Thanks to Umbra's treatment, the students who were injured in the mysterious attack were able to leave in a week's time. Nurse Gorgon made sure that they were taking their medicine like they should, bitter as it was. She had a gentle touch with those who cooperated and a swift word to Umbra for those who fought her anyways. Under the threat of more treatment, they took their medicine.

The alchemy professor was glad to have her on board, as it means he had more time to himself. He had yet to figure out the strange liquid he made in his pot while he slept, but Medusa wasn't about to give up whatever knowledge she had learned, if any. But a good Alchemist always had a way around such things, one chemical or another if need be.

As he walks into the dispencery, he finds Medusa talking with the last of the students. She prescribes medication for the remaining pain in the girl's hip, which had once been split open before coming her. The only reason she was walking now was because of how Umbra's emergency mixture helped to pull the broken bone back into place. It was able to heal properly and efficiently after that. Sid had yet to fully recover, but he was a strong-bodied student, and woke up the day after Umbra.

"Alright, take one of these in the morning and one at night and come back if the pain persists."

"Thank you." The girl bows in thanks and leaves to join with her partner, who was waiting for her outside. But she stops when she realizes who was in the doorway. "Oh, hello Professor Ouroboros!"

"Feeling better?" he asked

"Yes, much. Thank you for helping my friends."

Umbra smiled, "That is what I am here for. Can I have a word in private with Medusa?"

"Oh! Yes, Professor!" she blushes and leaves in a hurry.

Umbra closes the door behind him so they wouldn't be overheard, "Honestly, I don't know what these kids are thinking these days. They make it seem like there is something happening between us."

"All because I was carrying you home in your pot just a few days ago?" Medusa shook her head and sighs.

"So, any word about what happened to them?"

"Not much. They were tracking down what they thought was a witch when something came at them from out of nowhere. From what I've heard, it's either a monster, a vampire, a rogue golem, or a witch." She sighs again, "So much work."

"You look tired," he said.

The woman closes her eyes stretches her back, "I am. I had a lot of work to do when Nygus dropped by with her latest sparring partners. She's just not satisfied with beating them into the mats until Sid is up to his old self."

"With their physical abilities, I'm not surprised." Umbra had first-hand knowledge of what she could do.

Medusa rubbed her sore shoulders. She'd been working non-stop for the past few days and even had to skip lunch when three students came in suffering from chemical burns. It was only when news came of a slug witch with poison magic that Marie stopped chasing Umbra around the acadamy.

Now it was the end of the day and everyone was leaving for home. There were no injuries that required anyone to stay overnight, Umbra made sure of that with his latest experimental remedy. It only came to a mild surprise that it worked so well and the student was able to run out the door. Whether or not it stopped the pain was still up for debait as the boy didn't say much of a word.

"Here, let me help."

Medusa tried to brush him off but was too tired to fight him as he grips her by the shoulders. She bit her lip as he sqweezes, sending a sharp pain through her body. But she soon relaxes as he begins to massage where she was most tense.

"You're full of stress," he said. There was a lot of tension in her muscles from all her hard work.

"You aren't helping," she replies with a hint of a smile. "Why so nice to me? This seems a little sudden."

"It's only because my interest has been growing more and more since you've arrived."

Medusa didn't say anything. She just closes her eyes and enjoys the treatment she was recieving.

Umbra continued, "There's something about you that I just can't put my finger on."

"If you're not careful, you just might lose it."

"Yes, I know well enough about what you can do. But I wonder, how long can you keep up appearances?" He could feel her shoulders tense up again. But this wasn't stress, she was ready for a fight. "I understand the feeling, quite well in fact. There was once a time when I was not the simple alchemy professor you see right now. I was a whole other person long ago. But times change, years go by, and those days are better left forgotten, lest they return."

"You're talking about Reaper Dragoon?" Medusa asked and Umbra stopped what he was doing.

"Yes, exactly like him. Unfortunately, there was another who I met with before him. One, who I thought, was finally gone."

"Some people are difficult to kill, present company included from what I've seen."

He smiles as he rubs the skin of her neck, giving him a chance to slip a scalpel from his sleeve. "Tell me, just what do you know?"

"Enough, if you're planning on getting rid of me."

He chuckled, "Oh, really, now? I guess I didn't make my intentions clear. I simply want what information you have. You can release your little pets if you think you can best me." The next few moments were a blur.

