The Dreamwalker's Daughter

Chapter Twenty Inner Demons

Sarah led Zoe over to a couch and sat down pulling her with her. "I can't believe you're here." Sarah looked up and noticed that Jakob was looking uncomfortably at them and Killainka. Sarah hopped up from the couch and went over to grab him. "You have to come here and meet someone," she told him grabbing hold of him and pulling him over to Zoe. Zoe stared at them both curiously as Jakob looked a bit terrified at what Sarah was doing. Horatio and Killainka looked on. "Zoe this is Jakob Whitmore, Jakob this is Zoe Turner my very best friend in the whole world."

Zoe stood tears running down her cheeks, and stuck out her hand. "Hello." Jakob took it reluctantly.

"Hi. Sarah's mentioned you a few times in group," he said taking her in.

"Oh?" answered Zoe getting her first good look at Sarah, Jakob, and their surroundings. It had just really come home to her where she was. "St Michael's," she whispered to her self.

"What?" Sarah asked looking at her strangely.

"Nothing," replied Zoe feeling suddenly uncomfortable. However, Sarah had a feeling she knew what was going on. She sighed. Killainka and Horatio both moved forward to rescue her but it was too late. Jakob had pushed a bit closer.

"So this is Zoe?" he said ignoring their exchange. "I don't know Sarah I don't think she looks anything like Professor Abydos, are you sure she's related?" he asked cracking a smile.

Zoe's face grew practically purple and Sarah thought she was going to burst. "You told him I was related to Abydos?" screeched Zoe looking at Sarah wide eyed. Then she looked at Jakob again. "Hey wait a minute, how do you know Abydos?" she shot accusingly. Jakob and Sarah were both laughing now and Zoe couldn't help but join in. Killainka breathed a sigh of relief and Horatio and him both took a step back.

"Jakob was just telling me that he went to Dragon's Wood," reported Sarah.

"Cool," said Zoe, leaning over to hang on her best friend. Sarah looked at Zoe and tears began to flow freely. Zoe looked at her face and then down to her arms and hands. "Sarah," she whispered. "Haven't your cuts heeled yet?" Sarah grabbed Zoe and hugged her again.

"It's a long story," she whispered in her ear. "Do you have time to listen?" she asked after holding her back. Zoe looked over her shoulder to Killainka and all three now looked at the adults.

"Professor!" called Sarah releasing Zoe and moving on to her mentor. She gave him a long hard hug that caused him to turn pink around the ears. When she pulled back, he removed the glasses from his face and wiped his eyes.

"Miss Nettleton I'm glad to see that you're feeling well." However, Killainka was no longer looking at Sarah he had made eye contact with someone else. "Mr. Whitmore."

"Professor K," said Jakob very evenly. Killainka however was not about to except this cold greeting, he stepped forward and pulled Jakob into a bear hug. Sarah watched as Jakob's face went red and she had a sudden feeling that no matter how grumpy he continued to look he was quiet happy. When Killainka released him, he straitened his robe and tried to look dignified. "It's nice to see you again sir," he said after clearing his throat.

"I'm happy to see you too Jakob just not under these circumstances," said the Professor. Both Jakob and Sarah hung their heads. "Now we'll have none of that." He reached over and lifted Sarah's chin. "You young lady look one hundred ten percent better than the last time I saw you." Sarah hid her arms behind her back, looked into his eyes, and smiled widely. Then he looked at Jakob. "And I have a strange feeling you have something to do with it." The black haired boys ears were red now and he looked uncomfortably at Sarah, and then smiled. Killainka looked at the trio and then turned to Horatio "I believe you promised me a tour." Horatio nodded.

"Yes indeed. I think the two of you can tend to Miss Turner." Sarah grinned, but Jakob began to shake his head.

"I should leave Sarah and her friend alone Horatio," said Jakob quietly.

