Chapter 3: Paths converge...

3. Paths converge…

         Consciousness was slow in returning to Inochi, he felt someone’s mix of anger and concern. Warmth flooded his body, drawing him toward someone or somewhere. He opened his eyes and gasped as he looked into brilliant green eyes with a depth he could lose himself in for eternity; lock of silvery hair fell into a face that left him breathless with its beauty. The being slowly moved back a bit. “Are you alright?” A light musical voice inquired. Inochi could only nod dumbly. “Good as I wanted the honor of tearing you apart.” She snarled, her eyes and voice hardening with rage that had been suppressed, until now.

         Inochi stared at her as she drew farther away and turned to confer with the furry, winged creature on her shoulder. She began pacing the tunnel. What could he have done to anger such a girl? He’d just woken up after all.

         Suddenly, realization hit him. She was Andariel, a Medium from a Realm separate of the worlds of Elves, Demons, and Angels. Rarely did Mediums intervene in the lives of the other, what they considered lesser, beings—it was both taxing and dangerous to do so. Not only could a Medium be stranded here, but the laws governing the different Realms varied—here, Mediums were undoubtedly mortal.

         Inochi had seen this particular Medium once before, just once. He was a babe in arms at the time, but no one ever forgets an encounter with a Medium. She’d introduced herself and kissed his brow as a blessing before returning to her own Realm…with the body of her grandmother.

         Godwyn had explained that Mediums had intervened for the first time in the history of the Realms. They had been the driving force behind Keres’ imprisonment. Originally, they had sought to kill her, but even with the joined power of the Mediums and Angels, all they could manage was sealing Keres in that crystal. Several Mediums had given their lives to the spell that he’d so recently broken—Andariel’s grandmother, Kyoko, had been one of them. He sighed; he understood now why she was so angry. Andariel probably viewed this as an intense betrayal; a cruel waste of her grandmother’s life and the lives of her people.

         “Do you have any idea what you have done? Did our assistance in your war really mean so little?” She inquired; her rage tightly reeled in, a tear of anger and sadness rolling down her face.

         “No!” He exclaimed, the last thing he’d expected was tears; he’d expected violence. “No, that’s not it at all.” He reinforced gently. “We need help against this new foe and since Keres has, had, a vested interest in this world, I thought she might help. I hardly meant to burden you and your people with this.” He continued, trying to stem the tide.

         “We would’ve come anyway.” Andariel stated quietly after a pregnant pause. “We saw what was happening – we…” Andariel hesitated, would they have come? Was that the reason the council saw no reason to delay her pilgrimage? Had that been a clever ploy to keep her out of their hair? “What?!” She demanded, her head whipping around to face Kyoko. “You’re sure?” She asked, eyes flashing. “Dammit!” She cursed, whirling around to face the tunnel’s entrance to the cavern as three winged silhouettes seemed to materialize from the darkness.

         “My, my, my! What a reunion!” Keres exclaimed mockingly. “Anyone else feel nostalgic?” She continued with a smirk, a fang glinting in the sun that filtered through the new holes in the tunnel ceiling. “Pleasure seeing you again Andariel, though you seem almost naked without the protection of your honor guard, Maeko, and –oh, you do still have Kyoko, don’t you?” She added, catching herself.

         “You think I need an honor guard to protect me from some over-the-hill hag?” Andariel retorted. Keres bristled, but continued to approach, flanked by those who could only be Atol and Coal. Andariel hadn’t realized they had survived the war, but then she hadn’t thought she could respond so well to Keres’ barbs either. Who did that Demoness barbarian think she was anyway, talking to the Ruler of the Realms in such a manner?! “What do you want? Come to finish off Inochi?!” She demanded over Kyoko’s hissing, dropping back into her old air of superiority and obnoxiously, bloated egotism.

         “Finish him?” Keres inquired innocently. “I haven’t even touched him. I do wonder, though, what would’ve drawn someone such as yourself to our backwoods Realm. My revival? Or is it the threat of something worse than wittle ol’ me?” Keres continued, batting her eyes and trying to erect an angelic air. When she read in the expressions of the others that it wasn’t working she shrugged, tucking her hands behind her head and leaned against the cave wall.

         “Worse than YOU?” Andariel sputtered, shocked. “NOTHING could be worse than you.”

