Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that today was just going to be a bad day and decided to be alone lest the dark cloud in my mind cause me far problems than I wanted it to. I really hoped Russel didn't mind that I wasn't there. Hopefully he wouldn't even notice.

The one good thing about the way my curse worked right now was that I could use runes. At least a little bit. I tapped the rune to make a ladder up to the attic.

Dragon Tower still held many secrets, but at least it was willing to work with me. Which was far more than I could say for some people in this school.

My hands shook a little as I grabbed hold of a rung on the ladder and began to lift myself upwards. Despite it looking like jagged rocks coming out of the ground it felt smooth and warm to the touch. Like a mug of warm tea.

The attic was the same as ever. Still and dark except for the hint of light coming in from the window. But that was okay. It was comforting.

I sat down on the floor under the window and tried to keep by breathing steady. I closed my eyes tight and tried to pretend I wasn't seeing dark green bubbling and boiling like lava in the veins of my eyelids.

And there in the stillness and quiet I started to hear something. I sighed. Dragon Tower was consistent, I liked that.

I opened my eyes to see Red sitting across from me with her back against the wall and head down with hood covering it. I knew it was her by the black gloves on her hands and the fact I had no memory of sitting up here like she was. And I knew it wasn't Celica, Red looked significantly shorter.

Then I realized what that sound was. The ticking of an analog clock. She held a pocket watch in her hand attached to a chain intermingled with her fingers. It was dark gunmetal grey and in the silence the movement of the hands was nearly deafening.

"Time's funny, don't you think?" She asked after a few moments.

"You tell me. You're the one whose timeline is all over the place. From my perspective at least."

"It's not so much a line as it is a bundle of spaghetti I think."

I laughed.

"Do you mind if I tell you something? I know you won't tell the others."

"Go ahead. I think at this point you know enough about me to only make it fair."

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She chuckled and put the watch in the pocket of her Dragon red overcoat. "I'm not scared. Of the wraith. I used to be, but I don't feel fear when I think of him anymore. I'm mostly just sad. It didn't have to be this way. It's a terrible fate he met with and it's my fault. I can't make it right, but I'm going to make it better."

"Even though it's going to kill you?"

"I haven't learned much here at this school, not as much as I would have liked. But I'm doing what I think is right. I brought this fate on us all, I need to be the one to do something about it."

That sounded like a lot of responsibility. She couldn't be that much older than me, right?

"Have you asked Vivian about Fae Fire yet?" She asked out of nowhere. I guess she didn't want to talk about her impending demise anymore.

"You think I should?"

"I think it's inevitable, from where I sit."

"Am I to take that as you knowing a version of me that has had that conversation?"

"Something to that effect."

"Mysterious as ever."

"I have a brand at this point. There is an order to these things that I must follow. Even if that order is more scrambled than an omelet."

"From my perspective at least."

"Of course. For me it's a straight line, but the situation from my perspective has been a mess to untangle. It will all make sense in the end I think."

"I hope so. I'd like to think we're friends at this point."

"I have no complaints about you calling me friend. It's how I've explained this situation to others."

"Can I take it to mean you wouldn't mind if I tell people about you?"

"You already have from what I know, but I have no complaints. If I had plans to remain secret I wouldn't have made a big deal in front of your entire Tower."

"You chose to answer our séance?"

"As much as I choose to do anything."

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to clarify what you meant that day?"

"I answered your questions honestly. But the rules wouldn't let me elaborate."

"Why don't you ever talk to anyone else?"

"Rules are rules."

I sighed, "Probably for the best. Don't want you blabbing my secrets to the others."

She chuckled, "Of course not. Though I would never betray trust like that. I also know that you would have done the same. Not that you can see the others on my side."

"Is your version more full?"

"A little bit. We have six. Though according to a very reliable source that's not that low of a number. For Dragon Tower. We're still near microscopic comparatively."

"I prefer that to be honest. Pixie Tower and its crowds sucked."

"We're Dragons, no amount of pink paint was ever going to change that."

"If it had, do you think your fate could have been changed?"

"Unlikely. Our fates were sealed in stone the moment you opened that door. Everything I've done has and is going to lead me to that day up here with the wraith. I've made peace with that. I wouldn't do any of it differently."

"The Fates plan is absolute then?"

"I think if they thought there was a risk of us derailing it, they wouldn't ever give us glimpses of that plan."

"Sounds pretty arrogant of them. Are you sure there's nothing I can do help you?"

She shook her head, though from where I sat it was mostly movement of the hood. "Don't worry about me. But trust that if I thought you could change anything, I would tell you what I could. You're getting there, I promise. But I'm not worried about that. You just focus on what's directly ahead of you, okay?"

I didn't respond at first.

"Think of it as a promise, from one Dragon Representative to another."

"Okay."

And then she was gone, and it was just me up there in the attic of Dragon Tower.

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