Umbra was forced back as twin snakes manifested before him. He was already hanging from the ceiling in his liquid form, the scalpel nowhere to be seen. While she was serious about her desire to kill him right now, he was chuckling away.

"How long have you known?" she asks with a calm voice. He could see that her snakes wouldn't attack him without her signal. That meant she was holding back to see what he would do. While they were magical lifeforms and were able to act independently, she would have had to lower her Soul Protect to use her magic. But that would only expose her presence to anyone who could sense souls. There were at least a few teachers around Shibusen who could, and they were still here.

"As soon as you came to Shibusen, I could almost smell those snakes. I kept my interest in their chemistry to a minimum, to keep myself from revealing anything before I could get closer. I find it facinating how blood, infused with magic and other materials, could bring new life into this world. You truly are a brillient scientist and have my respect."

"Flattery will only go so far if you don't answer me right now. Why did you keep quiet for so long? I've been here for nearly a month now and yet you don't reveal who I am. Or do you have something else in mind?"

"Here's something you may or may not be glad to know: I've known things far worse than you. It's harsh, at least if it bothers you, but it's the truth. There are forces that nobody but I truly know about. My time here has been interesting, and I have learned much. But as I get older, sooner or later, I'll have to leave anyways. It is only because I have an image to keep as well." Umbra fell from the ceiling and was human again before he touched the floor. He reached into his coat and produces a small vial, similar to the one she had taken from him. Inside was a sample of blood, but it was different from anything she had ever seen before. It didn't move like blood, even though it had the appearance of a liquid. He passes it to her so as to keep at least some distance between them.

"What's this?" she asks.

"Something to keep you safe in the future. At least, if it works the way I have determined." He reached into his coat again and takes out a cigarette. Unfortunately, his lighter isn't working today.

"Here."

Umbra catches a pack of matches that Medusa tosses to him. He nods in thanks and lights up his smoke. He takes a deep drag on it and breaths out with content. The twitch in his hand passes soon after. He would have to see Marie later today to get that dealt with.

"Like I was saying before, there are things that even your kind don't know about."

"Such as?" Her pets were gone now, having returned to being the tattoos on her arms. But anyone who would believe she had put her guard down deserved to die in the fasion she saw fit. That thought brought a shiver of excitement down his spin.

"Reaper Dragoon wants to take the power of the Golden Warlock of Destruction." Now he had her interest. To all witches, destruction was in their very nature. In fact, in the few texts that still exist, it was said that it was the daughter of the Golden Warlock who became the very first witch.

"But his sister also desires the power of the Emerald Druid of Entropy."

"I've heard about the Golden Warlock, but I never knew anything of an Emerald Druid."

Umbra nods and flicks the ash off his cigarette, "Yes, it was through her power that the Golden Warlock's power was contained and held in check until time for its use."

"Makes sense. If you take away its energy, destruction can be controled. How have you come to know this?"

"Me? The natures of destruction and entropy are both natural parts of alchemy. But the information has almost been forgotten as legends and myths. The two have almost been completely forgotten. At least until my studies during my youth uncovered the knowledge of the fragments that still exsist. In fact, I had three others to help me in my persuit of knowledge. Unfortunately, that didn't go over too well.

He sighs and shakes his head, "I had to personally kill the first while the second was defeated by the help of the third. Unfortunately, the cost was so high. What I once knew was lost, as was my closest ally. I was alone for some time and had to remake myself several times just to get by, for there were those who would wish that I had joined them."

"That would explain why I never seem to figure your motives. You shift like the waters you become. I wouldn't be suprised if you already knew why I was here."

"Your reason for being here?" Umbra didn't have to think about it for a second. "You know, I don't really care. I was Spirit's professor ten years ago and become his friend some time after. It was fun to say the least, but he doesn't have a clue as to who I once was. If he did, I'd suspect that he'd tell Shinigami and I'd be on the run again. It's been so long, not even Shinigami himself knows about me. He just knows that I'm a powerful weapon who became a Deathscythe without a meister. Unfortunately, time hasn't been kind. That incident that left me vulnerable only happened because I had to give up the bulk of my powers to pass as human. I've been living this way for too long, hidden away, trying to stay out of sight. Being a Deathscythe meant that I could try and work on some of my abilities and create an image of a powerful weapon, but I'm not all who I once was, that is for sure. I should stop now before I start ranting on. But the reason I don't care about your motives is because I'm allowing you to stay here."

