An icy wind ran over my skin and danced through my hair, filling my lungs with a bitter chill as the even strides of my steed bounced me in a rhythmic lull. Despite how I had struggled to keep my eyes open, the beating of hooves against the winter earth was like subtle drum beats pulling me to sleep. My shivering breath echoed into the day as my fingers barely kept me on the Zebstrika, my legs given up holding me half way through the night before. My body was slouched against the reaching neck of the muscular striped creature.

I couldn't tell the time of day, just that a bland light seeped past my eyelids. A slight warmth from the glowing sun just skimming over me as we continued. I lost the time since I took off from the castle, everything around me just a bur as I look to the road ahead. Which wasn't much of anything but a winding dirt trail we barely fit on as the tree branches reached out to snatch me back. Never once did I stop, never once had I seen a town yet since we took the back end way out of the Capital City.

But as luck would have it, through a tired haze, a small smog of buildings began to spring up once Zebstrika and I broke through the forest. My posture slowly regained itself as I forced a squint to the rustically built things. My nose wrinkled up easily as I saw how small it all really was, this was a village? I thought to myself as we started to pull down to a trot, gradually falling to a walk as we approached a man who stood at the town's entrance.

"Hold to the gates," the crotchety man gargled. He was in almost black garb, his hunch unmistakable as his layered cloaks only made it pop further. Not a single hair stood on his leathery skin once I pulled to a full halt at the man. I could look down and see the aging spots across his face, years pulling down his face in waves. Grime sunk between each wrinkle and crusted over his draping clothes. He looked to me with empty eyes, "Name."

"... Why?"

"Procedure, 'Mam." He snapped, curling his lips to bare only a few crooked teeth, ones that were yellow as a marigold with worm-like divots. I could smell his halitosis from where I was, trying to hold the urge of vomiting at his very appearance. "Name."

"... White Albion."

"State your business in Victory Plateau."

My head leaned off to the side to look deeper into the village. Few people roaming like ghosts as tiny pokemon scuttered across the open spaces sometimes. Other than that, seemed dead. Looked far from being any sort of victory. I turned back to the man, hesitant to even hold a stare with him and his grotesque appearance, "I am passing through on travel. I might stay the night if there are any," the peasant word escaped my mind for a moment, just skimming at the tip of tongue as I looked to the man.

His nose which was too large for his face sniffed, "The inn's just South from here, to the left of the Butchers. If you see the bakery, you've gone too far." the man's voice hissed in a rushed monotone. "Now get," the gatekeeper rushed, nodding his head into the village briskly before scribbling onto some curled old parchment with a quill.

I nodded to him carefully in acknowledgment as I gave my steed a swift kick into the stomach to motion it forward. Once into the town, I took note of the people bustling to and fro the town. Most with small pokemon on their shoulders or helping them out with work. Looking through a wide glass window, I saw a burly man slamming a hammer against some sort of metal being held against a stone anvil. Behind him a strange creature I've only seen in my textbooks blew fire into a large stone forge. Its long snout roaring out the flames as its red tail flattened out with its slender yet curved body. Heatmor, if I recalled correctly, was its name. Surrounding them were dozens of different weapons, glinting in the warm light.

Gazing to the next shoppe, I saw an aging woman. Her dark hair turning a silver at the roots was tied up into a casual bun as she bustled around. In her hands were all sorts of bubbling liquids and potions that she placed here and there. A pokemon in the background was focusing for a brief moment before releasing a plume of spores from its mushroom shaped hands into a wood bowl. Its white eyes opened with what looked to be boredom but it seemed to clap over to the shopkeeper who hurred over with a joy, rubbing the creatures pink and white plume top. The pokemon was an Amoonguss, if I had to guess.

We continued through the village quietly, a few of the peasants turning up to look as I rode through but most just carried on through their days. From my hood, I felt a slight shutter before the grey Minccino burst for from where it was sleeping. Its little body shaking out as the creature crawled out and perched itself on top of my shoulder. I shot the pokemon a glance before continuing to ride through.

It wasn't long though until it leapt onto the ground, prancing towards something that caught its attention. I let out a light sigh and gave Zebstrika a slight jab in the sides to trop behind to catch up. It grunted but followed suit quickly. It was easy to find the little cleaning-pokemon standing against a windowsill, paws pressed up against the glass with glittering eyes. I looked to what the Minccino was admiring, my nose twitching at what it was. A gaudy looking stone, possibly amethyst, with bone plating. The necklace was decorated with avian feathers and berry painted colors.

