The drapes kept out the dust and heat of the streets, but they could not keep out disappointment. Dany climbed inside wearily, glad for the refuge from the sea of Qartheen eyes. "Make way," Jhogo shouted at the crowd from horseback, snapping his whip, "make way, make way for the Mother of Dragons." Reclining on cool satin cushions, Xaro Xhoan Daxos poured ruby-red wine into matched goblets of jade and gold, his hands sure and steady despite the sway of the palanquin. "I see a deep sadness written upon your face, my light of love." He offered her a goblet. "Could it be the sadness of a lost dream?" "A dream delayed, no more." Dany's tight silver collar was chafing against her throat. She unfastened it and flung it aside. The collar was set with an enchanted amethyst that Xaro swore would ward her against all poisons. The Pureborn were notorious for offering poisoned wine to those they thought dangerous, but they had not given Da

   At the same night, Hadassah had started a big fire at the middle of the Battle of Blood, while she was in the possession of little Celandine's body.  The large vessel on the fire was filled with the sacred water for witches from Black Lake. It was an inaccessible lake inside a forest, only who had witch blood in their veins, could approach there. Beside the pyre, there were some ingredients which she would need to return back to her true self."Bonesbane," she muttered and picked up the tiniest bowl contained with a few bone shaped dark green leaves. She stared at the boiling black water for a while, then dropped the leaves into it and chanted, "Confundo."   The flames exploded around the pyre when the leaves touched the water, her ragged breath quickened. She took a sharp intake and knelt in front of the pyre and picked up the next ingredient. "Blood Soil," she muttered and poured the brown soil and tiny pebbles into t

Mahone quickly adjusts the scope rings for the second time and pulls the trigger."Hey, wait, wait," Lynn calls out at the walkie-talkie from the down road. "Stop shooting.""Why? I haven't emptied the chamber yet.""Stop it, Mahone."    He sighs and picks up the rifle by its carrying handle. He glances at the .50 BMG cartridges miserably, regretting that he can't use them anymore right now, his brother forbade him. He pushes the gun into a plastic container and eyes the rooftop for the last time, if someone was here, fortunately it is empty. He grips the bag tightly and steps to the emergency elevator for exit, covering his eyes by the cap, because police will be here in any moment."How many bullets did you use?" Lynn asks, when they both already got in the car."Seven. Five missed. Before you say somethin' I would like you to remind you that I'm not a professional sniper.""Where are the another two?" he steers the wheel

San Joaquin Community Hospital, San Francisco  Samlin Greenham I wake up from the strange dream.    Though I can't remember the dream and I don't feel or see any urge to remember it. My eyes move around the room, the smell of antiseptic hitting my nose. Almost everything around me is white, white bed cover over me, the curtains of the windows are white, the shirt I'm wearing right now is white. So, I am in a hospital, the place I hate most.  I slowly lift my head up, it's pounding like someone is squeezing it forcefully. I remove the oxygen mask from my face and push it to the ventilator machine. I inhale deeply, but it's feeling like there's lack of air in the room."You are awake?" Emilia and Lucas shout in unison, stepping in the room. She sits beside me on the bed and hugs me tightly, laughing. "Oh God, Sam! Did you have to scare us like that?""I scared you?" I smile slightly. "Tell

He closes the driver's door.Lynn looks around the little house carefully and walks through the driveway, entering his hands into his pockets. He's not sure if this guy still lives here, but if anyone could help him to take the Feingold Brothers down, this guy would be one of them. But also, time changes people. Lynn rings the bell twice.After a while, footsteps approaches. A pale looking, red haired woman opens the door slightly, looking at him suspiciously. "What do you want?" she asks coldly. "Er....does Ray Jenkins live here?""Who are you?" she frowns."My name is Lynn, an old friend of Ray. Is he here?" Lynn replies patiently. "Oh, he's here." The woman raises her eyebrows. "But I don't think you're gonna meet him.""Why? What's wrong?""You work for that secret society, don't you? Which screwed up his whole life, our life," she speaks harshly. "I don't know why you're h