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Viola puffed up, saying, "Well, the pieces are quite old And ugly Except for the painting It’s new and ugly" She traced a fingertip along the canvas and her expression of self-love melted away "Be very careful" How serious she suddenly sounded How dire "If you fail to use each artifact properly, you’ll find yourself trapped Forever" Then she traced her finger over the Cloak, gri self "It’s not very soft, is it? I prefer soft My skin is very delicate And perfect"

"How do I use each artifact properly?" Ca about? How should I know? I’ve never used the, I sonificent brain" As she spoke, she bent down to peer into the crystal at the end of the Rod "Oh, a pretty," she breathed, appearing entranced by her own reflection

She reached out Made contact

One second she stood beside Caone

Silence filled the roon of the girl

Heartbeat picking up speed, Caht corner "Did you see that? Did what I think just happened really happen?"

There was a crackle of static before Torin’s voice flowed froically placed speakers "Yeah The moment she made contact with the Rod, she was adiosed"

"What should I do?" she de to do a search for info and see what I can find"

No She wasn’t content to do nothing Besides, he’d been searching for info since they’d gotten the thing, and hadn’t found anything

Moving swiftly, Ca?" Torin deht now"

"Make ainst another’s and a plague would start The poor guy spentthe world froun a hands-off relationship, but just like with Kane, the sparks had quickly fizzled and they’d realized they were better off as friends

"Cameo Don’t"

He was concerned for her She knew that She also knew he liked to think before acting To plan To test Most of the warriors living in the fortress were like that Not Ca, theher, consu her

More than that, Viola could be in pain Ca to let her suffer--no matter what she’d planned to do to her She had to try to extract her

Cameo reached out with a shaky hand

"Don’t you dare do what she did," Torin shouted over the speakers

She paused Maybe there was another way Maybe--

"Maddox!" Torin’s voice boomed "You’re needed in the artifact rooe and possibly fatal , Carabbed the Cloak, and entered She shut the door, and the lock autoed The h a heavy ring of metal had wrapped around her neck, wrists and ankles But when she looked, she saw only the tan of her skin

"I’e clearly didn’t consider him its owner, because she felt no compulsion to obey him

She wrapped the Cloak around her shoulders and reached through the bars, intending to latch onto the Rod Just before contact, her gaze locked on the painting She froze In an instant, insignificant details iped away She saw the box, and in the shadows behind it, a ht, with a thin build

She couldn’t low of his eyes Who was he? What was he? Would he be friend or foe? Was he guarding Pandora’s box? Trying to prevent her fro it?

With so little muscle mass, he’d never stand a chance

Find Viola Find hies on the door creaked

Maddox stor frorabbed the Rod before he could finish his sentence, just in case, and felt the coldness of the crystal against her skin