It hurt to hear Tarek tell her that she would be a disappointment to her father. That was not the kind of thing anyone would take well. Kara resolved herself to not show the tumult of emotions she was feeling, the loss of Hallbjorn, of the hope of meeting her father, and of this realm not being what she had thought.<br/><br/>She followed Tarek silently. Her gaze was drawn to the beautiful paintings. There was life in them. There was happiness. She saw none of that now. When they pasts the busts of djinn, she wondered if a likeness of her father was there, but Tarek did not slow his pace, and so she had no time to study them and see if one bore a resemblance to her.<br/><br/>Kara did not want to pass through the red door, but Tarek's words about duty and dignity rang in her ears. She saw a demon bowing to Kaseem, and understanding swept through her. Kaseem had been the one to set those demons upon her. Now she was here, with the mastermind behind all of those failed attempts. Kara was in greater danger then ever, and she did not have her Hallbjorn to protect her.<br/><br/>She sat at Kaseem's command and tried not to show the fear she felt. Though she did not like Tarek, she wished he had not been dismissed. Kara was now alone with unknown dangers.<br/><br/>Kaseem's gaze on her made Kara's skin crawl, and she wished she had been wearing one of those formless robes. Her lips parted when he pointed out her ring, and she looked down at her hand. The punishment he so easily ordered of those women shocked Kara. “Please, its not their fault.”<br/><br/>But Kaseem ignored her statement, and then the djinn was gone to doll out punishment. It was Kara's fault, all because she did not want to remove the only thing she had of Hallbjorn. Kara slipped her hands under the table.<br/><br/>Kaseem was not divine. He was a monster. When he asked his vile question, Kara answered immediately. “I was not defiled.” What she and Hallbjorn shared had been beautiful and loving. At least, she believed it had been. But if he loved her, why did he send her away?<br/><br/>She swallowed the knot of tears in her throat, and when she spoke, she tried to sound respectful, if only to spare others being hurt. “Why did you send those demons after me? Some of them tried to kill me. What is it that you want from me?”