Okay, so this story started out being strictly self-theraputic...but it turned out pretty well, so I thought I'd share it! It takes place right after Gemma turns away from the three ladies and has Circe take her place.

Disclaimer: I am not Libba Bray, nor do I own these characters. I'm merely an obsessed fan.

The next time I open my eyes, I don't know where I am. Everything around me is gray and murky, and my body feels as though it is under water. Panic threatens to overtake me as a hundred questions buzz in my mind. Where am I? What happened? Where is Kartik? My mind goes numb. I have to find Kartik; but how? Nothing around me is recognizable. There is no sound save for my frantic breathing. Tears threaten to fall as I look desperately around me, searching for some sign of life. Nothing.

Gemma…

My heart stops, then goes berserk. Kartik's voice, soft as a whisper and riddled with pain and fear, calls out to me. I thrash franticly, trying to find the source of that beautiful voice. But try as I might, nothing changes, nothing moves. The monotonous gray around me stays as it was, and still, the melodious voice calls, making my heart ache with desperation. Will I ever get out of here? Will I ever see Kartik again?

Gemma…please…

My body yearns to be with Kartik again, to hear his voice, but my brain starts shutting down. What is the point in living, in existing? I'll never be free of this strange place. Kartik's voice is nothing but a whisper of wind, a trick of the mind. One by one, my limbs stop struggling, giving themselves up to the strange power of the gray mist around me.

Please…come back…

No.

I refuse to give up. The pain in Kartik's voice is too much to bear; how can I leave him willingly, when I know the anguish it would cause him? My eyes snap open, a new determination coursing through my body. I lift my arms, as if groping for a wall in a dark room. There is nothing to touch, so I kick my legs a bit, as if swimming. This seems to do the trick. I feel a whoosh of air as I am propelled slightly forward. My mouth is set as I swim onward through the mist, Kartik's voice the fuel to my aching limbs. After a few minutes of this, the fog seems to become less dense, as if it's creeping away. I can just barely make out figures, one, two, three of them, close by, and others swim into view, farther out. I hear Kartik calling my name, and I know that it comes from the shape closest to me, the one just inches from my face.

"Kartik," I mumble pathetically. The figures all gasp, and lean in closer.

"Gemma," Kartik breathes into my ear. "I am here."

"Don't leave…" my voice trails. It's so hard to breathe…

"I won't," Kartik promises, and I feel a sudden warmth on my forehead, and I know that it comes from his lips.

With that, the fog disappears completely, and I can make out the forms of Felicity and Ann, peering in at me over Kartik's shoulder, the three of them slightly disheveled. In the distance, I see Asha tending to Philon, and Gorgon trying to calm the angry snakes on her head. Before I can make out much else, however, a sharp, intense pain rips up my side, and I gasp, holding back the scream I want so desperately to make. I see Kartik's eyes widen in fear, then feel his hand working at my side.

"Breathe, Gemma," he commands, still looking at the wound in my side. "You will be okay. Just breathe."

I do as he says, though it pains me. I pull myself together enough to glance down. His capable hands are in a flurry as they work to cover the gash in cloth from his already torn shirt. Blood drips steadily, but is caught in another cloth before it could be soaked up into the Winterland's earth. The knife lies a few feet away, glittering silver and scarlet. I stifle a scream, but Kartik notices when my body stiffens. He looks up at me, his eyes reassuring.

"It's fine, Gemma," he murmurs softly. "I've got it. Don't worry."

I nod, and look up again. Fee and Ann hover nearby, their eyes wide in horror. I take in the sight of them. Neither one has a single pin in their hair left, and Fee's corset is missing. Ann has a rip in the front of her dress. I know I am no better.

"How are you feeling?" Ann asks tentatively.

I wrinkle my nose. "Wretched. What happened?"

"A lot. After you fell, the Tree…well, it glowed." Fee answered quickly, as if her voice would distract me from the pain, her eyes widening like an eager child's at the memory. "Amar collapsed, Kartik had stabbed him." My eyes drifted to Kartik's, and saw the pain still there. "Gorgon and Asha and Philon…they were amazing, Gemma. I've never seen such grace. There's not too many Winterland creatures left, and the ones that are left surrendered. The centaurs are looking after them." I let my eyes drift back to Fee, and see her looking down at the ground, almost as if she's embarrassed.

