It took all I had to smile politely when we reached the Citadel and met Devlen and Opal. I was ready to strangle the groom but made civil greetings with the rest of the party.

The cooling season was taking effect and a chilly breeze swept past us as we lingered at their threshold to tie up last conversations (and to settle passionate debates over the use of rugs on Janco's part). Opal took the opportunity to press closer against Devlen, a look of complete and unguarded adoration on her face. She sighed and smiled dreamily up at him.

Devlen didn't look at her. His determined gaze was on Janco as they continued their debate.

"I would think this cold weather would be ample support for the need of rugs. They keep your feet warm."

Janco waved his argument away easily. "If you call carpet burns a good kind of warm. And besides, socks are perfect alternatives…without the burning."

"People seldom get carpet burns to begin with. They usually only happen when…" He cut himself off when Opal, blushing profusely, nudged him with her elbow.

Janco maliciously feigned ignorance. "Yes? When they…?"

"Well…oh come on, Opal it's a funny story! Please?" He smiled sweetly at her and she relented with a very annoyed sigh. "There's this activity…"

With Devlen sufficiently distracted, I turned to the bride and asked, "May I speak to you for a moment? It's about the wedding." I pulled Opal aside before she could disappear into her room. Grateful for the reprieve, she let me lead her to the gardens where we stopped in front of the Fire memorial.

"How is this any different from what you have with Valek?" Opal demanded as soon as I voiced my objection.

I felt my world shatter and my insides turn to ice. "That is not the same thing. It's not even comparable." I tried to keep my voice from shaking as much as possible.

"How come?" She snapped. "You were his food taster. Someone he kept around to sacrifice. That's hardly a healthy relationship. And you really mean to say that this isn't the same thing?"

"It's not." I played my last and lowest card. "Because he never intentionally hurt me."

Opal turned away, agitated and fuming. "This is exactly what I was afraid of. But Devlen would never do that to me again. You don't even know him if you really think he would."

"But how long have you known him? And I mean really known him. Known him not as someone you were afraid of and couldn't say 'no' to? As an equal partner? And could you honestly say that you've reached the point where you can comfortably set up boundaries with and contradict him? The way you were able to with Kade?"

She turned, eyes blazing. "I knew you were going to bring him into this."

"This isn't about Kade!" I threw my hands up. Two onlookers stopped to stare. I lowered my voice, "He's the farthest thing from this conversation."

"Alright, then you just don't like Devlen."

"You're right. I don't." I took a breath, willing my voice to stay even. "Like I said, it's not about Kade. I'm not here to reproach you, call you fickle, or anything like that. I'm here as a friend who cares about you, Opal. He's not good for you. This isn't good for you. And with children…"

She cut me off. "You looked into his soul, Yelena. You told everyone he had changed."

"I looked into his soul and the most I could find was a vague potential for change. Why do you think the most they ever did was put him in Dawnwood as opposed to Wirral? Why didn't they just let him go if he was so reformed? He could have just gone on to be a valuable member of society, as opposed to wasting tax money, if he was so committed. I was actually ready to have him executed, without question, for his crimes, and especially for what he had put you through. But Irys had the gall to ask me if I believed in change." I could feel my face flush with anger and frustration as I paced. "And I knew that what she really meant was that I would never be able to hold my head up again as a Liaison if I said no."

"And he has changed, Yelena." She held her hands out for emphasis. "He really is reformed. Valek trusted him with the men closest to him as well as his own life. Ari and Janco wouldn't kill him when they had every reason to. Leif and Mara stood witness to our first wedding. Master Magician Jewelrose presided over it herself." She sighed. "I know it's hard to believe. But I know he is different. We all do."

When I didn't speak, Opal continued, "This is my choice, Yelena."

I kept from groaning out loud. "You don't make choices like this in a vacuum, Opal. Most of us don't."

"It's still my decision. And I really want you to respect that much."

I studied her intently. She flinched under the scrutiny. Finally, I spoke, "Then you'll have to respect the fact that I can't preside over this wedding."

Opal gaped at me. "But you said…"

"You didn't tell me the whole story. You kept this very important detail away from me on purpose. And I will be candid with you and tell you that it was dishonest and immature. Just be glad I didn't find out at the ceremony itself." I turned and walked away.

