Daenerys

She could feel the glare as she walked into the private council room and did her best to try and remain dignified. But when she realized that it was more than one glare she felt herself nearly stumble. Dany had been expecting the glower from Viktor; she had known that his judgement was coming rather soon. But she hadn't been expecting the likes of Klaue or N'Jakada to be shooting her annoyed looks. The same with Ser Barristan; his gaze was hot on the back of her neck, reminding her of her wanderings through the desert after her husband's death. Susan Storm's face was an utter mask, giving away nothing; though her brother Johnny was smiling at her warming.

Even Bruce was looking peeved at her and Daenerys grit her teeth in frustration.

N'Jakada especially annoyed her as he had no right to be there. He wasn't part of her Small Council so she didn't understand why he was even there… and looking so utterly comfortable as well. It wasn't right that Daenerys should feel awkward and offput while he sat there like it was his home.

"I was unaware that we had offered more seats in the Small Council," she said to N'Jakada and Susan.

"Doom invited us," Johnny chirped.

"I did," Viktor replied.

"And who are you to offer these people a chance to sit on my Small Council?" Daenerys asked. "You don't rule Meereen."

"I may very well rule it soon if the last few displays you have presented out there are an example of your grace under pressure," Viktor stated.

Daenerys just shook her head. "I do not wish to discuss it."

"You can desire the sun not to rise, the oceans not to churn, and this conversation to never occur. They will still happen. Wishes are for children and I was under the impression that you were a woman grown. Was I wrong?"

Her nostrils flared at that and she narrowed her eyes as she took her seat, Domino bringing over a pitcher of cold water. Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan moved to flank her and Daenerys, though she didn't need their protection, appreciated it all the same. It was a show of strength and that was something she felt she needed at the moment in front of the Small Council and their guests.

"I am surprised to see the Storms here," she stated, acting as if the two weren't even in the room. It would remind them that she hadn't asked them to be there. "I would have thought you'd want nothing to do with them."

"Susan is intelligent and level headed. Her only flaw is her choice in companion." Viktor narrowed his eyes. "And you will not distract us from the point at hand."

"Which is?" she said slowly.

"Your abysmal showing today and how it affects all we have done."

"We?" Daenerys asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't remember you here when we took Meereen and captured the Juggernaut."

"But you remember the wealth I gave you for the Unsullied… which you have yet to pay me back."

Dany winced at that, unable to stop herself from reacting to his words. 'I… hadn't forgotten to send back the gold he gave me,' she mentally thought. 'I just didn't have a chance too. The roads are dangerous, the seas even more so, and we were on the move…' The excuses sounded hollow even in her mind and she refused to say them aloud. Nor did she instantly snap to tell Viktor that he would be repaid at once; that would be handled later. To do it now would put her even more in his power. 'Right now he is reminding all of the hold he has on me. But if I move to repay him right this instant then they will believe that he can command me to act as he wishes. I can't afford that, not with them already looking at me warily after this morning.'

"And you all feel that I have been in error?" Dany asked, wanting to get fully on the record how they all felt about her actions.

Klaue was the first to speak, surprisingly. "He is the master of Magnetism. I would have loved to hear what he had to say. He knows metal like mothers know their babies. I am… courting the metals and could have used the help to make the match." Somehow Daenerys wasn't surprised by that. "As for Antony Stark… he is probably one of the Top 3 greatest blacksmiths in all of the lands. It is said that anyone who secures his favor will never lose a war. And he is now aligned with Magneto. Making an enemy of either of them was bad but both?" Klaue shook his head.

"Well," Dany stated, "I suppose it is a fine thing then that I have you on my side." That caused Klaue to smirk and dip his head. "And the rest of you?"

"It was… wrong how you treated Benjen Stark, your grace," Ser Barristan stated. "You came to him angry about something he had nothing to do with."

"He is a Stark," Daenerys stated coolly. "They betrayed my family."

"Yeah, they sure did," Wade commented lazily. "How dare they not support your family after daddy burning their father alive and strangled their brother. They should have thanked Aerys for not taking a piss on the ashes to put them out."

Daenerys pressed her lips together at that. "My father-"

"Was wrong," Bruce stated. "Unless the next words out of your mouth are to condemn him for such barbarism then you are not the queen I thought you were."