"Fee, what's wrong?" I ask, concerned. I feel Kartik's hands slow.

Felicity looks up, her eyes anguished. "Gemma…I-I thought you were…dead." She whispered, then took a deep breath. "You told us to keep fighting…so I did. You were just lying there, Kartik was fighting Amar, no one else was around." She stuttered, obviously flustered. "So…oh, Gemma, I stabbed the Tree."

I look at my friend, confused. "So?"

Fee looked surprised. "You're not mad?"

"No," I respond. "Should I be?"

"Well, no, but-" Felicity looked at the ground again. "I would have thought that you would have wanted to do the honors. Seeing as you're the High Priestess, and all."

I laugh, but stop quickly to gasp from the pain in my side. Kartik's hands pick up speed again. "F-F-Fee, you p-play the p-p-part of the wo-woman warrior…better than I-I ever could. I'm sure you were sp-spectacular." I manage to sputter out between gritted teeth.

Felicity looks immensely relieved, and I find that I am truly glad that I wasn't the one to end Eugenia Spence. Looking up at the Tree, I see a spear sticking out from the heart of it. I feel Kartik's hands stop their work and look back to him. His eyes are turned to mine, and I see a longing in them that I know is echoed in my eyes. I feel Kartik's arm worm around my waist and help me into a sitting position. He leans in toward me, kissing my forehead.

"Most High," comes a voice, and I looked up to see Gorgon nearby. I nod at her, and she continues. "The remaining Winterlands creatures have made a request."

"Oh?" I ask, certain that I know what this request is, and also that I just might have to give it to them. "What is it?"

Gorgon looks at me, and I know that my hunch was correct. "They wish to be included in your alliance, Most High. They want a part of the magic."

Bloody hell.

Felicity makes an outraged sound. Ann looks horrified. Kartik stiffens next to me. After a few silent seconds, I make to stand, despite the slight pain, and Kartik helps me up. Gorgon never takes her eyes off of me.

"They can't possibly think that Gemma would give them magic!" Felicity spits, as mad as a wet cat. "Not after all this!"

"I don't claim to understand their logic. I only pass on the the messages." Gorgon replies calmly.

"All the same!" Fee glares over her shoulder at the few Winterlands creatures, all of whom are trying to sneak looks through the centaur's legs at my reaction. I sit silently, thinking it over, one arm around Kartik, the other on my patched side.

"Fee, calm down." Ann's quiet voice calls. "Gemma will do what she can. They have all surrendered. And if they try to revolt again, we have greater numbers than they do."

"Gorgon, tell the creatures that I will consider their request." I say, startling Fee out of her outraged fuming. She stares open-mouthed at me, and I am tempted to conjure a fly to zoom into her mouth. Ann and Gorgon seem unfazed, as if they knew that I would say that. Kartik remains at my side, his face (and reaction) hidden from my view.

"As you wish, Most High," Gorgon says, bowing, and turning to leave.

"Wait!" I call. Gorgon pauses, looking at me. "Tell them that for me to grant them the request, I will have to have something in return." I take a deep breath. "I will need their loyalty, sworn to me, and I need it in writing." Gorgon nods, and continues on her way. Fee looks at me again, anger once more in her eyes.

"What are you thinking, Gemma?" she hisses at me. "We cannot trust them! And what will a piece of paper do? They will just go back on their word!"

I close my eyes, too drained to deal with Fee's wrath. "I know that. But if I'm going to give the magic to the creatures of the realms, that includes them. If they go back on their word, I'm sure the others will take care of it before I get the chance." I say, pointing towards the Hajin, the forest folk, and Gorgon. "I also know that a piece of paper isn't much, but it can serve as proof of their surrender in the chance that they do revolt." I sense that Felicity is about to speak again, so I hold my hand up towards her. "Not now. I said that I will consider it, and I will, but I don't have any intentions of accepting or declining their request right now. All I am interested in is bed." The last part is a lie, but only partly one. A bed could certainly be a part of my other interest, but they needn't know that.

