Disclaimer: I really think that I wouldn't be writing on here if I was Tamora Pierce…what do YOU think?

Oh, and btw, Winding Circle fans, The Will of the Empress has come out!

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Cami grabbed Irnai by the shoulders and shook her. "What do you mean you don't know?" she screeched.

Irnai looked at her, vaguely annoyed. "Would you mind letting go of me first?"

Cami rolled her eyes and set Irnai down gently, and waited impatiently as Irnai straightened herself up. "SO?"

Irnai's face turned serious again. "I went to the front door, and felt that there was something wrong. It was too empty. The door was swinging in the breeze, and the curtains were fluttering. I went inside, searched through the entire house, calling their names…they weren't there."

Cami slumped to the ground. While she was dining, dancing, and…and…and having the best night of her life, her own parents-well, maybe not her own, but the people who cared for her all her life-were kidnapped, at the very least. She didn't even want to think about the worst.

"I'm so sorry, Cami…" Irnai said, bending down and patting her on the shoulder.

Cami remembered the tang of blood, the cold of the stone dungeon-dungeon! That's where they were kept! Maybe, just maybe, Irnai could go there… "Irnai," she said, straightening. "I had a vision type thing, and it showed my parents. In a dungeon."

Irnai was not impressed. "And this means…?"

"Well, maybe you could use your power to go there, through my mind!" said Cami excitedly. She looked at Irnai, who was looking at her skeptically. "Oh, please, Irnai! This is the only chance that I'll ever get to see my parents again…" She trailed off, begging Irnai with her eyes.

Irnai sighed. "I guess I'll go."

"Oh, thank you!" Cami hugged Irnai hard.

"I can only do this if you let go of me," said Irnai, her voice muffled.

Cami blushed. "Right."

She let go of Irnai, and the girl stepped back, looking slightly miffed, and disappeared.

Cami frowned. Why was Irnai so reluctant to go and find her parents?

She didn't have an answer to that, and frowned and decided to go back downstairs and join the party. She swept down the stairs after making sure her jewelry and hair was intact-it had been quite messed up after…that-and smiled graciously at all the nobles as she passed them by, watching her friends dance.

Gydo and Chevi were still sweeping across the floor, arm in arm, and Violeta had managed to snatch up Phiran, again. Amoret was standing by the wall, refusing Jal with an annoyed expression on her face. Cami grinned. Looks like the hypnotism wore off, she thought happily.

"Hello, Am," Cami said. "What's up?"

"Jal," Amoret spat. "He's been asking me to dance all night, and I can't imagine why!"

Cami stifled a giggle behind one hand. Amoret obviously didn't remember her previous actions of the night.

Amoret looked at her curiously. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, nothing."

"Ok then," Amoret stood, and looked longingly at the dancing couples. "D'you think that anyone will ask me?"

Cami looked at her wistful expression and grinned. "I think so."

Lyron whirled up and bowed to Amoret. "May I have this dance?" he asked, his brown eyes twinkling.

Amoret turned to Cami and smiled excitedly. Cami grinned back, and Amoret whirled away.

Cami then settled back into brooding about her parents. Where were they? How were they doing?

She stood up angrily. Jal had no right to do this! No right at all! She stalked up to him, and he stared into her eyes. "Yes?" he asked, raising one eyebrow.

Those eyes…so green…and deep, Cami thought dizzily. Then she steadied herself. I can't let him get the better of me.

"Er…" she said. She was confused. What was she going to do anyway? Run up to him and scream? She felt suddenly foolish.

"I was meaning to talk to you anyway," said Jal pleasantly.

"Um, really?" Cami cleared her throat.

"Yeah. I wanted to apologize for my behavior when you bumped into me today. It was rude and unkind. Will you forgive me?" Jal pleaded with his eyes.

Cami was taken aback. She wasn't expecting him to apologize. It was too…gentlemanly for what he had done. But maybe he didn't send the note, she thought suddenly. There's a chance. We could just be…friends.

"Uh…thanks," she said, blushing.