He stuck his cigarette to his tongue and continued, "Right now, you're about the only thing in this entire city that has changed me so quickly. You are like a catalyst to what I have been letting go. So, I let you stay and I get to see just what that does to me. On that note, I have something else to give to you."

"I would appreciate it if it was the vial you took from me."

Umbra shook his head, "For the record, you took that first and I was simply taking it back. But I have something else you might like even more." He stepped in close, close enough that she could smell the smoke on his breath.

"Hmm?"

There was a flash of light off steel as another scalpel appeared in his hand.

As Medusa reacts to the sudden movement, she quickly finds herself helpless in his arms. She had nowhere to run, no will to fight, and she wasn't about to tell him to let her go. Her heart was pounding in her ears and her body felt hot, but there was absolutely nothing that would seperate her from him. Her eyes close as she enjoys the sudden moment of bliss.

After bottling her passions for so long, it all explodes forth and she pushs against him with such fury that she forces him into the wall. The next few minutes went by quickly before she reluctantly pulls away. She felt winded, as if she'd run fifty laps around Death City. Umbra's lower half was starting to melt and was clinging to hers. She would have laughed if she had the breath to do so. They must have been quite the sight.

A witch and a demon pot holding each other in such a manner. Medusa didn't have to worry so much about killing Spirit now if he suddenly barged in on them. Seeing them like this just might give her some peace from the man.

Umbra was chuckling to himself, a strange habit of his that she didn't understand. But it didn't last long because he was out of breath as well and was struggling to retain his form. There was a look of contentment on his face that told her all that he couldn't.

Medusa's gaze shifts to the two scalpels that were now imbedded in the wall beside them. "I would speak of dirty fighting, but then again, you already know what I am. Such things come with the territory if you wish to survive."

"Would that also be the reason for your beauty, or are you just a perfect specimen? Maybe I should drain your blood from that perfect body of yours and see what you're made of. What do you think if that?"

Medusa smiled and put her head on his chest. Even in his current state,she could hear his heart. It sounded powerful, just like the strange man it belonged to. It was the heart of a powerful weapon, she thought to herself. No, not just a weapon, a Deathscythe. No witch would dare even dream about doing what she was doing now.

The Deathscythes were weapons used to battle and slay witches. Many have lost their lives to them over the centuries since their creation. She lost her own mother to one wielding a white sword. But that only freed her from having to risk doing so herself one day. Unfortunately, her sister had proven to be a powerful tactician and survived the encounter as well. But a simple betrayal from Medusa was all that was needed to send her dear sister on the run from Shinigami. She never heard from her again after all this time.

Umbra was slowly pulling away when she realizes that part of him had been holding the door shut, making sure nobody would catch them without his notice. That would explain why Spirit hadn't made an unexpected appearance yet. Even if the man wanted to, there wasn't much chance of him getting in. Umbra then moves himself over to the bed so his legs could recover.

The thought of what she had just done finally dawned on her and she couldn't believe how she had allowed her emotions to control her like that. But the feeling of primal instincts facinated her. But this was going to cause a lot of trouble if she wasn't careful. She was capable of surviving anything that came her way, but what about him?

She moves to stand before him and put something against his neck. He stops when he feels the thin silver knife against his skin. His confusion was genuine, for he didn't know just when and how she obtained it, or how she knew of it. His hand slowly goes for the hidden sheath on his belt and he smiles. She did as well before flipping the blade over to hand it back.

"Just returning the favor. And if even want to give me something in manner like that again, I'll make sure you at least suffer. Something tells me you don't regret all that easily anymore."

Umbra takes the knife and put it away, "I regret not being able to meet you like this in the past." Umbra had a wide smile on his face. "So, do I have your word if I try again?"

She would have giving her responce if it wasn't for the strange presense she felt. It was close...and it wanted blood.

"Medusa?"

She put a finger to his lips and walked over to the window. It was close, almost close enough to...she reaches outside and drags a black mass into the room. The two couldn't believe what they were seeing.

It was like watching living ooze trying to take on the form of a feral beasts of some kind. It didn't have eyes, for it didn't need them. It's entire body was one big sensory organ. The way it struggled to keep itself together showed that it wasn't in full control. But that would hardly matter as it's head hardened and its neck began to swell up, putting itself under great preasure.

Umbra had little time to shield Medusa with his body as it forced the air into its head, causing it to explode. He yelps in pain as long shards rip into his back. Blood trickles from his eyes and nose, as a larger fragement pierces the back of his skull.