         Keres burst out laughing; she turned to look at Coal. “Spoken like someone who has never met my father.” She stated with a smirk. Atol and Coal laughed politely, Keres rolled her eyes—they cared too much about the opinions of others.

*

         “Lord Inochi! Lord Inochi? Are you okay?” Zakandra called, as she entered the cave. She froze once she saw the new occupants. Where had all these people come from? She studied each in turn, trying to place each…being. One was a beautiful woman with bright silver hair, deep green eyes, and an odd, grayish cat-like creature on her shoulder with brilliant blue eyes; she stood next to Inochi, facing another new addition, an almost evil-looking woman in black revealing clothing with her long, black braid hanging down her back, leaning against the wall with her hands behind her head. Lord Inochi was slumped against the cave wall looking slightly better than when she last saw him and actually conscious. The two gargoyles flanking the evil-looking woman were studying her as closely as she was everyone else. Perhaps, she shouldn’t have left him alone—not that she remembered leaving… “My…my apologies…” She stammered, curtseying to the array of beings in the cave.

         “Interesting,” The evil-looking woman in black murmured, smiling slightly. “Welcome to the party.” She greeted.

         “What is it with you?!” The silver-haired woman demanded, taking a step closer to the evil-looking woman.

         “What? Last thing you said was that I was the worst thing alive—since when does that mean I have to be polite?” She shot back, flashing the silver-haired woman a sly smirk. The silver-haired woman clenched her teeth and turned away, looking ready to hit something or someone. Meanwhile, the evil-looking woman turned to Zakandra, her eyes soft and expressive, completely erasing her evil aspect in the blink of an eye. “Hello, Beloved.” She greeted. Zakandra took a step back as the evil-looking woman pushed off the wall and allowed her hands to drop to her sides; that was when Zakandra noticed her wings—a demon?!

         “W-what did you d-do to Her?” Zakandra stammered, eyes tearing with combined fear and anger. “How could you hurt someone so defenseless? How was one such as you able to slay the Fallen Goddess?” She sobbed, tears beginning to stream down her face as she continued to back away from the evil-looking woman.

         The evil-looking woman hesitated, looking thoughtful for a few moments. “Fallen Goddess, I like that.” She commented with a broad grin. The silver-haired woman rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh.

         “How in Heaven’s name did you rally so many loyal to you? You’re a complete air-head!” The silver-haired woman exclaimed, shaking her head. The evil-looking woman ignored her, continuing her advance on Zakandra, who’d just hit the wall.

         “I am Her, Beloved.” The evil-looking woman stated, keeping her voice soft. “There was only me, not truly a Her as you think of it. I wasn’t so bad, was I? Don’t you remember coming to me and confiding in me?” She asked, raising an eyebrow and smiling softly.

         “Who are you anyway?” Zakandra squeaked, pressing against the wall as the advance continued.
“I am Keres.” She replied, holding her head slightly higher when saying her name. Zakandra fainted.

*

         “Oh my.” Keres commented as she watched Zakandra’s body slide down the wall and crumple on the floor.

         “Oh my? OH MY?!” Andariel squawked in disbelief. “What is wrong with you?” She snapped.

         “Apparently everything.” Keres pointed out blandly, turning to nod at Atol. Andariel took a step closer to Inochi as Atol seemed to leap off the wall and move toward Zakandra.

         “Oh my GOD!!” Andariel exclaimed, distressed. “You’re going to eat her!!” She accused.

         “Eat her?!” Keres choked. “Why in the name of Seven Hells would we do that?!”

         “How would I know that?” Andariel retorted.

         “You seem to think you know a lot about us already.” Keres shot back as Atol picked up Zakandra up and cradled her against him so she wouldn’t be disturbed by his moving her. She nodded at Coal, who like his brother, pushed off the wall with a smooth, fast movement. He scooped up a sleeping Inochi in his arms, cradling his injured body carefully, making holding a winged creature look easy. “I don’t know who told you about the Demon race, but they were wrong. I wouldn’t have expected one of Kyoko’s fosterlings to harbor such prejudices and preconceived notions. I suppose I will be in for many more surprises.” Keres stated, her tone more than a little frosty, her face showing her clear disappointment and outrage. She stormed past Andariel and stalked toward the entrance of the cave, followed by the gargoyles. Atol and Coal followed Keres; they met Andariel’s eyes briefly and before averting their eyes as they passed. Andariel stood there, her mouth working furiously to produce words, unsuccessfully. What could she possibly say to that? As much as she hated to admit it, Keres was right.