I stole a further glance into the store to see a man and woman moving throughout the store. They weaved between one another like a perfect team as their strange clothes draped over them. The garb were made of what looked to be Deerling or Bouffalant hide. Their oddly reddish tanned skin different from a farmers. Both had dark, dark hair like the inky night. Moving about the store with them were two small little pokemon, known to the area. One with ruffled white feathers and a grey body, Rufflet. The other was like a bird that hadn't finished hatching from its egg, pink skin looking like bare and eerie, it was a Vullaby. The two people finished up, meeting in the center of the shop, dark eyes meeting each other as they smiled with a loving content.

My eyes shut softly as I began to remember the history lessons Cheren would bore me through. Before Kalos sent people to colonize Unova, there was already a native people living on the land. Nomads which traveled across all of Unova with the changing of the wind, as it was said. Denovians was what we called them. They were a strange people with odd cultures. Many of them were killed during the great battle between the first kings of Unova since they had lived in the barren lands that were ravaged. Now a days, the few lines of the people who were left had adjusted to the new style of life.

About the colonists who came and claimed the land and royal family have Kalos descent, but we see ourselves as Unovians. Ones born in Unova, but not Denovians.

Denovians usually follow their old cultures and pray to their deities, but lived amongst the other peasants.

Denovians are not treated fairly though, that I knew for sure.

It was easy to notice here as I saw the bruise run up the woman's arm. The gash across the man's face. How the store seemed full to the brim of items but no customers in sight. The passing peasants around seemed to move like there was a bubble around the Denovian shoppe.

In the time I stared, I was soon spotted by the woman within. Her head turned to look at me swiftly with wide eyes, the man's head slowly following his wife's (or so I presumed). He turned onto a slight offensive, but the woman slapped his arm just lightly like a playful smack. She looked back at me, her long and loose raven hair falling delicately around her body. Her full yet perfectly fitting lips pulled widely into a greeting smile. Her eyes met mine carefully as she began to make her way to the door. The greeting bell chimed as she stepped outside, her leather shoes scuffed from the dirt made their way closer to me.

"Good day, miss," her melodic voice hushed with the slightest accent I just couldn't pinpoint. It was not formal tongue nor peasant tone either. "You were peering into our store, is there anything that has piqued your interest?"

Minccino pointed and cried out to the necklace as soon as the woman stopped speaking, earning a stare from both the Denovian and I. The lady laughed and went over to ruffle the creature's fur right between the ears.

"So you like the necklace! Well, I believe this one is just a tad too large for you, Ayashe. But I think we may just have one your size in stock, if you would care to come in and see." She breathed quietly, looking to me kindly. Minccino stared up to me with the largest pleading eyes, its lower lip quivering with a beg.

My shoulder slouched, shooting a glance around as I felt the heavy stares of passerbys. I shuttered them off carefully, more confused about what she had called Minccino. "I guess a few minutes of looking around will not hurt." She smiled to me, offering a callus hand to assist me from Zebstrika. I brushed it away though and slid from my mount easily. Right as my legs bent to catch me on the ground, the night of riding suddenly struck in my knees and hips. I cringed at the soreness but pretended as if it weren't there.

The Denovian cared not that I pushed her offer to the side as she pulled one of her many leather belts from her roping clothes. With one end, she tied around Zebstrika's halter and the other around a small wooden post just by the shoppe door. Minccino was already rushing in when the Denovian pulled the door open for me, her smile still not faltering as her eyes tracked me when I went in. The little grey furball rushed around, gazing at all the glittering jewelry. Sniffing at the hides curiously before leaping back.

I stood in the store, just watching Minccino run about. The two Denovian's staring at me. I gave them a crooked look carefully, "Yes?"

"Are you gonna look at anything?" the male's voice rumbled with hostility, his arms crossing his chest as he took in a thick breath.

The woman jestingly slapped him again, "Tika!" her accent fell heavy on the name before shifting closer to a peasant's. "Can't you see who this girl is?"

I froze. Could I have been that obvious? Fear fell into my bones as my feet already started to move closer to the door.

"Should I?" the man, Tika, responded.

"Gah! You are blind," she told him before looking to me. "You are Ska. White!" Her voice pronounced the word with a wind to it, pulling the ending with a 'ha' sound.