That startled her greatly. She hadn't been expecting Bruce to give her such an ultimatum. "You would abandon your queen?"

"I would abandon anyone that thought the Mad King's justice was true justice," Bruce replied and Dany felt her hackles rise at the insulting moniker. All her life she had been taunted with that, even in Essos. Daughter of the Mad King. King Scab. Aerys the Jibberer. Servants had whispered such names in hushed tones when they thought she couldn't hear them. The powerful of Essos had openly used such titles.

Once, when she had been little, she had asked Viserys about it and he had flown into such a rage that Maester Illyrio had been forced to give him dreamwine just to keep him from hurting himself. He had screamed and raved about how it was all lies, that their father was a good king, kind and favor. That the Starks had betrayed them. It was the right of their brother to take any woman he desired, for men had needs that women couldn't understand and the Dragons were more than men. Who was Brandon Stark to dare to march to the Red Keep and slander their brother with lies? Who was Rickard Stark to not rush at once and fall to his knees and beg for the crown's forgiveness? Who was Jon Arryn to not surrender Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon? Their father had known the two were traitors and they had proven it by their actions. He was in the right!

'Ser Barristan and Viktor told me of what really happened. The tales of my family's mistakes. But… were they truly telling me the truth? Ser Barristan bent the knee to Robert Baratheon and only came to me when Joffrey cast him aside. Had the boy never done that would he have ever come to his senses and served me? Or would I find him facing off against me on the opposite side of the battlefield, declaring that he stood with the Usurpers? And Viktor… he was a childhood friend of Jon Arryn. Has he been using me? Manipulating me away from Westeros out of some misguided desire to protect the family of his old friend?'

"Even in Essos we have heard tale of what your father did to Rickard Stark," Susan stated, cutting through her thoughts. "To be roasted alive in one's own armor while your son slowly strangles himself in the vain attempt to free you? It is not a way any would wish to die. And it certainly isn't a way for a king to act."

Daenerys wanted to speak up in defense of her family but as she looked around the room she found herself feeling guilty for such thoughts. Not a single eye looked to her in agreement. No one was staring at her ready to offer support. Horror and disgust colored their features and it struck Daenerys even more greatly that she wanted to find a reason to justify her father's actions.

'I would not support such a thing if it was done by a Wise Master to one of their slaves,' she thought. 'So why am I so quick to defend my father? The tales Ser Barristan and Viktor have told me… how he treated my mother, abused her and made her terrified to live in her own home. The same with my goodsister. So… why do I feel the sudden urge to defend him?'

She knew the reason why, she just hated to admit it.

"Of course not, Bruce," she said with a weary sigh. "I would never say that."

Viktor took a step forward. "Where is Logan?"

"I sent him to cool down," Daenerys stated.

"And what will be his punishment?"

"His punishment?" Dany asked, hating how dumb she sounded.

Viktor nodded. "He disrupted a meeting and attacked a guest. Had Creed been offered bread and salt and given guest rights Magneto would have full rights to demand his head be taken from his shoulders."

"I kinda want to see that," Wade admitted. "I mean, what with the metal skeleton you'd only be able to saw through the goopy bits before you had to stop. Maybe just cut a ring and then… pull? Brain would still be in his skull though so I suppose he'd be able to heal from that. Though I have heard of some Essosi who prepare their dead by taking a red hot poker and shoving it up the nostril to scramble the brain-"

Bruce looked a bit green and it had nothing to do with the Hulk. Dany didn't blame him and with a dark look Wade shut up.

"I will discuss it with Logan," Daenerys said, her tone making it clear that was the end of that conversation.

And yet N'Jakada decided to speak up.

"If you believe this will go away you are quite mistaken. Even now you can be assured that Magneto is in the tent city, telling all of how your sworn sword attacked one of his men. How will anyone believe that you can rule when you can not control a single man?"

"I-"

But N'Jakada continued on, not letting her finish; the arrogance of it had her jaw clenching in frustration and rage at the disrespect. "The people of Essos… they are either slavers, slaves, or come from the blood of the first two even though now they are free of such practices. It is in their blood to know that only one who can fully control those under them are fit to lead. Magneto wishes to paint you as a weak creature who isn't able to lead and relies upon others to hold onto power. Your Logan has given him an opportunity.

