Celeste nodded at his warning. "Thank you for your concern."

Dragolios stopped her early and made camp. Celeste looked at her watch. "Dragolios, It is only four we have plenty of light left." He nodded, "True but we are in Keaira's Area now and it never hurts to be to careful." "Yes I understand."

Celeste made up her pallet and two hours later set about fixing supper for the two of them when she heard a rustling from bushes behind the camp. "Who's there?" she called out. Dragolios pulled out one of his swords and silently walked toward where the noise was. A small child scrambled from the brush. "Ph-please don't h-hurt me Mister." The child stammered. Celeste ran forward and kneeled beside the child. "Of course he won't. Why are you out here so late? Where is your home?" The child looked nervously toward the Forrest, I don't have one Ma'am." The words were spoken pitifully and the child sobbed on the last word. Celeste tenderly rubbed the child's back and then went to the fire for some water. "Here wash your face, and then we will give you something to eat." The child scrubbed revealing the smooth pale skin of a girl. "What is your name?" Celeste asked softly. "Kayata, Kayata Missanou, My papà he sold me to the mean Pig Man and the Blood Lady. When I didn't drink the Blood Lady's drink she told Pig Man to kill me. Pig Man he no want to kill me so he told me to run, to run as fast as I could so I did. And I saw your fire, Midnight Woman and I came to see if I could sleep by camp because the animals no come near fire."

Dragolios who had kept silent throughout the whole thing suddenly spoke, "Why do you call her Midnight Woman? And do you know the names of 'Pig Man' and 'blood lady'?" Kayata looked up at him, "I called her Midnight Woman because she is steady and her hair is the color of midnight. Midnight always comes and nothing can stop it. She is like that. Pig Man has no name that papà has called him, but Blood Lady calls him Highness and Master. Blood Lady was called Mistress and Love. But they don't have names that I know of."

Dragolios stood and then turned walking off into the woods. He growled low in his throat, he didn't like that girl and something was up. Slowly he stopped in a clearing "Alda who is it?" suddenly a cloud of smoke filled the clearing, the coppery sent of blood hung on the air. "Quite Right Oh Mighty Dragolios something is definitely not right." A husky voice said from the shadows.

Dragolios smiled cruelly "Keaira. The stench gave you away even before I saw though your illusion." Keaira stomped her foot and walked out to where he stood waving her hand to vanish the smoke.

"Join us Dragolios, live free, never worry about the responsibilities of life again." She smiled and licked her lips, "Besides I've yet to try you, perhaps you are better than your brother, no?" Dragolios leaned forward and Keaira prepared herself for the kiss of surrender, right before he reached her lips he whispered, "I'd die in hell first." Keaira's shriek was heard throughout the forest. Her eyes snapping purple fire she placed her hands on her hips and spoke harshly. "You think that all will be well, that you will win, beware my sister cannot resist my call as you can I will destroy her and then come for you! Watch what you do Dragolios you you just might get your wish!" She slammed her hands together and vanished. "Nyan!" Dragolios swore in his native tongue. Then suddenly a second scream rent the air. Dragolios ran toward the sound to find Celeste collapsed on the ground and Kieara standing over her. "See how easy it was Mighty One? I could kill her right now. but I won't only because the chase is enjoyable. But know when it becomes tiresome she will die." Kieara laughed and vanished in yet another puff of smoke. "Kor that exit is becoming dull." Dragolios mumbled as he swept Celeste into his arms. "Wake up MeldaAinu we must leave soon." Celeste didn't stir. "MeldaAinu?" only a slight response but that caused Dragolios to release a sigh of relief. "She is in deep. We might as well stay here the night."

Celeste laughed as the water splashed up onto the beach. "Be careful! You'll get me wet!" she called out to the man in the sea. His rumbling laughter floated back on the breeze. "Oh I will huh?" he slowly began to advance back but Celeste was reclining into the sun's rays and didn't notice. She made a face as a shadow covered the sun and then squealed as she was picked up, eyes flying open and arms beating for release. "Relax little one." His voice said right before he plunged both of them into the water. She came up sputtering and wiping water from her stinging eyes "Oh! I am going to get you now!" she flung herself at him and he laughed as he caught her kissing her gently. She pressed her lips closer to his and then he grabbed her arms and roughly deepened the kiss. "oh Kor! Dragolios!"

DRAGOLIOS?? Celeste woke up still simmering in the heat of her dream.