My heels sink further into the muddy grass with each step, nearly causing me to fall a few times. After a while, I get tired of their unsteadiness and take them off, discarding them into the deep forest around me.

The sky is getting dimmer; I can barely see the sun anymore. The trees cast long, dark shadows through the crisp night air, looming like evil figures. I hold my arms close to my chest, but stay alert for any sounds or movements. People (such as Alastor) could be hiding around any thick tree trunk or behind any dark bend. I summon my pistol, just to be safe.

The lake should only be a few yards ahead. If I focus hard enough, I can make out the soft sound of water lapping against gravel.

The tears that were trickling down my face have dried, but my skull is still jolting with pains caused by emotional stress.

I'm quite surprised that I even like Vaggie so much. Maybe I don't like her in the way that I think I do. What I mean is, maybe I just like her personality. It's strange that I've never been lesbian, and all of the sudden, I like this girl.

I just love being around her. Plus, she has a really pretty face that I would love to sit on.

Okay. Maybe I'm bisexual.

I don't know.

I can't worry about this right now. I have a dickhead to fool.

Alastor is already at the lake when I get there. His hands (holding his cane, like always) are resting idly behind his back, and his face is looking at the water like it said something funny. "And here, she finally shows up! She's the one you've all been waiting for, the famous Danielle Johnson! Give her a round of applause," Alastor says, relishing his words like a radio host of some sort, clapping slowly as he says applause. "Welcome back, Mrs. Johnson."

"I liked it better when you called me 'my love'," I say.

"Oh, did you like it when I called you that?" he teases, finally turning away from the lake to face me. "My love?"

"Maybe."

"How interesting," he says quietly. "Soooo, tell me what you got."

"What information I got?"

"Yes."

I breathe. "Why do you want to know about their relationship so bad?"

Alastor's thin fingers find my neck and rest there, poised to choke me, but not applying any pressure. "You aren't the one who asks the questions here," he says. Like he's talking to a little kid who tried to tell him what to do. Patronizing.

I smile, not letting the presence of his hand get to me. "Well, I suppose that if we are going to work together to achieve something here, then maybe we should have equal benefits from this deal."

"You give me information, and I will give you your old life. That should be enough of a fair deal, but, if you insist on something more..." he pantomimes searching the air for a clever idea. "Then I will promise you something. I promise that I won't hurt Vaggie. There. Now the deal is in your favor. I ask you questions, and you will answer honestly. In return I won't hurt Vaggie and will give you the life that you deserve."

That catches me off guard. Was he planning on hurting Vaggie in the first place? I swallow hard. The fingers around my neck must feel it because they tighten, only a little, and Alastor's eyes narrow further.

"Fine," I say.

"Glad that we're in agreement!" He yanks his hand away and begins to pace along the lake shore. "So tell me. What is Charlie to Vaggie?"

"Charlie is her best friend."

"Just her best friend? Or does Vaggie view her as, say, more than that?"

I think, staring down at my bare feet. My toes wiggle in the sand. "No, they're just friends, as far as I can tell."

"Are you sure?"

His eyes are burning into my head like twin metal rods, leaving a sinking feeling in my brain. "Yes."

"Would you be mad if they were to be more than friends?"

Yes, I think helplessly. The thriving beast of envy lacerates the inside of my chest, raking it's hot, sharp claws along my ribs. All I can do is try to tamp down the fire of jealousy inside of me. Vaggie doesn't belong to me. I shouldn't want her to belong to me. It's wrong.

"No," I say.

"Didn't we agree?" Alastor stops his pacing fully now, staring his crazy red eyes deep into my soul. "That you would answer honestly?"

I have to believe it. He can read my mind, I'm sure of it. He knows that I can't control my jealous emotions. Exhaling, I shut my eyes and believe that I would not be jealous if anything were to happen between Charlie and Vaggie.

Not that anything will happen...

"We did agree," I say, placing one of my hands on the bone of my hip. "I have answered honestly. I would be totally accepting of their relationship if they were to take it a step further. I mean, who am I to stand in the way of them?"

He grins smugly. "Nobody. You are nobody to stand in their way."

"Danielle?"

Both Alastor and I wheel around to see Vaggie standing in the forest. Curious, yet snarky.

"Vaggie. Get out of here," I say brusquely. Alastor could react. He could hurt her.

Did she follow me here?

Her steady gaze dances between the two of us with unconfined confusion. "Um, what are you doing out here with him?"

"Business. Please, just leave."