         The Council had told her that Keres and her army wanted dominion over The World to eat the inhabitants; now that she thought about it, no one had ever turned up missing last time Keres was free—they just turned up dead. She should at least give them a chance. Andariel cleared her throat, “Umm, what are you planning on doing to…WITH her?” She called after them.

         “Taking her home.” Keres replied over her shoulder with a shrug. “Coming?” She called. Andariel froze, should she follow them? She was only a Medium and she wasn’t supposed to be here. She didn’t even get authorization before opening the portal and bridging the Realms. If she meddled further, there was no telling what the consequences would be. Andariel felt as if she were being pulled apart in a tug-of-war. Should she abandon her new friends or should she go home and report, follow the proper procedures? A slight smile twitched at the corners of her lips, when had she EVER followed procedure?

         “I wouldn’t have thought caves as your thing Highness.” Keres’ voice cut through Andariel’s train of thought like a knife through butter, making her bristle instinctively at the condescending tone. “I’d heard you were claustrophobic…” She threw a grin over her shoulder, a fang catching the light.

         Andariel looked around, startled. After her arrival, she’d gotten so preoccupied that she hadn’t given her surroundings a second thought. The walls seemed to start moving. She couldn’t breathe. Suffocating. Couldn’t move. Someone spoke, the sound distorted, slowed. Falling. World slipping out from under her; vision swimming. A face? Movement? Unconsciousness swept over her, releasing her from fear’s grasp.
         Andariel woke to yelling. “How was I supposed to know that would happen?! I knew she was claustrophobic; I didn’t know it was to such a ridiculous extent.” Keres screamed at someone.

         “That is exactly your problem Keres, you never consider these things. You’re always tormenting others to get some thrill from their reaction. You don’t give a damn about anyone, do you?” A man was screaming back. She opened her eyes and squinted in the sunlight. She turned toward the voices. Keres and one of the gargoyles were facing one another, both leaning into the other so that their faces were an inch or two apart while their bodies were bordering on two feet apart.

         “Why don’t you just come out and say what you think? Come on! Say it to my face!” Keres screamed, her face contorting with the depth of her rage.

         “FINE! Why do you always have to act like such a spoiled, cold-hearted BITCH!?”

         SLAP! The sound echoed across the clearing in front of the cave. The gargoyle’s face was already swelling at the impact site. Keres stood frozen in the pose of the strike’s completion. Andariel could’ve sworn she saw a tear hit the ground. Keres spread her wings and took off, spreading dust and fallen leaves everywhere. The gargoyle watched her go, a hand tenderly touching his injured cheek.

         “Great going, Atol. Why didn’t you simply put a footprint on her ass and save us time?!” The other gargoyle snapped, brushing past the gargoyle she now knew as Atol. “How are you feeling, Majesty?” He inquired timidly. She looked them over, wondering if they were twins; Atol was slightly taller of the two and was bald, though probably by choice.

         “Better, thank you.” She answered with a small smile. “I’m sorry, we haven’t been properly introduced, I’m Kyoko Andariel Maeko Arawyn Raina Caytarin the third. Most call me Andariel or Andy. And you?” She inquired, raising herself to a seated position and offering him her hand.

         “Kai, most people call me Coal though.” He answered grasping her hand long enough to shake it.
“Why’s that?” Andariel inquired, staring at her hand a brief moment in confusion before letting it drop.

         “Our mother had a sense of humor. Youkai is a word for demons, monsters, ghosts; it can be used for most common ‘nasties’ I guess you could say. She divided the word down the center and had names for twins.” Atol answered, butting into the conversation.

         “Well it’s better than my luck with names. One of my Great-to-some-degree-Grandmothers couldn’t decide on a name for her daughter so she strung them all together and called it good. After that, parents simply switched the names around instead of making up a new one. The only reason I’m not called Kyoko is because that was my Grandmother’s name and it was too confusing having us both respond. After she died,” Andariel swallowed hard against the pain of the admission, “none of us wanted to bring up that painful memory so we left things as they were.” Andariel explained, try to cheer up—forgetting the sense of foreboding she had at Keres’ departure.

