Korsha's body trembled. The cold air of the Academy’s utility basement causing gooseflesh to break out across her skin. She flinched as she heard Anadrov clapping behind her.

"Well done my good and faithful servant." He said, his boot steps clicking upon the floor as he approached.

Korsha's gaze dropped to Deidra. Her sister was now bound by her lashers. Deidra glared up at her, their eyes meeting but for a moment before Korsha turned away. In those eyes she saw hatred, and inferno that burned up everything they had once held between them. In those eyes she saw the death of her sister.

"Deidra, Deidra, Deidra,"Anadrov said, shaking his head, "I'm disappointed in you. After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay us?"

As he finished he slid his hand behind Korsha's back and grabbed onto her bicep. He pulled her in close as though he were hugging her.

"You're a monster. You stole me for my family."

"I saved your family from you. Something Korsha understands.”

Deidra struggled against her bonds. It broke Korsha's heart to see her like this. She was questioning her earlier decision. Why had she chosen to follow Deidra? To betray her master? It was clear now. Deidra was out of control. If she didn't stop should be sent away. Korsha had to make her see the truth. She not only attacked Anadrov, their master, but she had willingly attacked Korsha's well. She'd held nothing back. She'd actually tried to kill her. She was willing to give Korsha up, someone whom she’d spent the majority of her life with, for some family she could hardly remember? Was that was blood was? Something that superseded quality and time spent together? If that was the case then she hated the blood that bound families together.

"Please, Deidra," Korsha said in a hoarse whisper, "don't do this."

Their eyes met and Korsha hoped Deidra could see her desire. Don't leave me. Korsha didn't know what she would do with herself if Deidra left or was taken away. She remembered the cold nights she'd spent alone without her. She never wanted to go back.

"Come now, you’re breaking your sister's heart."

Deidra spat, the blog arcing through the air but ultimately missing Anadrov.

"I'll kill you."

"Now that's not the right attitude for a servant."

"I'll never serve you. You might as well kill me."

Anadrov's hand tightened around Korsha's bicep. An icy feeling spread out through her body and settled as an iceberg in the pit of her stomach. Anadrov released his grip on Korsha. He stepped forward, kneeling down so that he was eye level with Deidra.

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"There are ways of giving you… purpose." He said as he cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him.

Deidra tried to bite his hand but he pulled away.

"You were always so willful. I'd hoped that we could hone that into a fine weapon but now I see that it's just a flaw in your design." Anadrov stood, turning to Korsha, "Bind her."

Korsha felt the world drop out from under her. Bind her? Bind Deidra? How could she bind her sister? Her guts churned, nausea rising up inside her. She remembered the first time that she bound someone. She remembered how it nearly broken her. How Deidra had been there for her. Comforting her. Not judging her. That had been the stranger. How could she do this to her sister? She shook her head, hot tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.

"Anything but that. She'll get better. I'll keep an eye on her. We can make this work."

Anadrov's expression darkened. A frown tipping the edges of his lips. Korsha had never seen that expression before, at least not directed at her. It caused her to suck in a breath and take a step back.

"Bind her." He said in a low commanding voice that brooked no more argument.

Korsha gazed down at Deidra. The woman was trembling, trying to break free from her restraints. Her eyes were wide. There was terror there. Anadrov stepped forward and grabbed Deidra’s hair, yanking her head up. Though she thrashed, it did little against his grip.

"Do it."

Korsha lifted her hand. She shut her eyes, turning her head away. She couldn't watch. She didn't want to look into her sister's eyes one last time and see fear. She moved her hand forward, hating the trembling. She was close now. She could feel Deidra's hot breath on her palm. She hesitated. Without thinking she opened her eyes. Their eyes met.

Korsha's whole body became numb, horrified at what she had almost done. She stepped back, her head shaking. Her breathing now came in heavy racking breaths that would soon turn to sobbing.

"I can't. I can't. Master forgive me. I can't!" Korsha said as she fell to her knees.

"It appears you aren't the only failure this night harbors." Anadrov said as he shoved Deidra, sending her screaming as she slammed into the ground.

Through bleary eyes Korsha saw Deidra lying upon the floor, once more their eyes met. Deidra was mouthing something. Korsha blinked through the tears focusing everything on understanding what she was saying. I'll find you. Korsha's heart skipped a beat. Terror clung to her.

"Take her away."

The heavy footsteps of acrena echoed through the small room as they entered. Korsha watched, numb and unable to do anything, as they hauled Deidra up as though she were a tool bag. They hauled her off, leaving Korsha alone with her master. Her entire body shook violently, unable to control the terror that now ran through her. She flinched, eyes cinching shut as her master stepped forward. She waited for the strike that was to come. She stood there but nothing happened. Opening her eyes she saw he was standing with his hands clasped behind his back. For long moment she wished he would just say something, yell at her or even strike her. Anything was better than the silence. The disappointment. She inched her gaze up to see his face. It was a stony thing. A frown carved in disappointment. With a slow shake of his head, he turned his back on her and left.

Korsha dropped to her knees as everything within her broke. The torrent of emotions -anger, resentment, bitterness, sadness, guilt, shame and so many more- poured out of her, drowning her in their collective misery. There in the dark coldness, deep beneath the Grimnar Academy Korsha vowed she’d never fail her master again.