Medusa couldn't believe her eyes. The first real man in her life, a Deathscythe even, was now limp in her arms. She could feel his blood on her hands, bringing a strange feeling to her body. Even after letting his body drop to the floor, the sensation stayed with her. She didn't know what this was, but as it washes over her mind, she feels all confused thought leave for.

While the creature was reforming, she runs up and plants a savage kick on it's 'chin', taking it's head clean off and splatters it across the ceiling. But with her leg up in the air, she couldn't avoid the third head that was already forming to take the second's place.

It sinks solid fangs into her supporting leg, ripping skin, muscle, and sinew like it they were paper. Once she was on the floor, it threw it's head about, cause the bone shatter into pieces. She is only just able to keep from screaming as part of her leg below the knee was forcefully removed.

Blood from the wound splashes her attacker, driving it further into a frenzy as it devoures the chunk of meat, bone and all. As Medusa tries to pull herself away, a long tendril lashed out from it's shoulder, striking a gash out of her left eye. Once again, she keeps herself from screaming, but the pain is immense. Once it had finished eating, she knew it wanted more.

Then, something began to writhe inside it, stopping it in its tracks. It sqeales as it's skin begins to shift about and a few seconds later, it was painted across the walls as the snake bombs detonated.

It was a quick fight and Medusa was glad to see it gone, but she had only disposed of it at great cost to herself. She was still bleeding, her leg was gone with no chance of recovery, and one of her eyes were ruined. On top of it all, she could'nt seal the wound, and her snakes were quickly dying inside her. The creature must have poisoned her as it tore off her limb.

Umbra wasn't getting up, so all she could think was that he was dead. Her focus begins to fade as she crawls over to his fallen form. She was losing blood fast, and it was only because she was a witch that she wasn't falling into shock. But every movement brought her great pain. There wasn't much that she could do without assistance. She was going to die if she didn't recieve an antidote or medical attention soon.

But with the acadamy mostly empty, there must much chance of someone finding her in time. But even in her condition, she would rather die than have Spirit come in and save the day. She only had a short time and chances were that she would die from blood loss before he came around. But that thought wasn't the reason for her smile. That was brought about by knowing that she would have Umbra by her side in her last moments.

Once the fragment in his head had been absorbed and the damage repaired, Umbra slowly picked himself up. His breathing was harsh and ragged, for his lung was close to collapsing. After looking around, he's surprised by the carnage that covered most of the room. The creatuer was gone, signs of where it had stood still marked the floor. It appeared as if it had exploded again, but this time it did so with it's whole body. As his vision cleared, he quickly realizes there was blood on the floor, blood that wasn't his.

His eyes followed the short trail that went up to the stump that was now Medusa's leg. He wanted to help her, but was forced to cough up blood as his body fought to survive. He couldn't transform in his current state because of a strange toxin in his system. He could just barely control his powers, but it wasn't enough to produce an antidote in time for Medusa. When movement caught his eye, he knew there wasn't any time at all.

The ooze that mingled with the blood was shifting, but not only that, it was reforming. It was absorbing the blood and using it to regenerate. Soon, it will regain its full form.

He dropped to his knees and does his best to lift Medusa and hold her in his arms. She slowly opens her eyes and lifted her head to look into his. Her smile was weak and she was fading fast. Blood still poured from her leg, adding to the pool of shining crimson that was already spreading around them. Umbra took a vial of clear liquid from his coat pocket and thought about what he was going to do.

Looking into Medusa's remaining eye, seeing so much pain there, he couldn't help but ask, "Do you trust me?"

She looks at the vial and smiles as he removes the cork and places it against her pale lips. She pulls him close for a final kiss as he whispers two words.

"Soul...Reaction..."

For the first time in her short life, she opens her eyes, only to have the the light force them shut again. Her eyes are new to the strange sensation, but they know of it and are quick to adapt. After brushing her dark hair off her face, she quickly leaps over the beast's charge. The fog in her head fades and she remembers what must be done.

"Dark Arrow!" She unleashes an attack that was Umbra's Dark Needle and Medusa's Vector Arrow combined into a single force. They slam into the creature's back, piercing its body and grabbing hold for them to throw it through the wall. When it returns, it leaps in time for more of the arrows to punch it through another wall. Then, to her confusion, a familiar man with red hair appears.

"What's been going on here?" asks a confused Spirit.

"We're being attacked by an unknown enemy! Get anyone you can to come here at once! More Deathscythes would be preferable right now!"

