{June 2006}

After you survived Corpus Christi, I knew without a doubt that you were Celindria's reincarnation. Your speed and strength thrilled me and fueled my determination to cage you in the Complex.

Flush with victory, I walked into my throne room within the Egyptian fortress. And I found a very unwelcome phantom sitting on it.

"Good to see you, boy." The Primary whose name I never learned grinned at me.

Not even a moment of peace. I nodded to him and tried for unperturbed. "How have the millennia fared you, Primary?"

He wagged his finger. "You are not your General, son. I can see the hatred roiling off you in waves."

I winced at "son," and gnashed my teeth through the rest.

"I brought Abresson. You two always got along so famously."

The uptight Tritan wafted into the room on the stench of his own airs. His complexion so dark a blue it reminded me of Xelan's eyes. Scars marred his skin as bright white slashes. Why not heal them? The mystery remains to this day.

I nodded to the second-rate Tritan. "Officer of the Fifth. To what do I owe this uncomfortable visit?"

Abresson smirked while the nameless Primary continued to speak for them, "Today, you nearly killed an asset of which we've invested a great deal of time and work."

The Officer picked it up from there, "Rayne is valuable to us. Don't make another attempt on her life."

I stared at him. Something in his tone shrank the skin on my bones. "I've no intention of killing her."

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Especially knowing you existed to kill them.

Abresson turned his back on me and nodded to the nameless Primary. "I need her intact, and you risk that."

"What about her arm?"

The nameless Primary spoke up then, "An interesting choice, but I think it did her some good. The nacre we'll give her will more than make up for it."

Abresson added, "Until then, to ensure her safety, we're assigning Tumu."

I recoiled. "Tumu, the Primary?"

Abresson sneered with a delighted shake of his head. "Not anymore. Officer of the Third for a few millennia now. And he'll monitor Rayne."

I dared to ask, "Why do you want her?"

They exchanged a look. The nameless Primary shrugged casually. "The same reason I wanted your mother. But Rayne makes the most perfect specimen for breeding--"

Abresson grinned. "And I claimed her as my prize for the promotion to Eminent."

I pointed at the nameless Primary. "Be careful in league with him, then. He'll make a cuckold of you."

The Tritan leader threw his head back and laughed at a depth that busted my eardrums.

Twice.

Inside, I churned like the fire lakes of the Ignis Desert. I wouldn't let them have you. Somehow, I'd convince you to take Xelan's birth nacre and come away with me to Cinder.

Well. That was my original plan. I think the knife to my crotch made your position clear on that matter.

Tumu's faction imbued you with a Weapon-bearing nacre. Something the Primary and Abresson despised. Even so, Tumu's faction can't control you. Not after you drank Celindria's blood to activate. Now, you're outside the control of both factions.

When Abresson and the Primary left, the former turned back. "It would restore you in our graces to capture her for us. She's quite feisty." He pointed at me with a stern frown. "But I want her clean. Do you understand? Untouched. You've already grubbed her up enough. Let the Complex preserve her."

The Primary's parting look suggested he knew me far too well to assume anything regarding the security of your person. And outside of reach, he couldn't stop me.

There will never be more like us. We're too dangerous.

Until our dance together, I believed you were Celindria reincarnated. With all her devious plans to destroy me and my people. I wanted you to suffer as she should for her crimes.

After that one hour with you, I couldn't clear my mind. Doubts plagued me every second I recalled your vulnerable blue eyes. Although my connection to you waned as you gained strength, I still glimpsed the occasional thought or emotion. I couldn't find a devious bone in your body. No matter how hard I tried to cultivate it.

You weren't evil.

Mostly alone and a little afraid.

Maybe this can help change that.