Her body jerked and she heaved a choked sob. The image of the tree lost, she became visible. Shaking, she took a deep breath and glanced around. Waiting until a somewhat startled passer-by passed by, she re-placed the barrier.

Design a fitness plan that’s simple and fun and you’ll never miss a workout.

She was thinking so loudly Vee could probably hear her thoughts. Or so she imagined. And what were they anyway? Stupid thoughts, really, like what it was like to have siblings…or what it would be like to be disowned, or…or what it was like to think so poorly of your own family that you chose the streets, or to think so poorly of the entire system you grew up in that you could never see what was beautiful about it - that it could never be good enough.

“I’m not Tallman, or a pirate. I’m not an assassin, and you can’t make me one. You won’t make me one.” Even as she spoke, she knew it was untrue, and it just made things worse. She knew she would do as La Chanson directed, no matter the cost. She just didn’t want the cost to be her friends or innocent lives.

“You know what happens when you seduce people? They get seduced.”

Were people so easily manipulated?

Catching sight of Lucas, she gestured subtly to her chin: the man’s jaw was loose. Internally rolling her eyes, she walked past Vee, who followed her, a very clear barrier between she and the crowd. An audience with Alexandrie Donadieu was at a close for the day.