"Who are you, again?" The Deathscythe looked confused by this strange woman before him.

"Don't start this now. Just go and get help!"

It slowly dawns on the man as to who she is and gives her a thumbs-up before he leaves.

The creature has just about reformed as she walks up to it and grabs it by its 'head'. When it tries to melt, several Dark Arrows wrap around it and hurl it back out the window it came from. But just as she was about to follow, she crashes into an invisible barrier.

"A spell?" she gasps and reaches out to feel its presence. There was a strange sensation that simply stopped her hand in its place rather than push her back. This was very familiar to her, as both souls that created her knew of such things. "That won't stop me! Analysis Disassemble!"

Several arrows struck the barrier on a single point, allowing them to slowly push through. Once on the other side, they stretched a hole in the spell that was wide enough for her to leap though. But by that point, it was too late to follow the creature. It was gone and there was no trace of it's presence anywhere. A few minutes later, an exausted Spirit came running around the corner to join her.

"Hey, I was able to find Marie and she's...gone? Hey, where's the enemy?"

"It dissappeared."

"What, how?" Spirit seemed dissapointed in that the enemy got away. He had good reason too, being a Deathscythe.

"Someone stopped me from following it with a spell. Looks like we're dealing with a monster of some kind backed by a witch. Damn, I'm not going to be able to hold on much longer. Please, get someone other than Marie to look for it, she's gotten herself lost again."

"Hey, what's wrong, you sound much like you usually do."

"It's because I'm neither Umbra or Medusa. I'm not quite sure as to who I am."

Spirit looks her over and seemed interested in what he was seeing. He was facinated in the austhetics that the nurse had lent to the fusion. Her hair had a similar appearance, and she had all the curves the woman possessed. Normally, Umbra was the one in control, taking on only some of the other's appearance. But if what this woman said was correct, the fusion was much more complete, with neither taking control and creating someone new entirely. This would explain how he became a woman in the first place.

"So, what should I call you, then?" he finally asks.

"Right now, you'd better be ready to catch me, cause I'm tapped out." With that, she dissapears in a flash, leaving two people in her place. Medusa was quickly caught in Spirit's arms while Umbra, shriveled like a fruit let out in the sun, tried to stay on his feet.

The two were tired beyond belief and covered in blood, but they were ok. Medusa's leg was still gone and her eye was in no condition to ever function without treatment. But the flesh had been repaired to the point that she would live another day. Her blood levels were also returned to normal, which was why Umbra was in desperate need of food and liquids to replenish what he sacrificed. He'd given up around a portion of his weight during the seperation, as it was the only way to do so quickly and effectively.

"Make sure she's taken care of." Umbra managed to tell Spirit before he hit the ground.

The Deathscythe was left to figure out what to do next. Medusa could barely move and was barely concious while Umbra was completely out. To add to it, Marie was nowhere to be seen.

"I hate it when you're right."

"You fool! What do you think you could have acomplished?"

"We told you that we wanted Umbra, and Umbra we will get!"

"Don't you even think about ever trying that again without my concent!"

"We will not apologize for our actions."

"Oh, you think so?"

Inhuman screams filled the air.

"We need him alive. If we lose him now, we lose the information we require and without it, we cannot bring her back!" There was great disdain in the way she spoke the word.

"We know this as well and decided not to kill him, but to simply absorb him."

"And look at you now, you're a fine mess!"

"We did not anticipate what would happen. We did not anticipate the woman sensing us."

"Then you failed to think before you acted. I know you want him and cannot survive without my magic, but going out on your own will only result in your death. And while you are useful, we can do this without you. Plus, if it had been him who had known of your attack, he could have easily absorbed you instead! Then he would have known all about us and what we have planned since our return."

"We know of your plans, but they do not concern us. We want Umbra and that is all."

There were more screams as the woman was losing her patience.

"Just remember, try that once more and I will make sure that half your mass is turned to dust! Do I make myself clear!"

"As is your name. And so we do as you command."

"Good. Now, here's a reminder."

The woman reveled in it's screams. It was music to her ears.

"What do you think you're doing! You can't hope to hold her on your own!"

"I'm not, you are!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Kill me and use my powers to seal her. This is our only chance!"

"No, I cannot let you do this!"

"The three of us have only become a danger to ourselves and this world. Each of us want to hold back the nature ways by forcing ourselves upon it, but you will ensure that it will keep going. I'm glad that I've known you so well before this time."

"No, you can't!"

