Amon knocked at the door and opened it upon confirmation. The man had
not changed any in the past year, and his voice was the same as he said,
"Report. There were two bodies, and neither of them was the witch. How did this fire start, and where is she?"
"She is dead, sir," Amon answered, with his usual lack of emotion. "And as to the fire, what did you expect when you sent me to kill a fire- craft user? Robin died when a window exploded and she was caught in the shrapnel." Inwardly, his mind spun, as he realized he was pinning all of the events of that night on the young huntress. How could he be standing here, calmly handing all of the blame onto the corpse he had fought so hard to save?
"Ironically enough," The man said, handing Amon a brief, "your next assignment is very similar to the one you last received. We have had word of a young fire-craft witch in a small town in the United States. I expect you to take care of it."
"Yes, sir." Amon affirmed.
"And if it is the same girl you claim to have killed, do your job properly this time."
"Understood sir," Amon turned to leave the office, but stopped cold as the next words washed over his consciousness.
"And Amon, if you use your wind-craft one more time, we will be forced to terminate you as well. I really don't want to have to order your death."
'How could he have known?' Amon's mind asked, as he stepped into the hall. 'I only used it twice: my first assignment, and then to destroy that file...oh, gods, he knows. He knows I betrayed the organization to try to help Robin. My death order is as good as signed...'
***
"She seems normal enough the rest of the time," The teacher told the school's psychiatric nurse. "I just don't know what happened."
"Send her in," The nurse replied, tired of high school melodramas, and assuming this was more of the same. Robin shyly stepped in at the teacher's beckoning, and looked at the woman.
"What happened in that Spanish class yesterday?" The nurse asked. Robin unconsciously drew herself up into the pose and mannerisms she had used when reporting on a hunt for the organization.
"I am ashamed to say, ma'am, that I fell asleep in class, and had a nightmare."
"Of what manner?"
"A bad memory..." Robin really didn't want to elaborate on the subject. The nurse sensed that she would get no more from the girl, and sighed.
"I would like you to do me a little favor, Robin. I understand you like to write."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'd like it if you were to write an interpretive poem and leave it on my desk or in my box. You may write on any topic of your choosing."
"Yes, ma'am."
Robin turned and slowly left the office. The nurse turned to the teacher. "Ms. Grecius, I believe that my first opinions were wrong. That is a very self-possessed young lady, and she has suffered some trauma recently.
***
Robin sat, the paper blank before her. She had no idea of what she intended to write. For the first time in her life, the paper was blank, and so was her mind. She leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes. The candle light flickered across her eyelids, and trembling, she sat bolt upright with a sob, and her pen flew across the paper.
***
Remember, and remember Fires and dreams collide Dancing in a rhythmic beat around me You are gone, and I am alone My power escapes, and you are ruined I cannot escape this, Guilt paralyzes me You lie with my fires searing your back I dream. I destroy. I dream of flame.
***
The nurse laid the poem on her desk, and looked out the window. 'She started a fire and killed someone she loved accidentally. She escaped and now hates herself. Oh God, this child is in torment!'
"Report. There were two bodies, and neither of them was the witch. How did this fire start, and where is she?"
"She is dead, sir," Amon answered, with his usual lack of emotion. "And as to the fire, what did you expect when you sent me to kill a fire- craft user? Robin died when a window exploded and she was caught in the shrapnel." Inwardly, his mind spun, as he realized he was pinning all of the events of that night on the young huntress. How could he be standing here, calmly handing all of the blame onto the corpse he had fought so hard to save?
"Ironically enough," The man said, handing Amon a brief, "your next assignment is very similar to the one you last received. We have had word of a young fire-craft witch in a small town in the United States. I expect you to take care of it."
"Yes, sir." Amon affirmed.
"And if it is the same girl you claim to have killed, do your job properly this time."
"Understood sir," Amon turned to leave the office, but stopped cold as the next words washed over his consciousness.
"And Amon, if you use your wind-craft one more time, we will be forced to terminate you as well. I really don't want to have to order your death."
'How could he have known?' Amon's mind asked, as he stepped into the hall. 'I only used it twice: my first assignment, and then to destroy that file...oh, gods, he knows. He knows I betrayed the organization to try to help Robin. My death order is as good as signed...'
***
"She seems normal enough the rest of the time," The teacher told the school's psychiatric nurse. "I just don't know what happened."
"Send her in," The nurse replied, tired of high school melodramas, and assuming this was more of the same. Robin shyly stepped in at the teacher's beckoning, and looked at the woman.
"What happened in that Spanish class yesterday?" The nurse asked. Robin unconsciously drew herself up into the pose and mannerisms she had used when reporting on a hunt for the organization.
"I am ashamed to say, ma'am, that I fell asleep in class, and had a nightmare."
"Of what manner?"
"A bad memory..." Robin really didn't want to elaborate on the subject. The nurse sensed that she would get no more from the girl, and sighed.
"I would like you to do me a little favor, Robin. I understand you like to write."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'd like it if you were to write an interpretive poem and leave it on my desk or in my box. You may write on any topic of your choosing."
"Yes, ma'am."
Robin turned and slowly left the office. The nurse turned to the teacher. "Ms. Grecius, I believe that my first opinions were wrong. That is a very self-possessed young lady, and she has suffered some trauma recently.
***
Robin sat, the paper blank before her. She had no idea of what she intended to write. For the first time in her life, the paper was blank, and so was her mind. She leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes. The candle light flickered across her eyelids, and trembling, she sat bolt upright with a sob, and her pen flew across the paper.
***
Remember, and remember Fires and dreams collide Dancing in a rhythmic beat around me You are gone, and I am alone My power escapes, and you are ruined I cannot escape this, Guilt paralyzes me You lie with my fires searing your back I dream. I destroy. I dream of flame.
***
The nurse laid the poem on her desk, and looked out the window. 'She started a fire and killed someone she loved accidentally. She escaped and now hates herself. Oh God, this child is in torment!'