"No please stay Jakob," pleaded Sarah, who wasn't quite sure she was strong enough to face Zoe on her own. Even Zoe, who hadn't a clue who this person was, didn't mind his presence. Having him there, meant that she didn't have to discuss anything intimate.

"Yeah it's all right, stay," seconded Zoe.

Jakob surveyed both their faces and then sat down next to the couch where they both now made themselves at home. Shortly afterward, Horatio and Killainka left leaving only the trio and the surrounding nurses, and "inmates". "So?" said Zoe after looking around for a while and sufficiently creeping herself out. Sarah had taken hold of her hands again and wasn't letting go; this had brought Zoe's attention back to the bandages again. "What's up with the rags?" Sarah looked over to Jakob who smiled encouragingly.

"Well." Sarah looked up into Zoe's eyes. Zoe flinched, it was the first time she had seen Sarah since the night they had found her and she wasn't sure what to expect. There was something there, something that hadn't been there before, something sad and haunting, but not the look that had terrified Zoe before. "I'm trying to get my memory back. I'm trying to remember everything that happened so that I can prevent it from happening again," explained Sarah.

"Oh." Zoe's lower lip quivered. "I wish we could just forget and pretend it didn't happen at all," whispered Zoe.

Sarah's breaths were uneven and she was having a hard time focusing. Jakob didn't know who Zoe was but he knew that she was upsetting Sarah. He leaned forward. "Sarah maybe you should stop." Zoe shot him a nasty look. Who was this person to speak to her Sarah like this? Sarah could feel the emotional exchange between the two of them and it was very draining.

"Whoa, stop please!" she said holding up her hands. They both looked at her and then each other. Zoe leaned forward.

"Sorry."

Sarah smiled. "Salright." She drew a deep breath. "Zoe, I have to remember everything and not just because someone told me. I have to feel it, the pain, the hatred, I have to remember so I never do it again." Zoe nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"It's my fault," whimpered Zoe.

Sarah looked at her like she was mad. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I should have gone to Professor Killainka and told him about the knife. I should have told him that you were having those nightmares and that you were Dreamwalking," cried Zoe. Jakob's eyes widened.

"Zoe you were being my friend. I had asked you not to. You were only doing what you thought was best for me. You cannot blame yourself for what happened to me!" Sarah took Zoe by the arms and shook her head. "I'm going to be all right. I need to know that you are too."

"I'm fine," Zoe lied, looking down at the couch.

"You forget that you can't lie to me," scolded Sarah. Zoe looked up and cracked a smile. "I bet you're not turning in homework and I bet Abydos is about to turn you into something."

Jakob chuckled. "Oh that can't be good. Even I know you don't piss off Abydos." Sarah and Zoe looked at Jakob and then they both started laughing.

"Well, I can't help it I just keep thinking about you and I look at Dillon and," she stopped. "I can't talk to him."

"That's just stupid. You didn't do anything to him." Sarah was the one whimpering now. She rose from the couch and turned away. "I have to convince myself that I didn't either. It wasn't me Zoe. It wasn't me!" Sarah faltered slightly. Her head had begun to hurt again. "Damn," she whispered putting her hand to her brow. She took a deep breath and turned around. "Zoe you need to go on with things because I expect for everything to be the same when I get out of this place!" she demanded through the pain. Zoe stood and went to her friend.

"I'm just so lost these days," whispered Zoe.

"It's going to be all right, I promise," assured Sarah. She pulled away from Zoe and took her out to arms length. "I'm getting better, I can tell by the look on Horatio's face." Sarah giggled and both Zoe and Jakob smiled. "He's not scowling at me as much." Sarah was having a hard time disguising her pain.

"What's wrong?" asked Zoe looking at her expression.

"Her heads hurting again," said Jakob moving forward. "I'm getting Horatio."

"NO!" said Sarah holding out her arm.

"What's he talking about?" asked Zoe looking first at Jakob and then at Sarah.

"I'm fine Jakob. The headaches haven't completely gone away," admitted Sarah turning back to Zoe.