I blinked for a moment towards the strange Denovian woman. She had known the fake me? That was far from possible, "White Albion is indeed my name..." I muttered quietly. It was the truth. It just was not my full name.

"Really? What a coincidence!" she laughed airily as her Rufflet pecked at her hand, shooting a stare at me also. "See? Even Onsi can see, Tika." driving her attention back to me she smiled, "Your soul is white, I mean. You are very special, Miss White."

I had no way to respond to the woman for I hadn't a clue what she had said. "I do not understand..." I looked to her for a name.

"Oh, my name is Namid." She nodded before motioning to the man beside her, "And this is my beloved, Tika." The two little bird pokemon ran across the floor between us, Minccino running after them playfully with a slight tackle to barrel into the two. "And they are Onsi and Liluye. Or, as you call them, Rufflet and Vullaby."

The man, by the name Tika, stared at his wife and then to me, squinting carefully as wrinkles formed in the corners of his eyes. The jagged scar down his face bunching in as he examined me, almost like comparing my worth to an item, "She is Ska?"

"Indeed! Now, I shall get the necklace for Ayashe." The beautiful woman, Namid, quickly bustled away into the back room, pushing back leather curtains before disappearing. Leaving with Tika and the pokemon.

I took in a heavy breath and built up a stone expression as I watched the pokemon run about in silence. My posture was held perfect as the man beside me slouched. "Why does she call my pokemon 'Ayashe'?" I finally asked.

"It is one of the names that means 'little one' to us." Tika answered bluntly; the use of us refering the Denovians.

"I see."

"I'm gonna guess you don't understand 'Ska' either."

"I do not."

Tika turned to me, his long black hair braided over his shoulder still slipped out into his face slightly. His tightened jaw not moving as he harshly stood. "Sapa and Ska," the words pulled out with the wind in his voice saying Sahpah and Skah as his dark brown eyes hazed over, "A very old legend carried by my people. It is not important to the likes you." His eyes scrunched together once more, but not in examination. Almost a pity, " but if my beloved is correct, you are destined for great things."

I searched for a lie, there was none.

Finally, Nemid returned. In her hands was a fair piece of jewelry carefully held in her hands. She hustled over to where Minccino played and smiled wonderfully, "Ayashe! I have your necklace." The grey furred pokemon stopped, swinging around with its ears flopping around. Nemid gracefully knelt down to the pokemon, her tasseled clothes slimming the wooden floors as she clipped the necklace around the creatures. Pulling back, Minccino gazed mystically at what was around its throat. With small bone plating, a polished amethyst stone the size of my pinkynail was held. Two baby feathers were clipped to each side of the jewel carefully.

"That is fourteen silver, White Albion," Tika told me, extending his hand in waiting.

I crooked my head at him, "For what?"

"The necklace."

"That costs money?" I asked, taken a back by the thought. I had gotten everything I wanted back at the castle at the clap of my hands. Rarely did I want anything, but that had never coasted me money. So it never occurred to me I would need it on my run. "I do not have any..."

Tika's face contorted with confusion, his nasty gash curling up with anger, "You don't have money?"

Nemid quickly rushed over with her bright smile, "It is alright, Tika! We will just give it to you, Ska. It is not like it would affect our stock..."

The Denovian man swiveled his head towards his wife but, in fear of another slap, he just sighed and accepted that they would make nothing. Nemid smiled with delight as she clapped her hands around mine.

"It was an hon-" her eyes full of a kindness and joy suddenly drown away in a darkness. Her elated smile crumbling away to an almost horror. A single bead of water ran down her cheek followed by another. And another. Her voice suddenly becoming tight as she spoke, "I am sorry. I am so sorry, Ska. I-I-I am deeply sorry."

My hands yanked back from the crying woman, my feet already moving backwards as I held my gaze with hers, "What are you speaking of?"

Her head shook carefully, the turquoise earing she wore becoming entangled with strands of hair, "Destiny is very cruel. I am so sorry."

As if by timing, a small girl peaked out from the back room. her big eyes shimmered while her wild, untamable looking hair fell down to her ankles, "A customer? Why is mamma crying? Did person do bad?"

Tika looked back to the girl, "Go back into your room Iris, everything is alright. Mamma just had a vision."

The little girl made an 'o' with her mouth and only came closer, a small Axew following at her feet.

