FeliciaThe hall was cold and so I gripped my arms. The first thing I noticed was the smell. Damp, mixed with what smelled suspiciously like sick and excrement. The hall was long and dark. I began to think I had gone the wrong way, heading into an endless tunnel to oblivion. Then, I came around a corner and saw light shining from under a door up ahead. I slowed my pace and concentrated on listening. But, all I could hear was my rapid breathing and heart rate. Along with the distant drip of water on stone. I realized that this part of the facility was old, ancient even. Like they had just added on, delving deeper into the mountain as the years passed. How long had my country been experimenting on its fauna and subjects I wondered. I was only a few feet from the door and I could see a shadow moving around inside. Then I felt a ripple inside my mind, a recognition, from whoever occupied the room. Hello Faizah, it's been a long

FeliciaThe next morning, when the maid returned, she was prepared for me, as I expected she would be. “Don't worry” I said, “I won't ambush you anymore. I'm hoping you will simply allow me to do what I need to do without such tactics.” “I want no responsibility in any of this,” she whispered. “If you get killed in your endeavors, be it on your head.” her eyes were hard. I didn't blame her for wanting to protect herself. No doubt the punishment for helping me would be nothing less than a death sentence if she were found out. But I had to do what needed to be done. “I won't blame you, and if we get caught, I'll do my best to convince them of your innocence.” “Innocence.” she scoffed “no one who steps foot in this place is innocent.” she stepped away from the door, leaving my way out clear. She stared at me with defeated eyes as I walked through the door. I felt a pang of guilt until I realized it wasn't me

Felicia:The maid agreed to keep me informed of anything helpful she saw or heard. Periodically I heard the agonized roars of the creature that used to be Zana’s mate, Braith. But, when I tried to reach out to him with my mind, all I could get was chaos. His mind was broken. Just a jumble of overwhelming emotions was left. It broke my heart, and I had no idea how to help him, or even if he could be helped. I also had to work hard at keeping Felicia out of my mind. She wanted to taunt and manipulate me like she used to. But I was stronger now, I could keep her at bay. I didn't want her to know anything about what I was planning. I couldn't sleep that night and I spent most of it pacing the room. Then, around three in the morning, I felt an approaching presence in my mind, Dana. I went to the window. She was bearly in range of my implant, so her voice came in and out. My lady, are y- the-re? her voice was broken by static. “Yes, I'm here.” my throat became tight with excitement an

Faizah:I spent a sleepless night, trying to figure out what to do about Felicia. Her utter confidence gave away that she had a plan of some sort. But I couldn’t read her to find out what it was. “Don’t beat yourself up, my dear.” She said after I had been trying to probe her thoughts. “I’ve had years of practice while you just discovered your switch.” “How do you know that?” I asked. “I can read you like an open book, dear.” She said wryly. She did not need to remind me, I knew I was outgunned, “Well then, I guess I have some catching up to do.” I said, gritting my teeth and probing again. I tried many times, but all I managed to accomplish was to make my headache return. While the echos of her laughter in my mind reminded me that she took sadistic delight in my struggles. By dawn, I had given up and sat looking out the window with sleepy eyes. The sun had just cleared the crags when I saw a skyship headed for the fortress. I had never seen one in person before, but I had heard

Faizah: When Braith caught sight of Zana, his roar made the mountain shake. But the guards jabbed him with a rod that sparked and filled the air with the smell of burning hair and flesh. Zana lunged against her captors, a deep growl emanating from her. I grabbed my head as the sheer force of her rage entered my mind. I realized she was trying to communicate with me. So I steadied myself and concentrated on her connection. Liars, betrayers! She snarled. I broke every bond with my pack, I betrayed them to save my mate, and these monsters betrayed me! They went back on their word! She sent me images of what she had done. I recognized the boy from the market in the body lying in the snow. That was hard enough. But I nearly crumbled to the floor when I felt her guilt, her anguish. I’m so sorry, she howled. And I knew it was true. I felt her sorrow. I felt how trapped she had been. How desperate she was to save her mate. My heart broke for her. “Help me now, Zana,” I pleaded “If we c