"By not completely gone away you mean?"

"She means she not intending to tell you that she's not much better obviously," finished Jakob. "Look at her arms." Zoe did.

Sarah gave him an evil look. "It's none of your damned business Jakob!" spat Sarah hiding her arms behind her back once more.

"Sarah what's going on?" asked Zoe looking at their faces concerned. It wasn't like her friend to curse or to be so angry. She was becoming distressed. Sarah was breathing unevenly again and she had attracted the attention of Geoff the rather large male nurse with a bad temper who had been sitting in the corner behind them. He rose and approached them cautiously.

"That's what I want to know," he said looking from one face to another.

"We're fine," answered Sarah, her lower lip quivering.

"Jakob if you're causing trouble again?" he started.

"You'll do what Geoff?" asked Jakob turning to face down the large nurse. "Restrain me? It wouldn't be the first or last time," he said rather cocky. Sarah looked at Jakob, she was feeling very guilty, he was about to get into trouble, and it was all her fault.

"No Geoff stop. He didn't do anything. He was just trying to keep me from getting upset and I wasn't listening," insisted Sarah. The nurse looked at Jakob and then Sarah. Zoe was feeling a bit dizzy and wasn't sure what was going on but she had a feeling that something or someone was needed. Then she thought about how she was that someone.

"Sarah," said Zoe taking her by the arms. "Focus." Sarah looked at Zoe, for a moment, she couldn't fathom what it was she was trying to say, and then it hit her. Sarah drew a deep breath and nodded. "Hey you," Zoe said stepping in between the rather large nurse and Jakob. "She's all right, she's just overly excited to see me." Sarah looked at Zoe and then burst into laughter. After a brief hesitation, Zoe and Jakob joined her. The nurse looked at them all like they were crazy and then walked back to where he was sitting. Zoe continued to laugh until she looked down and started to scream, however Sarah placed her hand over her mouth.

"No Zoe, it's all right really," she assured her. Zoe looked down at the blood on her hands and the bloody bandages that had caused it.

"Sarah how in the hell can that be all right?" she asked in a voice that almost brought everyone's attention back to them.

"Shhhh!" Sarah looked around. "Come on," she turned and led her toward her room.

"Sarah you have to let me get Horatio now," pleaded Jakob. Sarah stopped, turned, and looked into his eyes.

"Yeah, I suppose so," she agreed. "I'll go back to my room and wait for you." She turned and Zoe followed her into the small cubicle she now called home. When they made it inside Zoe expressed her concern once more.

"What the hell is going on?"

"I keep cutting myself," said Sarah sitting on her bed and wrapping a towel she had grabbed around her arm.

"You keep cutting yourself?" repeated Zoe outraged.

Sarah winced. "I don't understand it. I don't even remember doing it. Most of the time, I'm asleep. I suppose I'm Dreamwalking, but a couple of times it was during group. I got really angry and well they tell me I'm putting my hands threw things. Then when I get really upset it reopens the wounds."

"You keep putting your hands through things?"

"Mostly window, and mirrors," reported Sarah. "I'm finding sharp objects they didn't know they had." Sarah forced a giggle Zoe however frowned.

"Aren't they watching you?" asked Zoe who was completely flabbergasted by this news.

"Well I actually can't believe they haven't put the restraints back on me," expressed Sarah. Zoe collapsed into a chair again. She was beginning to wish she hadn't come.

"Restraints?" she whispered.

"I'm sorry Zoe maybe you shouldn't have come," said Sarah falling back into her pillow as well. She had managed to cover both of her arms and but her bloody her hands were still quite visible. However, there was something about the fact that Sarah had just apparently read her mind again, that brought Zoe back to focus. She leaned forward and grabbed Sarah.

"No, I'm glad I came. Even if I found out some scary things, I needed to see you and I think you needed to see me. In fact I that that's what's wrong with all of us, we need to see you and know that you're all right," decided Zoe.

