Chapter Three: The Dream
"Daily rankings? Wouldn't want us to get too competitive or anything." Tally spoke as the three of them were looking at the rankings posted. Alessia frowned at their rank. It was not good. If they stayed at this rate, they would be war meat for sure. Then her mother would have been right all along.
"Where are you going?" Alessia asked as Abigail started marching off. Tally and Alessia looked at each other before following her rather quickly. She couldn't help but feel like there was going to be a fight between the two of them. She put her hands behind her abc as she followed Abigail with Tally next to her. She could feel the other cadets watching them as they made their way down to the mess hall. Raelle was sitting by herself at a table. Picking at her food.
"Where were you today? We were worried." Abigail spoke as Alessia frowned at this.
"Didn't feel good." Raelle replied as she didn't look up.
"Oh no. Anything I can do?" Abigail asked in a mocking tone.
Doubt it. Your mom tell you anything about Greenville?" She asked. Alessia sighed at this. 'Yup. This is going to be a fight.' She thought while looking around the mess hall. People were watching the scene now.
"It was a mess. They all were." Abigail spoke. "Greenville was no different." She added.
"Interesting." Raelle spoke.
"Come on you two." Alessia spoke with a frown. She was ignored. No surprise there.
"We had training all day. None of this is elective!" Abigail shouted. "Your absence was noted."
"Call the commander in chief." Raelle replied back. Alessia her arm touched as Tally was frowning.
"Look, I know this is a lot for you." Abigail began.
"Guys." Tally spoke up.
"But this is just the beginning." Abigail finished. Alessia's attention was now on the television as the news came on. She frowned again. Moving to the side as she walked forward. Hearing Raelle shout as her voice echoed through the hall.
"Hey!" Alessia shouted at all three of them. They all looked at her and moved forward to watch the news as well.
"Another attack from the Spree. This time in the North Atlantic, all the passengers jumped to their deaths. The Spree had claimed responsibility." The reporter spoke as the halls were whispering among themselves as Alessia turned her heels and left.
"Where are you going?" Abigail asked.
"To the field. We have training." Alessia spoke.
"Not for another hour." She shouted back as Alessia waved her hand to show she heard what Abigail spoke. She could hear her boots on the floor as she made her way down the hall. The fight between the two had dampened her mood. Hearing footsteps as she sighed.
"You can't just take off." Abigail spoke. Alessia stopped and looked at her.
"Just left to clear my head." She replied. Watching her cross her arms as Alessia put her hands behind her back.
"Look. We need to trust each other." She spoke.
"How can we if you two are going to be constantly bickering?" Alessia asked. She stepped in front of Abigail and into her personal space. She could feel another pair of eyes watching her.
"You want to be the leader of our unit. I get it. You have so much to prove. Until that day comes, I will lend you my knowledge and strength. Show me you can be the leader who can make the hard choices. The one who wouldn't think twice when it comes to making those hard choices. Show me a leader that I can trust and I will follow you into the battle." Alessia spoke. She could see that Abigail was in deep thought from her words. "Until that day comes Bellweather." Alessia added as she stepped to the side again. Abigail nodded her head and took the lead. Alessia's eyes caught Izadora and had a proud look on her face. Alessia however turned sharply and followed Abigail.
"The Spree prey on the ideologically vulnerable." Anacostia spoke as they were all sitting in a tent as their drill sergeant was playing a slideshow of pictures of all the attacks over the years. She frowned while watching.
"And they are?" Anacostia asked. No one answered. Alessia raised her hand. She saw a nod.
"Mundanes." Alessia replied.
"More specific. Don't use fancy words please." Anacostia spoke.
"Non-witches." Alessia answered.
"Correct! Now the Spree has no great leader. No field army. They're composed of parallel hierarchies, clandestine cell systems designed to collapse under scrutiny." Anacostia spoke. Alessia heard a soft shudder of breath as she looked to her left. It was Tally. She had this worried look on her face.
"How can we fight them if we can't even tell who's one of them?" Tally asked.
"Like Alder said, with storm and fury." Abigail spoke. Alessia nodded her head in agreement. Squeezing Tally's hand into her own.
"Alright, hit the field!" Anacostia shouted as the rain began to downpour. Alessia jumped up and was the first one out. Feeling her unit behind her as they jogged to the edge of the training field. She was already soaked. Closing her eyes as she looked up to the sky. Letting the rani hit her face.