An anxious group of people lingered outside the infirmary when I arrived. Based on the resemblance and the worry, I assumed they were her family.

Healer Hayes finally emerged and held up a hand to stop us all. "I don't want too many of you around her at once. Family first."

The massive crowd behind me began to shuffle in.

He sighed in exasperation. "Right. Let's try this again. Immediate family first."

An aunt, uncle, and grandmother stepped aside for ten people to come forward: two adults and their eight other children in tow.

The Healer threw his hands up. "Parents. Just parents. Can we do that?"

We all waited outside as May's parents talked to her. To my chagrin, Devlen approached. And he wanted to talk to me.

We headed to a secluded corner near the infirmary. I crossed my arms, creating a barrier between us.

"Opal and I uncovered some information on the Blood Magic that may be in use." Devlen began after two students walked past us. My skin crawled at his use of the Sandseed dialect. "Although I wasn't able to do much with the patients."

"Who decided you were allowed to help? Or even near them?!" My hands itched to beat his face in. "Do you or anyone else have any idea how triggering your very presence can be for these people?!"

He sighed and took a breath. Devlen glanced at the infirmary and held his hands up. "Alright. Then at least let me help you find whoever is doing this to them…without coming in contact with the patients."

"No."

He crossed his arms. "Will you really put more lives in danger just to spite me?"

"We can manage."

"I know this is not what you would have expected." He tried another tactic. "But please believe me when I say I do truly care for Opal."

"I know you do. Men like you usually think they do." I stepped up to him so that we were at eye level. "But know this. If you ever hurt my girl…I will rip your soul up into shreds so small that even the Shadow World won't have anything to do with you."

Before he could say another word, May's family exited and the Healer gestured to me.

May sat up on the bed; legs crossed and with a thousand yard stare. When I entered, she jumped at the sudden movement and looked at me with wide eyes.

With a sigh, May relaxed slightly and looked down at her hands in her lap. I sat next to her in the chair.

"I guess you're here to ask what happened too." Her voice was so resigned it broke my heart.

"Only if you want to tell me." I wanted to do something, anything. My hands itched to braid her hair that hung down past her shoulders. It had grown so much longer than when I last saw her. Old habits died hard.

"They said that if I didn't start talking then it'll just happen to someone else. And it will be because I let it happen. But when I told them, they didn't believe me."

"Who's 'they'?" I tried to keep the anger out of my voice.

She looked away.

"May…" I rested my hand next to hers on the bed. "You can trust me. I believe you. I believed you before I walked in the door."

"They told me what I went through couldn't have been that bad. I was one of the lucky ones who were saved by Master Jewelrose. And when they thought I was asleep they were saying I didn't look like a victim. I wasn't crying. I wasn't shaking. I was awake. I was talking."

"You were healing." I said firmly. "There's no right way to react to something like this."

May smiled weakly at me. "I wish more people would believe that."

"They're wrong." I took her hand as she reached out for me.

"This will happen to someone else?" She asked in quiet voice.

"It could." But I added quickly. "I don't have to know the details. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to say. I just need to know the general idea."

Her grip around my hand tightened. "I see the same thing all the time. It never stops." She looked down, concentrating.

"Take your time."

She nodded. "I see it when I'm awake. I'm always there."

"When you say you see it, do you mean flashbacks?"

"No. I'm there. It's happening to me again. Brazell throwing knives at me. I feel the knife cut into my skin. I even smell the blood when I bleed. But when I come back and tell them, they tell me I was dreaming." There were no cuts on her neck, only old scars from years past.

"I believe you." I said. It was real to May and that was real enough.

"And then there's this voice. This voice that tells me how to make it all go away."

"Do you know whose voice it is?"

May shook her head. "But they always tell me everything will be okay. And that they will help me. They seem so nice…It was why…it's why…I let them…I almost…you know."

"I'm just glad you're here, safe, and alive. Did you know where you were going?"

"No. He just…he just takes me there, I suppose. I'm so sorry, Yelena. I was so pathetic. But…I was so tired...I just…I wanted it to stop."

"It's not your fault. This could happen to anyone."

I stayed with her a bit longer, making small talk and braiding her hair when she felt comfortable being touched. We reminisced on the happy memories we did have and even told ghost stories we used giggle and squeal over during those dark nights in.

Before I could walk out the door, May called out to me. "Will you visit me again, soon? I don't see you very often these days."

