A/N: The characters this FanFic is based upon are owned by the magnificent Karen Marie Moning. My use is strictly for non-commercial purposes and is in no way intended to affect the value of her series.

"What do you mean, 'take care of this?'" I asked. I had a pretty good idea what he meant, but I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. He couldn't be suggesting what it sounded like he was suggesting.

"This situation is more serious than you realize," he said somberly. "It's not just the dangerous times. This can't happen. If it would help," he added, "I know of some methods that would…relieve you of your memories. It will be like this never happened."

Blind-sided again. Did he think I would just agree to follow along? Did he really think that if I didn't remember, it would be okay?

"Is that how you handle things, Barrons?" I asked, my voice hollow. "You just make decisions for me, then erase my memories so I never have to deal with it? How many times have you done this little favor for me?"

He rose from his chair walked around to stand before me. Leaning back against his desk, he looked me over as if he was waiting for someone else to make an appearance. Like another version of me would pop out and agree to go along with whatever he decreed. All in the name of my "best interests," of course.

Was he kidding me? He wasn't even going to offer a pittance of an explanation. Not even an over-simplified, half-truth. "Mac, be reasonable," he coolly replied.

I was fuming. "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. Of course it would be more reasonable for me to just go along with your plans. No explanation necessary. You'd think I would be more used to this routine by now."

"I understand your reluctance, but you must trust me."

"Trust this, Barrons." I jabbed my finger into his chest. It was like poking a rock. I'm pretty sure I jammed my finger – not that I was about to let him know that. He didn't even seem to notice my assault. "I may be young, but I'm not a child," I continued. "Now, if you want to explain to me what this is all about, I'll listen. Otherwise, this conversation is over." I crossed my arms over my chest to emphasize my point.

Arching one dark eyebrow, he gave me a look that said not only are you testing my patience, but you are, in fact, acting like a child. If it hadn't been such a serious matter I would have rolled my eyes at him. When he didn't say anything after a moment, I knew he had made his decision. There would be no explanation from him.

I stormed out of his study to the bookstore. I stopped only to grab my leather jacket off the hook by the door. For the second time that day, I walked away from him. And he didn't follow.

I took off down the street toward the Temple Bar District. I wanted so badly to lose myself in craic. I wanted to immerse myself in the energy and noise of locals and tourists alike, laughing and enjoying the day. I wanted to surround myself with people, young and old, whose concerns only protracted as far as what was for dinner –not whether they would live to see another meal. I craved it more than I had in a long time. But there was no craic to lose myself in anymore. The streets of this once boisterous and lively city were now desolate. Empty. Forsaken.

Some days I would bump into Inspector Jayne or another member of the Garda (or the Guardians, as we survivors now called them). They worked tirelessly to bring order back to the streets of Dublin. Their unyielding faith that humankind would persevere was contagious.

They were the good guys, and I was proud to fight alongside them. We would save our piece of this world. Together.

I was a little disappointed I didn't spot any of them today because I had a theory I was planning on testing. I recently noticed that these men didn't set off my sidhe-seer senses. Jayne had said they continued to eat Unseelie (even though most Fae no longer bothered to project glamour and were brazenly visible to humans). But the Guardians didn't seem to have the same reaction to the gruesome meat that I had seen before.

When Mallucé and O'Bannion had been nearby–and Fiona as well–I could sense the darkness in them. It was like an odor of evil and menace. It still gives me chills to think about. Even the club rats at Chester's–the humans that foolishly seek out the little pieces of the wriggling flesh as if it were some sort of ultimate drug (which, in a way I guess it is)–give off a similar vibe. But with Jayne and his men, I sense none of that. It was as though they emitted feelings of hope and courage instead of despair. I planned to do some research at the libraries of the abbey as soon as I had the chance. Could it be possible that eating Unseelie amplified evil only if one consumed it for evil purposes? If a person was good or had good intentions, was the effect different? It was something I definitely needed to look into.

Speaking of Fae, I sensed some serious faery activity up ahead. I decided not to go any further into town. I considered going to my parents' townhouse, but I didn't really know what I would say to them. Jack and Raney are particularly intuitive when it comes to me. They would sense something was off as soon as I walked in the door. I really hate lying to them and I wasn't sure how much I was ready to reveal. It just seemed like a bad idea overall. I would go see them tomorrow instead.

I veered off the main streets toward a more residential area. The eerie quiet served as a reminder of just how alone I was today. Loneliness wasn't a feeling I was particularly practiced in before arriving in Ireland. In Georgia, I didn't sit at a desk in an isolated office cubical. I didn't bury myself under stacks of books in a secluded study carrel at a library. I loved working in a busy bar. And the only time I spent in the library stacks was in the company of an amazingly hot Psych major–a senior who was the teaching assistant for my Intro to Philosophy class. We weren't exactly doing research. Point being, I was constantly in the company of my friends and my family. When I wasn't around anyone, it was because I wanted some me-time. Not because there wasn't anyone to be around.

I walked in a complete circle before heading north again. I didn't need my sidhe-seer senses to know that I was being followed. I continued on my wayward path as though lost in thought. I was actually very aware of my companion.

I knew it wasn't Barrons. Sure, he might be following me too, but I would never be able to tell. It wasn't Fae either, so I kept walking. I was curious to see if my stalker would reveal himself or if he simply found satisfaction in watching me. It's a little depressing to admit, but I found it slightly comforting to know I wasn't alone. I really do get tired of being alone all the time.

The harsh reality was that I didn't really have any friends in Dublin. My parents, of course, but as much as I love them, they aren't really what I'm missing. And Barrons…well, things with Barrons are complicated. I think it pretty much goes without saying that he isn't the kind of friend I'm missing either.

I like to think Christian was my friend. Before I fed him Unseelie and he began transforming into something…less than human. No one has heard from him since we sealed the cavern at the abbey. Actually, he wasn't exactly friendly with me the last time we saw each other. Kat and the other sidhe-seers were willing to work with me, but our relationship was still laced with distrust.

And as for Dani, it made my heart ache just to think about her. This was such a cruel world for a child to grow up in and Dani had been forced to grow up fast. Too fast. I mourned her childhood along with all the other unnecessary losses I'd seen over the months. I needed to find her, to fix things between us. I needed to watch out for her, to make sure she was safe. I needed to be there for her, to answer the questions that she'll never be able to ask her mother. Most of all, I needed her. Dani was my only friend and I needed her back.

A cold breeze blew and I shrugged deeper in my jacket to avoid the chill. I looked up and stopped dead in my tracks. Half-way down the block, as if conjured by my thoughts, Dani bounced anxiously from foot to foot.

I smiled so big my cheeks hurt.