Chapter 22
Nightmares

The snow was soft as it touched her warm cheeks.

Lightly, the tiny clusters of white fell from the skies with the rising winds. The air was smoothed from the familiar crispness of the cold she desperately loved. From every breath that escaped her lungs, she could see its vapor swirl before her. How she missed the sight, she thought – as she warmly smiled towards the falling snowflakes. She felt as if it had been a distant life since she last seen snow – and she had grown tired of sand. For the first time in ages, her heart swelled with the feel of home.

As she walked through the world of white, she could see nothing but the scarce remnants of the frosted trees, the snows concealing them from her view. Memories instantly flashed before her mind as she felt the cold chill her through her kimono with the harsh mountain winds. As the winds whipped her golden strands against her face, she trudged through the deep snow of her mountain. Sensing a slight shiver, she surprisingly felt warm. In her blood, she felt the wolf within her awaken as it did that night where she scaled down the mountain in her desperate bid for survival. It saved her in more ways than one – and she was forever grateful for the blood that traveled in her veins.

It was because of her mother.

That was it, she thought – it was her Kekkei Genkai that was keeping her warm from the cold of the mountain. Ōkamitoko, the feared bloodline of the ones who called themselves Yamamori. On her mountain as the cold grew heavy with the blistering winds, she remembered the harsh reality of her world as she paused within the snow.

She was the last one.

All around her was a world of white and silver, much like the one she left behind. In the distance, a wolf howl danced across the frigid winds – and then it was gone…

White soon turned to a haze of towering pines.

She found herself back at the sight of her hunt in the Land of Rivers. Pulling himself towards her on the red forest floor, the shattered-masked tracker-nin struggled to kneel as the blade protruding from his chest heaved with every breath. His bloodshot eyes stared towards her through the slits of his broken shroud, drawing daggers towards the distraught kunoichi in his sights.

"You traitor...! TRAITOR!" Tojiru heaved, his mouth leaking bright red. The blood ran down the mask's edge and dripped from his chin to the bloodstained earth under him. "I'll slit your throat where you stand! I will spill your beast-blood until there's nothing left! My death will be the end of you!"

You left me no choice, she wanted to shout.

But her voice left no words as her world turned dark.

"You are to serve me until death..." Kenzō's voice echoed in the pitch black that surrounded her. Her cursed seal pulsed through her thoughts, its burning filling her with despair. "You serve me for life... Your purpose belongs to me! You are my tool!"

I never wanted this, she tried to yell, I only want to find my father.

She awoke in a pit of darkness.

As the light began to enter her vision, she felt a strong force grasp onto her, its feel coarse and harsh. Horrified, as she looked down, she saw a rising wave of sand clutching to her legs, binding her to its reach as it began to spread to her thighs and waist. It was just like that time when the one-tail possessed Gaara, the day the Ishigakure shinobi came for her capture. The sand's grasp was unrelenting upon her, its hold tightening against her by each passing moment.

Feeling a pair of eyes looking at her, she turned to meet Gaara's gaze - but it was not the familiar and dignified face of the Kazekage she knew. His ringed-eyes were evoking a menacing glare onto her, his lips curved into a bloodthirsty grin. He was mired in a version of his past self, a version of him she did not have the grace to meet. He was mad with murder, his expression proved it. Desperately as she tried to escape the creeping sand, she reached out to him as the sands covered her body, clasping onto her with no remorse and encasing her in its infinite suffocation.

"Gaara!"

He said nothing, his dark smile of mania conveying his thoughts before her vision faded into the black. As she could see nothing but the darkness, she felt a rumbling presence draw near – its bloodthirst chilling her to her core. Before her eyes, the large sand-marked pupils of Shukaku opened in front of her, its beastly wails drowning her sight and hearing as it lunged to attack…

"You killed me... I'll let Shukaku kill you...!"

The beast's jaws engulfed her.

Jolting, she suddenly awoke from her recollections, her eyes wide with fear.

Sitting up in her bed, she clasped her palm to her wet forehead in efforts to calm her terror. Since she last sensed Shukaku's chakra, she would have nightmares of its possession – each time being the same. Sometimes even the image of Tojiru's lifeless corpse appeared, drifting down the waters of the rapid river where she buried him. His words were always the same, uttering "Traitor, you traitor!" over and over again until she awoke in fear and covered in sweat. Paranoia for Kenzō's spies on the wall kept her sleeps restless and scattered, fraught with nightmares of Shukaku, her homeland, Tojiru, and everything else. Not even the kunai under her pillow gave her any rest.