"I think you're right Miss Turner." Zoe and Sarah turned round to see Killainka, Kincaid, and Jakob standing in the doorway. "I think that's exactly what you need Sarah," said Horatio approaching Sarah. "Mr. Whitmore tells me you've ruptured again." Sarah nodded as her pale face turned pink.

"Doctor why is she doing that?" asked Zoe flat out. Kincaid turned to Zoe and looked at her indignantly.

"Horatio," he said turning back to Sarah and continuing to unwrap the towels she had just wrapped tightly around her arms. "We're working on finding that out," he answered flatly. Killainka looked at Zoe and then Horatio with Sarah and smiled.

"I believe you're right Horatio. Maybe all they need is a reunion, perhaps Sarah is well enough for that," he chimed in ignoring Zoe's question about Sarah's present condition.

Horatio looked into the expression of panic that now flashed across Sarah's face. "Not so sure you're ready to face your friends?" he asked now working on her second re-bandaging that day.

"Are you?" she asked starring into his eyes. "It wasn't long ago that I did this," she said holding up the now white-bandaged arms. Horatio stepped back and smiled.

"I think it's exactly what you need. I'm quite sure in the beginning it wouldn't have been wise but I believe now that you've started remembering things it's the prefect time. Seeing their faces will help to give you that extra push that you need," he proposed. Sarah's mouth was hanging open now and she was in full out panic.

"Horatio! Ah, ah Professor," she stumbled about. "Have you both lost your mind?" she asked. Zoe leaned forward and grabbed hold of her.

"Sarah chill, I'll be there," she said trying to sound as though she wasn't panicking a bit herself. She turned to look at the Professor and Horatio. "I will won't I?"

"Of course Zoe," answered Killainka he turned to Horatio. "I think perhaps tomorrow, or do you think that too soon?" Sarah was white as a sheet even Zoe was looking a bit pale.

"No tomorrow would be fine," agreed Horatio. "You can bring them around after she's had her session with me in the morning," he decided. Sarah collapsed back into her pillow and froze.

"Go on and bring the dreamless potion now, I feel the onset of a whole week's worth of nightmares," whined Sarah. Zoe looked at her friend and then to the faces of the rest of the room and then someone who had been very quiet suddenly starting laughing loudly. Everyone turned to look at Jakob. "I'm glad you think it's funny," said Sarah bitterly.

"Oh sorry," he said laughing louder. "It's just that you seem to be overlooking the obvious."

"And what would that be?" spat Sarah giving him the evil eye.

"You're not shaking, you don't appear to be bleeding, and by the way you're complaining and not doubled over I'd say you're not experiencing a headache. So apparently the prospect of seeing your friends is not as stressful as you're making out," he concluded. Kincaid looked at Jakob, then Sarah and snickered.

"Well Miss Nettleton, it seems Mr. Whitmore has you pegged." Horatio grinned. Sarah gave them all a disgruntled look. "It will be fine Sarah. I would not expose you to anything I did not truly think you were ready for."

Sarah drew a deep breath and nodded. There was a part of her that was excited about seeing her friends. She looked over to Zoe and thought about how only days ago she would have probably hidden from her best friend. She leaned forward and took Zoe's hands. Zoe looked down and the bandages and swallowed hard. "I can't wait to tell everyone. Just think finding out about Quidditch and a visit to see all in one day, they're going to freak." Sarah's face went pale again.

"Quidditch?" she whispered. Killainka began to shake his head slowly, his eyes closed. Horatio who was still sitting next to her on the bed took the arms that Zoe had just relinquished sensing she said something wrong.

"Look at me Sarah," he said finding the eyes that were now glazing over. "This is no time to back it up. We've been down this road. Blaming yourself is not the answer."

Zoe's face had gone red. She turned to face Killainka. "I'm sorry Professor. I wasn't thinking." Professor Killainka stepped forward and placed a hand on Zoe's shoulder.