I smiled and hugged her. "I will as soon as I can."

"Absolutely not!" The Healer exclaimed. "What are you people even thinking, if you were thinking?! The whole point of you lot being here…" He eyed the Ixians suspiciously. "…Is to keep people from going there in the first place!"

Irys stepped in and said patiently, "The main problem is we don't know where they're going. But one thing is clear. There's someone guiding them there."

Hayes shook his head. "It's all the same with you people. It's just another body, another life to be sacrificed. You don't care about these survivors. You're not doing anything to help them particularly heal. The only reason this was even labeled a crisis in the first place is because they're suddenly drawing too much attention to themselves. It makes the Council look too obviously inefficient."

"Then let me promise you this. Our first objective will be to retrieve and save them. I promise none of your patients will die on my watch."

He remained unconvinced. "There isn't anything I could do about it either way. If this is your plan, this is your plan. You always put people like me in this position. We never have a choice. The most I can do is go along with it and not sabotage anything. Because if I do, then I'm suddenly the one who's putting lives in danger."

Without another word, Hayes stormed out of the office in disgust.

I turned to Irys. "He is right though. There isn't enough being done for these survivors. They need more help than what we're doing for them."

But she was already at her desk, focused on contingency plans. "That's for another day, Yelena. You need to focus on the big picture so we can prevent this from happening to even more people."

I flashed back to when she told me I was "sulking" after Roze nearly violated my mind.

"May…did you believe her when she told you what has been happening?"

She sighed and looked at me with tired eyes. "Yelena, what I believe doesn't matter."

"Yes it does. It mattered to her. It always matters. What did you tell her?"

"I told her what I believed." Irys leaned back in her chair and spoke with weary patience. "The trauma had repressed her powers when we found her. And you know her magic has a great deal to do with tactile sensation – changing the texture and feel of objects at will. Bain and I discussed this. If she was having these sensations from these flashbacks, it's very possible it was her powers regenerating and affecting her body as it was trying to resurface."

"So you didn't believe her."

"You weren't listening."

"You essentially told her this was in her head."

"And what's your point? Why are you pushing this?"

"I'm trying to tell you why your tactics didn't work. Or why no one had been able to get through to her."

"But you did. And here we are. If this is your way of fishing for a compliment, then by all means take one. We couldn't have done this without you." Sarcasm spiked each word.

I sighed. I wasn't getting through to her. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

I leaned on the threshold of the door. It was definitely annoy Yelena day. "If you're here to talk about Opal's supposed happiness, I'm not in the mood."

Mara looked ready to throttle me. "This is about Opal's happiness."

I crossed my arms. "No it's not. You see the thing is I don't care about how they think they feel. I don't care if he can swear to me that he loves her. I don't even care that she loves him. Because contrary to what you believe, I do care about her future and any happiness she can have there. And I will not give my blessing for a disaster waiting to happen."

Her hand balled up the fabric of her skirt into a fist. She took a deep breath. "I'm trying to understand you, Yelena. I really am. You're telling me that you object to this even though they both love each other and have shown nothing else for the last few seasons? What do you not like about their relationship? And how can they fix this to earn your blessing?"

I turned and gestured for her to enter the room. Mara hesitated but followed me to the living area. Exhaling a breath I didn't know I held, I went into the kitchen to make some tea for us.

After the small break, I gave my explanation. "You know what he did to her, right? And I'm sure she hasn't told you many details."

Mara added sugar and stirred her tea. "He was the one who kidnapped her and took her into Ixia, hoping to find one of the glass prisons. He was also the one who tortured her to make her betray you. But that doesn't-"

I cut her off with a hand. "Exactly. Everyone here is forgetting that, including Opal."

I considered my next words carefully. "If anything were to ever keep her awake at night, to haunt her dreams, and to cause her unimaginable pain, it's this. Abuse isn't a normal kind of pain and trauma can cause people to do the most uncharacteristic things…and to feel the oddest things. Abuse victims don't always hate their abusers. And abusers sometimes claim to love their victims. And it's not uncommon for people to go back to the ones who hurt them. She was fourteen years old when this happened, Mara."

Mara considered my words carefully. "Does it always have to be this way?"

"No, I suppose not. But it usually is. Either way, I don't feel right about this at all."

