Haste to disgrace a traitor, do not wait until later. I don't think that you've got to pretend, I see God in birds and Satan in long words.

Brand New - Sink

I never imagined I could be so sore or so tired. Usually soreness comes on slow, creeping into the muscles and bones, but this came suddenly, like a freight train. Even my fingernails hurt. How could fingernails hurt?

I had trained for a few hours before Kael cut me loose to give me a break. James had only stuck around for the first couple of minutes, provoking me into attempting to hit him with the pole then dancing away from each swing with his infuriating swiftness. I wished I had brought my knife, so he could see I wasn't completely useless, though the blurred speed I saw in him could probably dodge that too. Sometimes it looked like I was about to make contact, but at the last second he would inch out of reach with a face that was all fox. I knew he was only letting me get close to irritate me further. When we finished, he wasn't even breathing hard, and though I tried to hide it, my arms were already burning.

I had until noon to recuperate, then we were doing something outside. My arms were protesting the mere thought. I laid in my bathtub, steaming water up to my ears trying to remember why I had agreed to this. Is this what the rest of my life would be? Maybe this was a test. Maybe they were trying to see how far they could push me before I would break.

A challenge. I loved a good challenge, and I hated losing. I wouldn't let on how horrible this all felt, I'd make them believe this was easy for me. Plus, the pain wasn't unbearable, just annoying and sometimes took my breath away if I moved a certain way, slicing at my lungs, but nothing I couldn't handle. I'd prove to them they weren't so far beyond me. I could keep up, I just had to push a bit harder.

Once I decided on my course of action, I felt slightly better. I pulled myself out of the tub and dried off as best I could without raising my arms above my shoulders, something that sent a stabbing pain down my side. I checked the clock; just past eleven. I had been soaking since ten-thirty. I flopped onto the bed, massaging my arms and relaxing my head against the soft pillows.

A small part of me became conscious, dragging the rest of my mind to the surface of sleep...

My eyes flew open and I frantically clawed at the clock to see the time, fearing I had slept through my second training; eleven fifty-seven.

Oh hell.

I leapt from bed and fell to my knees, the soreness had turned to stiffness during my little cat nap and it felt like my bones were locked in place by concrete muscles. I stiffly straightened and moved as quickly as possible to get my gear on.

Two and a half minutes later I was awkwardly half-jogging down the stairs. James leaned casually on the front door, pretending to check his nonexistent watch.

"Cutting it close, aren't we?" He asked politely.

"You never said I had to be early, I didn't want to seem too eager." I raised my eyebrows as if such a thought was scandalous.

"What you mean is that you don't want us to know what a masochist you are, but don't worry, little lamb, I'll give as much as you can handle."

He leaned forward slightly, looking up through his thick lashes at me, which seemed much too dark for his hair's golden color. The corner of his mouth pulled up into his close-lipped smirk and I absently wondered how many times he had gotten anything he wanted just by using that look, that tone, his smooth words and intoxicating presence.

"If I'm a masochist, what does that make you?" I said sweetly.

His answering smile could have lit ice on fire.

"We're going for a little run, do try to keep up."

And with that, he flung the door open and ran into the blinding sunlight.

If I had thought Kael was fast that fateful night in the woods, then James was like lightening. One moment he would be running next to me, then the next he would be five strides ahead, then ten, twenty. Then he'd stop to lounge against a tree trunk with that cocky look as his dark eyes followed me, waiting for me to catch up. No sooner had I reached him then he'd start the slinky effect all over again; with me, ahead of me, waiting for me. He was silent too, like an ember carried by the wind.

I still remembered the ruckus Kael's heavy boots had made when he'd run through the woods. I had heard him from - almost literally - a mile away, but it was like James wasn't even there, or as if his feet didn't actually touch the ground. It was creepy. No one could be silent over a forest floor coated with crisp leaves. No one except James apparently. It was like running with a shadow.

Sometimes I'd lose track of where he was, but I didn't want to show it, that he had lost me once again, so I just kept running along the loosely marked path. The earth was slightly more even and packed where I assumed the trail was supposed to be, so it wasn't hard to follow if I paid attention.