"It's all right Zoe. She has to learn to accept." However, Zoe wanted to crawl into a hole. Things were getting better. She had got to come and see Sarah, the others were going to get to also, and then she had to say something stupid, something that obviously had upset Sarah again. Zoe looked at Sarah's bandages, were they going to bleed again, and if they did what did that mean. Zoe was panicking she felt tears rolling down her cheeks, she wanted to run out of the room and then she looked up and saw Sarah's new friend watching her.

"What?" Zoe whispered angrily.

"You didn't know," he answered quietly. Zoe glared at him for a moment and then her face softened. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I should have. I should have remembered," she whimpered back. Killainka turned and put an arm around Zoe.

"Let's go outside." Zoe nodded. Killainka turned to Jakob. "Mr. Whitmore would you join us please." Jakob looked at Killainka oddly, nodded, and then followed them both out into the hallway.

Professor Killainka closed the door quietly behind them and started down the hallway with Jakob and Zoe in tow. "Headed for the courtyard sir?" Jakob asked after they had walked a short distance. Killainka smiled at the dark haired boy.

"You always were good at contemplating my next move," said Killainka smiling slyly. Jakob blushed and hid his face as he did. Zoe looked between the two trying to figure out their relationship. However, thoughts of Sarah and Quidditch flooded back.

"Professor," she started as they reached the courtyard door. "I keep thinking of all the mistakes I've made. I keep thinking that if I'd just," Zoe stopped. The sunlight rushing through the open door hit her like a slap in the face. It was telling her to stop pretending she could take it all back.

"If you'd just told me that day about how you'd had the knife," finished Killainka. Zoe rounded on her heels and stared into his eyes. She had never told him this. Had Sarah? Had she told this doctor and he in turn the Professor? Killainka smiled sadly and sighed. He looked out across the small courtyard and took in the beauty of the end of spring. The trees were loosing their flowers and the bright green leaves were taken their place. He strode off, found a quiet spot under a dogwood, and sat on a bench. Jakob looked at Zoe who was looking very distressed and then followed her as she slowly went after him. She sat down next to him on the ground as Jakob leaned next to the tree.

"You knew?" she asked after a hard swallow.

"Do you know how many warnings I didn't heed? How many signs I pushed aside?" he asked his hands. "I wanted her to be strong, I wanted her to be able to handle it by herself," he confessed softly.

Zoe's eyes widened. "Professor, she's only twelve." Jakob and Zoe were both looking at Killainka as though he were mad. He looked up and into Zoe's eyes.

"Zoe, you have to believe this was before I knew." He paused, his expression changing to one that Zoe had never seen before. He was angry. "Before we knew that there was a Dreamwalker so deep among us." Jakob lost his footing and almost fell to the ground. Zoe turned to look at him as he caught himself and then back to Killainka. "If I had had any idea that he had been there I would never have let her," he stopped.

Zoe looked at Jakob again. He was pale now and appeared to be shaking. "Are you all right?" she asked. However, Jakob wasn't paying any attention to her, he was fixed on Killainka.

"Who was it, Professor?" he blurted out his voice shaky. "Was it," he winced and then closed his eyes as though he was praying for it not to be "my father?" Zoe let out a muffled gasp and Killainka leaned forward.

"No Jakob it was not your father." The boy collapsed against the tree, some of the color returning to his face. Zoe looked at them both and then did her own bit of collapsing. She put her head in her hands and began to sob quietly.

"I'm not sure how much more of this I can take," she whimpered. Killainka placed a hand on her back and shook his head.

"Zoe you have to stop blaming yourself . . . we all do . . .. It's time for the healing to begin." Zoe looked up and wiped her tears. Killainka smiled widely and after a pause Zoe smiled too. Jakob looked at Zoe and then the Professor.

