"Does it matter?" the woman asked, not bothering to shift her gaze.

"All-righty then," Dina groaned, rolling her eyes.

"I'm guessing you weren't lost, care to share why you're here, or do you just want to keep trying to make small talk?"

"Not much for manners, are you? What makes you think I want something?" Dina asked, still trying to figure out exactly what she was seeking herself.

"So, more small talk then," the woman replied, taking a seat in a wicker rocking chair. Dina watched her as she rocked to and fro, noting how she seemed like an elderly grandmother in her movements, yet her appearance was young.

"Fine- but I don't know what you're looking for. I'm not sure why I'm here myself."

"People usually don't seek me out unless they already know what they want from me," she said, now intensely staring at Dina as she rocked slowly. "They may not want to admit why they seek me, but they know."

"I suppose," Dina replied thoughtfully. "Well- I guess I somewhat know. You apparently already know about the attack on Rampart. And- umm- during the attack, someone I care about was injured."

"That's no problem for your type. You can just heal them," the woman snarled as if disgusted by the ease of which Dina's abilities came to her.

Dina instantly felt her defenses rise, appalled that this stranger, this lesser being who dabbled in dark magic, dared to speak to her in such a way. Guardians were admired and respected throughout the world. "It's not always that easy, if you must know. I was told he's too far gone for any of our healing spells or potions to work."

"A beau is it?" the witch asked with a grin.

"Excuse me?"

"You said he, it's your beau who death has one hand on."

"Death does not have a hand on him!" Dina snapped.

"We both know you wouldn't be here if he weren't headed to the afterlife,"

Dina paused. There was nothing she could say, the witch was right. Her voice shifted to a plea. "Madame Laveau, can you help?"

"I might be able to be persuaded to."

"Persuaded?" Dina questioned.

"If I help you, what's in it for me?"

Suddenly, it became clear exactly what the woman was getting at. "What do you want?"

"What'cha got?" the witch asked, leaning forward.

"I don't know, not much on me, just some potions and my daggers," Dina answered, pulling the enchanted heirlooms from the waistband of her pants.

"What good do enchanted weapons do me, child? I can't use those. What else you got?"

"I really don't have anything else on me," Dina insisted, taking a step forward and trying to show the woman she was sincere. "I can bring you something back later. Anything you want, you just name it."

"You don't need to leave to give me what I want. You have payment enough right here."

"I don't understand- if not my weapons, then what?"

"I'll take your hair and- I also want to bleed you," the woman replied matter-of-fact.

"What?" Dina asked puzzled.

"You're a Guardian. Your blood and hair could make a lot of magic."

Dina pondered her words, and then decided to make an offer. "I will give you my hair, but I will not let you bleed me. I'll be too weak to get back to the person I need this spell for if you take my blood, and time is to precious to waste recovering right now."

The witch considered the proposal, sizing up the girl through squinted eyes. "You need to know, if we strike this deal, there's no changing your mind. This kind of magic isn't like your Tinker Bell, fairy dust you're used to. For dark magic, a price must be paid."

"Yes, I know, I know. I would be happy to give you my hair in exchange for your help."

"Very well, you can shave your head while I collect everything you will need to cast the spell."

"Wait, you're not going to cast it?"

"Oh, no honey, not even I would mess with a spell this costly."

"Wait, what do you mean costly? It will take more than my hair?" Dina's chest began to ache; a dread loomed around her, fearful of what she might be getting herself into.

"Your hair is my price. Dark magic has a way of wanting more than most people are willing to offer. One never knows exactly what will come out of the spell until after."

"Will it kill me?" Dina asked, fear creeping into her voice.

"Could," the witch answered in a very matter-of-fact way.

It's too late to turn back now, you love him. If saving him costs you your own life, so be it. He would do it for you, Dina thought.

"Where's the razor?" Dina asked with an intense conviction.

"Oh, honey, you don't really have to shave it, to the ears should be fine. I was just messing with you when I said that. Not a peep from ya though; you must really love whoever this is for!" the witch called out over her shoulders.