Every once in a while, a defiant tree would rise up from the center of the path and split it, this was often when I'd lose James. He'd be next to me one second and then we'd take differing paths around some obstacle and he'd be gone, as if I had been running alone the entire time. He always appeared again, a minute or two later, either thirty feet ahead, smirking like the Cheshire cat, or rematerializing by my side. I never let him know how much it frustrated me since from the glimpses of his personality I knew, it would only make him do it more.

We had been running for what seemed like forever, most of which at as fast a sprint as I could manage. I was actually quite proud of myself, even though the only thing keeping me going was James' electricity running to the ends of each of my nerves, tingling over my skin. It made me feel invincible. The fire gave me more energy than adrenaline ever could and it fueled me to push further than I would otherwise be capable of. I was sure the electricity's power was the only thing keeping me from collapsing with exhaustion.

I didn't know why he hadn't blocked me and shut it off yet. I still couldn't tell if he was allowing it on purpose to give me a little assistance, that is, assuming he even knew the power he was giving me, or if he had forgotten, or simply didn't care. Maybe he didn't feel it and therefore didn't notice it, he had said he only felt it when he was open to it and maybe he wasn't right then. I didn't even really know what that meant.

I wondered what 'powers' he had. Mine didn't seem to be working since I hadn't felt his thoughts all morning, and besides the cockiness practically dripping off his every movement, the superiority that made my teeth grind, I couldn't decipher what he was feeling either. I was excited about the prospect of training my 'Gift', perfecting it, even just controlling it. I hoped we'd start soon. I wondered how specific I could hone it to be. Would I be able to look at anyone in a crowd and know their thoughts? What about past thoughts, memories? Or a whole crowd at once, that didn't sound very enjoyable, but maybe it could be helpful in some situations.

During my tangle of thoughts I'd lost track of James's location again and I didn't even know how long he'd been out of sight this time. Maybe I did live in my head too much. I gave a quick glance around and slowed to a jog before stopping beneath a massive tree.

Suddenly, I felt a small tremor rumble beneath my feet, immediately it reminded me of the otherworldly terror I had felt when the Gorshe had been after me. I looked around for James again, but he was gone, the fire was gone too. Maybe that meant he wasn't close, or maybe that meant the monster had surprised him, and was now coming for me.

You must have some pretty powerful enemies.

The memory of James' words drifted unwanted into my head and I wondered if he had been right, maybe I had enemies I didn't even know about, powerful ones with monsters at their command. Maybe the presence I kept feeling following me, even in my daydreams, maybe that wasn't just my paranoia, maybe it was actually someone plotting my demise. Maybe it was my parents.

The noise came faster, closer, the vibrations shaking the ground beneath me. I scanned my surroundings but didn't see anything useful. The scenery was the same as when Kael had looked for an escape plan and if he hadn't found anything then, I doubted I would now. I grabbed the knife from my boot that I had tucked in after the morning's embarrassing training and flipped it open. It's jagged edge glinted wickedly.

It made me feel calmer, I could do this, I was good with my knife, it was second nature to me. I planted my feet lightly and fell into a natural fighting stance; knees slightly bent, feet itching to dodge, eyes scanning the forest, waiting for movement. I faced the noise that was now crashing through the brush and trees, my left shoulder leading, prepared for a fight.

I tried not to think about the fact that 'Gorshe' was most likely a classification of Demon and I had no idea how to fight, let alone kill, a Demon. Where the hell was James?

For the first time in my life I didn't want to die. I cared. I finally had something to live for. I felt fear and not the instinctual kind everyone feels when they are being chased that I had felt with Kael, but a fear for my life. I wanted to live, and I was afraid I wouldn't.

The noise was nearly upon me now. I readjusted the knife in my hand and took a deep, slow, stabilizing breath. My plan was to throw my knife at the creature as soon as it emerged, hopefully surprising it. I knew my aim was sound, it always had been, and I knew I could flip the knife correctly, even from this distance, to ensure it hit solidly. I just hoped I could throw it hard enough to do some lethal damage, the knife wasn't long enough to kill something much larger than a man unless I could get it hilt deep.

A quick jolt of panic flew through my stomach, what if Gorshes were armored? I shooed the thought away, that wouldn't help me now, this was my only shot.

