<strong>Enzo's Clinic</strong><br/><br/>"<em>You</em>feel sorry for<em>me</em>? You<em>pity</em>me?" His smile was tight-lipped and held no humor. "I don't know which I'm less impressed by, your stupidity or your self-righteousness. Did you think to confront me, to force me to look in a mirror and see what a monster I've become? Don't be ridiculous. This isn't some wretched Harlequin romance, and you are far from a beleaguered heroine. Yet you charge in here and--"<br/><br/>A thought struck him. An awful, yet logical thought. Yet it fit the facts at hand. Somehow, someone had determined the Xantelli weakness. He, and all of the members of his family, were unable to kill. Or, rather, killing another human would inevitably result in their own death. Enzo had seen it happen, once, and it remained one of his most terrible memories. It was a rule that had been beaten into all of them by Marco and Maria from an early age. They did not refrain from killing because it was wrong. They refrained because it was their own death sentence.<br/><br/>And therefore, Melody. A pawn, sent in with the intent to infuriate him, to cause him to lash out against his training and kill her, and thereby sacrifice himself. The agents that hunted them had gotten trickier, no longer content to wage their fruitless frontal assaults. Yet this attack, too, had failed. He had seen through it. Seen through her ruse.<br/><br/>He collected himself, then continued in a voice that was even more grave. "You, Melody, are a non-person. You may as well not exist. You will never leave this Island, yet while here you will bother me and my family no more. Seek your fortune as best you may; if you have no other resort, seek the Brothel, where I am sure you will receive a warm reception."<br/><br/>He worked his changes upon her as he spoke, his Power digging deeply into her frame. First, a reversion of all changes made up until now, restoring her original form. The image lasted for only a moment, though, until it began to fade from view. True invisibility was impossible, yet through practice he had managed a superior translucency which was almost as good. In direct sunlight she might be seen as a mirage; in darkness she would be completely hidden from view. He vanished her clothes, leaving her naked. Not that anyone could tell.<br/><br/>The soul within her still burned brightly; any Xantelli would note her presence. For the mortals on the Island, though, Melody Fitzgibbon was simply... gone.<br/><br/>"Run now, girl, and be thankful I haven't taken your voice as well. Run, and don't look back."<br/>