Note: Please read the last chapter's ending if you've read it before - it's had a big change. Sorry about that, folks, but I think we're back on track. ;)

Dear Mother,

Much has happened since you last wrote. Bolor is gone.

The quiet scratch of my quill and the sputter of my candle whispered together, tracing secrets in the shadows along the walls. I sighed, gazing dumbly at my curled parchment before dragging a scar of ink across it in disgust. I crumpled it, tossing it aside the rest of the letters I couldn't seem to complete.

"No, I can't start it like that..." I muttered, reaching for an apple on my desk. I don't want to scare her, worry her. Shaking my head I tossed the fruit hand to hand, biting my lip in thought. Better eat something before I chew off my face. I laughed half-heartedly, bringing the red apple to my lips and -

That smell.

I froze, pulling away and gazing from the harmless little fruit in my hand. It came with my evening meal, as one always did. Bright red, firm, barely sweet and tart - all for the world the same I'd eaten every day. But this...

I frowned, sinking my nails into its flesh and carefully watching. Normal. Utterly normal. But beneath the sweetness that made its way to me another scent lingered, bitter and faint and deadly.

Poison.

Who would want me dead?

I knew immediately, and the thought lingered in my heart more bitter than any poison. Bolor. He's trying to kill me, trying to have me assassinated - which means there must be an assassin. I caught my breath, the hairs on my neck prickling. Slowly, imperceptibly, I let a spell quiver on my fingertips, making the blood in my veins quicken. My fingers tinged purple, hinting at the beating heart inside me.

And that of the man behind me.

It happened in an instant, in the flick of my wrist and crash of my chair to the floor. I snatched my the letter-opener, twisting towards the door and lurching forward. My heart pounded, my throat squeezed out a scream, and some part of me void of pride prayed for help from gods I'd never cared about.

Oh gods oh gods let me out don't let me die -

"A pity. I didn't think you'd take the bait, but it was worth a try, was it not? A cleaner death for you, at least." I yelped as a hand clenched me by the hair, shoving me back against the wall. Footsteps. I crawled backwards, trapped between cold stone and the faint silhouette of my killer.

A slow, creeping smirk materialized from the shadows.

"Not that I mind."

There was no thought, no rational system I held so dear to depend on. Only action. My gift from mother turned weapon in one hand, a spell rising from the other. My fingers numbed as I blasted frost, my spell cut short with a wave of his hand. Kill him, kill him and run, oh gods please. I stabbed blindly, praying.

Not that any gods listened.

The flash of his sword met mine, a scream of steel. A hand closed around my throat, and at last I met his eyes. Dark and gleaming, his mouth twisted in a dark smile. I choked, struggling futiley - and slowly raising my weapon. Don't let him notice. Tears brimmed in my stinging eyes as I gasped. Slowly. Slowly.

"Don't... d-don't..."

"Sorry, pet. Orders are orders." I whimpered as he snatched my wrist, wrenching my only hope from my grasp. A final movement, death brushing against my throat. Maman's letter opener, his sword cast aside. I lay silent, waiting for her gift to slit open my throat.

"...Where did you get this?"

"W-what?" I stared wide-eyed, watching him as he examined the blade he had pushed against my throat.

"Where did you get this." I caught my breath as he tickled beneath my jaw, his brow furrowed. "I will not ask again, pet."

Maman? No. I can't tell him that. Toltette. "My stepfather. Please." I hated myself for begging. "Don't kill me."

"What is his name?"

"H-his..." I dared to look up, dared to meet his gaze and flinched. "Davide. Davide Toltette."

I don't want to die never got to say goodbye run run run. Paralyze him and run. Yes. I lashed out, the spell blooming from my hands. Run and get help. I unleashed the spell with a cry, terror propelling my feet before they petrified.

"No experience with spell reflection, my dear?" He snickered, kneeling over me as I lay paralyzed and grinning at the surprise frozen on my face. "It looks like you'll be that way for awhile. Enough time to bring you in for a little interrogation." I hissed in pain as he pushed his knee against my chest, wincing that the venom in his voice. "You may have complicated things, I'm afraid, but don't worry. We'll have all this sorted soon enough." Without missing a beat he slung me over his shoulder as I raged inside.

I am not going to die, not going to be dragged away!

Instinct, fueled by anger and terror, took over. Fighting paralyzation I sank my teeth into his shoulder, smiling inwardly at his grunt of pain. He cursed, pulling me back, smacking me sharply with a gloved fist. A ragged tear of pain split through my skull before the world crumpled upon itself, and went black.