"Come on Private Solace. Let's race." Abigail spoke as Alessia looked at her and nodded with a smile. Then they started. Running full speed as they hopped through the tires. Seeing the wire as she got on all fours.
"How do you do this?" Tally asked.
"On your elbows and knees! Crawl!" Alessia spoke as she was showing Tally.
"Oh!" She shouted against the rain. She was now covered in mud as she shouted at Raelle and Tally. Helping them jump up the wall as she stepped back before getting a running start. Jumping high as she could onto the wall. Grabbing the rope as Tally grabbed her hand. Helping her up over it. Feeling the mud sink her in the ground a little before running to the next obstacle. She could feel her lungs burning as they repeated the course a few times. Catching her breath as she placed her hands on her knees.
"Not bad Alessia." Abigail spoke with a smirk. Alessia chuckled and leaned back to stretch her back.
"Hit the showers!" Anacostia shouted. Alessia was on Abigail's right side as they were slowly walking back to the suites.
"How is it possible that I have mud up my butt?" Tally asked. Alessia laughed lightly at this. She felt pretty muddy herself as well.
"We all have mud up our butts Tally." Raelle spoke as Abigail laughed as well.
"Is the ground spinning?" Tally asked.
"Technically yes." Raelle spoke.
"Think that might have been a joke."
"What, I'm funny!" They all laughed at this. Alessia was moving mud from her hair as she pulled it down.
"Guys, I will be there in a few!" Raelle shouted.
"Okay!" Alessia shouted back. She saw her Necro friend in the woods as Raelle went over to her. She smiled at this before following Tally and Abigail back to the Suites. She felt the mud dripping off of her body as she made her way inside. It was not long when they came back to their room. She took her shoes off and set them aside. Tally had called for dibs for the shower. Alessia didn't mind waiting to be the last one to shower and when she did, it felt good. She was wearing her normal wear of the black pants and shirt while sitting on her bed. Looking through her book. Listening to the other two talk about the classes. She was listening. It seemed to have stopped raining.
"I'm gonna head to the." Alessia began.
"Library." They finished her sentence in unison as she rolled her eyes with a smile.
"Have fun studying whatever you are studying." Abigail spoke.
"I will!" She spoke. Putting her sneakers on as she left the room. She took a deep breath. The smell of the air after the rain. She made her way down the pathways towards the main building. There seemed to be a few others in the library as well as she took her usual spot with the book she had been reading for a while now.
"Private Solace. A word." Anacostia spoke as Alessia looked up. She nodded and put the book back and followed her drill sergeant out of the library. She was being led to another room. She kept her silence and her composure. She followed into another room. Izadora was in the room as well while holding a clipboard.
"It has come to our attention that you are an observer." Anacostia spoke as Alessia raised a brow at her. "You notice things others don't. Hear things that others don't. Am I correct?" Anacostia asked as Alessia nodded her head lightly.
"We want you to take a test for us. Normally we wait until cadets finish basic training and are in war college but we are making an exception for you. Please. Sit." Izadora spoke as she waved her hand to the table. Alessia nodded and sat down. A small booklet was placed in front of her as well as a few pencils.
"You may begin." Izadora spoke as Alessia nodded. Seeing an hourglass turned as she was being timed. Opening the booklet and starting to read. The questions were worded differently. 'Oh.' She thought. She knew the tactics being used here. Picking up the pencil as she began. Knowing full well she was being watched.
She set the pencil down and closed the booklet. Leaning back in her chair while looking up. The Necro teacher took it with a smile. She couldn't help but smile back. 'She's just so beautiful!' Alessia thought. 'Shut up! Focus!' She shouted at herself.
"You may go. I have to speak to Raelle. Do not mention this test to anyone except either myself, Izadora, or the General herself." Anacostia spoke. Alessia nodded her head.
"Ah. So she did disappear with Scylla." Alessia spoke.
"How did you know?" Anacostia asked. Alessia only smiled and left the room.
"Told you, she's good." Izadora spoke. She decided to not listen in and took her leave back to the suits. Yawning lightly while stretching. There was rain again. This time it was light rain. Stopping as she smiled. Closing her eyes as she let the rain fall against her face. It felt nice and refreshing.
