Sweat trickled down her temples now and then when she carried something heavy to the truck and then passed it on. The last few days had become a decision. She had deleted the finished message to Illumi because she wouldn't invite him until this house was really hers. And indeed, since then, everything was a little easier.

The old furniture, apart from the bookshelves, had all been given away. The new furnishings shone modernly, the wallpaper had been renewed, the kitchen had been replaced and improved, and the weeds had disappeared from the garden. In addition, old acquaintances had returned. Ace and Roxy had been awaiting her return all these years – albeit split up in other houses because the service under her mother had been unwelcome. The hopeful job ad in the newspaper had brought them together again; though with unfamiliar smiles in a reserved manner. Almost as if they were strangers.

"That was the last cupboard," Soleil sighed as she pushed the heavy wood in front of the new fence, which gleamed in lordly silver; even if it was only iron.

"Thank you!" One man who took the piece of furniture from her smiled at her and in a moment Chrollo's reply flashed through her.

"You're very welcome."

The sound of his voice faded a little more with each passing day and even though it was a good thing because he definitely had to be a criminal, Soleil caught herself thinking of him far too often. Of his thin smile that had never reached his eyes that had looked down on her like the moon. Gentle, sweet, and yet completely cold. His body in Archihilles' clothes, which had actually been too tight for him, and also his lack of acting talent, were still in her memory.

So was the handsome face.

Part of her wanted to get to know him better, the rest knew there was no more opportunity. She had missed the moment to feel at least a little more of him than just his lips and fingers on her skin. Even as a one-time thing, it would have been okay. It would have been a memory she could have lived on for longer. But none of that was there. Only the tingling on her lips was still faintly perceptible.

With a dismissive gesture, Soleil tried to push the thought away. There were more important things to do than surrender to Chrollo. She had disposed of everything personal belonging to her mother. Even the little things that had good memories attached to them had ended up in the trash – she needed closure. For good.

Nothing was left, so the new furnishings had to come in to give everything a young charm and a breath of fresh air.

The authorities had transferred her mother's account to her within twelve hours. The lock on the front door had been changed for security and suddenly she had a credit card and billions she didn't know how to spend. The new furnishings, fence and maids had barely brought the amount down and the numbers were still staggering. It was so much that she could retire immediately. She just needed to put her feet up and enjoy all that had fallen into her lap.

But the drive inside her wouldn't let up. Suddenly, all doors were open and maybe she would find the education she had never overcome as a little girl.

Determined, Soleil turned on her heel and found her way back into the house. It was only midday, the world was still in full swing with work to be done and searching the net during her sleepless nights had brought her a few good results. There was one she was stuck on.

There was a cooking school in the small town not that far from her that had piqued her interest. She could enrol there without a degree or prior knowledge and be trained as a professional cook. The only drawback was the price, which was probably far too high for a cooking school – but they accepted everyone and so they were almost unique.

No sooner had she set foot over the threshold into the hallway than one servant approached her. "Is there anything else you need, my lady?"

Ace gave her a soft smile. The brown curls on her head twisted up to her chest, while honey-yellow eyes lay watchful on Soleil's body.

"No." In defence, Soleil raised her hands. "You and Roxy have nothing to do for now. There's something I want to do."

"Understood." She bowed before Soleil could scurry past her. An unfamiliar gesture that took some getting used to.

Her legs carried her up the stairs to her former nursery, which was now her own pleasant bedroom. The bear wallpaper had been replaced by uniform white with golden accents and the otherwise plain furnishings gave her the freedom to breathe – even if she would probably never get used to the slightly echoing sound.

With nimble fingers, she dug out her handbag from among the clothes she still hadn't put in the wardrobe and which by now lay criss-crossed on the shelves, and stowed the most important little things before slipping into other fabrics. Turning up at a cookery school in simple jeans and flaming red slippers, and a top full of stains, would only cost her the best chance of her life.

So she changed into a knee-length pencil skirt and decided on a ruffled blouse she had ordered from an advertisement on the net. The high heels completed the look and although the handbag didn't quite want to match, it was a part of it all somehow.

Brushing her hair once more, Soleil finally ventured out, away from the house and into the world she hadn't even been allowed to know as a child.

The walk to the education facility only took about ten minutes. That was enough time to let her mind wander a little. In slow steps she followed the short slope down, surrounded by trees and cheerful colours that invited her to dream. But Soleil's imagination yielded no images, just let her breathe in the comforting smell and embrace the path. The world finally bathed itself in comforting warmth.

