Disclaimer: You should know the drill by now – I do not own any of the characters and places, (except for the ones I made up and the plot – all mine) they belong to Tamora Pierce.

A/N – I just read back over chapter seven, and decided I don't like it that much. Please pick it to pieces as much as you want; I need advice. I have been working on another fic, and haven't been able to think of much more to do for this one – don't worry; I'll get there soon, just not at the moment. Please review my new story if you read Alex Rider fics.

I have replied to reviews for the last few chapters on my bio. Thankyou to everyone who reviewed.

I'm not telling you much about this chapter, so think what you will.

8. The Watcher

The pool rippled gently, a large, open expanse of water, distant from the trees that enclosed the private garden, and beautiful in its solitude. The garden was strictly laid out. A smooth frame of lush grass surrounded the pond, and was bordered by a square path pebbled with white stones. Other paths radiated out from it, like angular rays of the sun, interspersing beds of brightly coloured flowers and holding delicately carved wooden benches where one could sit and enjoy the garden. The blooms were closed since the setting of the sun, their vibrant colours muted even in the clear light of the moon. The branching paths all led to an outer square path that bordered the delicate flora, and a single trail led from one end among the thicket of trees that ensured privacy in this secluded space. The trees were tall, forbidding entities that stood like sentries, daring anyone to violate their limits of darkness and break into the peace of the garden they contained this night.

The full moon hung in the sky; round, fat and yellow, stark against the velvet darkness of night. Its twin bobbed on the gentle ripples of the pond, reflected and showing impurities as the water fractured its shape. The watcher chuckled silently to himself. The pond reflected the truth, in his eye. What appeared on the outside to be whole and perfect was shown in the pool as it really was: wobbly and broken, the real face under the façade the world saw. He wasn't talking about the moon. Not primarily, at least. The moon appeared perfect in the sky but it only was like that once a month, and created shadows to hide in, dark spots to slip round the edge of the security it tried to project. The watcher was one with the shadows and they were part of him. He crouched in the night, invisible, looking out at the pool and the lone woman standing beside it. Her unsteady reflection proffered long, straight, fair hair framing a face with lily white skin. Wide brown eyes looked out over a sheer cloth-of-silver veil that covered half her face and her reflection rippled more with each tear that fell from the innocent looking eyes. This pool knew her true self, and he watched her come here to cry. Her back was proudly straight, but the hands folded in the thin light blue shawl shook. The white sarong that shrouded her body fell to cover bare feet and was moistened by the dew-heavy grass. She prevented a hard, heartless face to the world. Shows of weakness would have got her killed. But not everything could be held inside all the time. The watcher laughed once more. Soon the world would see her weakness.

He moved unseen, staying in the shadows, the paths making no noise under his feet. He came closer. The watcher could hear her breathing, ragged gasps that broke the stillness. He smiled. She would beg for the joy of tears one day. He settled to watch, and wait. He knew her every move, had followed her here to the pool many times before. Would tonight be different from all the other nights? He doubted. If only he could make it so... Hungrily fingering the knife clutched in one hand, the watcher imagined the feeling – the slight catch of her skin as he plunged the blade in between her pale breasts, between her fragile ribs; the flow of warm blood over his fingers, the look of terror in her clear brown eyes… But he was one who watched, waiting for the signal to leave. When she gave it, unknowingly, he turned and slipped into the night, leaving her for now. Until the next time he would watch.

The lone woman cried, and never knew he had been there or gone.

A/N – another short chapter, I know, but I hope you find it interesting... Intriguing at least. You'll definitely be hearing more later from the watcher.

Sorry I haven't updated for a while, but I've been busy.

Thanx once again to everyone who reviewed.

I've started a count down to my birthday! Two days!

Liss