"Are you trying to say there was a Dreamwalker at the school? I mean I have sort have figured out that Sarah's been talking about Dreamwalking and believe me that's been scary enough, but you're saying there was a Dreamwalker at the school," repeated Jakob.

Zoe looked at Jakob again oddly. Had she heard him right, his father was a Dreamwalker? She started to open her mouth but Killainka interrupted her. "No Jakob not exactly. He wasn't exactly at the school. However, he found a way to get to Sarah through someone at the school."

Jakob's eye's widened. "Michayla."

"You know Michayla?" Zoe asked shocked.

"No, Sarah's just talked about her in group," explained Jakob. "Well she's mentioned her. Whenever she brings up Michayla or Dillon, things get sort of crazy."

Zoe was looking at Jakob with great contempt. It was very irritating to her that at this moment this total stranger knew more about what was going on in her best friends life than she did. Killainka sensed the tension. "Anyway," said Killainka clearing his throat and bringing their attention back to him. "This person managed to fool a lot of people including the Secretary of Magic."

"Wow," gasped Jakob. "She's pretty smart. How'd he fool her?"

"He was her assistant for the last two years," said Zoe smugly, happy that she knew something that he didn't know.

"No shit?" said Jakob. "Oh sorry Professor K." Killainka chuckled. "Her assistant?"

Killainka donned a serious expression once more and nodded. "Yes, I'm afraid so. It was all part of an elaborate plan. One that had been in the making since, well," he broke off and looked into Zoe's eyes. This was enough. She did not need to know anymore at this time. "Zoe why don't you go and see how Sarah is?" Zoe sighed. "It's going to be all right. By now Horatio has convinced her that it's not the end of the world." He smiled and Zoe forced one as well. She rose to her feet and left the courtyard reluctantly. When Zoe had disappeared beyond the door, the Professor turned to Jakob.

"Wow, I never dreamed she had all this going on. No wonder she's so fu--" Jakob looked into Killainka's eyes and grinned.

"I believed we've talked enough about Miss Nettleton. I think it's time we talked about you." Jakob slid down the tree and sat. Even two years out of Dragon's Wood, he knew not to say no to Professor Killainka.

Zoe poked her head around the door and peeked in. "You can come in, I won't freak I promise." Sarah was sitting against the back of her bed and Horatio apparently was not in the room. Zoe came all the way in.

"Where's the doc?" she asked taking up a position at the bottom of Sarah's bed. She was trying hard not to look at her arms, but she was curious if she had again had to be re-bandaged.

"He went to check on another patient, one of the nurses came to get him," Sarah reported.

"Oh."

"Sarah I shouldn't have."

"Zoe it's not your," they had both tried to speak at once and they both stopped and smiled. Sarah pointed at Zoe. "You go." Zoe nodded.

"Look I shouldn't have said anything about Quidditch."

"No, it's one of those 'repressed memories' that I'm still dealing with," admitted Sarah. She was a lot more together than she had been when Zoe had left the room. "I wish I could remember it, the last game I mean. Losing ten minutes was one thing, losing a whole game." Sarah shook her head and sighed. "I suppose I was truly under his control by then," she muttered. Zoe did her best not to look panicky. She leaned over and took Sarah's hand. "How could I have been so stupid?"

"You weren't stupid Sarah. You're only twelve. Why is it that everyone seems to feel that you've somehow failed the wizarding world? You're twelve years old!!" Sarah looked at Zoe, tears rolling down her cheeks and a donned a smile.

"You should be a lawyer you know. If I thought I was in trouble for doing this I'd be happy that you were on my side." As soon as these words left her mouth though Sarah wished, she hadn't said them. "I should be you know."

"You should be what?" Zoe asked looking at her confused.

"In trouble for doing this," muttered Sarah. Zoe opened her mouth to explain to Sarah the two-dozen reasons that she was wrong but never got her chance.

"Even the Department of Magic isn't foolish enough to do something like that Sarah." Horatio pushed his way into her room with a smirk on his face. "You haven't done anything that would warrant being punished."