***

         Keres didn’t know how long she’d flown, by the time she had landed her wings burned from exhaustion and overuse. Dried tears left crusted lines on her cheeks, hairs had been pulled from her braid, her clothes were torn, and she had twigs, leaves, and sap just about everywhere. She sighed, for once not caring about her appearance; all she could think about was Atol and how she never even realized how bitter and resentful he was—how much her behavior affected everyone around her.

         Keres looked around; she’d need a place to hide, a place safe from unwelcome eyes so she could sleep. She studied a nearby evergreen closely, under its branches should be enough room for her to lie down and stay unseen, without her wings. She licked her finger and held it out, no wind. Dissolving her wings would leave telltale sign of her presence; stifling a yawn, she realized she had no other choice. With a shrug of her shoulders, her wings dissolved into a mass of feathers that covered the ground. Keres shook her head, why she was the only demon whose wings formed from and dissolved into feathers was beyond her. She stifled another yawn, who cared anyway, she needed sleep. Keres crawled under the boughs and curled up next to the trunk breathing the pine-scented air deeply, appreciating her freedom. In the next instant, she was asleep.

         Keres awoke at twilight to the sound of male voices. Had the gargoyles found her already? Carefully, she moved a bough out of her line of sight and peered out. There were about half a dozen angel-like creatures milling about her feathers, angel-like only in the fact that unlike the demon and elves they didn’t have pointy ears. These creatures lacked wings though, wings and the light hair—not to mention the exotic beauty all angels seemed to possess.

         Keres tried picking up rogue thoughts to no avail; whatever kind of creature they were, her telepathy didn’t work on them. She leaned forward for a better look when they bent over and poked the pile of feathers suspiciously a couple times with a foot, were they expected it to come to life?

         “Devilsss in dissssguissse…humansssss are...” a voice hissed, a forked tongue tickling the edge of her ear. Keres squealed and leapt away, the motion set her off balance and the pine bough flying back to strike her in the face sent her rolling down a hill she had not noticed before. As she rolled down the steep hill head over feet, she was glad that no demon was around to witness this disgrace. She landed and slid a few feet on her face, she muttered the incantation for an illusion into the soil so the pursuing creatures wouldn’t realize her true identity. Somehow, she had a feeling that discovery would have been detrimental to her health.

***

         Godwyn shifted his weight, hoping to move his shackles to a part of his wrist that wasn’t already raw and/or bleeding. He had felt Keres’ awakening, Inochi had wakened her evil form. If she found herself The World would end, or so it was foretold in the Angelic Circle. None would be able to stand up to her; none except perhaps her father or mother. Not to mention her selves would fight for control of the body they were trapped into. He sighed, no one had heard from Nemesis in almost 1000 years so she was most likely not a viable option should the unthinkable occur.

         Godwyn sagged against his restraints, letting the shackles cut deeper into his wrist with little more than a wince. Keres was approaching. He could almost taste her essence in the air, she was so very close. The last thing he had expected was her capture so soon after her awakening. He smiled sadly; The World was going to end sooner than he’d originally thought. As unhappy as Keres’ awakening had made him, it had given him hope—only someone with Keres’ cunning, intellect and power could’ve stood up to these creatures. Now…

***

         Keres hesitated as they reached the edge of these creatures’ establishment. The air here smelled foul, like death and tortured souls. Her eyes widened, if she didn’t know any better, she would’ve sworn she smelled Godwyn here too—very faintly.

         “Awe struck?” One inquired. Keres nodded dumbly—she was awe struck, but only because she realized that she didn’t just smell Godwyn, she could feel his presence. The guy that had asked beamed with pride, “This is where we keep our captives—our last was…” he looked around making sure the others weren’t close enough to overhear, “an angel!” he whispered excitedly. Keres’ heart skipped a beat.

         “T-they really exist?” She stammered, trying to sound awed, hoping she succeeded in convincing him that she was simply ignorant.

         “Yeah—we haven’t begun our tests on him yet, would you…umm…like to see him?” he inquired, blushing and looking away. Keres rolled her eyes, the last thing she needed was one of the barbarians fawning over her.

         “Can I really?!” She asked, inhaling sharply, trying to sound like a brainless girl she’d slain once.

         “Of course!” He exclaimed, drawing attention to them.

         “Hey! Come on slowpokes!” Their leader ordered impatiently.

