Thalmaya ran with the stealth of a cat at night as she moved through the corridors of the carbonite chambers, heading towards the operating unit. She had memorized the layout of the entire building, turning corners without hesitation. Her heart fluttered with excitement and worry, sensing the gloomy and tense ambience surrounding her.

Just minutes ago, she initially intended to go to the Watchers who were monitoring and maintaining security of the whole carbonite building in order to see if she could sneak in. But to her surprise, she walked into the main room only to see two unconscious forms sprawled on the ground in front of pitch-black monitors. Someone had destroyed the main computer that controlled all the video cameras in the building.

Thalmaya moved faster, the anticipation exciting and sending chills through her body as well. But as she neared the end of the corridor, a figure flashed before her eyes, staying within her field of vision for less than a second. But Thalmaya's clever eyes latched on long enough to identify the figure- Meina's Warrior! Thalmaya was shocked, but she didn't doubt her eye sight. Thalmaya fought the urge to chase after the burly woman and decided instead to follow-up on the thawing of the boy.

Her heart began to race at the thought that something hideous had already happened. As she turned the corner, she could hear frantic movements and orders being shouted right and left. As she realized that the voices were headed towards her, she looked around and saw that the recovery room was empty. Without hesitation, she flung herself inside and jumped behind the stabilizer, landing on her bare hands and doing a somersault in the process.

Thalmaya smiled wryly at her situation, thanking God for all the time she spent with Princess Belle working out. Within a split second, to Thalmaya's dismay, the two scientists barged into the room with a floating gurney.

Thalmaya's eyes nearly fell out of their socket as she suddenly saw the bright blond bundle of silk-like hair on the gurney. Immediately, Thalmaya recognized that the body belonged to the God-like boy that the whole country had gossiped about. She gaped at the realization. So lost in thought was Thalmaya that she failed to notice as the stabilizer which she hid behind was pulled away, revealing her crouching body.

Thalmaya straightened up as two pairs of eyes stared at her. "What are you doing here?" One scientist glared at her, suspiciously, grabbing her by the arm.

The other scientist recognized her immediately. "Thalmaya?" Then she turned her gaze to the first scientist, "She's my niece, Deil. Let her go. She wasn't the one who messed with the laser!"

The scientist named Deil let Thalmaya go, and Thalmaya fell to the ground in pain, surprised at the strength of Deil's grip. "Auntie, I saw who it was. I came in to check the Watchers and they were unconscious so I decided to run in here. But I saw. It was Meina's Warrior!" Thalmaya's flight of ideas slipped out of her mouth uncontrollably as the two scientists tried to make sense of her jumble.

Suddenly, the beeping on the gurney pulled their attention back to the unconscious body that lay on it. The two scientists jumped to prepare the stabilizer while Thalmaya stepped aside to let them work. She then subtly inched her way towards the head of the gurney to look upon the most angelic face she had ever seen.

Thalmaya's breath caught in her throat as she finally knew what all the raucous was about. The story that she heard in Ethereal seemed to not give the boy his fair credit in terms of good looks. She finally understood why Queen Feya had tried to hide him away all these years. The great, haughty, proud Queen was actually afraid that someone would take him!

Thalmaya found the thought amusing, that someone in such a position of power was actually insecure. In this land dominated by females, where males were utterly inferior to the opposite gender, the Queen actually put a lot of worth on a young male! Thalmaya's excitement rose as she thought of how one day, she would tell her grandchildren of this.

Suddenly, her aunt's voice rang out. "Thalmaya, stay here and watch the body. We need to get a few labs done." And the two scientists disappeared. Thalmaya couldn't reply. Her vocal cords were seemingly paralyzed as she continued gawking. Slowly, she lifted her fingers to the face and felt the cool skin.

To her delight, the body stirred a little and the boy's lips parted slightly. He was waking up! She looked down to see that he was trying to raise his arm. Before she could stop him, he tried to pull his hands to his head and rubbed his right temple gently. He was still too weak though and his hands fell back on the bed. A soft sound came from his mouth, but she couldn't decipher what exactly he was trying to convey.

"Ummm, are you okay?" Thalmaya asked stupidly.

"Hmmmph" came his sole reply as he once again raised his arm to massage his aching temples.

Thalmaya leaned down so that her ears barely glazed across his lips. It was a sorry excuse for being nearer to him, but she didn't care. "Yes?" she called out to him.

"Ummphummm" came the reply. The boy, Nickolas, was too weak.