"Word will spread quickly and it will spread throughout not just the tent city but the lands beyond. Magneto came to talk to you and you were unable to control one of your warriors. All that come to meet with you now will bring an armed guard and they will need every assurance that you will be able see them safely when discussing their business with you."

Daenerys tried hard not to scowl. "You think I do not understand how important it is to maintain a proper image? I am a woman trying to rule. I am a foreigner in these lands. Every day I am judge and must maintain my hold on power and work ten times harder than a man to prove myself."

But N'Jakada merely narrowed his eyes. "Don't try and claim the mantle of Most Oppressed from me. Even with your powers taken into account I have walked through more flames as my people's homes were burned to ashes. Breaker of Chains… where were you the last 2000 years as my people wept and begged the gods to explain why they had to know the feeling of iron on their wrists every damn day. Your burden is you are pretty… we're not the same."

Dany stared at him for several long moments then broke her gaze away; she knew from the few Wise Masters that she had managed to capture, as well as the slaves she had spoken to, that in Essos different kinds of people were more or less desirable for different roles. That Slavers prized those that showed the traits of Old Valyeria in the pleasure houses. But the same people were seen as lesser stock for those seeking field hands to toil picking fruits and grains. The pale skinned people of Yi Ti also did well in the pleasure houses but also made for good house servants, seen as a status symbol; Master Illyrio had had three such slaves in his household. Exotic lithe things that moved silently and with grace.

But most desirable for all slavers, no matter their focus, was those of the darkest skins. Domino had told her that it was said those of the Summer Islands and other lands to the south were "gifts from the gods to the slavers" for they could do anything. They made for powerful warriors, able to dominate most foes. They were also exotic looking and thus made for much requested pleasure slaves. They could be quiet and work well within a home or labor far longer under the hot sun seeing to the fields. They could pick up nearly every task very quickly and perform them with such skill that they amazed their masters. Man or woman.

Dany, after having been told that, had wondered why such people were not seen like the Targeryens, who were viewed as being superior to all other people.

Domino had merely smirked.

"You answered your own question, Khaalesi."

N'Jakada seemed to sense the place her thoughts had gone because he then said, "The people out there? They don't know you. Aren't sure what to think about you. For all their lives they were told what the pure breed stock of Valyria was like. The aloof bastards who held themselves as superior so it was their right to dominate. The slavers who would march into cities and claim everyone that lived within purely because they felt they deserved to own yet another man. The blood thirsty tyrants who didn't listen to any council but their own, willing to burn the lands and salt the earth so nothing would grow again if someone dared to insult them.

"But you seem determined to do the opposite of what they expect of you. You mingle with your bloodriders and your servants, treating them as friends. You break the chains of the slaves rather than slap new iron on them. You are open with those you trust and we have heard from them of your grace and joy and laughter. You have only taken three cities and now halted to actually deal with the aftermath of your war. People… people don't like this."

"They don't like that I am not a tyrant?" Dany asked, arching a single eyebrow.

"They don't like that you aren't what they expected. People don't admit it but they like things to make sense. They like it when they understand exactly what is going on and why things are happening. They don't like change and they don't like their expectations to be shaken. When they are they seek out a reason; they want to understand why this is happening and try and find some solution. And if they can't find that then they try and force the odd thing to fit their views. You are a square peg trying to go into a round hole and they'd rather whittle round than change the hole. Because they don't want to change themselves."

"Even if it means better things for them."

"They don't care. Because that means changing themselves." N'Jakada shook his head. "Today though? You just gave them something that fits their world view. Your sworn sword attacked a man and you did nothing to stop him. Seemed to encourage it too. 'Ah, now here is the Valyrian we were expecting!' If you don't think the slaves are now wondering if you breaking their chains was a trick-"

Daenerys was horrified and startled by such a claim, unable to believe it. "They would doubt me, after everything I've done for them, over this one incident?" She shook her head quickly. "No… I think you do not give them enough credit."

"I think you are blind to how things are. How people are. You spend some time with a few of them and think that makes you one of them. One of us. You aren't. You free the slaves but why did you? Because it was right? Or because you like having them worship you like a goddess, cheering your name and bestowing yet another title on you. The lily white savior who freed the dark skinned brothers and sisters from their chains and only asks that they be completely and utterly loyal to their new Dragon Queen. That's what they are wondering right now… and they're wise to think it."