"More than you could ever know," Dina murmured. "My hair is the least of my concerns, but if to the ears will suffice, then that's what I'll give you."

As Dina snipped through her locks of hair, she did her best to not think about what the witch might use the strands for. It was easier to pretend she wasn't doing anything wrong. Instead, she focused on her beloved and the fact that she would soon be returning him to health. Something in her mind allowed her to accept that such an immense right act justified all of the bad she was doing to achieve the results.

Dina's body materialized several miles from Iron Gate. Crouching into a ball she took a moment to try and regain her composure. Clutching at the strands that tickled her chin, Dina wondered how she would explain her sudden change in appearance. Michael would not approve of her decision to visit the witch; she knew that before she ever left Iron Gate, this had been why she kept her adventure a secret. She couldn't waste any more time, however. If Calysta was right and Raimie had a better chance of surviving the sooner she administered the spell, she didn't want any delays.

Dina rarely used multiple transportation spells in one day and in doing so, they had begun to take their toll as she struggled to keep her eyes open. In addition to the taxing spells, she now had to walk the several miles back to Iron Gate. Even with the exhaustion, Dina refused to slow down, pushing hard and using what little energy she had left to enhance her traveling speed.

When she finally returned, it was obviously meal time. A make-shift soup kitchen line had been created just outside of the dining area and the ma.s.ses were gathered, patiently waiting to receive their allotment of sustenance. Dina couldn't help but grin, her timing was absolutely perfect, she couldn't have planned it any better had she tried. She would use the busy time around camp as a disguise to sneak past any of her peers that may be looking for her.

She pa.s.sed by the throngs of people, food the only thought on their minds, without anyone noticing her. Pushing her way through the dense crowd, she broke through to the other side where she was easily able to make her way to the infirmary. Now the hard part, she would need to slip in and retrieve Raimie's body. Not an easy feat for someone of her stature.

Dina walked into the main room, looking around briefly for anyone she recognized; she noticed Uri was no longer in his cot. Without her friends around, there would be no one to meddle in her plans. Slipping back out into the hall, she quietly entered into the room where Raimie still rested. Dina sighed as she saw him, still in a deep sleep, too deep for her liking.

Normally when Raimie slept he looked peaceful, this was different. It was like a part of him was missing, the warmth that made him who he was. She looked forward to restoring that.

From behind her, in the corner of the room, a soft voice caused her stomach to sink. "We have to talk, Dina."

It was Michael; he had been waiting for her. Dina forced herself to smile as she turned around casually. "Sir, you frightened me. You shouldn't sneak up on people like that."

"That was not my intention," Michael replied flatly.

"I was just checking in on him, he seems good though, so I'll go and-" Dina attempted to think of an explanation quickly. "See if I'm needed anywhere else."

Dina turned and prepared to take her leave, holding her breath in antic.i.p.ation as she did so. She hoped and prayed he would not ask her any questions.

"Wait! Stop right there!" Michael commanded. Dina did as she was told, a slight ache in her chest.

"Sir?" Dina bluffed, as if ignorant of what might be bothering him.

"What were you thinking?" Michael asked sternly, not hiding his disappointment.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't know what you're referring to," Dina answered, furrowing her brow and giving her best attempt at an award winning performance.

"I can't believe you would put all of your friends in danger like that, it's not like you," Michael ignored her claims to ignorance.

Dina realized that no matter how coy she played it, he was not going to relent. She wondered how long it was after she left before Sophie had spilled her guts. "I don't feel I put anyone here in danger, sir. I was very careful."

"Careful? You can't honestly say that with a straight face, can you? Calysta came strolling in here with a couple of clerics, some story about how you freed her and sent her here."

Perhaps Sophie hadn't blabbed. Dina a.s.sumed that if Michael knew anything about the witch, he would have led with that.

"Not only did I tell you to leave it alone and stay away from her, you helped her to escape using a sacred stone, and then you jeopardize us all further by not making sure she's brought here safely. What was so important that you couldn't escort her yourself?"

