me 'cause I knew about him being Frieza's spy. Then he and Reccor kidnapped Petalia, and me but we met up with Commander Jaden and her people, and Commander Jaden killed Alberm. Alberm is dead, and it's my fault because at one time I wished him dead! I told him that I hoped that he would die after the last time that he raped me! I told him that I wished that he were dead! And I got my wish, Princess Natala, I got my wish, for Commander Jaden granted it and killed him! I didn't tell her to kill him, but she did anyway 'cause he was saying awful things to me, so she blasted him through his heart. It's my fault that he died!"

"No, it's not, Caline," Natala told her gently, her heart breaking for this mistreated child. Natala sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Caline into her lap, cuddling her close. "It was Jaden who killed Alberm, not you. It is her that Enma Daiou will hold responsible, not you, and I don't see how he could condemn her for ridding the universe of such a cruel man to save you. And you had every right to be angry and hurt, sweetheart, for Alberm hurt you. Alberm shouldn't have done those things to you, no matter what. He was bad, honey, not you. Your father wasn't much better, for he forced you to marry a cruel man, when you are still a little girl. Caline, you are only eleven years old, far too young to have a husband, much too young to be anyone's wife or mate. Two men hurt and used you, but that's over with now. We all love you, Caline, already, and we won't let anyone hurt you or use you again, not even your father. Gracina and Lektron love you and want to take you home to Astoria with them, and Tayla and Riccan adore you and want to protect you and be your friends. Petalia likes you too, and it is not often that Petalia is friendly to anyone these days. And I like you, Caline, I love you, and I want you to be happy. You are worthy of being loved, and I know that you still have much love to give. We will find a way for you to be happy, I swear that by the Seven Moons." And Natala held up seven fingers to seal it.

Caline's shaking began to cease, as her tears still continued to flow. Her small golden head was still buried in Natala's bosom, as she allowed Natala's kind words to sink in. She was not at all a bitter child; she just wanted someone to love, and for someone to love her. Caline's life had been so empty and bleak until the Astorians had come to Calmag, except for the moments when Queen Kildara or Ridikar (whom Caline used to get along with quite well) had shown her affection. Her older sisters lived far away and had been too busy with their own demanding husbands and families to pay attention to her, and her older brothers treated her and snubbed her the same way that their father, Amitar, had. King Kitchator barely acknowledged her until she became of age to marry (ten years old on Calmag). She had been heart-hungry and soul-hungry, hungry for love and affection. Any love that someone gave her, she would lap it up like a sponge and return it tenfold to whomever had shown her caring.

Caline felt that she had only existed, but not lived, until the wonderful Astorians and their friends came to Calmag. Tayla had befriended her and introduced her to everyone, and Gracina and Lektron had practically adopted her. Riccan and Nikon jostled her and teased her as brothers did, but they never mistreated her or looked down on her the way that so many boys did because she was a female. Caline loved all of the Astorians already; she was even tolerant of Rojal and Dedron, the two brattiest boys in the Clan of Chloe.

She was calmer now, quieter, and more content, as she nestled further into Natala's motherly arms. She whispered a thank-you, and then she added, "I know that this may sound strange, Princess Natala, but I would rather be here with all of you Astorians now than with anyone else, even with the war going on. No matter what has happened, I am very, very happy that all of you came here. I don't feel as scared anymore with all of you here on Calmag. I know that your race is strong, and that they will win over Frieza's forces."

Natala said nothing, but she hugged Caline closer to her in joy, forgetting about Bhodie's ominous presence for the time being. Bhodie rolled his shoulders, as he casually strolled away from the women cuddling the children. He deftly opened the window with ease, allowing the frosty air to flow into the window, making the women and children shiver.

"Bhodie, what the hell are you doing?" Hazel demanded to know, forgetting about the Astorians being averse to cursing (most of the time). "It must be one hundred degrees below Fahrenheit out there! This planet is becoming a giant iceberg! Close that window!"

The snow and hail continued to blow through the open window, as Bhodie just stood, there, shivering, but doing nothing to stop the cold from coming in. But it was something else that was blowing in with the wind that made Hazel and Natala gasp in horror.
A heavy, red fog was coming in from outside, a huge cloud of crimson dust and smoke, a cloud of gas that was solidifying itself into a gigantic, red Tyrannosaurus-Rex-like creature, as it came inside the bedroom.

Hazel screamed when she saw the familiar Sistrai warrior that could kill people just by vaporizing himself and entering their bodies to force them to self-destruct. She screamed louder when a fat, pink monster who looked like a cross between a blowfish and a puffer fish squeeze himself through the window. Finally, much to Dodoria's embarrassment, Bhodie had to help pull him through the window.

Natala and Caline screamed and clung to each other, and Hazel's children cowered closer to their mother. Hazel cried out, "Bhodie! You joined up with these bastards! You're on their side now?"

Bhodie smiled slyly. "So I am, Hazelnut, baby, so I am. But that doesn't mean that we can't be friends, does it?"