"Curfew!" A woman shouted. Alessia started sprinting back to the suits. She made it back in time and smiled softly.
"So, Raelle was sighted by Anacostia." Alessia spoke. "That's all I know." She lied while holding her hands up as she put on her sleep shorts.
"So, what were you in the library for?"Abigail asked. Alessia hummed softly while setting her leather book to the side.
"About the Spree and their previous attacks in the past. Trying to see if there is a pattern or what not." Alessia spoke as she touched her chin while thinking.
"Find anything?" Tally asked as Alessia shook her head.
"No. It's just like random attacks. All civilians and the Spree claiming responsibility. There has to be a motive to their attacks." Alessia spoke.
"They are just ruthless killers. Nothing more." Abigail spoke as Alessia nodded. She didn't believe her. There had to be a reason. A reason why witches would go and kill innocents. She laid down on her bed while staring at the ceiling. Her mind was racing with all the information she gathered from her reading. Truth be told, it wasn't just the Spree she was researching on but another enemy as well. An ancient one. The one her great grandmother had told her about. The one that ended her life and hunted her family down for generations. Now, it was just her and her mother left in the line. Was she wrong to join the military? Wrong to believe that she could make a difference by herself? All these questions she had in her head and sighed before turning the lights off. Seeing Abigail and Tally head to bed as well.
"Sleep well and may the Goddess protect your dreams." Alessia spoke with a yawn. "As the rising moon and setting sun. It is done." Abigail and Tally said in unison. It had been a bedtime ritual for them before they would go to sleep.
"One day my little warrior." A gentle voice spoke in the wind. "One day you will show the world our song." The voice spoke again. Alessia was standing in the middle of a forest. Singing a seed she had tried to sing many times before.
"The seed will come to you when it is time to be sung again." The voice spoke.
"How will I know?" Alessia asked as another voice spoke in her turn in the same exact words.
"You will know. When your heart becomes full of the love you give. Of love for others. Your sisters and your unconditional lover." The voice spoke.
"How will I know then, grandmomma?" Alessia asked but it was not her normal mature voice but of a younger one. She looked around and she was alone in the woods. By herself.
"Our songs are not meant for the world. When the time comes, you shall teach your songs to those who will listen." The older woman spoke. Alessia nodded her head and watched her great grandmother disappear in the woods. The memory had changed as she was looking around the room. It had wooden walls and doors.
"We have to leave! Now!" Her grandmother's voice shouted as it echoed across the wind. She looked around and saw two women and a baby crying.
"The ship leaves tonight. Get across the state safely! Go!" The woman shouted. It was her grandmother. Watching her sing a seed that brought the walls down and the ground cave underneath the attackers.
"Run! It's the Camarilla!" Her grandmother shouted. Alessia felt her heart race at the scene she was seeing. "Do not let the Army find her!" Was the last words she heard as the memory changed again. She was confused at what she saw.
"You survived!" A woman spoke as the older woman was softly singing a song that she heard at the first memory. It was a pure and beautiful song she had only ever heard when she was a baby.
"Tell me. What happened mother?" The woman holding a baby asked while looking at her.
"Her vocal cords were cut out. Clean from her throat. I have never seen anything like it before." The woman spoke. Alessia frowned at this. Why were these memories showing her?
"Hide her. Trust the Mother." Was the last thing she heard as her grandmother began to sing a song again.
"What?!" Alessia shouted as she sat up. Rubbing her face as she felt the sweat.
"You alright?" Tally asked as she was on her tiptoes touching Alessia's shoulder.
"Yeah. Just a nightmare." Alessia spoke as she turned and jumped down from her bed.
"Anacostia said to get dressed. She wants to talk to us." Abigail spoke as she nodded. Putting on her black pants and shirt again. Tying her boots on while looking at her unit.
"What's going on?" Alessia asked as she heard footsteps. She stood at attention as did the other two.
"It seems that Raelle's behavior has knocked your unit down more. Her actions last night proved to show us that she does not want to be here. She is currently in the infirmary due to using salve without permission." Anacostia spoke. Alessia frowned at this. This was not the news she wanted to wake up to.
"Does this mean we are through?" Tally asked in a soft voice. You could hear the hurt and defeat in her tone.
"Nearly." Anacostia spoke. She was watching all three of them carefully.
"You may be able to course correct, but I cannot promise anything." With that, she left.