He didn't know about the witch, this was her chance to steer him in a different direction. "I'm sorry, I know I should not have disobeyed you, but I didn't feel right just leaving her down there. When I arrived at Rampart, the demons were trying to figure a way around the security. I knew the priority was to get her out of there, so I gave her the stone that would take her to the cleric's outpost."

"That doesn't explain why you didn't follow and accompany her."

"I knew the clerics would bring her to you, sir. I had to buy time in hopes no trackers would be able to follow. I led the demons away, distracting them long enough to ensure she escaped safely. I couldn't risk any of us being followed, so I waited until I was some distance away from Rampart before transporting myself. I was simply trying to be cautious, sir."

"I see," Michael said, squinting at her in doubt. He mistrusted the young girl's words, but wasn't sure which part he found to be unbelievable. "Do you know how lucky you are that she agreed to come with the clerics? Chances were much higher that she would have used the opportunity to escape and likely be captured by demon soldiers. The information she carries about us would have been detrimental to the Guardians."

"Escape, sir? I thought she wasn't a prisoner."

"She's not- I mean, you just better be glad things turned out the way they did. It could have gone in a very different direction."

"I know, sir," Dina replied, not taking her eyes off Raimie.

"I know you meant well," Michael added before a silence consumed the room, dancing around them for several moments. Dina hoped her leader would slip out, giving her the opportunity to be alone with her beloved.

"There's something else we need to talk about," he added.

"Yes, sir?"

"It's Raimie."

"He looks better, doesn't he?" Dina replied confidently.

"It's time, sweetheart," Michael answered.

"Time?" Dina questioned, confused by his words.

"The clerics have done everything they can and there's nothing else we can do for him as guardians. Our healing abilities are just not working. He's gone, Dina."

"He's right here!" Dina shouted, outraged by the words coming out of his mouth. "Look at him! How can you say those things? He would have given his life for you, and now that he's hurt you want to toss him away like some piece of garbage.

"It's not like that and you know it."

"Then what is it like? You tell me."

"It's time for you to say goodbye to him."

"No! I won't, everyone else may have given up on him, but I won't."

"We're not giving up on him, Dina. I loved Raimie, too, but there's nothing else we can do for him. They tell me it could be anytime now. It's actually why I'm here; I wanted to be here for him," Michael explained.

"Be here for him? That's such a joke."

"I know you're upset, but-"

"Upset? I don't think that exactly describes what I am, Michael. I am p.i.s.sed off."

"And it's understandable you feel that way."

"Quit trying to talk me down like I'm going to lose it or something. It's very patronizing and I'm not crazy. You all treat me like I'm delusional just because I'm not willing to give up on Raimie so easily.

"None of us think that."

"Whatever you say. Please, get out!" Dina snapped.

"Don't do this. You're only making it harder on yourself."

"I said get out. If this is the end for Raimie like you say it is, I want to spend some time alone with him," Dina explained, her adrenaline pumping heavily throughout her body.

"All right, I'll be right outside," Michael answered calmly, walking to the doorway.

"No!" Dina gasped. "I mean, just let me have this last night alone with him. We can do what you want in the morning."

"It's not what I want, Dina, it's what is going to happen. The clerics have stopped all potions. Without a.s.sistance, Raimie could easily pa.s.s this very night."

"Fine, I get it. I'm just asking, let me have this time alone with him-" Dina paused, staring up at Michael who seemed to be examining, looking for some sort of motive behind her request. Thinking quickly, Dina added in a much more tender tone, "I know I have to say goodbye, I just need a little more time."

"Alright, if you need me, have one of the nurses come and get me. By the way, your hair looks nice short," Michael relented.

"I will, and thank you," Dina replied, following him to the hall and pushing the heavy wooden door closed after him. The last thing she needed was him asking what prompted the new hairdo. She would wait a bit longer until the coast was clear and then seize her moment, transporting her and Raimie somewhere she could perform the spell safely.