Sunlight glistens through the galleria of Ms Eeve's home as soft rays of light shine into each of the glass displays, proper on pedestals of Marble.

"Mmm," Kita softly moans as Caity slowly removes her hand from Kita's trousers and kisses her on the cheek.

Caity doesn't think the same way Raya does. She isn't concerned with doing good or helping others. Kita had forgotten what it felt like to have someone encouraging this side of her- Rationalizing the case for destruction and pain.

The thought alone is so easy for Kita to let herself slip into. Bringing fear and pain to others is a part of what makes Kita who she is.

She thrives on the fear of others.

The power she feels when she looks into a victim's eyes is exhilarating. Seeing the helplessness in their dilated pupils makes Kita feel more than control.

She feels free. Almost complete again.

But this doesn't last. Like a drug she will always need to get her fix and her logical thinking would prefer she gets rid of the addiction in the first place.

"This isn't a good idea," Kita says as she takes a step away from Caity. "I don't think I see things that way anymore,"

"Oh?" Caity chuckles, "Then what were you about to do to Ms Eeve? Give her face a massage?"

Kita sighs and turns away from Caity, but is stopped when Caity grabs her hand and steps back in front of her. "You don't know why you do it?"

"Do what?" Kita asks.

"Get all excited about taking souls," Caity answers as she runs a finger along Kita's arm.

"And you do?" Kita raises an eyebrow.

"Kita, I was upset about you leaving because you used to tell me almost everything that was on your mind," Her wide, purple eyes look endearingly into Kita's. "I got worried when all that stopped and before I realized why, you had already left,"

"Mean girl has a soft side, huh," Kita chuckles.

"You're a softie too," Caity grins

"How much do you know?" Kita asks, "About my past,"

The two of them start walking through Ms Eeve's galleria of collectables, relics and lifeless creatures of the old world as the sun begins to set- Casting a golden glow through the glass walls of the home.

"I know you lived in a small village in the old world," Caity says. "You told me about the marketplace you and your Mom would travel to every month to trade for the village- you always said she was a great negotiator,"

Kita smiles as the image of her Mother haggling in the marketplace comes to mind.

"There was an old couple in your village that managed the cattle and crops. You'd always ask the old lady about the history of the world and your culture- I remember you told me that the gods of your culture had all vanished, and permanently taken their form in the stars,"

"Why'd they leave?" Kita asks.

"No one knows. If I had to guess I'd say it was because you were all heathens," Caity jests, evoking a light cackle out of Kita.

That does seem familiar. Kita can't quite place her finger on the memory she had when she was in Vhifet, but the blurry image of the old lady's face comes to mind, alongside a warm tingle that feels as though the old lady is hugging her.

These elements of her past span so long ago that it almost seems irrelevant in comparison to the memories she no longer has since her soul was taken.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"What about Raya?" Kita asks, looking down at her hand and remembering the blood stains she'd seen smeared all over it, "I think I hurt her in the past,"

"I don't know," Caity says as looks down at her feet, "All I know is that the dark one destroyed her city,"

"Why did he destroy it?" Kita asks, but Caity just shrugs in response.

"You're the only person that knows anything about the dark one," Caity says, "Raya's the only other person who's seen him,"

"You haven't seen him?" Kita asks.

"If your dumbass didn't feel inclined to leave me every time you went to fight him, I'd be able to tell you a lot more," Caity scoffs.

"Still mad about that, huh?"

"I don't think I'll ever get over it,"

"Have you considered the possibility that the reason I didn't tell you might have been to protect you?"

Kita feels a sharp punch crash into her shoulder, prompting her to flinch in surprise and a bit of pain.

"That's a stupid reason if it just gets you killed," Caity clenches her fist to punch Kita in the arm again, but restrains herself and slowly uncurls her fingers. "I-uhh… I still lo-"

A loud screech echoes through the galleria, grabbing the attention of Kita and Caity as they turn their heads in the direction of the grinding sound that's coming from down a nearby staircase in the corner of the room. Kita looks down the spiralling stairs that lead into darkness.

"What do you think is down there?" Caity asks as she steps beside Kita to look down the stairs.

"Only one way to find out," Kita says, turning to wink at Caity.

Their footsteps rattle the steel staircase as they make their way down. Their eyes slowly adjust to the dark, but not enough to see clearly and as they reach the ground, the ceiling lights spring to life, casting a warm glow throughout a large, warehouse-like space.

Massive bowls and instruments made of glass scatter the shelves and tables of this underground lab. A series of tables and machines hug all the walls of the room, with plant life and different liquids in glasses dressing the tables in a concoction of colours.

"Another lab," Kita says. "A lot bigger than the one in her store,"

"So she is the one making them," Caity says as she eyes a shelf with jars of black smoke. "How does she get them into these jars? Have you ever tried putting a soul in something else?"

"I gave Raya a couple hundred souls a long time ago. I don't know how, but I don't think it would be too difficult,"

"You gave Raya souls?" Caity asks, slightly perplexed. "That's how she's stayed going all this time?"

"What did you think happened?" Kita chuckles.

"I don't know. I just know that Casiim was destroyed thousands of rotations ago so the math never made sense to me,"

Kita walks beside Caity and grabs one of the glasses off the shelf. Momentarily watching the smoking waft within the glass like a confined breeze.

Kita grins at Caity before holding the jar up.

"What are you doing?" Caity raises an eyebrow.

"Science," Kita chuckles before dropping the glass.

It crashes into the ground and throws glass all across the floor as a bellowing exhale releases from the ground where it crashed- the black smoke shoots straight up towards their heads where it briefly circles the both of them and flies up the staircase.

Kita and Caity try following it but it must go fast, and once they reach the base of the stairs, the soul is completely out of sight. They both turn to each other in confusion before looking back up the stairs.

"So… What'd you learn?" Caity asks.

"Uhh, I don't know," Kita stammers, "Where do you think it went?"

"Heaven?" Caity shrugs before chuckling, "Or hell,"

Kita laughs and grins at Caity, "Let's hope we didn't just send that soul to eternal damnation,"

They both walk back towards the lab equipment to scope out what else Ms Eeve might be working on. As she scans the area, Kita notices the table where the immortality pills are developed. A series of glass tubes and pipes are slowly dripping black smoke in combination with a series of different liquids. Combining in a cylinder that holds a black liquid with stars glistening amongst the darkness. Kita can quickly feel the concentration of souls within the liquid. This one cylinder holds thousands of souls- It would be used to make a few dozen pills.

Kita can feel the urge to consume within her like an itch she can't reach. She closes her eyes and shakes her head. Get a grip, Kita.

"Why do they excite me?" Kita asks. "You said I don't know,"

Caity looks at the sparkles flowing amongst the colours within the black liquid and looks at Kita as she stares at them with hunger in her eyes.

"Consuming their fear reduces your own,"