Arialla ran until a numbing fog began to sweep through her body, clouding her mind. Thoughts, feelings, they were all behind her now. She was just too tired. Yet, she kept running. To stop meant death, she was certain of it. So she kept on going, until her body simply refused to move any longer. As her legs crumpled beneath her, the mist of shock clouding her mind lifted for a moment. Her mind wandered to all that had happened in so short a time, to her and to Jaemath. Mercifully, blessed darkness engulfed her as she recalled the death of her protector, her patron, and her only friend. She did not sense the powerful gathering of magics as the shadows merged together into a single sinister shape. Arialla never saw Alec's form materialize beside her, his hand clutching an intricately carved bone dagger, until it was too late.

A slim arm, looking as soft and white as a courtesan's breast, snaked around her slumped body. It held her in a vise-like grip for all its seeming softness.

"Vaishtel, trying to run away?" Alec whispered into her ear, a hint of amusement on his face. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her hair, drenched in sweat. His smile grew wider. "You know we have unfinished business, you and I."

Alec brought his dagger up to Arialla's forehead, and began to delicately trace a figure through the moisture on her skin. A trail of greenish light glowed wherever the dagger's jagged point touched. "I'll make this a permanent one soon, my darling." He muttered quietly.

A sudden crunching of leaves and sticks answered his whispers. Startled, Alec dropped his dagger. He sprang to his feet and turned just in time to see a white form begin charging toward him. A very large white form. Within seconds it would be upon him, he realized, his smile fading. He snatched up his dagger, moving his free hand in archaic gestures.

The white form stopped abruptly as Alec's form melted back into the night.