'He's wrong,' Dany thought to herself. 'He is completely and utterly wrong. I did it because I saw what had happened to them… what was happening to them… and knew that it couldn't continue on. That it was wrong that they didn't know freedom and they deserved it.' But even as she thought that she wondered, deep in the back of her mind, how she would have reacted if every slave she freed thanked her… and left. Would she have demanded payment from them for what she did? That the scales be balanced?

Was that what she was doing now?

It was, of all people, Johnny who spoke up. "Magneto is known to us all. Many in Essos know of him and his Brotherhood. That earns trust, even from his enemies. "Hey, that guy might be a festering pig's anus that was left out in the sun for too long but I KNOW he's a festering pig's anus. So I know where he is coming from and what he says is true or a lie. I don't know anything about this Daenerys. She might be a beautiful water flower… or she might be a rotted sheep's taint." That means something, to be known."

Susan stared at her brother. "Sheep's taint?"

"I was trying to be colorful with my metaphors. Like you and Reed."

"Don't try. Ever again."

Viktor nodded. "I agree with Susan, Storm."

Johnny held up his hands. "But I am right. People know Magneto and what his deal is. They don't with you. So they are looking for anything that they can grab onto, to help them get a lock on what you're like. And yeah, you've done amazing things but N'Jakada here is right: people don't like it when someone doesn't fit the mold so they will try and force you to break the mold. That whole fight with Magneto and you snapping at the Westerosi? That's gonna fit. That's gonna be talked about."

"And then there is Westeros," Bruce stated. "Its one thing to be here in Essos and say that the Starks are traitors who deserve to be punished for what they did to your family. It's another to go to Westeros and say it. When they hear how you treated Benjen Stark it is only going to support what they fear about you. Especially you mocking their beliefs. Even if they openly say it themselves… that the Night's Watch is a penal colony and the Others aren't real… you haven't earned the right to mock such things. And that will make it all the harder to win any allies in the Seven Kingdoms."

"The people will support me," Daenerys stated.

"Like they are now?" Wade asked. He stood up and began to mimic pushing through a crowd. "There are… so many of them here! I can barely move trying to get through all the Westerosi rushing here to pledge themselves to you and your cause!" He began to throw mock elbows and kicks. "Make way! Make way! Whoever just tried to finger my butthole… do it again, I liked it!"

Daenerys narrowed her eyes at him. "They will come to me when I arrive on the shores of Westeros. They will see my dragons-"

"And that is how you want it to be, then?" Ser Barristan pressed and Dany felt like she was going to have a sore neck by the end of the conversation, having to constantly twist to look at someone else who was doubting her. "You want them to fear you?"

"No… I…" Daenerys shook her head. "They will see my power and they will flock to me. They will realize that I am the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms."

"They will see you as someone only interested in revenge," Susan pointed out in a soft, kind voice. "They will hear what you think of the Starks and all those that stood against your father for his horrible acts and they will believe that you only desire to bring fire and blood to Westeros. And it won't matter what you have to say. What you're true goals are. They will only hear their own fears and they will stand against you."

"Are they right?" N'Jakada asked.

"What?" Daenerys said, now turning back to him.

"Are they right? Because I'm beginning to think they are. You haven't said a word about what you are going to do once you have claimed your Iron Throne. Why your rule will be better than whatever little whimpering bitch is currently sitting on the throne. All we've heard about is how your family was done wrong and how you are going to make it right and those that hurt your family need to pay."

"I… of course I will help Westeros!" Dany complained.

'Will you?' a little voice whispered. 'You know so little. Of its people. Of its lands. And you want to rule it?'

She smashed that voice down.

"We've gotten off topic," Ser Jorah stated and Dany mentally thanked her Great Bear for being the voice of reason. Their conversation wasn't about Westeros or the slaves or anything like that. It was about what had happened today. Not what would come later. "We need to discuss Magneto and his actions."

"We need to discuss Logan and his," Bruce countered. "I like the man… he doesn't get worried about me getting a bit… heated… but he was wrong to attack that guy and its gonna cause problems."

"You have to come out strong, your grace, if you wish my opinion," Susan stated. "You must be proactive. Command that Logan do something to earn back your good graces. Send out others to tell of your decision."

"And I won't look weak because I am bowing to the mob?" she demanded.