"Yelena, there was a good reason why she asked you." She shifted nervously in her seat. "When mother found out about what happened…she was reassured at first. But then the details came out and she absolutely forbade it. Even after learning a Master Magician approved and officiated the ceremony, mother remained completely against the match." Mara took a breath. "But if the Soulfinder married them…"

"Then there would be absolutely nothing wrong with what they're doing." I finished for her.

"It would mean the world to Opal." She said as she gathered her things to leave. "She hasn't had the opportunity to make many choices in her life, as you of all people would understand. It's always been other people deciding for her, for better or for worse. This is one of the first big decisions she's ever really been able to make for herself."

The wedding was a semi-small affair held in the early morning. A grand total of forty-three were in attendance and it was held in the Keep's gardens.

I donned my ceremonial robes, which I had kept within my quarters in the Keep for such occasions. Maren and I stood in a corner below some eucalyptus pods and made small talk as last minute details were being taken care of. She, along with the others, wore their Ixian uniforms, earning several gawks and scowls from guests in attendance.

"Sorry about this whole dragging you to a wedding for two complete strangers." I muttered.

She laughed and declared, "No need for that! I love weddings!"

I grinned. "Glad to hear it!"

Across from us, I spotted a familiar face among chairs being set up. My smile faded away and I excused myself from my friend.

I tapped Kade on the shoulder and he turned quickly.

"Yelena!" He pulled me in for a quick hug. "It's so good to see you again!"

"Same to you." I smiled. "You look great."

Kade chuckled. "Thank you. The word's been spreading like an unharnessed storm though. This whole Soulfinder officiating thing…there's a few couples back in Thunder Valley who are already thinking of possibly making the same request. Oddly enough they're mostly ones who are unsure and may even be getting cold feet. There's something about a Soulfinder being the best judge of true soul mate status of some sort…"

He was making a valiant effort to relax – lest he'd ruin his wedding present of "clear skies" - but I could sense the strain and hurt emanating from him.

It didn't take much to convert the garden into a suitable place for the reception and ceremony. The dusty millers, camellias, and roses bloomed in welcome to those who entered. The air was conveniently still without any distracting cooling season breezes to blow small leaves and branches across the courtyard. A wedding arch was erected at the center, with lace curtain detail held back securely by curled liana vines: a gift from Leif.

"I have something I'd like to get off my chest." He looked down at his shoes. "You might be the first and only person to understand."

I turned to him and met his eyes.

After a moment, he said, "I lied. I lied when I said 'I realized we couldn't be together,' or that I understood and respected her decision. It hurt like hell but I knew nothing I said or did could have moved her at that point."

Kade exhaled and shook his head. "This is wrong. He is wrong. Devlen is the last man in the world she should be with. After all he did to her, everyone still supports him. And Valek of all people… It's like a world gone mad. I don't buy this reformed act. Or his so called newfound love for her. I don't buy any of it."

"That being said…" He gestured to himself. "You can see how this is just insulting. If Opal couldn't tell, Devlen would have known."

I patted his arm before turning him over to Mara, who had approached us from behind. "If it means anything, I was always rooting for you from the start, Kade."

The Man of Honor gave me a small smile and nodded. "That made me feel slightly better. I think what I regret the most was never getting around to taking her surfing. Maybe," he chuckled, "she would have picked me then."

I squeezed his hand before and we turned to begin our descent. The crowd awed and beamed at our entrance. Through a forced smile, I managed to at least look like I volunteered to be there as I led the honored couple. I encouraged him to do the same in our mental connection. Exert yourself. At the very least you'll have this dignity.

We took our seats at the front and when the music marked Opal and Devlen's entrance, I could swear a less than gentle wind blew past us. Don't look back. You don't have to see that much.

With a stiff back, Kade kept his face stubbornly toward the front.

The twice betrothed glided down the altar and stood before me. Devlen's mouth was set in a straight line and Opal looked to me with trembling lips and wide eyes.

People were so strange. I sighed inwardly as I thought of Kade's friends in Thunder Valley. Who was I to even judge who was right for each other? Maybe I should consider calling myself something else besides a Soulfinder.

I spun the snake bracelet on my wrist and told myself that they had been married for a year and that nothing had gone wrong…that so many people approved of this union…that Devlen had managed to win the trust of skeptical Valek and a Sandseed horse…that I had to believe in change. I clasped – wringed - my hands in front of me.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to…" And yet I already felt so detached from it all.