Fee still looks angry, but she turns and walks briskly away from the Tree, towards the gate to the Middlelands. Ann throws me a half-apologetic look and trots after her, more graceful here than ever before, leaving me alone with Kartik. I see Ann stop and reach out towards a figure. The figure accepts her hand and lets himself be dragged towards the gate, and I realize that it's Fowlson. I sigh and lean into Kartik's chest slightly, breathing in his delicious scent.

Kartik chuckles slightly. "I think it's time that we leave the realms."

"Certainly," I reply, and I let him steer me after my friends. Forest folk and the Hajin work together to recover those lost from our side, and many of them pause to bow as I pass. A few bald heads poke up from the water, and I scowl at the sirens, willing them to leave. I nod towards Gorgon, who is still watching over the Winterlands creatures with the centaurs, and to Bessie, who had joined the watch. The creatures make no effort to hide their staring as I pass, despite the hissing from Gorgon's snakes. Their dead and demented eyes are disconcerting, but I meet their stares with what I hope is diplomacy, though I am sure that I merely look like Elizabeth attempting to think.

"Lady Hope," Asha calls as we pass her and Philon, bowing to me. I return the gesture, taking pleasure from the beaming smile on Asha's face.

"How is Philon?" I ask, motioning to the creature.

"Healing, Lady Hope." Asha replies, still smiling. "He will live to wield the magic another day."

I nod, glad to hear that the majestic Philon would live. "Asha, I hate to leave you here, but-"

"Go," Asha says before I could finish my statement. "We have things under control. You need to return to your world for now, Lady Hope. We shall take care of things until you return to us."

I bow, calling my thanks, and continue on my way, Kartik still at my side. He is silent, and it worries me.

"Kartik," I start, afraid to go on, not knowing what to say. "What's-"

He looks at me, then shakes his head a little, tightening his hold on my waist. "Not here."

I nod, and walk on in silence, content, for the moment, to just hold him. We approach the gate to the Meadowlands, avoiding the bodies of the dead all the way. Even at a glance, it is easy to see that most of the bodies were those of the Winterlands creatures, and I am relieved to see that we didn't have as many deaths. But even through that relief comes the guilt. So many people, lost, leaving behind a trail of despair. Mother, Amar, Circe, Pippa…

Pippa. My heart aches to think of what had become of my beautiful friend. I remember her black hair, her vibrant eyes, her romantic mind. I yearn to have her back, to have the friend that I had made and lost. But even though my pain is great, I know it is nothing compared to that of Fee's. Despite not understanding the preference of women to men, I can certainly sympathize with my beloved, feisty friend. I know the pain she feels at losing a loved one. I know the hopelessness that Felicity is feeling, despite her reluctance to show it.

Kartik and I emerge from the Winterlands, blinking in surprise. The Middlelands is swamped with sunlight from the perpetual sunset, and green is everywhere. I see the maze that I had once played in with my friends, and instead of the vines, there are lovely bushes, trimmed neatly as though by a skilled gardener. I look half-heartedly for the sign of a castle's tower, hoping that it would be resurrected, with Pippa, the real Pippa, at its entrance. I know in my heart that it would never be, and so I kept walking, looking around in bewilderment. Kartik seems just as bemused as I, his eyes open to take everything in.

Soon we reach the familiar path that would take us to the garden. The Cave of Sighs looms over us, the sensual carvings taunting us. We walk on, eyes trained to the path, fighting the temptation to stop, fighting our desire for each other. It is neither the time nor the place. Even so, neither of us can resist pulling the other closer, tightening our holds. Kartik's hand travels slightly higher on my waist, avoiding my bandage, and getting closer to my breast. My breath catches in my throat, and Kartik, sensing the danger, lowers his hands again.