Viktor spoke up. "It is because of that mob you have your throne, or have you so quickly forgotten that?" She hated how he made her feel like a child… and hated that she sensed he was right. "I wish to speak with Daenerys alone."

She opened her mouth to protest before deciding that Viktor had the right of it. "Yes… leave us." The Small Council and those that Viktor had invited all rose and quickly made for the doors, within a handful of minutes allowing the two to be utterly alone. "So… now there is no audience to my embarrassment," she said bitterly.

"Embarrassment is a good thing, in the end," Viktor stated. "It teaches us much about ourselves. It is the ultimate instructor." Viktor moved to stand before her. "Logan made a mistake but so did Magneto. We can use that. He could not control his own man and he was far too bold in his demands to you. Too disrespectful. With the right whispered words we can make him appear as he truly is: a grasping old man who knows you are his better and thus is offering anything he can to try and win a game he will lose. He will be right now preaching to all that listen that you are too young and too emotional to be a ruler but we can quite easily counter this. He is too old, having wasted his life in Braavos spending time with his little band of misfits, and now that he sees a better ruler with a stronger claim he is doing all he can to try and claim what is yours."

"And there is the fact that he's going to the Essosi to demand this when our feud is over the Iron Throne."

That made Viktor nod, it clear from his posture he was rather pleased with her insight. "Exactly. Exactly. He has lost sight on who he must win over to his cause. Because, and let us be clear here, the likes of Pentos and Braavos and the like will claim that they care about Westeros but they truly don't. They see the people of the Seven Kingdoms as at once cultureless swine that bumble their way through life and also as aloof nobles out of touch with reality. There are some, like Illyrio, who will pledge aid because they foolishly believe it will be good for business but the people here have only come for two reasons: to try and claim the Juggernaut and what your next step will be. Shall you sail to Westeros or will you remain here and rule… and if the latter will you seek their cities next. That has them very nervous."

Dany slowly nodded at that. "I'll admit… I have begun making the same mistake as Magneto. I forget that Essos is not Westeros." She shook her head in annoyance. "It is all these meetings. They have made me unfocused on what truly matters."

"They matter, though," Viktor countered. "Because you are not in Westeros yet. And currently we are surrounded on all sides. You hold great power but also are in a fragile state." He paused. "Have you decided on what will happen to Meereen, once you finally set sail?"

That made Daenerys sigh. "I have hoped that someone amongst the former slaves would rise up to be a leader. That there was someone with the will and the drive to speak in a clear voice for them. Then I would be able to begin molding them into a proper leader, to hold Meereen and keep it safe. None of the Dothraki will do… it isn't in their nature to remain in a single place and already I can sense my bloodriders have grown anxious for battle. And while I have done what I can with them… the Dothroki are still a slave-taking people. No… it must be a former slave but none have risen up." She let out a bitter sigh at that and, more to herself than Viktor, wondered aloud, "Is it true? Have I merely changed their chains for ones not easily seen? Does their love for me…" She trailed off, not even wanting to speak aloud the words. "I don't know."

"It is something you will need to decide," Viktor told her firmly. "You in fact have a great many things you will need to decide, sooner rather than later. The Juggernaut's fate, who will hold this city… and what will happen to all those that cheer your name." He shot her a cold stare. "War is no place for the innocent. The women, the children… they must remain here, in Meereen. And there will be brothers and sons and husbands who do not wish to leave their families just to fight for you. They might not speak that aloud…and that is a danger for you. Something you must be aware of. Because when you declare that you set sail many will move to stand with you because they believe they have no choice. And they will hate you for that."

It all made Dany feel very tired. The thousand little things that she had to worry about. That she had to dance about to ensure that all were pleased and happy. Something must have shown on her face because Viktor glowered at her so darkly that it had her wanting to curl up in a little ball. His stare was more powerful, and more painful, that the strikes of his fist might have been.

"This is the cost of rule," Viktor said. He didn't raise his voice but it still felt like Daenerys had been struck by one of Drogan's roars. "You have been made to believe by your foolish brother and the likes of lazy men like Illyrio that power is being able to sit on a grand chair, give a few commands, and then bask in the praise of your subjects. That is not power. Not true power. Your brother didn't understand it and had he lived, given the Iron Throne and domain over all he desired, would have seen all rebel against him. Illyrio's power is of his wealth… he does not command a kingdoms.

