• I walked toward the door and knocked.

    "Come in," muttered Austein's voice.

    The door swung open on its own accord. I was quite stunned at first, but got over my shock and walked casually in. Austein's office was full of small books in languages I weren't even sure existed. The circular shape of the room and many different colored books reminded me of a kaleidescope. It even had the metal roof that reflected everything. Austein was sitting in a black velvet chair in front of a fire pit.

    "Please, sit down," he said, gesturing to a chair, that I could have sworn wasn't there before.

    I slowly walked forward and sat down. He looked at me for a long time. I began to feel quite uncomfortable, what with the smoke that made it harder to breathe and a man I had only known for three days staring me down. Still, this was his office, not mine. Quite suddenly, he began to laugh like a madman.

    "What's so funny?" I said, a little more loudly than what I expected.

    "You and your stupid morals," he chuckled. "Trying not to upset me. If you couldn't breathe, all you had to do was say so. You act as if you ask for something I'm going to beat you until you bleed!"

    I didn't find it so funny. If he knew what I had been though in my childhood. If only he knew what it was like. His clan kept him. My biological mother got rid of me at birth. It wasn't like he would understand.

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    "No, Metrinicon," he chuckled. "It was not I who took you from your clan. It was the Syronian law who took you."

    My fingers tightened around the knife's handle. I could tell he was lying. He loved to torture our people.

    "You are the one who is in control of all the Wolfish people, you snake," I growled. "You approve their laws! You let them take my clan as their slaves!"

    "Yet you care so much about Miss Syrono," he said. "Has it ever occurred to you that Miss Anion Syrono, daughter of Lord Kiconio Syrono, might be apart in the move to get rid of you? Well, if you care about someone who has the intent to murder you and your brothers, she is beyond that door. I don't think you'll want to save her after you see her, though."

    I ran toward the door. Kabata could be saved for another day. Right now, Anion was my number one concern. I just hoped that I had someone alive to save.

    "Anion!" I yelled, when I saw her.

    Her neck had stab and bite wounds, and there was blood splattering the walls. She obviously tried to escape. My eyes widened at the sight. She couldn't be dead. I ran over to her. I sighed with relief. Her breathing was ragged, but at least she was breathing.

    "Helios," I muttered, putting my hand on her forehead.

    Her wounds closed and she began breathing normally. Then, I knew she could never love me. It was just as he said. The rivalry between our clans would never allow it. As I was getting up, Kabata appeared next to me.

    "Isn't that precious?" he said. I made to attack him. "Oh, you don't want to wake her up, now do you? She may relapse." He got up and laughed. "You may continue making your way. She deserves to die. Anyway, you were right in thinking she would never love you. She's already bound to that half-wolf Ionic Enzo."

    I walked away a little bit. Just as Kabata had turned to Anion, I struck.

    "You little--!" he yelled.