"Are you okay?" Tally asked Abigail. She watched Abigail leave with an angry look on her face. Alessia frowned yet again and sighed.
"What is it?" Tally asked.
"She doesn't look happy. Raelle is basically throwing us under the bus." Alessia spoke. "We will be war meat before we know it!" She spoke as she left the room. They had training as Tally followed her. She scanned the ground again and sighed. Seeing Anacostia speaking to Izadora about something. Their eyes caught hers as Tally started to talk. She looked at her friend when she stopped. She stopped with her.
"I just. I don't think I can take it anymore." Tally spoke.
"The fighting? Her lack of responsibility?" Alessia asked. She crossed her arms now. Tally nodded her head.
"Unfortunately we are graded together as a unit Tally." Alessia spoke.
"I know. You are the only one whose head is on her shoulder." Tally spoke while grabbing Alessia's shoulders and gently shook her.
"You too, Tal. You too." Alessia spoke. Seeing her fiery friend frown was heartbreaking.
"Hey, we will get through this." Alessia spoke. Reassuring Tally.
"Rough room ladies!" Anacostia shouted. They both looked at her and nodded before marching to the building. Everyone was grabbing a scourge as Alessia did as well. It felt odd having an issued scourge that was not made for her but it was good for practice. Tally and Abigail were both having a sparring match with their scourges. Alessia was watching from the sideline.
"Ladies! Remember your voices are your weapons!" Anacostia shouted as she was walking around the room. Alessia was now sparring with Tally. She sidestepped and dodged Tally's strike. She turned on her foot and swung the end towards her. Tally dodged too late and got hit.
"Nice one." Tally spoke as Alessia nodded with a small smile.
"Come on." She encouraged Tally who nodded. Hearing a footstep as she looked up. Seeing Raelle joining them.
"It is imperative that the entirety of your vocal apparatus, from frontal sinus to larynx, must remain functional and sound producing at all times!" Anacostia shouted.
"Shouldn't you be in bed, cousin?" Abigail asked.
"Here we go." Alessia whispered as she turned to face Izadora and Anacostia before standing next to Tally.
"I'm not your cousin." Raelle replied back.
"Aren't we all cousins, cousin?" Abigail asked as she got ready with her scourge.
"Well, I mean I am no illustrious Bellweather." Raelle snapped.
"Oh shit." Alessia pinched the bridge of her nose. Hearing a gasp from Tally. It was the first time she had ever cussed.
What's that supposed to mean?" Abigail asked as she got into Raelle's face.
"Daughter of American greatness herself?" Raelle shouted as she swung and missed. Their voices were rising. They were grunting.
"Backbone of democracy?!" Raelle shouted again. Alessia sighed. Anacostia stopped a woman from interfering. "Your mom was the C.O. on my mom's last tour!"
"You're blaming my mom for that? Soldiers die all the time! That's the job!" Abigail shouted back. They were going back and forth with their scourges.
"Is she pompous like you?! Raelle shouted. Hearing the ceiling above starting vibrating as Alessia looked up. It was starting to storm from the fighting.
"Is she a useless shitbird like you?!" Abigail screamed back.
"Break it up!" Anacostia shouted. There was screaming as Abigail was pulled off of Raelle. Alessia walked over and stood next to Anacostia. Crossing her arms as Tally on her other side.
"Abigail went to Alder to request reassignment. This is bad." Anacostia spoke.
"What?" Alessia asked as she looked at their drill sergeant.
"When?" Tally asked.
"Today." Anacostia replied. Tally and Alessia both looked at each other before leaving the rough room together.
"This is ridiculous!" Tally shouted as she kicked dirt while they made their way back to the suite. Alessia felt betrayed by this. After the conversation she had with Abigail not long ago.
"You think they will allow us extra practice in vocal training?" Tally asked.
"Huh?" Alessia asked. The conversation changed so quickly, it felt like it rattled her brain.
"My seeds aren't as strong I think." Tally sighed.
"Tally, you are doing great. Stop stressing." Alessia spoke as she touched Tally's shoulder.
"You're right. It's just the bickering that is getting to me." Tally spoke. Alessia nodded and decided to stay quiet the rest of the way back to the suite.
Abigail had come back as Tally came out of the shower.
"Heard you tried to bail." Tally spoke to Abigail.
