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"Whore," said the woman

I stiffened "Excuse htsister, you will be silent"

"Then hurry up," she snapped "He wants the sample as soon as possible"

I was already tense, ready to throw soht h, plainly considering a few choice words of his own "The Nypri’s request," he said finally "He has asked for some of your blood"

"Some of ical abilities no one has ever seen I iine he wants to study you in depth"

I clenched ive a sample?"

"Lady Oree, you know full well the answer to that question" There was no patience left in Hado now I considered resisting, anyway, to see whether he and Erad were prepared to use physical force That was stupid, though, because there were two of them and one of me, and there could easily be more of them if they just opened the door and called for help

"Fine," I said, and sat down

After alook fro it over "Hold the bowl," she said to Hado, and astabbedto jerk away But Erad’s grip was firripped ," he said, "but if you struggle, it will take longer" I stopped fighting only because of that

"What in the gods’ na else, and it felt like ain I could hear liquid-- into so intoIt hurt like the infinite hells

"Lord Dateh requested about two hundred drahed in satisfaction "That should be enough"

Hado let go ofout of entleness I snatched rip lessened She uttered a conte you dinner shortly," Hado said as they both went to the door "Be sure to eat; it will prevent weakness Rest well tonight, Lady Oree" Then they closed the door behind the ar hadn’t quite stopped; a stray droplet had seeped through the bandage and begun to thread its way down htsin a similar way When the droplet fell off ined its splatter Its war Its smell

Its color

There was a way out of the House of the Risen Sun, I understood now It would be dangerous Possibly deadly But was it any safer for me to stay and find out whatever they planned to do with ainst ht then It would take too hts would be busy with their rituals and chores There would be tihts as dark as blood, I slept

"Possession" (watercolor)

SO, THERE WAS A GIRL

What I’ve guessed, and what the history books ih to have been sired by a cruel hter and abused thes, the god of justice Perhaps that hy He responded when she cae

"I want hiine) "Please, Great Lord, make hiod of wars I once thought of Hiht undimmed can hurt even my blind eyes I should have realized We should all have realized He was never anted Hiht Lord to ifted her with a knife perfectly suited to her small, weak child’s hands

She took the knife hoht The next day, she caht Lord, her hands and soul stained red, happy for the first time in her short life "I will love you forever," she declared And He, for a rare once, found Himself impressed by mortal will