A/N: I know this is kinda' nitpicky, but for those that actually review this story, please address your reviews to FoxFire3999 (or just FoxFire), since she wrote the story, not me. Also, suggestions are very helpful and appreciated. Thank you. Now, on to the story! (Unless you just skipped all of this…)

Dream

Brie awoke suddenly from a cold wind blowing over her body. She had been lying on the moist grass just outside the castle. 'What am I doing out here?' She got up and ran off in the direction she believed to be where the front gate was. She was met by a horrifying battle at its entrance. She could see Hiei surrounded by a group of demons. Her eyes widened as Hiei slashed through them, as if they were nothing. Before he could get distracted again (by more demons attacking him), Brie ran to him. She hadn't even gone five feet when she tripped over something. Looking over her shoulder, she let a scream escape her throat. "N…no…"Brie whispered as she reached a trembling hand for the bloody, cold body of Ann, which had been mutilated almost beyond recognition. Brie held the body and rocked back and forth, willing the body to breathe life again.

Feeling it was useless, she let the corpse slip from her grasp. As the body left her hands, she could see they were covered in Ann's blood. Brie rubbed them as hard as she could to remove it. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her. She looked up and saw Hiei looking down at her. Confused and shattered, Brie clung to Hiei around his waist and broke down. Hiei tensed and didn't respond instantly. She felt a slight comfort when Hiei knelt down and gave her an awkward hug. An insane laugh could be heard from behind them as Brie was ripped from Hiei.

Five minutes later, she was thrust against the wall of a cave. She winced in pain and weakly opened her eyes before her arms were pinned up over her head. Now she was staring into the merciless eyes of Trenton. "Trenton! What the hell are you doing?!" Brie shrieked, struggling to free her arms. Trenton smirked and pressed his body against hers.
Brie screamed, and was suddenly enveloped in a white light. "Don't worry, that was only a taste of what is to come," Brie looked for where the voice could be coming from. "Where am I, and who are you?" The voice was friendly, and didn't seem to giver her any reason to fear it. The voice giggled. "We are inside a portion of your soul, and I'm just a part of you." Brie was dumbfounded. "What? How can you be a part of me?"

"I will tell you in time…" Soon the voice faded, and Brie felt a stabbing pain in her chest.
End Dream

Brie shot up in her bed with cold sweat running down her face. She noticed that she was clutching her throat, because a burning sensation had begun. Thunder crackled outside, making her jump. 'It's raining? But isn't Hiei sleeping out there...' Brie walked towards the open window where raindrops were pouring in. Hiei was still lying on the branch. "Hiei!" Brie shouted at the figure. Annoyed, Hiei sat up and shouted back, "What?"

"Come inside, or else you're going to get electrocuted!" Hiei ignored her and shifted so he couldn't see her. Brie growled and climbed onto the windowsill. She seized his shoulders and dragged him into the dark room. Brie slipped on a puddle of rainwater, and hit Hiei's head on the bedpost. He growled while rubbing the back of his head. "What the hell did you do that for, ningen?!" Brie scowled at him, then replied, "I wasn't about to take care of you if you caught a cold from being outside in the rain!" He scowled at her, then jumped onto the windowsill. "As I recall, you're my slave, and are in no position to tell me what to do," Hiei snapped. What Brie said shot straight through Hiei like an arrow as he made his way back to the window. "Tell me, whenever I make a mistake, will I be treated like I'm nothing more than dirt?!" Hiei turned his head slightly to stare at her out of the corner of his eye. "I mean, I was only concerned for Ann when Trenton― I mean Master Trenton― thought I needed punishment for not using proper manners, although it's to be expected seeing as I am a slave―"

"He is also of a higher rank in Demon society," Hiei interjected before she could continue her nervous babbling. "I know that, it's just he isn't my master, so why do I have to treat him like he is?" Brie glanced down uncomfortably and cautiously continued. "I just wanted you to stay in so you wouldn't get wet, that's all." Brie stared in surprise as Hiei pushed off the windowsill and scanned the room for the darkest corner in the room.

Brie didn't sleep the rest of the night, still frightened by the nightmare. Her eyes ached to rest as she and Ann prepared breakfast and cleaned the Great Hall. Ann accidentally angered one of the lower-ranking demons by spilling dirty water on him, and was sent to work in the stables. Brie decided to switch with her after seeing her struggle trying to carry heavy buckets of water to the horses. The sun was beating down on her exposed neck while she made trips from the haystack to the horses. Brie's mind wandered to when she had awoken and found Hiei gone. While making breakfast, she overheard that he had gone off to the forest to train, and wouldn't be back for two days. 'Why am I thinking about that right now when I should be paying attention to what I―'

Brie's thoughts were interrupted when she ran into something solid. The bucket of water sloshed, spilling half of its contents. She chocked back a yell when she realized whom it was that faced her. Trenton had been drenched head-to-toe in the cold drinking water for the horses, and his eyes were filled with rage. Trenton's right arm forcefully wrenched the bucket from Brie's hands, while his left grabbed a fistful of her hair. He tugged downward, pulling her painfully to her knees. Brie gagged on the scream that had barely left her throat when he covered her mouth. "Shh! …Now, I'm going to let you go, but you scream and I'll make sure you never use that pretty voice again. Are we clear?"
Brie timidly nodded her head and gasped for air as he released her.

After she had recovered from her shock, Brie reluctantly asked, "What do you want?" Trenton looked about the stables as if waiting for something. It hit her what he wanted. "Master Trenton." A smile played across his face. "That's better. Now, there's a lamb that has been wandering around the outskirts of the forest near the castle. So," Trenton's eyes widened. "So, I want you to go fetch it."

"Why― I mean, yes Master Trenton." Brie had enough sense not to question his authority with a bleeding lip and a throbbing head. Trenton walked away while adding, "You tell no one of this as well, got it?" Brie stood on shaky legs while pulling back her hair into a ponytail. She left the stables and walked towards the dismal forest, sensing Trenton's eyes piercing her back, intently watching to see if she'd dare to enter the forest. 'I'll show him! I'll go into the forest and the get the lamb!' Brie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and briskly walked into the forest.