<strong>Tabitha</strong><br/><br/>She was in the sun room placing more crystals in the window seals and just about to call for Brian once more when she heard her sisters anguished screams. Tabitha dropped everything and went running in panic, Chloe sounded as though the world was ending.<br/><br/><em>"Bryan is dead. That mother fucker killed Bryan. His essence has simply ceased. The elders will be sending a new white lighter later today."</em><br/><br/>For several long agonizing moments she simply stood before them staring in shock. Her mind simply could not accept what Chloe was saying. Her head shook back and forth and her fingertips tingled as though numb. Images of Brian flashed before her eyes, memories of all the times he had saved them and laughed with them. She suddenly remembered last summer and how they had convinced him to go to a movie with them. He had been so swept away and she had been so happy, they had loved him.<br/><br/>Tabitha heard Chloe speaking but her words were distant as though she were across a great chasm and the words could not reach her. Her head was swimming and she clamped her back teeth tightly together. She followed Chloe, never uttering a word, though her entire body suddenly became covered in a thin sheen of sweat and her eyes flashed fire.<br/><br/>________________________________________________________<br/><br/><strong>Melinda</strong><br/><br/>Melinda was hovering over the Vicar, still trying to penetrate the dense haze that was keeping his mind from hers. Chloe's scream scared her to death and she rushed over to her sister, kneeling beside her and running her fingers softly over her sisters arm. The emotions boiling from Chloe were shocking and Melinda felt a moment of nausea as they swept over her but she held herself firm.<br/><br/>"I don't want another white lighter! We are better off alone!" she responded though she knew of course there would be no denying the elders.<br/><br/>As Chloe moved to the sofa Melinda retrieved the tea she had been preparing for the Vicar. Instead of putting the ingredients in it for the awakening spell she had been about to perform, Melinda placed a soothing sleep spell for the Vicar. She sat beside him helping him to drink while listening to Chloe.<br/><br/>She felt ashamed for her excitement, she was thrilled to see Chloe so aggressive, but somehow she felt she should be writhing on the floor in pain and anguish for him, not looking forward to all out war with Sha'Kos. Melinda could not deny her nature however and she watched with excitement as Chloe moved to head upstairs. The Vicar slumped over, deep asleep and she covered him tenderly in a blanket. She moved to follow Chloe, noticing Tabitha and realizing suddenly that she had not spoken a word since Chloe had screamed. The sweat on her sisters body was a sure sign of her inner turmoil and Melinda made sure not to touch her. She was very aware that Tabitha's emotions right now would likely send her flying across the room.