A/N: This is really short again, but Marscopa, Debegri, and Elestra kind of took my idea here and ran with it. And I like it. And expect a new chapter soon, like maybe tomorrow or Wednesday, ok?

Loss of a Soul

At that point, everything went fuzzy and blurred. However, I was able to piece together the events afterward.

I think I screamed then, and quickly fell to my knees to see if she was breathing. Which she wasn't.

Her face was pale, and her green eyes open and staring, pupils merely pinpoints. And her eyes—they were not the color of piercing green they usually were, but rather, a green so light it was almost white, like cabbage. She looked as if someone had—had taken her soul.

I heard footsteps, fast, hurried footsteps and then Marscopa appeared behind me, eyes bright, cheeks slightly flushed, looking overly alive, as though she was so strong she could hardly live, simply because she was so alive. "Is she—oh, Elestra, I'm so sorry!" She didn't look it, or sound it, I noticed distantly, and the world went black for a second. Suddenly, it cleared, and I stood.

"No, you're not," I said, staring into those hypnotic eyes. "You're not sorry, because you killed her."

She smiled coolly at me. "You can't prove it."

I saw Debegri standing behind her, smirking, his smile so wide I could've ridden my horse through it.

He had gotten his revenge. But this was much more, I realized fuzzily. Much, much more.

"Get out." My voice was cold, hard, and didn't sound like my voice. "Get out of this building before I kill you."

Of course, I couldn't kill Marscopa if I tried. She was just too strong. And she just took my mother's soul, I figured.

I felt a sudden magnetic force, and my face burned like fire. I turned it towards Marscopa slowly, and it lessened as I met her eyes. They glowed unnaturally, hot and gray-blue. "You couldn't kill me if you tried," she hissed joyfully. "Not after I took your mother's soul, which is intertwined with your own. Your life and mine are connected. You cannot physically kill me. In fact, I wield great power over you, as does my nephew here."

"Why?" I hissed, feeling a flare of pain as I hissed the word. She didn't want me to talk.

"I need your help, Elestra."

"No." My voice was barely a whisper.

"Yes. You have befriended my other nephew, Alaerec. Or perhaps you've done more, eh?"

I shook my head violently, horrified. "Just a—just a—"

"Just a flirt?" She laughed at me, her eyes full of a mirth that made me shudder.

I shook my head again. "Just a--a friend."

I met here eyes squarely, and she seemed to read my mind for a moment. She blinked, and looked unsettled as she nodded the tiniest hint of a nod. "For now, at least," she whispered, half to herself.

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

She looked back at me, and smiled silkily. "You'll know when I need you, Elestra."

She winked, and I felt a flash of pain as she left, Debegri throwing me one last sneer as he left.

I was left alone, my body shaking from pain and sorrow, tears pouring down my face.

And suddenly everything was black.

Stargirl98: Sorry, I gave you a short chapter again. But I hope you like it. The next chapter is long, though.

toomuchhomework: I love your name! It's hilarious! And yeah, the Merindars are brutal, but basically Debegri went to Marscopa for an idea, and Marscopa needs Elestra because she's strong, friends with the son of the Prince of Renslaeus, and is young, so they decided that killing her mother was a good way to get a soul, and thus, more life, get back at Elestra, and get Elestra herself.And Debegri's lusting after Elestra anyway, so the fact that he has power over her is a plus. But yeah, the Merindars are really brutal and enjoy using people for things they need.

Thea: Yeah, I hated Debegri, too. He was a bumbling idiot, but he was an evil bastard of a bumbling idiot, and that's how I'm trying to portray him. As for the name thing...well, I've decided to end the poll thing and am choosing the new name now. See below for more information.

Wake-Robin: Oh, yes. Death is certainly a way to end a chapter. So is the above way. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry it's short...it wasn't my idea!cowers behind Elestra, Marscopa, and Debegri, trembling

rubic-cube: Thank you! You're always so nice to me...Have a cookie! ::gives cookie::

And, for all my beloved reviewers, here are your not one, not two, not three, but four whole cyber-cookies!!!! gives Stargirl98, toomuchhomework, Thea, Wake-Robin, and rubic-cube four whole cyber-cookies!!!

Also, The uber-grand name competion and poll is over. I just got bored with it. I have decided on aussiegirl of sunshine's title Sign of the Second Derivative. Congrats and thank you oh soooooo much, aussiegirl!! dumps random and very good and coolgifts on top of aussiegirl of sunshineThank all the rest of you for volunteering titles...they were ALL better than mine. (Sorry, Thea.)

Remember, I give you four cyber-cookies if you review! FIVE WHOLE REVIEWS!! I LOVE YOU ALL!! Four more cyber-cookies, and, if you offer me constructive criticism, you get a better story!!! ( Sorry, I just had a bowl of M&Ms and I'm hyper.)

Signing off,
nebulia