A small, sick part of me, deep down beneath my fear, was excited, craving the violence that was about to begin, almost giddy. It was a strange mix, fear and excitement, like the feeling in your stomach when you're on a roller coaster, about to fall over the edge.

The bushes in front of me trembled, my eyes glued to their center. They parted as something charged out at me. I flung the knife as hard as I could. It flew with deadly force and accuracy towards its target, and then it seemed to be suspended in the air, frozen.

It felt like a full second went by before I realized what had happened, though I'm sure it was instantaneous. There was James with my dagger lightly trapped between his palms, the point mere inches away from his throat. He wore his signature amused look, as if his clawless kitten had tried to viciously attack him.

"Interesting tactic, throwing away your only weapon. First lesson: don't do that."

He shook the knife at me loosely as if reprimanding a child. I stared at him in disbelief, unable to find the words to express my confusion and quick-mounting anger.

"Where'd it go? What was that and where the hell were you?" I finally found my voice and demanded, eyes narrowing.

He should be glad I'd thrown away my weapon, otherwise I might have tried to use it on him right then.

As if he could read my thoughts and relished the challenge, he tossed the knife back to me, point skyward, perfectly vertical as it sailed through the air gracefully, as harmless as a butter knife. I caught it by the handle and stared at him accusingly.

"That was me. My Gift i-"

"What, a shape-shifter? You can turn into a Demon-Gorshe-thing? What the hell were you thinking?" I knew I was beginning to sound hysterical, but he had been trying to goad me into anger all day...well, now he had it. I was annoyed and sore and my adrenaline had no outlet.

He paused for a long moment after I had finished, placidly staring back at me.

"Is your little tantrum over or shall I wait a bit longer?" He finally spoke in a condescending, dry voice. I glared back.

"For a woman supposedly seeking answers, you really don't let me say much."

I continued my silence, still glaring, eyes slit.

"Good." He said curtly. "Nev can manipulate thoughts and memories after the fact. She has the Gift of something akin to paramnesia or compulsion, making others believe what she says happened with some influence on future beliefs. Kael is bound to nature, he can control physical elements. Humans would call him a warlock." He said the last words like they were a private joke. "He's also one of the best healers I've ever met, an Earth Sign, and a strong one. I have very different Gifts. I can change what people currently experience. I can make people see things that aren't there. I can make people with weak minds see whatever I want them to see, or think they see. Just another way we can sometimes bend others."

He paused and raised his arms in a show of our surroundings.

"There is no Demon, never was – well, there was when Kael was taking you home, but that's neither here nor there. There never was one today, I just made you think there was." He winked and gave a small, mischievous smile before continuing. "Now, think back, did you hear birds? Wind? Anything? Demons steal life, they scare it, so if this had been a real attack, the woods would have been silent, like they were the last time, right? It's the details that will save you. My Gift is strong, but I couldn't possibly change everything perfectly, manipulate everything simultaneously to mimic the real world seamlessly. There is always a tell, always a fault. No lie is perfect."

As much as I hated it, he was right. The forest noises hadn't stopped this time and I mentally kicked myself for not noticing the discrepancy, fear had made my mind foggy and now it seemed obvious. I found it ironic I had been trying to figure out his powers all day just to have him use them against me. He was grating.

"My Gift is a good training technique but I've never used it on the others...ethical reasons, you see. But since you're so behind the curve in training for someone of your advanced age, well, we have to use everything in our arsenal if you're going to survive, let alone be useful, now don't we?"

Though his voice sounded amiable enough, his eyes made his explanation sound very much like a threat, as if he was subtlety letting me know that if I crossed him, he would make me go crazy with his ruses until I couldn't decipher reality from his manipulations.

"It'll speed up your training process, so you can stop with the hateful eyes. I'm only looking out for your best interest, lamb. Anyway, you should be excited to be my guinea pig, this will teach you to not always believe what you see, a helpful lesson in our lives. The world's a lot more cunning than you ever imagined."

Again, his words somehow sounded like a threat and the self-satisfied look on his face said he thought he had won. I hated losing and I wasn't about to roll over, not without a fight.

