OMG I'm so sorry y'all!! I've been busy typing the next chapter for my story on FP.C, and I've been helping a friend get her story on and everything. If you don't mind, could you check out her story? Her profile URL is really REALLY appreciate it. The story isn't that bad either.

Once again, I'm really really really sorry for the long wait, since I usually have at least one updated chapter every day. But oh well. I'm thinking of taking a break from this fic for a little bit. I have other ideas I want to pursue. Unless you reviers beg mega-hard, I'll stop at this chapter. Muaha.

SyaOrAnRoXmiSoX: Okay, you can have Neal Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and 12 hours of Wednesday; I will take him the last 12 hours of Wednesday and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

And for those that wonder, I made Kel insane because I wanted to. I like insane people. I should. I am one.

----------

A scream reverberated inside his head. Joren shot up in bed, sweat clinging to his forehead as he felt a wave of emotion wash over him – emotions that were not his.

Jehani…? he thought slowly, glancing down beside him at the beautiful sleeping red-haired woman. No, not Jehani. There's no way she could have done any of this…

The emotions sliced through his heart and ate his soul. It made him want to cry and scream and laugh and live and die at the same time. Could it be Keladry? He felt for the bond and found to his horror and relief he could hardly feel it. The bond…it had thinned overnight, literally. But he could still sense the assassin's thoughts, and he did not like what he felt.

Insanity. Hate. Despair. Revenge. Betrayal. Denial. Jealousy. Cruelty. Coldness.

"What's wrong, Joren?" a feminine, sleepy voice murmured as a hand trailed up his arm. He shivered at the touch…it revolted him. He felt warm lips on his shoulder, and gritted his teeth.

The bond weakened slightly.

His eyes flew open as his hands tightened on the covers. His eyes were black rimmed with a ring of blue.

In a flurry of covers Joren leaped maladroitly out of bed. He grabbed his pants and yanked them on, avoiding looking directly at Jehani.

"Joren?" she asked, confused, sliding out of bed.

It was weakening.

He felt…happy?

Or was the feeling…panic?

That was all he could think about, even as Jehani stepped right in front of him and looked into his dilated eyes. The bond he shared with Keladry was weakening…WHY WASN'T HE RELIEVED?

"Get away from me," he hissed, shoving her away. Jehani blinked then bared her teeth.

"Wait a minute, you bastard," she snarled, stepping forward. Her black eyes brightened with fury and malice and a power so sickeningly evil it turned his blood to ice. "You're mine now."

Joren barked a bitter laugh, and she stepped back in alarm. The calm, cool, collected captain was suddenly an unutterably different person. She placed a hand on his bare, taut shoulder.

"Listen, Joren," she said pleasantly, "you're obviously having some sort of breakdown. Come back to bed, and go to sleep. Rest, and you'll fe –"

"No!"

Jehani was flung against the wall as Joren rushed past her out on deck. She let out a command that he did not understand, did not want to understand as he forced his legs to flee this ship and felt the wind whistle past his ears. Dimly, he heard loud voices and running, pounding footsteps that grated on his nerves. Without breaking stride he hurled himself over the edge of the ship, reveling in the icy water that chilled his bones and sent him to blank, merciful darkness.

Swathed in a thin sheet, Jehani slammed against the rail, eyes wide as she peered over.

"Man overboard," she screeched. "I repeat, man overboard!"

----------

"You lost him."

Jehani trembled, nodding fearfully. Her shaking hand nervously stroked a long copper lock as she gulped, hard. Butterflies were having a field day in her stomach, fluttering wildly.

"H-He caught us o-off g-g-guard," she whispered, tears pricking the corner of her eyes.

"He caught you off guard."

The voice was flat, emotionless, and cold with anger. Cruel blue eyes stared into scared black ones. Jehani's lip trembled as she threw herself at the man's feet, grappling at the hem of his robe.

"Master," she bawled, kissing the hem, "Master, I'm so sorry! I was not prepared for it, I'm so sorry –"

"I'm very disappointed in you, Jehani," the man said gravely.

"Master –"

"Say my name."

Jehani blinked against the tears. "Pardon?"

"Say my name."

"Master."

"You know what I mean."

Jehani shuddered, shaking her head in fear. His lips tightened and he slammed his palm on the arm of the throne.

"Say it!"

And Jehani uttered, in a quiet, tearful whisper, the worst blasphemy man could ever utter.

"…Lesenac…"

----------

Yah. Short. I know. It's just to hold you over until I get everything straight. Bye!