"It's not you or Alessia." She spoke.
"Oh we know. But you were still willing to throw us away." Tally scoffed.
"She's holding you both back!" Abigail spoke up.
"Heard it was denied." Alessia spoke while crossing her arms. Her book fell onto her bed.
"Denied was an understatement." Abigail spoke.
"You're both weak. Raelle's avoidance of responsibility and you in your contempt and superiority." Tally spoke. "Alessia and I should be the ones walking." With that, she turned on her side and went to sleep.
"Where are you going?" Abigail asked as Alessia jumped down and put her jacket on.
"I have labs to finish cleaning." Alessia replied as she took her leave from her room. It was true. She had offered to help clean a few nights a week. Izadora always welcomed the help. She marched across the lawn into the woods where the Necro building was. She stopped at the entrance and moved her hand. Putting the password sigil on the wall as the door opened. She was shown how to do this not long ago. Taking a deep breath as she made her way down the stairs. Her steps echoed across the hall. She stopped into the large room and took her jacket off. Putting her hair into a single french braid before grabbing the lab coat.
"Look who finally showed up." Scylla spoke. Alessia rolled her eyes and put the jacket on.
"There is little to do tonight." Izadora spoke as she placed a tray of vials onto the counter. "Wash these and call it a night." She spoke.
"Yes ma'am." Scylla spoke as Alessia grabbed the tray and went to the sink.
"How's Raelle?" Scylla asked.
"I don't know. I thought she left to see you." Alessia spoke coldly.
"Whoa. What's with the cold tone?" Scylla asked.
"Sorry. Just a lot on my mind." She spoke.
"Can you finish up? I have somewhere to be." Scylla asked.
"Sure. You owe me though." Alessia replied.
"Great! Thanks!" Scylla spoke. She watched the younger Necro take her leave. Alessia finished up and sighed. Rubbing her forehead. There was a soft whispering. She looked around. Izadora was in her office doing paperwork. She felt something pull her as she left the spot. There was another room near where she had never been before. Opening the door and walking inside. Seeing something large in the wall. It was a mist looking creature. Fungi? Alessia tilted her head while walking slowly up to it. For some reason she felt extremely calm.
"Daughter…" A voice came from it.
"You're not supposed to be in here." Izadora's voice made her look behind her shoulder.
"Sorry." She spoke while looking back to the wall. "What is this?" She asked. Wanting to reach out to it but refrained herself from doing so.
"It's a form of mushroom. Mycelium." Izadora replied.
"She's beautiful." Alessia spoke with a smile. She was still watching the Mycelium. She could feel Izadora watching her.
"We believe it's the mother." Izadora spoke. Alessia gasped. "I wanted to talk to you about your results." The older Necro spoke.
"Don't bother." Alessia spoke while she turned to face Izadora.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I am war meat if Raelle keeps her behavior up." Alessia spoke. Crossing her arms as she looked back to the Mycelium. It was so calming in her presence. She felt her shoulder touched as it made her look back into the dark brown eyes.
"War meat or not. You are still a value to the Army." Izadora spoke.
"No doctor. I'm expen..." She began.
"Call me Izadora when alone." She spoke. Alessia nodded her head.
"I'm just an ordinary witch. Nothing special." She spoke.
"I do not believe that." The Necro spoke as she pushed a stray hair behind Alessia's ear. For some reason this made Alessia blush. Something had woken up inside of her and began to claw at her sides. She looked back to the Mycelium and sighed. "Your test score was really good. What's your I.Q level?" She asked. Alessia shrugged at this.
"Either way. Anacostia and I were talking. Once you get into war college, we are having you in an extra class." Izadora spoke.
"Again. I am just war meat. I'm sorry. Find someone else." Alessia spoke. Seeing the hurt look in the Necro's eyes as she moved from her. Turning on her heels and leaving. Completely forgetting to take the lab coat off as she left back to her suit.
"Find your unit soldiers!" Anacostia shouted. Alessia stood across from Tally as Abigail from Raelle. There were large tuning forks on each table.
"We will begin where we left off." Anacostia added. "In the lower register of Seed Sound thirty-two, the seed of Reversal, one at a time." She added. Hitting the fork to create the tone. Abigail began. Tally joined. Alessia joined. Then Raelle did. She struggled at the start and then held it.
