Nightmare

Part XL

Kalen drew his weapon, and stepped in front of me So I stepped around him, and took a few steps towards

the woman

I would have gotten closer to her, but Kalen had a death

grip on my clothes

"Enigma. I presume." I said, suddenly filled with

anger towards her

"You presume correctly. Such a temper you have! A good

thing Taryn was first born, I think. You haven't the temperament to rule."

"Who are you to judge me?! Because of you I grew up

without a family. Only half a person separated from Taryn."

"But you did grow up. Had you remained here, you and

Taryn both would have died. I did what I had to do, and I have no regrets."

"Oh! You have no regrets! Well, how wonderful for you.

I have enough for both of us!"

"If you wish to rescue your sister, you're going to have

to stop feeling sorry for yourself."

"Feeling sorry for myself?!" I wrenched away from Kalen

and started toward her

Fully intent upon ripping her limb from limb When I suddenly found myself frozen, mid stride Enigma approached me, and stared long into my eyes...

into my soul

Then she began slowly walking around me as she spoke "So much anger. So much passion. So much love. You

will do your sister proud, but first you must learn to harness those feelings. And others as well. Make them work for you, rather than against you. You have no idea what you are capable of. Let alone what you and Taryn, together, can do. I will teach you." And with that she released me

I lost my balance, and fell to the floor She came, and stood over me

"Will you learn?" she asked

What else could I say but, "I will."

Terri Lyn Stanfield

5/31/2001