"Do it, or else everything is lost!"

"Please forgive me..."

Umbra was startled when he woke and his body moved on its own, dropping him to the floor. He was in the dispensary, Medusa sleeping in the bed beside his. He shakes his head, hoping to clear the images that still marked his mind.

He could still see the woman's face, haunting his thoughts. His hands were shaking from the inner conflict that was raging inside him. He holds them against his sides, hoping that the feeling would go away and leave him at peace. He tries to find a cigarette, but his clothes have been changed. They are nowhere in sight, leaving him to struggle with the churning inside him.

After several minutes, it passes and he can breathe again.

"I see that you've been busy in my absence." There was a familiar-looking woman in the doorway, her long brown hair flowing as it always had after several years. Neither time or experience could dull her gorgeous looks and the sharpness in her eyes. Umbra knew her as one of the most lively students to ever take his class.

"Beretta Silver, it's been too long."

"It's Beretta Thompson now."

Umbra was just getting back into bed when she said that. "Now I know what he was talking about before."

"And what would that be?"

He shook his head as he pulls up the covers, "Sorry, but I think us men will live a little longer if you don't worry about it."

Beretta shrugs, "Maybe, but make sure you two don't go getting yourselves into trouble."

"Last I remember, you were the one who always got into trouble. And you had a tendency to ask me for the favors that landed you in them."

"I've been clean ever since I married Mag. I have to be since we're taking care of twin girls."

"Oh, you have children now? Mag forgot to tell me about this."

"Probably to keep them from repeating our mistakes."

He put a hand on his chest, "I'm hurt."

"Honestly, I really hope that I can show them a better life than the one I had. I was born and raised as a survivor of the streets. If I can show them a normal life, then maybe I can break the cycle."

Umbra remembered well. He found her on the streets, high on anything that would get her there. He helped her kick the addiction at first, but she proved to be a valuable test subject for some of his experiements. Part of this reason was that she was more willing to continue after the first few trials. She also had the endurance to survive almost anything he put in her before he was forced to flush her system.

She took many of his classes, learning about alchemy and the philosophies that came with them. But there were occasions some of his experiments proved hazerdous to her health as unexpected side-effects revealed themselves. But she lived through each of them and came back for more. Because she was so good at what she did for him, he never argued about it.

Then came the day she decided it was time for her to leave Shibusen. It was almost difficult for him to let her go, but there was nothing he was going to do about it. He purged her system of all of his experimental chems and never asked where or why she wanted to go. She had served him well, but he had no need for someone who would ever wish to leave. He was satisfied with the results, and didn't require her services any longer after that.

Beretta looked over to Medusa, who was still sleeping. Once Umbra had recovered his strength, he would start the process of regenerating her leg and eye. He'd given up a fair portion of his blood and some of his flesh to ensure that she would not only survive, but be able to recover well. Until then, she would have to wait for the time being.

"Even with her in her current condition, she is truly quite beautiful."

"It is a reflection of the power of her soul, one that could easily rival my own."

"I don't know about that. You were quite the handsome devil when we first met. Even if your heart was barren as stone back then, I would have done anything for you. But you seem happy, if that ever meant something. Well, I'm going to return to my husband before he starts to worry."

"What are their names?" Umbra asks as she is about to leave.

Beretta stopped, "Who'se names?"

"You children."

"The older of the two is Elizabeth and her younger sister is Patricia."

"Weapons or meisters?"

She shrugged, "Not sure. They're too young to know just yet."

"Even if that is the case, they are your twin Thompsons."

Beretta smiles at the subtle joke, "I think Thompson Twins sounds better. Well, I have to go."

"Alright, it was nice to see you again." He watched her leave before resting his head against his pillow. His thoughts are still deeply disturbed by the dreams. Umbra cursed himself for being so weak as to feel such things after working so hard for so many years. He looked over to the other bed and listened to Medusa's soft breathing.

He pulls himself out of bed, unable to get back to sleep. Just as he was doing so, he notices something in the woman's damaged eye. Blood was dripping like teardrops down the side of her face. His hand is gentle as it wipes it away, leaving nothing but her soft, pale skin.

Was Beretta right about him, was he happy? She reminded him of someone, long ago, before he destroyed their soul and became who he was now.

Leaving her to her rest, he returns to his bed, letting the fatigue overcome him as his head touches the pillow. The image of blood was still bright in his mind, and he didn't care.

The dreams did not return for the rest of the night, leaving him at peace.