"Stop!" A voice rang out from the end of the altar.

"But I haven't gotten to the objections part yet." I said in deadpan.

It was Healer Hayes. He dashed down the aisle to us, apparently unaware of the gasps and gawks he was getting from the audience.

Breathless, he bent over and rested his hands on his knees to recover from his recent exercise. After a minute, he said between gasps, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I had to do this." He glanced quickly at the couple before addressing me. "But can we talk in private?"

"Of course." I said before leading him to a secluded corner.

Having caught his breath, the Healer's voice intensified. "If you're going to follow through with this mad and potentially lethal plan of yours, you need to go now."

"Someone left?"

"Her name is Sky. The helpers say she left at least half an hour ago. I came as soon as I heard."

I looked back at the couple, who were watching us anxiously from afar. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy this happened. "Thanks for letting me know. We'll leave immediately."

"Heading out?" I met Kade at the gate. I was still waiting for the others to change and ready for our mission.

The decorations had been taken down by several volunteers. But nonchalant guests were still gathered in cliques and bemoaning the inconvenience of having to stay another night. Leif and Mara were making rounds to apologize and placate as much as possible. Opal and Devlen were taking a bit longer to get ready as their wedding clothes were a bit…harder…to remove.

He nodded. "I fully confess to having wished for something like this to happen."

I chuckled. "Then you're evil and should be banned from the make up wedding there inevitably will be."

"Oh thank fate…er…I mean darn, please don't I couldn't bear it!" He hung his head in mock disappointment.

We chuckled and made some companionable small talk for a few minutes. The Stormdancer nodded and bade me goodbye.

He began to walk away but stopped midstride. Kade turned back to me. "Um, Yelena? You know that whole thing about you being a Soulfinder thing? Do you think that you could by any chance…?" He gestured to himself and made a grimace, indicating internal pain.

I smiled ruefully. "I could. But you really wouldn't want me to." There was a good reason why love spells in any shape or form go against the Ethical Code.

He sighed and his shoulders slumped. "Of course. You're right, as always."

"Good luck and take care. Don't hesitate if you need anything, even just to talk."

"Thank you, Yelena. That means a lot." Kade bowed to me and walked away.

Our party consisted of Opal, Leif, Irys, Ari, Janco, Maren, Valek, me, and to my chagrin, Devlen. It was difficult to convince anyone to allow Ixians to stay behind to stand guard over their loved ones. Bain and Dax Greenblade set up in the infirmary and we locked them in.

Ari and Janco walked ahead of us, tracking the steps. It wasn't Market Day and the Citadel was not as crowded. We eventually tracked Sky out, past the barricades. As expected, the guards were not paying enough attention to notice what was going in and out. I would have sent Shadow ahead to scout but the magic may give our position away.

After some more trekking, we made our way to the path that traveled to Fulgor, the Moon Clan lands.

"Could she have gotten this far?" Maren asked. "She's only an hour at the most ahead of us."

"Nope." Janco stood. "This is where the path ends."

"Then where would—"

A gasp from behind a boulder to our right silenced us all.

I walked slowly and carefully toward the source. There was a shudder before the person darted behind, shadow and all, to the back.

I said in what I hoped was a soothing voice, "It's alright. We won't hurt you."

There was a heavy thud that made me run behind the boulder. Sky was huddled and shaking on the ground, her head buried in her arms. She looked up at me with empty eyes.

I sat next to her. "This isn't you fault. None of us blame you. We just want to take you home."

After a moment of silence, she shook her head. "I don't want to go back. I'm so tired."

"Then where do you want to go?"

"I…I don't know." Sky clutched a knife in her hand.

"Well it's normal to be tired. You must be going through such a difficult time right now."

"You don't understand."

"You're right. But I still want to help you. I want you here."

"He told me…it wouldn't hurt anymore."

"Who's he?"

"I don't know."

Irys materialized next to me. Sky looked away quickly and seemed ready to run. I squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "No one blames you. This wasn't your fault."

"We have to go." Irys said. In my mind, she told me, Someone is close.

Leif came up to us shortly and knelt down to gather Sky up in his arms. She followed wordlessly and without struggle.

"I'll take her." He told me. "We'll meet you all back at the Keep." They quickly disappeared out of view.