"I have to go," I answered, feeling an overwhelming burden cast on me as they spoke of destiny and visions. The three people just stared at me like I was an object. Confusion was just overwhelming I quickly turned by back to the Denovian family as I hurried out. Minccino felt my rush and quickly followed suit. Once out the door, I was already untying Zebsrika from the post and we were off and walking towards the inn at a brisk pace.

From behind me, I heard a door swing open and a child's voice cry with an innocent joy, "Take care, Miss! And may the dragons watch over you!"

My face sunk further into my cloak while I pulled the hood farther over my eyes. I pretended as if I hadn't heard her and continued walking to the inn.

The sun was already starting to fall into the horizon when I did arrive. There was a small stable at the inn where they housed and sold steeds. All they had were irritated Bouffalants and steel-coated Durants. Nothing that interested me, so I decided I would stick with Zebstrika until the next town. The stables there were free to keep steeds so I quickly tied the pokemon up and rushed to the inn.

Once through the front doors, I saw people dressed in all sorts of peasants clothes dancing around the room. Drinks being passed on round wooden trays in large frothing mugs by usually a blonde woman in a tight corset. Burly men sat around large tables, creating a loud uproar as their fur vests barely stretched to stay on. Thinner men wore what looked like the same itchy fabric I wore as shirts and pantaloons. Musicians played flutes and fiddles in a corner, their squeaking tunes falling into the rest of the sounds around.

I weaved my way through the bumbling men, my hood down with my cloak parted just slightly as I walked through. Male voices would call out to me, their words sending chills down my spine as I continued to look for a check-in desk of sorts. A stray hand wrapping around my chest, causing me flush red as I just pushed farther past. Something had touched my butt and when I spun around there was a horrid looking pan, his rounded face sweaty as his eyes filled with lust, "Sorry, my mistake." He slurred out, smelling of cheap alcohol I used to smell in the kitchens. Around him was a thick black haze that gave my stomach knots.

"That was not a mistake." I snarled as I pulled far away from the man. A woman who tended to the men with drinks, rolled her eyes to a man coming onto her. Our eyes meeting for a quick moment as I expressed my pity through expression. Then I had made it to a sort of check-in desk at last.

A shrewd looking man wearing a tight striped vest was scribbling in thick books at the desk. He shot me only a short glace over the top of his oval glasses before looking back intently on what he worked on. "Sleeping in the Commons is free but The Prancing Ponyta Inn is not responsible for any loses, injuries or invasive actions you may experience. Private quarters are three-hundred silver a night. Ones with locks are three-hundred and fifty."

"That much?" I squawked out, even Minccino on my shoulder cringing at my piercing voice. My eyes moved towards the uproarious crowd of liars and drunks with a rise of my nose, to even think of having to spend the night in the commons with people like them. I shuttered at the thought as I looked back to the man. I hadn't even had a copper on me, and I refused to sleep near those ruffians.

"We are the only village between the Capital and Opelucid, many come through. Few stay." He answered bluntly with an irritation picking at his tone.

A man shoved beside me, the hair on the back of my neck beginning to stand on end from his very presence. "You need some help, little lady?" the gruff voice chuffled with a sort of peasant drawl I had never heard within the castle. I looked at the man, he wasn't as shady as the others that were in the area. A dark scruff across his angled jawline, floppy brown curls that fell past his ears, a buff and built structure but not too much to seem like a giant. His clothes were though much darker than everyone elses, a black cloak with a fresh point to the ends. Thick dark hide making his leather armor that stretched finely across him with a combat dagger sheathed, but far from being hidden. Just beside the man floated a golden mask engulfed by a sort of black smog. But not one of a liar, like one of a pokemon. My eyes squinted as I tried to recall what it was called again.

A Yamask.

My head flipped away from him, "Why yes, but I don't need any help from you." I replied tiredly, giving an emotionless face no matter where I was directed towards.

He laughed with a hardy bellow from the bottom of his stomach. The sound of coins clattering echoed onto the desk. Once I looked back, I saw a worn away draw-string pouch that the Innkeeper carefully opened to examine. Both our eyes widened at the glimmering golden coins filled to the brim, pushing their way out. Sure I had seen much more gold before, but for a man in such a village, it was a shock. "Two separate rooms with locks, good sir." his voice ordered.

The innkeeper nodded, quickly counting out the money with a glint of a green greed as his lips curled up into a smile, "Names of patrons?"