It had been months since the Akatsuki arrived, and months since she had at least a decent but fragmented sleep. She was Kenzō's silent spy, continuing her duties under both him and the unknowing Kazekage while her fate danced carelessly in Kenzō's hands. No doubt he knew she slain Tojiru, and now he was toying with her by sending her on tasks with increased tracker-nin presence and threatening to trigger her seal whenever she set foot in those darkened chambers.

I'll never be free, she realized, I'm not meant to be free... I never was.

As she calmed herself, she could feel the second-hand guilt within her bones for her fear and her lies – feeling utterly helpless as she acted as a covert spy for Kenzō's ultimate will. Carrying the burden each day she worked with him, the pressure to maintain the secret deeply conflicted her at times. Her heart wanted her to cry out to Gaara - to tell him everything - to relieve her of her burdens – to free her. But she made an oath as a shinobi, and she knew it was her duty to obey. And the seal inflicted upon her prevented her from uttering a single word.

It's hopeless... I'm to suffer through this for the rest of my life.

Slowly, she lifted herself up from her slumber.

Stretching and yawning as she stood in front of her mirror – her fangs revealing themselves. The sun was bright that morning, beaming onto the stucco floor of her apartment. Suddenly, felt a funny sensation on her head. When she touched the top of her messy golden hair, she felt her wolf ears sticking through her wispy strands. Looking into the mirror, she frowned to herself, peering at the monster that looked back at her – its saddened wolfish gaze and slanted lilac eyes hurting her. Touching her nose, she felt the tip of her canine nostrils. She looked monstrous to herself, disgusted by her true self. Although proud of her heritage, she was ashamed to appear as she did – wondering if she was ugly, pretty, terrifying, or average. As a young woman who was approaching her seventeenth birthday, she often thought of trivial matters to herself, confiding only to Meiyumi when they would meet up after their missions.

"Shinto wouldn't understand," Meiyumi told her once, "Life is harder for us women, especially as kunoichi."

She found herself wondering what life she would have if she were just an average kunoichi in the normal troops, or a simple civilian like the girl she left behind in the snowy mountains those distant years ago. She would no doubt have a less difficult existence, that was for certain. The life of a simple farmer in the tundra of the Land of Mountains would have suited her better. But that was all a false hope and it was ripped away from her that fateful night of fire and blood. Despite her controlled exterior on duty, she was deeply concerned with how those around her thought of her, how they felt about her, and if they truly accepted her as one of their own. She was the outsider, the foreigner - and now the traitor.

How could I? The only friends I have don't know the truth and never will... I'm a living falsehood.

She truly was a wolf in sheep's clothing, just as the folktales spoke in passing.

Certain that she would one day seek companionship if she survived he trials of being a shinobi, she often wondered if anyone would love someone like her – someone who was both a human and a wolf, aside from her treachery. In regards to Gaara, she was beginning to feel confused about him. Since the loss of Shukaku, they were spending more time together as he could not take part in missions due to his weakened strength – accompanying him on his meetings and having the chance to talk with him not as her superior, but as a friend. He trusted her with his tasks, his concerns, and his company. Even the odd confiding. He trusted her - trusted her. The realization struck her with more guilt than she could fathom. As she grew closer to his life, she began to feel something more for him, something that only seemed to pull her closer to his presence. Despite her reluctance to admit it, deep in her heart she realized she was developing feelings for the young Kazekage.

Her target, the one she was spying on after hours.

Him.

Just the scent of his chakra alone warmed her, her chest fluttering with a want she never thought she had. Pushing back the thought anytime they were close to another only seemed to make the issue worse. Since his return to the living, her heart longed to be near him. Was it because of the guilt, or was it because she was truly falling for her stoic, calm-spoken ruler? She desperately hoped she were imagining things, but her heart told her otherwise.

It's a lost cause, she thought.

Taking a deep breath, she shook herself, making her wolfishness disappear. Although it has been over three years since awakening her Kekkei Genkai, it sometimes slipped out by mistake, as if subconsciously. Not even Gaara seen her like this, with her face mutated to the shape of a hideous canine – she was deeply afraid of what his reaction would be.