It didn't take long to reach the first graceful building, and shortly after the first, the next houses of white stone followed, built high but still adapted to the countryside. The village was far smaller than Yorknew but still brought qualities of a town. Shops invited people to spend money, a café crossed her path, every metre was paved and people bustled about in some places. The interest of most was glued to a bakery. Some had gathered in front of a supermarket and others strolled through as serenely as Soleil did.

Her eyes wandered around, taking in everything, and yet she missed a man with whom she bumped into. Without further ado, she stumbled back two steps before taking a breath to apologise, but not getting around to it.

"Excuse me," the stranger beat her to it. She had the feeling she had seen him before. His friendly, round face and even the way he raised his hand – but this time, as if to reassure her – brought back distant memories. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was running, but since circumstances have already turned like this ... could you help and tell me where to find the shoe shop?"

She had rarely been allowed to leave the house then, always close by her mother's side. She hadn't been allowed to dawdle, her eyes always forward, always alert. A few years had passed since then. The city had changed, but she wanted to help.

"It's been ages since I was last here," she replied slowly, "but I know where the shop was back then. If you don't mind, I'll take you there. Maybe it's still there."

Her counterpart's green eyes seemed to brighten as he accepted her offer with a hasty nod. "Maybe the two of us can find it. Probably I just walked past it and didn't notice."

"That may be." Soleil gave him a smile before she started moving again and took the lead. "Are you new here?"

"No, I'm just visiting." He put his hands in his pockets and tilted his head. "The love of my life is in this village and after not seeing her for ages, I thought I'd visit her ... and maybe bring her home."

It was a beautiful thought. Here was someone who had come all this way to see his beloved. Presumably, she would be happy to jump into his arms and tousle his brown hair until it looked all tangled. He seemed to be the type for these playful things.

Unlike Chrollo.

His name made her sigh. She thought of him far too often – his smell, his lips, the seconds he'd spent laboriously trying to be someone he wasn't. His body. His way of talking.

"Is everything all right?" Uncertainly, the stranger leaned towards her as they turned into the first empty side street. The murmur of people receded a little into the background.

"Yes, everything's fine. I was just thinking about someone too," she confessed.

The smile on her companion's lips faded. "Is that so?" He halted. "I confess I was expecting it, but hearing it is quite different."

Soleil too stopped to turn to him and raise her brows. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I've been looking for you, Titania. Everywhere." He shook his head. "But suddenly you were gone, and then I had to hear that you'd run off with that guy I dragged to the bar, too." The soundless laugh almost caught in his throat as he took a step closer.

Instantly, Soleil reached into her handbag. Fingertips felt for the knife, which she tightened her grip on immediately.

"You're thinking of him, aren't you?" His features had contorted. The grimace that remained made Soleil breathe faster.

She remembered him, his friendly smile at the back of the club at one table where he had sat with Chrollo. One of those men who had only ever haunted her mind as an "eternal regular". She had never looked at him more closely than that.

"I sanctified you, you must know." He came so close that she pulled the knife, but he remained unfazed. "You were my goddess, Titania. How horrible do you think it is to find out you let some random guy fuck you? A man you just met, while I came to you every night to worship you?" He gasped. "You betrayed me. Me and my love for you. But I am a good man. And it's not your fault that this guy turned your head."

"What are you going to do?" Soleil's legs trembled. It was impossible to take even a step back. There was something about this man that she couldn't place. Still, she clung tighter to the knife. If it came down to it, she would kill him. "You should keep your distance if you don't want a fourth hole."

"Titania, dear, you're not a warrior. You're a goddess." He shook his head again. "And I'm here to protect you."

Before Soleil could respond, he bridged the last few steps and grabbed her by the wrist. His thumb pressed so hard between the bones as he did so that she had to drop the knife. Still, she lunged out with one leg, kicked, but only hit his shin. The pain didn't reach him. Instead, he jerked her arm to the side to catch her throat with his other hand. First, only the fingers of one paw wrapped around her neck, and then the second followed.

Panicked, Soleil clawed at his joints, but he was already squeezing – pressing her down simultaneously so that she couldn't move her legs. He knew exactly what he was doing. He had probably imagined days ago how he would bring her to her knees, and his firm grip burned so much in her throat that a choked gasp escaped her. Her neck seemed to be displaced, the air too thick to breathe, and the tears that welled up in her eyes burned like fire. But her counterpart didn't let go.

The vision only blurred slowly, twisting her stomach and yet bringing only blackness with it, overwhelming her. With that, the pain subsided, uncertainty cradled her in its arms and numbness spread. All at once, everything went quiet. And it was in those seconds that she was glad for something as banal as unconsciousness.