"Are you hurt?" Thalmaya pressed on, undaunted. She was determined to bring Nickolas back to life. Her curiosity was overwhelming her. She had to bring back some information to Princess Belle.

Nickolas' figure moved slightly, but Thalmaya didn't understand his body cues. In a bolder tone, she continued. "Are you okay?"

"No! I am not okay!" came a voice loud and clear. The razor sharp voice gashed through the tension-filled room. Thalmaya jumped back, startled by the vindictive tone only to see its owner standing at the entrance of the room, eyes full of fury.

"Your . . . .your majesty!" Thalmaya immediately bowed in fear. "I . . . I . . . "

Queen Feya stepped forward, each stride bearing the weight of conviction. The two scientists stood crouching behind the Queen, both exuding with anxiety and nervousness. None willing to counter the Queen.

Queen Feya circled the fearful form. Quickly, she looked to Nick to determine whether there were any physical deformities. When satisfied, she looked back to Thalmaya, her demeanor well-controlled. "What is it that has required your presence in this place?" she asked evenly.

Thalmaya had to swallow several times to moisten her throat enough to begin speaking. Knowing that lying would work against her, she decided to confess her vice. "I came here out of curiosity. I heard about him and wished to sneak in just to take a glance. When I arrived, I saw the Watchers unconscious. So I barged in to this place."

Queen Feya drew her lips into a taut line. "Does Princess Belle know?" Queen Feya asked, knowing full well the bond between the two girls.

"No," Thalmaya replied.

Queen Feya smiled, her lips becoming even thinner. "So even her, you would cross. What's there to keep you in line?"

Thalmaya began to shake from fear. Queen Feya seemed to have made a resolution. Before she could respond to Queen Feya's statement, Queen Feya called for the guards. Two huge women came in, lasers in hand.

"Take her to the prison," Queen Feya commanded clearly. She showed no mercy nor sympathy.

"Wait," Thalmaya cried out desperately, looking towards her aunt-scientist for support.

Her aunt, with a burst of boldness, blurted out, "But she wasn't the one who tampered with the medical equipment." This statement drew the Queen back to the issue.

"Then who?" Queen Feya stared at the scientists.

"Devalin, Meina's old warrior, the one who has sold her master to us," Thalmaya's aunt replied bravely.

Queen Feya paused. Thalmaya almost thought that she was off the hook when the Queen looked her in the eye, gauging her soul. Thalmaya tried her best to remain calm and unperturbed by the Queen's gesture.

The Queen's lips twisted upwards slightly in a half-drawn smile. "You do not cringe from authority, do you?" Thalmaya weakened. The Queen had read her attitude accurately. She was too perceptive.

Thalmaya was about to make a statement about her innocence when the Queen motioned for the guards to continue. The guards flanked Thalmaya and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Your majesty, please forgive me! It will never happen again!" Thalmaya cried out.

Queen Feya stared at the baroness's. "Do not swear to something which you can not guarantee." With that, Thalmaya was whisked away, her eyes pleading to her aunt. She only hoped her aunt understood her cue. They must contact Princess Belle immediately. Thalmaya couldn't tell whether her aunt understood because her aunt did not nod or show any hint of understanding.

But Thalmaya's aunt understood clearly what must be done. Unlike Thalmaya, she was more subtle. She knew when not to display secret messages and glances, and she did not want to attract the Queen's suspicions.

The two scientists looked back to the Queen, nervously. Queen Feya stepped towards Nickolas. "Is he stable?" she asked.

The two scientists were afraid to even let their sighs of relief go noticed. "Yes," Thalmaya's aunt answered. "His labs revealed nothing wrong with him, except for his eye sight. Luckily, he is only partially blind. His vision will be blurred, but he can still detect light. As of now, no other deficits in function have been detected."

Queen Feya nodded. "You are dismissed."

The two scientists immediately got up and bowed out of the room.

Feya turned back to look at her the boy she held captive. They now faced each other, predator and prey, their souls bare and exposed to the other, their vices and virtues hanging in the air. Feya had nothing to hide from him. He was the cause of her insecurities, of her weaknesses. Yet, she could not destroy him, just as she could not rid herself of her flaws and sins.

She looked down upon him. "You cannot see, yet you can remember. You're not willing to let go of the past."

Suddenly, Nick's eyes opened wide. He didn't even flutter. The abruptness of his action was disturbing. It was as if he never slept at all these past five years. Rather, it was as if he had been conscious for a while and feigned unconsciousness. Feya looked at him, slightly startled. She took a few steps forward to stare into the ice cold blue eyes of her conquest.

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