"Am I human?" She asked herself, touching the glass of the mirror. "Or…?" Am I the monster my father said I was?

Gazing back at her was the girl again, lilac-eyed and golden haired. Her expression was solemn and her body slender as she stood in a baggy white shirt and grey pyjamas, concealing her boyish figure as she looked herself up and down. Momentarily, she found herself focusing on the fabric that sat upon her flat chest. She was no stranger to insecurities, and she had plenty. Snapping out of her daze, she started to dress herself in her blue and white kimono, fastening the thin white obi across her waist and adjusting her long sleeves. Before leaving for another day of work as the Kazekage's assistant, she gazed at herself once more in her mirror. Pleading that she could last yet another day avoiding her dire consequences.

Upon the rooftop of her apartment building that morning, she sat upon the wooden bench as her beastly summon sat close by.

Since her return from the Land of Rivers months earlier, Hanone took it upon himself to stand guard for his underling every night when she would retire for the night. Scouring the land surrounding her apartment for any of Kenzō's spies whose masked silhouettes lurked amongst the clay buildings, the monstrous wolf veered them away with a vicious snarl and lunge if they dared to approach any closer. Not wanting to cause a scene within the village streets, they returned to their places within the shadows – to make sure no one found out about the mission she was assigned and the consequences that awaited her for her disobedience. As the wolf looked into her averted tired eyes that gazed down at her lap, he could see the guilt marked within them.

"Hanone," She spoke, quietly. "Am I… truly the last one?"

"Hm?"

"The Yamamori…" She continued, bringing herself to look towards him. "Mother never said anything about there being others. I was wondering… if they were alive, somewhere."

Regretfully, the wolf straightened his head as he sat, his beastly yellow eyes meeting her pained and pleading glance. "I can't give you an answer for that," He answered with a faint growl. Looking down at his large paws before him, his glance towards them narrowed. "The wolf-people… they were certainly cursed. They were cursed to vanish amongst the snows that coated their mountains." With a scoff within his muzzle, he looked back to her. "There may be some in hiding, but I am not a human… I don't concern myself in human affairs. You know that, Nomasaki."

Sorrow tinted her gaze. "I know, it's just…"

Her voice trailed with the winds that rose within the desert that warm morning. Pondering to herself for a moment, she entertained an intruding thought that entered her mind. Lightly, she feigned a smile upon her lips in attempt to hide her deep-seeded fear and worry for what lay ahead in her life. For a moment, she felt free. "Hanone," She said, her voice crisp and warm. "We should… look for them. Let's leave this land behind and search for them."

"This is highly unlike you," Hanone replied, his narrowed eyes suspicious. Even though she was smiling, he knew she was lying. He felt it. "I thought you said this was your home? Or… are you having second thoughts now that you know the true nature of the desert-folk?"

"This is my home, but…" She spoke, her voice coming to a pause. She knew the desert village was where she felt the most safe – but it was also the place where she felt the most peril. Every waking moment she anticipated an appearance by one of those masked men. If she fled without saying so, they would have no choice but to follow her. And most importantly – Gaara would be safe. The thought was a cowardly plan, but if she had no other choice, she would gladly choose. Sorrow returning to her eyes, she averted her gaze to the side. "…I still feel as if I don't belong here." Looking back to him, she smiled once more. "We should leave… for a while. We can have an adventure, just you and me… like old times, back in the mountains."

"Aren't you forgetting something?" He snarled. "That bastard Kenzō is still watching you. He suspects you of something… I can feel his spies watching us closely as we speak."

Her eyes widening from his words, she felt her hands flinch at her lap. "H-How can you tell?"

"As someone who is only half-wolf, I'm not surprised. Your sensory skills are remarkable, but not as strong as I." He narrowed his beastly yellow eyes towards her, a faint snarl escaping his mighty jaws. "Also… I know you're trying to protect that one…"

Jolting, a shudder released down her spine from the mere thought. Hanging her head low, she gazed down at her lap with eyes closed halfway, the scant evidence of their violet gleam poking through the shroud of thick golden strands of her hair. "I'm aware of that, it's just…" She spoke, silently. "Gaara-sama should be safe, Shukaku is gone… –,"

"Shukaku was his protection!" His growl ripping through the air between them, startling her as she sat nearby. With wide eyes, she met the faintly snarling muzzle of her wolf across from her, his narrowed yellow eyes boring through her fragility as if she were an omega and he were an alpha. She wondered if that was how the leader of the wolf pack felt when she faced it in the forest of the Land of Winds only months ago. Standing her ground, she looked on with calmed breaths to contain herself. "Without it, he's weaker than you! Do you really intend on leaving him to those who lurk in the shadows?" Once his snarling came to a rest, he turned away with narrowed eyes. "If you truly cared for him as you say you do… you would stay and fulfill your oath."

