take a bath and think over this. i think you'll find things will clear quite quickly for you. baths make all things clearer.

my quintain.

and so are you. beautiful. perfect. you've got this . . . life, in your eyes, you know. it's . . . passion, this huge passion for everyone and everything alive, you can't help it.

i love it.

that war that you fought . . . it's *over* now. see? you can move on. you deserve it. you've *earned* it.

what put such wicked thoughts in your mind?

of *course not*, my darling. killing is wrong, isn't it?

how could you even ask me that?

i suppose.

hmmmmmmmmmmm.

"heavy stuff," kassandra smiles again. "do you always open conversations like this or is it just a boy trouble thing?

sure. i'll buy. what's your poison?"

i mean . . . woah, what are the chances of that? i guess it was fate."

"cassie. i like that," kassandra laughs. her laugh is surprisingly light, soft considering the richness of her voice. some things cannot be hidden. but which side was she hiding now? "we're like twins, right? that's so cool. i'm kassandra with a k, but only because my dad was super awkward.