Smothering my troubled thoughts, I asked Irys where she sensed them in my mind. She cocked her head to the side and bid me to follow the rest of the party. We all walked in cautious silence for several minutes, knowing we were closing in.

"This seems a good place to stop." Devlen said suddenly, his voice odd. He glanced around him, oblivious to our gapes.

"Devlen…?" Opal started.

At the sound of her voice, his cold blue eyes snapped back to us. He studied his wife briefly. "You knew. You knew and you didn't say a word."

A ring of steel and I knew my companions were ready for battle. "Traitor." A growl erupted behind from Ari.

A tear streamed down Opal's cheek. "I didn't want to believe it. I didn't…I…we were so happy. I thought that would be enough for you."

"You believed in me so much you even delivered the Soulfinder directly to me." His voice was calm and bemused.

"Why?"

He was silent for a moment, considering. Then he replied, "Because I could."

I turned sharply to Opal. She met my eyes and I could sense so much guilt in her soul. Shaking my head, I demanded of Devlen, "How did you do it? I should have sensed it."

He smirked and reached under his shirt to produce a bone pendant. I gasped. It was carved in complete likeness to the one that I had given Janco briefly – the one that held Lamar's soul. The soul blocked magic, even my abilities, from sensing the intentions of a person. "You should know better by now, Soulfinder. It happened with null shields, curare, and the like. Whenever someone comes up with a good idea, the other side is never too far behind."

"It doesn't matter. It's over, Devlen."

He laughed. "No. This is the part where I give you the cliché: it has only begun. And unfortunately, none of you will be leaving here alive."

Janco stepped up to him. "Oh yeah? You and what army?"

From behind several trees and boulders stepped his "army." I counted twenty against seven. Swiftly, they surrounded us.

We all turned to glare at Janco as they approached us.

Ari sighed in exasperation as he griped his sword securely. "You just had to say that, didn't you?"

We backed slowly into our round battle formation and Janco grinned. "You have no idea how long I've waited to use that line. No one goes out alone anymore. Everyone always has to have their groupies."

"I never pegged you as one to fall back on clichés. Did you finally lose every last bit of that originality you were clearly not born with?"

Before long, they launched into a large, inappropriate argument.

Valek spun the knives in his deft hands as we came back-to-back. "Warpers again? You never take me anywhere interesting these days, love."

"Fine, then you can pick the next vacation spot."
"This was a vacation? Funny, I couldn't tell. It always feels like a vacation for me when I get to be with you."

I doubled over in laughter at the corniness. "…Stop…I can't breathe…!"

"This is not the reaction I was expecting." Devlen stated. The other goons looked at us in equal parts confusion.

Of course not. While the old married couple was bickering and the sickeningly sweet lovers were flirting, Maren had thrown enough sleeping gas to put a little more than half to sleep.

The goons scattered and we began battle. Opal seemed to be in shock as she stood blankly with her unopened Sais at her side. I shoved into her. "Move!"

Valek hurled a knife into one throat and sliced another in one fluid motion. Ari and Janco both fought one-on-one several feet away.

"His goals are sound but he's going on the ground!" Janco sang as he cut one down. He leaped over to help Ari. "This one has muscle but it won't even be a hustle!"

We were winning, I realized as Maren and I struck left and right with our bows. A sudden cry made me stop.

At a small distance away, Devlen had pushed down on a pressure point, bringing Opal down to her knees. I impatiently beat a goon away with a strike to the head and tried to run to her. But at that moment, Ari's and Janco's respective battles had backed them in front of me, blocking my way.

"Opal!" I called out in vain as Devlen dragged her away.

With unsuppressed rage, I brought down another goon and took down the one Janco fought.

"Hey!" Janco sputtered. "Get your own!"

"He took Opal!" We had to finish this. Now.

I expanded my mind with Shadow's help. He flew across the land and scouted for her.

I snapped back to see Janco, Ari, Irys, and Valek all looking at me. Maren was preoccupied in a bow fight with two assailants. "He's taking her toward the Avibian Plains."

I closed my eyes and projected myself and my presence away. I felt myself grow lighter and let the breeze carry what was left of me away.

Ari, Janco, and Maren

Janco blinked when Yelena vanished into thin air.

