"You're going," Reiko said, shoving me up the trail.

"No, no, no!" I exclaimed. "I hate heights!"

Reiko shouldered her backpack and went ahead of me.

I stopped, and ran to catch up with her. "Reiko! We have to talk!"

I grabbed her arm.

"Look, I don't want to talk about last night, okay?" Reiko said.

"Kristine," Kurama grabbed my arm. "I need to talk to you."

He took me to one side.

"I'm Kurama," he said to me. "I'm just going to get right down to it. You hear a voice inside your head sometimes, don't you?"

"W-What?" I asked. "How did you know that?"

"I…have a similar problem," replied Kurama. "I wanted to warn you. She can take over your body. She has only been doing it at night because it makes her stronger. You can't stop her if you're asleep, so I brought you a gift."

Kurama handed me a pendant with a red stone. The ringing in my ears began.

Don't take that! Don't trust him! You don't even know him!

"If you wear this, she can't take over at night," Kurama said. "You can control her, Kristine."

I fastened the pendant around my neck. The ringing stopped. "Sh-She's not hurting me anymore!"

"She can still take over sometimes, but you have to find out what allows her to take over and avoid it at all costs."

I nodded. "Thank you, Kurama. But…why are you helping me?"

He smiled. I got the feeling he didn't smile often. "I'm helping you because I love your sister."

"N-No way!"

"Yes," Kurama said. "Reiko is my mate."

Xxx

Rin was depressed. He had hurt Kristine. What kind of person was he?

He hiked up the trail with Reiko.

"I can't believe they ditched me!" Reiko said. "They're supposed to jump off the mountain with me."

Rin jumped. "J-Jump off the mountain! You can't be serious!"

"Relax, we'll be attached to bungee chords," replied Reiko.

Rin looked down and sighed. What if the chords break?

If something goes wrong, I could use my flame! But I don't need to depend on that for everything!

"There you are!" Reiko exclaimed at Kristine. They had reached the top of the mountain, and Kristine was talking to Kurama. She looked upset about something.

I'd better stay away from her. I might make her hurt like yesterday.

Xxx

"Reiko!" I exclaimed. "I'm so sorry. Kurama had to tell me something."

"What? Like what?" she drew out the "what" in an insinuating way.

"No! We're so not like that!" I said.

I looked up and saw Rin standing at the edge of the mountain. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back from the edge.

"You can't fly, you know," I said, smiling.

"H-Huh? Why would you say that?" Rin asked, sounding rather flustered.

"I…was only kidding, Rin," I said. "Is something wrong?"

"It…It's nothing," he replied, turning from me.

"Rin," I said softly. "Please tell me what's wrong."

Rin turned back and faced me.

"When you were hurting yesterday…it only happened when I was nearby…it was all my fault…a-and I'm so sorry!" Rin looked as if he were about to cry.

Oh…oh…pitiful, pitiful. I told you that you were better off alone. See how much it hurts when you make someone hurt for you?

This is all your doing. Who are you?

I am Nadia, Angel of Freedom. I'm here to ensure that you remain free and independent of these demons. I'm here to help you.

I don't want your help. Leave me alone!

I struggled as she tried to gain control. I knew she was going to take over, and I knew she would hurt Rin. I turned, slipped, and fell off the cliff.

"Nice try, Kristine," Nadia said, having taken over, just as Kristine fell.

"W-Who are you?" Rin asked.

"It's you, Son of Satan," Nadia spat the name. "The demon prince. Leave Kristine alone. She'll soon be gone anyway."

"What are you talking about?" Rin looked at the blue winged angel hovering in front of him.

She grabbed him by the throat, just as Satan had done once, and held him over the cliff's edge. "I could kill you, you know. The girl has no con—"

She broke off.

LET HIM GO! NOW! LET RIN GO!

Fine. Have it your way.

Nadia released Rin, and he began to fall.

Xxx

I took control and grabbed Rin's wrist. "Rin…I-I'm so sorry."

Tears were falling down my cheeks. "Help! There's been an accident! Help!"

Several other campers came over and helped me pull Rin up to the ground.

"How did this happen?" a counselor asked angrily.

"It's okay! I just fell!" Rin said.

I looked over at him, grateful.