         Keres’ mind was reeling as she was lead through the town. What were the odds that she would stumble across Godwyn while running away from Atol? Should she rescue him or leave him here to rot? She entered the room given her and flopped onto the bed.

         She sighed as she stretched across the bed. Godwyn. Keres had thought he’d died from the way Inochi had talked. She groaned and punched her pillow. Keres hated him and yet… In her past life he’d betrayed her—lured her into that cave and sealed her—in her past life, a separate existence she could no longer return to.

***

         Godwyn was confused. Why hadn’t Keres been brought down to the cells? Hadn’t she been captured? Had she switch sides? What was going on? He closed his eyes, intent on finding his answers, forgetting the barriers around his cell until they zapped him. No thoughts out, no magic, helpless. He thought glumly. If she was here on her own free will would she rescue him or would she witness his torture and exploitation? He knew what went on here; these magicless creatures were searching for magic’s secret, its key. Fervently he prayed that Keres’ intentions would be good. He passed out, picturing her in his mind as she was back when…

***

         Zakandra woke up in her own room. She lay there, wondering if everything was just a dream; the angel Inochi, the awakening of the Daughter of Darkness, Keres, that strange silver-haired, green-eyed woman, Keres being whom she’d known as the Fallen Goddess…was it all simply…

         “Are you feeling any better?” A soft voice asked from a dark corner.

         “Keres?!” Zakandra half gasped, half choked.

         “No, I’m Andariel.” She smiled, leaning into the moonlight, letting it highlight her silver hair. “Keres has left us for a while Zakandra—but I have a feeling she’ll be back.” She continued, eyes twinkling.

         “The gargoyles…?” Zakandra started, confused. “Oh my Goddess, the gargoyles! Where are they?” She exclaimed, glancing around.

         “They are in the den, probably still arguing with your stubborn father over the now unconscious bodies of the guards.” Andariel answered with a shrug, her eyes aglow with a mischievous light. She glanced down at the foot of Zakandra’s bed. “I know Fuzzball; I’m heading down there now. I just wanted to make sure Zakandra was alright.” She stated.

         Zakandra’s brows furrowed in confusion—who was she talking to? Zakandra lifted her head and peered down the bed. At the foot of her bed lay what appeared to be a dozing kitten…with wings? It was light ash gray with white socks and a sort of white mustache on its face. The wings were a darker gray with black flecks. Realization struck, that had been the creature sitting on Andariel’s shoulder when they’d first met.

         “Her name is Kyoko and I think she likes you.” Zakandra smiled at that, she’d always wanted a cat. “Don’t talk baby talk to her, she bites.” Andariel warned as she rose from her chair. “I will be back shortly.” She stated. Zakandra watched her go wondering how she could be so calm with the Daughter of Darkness, Majesty of Maliciousness, Highness of Hatred, Princess of Pain herself, Keres, on the loose. Zakandra’s town was already smack-dab in the middle of a potential war zone, the last thing she wanted was for it to be Keres’ destination of choice. She sighed as she scooted down and curled up around the cat creature, falling asleep while stroking Kyoko’s soft fur.

***

         Keres woke abruptly as someone pounded on her door. She almost panicked—where was she? A ceiling. Unfamiliar smells. Nothing familiar. Alone.

         “Ms. Keres…” A voice whispered. “If you want to see that angel…” Everything fell into place. She was at the invaders’ establishment. Harry was his name. He promised to take her to see Godwyn. She still hadn’t decided whether or not she was going to free him or point and laugh at his misfortune. She stretched as she sat up; both arms, left wing, right wing, both legs. Her wings? They’d reformed on their own accord! She looked around for a place to dissolve them for easy cleanup, the bathroom.

         She leapt out of the bed and hurried into the bathroom. Facing away from the tub, Keres banished her wings. Most of the feathers ended up in the tub. She sighed, relieved. Summoning her illusion once again, she strolled to the door and palmed it open.

         “Thank you so much for this opportunity.” She smiled. Harry stood in front of the door gawking at her. “What?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

         “Stunning. I didn’t think it was possible, but you’re even lovelier with your hair down. I hadn’t noticed the natural highlights.” He stated, breathless. Keres schooled her face, allowing no surprise to show through. She certainly hadn’t let her hair down, nor did she know anything about these supposed highlights. What in Seven Hells was going on?