"You said you had a stronger block than Nev, which is why you can keep me out of your head, you said you've just worked harder at it. If it isn't your bloodline and it really is just practice, then that should work for me too. And since you are so concerned with my training, you might as well teach me blocking too. I want to be able to do what you do, to block your Gift like you can mine."

James' face flattened, his eyes may have held a touch of irritation, but nothing else betrayed him. I continued.

"Teach me how to block you and others with your Gift and I'll keep your secrets safe."

"Secrets? I had no idea they were multiplying, thanks for the warning." He replied coldly. The look of annoyance in his eyes turned to anger, simmering just beneath their dark surface. Apparently he didn't like being blackmailed. It was too late for me to back out though and I didn't really want to, for some reason he didn't scare me, or he did, but not seriously. I hadn't quite figured out my feelings yet.

"You don't want me to tell Nev and Kael about the feeling I get when my Gift touches you, the sting," I made sure to place special venom on the word, "and I'm guessing you don't want me broadcasting your superior blocking abilities or trying to breed distrust about your bloodline - seems a touchy subject. For a guy who just yesterday was telling me to trust you more and let you all in, you sure seem to keep a lot from your own family. So again, you teach me how to keep you out of my head and I'll keep your secrets; all of them."

I raised my eyebrows in challenge and he let out a low chuckle that made something inside me tighten. His laugh didn't seem good-natured, and his eyes held no inkling of amusement anymore.

"I'll teach you, lamb, but it's up to you if you're willing to learn or not. Blocking can be difficult on the mind and we won't slow down your other trainings just because you have a side project. Can you handle that?"

"I do love a good challenge." I flashed him a thousand-watt smile.

One side of his mouth curved up slightly, letting a mean smirk play with its corner.

"Good to know; now find your way back."

And then he was gone, literally vanished, except this time I knew he was using his power to shield himself from me. He was there, I just couldn't see him. I glared at the spot he had been standing for a moment before turning and jogging back the direction I had come from.

I had never been very good with directions, and the woods looked the exact same every ten minutes. The thought crossed my mind that James might be messing with me, making me see patterns in the trees and run in circles. The trail helped, but it split and forked so many times it took me twice as long to get back to the manor as it had to get out into the middle of nowhere.

I walked up the front lawn with my blood boiling. What an ass, leaving me in the middle of the goddamn woods and expecting me to get back. Asshole. I almost wished I had another training session so I could hit something, but my muscles were already threatening mutiny.

I stood at the front door and for a split second wondered if I should knock. After a moment's deliberation I walked in. This was supposed to be my new home. Besides, I was a practicing believer in the notion that it's better to ask forgiveness than permission.

As the door opened I was met with a roar of laughter. I walked down the hall and saw that the Clan was seated in the media room watching TV. Kael was practically crying from laughter. James was giving him a sideways glance that looked similar to brotherly affection. Nev was doing her nails, ignoring the rest of the room.

The entire scene struck me as incredibly normal. That exact scenario could happen in any home. It looked like a group of average friends just hanging out. You'd never guess they were the Demon-killing children of heavenly hosts thrown from glory for their sins. I watched for a second before another outburst of Kael's loud laughter shook me from my daze.

I looked to the screen and saw a comical relay race show, and Kael seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the contestants' antics. He realized I was standing half in the hallway and gave me an adorable, friendly smile as he wiped away tears of laughter in a dramatic gesture.

"Come on, newbie, phase three of training is relaxation. You did well today, time to take a load off." He patted the open spot between him and James on the couch. He reminded me of an eager puppy, despite his wealth of ink and metal, nothing was ever hidden in his face or actions. He was simply simple, uncomplicated and honest.

Nev glanced up as if she hadn't noticed I was there, gave a pitiful excuse for a smile and then returned to studying her hand as she filed nonchalantly. I thought I heard her murmur something about taking my sweet-ass time getting back, but it may have just been my imagination. I tried to not focus on her too much. The last thing I wanted were her nasty thoughts wafting through my head.

I awkwardly sat on the couch between the men, feeling heat roll off James like he was a damn bonfire. He shifted to give me more room, even though there was plenty. I realized I couldn't feel his presence, so he must still be mad about the woods. A ripple of annoyance ran through me. I was the one he had left in the woods, I should be the sulky one, yet somehow he thought he had that right.