The runes of the legendary Order members who had chosen to accompany the three women comes into view, and I walk into the hallway readily, Kartik following close behind. I can feel his breath on my neck, scattering my thoughts. I am constantly aware of his close proximity, and curse the little space between us. But then we are through the door, back on the grounds of Spence. I look up to the roof, and notice a few missing gargoyles. A number of others are missing chunks of stone. I feel for their loss, despite their creepy appearances. I can see Ann and Felicity, not too far away, sitting together near the forest. Fowlson is nowhere to be seen. They stand and walk towards us as we make our way to the chapel. The four of us walk to the chapel together, a silent quartet.

"By awl the saints!" I hear Brigid wheeze when we are within hearing distance. "I thot you were awl gone for good! Tha' man came back, but 'e wouldn't say a word 'bout wot 'appened." Brigid slows, counting our number. "Bu' where is Miss McCleethy?"

"I'm afraid she didn't make it, Brigid," Ann murmurs softly, and Brigid gasps, making the sign of the cross quickly.

Mrs. Nightwing greets us at the great wooden doors, Mother Elena's body in her arms. My heart pangs for the old woman.

"How- what-" I hear Ann's concerned voice from behind me, but she is silenced by Mrs. Nightwing.

"Shush. Her heart failed her. The wretched creatures never got the chance to come inside."

Behind Mrs. Nightwing, I can see the petrified faces of the girls, each one pale and wide-eyed, some of the younger ones peeking out through the others' skirts. I sigh, knowing that I have some memory modifying to do once they are all asleep. Brigid shepherds them into a group and leads them away from us, towards the school, some of them turning to look at us in our battle-weary glory. I watch them go wearily. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a small crowd of Gypsies standing near the edge of the woods. A few of the gasp when they see Mother Elena's body. Mrs. Nightwing goes to them, and one of the men takes hold of the frail woman's corpse, and walks back to the camp. The others follow him, and Mrs. Nightwing makes her way to us.

We follow Mrs. Nightwing back the way we had come. She asks us what had become of Miss McCleethy and Fowlson, and also how we had managed to destroy Eugenia. I let Fee tell her tale, listening in myself, not having had the chance to see it.

"What a story." my headmistress exclaimed. "And none of you were hurt?"

"Gemma was," Fee admitted, gesturing towards my side, where my bandages are visible over my torn corset.

"Only a little." I reply sheepishly, attempting to cover my bandages. As I do, I feel a small bit of magic unintentionally leaving my fingers, and the dull ache in my side subsides. I find I am avoiding Mrs. Nightwing's gaze, as she made an disapproving sound and walks even faster towards her school, leaving the rest of us to totter tiredly after her. I feel guilt settle in my stomach when I feel the magic in me. I should have bound it when I was in the realms.

I can see Brigid peering out at us through a window, a lamp held in her hand.

"Miss Doyle, a word, if you please." Mrs. Nightwing says over her shoulder, and walks a little ways away. I follow, Kartik still at my side.

"Yes, Mrs. Nightwing?"

She looks at Kartik questioningly, and I shrug.

"Well," Mrs. Nightwing turns her attention back to me. "It appears that the secret is out."

"So it would seem, yes." I reply, too tired for proper manners.

"Miss Doyle, I am sure you will understand when I ask you-"

"I will modify the girls' memories, Mrs. Nightwing." I cut her off, knowing what she was hinting at. "If, and only if, you excuse me, and Misses Bradshaw and Worthington as well, from lessons tomorrow. I'm sure you understand." I add.

Mrs. Nightwing looks taken aback, but nods. "Very well. Thank you, Miss Doyle." Her face softens. "For everything." And with that, she turns around and walks into the school.

I sigh, turning to Kartik. "You don't mind…?"

He shakes his head, and walks after me as I wander the halls, pressing my hands to the sleeping girls' heads, turning the real-life experience into a strange and haunting dream. When I am done, I look for Brigid, and find her downstairs, in the kitchen. I offer to remove the memory.

"No thanks, luv," she replies, smiling at me. "Oi'll keep the mem'ry, if you please."

Oooh, I wonder what's wrong with Kartik? Ha, wait for Chapter 2 to find out! Reviews would be lovely, by the way.

Much love, Shes.A.Dreamer