Jal smiled. "I feel a lot better."

Cami looked away. He was flirting with her.

A new song was starting up, and Jal bowed with a flourish. "Would you like to dance?"

Not particularly, thought Cami, but there was no way she could say that without being rude, so she grudgingly accepted. "Sure."

"Great!" Jal grinned and they started to dance.

Jal was a great dancer. He seemed to move with the music, flowing with its tune. Suddenly the song stopped. Cami looked up at the stage quizzically, and her eyes nearly bugged out. Amoret? she thought in wonder. What is she doing up there?

"Excuse me," said Amoret.

Everyone looked up at her expectantly, and Amoret blushed a bit, but she continued on with her speech.

"I would like to sing a song I wrote myself," Amoret said.

Cami stared. She didn't know Amoret sang.

"This is a slow song, so find a dance partner," she continued.

Jal smiled invitingly at Cami. Again, it would be awfully mean of her not to, so she reluctantly nodded her head.

Amoret cleared her throat again, and the music began, a slow, haunting tune.

It's the year of broken screams

All is not what it seems

I'm a cheerful happy mask

But if you want you can ask

-

Ask about my broken lies

Ask about my severed ties

To the rest of the world

The primped and curled world

-

Never thought I'd come back here

Where you made my shed my tears

So broken up

Inside

Cami swayed to the music. It was so amazing. Amoret's voice was clear and beautiful, and when Cami looked at Jal, she could tell that he was enjoying it too.

It's the year of broken screams

All is not what it seems

I'm a cheerful happy mask

But if you want you can ask

-

Ask about my broken heart

Ask about how it would start

Start the chain of unbreakable bad luck

Start my chain of unbreakable bad luck

-

So you ask how life has been

After you ruined me with sin

I stare at your dark shimmery eyes

Wondering how you can sleep at night

After what you have done to me

Cami started. What you have done to me…Jal had done her wrong. She tried to pull away, but his grip was like iron, so she was forced to keep dancing. To ignore the horrible thing she was doing, she listened intently to the lyrics of the song.

It's the year of broken screams

All is not what it seems

I'm a cheerful happy mask

But if you want you can ask

-

Never thought I'd fall so deep

Never thought I'd fall asleep

To your dancing image

In front of my eyes

-

Never thought that you would throw me away

Never thought I'd want you to pay

But pay up

So I

Can rest

-

So here I am

Alone again

Forever seeking a dream

Leaving you back

On the track

Of my unbroken scream

-

So this is what I mean to you

I guess I wasted my love

-

I guess I wasted my love

-

I guess I wasted my love

The song ended, and the crowd erupted in applause. Amoret curtsied and walked off the stage. Finally, thought Cami. Now Jal will let go of me. She tried to pull away.

He wouldn't let go!

Then she looked desperately around the room for help. She saw Tobe leaning against the door, mouth open in shock. Their eyes connected and he turned and ran.

Cami tried to go after him, but Jal held tight.

"What's the matter?" he said cruelly. "Lost something?"

Wow, short chapter, I know. But I thought it was necessary. I'm sorry about the updates!

Rachael: Me too.

Syl Rose: Well, this didn't explain much about her parents, but I hope you liked it anyway.

Haz: There are not lots of typos! And we talked about the on the hill thing. Yeah, stupid machine wouldn't make them come up. The dedications.

Zerrin of the Wind: I hope you liked this chapter too. Update your own story though!

Lady Shannon of Rose Peak: Yeah, Maggur is a freak. And I know I spelt Alanna wrong. And the anonymous reviews thing? Well…you click on reviews when you're logged in, and on top the thingy says 'Reviews Main, Anonymous, etc.' Click anonymous, then the little button that says 'enable.' And that's it!

Padme Amidala2121: I 3 cliffies lol. Sorry about the suspense…hope you continue reading this story!

On top of cloud 9: I don't mind that much about the reviews. But you reviewed now! Which is good!

Kathryn of Jesslaw: You can't hate me, I'm the writer lol. And I like cliffies lol.

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