"Richard Turpin and..." the man motioned to me for my name, catching me slightly off guard.

Taking in a breath I carefully enunciated my name with practice, "White Albion."

The innkeeper quickly collected the money, grudgingly giving back the man's change, before he scratched the names in ink to one of his books. He slid us two keys then waved us off, leaving me and the man to our own affairs.

I looked at the paying person crookedly, "I guess I should be thanking you..."

"I guess you should!" the man by Richard Turpin laughed, "And how you'll replay me... you'll have to be my company for dinner tonight."

I pulled my head back in disgust, "What? No! I refuse, you were kind to me but I will not have dinner with you."

His thick eyebrows fell crookedly on his face as a sly smile crept on his lips, "Ah come now, little lady, you've gotta be hungry. I'll pay! And don't worry, I ain't like the rest of these drunks."

I puckered my face to him as if I bit into something sour as I pouted, but my stomach gave me away as it snarled above the crowd. My face immediately flushed with a red-hot embarrassment as the man started to double over laughing at me. "Fine, fine. But this is it."

He smiled charismatically before wrapping his arm over my shoulders. I tensed up completely, Minccino flicking its tail at his arm that started to push the little pokemon off. We walked through the crowd and I was quick to realize his arm wrap was to shield me from the predators lurking after with dark expressions. He took me to a back booth, curving around with a thick bunch of candles melting down like lava into a puddle onto the crusted table. The splitting leather seats cracked in all places was colored a vomit-ish brown that caused a slight gag reflex in my throat. Richard though easily slipped into the booth, motioning for me to do also with a curious look.

I reluctantly slid into the seat, looking around slightly at the room from our perspective. The area felt just the more detached from the rest of the inn, from the prowling crowd. It wasn't long until a woman made her way to us. She threw down two bowls that we never asked for along with a side of stale bread.

I observed as Richard pulled the bowl close, already shoveling what was fed to him in his mouth. He tore our loaf of bread in half, ripping his portion into small nubs. With the bread balls, Richard scooped around the bowl to pick up the meal as he swallowed it down with no manners at all.

My eyes dropped down to look at the slop. It was a grey color, filled with deformed lumps of what I couldn't even identify. The odor that omitted from it wasn't even close to making it better. It was a cross of uncleansed stables and rotted fruit. I cautiously picked up a slivered wooden spoon, scooping up a glob of whatever they called food close to my mouth. My lips trembled open as I let it dribble onto my tongue before I dumped it all in. If I just swallow it quickly-

The flavor was foul. My entire body lurched forward, my hand clasping over my mouth, as burning acid crawled up my throat and my stomach started to waltz. My throat refused to let the substance pass, but the longer it sat in my mouth the sicker I felt. It was far from the rich meats at the palace. Or the creamy dishes served. I don't think I could have even called it food.

I looked all around the table for some sort of napkin, but there was none to be found. The man stared at me as if I'd turned into a pokemon as I continued searching for something. But time was running out as I felt the empty stomach acids push up. I took the bowl and spit out the substance as graciously as one could. Slight gag and spittle dribbling out along with it. That just made me even more ill feeling.

I could always wait until the next town to eat, Pushing the bowl away slightly, I wiped away anything left around my lips with my fingers slowly before I rubbed the grime onto the leather seat. "So," I began hesitantly as if to change what had just occurred. "Richard Turpin, correct? How did you acquire so much money, if I ask?"

"No need to be so formal, little lady, you can call me Dick. My friends call me Dick Turpin." It was only for a moment but in his next sentence I swore I had seen a slight smog of a lie, "And hard work, of course. There's no other way."

I nodded slowly, eying him even closer for any sort of deception. Minccino sniffed at my bowl of substance and spittle, taking small laps from it without much care. When the pokemon hit a patch of my fluids, her body shivered before continuing to eat.

Dick Turpin nodded to me, "I saw a Zebstrika in the Stables, yours?"

I nodded once more to him.

"A real prize you got there," he continued, his eyes gazing as if through me. This time, I did see the lie as clear as the morning sun, "sure hope no one steals him."

My eyebrow rose as my voice turned to a knife, "Why would they?"

Dick shrugged, continuing to eat at his food. The night carried on between us carefully. He told me extravagant stories of his travel. Ones filled with many embelishments that I was able to see immediately. What was the point of him lying? I just listened, sharing little about anything. But finally, I grew too tired to continue listening to his lies. And exhaustion was finally starting to take me.

