9:
Outside the walls surrounding the campus, all was in darkness, lit
only faintly by the glow of the nearby crystal city. And one sector
of the wall seemed nearly impermeable to that gleaming.
A light approached that darkness, slowly reducing it until only its
heart remained -- the form of a dark-skinned, dark-haired woman, who
lifted her head to look at the light with suspicion. 'What do you
want?"
And the light answered. "Should I not be the one to ask that question
of you?"
"You know why I am here," the dark woman answered, her eyes burning
with emerald fire. "It has already begun."
"Yes."
"She is more than she appears to be."
"Perhaps."
"And any minute now, there will be a knock at her door, and then --"
"And then," the light continued when the dark woman trailed off,
"what will you do?"
A cruel smile lit her features. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you
that question?"
Silence reigned for a moment. "I will do what I can," the light
replied at last. "And you will no doubt do what you can. And she will
do what she can.
"But he will do what he can, as well. And he does not need you to do
it this time, does he?"
"No," she replied after a long moment.
"Does that scare you?"
"I won't dignify that with a reply."
"Ah. Any minute now?"
"No. Not any minute now. This minute. Now."
END CHAPTER ONE
TO BE CONINUED
IN CHAPTER TWO