Surprised by her summon's words, she thought of her oath. Despite his strong distaste for the former jinchuriki, Hanone knew of the bond that lay between them. Warmed by his concern, she gave a soft smile towards the beast with a coy expression emerging from her relieved eyes of lilac. "Hanone," She spoke softly. "Are you saying that… you want me to protect Gaara?"

"I did not say such thing!" He barked with a deep growl. "Don't antagonize me, Nomasaki! You may be my underling, but I will not stand for such disrespect! Don't make me think you are fully human…!"

With a light chuckle, she stood up from the bench and started for the door to the stairwell. Pausing before the doorway, she looked back to the wolf behind her as he stood on all fours and watched her carefully with protective eyes. "I have to leave now, Gaara-sama is waiting for me. Where will you go?"

Turning towards the direction of the desert plateau in the far distance, Hanone sniffed the winds in the northwest. He could sense prey within that reach – boar, bovine, and camel. Taking in the scents, his stomach hungered for all three. The desert did not offer much choice to the wolf, but he was more than willing to adapt than scavenge with the crows.

"I need to make a hunt… I'll return at nightfall."

With a concerned glance, she watched the wolf descend onto the alley streets below, making his way out of the village to hunt his sought-after prey. Remembering her duties, she begrudgingly left the safety of her apartment and ventured into the village as well.

Gaara was still waiting for her, and she was seldom late.

"The border is secure, Kazekage-sama." The veil-masked ANBU leaned in. "There were reports of bandits, but they were since dealt with."

"Thank you." Gaara nodded. "Tell the commander to station some by the gates. We can't have any reaching the village perimeter."

As soon as the ANBU appeared, they were gone before Nomasaki could even blink. The teashop where they sat was a well-shaded spot, both near the estate and central to avoid and possible unwanted attention. Spring was nearing, and the heat was beginning to grow unbearable. Even for someone who has lived in Sunagakure for near three years, her bones still ached for a winter that would never come. It was Gaara's suggestion they leave the estate, a rare occurrence even for him. The councillors were driving him mad with their quarrels, all of the focused on getting Shukaku back and trying to figure out if their Kazekage's strength had finally returned. It had been months since he was brought back from the dead, but his sand abilities were slower to rise than a sun rising in the west. There were even talks of replacing him. The conversations worried Nomasaki greatly - and she often heard Kenzō's voice as part of the louder questioning chatter behind the council chamber doors. Leaving the estate was something that was much needed, it seemed.

Although a rare occasion to go anywhere with the Kazekage outside of the boundaries of the estate and its courtyard, she enjoyed spending that time with him. It was especially pleasant since she could no longer feel Shukaku's chakra gnawing at her while she was around, a welcome relief - if any. Due to his status as village leader and being an exceptional young man of stoic nature, she would have to endure the unwanted glares from his few devoted fans any time they wandered outside of the mansion's gates. Unsure if he was even aware of the young girls who crowded to the street sides to catch a glimpse of the young Kazekage, Nomasaki kept the peace and deterred them away kindly. Some instances were not as kind, but she ignored their harsh words and prejudice in favour of taking the high road. She was used to it at this point, after all.

Before the ANBU appeared, they were discussing the recent Suna Council meeting. An attack was launched by the Akatsuki on Konoha, plunging the village in complete and utter peril. Luckily, the nine-tails avoided capture - but the entire village was destroyed as consequence. It was Uzumaki Naruto who defeated the invaders, reportedly alone. The news amazed and horrified her.

"We can't allow our village to sit idly by as this happens." Gaara said about it. "They will only get stronger. Suna must be prepared in case they decide to come back and conquer us for their gains."

She understood, but her concern remained. "Will they... come back?"