I rose from where I sat, Minccino already understanding as it crawled up beside my head. I gave a slight movement of my head to him, "If I may, I am excusing myself to my chambers. Your stories were very interesting, to say the least. Thank you for helping me, do take care."

He smiled back to me before I melted away into the crowd. The wandering hands still came that I shook off until I was finally making my way up the inn stairs to where the room lied. I looked down at the small key the innkeeper gave me, gazing at the two numbers, "02", in worn golden paint. I looked to my right to see the room waiting for me. I slipped in the iron key into the rusting lock, turning it with a lick for me to enter.

It was a dreary sight. A single bed flat as stone covered with wool covers was up against a back wall, taking up most of the room. Beside it was a single nightstand where three candles burned together as the only light. A meter of the wall was made of wood panels before crawling up to cold stone. The roof angled down towards the bed's head, the roof truss stretching out to keep the grey ceiling from caving in. Minccino jumped from my shoulder, already nestling itself at the foot of the bed comfortably, asleep in an instant.

I let out a tired exhale, locking the door behind me as I pulled my tried body over to the bed. I drew off my cloak, throwing it easily onto the bedframe. I unbuttoned my black vest-shaped corset, finally able to breathe as I placed it along with the cape. I was left along in my white dress, now like a nightgown after I undid the blue overskirt. My body gently swayed down to the bed so I could remove my boots, leaving them there as I nestled under the covers.

The sheets were extremely harsh against my skin.

The mattress was like a slab of wood.

The pillow wasn't much better.

It was very cold.

I bitterly tossed and turned, wishing- no, begging for sleep. But I just wasn't able to in such low quarters! So I lay, looking off to the wall across from me.

Questions and thoughts spun in my mind that was barely functioning. Why would Dick lie so much? What was he to gain? But why had he also paid for my room and food? Though neither are tolerable. Why had the Denovian people been so kind? They never lied, which is what I expect. But I didn't expect there to be such generosity. What did they mean by Sapa and Ska?

But when they spoke of destiny, I knew one thing. And that was the fact that Destiny doesn't exist, not for me. I would pave my own way through this world and no one was going to control that. Not anymore.

Before I knew it, these thoughts were my lullaby that finally had rocked me into a faltered rest. My mind was just empty and dreamless like the night.

But the false sleep didn't last for long as I heard a raging neigh in the air. I shot from my bed at the sudden outcry. The loud whinnies and grunts continued, somehow being the only thing in the night. And I knew what was making such awful calls. I scrambled from the log-bed, tripping over the boots I made to notion to move earlier as I snatched my cloak.

Minccino stirred from its sleep, looking to me for only a moment before I was dashing out of the room. The bar of people didn't seem to exist as I pushed through, strength I didn't know I had moving those out of my way. I was outside in a heartbeat, my bare feet pounding into the deep gravel of the streets as I ran.

My eyes focused on my steed taking off, getting smaller and smaller as I couldn't keep up with the galloping hoof that pounded like my heartbeat. Air struggled to stay afloat in my lungs as I heaved. A man's figure rode on the Zebstrika in the distance. My watering eyes from the powerful runs strained to focus on anything about the thief. They grew large as I saw a golden mask shimmering in the moonlight beside the dark silhouette.

"Turpin!" my voice screamed into the darkness with a cracked inflection. But soon he was nothing but a ghost from my sight. The feet that carried me stumbled against one another as I crashed into the dirt. The stones scratched up my legs and scraped my arms as I fell, my face gaining a few impressions by the shattered rocks. I fought to rise up again, adrenaline slowly dying as it became apparent there was a red liquid shining like wine in the eerie moon rays dribbling in rivers from my tender feet. The night cold ate me down to my bones as my sweat began to freeze. The exercise from running, the empty stomach, the blood all piled up on me. I turned over to the ground and began to vomit, the empty drops leaving my body painfully as everything felt like it was crushing me.

When I finished, feeling ashamed of myself and disgusted by the aftertaste, I tried to focus slightly. With a hiss of pain, I pulled my feet close, pulling out each pebble that was stuck. "Damn you, Turpin. Damn you." I grumbled under my breath hazily as I shuttered each time I removed a pebble.

He lied to me for one reason; to gain my trust.

And I foolishly gave it to him.