Rysina awoke suddenly, sitting up abruptly in bed. Looking around in the dark, she noticed the window open, a chill wind blowing in. She cautiously climbed to the side of the bed, setting her feet on the ground, and stood. She wore a long, slender nightgown that hung just above her feet. It was silky and pearl-white in color, with spaghetti straps that hung on her shoulders.

Walking slowly over to the window, the elf could sense that something else was in the room, and that she was not alone. She gazed at the night outside. Everything appeared calm, or at least as calm as it could get in this world.

Feeling something touch the back of her arm, Rysina turned around. Her eyes went big and she gasped in horror. Tatl stood before her.

"Rysina, please don't be afraid. I'm sorry I've come to you like this, but you're the only one I know I can go to..." he spoke quietly.

"You should not be here! This was a mistake," she spoke harshly.

"I know that, but I..." he put his hand to his head, swayed a little, and started to fall to the floor.

Rysina kneeled, catching him. "I just needed someone to talk to..." he whispered.

"Tatl...I can't be that person anymore. I'm sorry, I really am," she spoke softly to him.

"You don't trust me, and I understand that. But every time I see my sister or cousin, or even think about them..." his face turned to an expression of hate, but then changed back. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

Rysina sighed, not sure what she could do. Here he was, lying in her arms in the middle of the night, begging her for help. She wasn't about to go all-out and help him, but she should at least do something. But what? "Tatl, I'm not exactly sure what you want me to do. I'm no psychologist, and there's really not much I can help you with..."

"You're the only one willing to listen to me. I just want you to understand that...that I wish I could be loved again. Crysolite used to love me...I miss being her big brother, Rysina. I do! But ever since our father disappeared, I formed a grudge against her. Please, let her understand that I'm sorry..." he reached up to touch her face.

Rysina tightened up at his touch. "I can't do that, Tatl. I haven't seen Crysolite since you stabbed her, and she was unconscious then," her voice was a little cold.

"Oh..." he spoke, a sad look on his face. "Why do you stiffen? I want you to trust me again..."

"Tatl, I don't know if I'll ever be able to trust you. You made me feel used, and you have at least attempted to kill people I love," she said, sighing.

"But can't you forgive me? You forgave Jael, did you not? He's killed many people and tried to kill you as well." He sat up now.

Rysina blushed slightly. "That was different. None of it was exactly his fault."

"Who says my killings are my fault?" he asked her. Tatl looked at her and saw her blushing from the moonlight that shone through the window. "Do you love him?"

She stood up. "Like I've said Tatl, I can't really help you out. I think you should go now..." she turned back to the window and pushed it upward to open it. A nice breeze blew in.

"Does he love you, too?" he stood up.

"This is no business of yours."

"Sure it is. I'm just a friend who cares...so the bastard really did love you..."

Rysina slapped him just hard enough to get her point across. "Get out," she said angrily.

"I don't feel like leaving right now," he spoke and the window slammed shut.

She started to run toward the door but Tatl appeared in front of her. "And I thought I could rely on you. Guess I was wrong about that..."

"What do you want this time, Tatl?" she asked. Rysina tried to mentally send for help to Jael, but somehow she couldn't and was blocked off by Tatl.

"Why, I just wanted to have a nice chat with you alone, only you weren't so nice..." he frowned.

"Can't you just leave us at peace for once?"

Tatl pushed her hard to the ground, and then made a wave with his hand to her. "Be quiet!"

Rysina tried to talk back to him, but he must have silenced her. Looking up at Tatl, he was moving a little closer to her, noticing her necklace, which was a silver chain that held her Starjewel.

He cocked his head to the side. "What's that? Ohhh...sparkly! Very sparkly indeed..." He was moving his head at different angles to watch it sparkle, seemingly mesmerized by it. "Where did you get something like that?"

Rysina didn't say anything.

"Hmm...did Jael give it to you?"

She clasped at her necklace with her hand.

"Hehe! I think he did!" he examined the jewel further, and then looked back to Rysina... "My, you look so pretty in that nightgown... So have you and Jael...uh..." he motioned to the bed, "...yet?"

Jumping up, Rysina flung a hand in front of his face and a strong, unseen force drove Tatl away from her and into a wall. She raced to the door, quickly opened it, and ran out into the hallway.