"You wish to rule Westeros? Every day, from the moment you set foot in Westeros… no. Not even then. Before that. Right now, as you plan your invasion-"

"It isn't an invasion," Dany said, cutting him off. "I am not some foreign invader, come to some strange new land. I am returning home-"

"You never stepped foot in Westeros," Viktor said, taking a step forward, his every movement speaking of anger. "You were born on the island of Dragonstone and whisked away to Essos. You have been taught by Essosi, your favorite foods are Essosi dishes, your choice of garb is Essosi design, and you lead an Essosi army. I remember Westeros. I grew up there. Have seen its lands. You are an Essosi girl whose only ties to Westeros are her mad father-"

"Do NOT speak of my father that way again!" Dany thundered, her fires beginning to churn around her. "I am tired of people making a mockery of my family! My blood!"

"Then you will die in Westeros because they will say far worse than me," Viktor said, still refusing to bellow. She hated that so very much. "They will say and do far worse and if you can not handle my comments then you might as well put aside any hope of taking the Seven Kingdoms." He took another step forward, showing no fear for her fires despite his burns. "You are an invader, Daenerys. You must embrace that because you can't show weakness here. To delude yourself into thinking that you will arrive in King's Landing to find the people throwing rose petals in the air and waving Dragon Banners is to show you are nothing more than a delusional child playing games.

"They will hate you. Fear you. They remember the actions of not just your father but all the Targaryens before you. The people of Meereen… you have seen how they are. They will never accept chains again after being freed; you truly believe that the Westerosi, having been freed from your family, will line up to be ruled by you again? Now all have hope of taking the Iron Throne… and that will drive them to repel you."

"It is my right!" Daenerys shouted, so very weary of all of this. "My birthright!"

"You don't even know what the chair looks like," Viktor countered and Daenerys winced at that.

Back in Qarth, before she had set sail to claim the Unsullied, Daenerys and Viktor had discussed her next steps. She had spoken in great lengths of her arrival in Westeros and the Red Keep. During it all she had mentioned her dreams of her arrival. How she would walk to the home of her ancestors and throw open the red door of the Red Keep and make her way to the Iron Throne. Viktor had been rather clear that there was no 'red door', embarrassing her greatly for assuming as much.

And he had done so yet again that hour.

"You have never felt a Westeros winter touch your skin," Viktor continued on. "These leathers you wear… they will not protect you. Your blood will freeze long before you have reached the North and taken Winterfell. You will become lost in the Neck and that is assuming you managed to ford the many rivers of the Riverlands. The Mountains of the Vale and the Westerlands will stand stronger than any walls you might find and the Red Waste will be like a well floraled park when you encounter the Dornish Sands." He took another step forward and now they were so close together that they could touch one another.

She had never felt so apart from him, even when he had remained in Latvaria.

"The first true representative of Westeros comes to meet with you… and you mock him. Insult him and belittle him. Many will scoff at those that take the vows of the Night's Watch but none will deny that Benjen Stark is an honorable man. He forsake a life of leisure to protect his homeland from the threats Beyond the Wall. And you called him a criminal and reminded him of all the sins of your family. You must pray that you can reach him before he leaves Meereen. You must hear what he has to say."

"He spoke of the Others," Daenerys argued. "A child's fancy."

"You wield and consume flames," Viktor countered and Dany winced at that. Yes… put like that she herself was something of a nursemaid's tale. "You have allowed yourself to be seduced by this grandeur. You have allowed your temper to get the better of you. Magneto will learn of Benjen Stark being here and he WILL seek him out… and if he is able to prove himself a more appealing choice…"

"…they betrayed my family," Daenerys said, hating out she sounded. Her words were supposed to be strong but came out as petulant.

"Then let us hope the dead can fight wars for you." He stared at her for another long moment. "You disappoint me, Daenerys Targaryen."

And with that he left.

She stood there for several long moments, wanting to call for someone… anyone… to be with her. But her Small Council was in agreement that she was wrong. Viktor would only seek her out when he was ready. And the former slaves… they wouldn't provide her what she needed.

'You are strong,' she mentally whispered to herself. 'You are a khaalesi. You are a queen. You will not cry like a child.'

She was correct.

She didn't cry.

Her tears turned to steam before they could leave her eyes.