AWI (exhausted): Wow. That was bloody. Who knew my mind could be wrecked so thoroughly. It's a good thing I have this useless part of my mind just in case things like that ever happen.

Kasey: Really? Why? What was it originally there for?

AWI: Oh, you know that annoying little voice that's always telling me to do my homework or something morally correct? Well, I shoved those two into that room.

Kasey: …You do realize that's your conscience, right?

AWI: My what?

Kasey: Oh, shit. Don't tell me… Are you going to go seriously sadistic for the next couple chapters?

AWI: Hmm… I am feeling awfully sadistic at the moment, now that you mention it…

Kasey: Dude, Dudette, Reader, whatever, it may be a good idea to run unless you are a total sadist.

AWI: Hey, I'm not that bad.

Kasey: … Listen to your gut telling you to run.

AWI: No, no! It's okay! I actually have a vague idea of what's going to happen in this chapter and it's nothing sadistic! I'll save that for later chapters. My conscience is probably going to be in the hospital for a while. I hope it recovers by Aki-con…

Kasey: So do I. So do I.

The Tree

Nellie awoke the sound of wood splintering and glass shattering. Shards of the jagged stuff was scattered all along her floor and all across her bed. It was quite the miracle she herself hadn't been hit. Staring in shock, she finally noticed the sounds coming from outside her door and down the hall… from the room The Jewel was residing in…

"Shit!" she said, turning with the intention of hopping off her bed and running frantically down the hall, only to be stopped by the realization that shards of glass were coating her floor like a blanket and she was barefoot. "Shit again!"

Now the thumping sounds resembled a scuffle more than an escape attempt. Cursing, she started searching the edge of her bed for shoes or slippers or something so she could safely rush out of her room. For once, her messiness paid off. The young woman was in the habit of just tossing her shoes to the floor whenever she went to bed instead of putting them away on the shoes rack in the closet, which was in the hall, by the way.

Pulling them on, she dashed towards The Jewel's room. All glass in every room was shattered and the doorframes and beds and bookshelves and anything else wood near that room was splintered and cracked or just in a heap. The Jewel's magics were dangerous.

Finally, she reached that forbidden room. The talismans and charms were all ripped up and torn. Some even appeared to be burnt. Nellie extended a tentative hand towards the doorknob.

"Nellie!" Cassandra shouted as she ran down the hall towards the girl. "Get away from there!"

"Can the ban not be lifted even during a crisis such as this?" she asked, annoyed.

"No! Go outside, girl! It will be much safer there!"

She sighed. "Yes, Miss Cassandra…"

The older woman seemed to be well prepared as she handed the younger one a coat, as the nights were chilly. Nellie thanked her mechanically and went down the hall.

Cassandra went into The Jewel's room.

Glancing back just for confirmation that she was no longer being watched, Nellie dodged into her room and began pulling on some real clothes, meaning pants. She shivered as she pulled the pants on. A chill had started settling in the room thanks to the gaping hole in the wall that could once be called a window. She shook off the chill and hopped out through the hole, landing on the soft, moist grass with a soft thud.

Gathering her coat about her, the flame haired woman headed for one tree in particular. It was one of the larger ones, but had some good lower branches. Nellie was definitely a tree hugger, or, climber, or… whatever. She loved to climb the things and was relishing the idea of climbing up into this one to use it as a "shelter". Knowing the tall tree like the back of her hand, she practically flew up it and was in the upper branches in no time, looking back at the stone structure.

The Jewel's room was windowless (which made her pity him every now and again. I mean, who wouldn't want to look at the trees? That was the only purpose she saw in windows.), so she was unable to view what was going on within it. But, even if sight failed her in that sense, she could always rely on her ears, even if the picture wouldn't be as clear. The sounds of more talismans and charms being shredded were clear and sharp, and the fact that the noises were continuous made it seem someone was not happy with them and wanted them gone. The cacophony also made it seem that someone or something was constantly smashing into the devastated scraps of wood, only confirming Nellie's suspicions that there was a serious fight inside.

A flicker of concern sparked for Cassandra sparked in the young woman's mind, but a fire wasn't started. The spark quickly burnt out.

Suddenly, the din of stone cracking rang out in the air, tensing it immediately. Everything seemed to go still, and even the raucous behind the wall seemed to quiet momentarily.

But, that edgy silence didn't last long.

The wall burst out, almost seeming to disintegrate, two figures coming out with the rubble. One was the blond man, Link, and he immediately stopped moving once he hit the ground. The other, which was an unrecognizable shadow, was able to raise itself up off the ground and began limping away, but quickly disappeared.

Nellie's gaze then went to The Jewel's room. Cassandra was lying motionlessly on the debris coated floor, blood oozing from her head, eyes glassy, dead. No one else was in sight. The Jewel was gone, along with whoever had attacked. It seemed he had gotten away with his plan of slipping away during all the confusion…

-----

Celine: Wow. That was kind of a morbid ending, there.

AWI: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Kasey: Well… it wasn't sadistic, but, still…

Rose: Oh, just admit it. You were wrong Kasey. It's okay, though. It's all okay.

Kasey: Shut up! I was only partially wrong!

AWI: Could you guys stop fighting? You're giving me a headache!

Jamie: So!

AWI: …So, what?

Jamie: I don't know. I was just trying to break up the fight for you.

AWI: Wow! Hey! Celine! The puppy can actually be pretty nice every now and then!

Celine: Shocking, isn't it? But, think about it. Why would I let a useless person be anywhere near me?

AWI: …Hmm… You've made a good point, there.

Celine: Indeed, I have.

AWI: So! Readers! Please review! I have practically none for this one! I have a decent number the Messenger of Death, but this one isn't doing so good in that area!!

Alex: Yes. You must review so that I can mock your pathetic words.

AWI: Wow. That was Emo… Alex, I thought you were a badass tomboy, not some Emo freak.

Alex: I sit at the Table of Freaks for lunch every day. What were you expecting?

AWI: …I guess that makes sense, too… But, still. I never thought that you would turn out to be Emo. That was Rose's job.

Rose: Hey, I'm not all that Emo.

Michael: Why don't we just drop the dumb subject of Emoness?

Celine: I'm all for that.

AWI: Same here!

Kasey: You know, nobody cares about what you think.

AWI: Sigh…

Jamie: There it is again!!

Everyone but Jamie: Shut up, you stupid puppy!!