I stayed seated for maybe three minutes, with Kael howling on one side of me and the occasional single note of what I assumed was laughter escaping James on my other side, though usually in response to Kael's noises more than the show's humor.

At the next commercial I stiffly stood and announced I was going upstairs to shower, but really I just wanted to lie in my bed and die. I was so sore I felt like my arms and legs would fall off and roll away just to put distance between us so I couldn't hurt them again.

Nev said something in response to my statement but I, again, didn't quite catch it. Luckily, Kael shot her a dirty look for whatever it had been on my behalf. I barely made it up the stairs and to my bed before I collapsed. I was asleep within seconds.

» ✦ «

I woke up in a field. I was back in my daydream, back in my sanctuary. But unlike the last time I felt the presence immediately. Something was watching me from beyond the trees. I cautiously started walking towards the edge of the field, towards the thing that had been spying on me in my mind's escape. I didn't appreciate the invasion and I intended to let the phantom know it.

I realized I was still in my gear so I pulled my knife, flipping it open even though I knew it was only a dream. I walked steadily until I heard a rustle of leaves and a twig snap. I bolted forward, not wanting to let the culprit get away.

Just past the shadows and the branches of a stout tree I saw long, broken grass, as if something had been pacing there. I scanned the woods but didn't see any sign of what or who it had been.

Black and gray feathers littered the ground and the closer I looked, the more I saw. They were glossy and shining with an iridescent radiance, even in the shadows. Some were as long as my forearm, curving beautifully around the matted grass, others were shorter and pointed.

I picked one up and felt a warm, slick on my fingers. Blood. I dropped the feather and watched as it fluttered to rest. That's when I saw that the ground was soaked with it too, the edges of the other feathers were thick with it.

The ground felt soft beneath my feet and slowly I started to sink into it. I tried to run but the bloody mud clung to my feet and ankles. I felt myself being pulled down, the crimson ground clawed at me as I sank further. I opened my mouth to scream, but the air was frozen in my lungs and it felt like nails were scraping my throat. Panic welled up in me as I tried to pull air into my lungs again and failed.

The mud was crushing my chest now, squeezing the life from me. I frantically tried to claw at the ground, but the gore slipped through my fingers, filling my nails and making everything slimy. The pain from my chest started to make my vision swim and the world began to darken. Unconsciousness was looming near as I felt my mind slip away...

A lightening bolt of searing pain tore through me, shaking my body and causing my limp arms to twitch, rousing me from unconsciousness. My vision was still blurred, but I could make out a figure, a man, a little ways off. His skin shown in the moonlight like the stones of the strange white rock garden. He was bare-chested with midnight black hair, standing so regally he appeared close to Kael's height. He had strong lines defining his lean muscles cut beneath his glowing skin and even in the haze of pain I found myself in awe of him. He wore dark pants hanging low on his hips, his feet uncovered, though they showed no signs of the bloody-mud I was engulfed in.

I tried to make a noise, any noise to get his attention, but I couldn't even manage a breath. The volts were still coursing through me, but it wasn't as intense as it had been at its initial appearance. The man slowly began to turn further away, shadows hiding his face.

A heavenly breath flooded my lungs and I gasped in the ecstasy, but almost as quickly as it had come, the air left. I snapped my mouth shut before the last piece could be stolen from me, but I already felt my lungs beginning to burn. I started to lose my sense of direction as the darkness crept back to the edges of my vision. I let go of the last end of my breath and whispered the only word in my mind.

James.

I don't know why I breathed his name. It just came out as if it was freeing itself from my dying body, rolling off my lips in the most natural of ways.

I sank from consciousness once more, but before my world went still, I heard a dark laugh drift through the woods toward me, lingering like something from a time I couldn't remember. And with the taste of blood in my mouth and evil, haunting laughter tickling my memory, the world spun into darkness.

Are you paying attention to the lyrics yet? Hm, perhaps you should. Nothing is by accident, all the clues are there...

I hope you guys enjoy these dream sequences as much as I do, because they are as much a theme of the story as scars.