He drank his tea while he thought. "We no longer have Shukaku, but... who's to say they don't want to test their power? If they are collecting tailed-beasts, it can't mean anything good... that's for certain." He placed the cup on the table and eyed her sternly. "And the reports from our intel? Did they say anything as of late regarding the Akatsuki's movements?"

"Not since the attack on Konoha," She said, flipping through the pages on her clipboard. "The intel gathered and compiled from Konoha and other smaller nations have confirmed that the Akatsuki are now in possession of... seven tailed-beasts. Of their members, only three remain and one has defected... and there are unconfirmed reports that their leader is dead, killed by Uzumaki Naruto."

"I see... so nothing's changed." He met her eyes, his expression stoic. "I guess it can't be helped, given the situation. Make a note to follow-up with the Intel Division on this matter within a few days' time, just to make sure our information is accurate."

"Will do," She nodded. "Anything else, Gaara-sama?"

"No, that's all. Thank you."

Resting her clipboard on the table, she placed her hands on her lap and waited for her green tea to cool down. "So, your sand abilities… I just wanted to ask... Are they are recovered?"

He nodded. "For the most part. Shukaku did give me more strength in terms of defence, so I'll have to figure out how to perfect the true Ultimate Defence on my own without the tailed-beast's chakra. To be truthful, it's been... difficult, to say the least." He glanced to his side, narrowing his eyes as he remembered Shukaku – the source of his power and mental struggle. Despite him not holding the beast in high regard, not having its chakra at his disposal was proving to be harder than he could have ever imagined. "I'm close to perfecting it, but it's going to take some more time. I'm not quite where I was before the extraction, but I will be eventually."

Looking at him with a concerned tint to her eyes, she understood his inner quarrel – Shukaku, the source of his sand and ultimate defense. The Suna Council feared that his powers would disappear after losing the one-tail, albeit that was not entirely the case. However, it has been months since its loss and his abilities were still not yet completely refined. Sadly, she looked down at her hands on her lap – pondering what the council thought of him, worried about his fate.

"What's wrong?"

"O-Oh," She stammered, his voice jolting her for a moment. Meeting his gaze, she gave her familiar light-natured friendly smile. "Nothing, really. I just… hope you're able to feel like yourself again soon. Ability-wise." As she looked down at her cup of green tea, she hid her worry with a slight smile curved onto her lips. "The council worries about you, in that regard. And… I do, too. You've had a long recovery."

"You don't need to." He spoke, a smile faintly present on his stoic expression as he sat across from her. "But… thanks. This will pass, but I won't push myself for any extraneous missions until it's more refined. The council will have to deal with that regardless if they want to or not."

Watching him as he spoke, her thoughts grew concerned, worry taking over her mind. Sitting across from her was the young man who had the chakra that struck fear into the hearts of men – and herself. But on that day, he sat a human completely free of any tailed-beast. The demon that was once sealed within him failed to reappear, its chakra forever lost from his being. On the winds, his chakra was strong with power but with the warmth of comfort and protection. Never afraid of Gaara for what he was, her true fear of him lay with their friendship. Grateful for her help in the Land of Rivers, the Kazekage was largely unaware of her hidden mission. Seeing his calm eyes before her made her gut twist with guilt. The pressure was so tight within her to come clean that she could feel the tendrils about to burst.

No doubt Kenzō would gladly silence me before I would have the chance, she thought.

The seal on her tongue burned while she mulled the thought.

Noticing her silence as the sounds of the village around them grew louder, she decided she should say something. But what? Her mind still fresh with the recollection of her nightmare, she remembered the ghastly sight she witnessed. The image of the wolfish girl looking back at her through the looking glass reminded her of her conflicting blood. There was the blood of the wolf and the blood of the sand, intertwined and stirring her troubled thoughts. Thinking about her dilemma from earlier in the morning, she decided to ask him the question she mulled over for months. Gathering up the courage to ask, she glanced at him to see if he was interested.

"Listen, Gaara…" She started. "There's something… I have always wanted to… ask you."

"What is it?"

His eyes conveyed curiosity to her change in tone, watching her slowly come to terms with what she wanted to say. Taking a deep breath internally, her eyes grew nervous and saddened. Looking at her hands clasp the warm cup of tea in front of her, she diverted her attention away from him – distracting herself to save herself the shock. "Well… When you see… –,"

"Ah, it's you two! Is this a date I'm interrupting or…-?" From beside their table on the street-side, Kankuro was standing close by, clothed in his black puppeteer clothes and purple face-paint – smirking at them as they both whipped their heads towards him. "I never took you two to be so close."