"I could use a little help over here!" Maren called out before he could say anything. The two goons had brought some more friends from apparently nowhere.

Ari and Janco went to her aid and their combined strengths defeated all four with relative ease.

Janco stopped to catch his breath. He gestured to the exact spot where Yelena had been. "…Could she always do that?!"

Ari shook his head. "I just resolved to not be surprised anymore. At this point I wouldn't even be fazed if she can talk to snow cats and make friends with them too. Hey, where did Valek go?"

. "Couples!" Janco threw his hands up and looked around. "And that other magician's gone too..."

Maren came up to them. "We got distracted and we're late! Which way?"

Yelena

I hid behind a boulder and waited for him to turn. Gripping the bow, I concentrated on finding the opportune moment.

"Do you submit?" He asked, raising the scimitar again.

I whacked him across the head with my bow, sending him sprawling on the ground. "How about hell no?"

I made sure he was unconscious and cut his null shield jacket off before running up to Opal. She fell against me, her body cold and bleeding profusely. I steadied her and tried to focus her but her eyes were already fading. "Opal…Opal stay with me."

Resting my hands on her shoulders, I instinctively assumed her more critical injuries and pulled at the power source. Opal moaned softly as her head lolled to the side. I had forgotten. Her immunity, like Valek, made it impossible for me to do anything.

Fear tightened my throat as my heart raced, using up precious energy. Remembering past experience, I willed myself to concentrate on what I could do. I supported her for a few steps. "Can you walk?"

She gave a weak nod and murmured a "thank you." I sighed in relief. At least she was still coherent. At least I was still coherent.

Before we could get far, a terrible sense of foreboding filled me from behind. I sensed so much sadistic desire to cause pain the sensation was nearly enough to bring me to my knees. Instinctively, I shoved Opal aside, onto the ground. "Stay away!"

I grasped my bow. But Devlen was quicker. Before I could counter his scimitar, he had knocked my weapon from my hands and pinned me to the ground. "Now!" He called out.

"Interesting." A voice I didn't recognize said suddenly. "I set my trap to catch a glassmaker and I catch a Soulfinder instead."

A cold, steel finger tapped at my mental defenses, slicing into my iron castle as if it were clay. I had used too much energy transporting myself here. Resisting was like climbing a mountain after having run laps until my legs burned. I knew at the point I wouldn't have the strength to fight and win this battle anymore. I had used up too much energy.

But I grasped Devlen's hands as they pinned my shoulders down and felt the buzz combine with all the rage within me. You wanted to be reformed? Then you will be reformed. And you will share your life with Opal as you've always claimed to do. Because from now on, you will never be able to go a day without feeling the exact same pain you've caused Opal. You will see and know how she has suffered. And if you ever even think to hurt her, anyone she loves, or another young girl again, the guilt will tear your sanity and your soul apart into nonexistence.

Devlen gasped as his face contorted in horror. He made one shaky glance at Opal before ripping his hands off me as if I burned him. I was temporarily free when he scrambled off of me and his rapid footsteps receded into the distance.

But the Warper already had me and had begun forcing his way into my mind…my past…the threads of my story.

Already anticipating what would ensue, I screamed. I screamed as he ripped past the last of my barriers and invaded my darkest days, taking my memories for his own. The cold knife sliced through my walls and seared into my very essence, leaving me with hollow, dead emptiness.

But it would be nothing compared to what they were about to do to me next. I heard a distinctive tread followed by a sudden halt. Irys was rapidly explaining to someone that if they break our mental connection, my soul could be ripped apart. And I heard her call out to me, saying that I could get through this. That I could weather out this storm. She had no idea what kind of storm this was.

Suddenly it wasn't the masked Warper who approached me. It was Reyad. His cruel smile lingered as he blew a kiss to me.

I thrust violently, willing my mind to be free of the illusion. But it was no longer an illusion: Because none of it was or ever would be.

Quick note on content warning: Chapter 5 includes flashbacks and what can be triggering themes of abuse. You don't have to read it to follow this story.

Other than that, please review! Thanks to those two - anons again - who did! *Gives you two big consensual hugs*

Update 2.0: Yelena can't heal Opal because of that null shield she got courtesy of Valek at the end of Spy Glass. I honestly doubt Yelena could have done much after doing big magic like that anyways haha. Minor detail but it was bugging me so I fixed it. xD