"Listen to him Sarah. He's a smart man." Horatio smiled and approached them both.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that you don't punish a twelve year old or anyone for that matter who's been possessed by dark magic," stated Kincaid matter of factly. "Now it's my job to convince you to stop punishing yourself." He looked at Sarah's swollen face and bandaged arms and Zoe's eyes widened.

"Is that what she's doing, punishing herself?" Zoe asked.

Horatio nodded. "I believe so. I think that Sarah's subconscious mind is punishing herself for what she believes she has done to her friend and her teacher. Considering that she has not yet allowed herself to remember everything that happened though, she shouldn't be jumping to conclusions."

"I know enough," said Sarah with a deep sigh. Zoe looked at her best friend and sighed a sigh of her own. Zoe was remembering.

"What's going on?" Zoe was the last one into the common room and Eric pounced on her as soon as she entered. He had already spoken to Megan and William and wanted her side of the story.

"I haven't a clue. I went to see Professor Killainka again, I was remembering last time and the next thing I knew we were being herded back here again." Eric collapsed on the couch and Zoe followed him. "What do you suppose it all means?" she asked after a moment or so of silence.

"I suppose something's happened again." He paused and then reached over and took her hand. "Zoe, Dillon's not in the dormitory." Zoe turned, and looked at her brother, fear building in her eyes. "And neither is Michayla." Zoe gasped.

"I thought this was all over," she wept. "She's been trying very hard to fight this to get it under control." Eric put his arm around her.

"I'm going after her," he whispered. Zoe drew back and looked at him like he was mad.

"Eric no, I don't want to lose you too," moaned Zoe.

"It's not as dangerous as last time," he promised. "I managed to get Dillon from the bastard last year. It seems to me, if the teachers can't keep Sarah safe it's up to me to do something this time, too," he said determinedly. Zoe looked up into his eyes and sighed.

"Then I'm going too," she decided. Eric shook his head.

"NO, and don't try anything funny this time! It's not the same Zoe, something's gotten a hold of Sarah, and I have to convince it to let go. She doesn't know who you are," he paused and wiped a tear from her cheek, "she doesn't know who I am, but it won't hurt me the way it will you." Zoe thought back to a moment a few hours earlier when she had come across Sarah in the hallway, looked into her eyes, and knew he was right. She nodded silently.

"I'll wait for you here, but if you're not back in an hour," she stopped and gripped his hand tighter. "Have I told you anytime this year that I love you?"

"Are you all right?" Sarah was looking at the expression on Zoe's face and was sure that she wasn't thinking pleasant thoughts. Horatio was looking her way as well.

"Perhaps it's time for you to find Professor Killainka and head back to Dragon's Wood. You will need to make plans to come back tomorrow," he said quickly, hoping this would be enough to break the obvious tension.

"I believe you are right Horatio." Everyone turned to find Professor Killainka standing in the doorway alone. Zoe rose.

"All right." She turned and smiled at Sarah. "I'm so glad you got to see me." Sarah hesitated and then leaned forward and pulled Zoe into a hug, Zoe smiled wider.

"I'm really glad you came too." She pulled back and looked into her eyes. "See you tomorrow then?" Zoe grinned.

"Yeah." She crossed the room and stood by Killainka then looked at him oddly. "What happened to the other guy?" It was the Professor's turn to grin.

"I had a long chat with Mr. Whitmore and he's agreed to do something for me, in exchange, I have agreed to do something for him." Everyone looked at him curiously as he grinned a bit more. "I'm sure he'll tell you later Horatio. In the mean time Miss Turner and I should be on our way." Kincaid surveyed Killainka's face a moment longer and then nodded.

"I'll walk you out." He turned to Sarah, promised to return, and was soon walking out the door with Zoe and the Professor. Sarah looked after them; she was trying to push the pictures that Zoe had just brought back into her mind away.

"No," she told herself, "you have to remember."