"We're discussing work-related matters," Gaara shot back, his eyes slightly narrowed in annoyance and embarrassment – not making eye contact with his sibling. "It's nothing personal… What are you talking about?"

"I was only joking." Kankuro groaned, regretting what he said to them upon seeing Gaara's somewhat flustered reaction. "Sheesh…" Sighing, he placed his gloved hands into his pockets, glancing towards the village street beside them. "Well, anyways… I came here to tell you two that the council just got a mission for you two. They said it's very important."

Upon hearing his words, Gaara's interest was spiked – his eyes suspicious of the request. The council was aware of his weakened state, which perplexed him as to why they wanted him to depart the village so suddenly – and with his assistant. Not since they were genin, had the two been on an assignment together. Something did not feel right to him at all. "A new mission?" He repeated, sternly. "What for? And why the two of us together?"

"Not sure," His brother replied, turning to him. "They mentioned something about Ishigakure, but they specifically asked for you and Nomasaki to go. They said they can't tell me anything more than that, it's confidential."

"Ishigakure?" He questioned. "This is unexpected from them." Gaara's ringed-eyes narrowed at the answer, his suspicions flooding his mind. Was there a hidden motive for this assignment? As Gaara stood up from the table, he watched his older brother leave, his figure walking off into the crowd, disappearing within the vast sea of people. "Nomasaki, you were trying to tell me something." Gaara reminded, his expression calm as he watched the crowd.

Silence – his call went unanswered.

"Nomasaki?"

Stepping towards the middle of the street, he could faintly see a wolf walking alone in the distance, its white fur gleaming from the bright rays of the sun. Within an instant, the beast faded away as the crowd drew closer, hidden within the shadows of the villagers. His eyes appearing somewhat guilty and saddened, he stood in a solemn daze as the wind blew past him – swaying his untamed red hair.

"Did I… do something?" He asked himself, quietly – puzzled at her abrupt departure.

Reaching the doorstep of her tiny apartment, she transformed back into her human form – kicking the dust off her dress as she gathered herself. Opening the door with her key, she locked the door behind her once she entered – sighing in relief as she held her back against its wooden texture. Sliding down until she was upon the cold stucco floor, she held her head down.

"That… was too close."

Her lilac eyes closing halfway, she thought of how much she cared for him, and how she truly felt about him - but he was the Fifth Kazekage, a truly strong and powerful ninja. She wanted to convey her budding feelings to him, to tell him of how she cared for him, to tell him what Kenzō was forcing her to do – but all efforts were naught. Although through a veil of secret, she lacked the confidence and fearlessness to do so – her timid past seeping through the cracks of her duty-driven exterior.

Wolves do not fear, but perhaps she was not a wolf after all.

She desperately wished she could tell him the truth – her secret assignment that forced her to forego sleep in fear of her own life – to tell someone, anyone. However, she lacked the courage to break the news. For someone who was part-wolf, she had the confidence of a frightened mutt.

"Nomasaki, you just need to speak up! Be assertive! Nothing's holding you back. I know you're shy, but you should at least open up a little."

Temari's words on confidence during their jonin training rang through her mind as she mulled over the day's events. If he truly was her friend, she should be able to tell him everything and anything that bothered her, but what she wanted to tell him could ruin their amicable relationship – causing her internal struggle. He was also a Kage, and had more important things to worry about – and much less trivial.

Why would he trouble himself so – and why would he care?

As someone who struggled with being both a human and a wolf, she was a freak in her eyes, as many of her Yama villagers called her and her mother years ago. She thought Gaara deserved much better – as a friend and as an assistant. If she let her thoughts dance around the chance she might hold something more than friendship towards him, she would have shouted internally at herself. How dare she even think of such a thing, she cursed herself - what would he think of it if he found out?

He was the Kazekage, she was his assistant – nothing more.

Or was it?

Sighing again, she clutched her knees in her arms, burying her expression of sorrow into her dress' lap. Would I ever be able to tell him… how I feel…? Or even... about everything...? A slight burn danced on her throat, reminding her of the burden which she devoted her life. The seal would linger upon her until death, she remembered - and she could never be free.

Regretfully, she wallowed in her internal struggles and paranoia and hoped that they would both soon pass…