"Very good. The seed is a beast to master. Maintain it." Anacostia spoke. Their singing lasted longer than normal as Alessia looked up. Seeing the effects they created. Wind whipping around them as there was a dusty shadow creating random shapes. Their chords continued until she heard a screeching seed. Then everything stopped. Alessia looked around at her unit as they all were smiling. Alessia chuckled.
"Very good." Anacostia spoke. She couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride as they watched the other units take their turns. Anacostia was walking around watching as Izadora was taking notes as she did. Alessia could feel the Necro teacher brush against her when she walked past. She felt her cheeks heat up and looked down to the side.
"Dismissed. Enjoy your dinner." Anacostia shouted. Tally grabbed Alessia's arm and basically dragged her out of the room. She had a bright smile on her face. They made their way to the mess hall as Alessia felt her stomach growl as she sighed softly. Looking up as Tally pulled her to stop.
"What is it?" She asked. Then she stopped. Hearing voices.
"That was the best harmonic we have seen in decades." A voice spoke.
"I agree. It was pretty good." Anacostia spoke.
"I told you." Izadora's voice came. Alessia looked at Tally who was smiling at her before they ran off from the building.
Alessia was stuffing her face with food as Abigail and Raelle finally sat down. She was watching the two of them while eating. She was not going to let them ruin her dinner.
"Did you guys hear?" Tally asked as Alessia raised a brow at her. "The older officers were clucking about us." She added. Alessia nearly snorted at her friend's choice of words.
"We haven't heard harmonics like that in decades." Tally added as she was drinking her tea. "I need more tea. Come Alessia." Tally spoke as she pulled Alessia's arm.
"But I'm hungry!" She whined as she was pulled away from her plate of food to the other side of the mess hall and left. Alessia frowned. She was still hungry but decided the best of it as they made their way back to the suite.
"I think they are making up?" Tally asked as Alessia shrugged her shoulders.
"Hey, I'm going to go to the."
"Library. Honestly, what do you even do there?" Tally asked as Alessia pulled from her friend with a smile.
"I study things." She spoke. Waving her hand at Tally before taking her leave. She made her way back to the former building and quickly moved down the hallway to the library. It was open all hours and everyday just in case a mission needed information. Alessia went to the 'C' section of the library. Looking for any word of the Camarilla. To her surprise, she did not find much. There was a single book. More like a journal. Sighing softly as she grabbed it and sat down. Reading the entries as she heard footsteps. She stood up and went to a corner. Not wanting to be bothered. There was a new couch as she sat on it. Crossing her legs as the journal was in her lap. Reading the entries again. It had lists of victims and how they were killed. Alessia slammed the journal closed. Hearing someone shush her as she sighed. Rubbing her face in her hands before taking the book back to the shelf. Hearing hushed voices as she stopped outside the library. Listening in.
"What book was she reading?" Anacostia's voice spoke.
"A journal about the Camarilla." Izadora spoke. "Why would she read about this?" The Necro asked.
"Maybe she is curious about our old enemies." Anacostia spoke.
"She has talent." Izadora spoke.
"Talent? Be more specific Izadora." Anacostia spoke.
"She's a singer. She's been holding herself back. I've seen it." Izadora spoke.
"Have you told Alder?"
"Yes. She told me to keep an eye on her."
"That's why you are in all the basic training classes." Anacostia spoke. Alessia decided she didn't want to hear anymore as she took her leave. Heading back to the suite where her unit would be at. Wondering if Raelle and Abigail had made up finally. Humming softly as she entered the building to head to her room. She leaned against the doorway watching them.
"Hey! Welcome back. Learn anything?" Tally asked.
"No. They didn't have what I was looking for." Alessia spoke. It wasn't exactly a lie. There just wasn't much information.
"Come. Let's head to bed!" Abigail spoke. Alessia quickly changed and climbed on the top bunk. Snuggling right under her blankets.
"Whose jacket is this?" Tally asked, holding the lab coat up.
"Oh, that's a Necro coat." Alessia spoke.
"Ew!" Tally spoke as she tossed it to Alessia who caught it. Shaking her head with a sigh. She was folding it until something caught her eyes. Izadora Dart was written on the tag. She had taken the Necro teacher's lab coat. Feeling her cheeks burn from embarrassment. She finished folding it and set it aside. She would have to return it when she had the time. For now, she needed to rest.