         Harry offered her his arm which she accepted, allowing herself to be lead through the conversation and the hallways, still working to figure out what to do about Godwyn.

***

         Andariel stood next to Inochi’s bed watching him sleep, happy for a reprieve from all the chaos. Her current projects included babysitting and playing referee for the gargoyles and Zakandra’s father, nursing Inochi back to health, trying to talk the Elven council into gathering an army to fight the invaders, and teaching Zakandra about the Realm she had thought the only in existence as well as the others.

         Andariel nudged Inochi, trying to wake him. As much as she hated to do this, they had to leave, and tonight would be best. She couldn’t bring Keres here, not with the protections that guarded this town, not yet anyway. Inochi stirred.

         “We must talk to your council as soon as possible.” She whispered as she sat down on the edge of his bed.

         “And the gargoyles? We can’t take them with us.” He murmured, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he yawned.

         “They’ll wait in the cave.” Andariel stated, glad that she had already settled that. She would’ve preferred them staying here with Zakandra, protecting the town; however, with given their current relationship with Baron Ravi, that wasn’t even remotely conceivable.

         “Can you fly?” He asked, sitting up and cringing from the pain.

         “I think I can manage something.” She smiled, she turned toward him, “Relax and clear your mind.” She whispered as she placed her index and middle fingers on his temples. Inochi closed his eyes and relaxed against Andariel, taking a deep breath.

         “You smell good.” He commented. Andariel laughed lightly.

         “I aim to please.” She grinned. “Now shush.” She ordered softly. Inochi felt a calming thread connect them; he was filled with a relaxing energy, something that felt as though it was filling him, healing him, making him whole once again.

         “Feels good.” He purred, lost in her warmth, her smell, her energy.

         “It’s supposed to.” She answered in his ear, massaging his temples lightly. He leaned into her just before she began to pull away; figuratively cutting the threads she used to connect them. Inochi opened his eyes and gazed into her beautiful green eyes. He glanced down at her soft pink lips briefly. “Get some sleep.” She stated, moving away, releasing his temples, forcing him to support his own weight lest he want to fall off the bed and onto his face. Inochi lay back down, his heart beating double time. Before he knew it, he was asleep.

         Andariel watched him for a few moments before turning and heading back towards Zakandra’s room. Her cheeks were burning, her heart was racing. Goddess, Keres…your son…She thought and that the thought hang in the air. So much for leaving tonight…

***

         Keres stared up at what must have been Godwyn, unaware that her mouth was hanging open.

         “A truly empowering sight, isn’t it?” Harry whispered into her ear. Keres couldn’t bring herself to answer; she was trying too hard not to cry. How could they do that to another living being? She watched Godwyn shift his weight in his sleep, the shackles cutting into his already raw and scabbed wrists; he cringed in his sleep but didn’t rouse. A tear slid down her cheek as she watched fresh blood follow the dried track other dribbles had forged down his arms from other such wounds.

         Godwyn’s once form fitting, pristine, white attire hung loosely from his gaunt form. His wings were a dingy gray from dust and grit, much like his clothes. His clothes were shabby, blood-stained, and tattered. His once proud stature hung limp and defeated on his shackles.

         “I’m sorry, but I can’t turn on the lights so you could see him in all his glory.” Harry whispered. Keres nodded dumbly, unconsciously taking a step toward Godwyn. How could you even say glory when one saw Godwyn’s state? When was the last time he was cleaned? She wondered angrily.

         “NO!” Harry yelled, pulling her back. “He’s very dangerous!” He exclaimed. Keres leaned into him, letting her tears dissolve into his shirt. She made up her mind. Godwyn had to be rescued. “Shh…it’s okay—no harm, no foul. You didn’t know.” He stated, trying to comfort her as her shoulders shook with a combination of rage and sobs. He assumed her tears were for her transgression, for angering him.

         Keres had hated Godwyn for a long time, she had wanted to torture him for all he’d done to her…she’d planned it out during her long captivity—but this…this was abominable, savage, barbaric! “Let me take you back to your room.” Harry offered. Keres pushed away from him and ran down the hall. The last thing she wanted was to be near one of the creatures that had done this; nor did she want him to see the feathers in the bathtub and figure her out. When she reached her room, she threw herself down on her bed and cried herself to sleep.