"My love, what is this," Alastor wonders quietly.

Suddenly, she gets very angry. "Look, Dani. I came here to say that I'm sorry, and that I shouldn't have gotten all pissy with you when you were just trying to help, but I take it all back. Forget I said anything. I'm leaving now."

"No, Vaggie, wait," before she gets too far, I place my hand on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. "Thank you. For the apology. But I can't talk right now. It's, um, it's really important. Very important. Don't tell anyone that you saw me with Alastor, okay?"

I hope she hears the panic in my voice, the hidden rises and falls beneath my words. I hope that she takes the hint. I can't be too obvious with my clues, given the fact that Alastor is about two feet away, but I need Vaggie to understand.

"Oh, so now you want me to-" she pauses. Blinks. Lights up with understanding. "-keep all of your secrets for you now? Whatever, man."

I almost smile with relief, but force myself to hide it. "I just want to talk to you."

Vaggie winks, then mocks being flustered. "If you wanted to talk to me, you wouldn't have left the house, bitch. I won't be talking to you later. This? That we have? It's over." Then she shoves past me and into the woods.

As her crunching footsteps fade away, I make my way back to the beach. Alastor watches me, his eyes searching. Always searching. Always knowing.

He shakes his head. "You know, some people get blinded with the ferocious anger that they feel," he explains. "Vaggie is one of those people. She lets the anger overcome her, like a dog eating it's prey. She lets it eat at her, quickly destroying her, bite by bite. It's a shame. She would be such a good leader if she weren't so angry all of the time."

"I guess."

"Well. It seems that the two of you won't be talking any time soon," Alastor says. He bought it. He thinks Vaggie's break down was true-hearted. I guess it was in the beginning, when she was apologizing, but then I stopped her and tried to cue her in on my situation. "Minus one friend. Two to go."

Now I look at him, and briefly consider shoving him into the water and drowning him. "What do you mean, minus one friend?"

"Well, if you're working with me, I need to know you're on my side! Simple as that. I don't want to be double-crossed by someone such as you, my love. That would be a rookie mistake, on my part."

If my life was a cartoon, steam would be coming out of my ears. "You know what? Tell me. I'm done with all of the willy-nilly bullshit coming out of your mouth. Tell me what your fucking plan is," I demand.

He takes a leisurely step forward, tossing his cane between is slightly extended arms. "It's very complicated. I don't know if someone such as you would understand."

"Oh, I'll understand. Just like I understand that you're a manipulating creep."

"That's right. I am manipulating." He swings the cane into the side of my leg. I bend over with shocking pain. He whacks the other leg, shoving me to the ground.

Kneeling before him.

"I have manipulated you from the start. I'm surprised a tactical girl like you hasn't caught on yet," he says. I stare up at him, probably looking as upset as I feel. His eyes lock onto mine and hold still. "I am going to use you as a pawn of the finest of sorts. A real, willing, obeying pawn in my game of chess. At first, you will be nothing but a pawn. Making useless one-square moves across the board while the more important characters such as the knights and bishops make the real moves, distracting the opposing side while you travel. Then, once you reach the end of the board, I will crown you queen, and you will happily take over the remainder of the other side's pieces, picking them off one by one until the board is empty and you and I are the last ones standing; the king and his true queen."

I feel stuck. Like my brain is in a pot of boiling glue. "What if the queen betrays the king?" I ask.

"The queen cannot betray him because, before she becomes queen, she is nothing but a pawn. And what could a silly pawn do to betray a powerful king?"

I grunt, pushing myself up to my feet. "One thing you must know, Alastor, is that when the game is all said and done, the queen is always more powerful than the king. Even more valuable, some may say. Without the queen, the game would barely be playable."

"That's right. The queen will use her immense power to do nothing but protect the king. The pawns, they never know what to do. Move forward, amble about; the queens have a direct focus. It is to protect the king," he says. "See? You're getting it already. You are the pawn. Unable to do anything useful, unless I order you to do so. When I promote you to queen, there will be nobody left, nobody except for me. If you choose to betray me then, at the end of all the torture, loss and pain, then you will not receive your reward. If you stick by my side, you will get what you desire. Besides, what's the point of doing all of that work for me without anything in return?"

I'm the pawn.

No. I can't be the pawn.

Why would I be the pawn? It doesn't make sense. I'm not a pawn.

Not now, not ever, will I be a tool used for someone else's benefit. I will not let Alastor toy with me like this.

I will give him what he deserves. I just have to be patient.