Esther sat with her face in her hands most of the way through the morning.  Thoughts ran through her like warm knives through butter, but for all the information Billy had given her, she only had more questions.  This morning she'd felt so powerful, so invincible.  And now.. she was afraid of herself.  Billy had told her that he had become what he was, and god was he powerful, but travelling on the very path she herself was on.  And she was in danger of slipping.<br/><br/>The worst part was the guilt for what she had done to Dorothea.  She'd been spiteful, arrogant, and full of power.  She'd wanted to punish Dorothea, hoping to get closer to Cynthia.  In fact, that'd been all it had really been.  Esther felt her head slump further in her hands as the realization struck her.  She wanted Cynthia.  All that potential, all that beauty, wasted.  And Esther knew how to help her.  She knew she did.  But wanting to be closer to Cynthia just for that..?  No.  Esther wanted to make a protege for herself.  For all the short-sightedness that Cynthia had, and all the gifts she was wasting, Cynthia would go father than Esther ever could.  Because Cynthia had roots, where Esther didn't.<br/><br/>Was she really so shallow, Esther thought to herself, that she was willing to destroy someone to experience success vicariously?  And that hadn't even been how she destroyed her.  It was the temptation.  It was the Other thing inside that needed to do that to her.  And god, had it felt good.  Esther tried to repress a smile and a flush, remembering all too clearly the events of about an hour ago.. the pleasure that tore through her and took Dorothea's will.. and apparently the rest of her life as well.<br/><br/>Esther looked around the room sullenly.  There was a Jock, trying to look too cool for school, and there was a girl next to him pretending to eat it up.  There was a boy she didn't know the name of in the back picking his nose.  Remembering Dorothea made her ponder just what kind of potential they had.  How many saints, heroes, and corporate giants were sitting here in this underfunded little class room with her.<br/><br/>Esther remembered the other ones, then.  Golden Boy, Band Boy, and Princess Prim.  She didn't know what they had asked for.  But she needed to tell them what she knew.  In fact, it might be prudent to get one or several of them into bed with her before the Other Thing inside her became hungry again.  When class ended, she resolved to go and find Mike.  Given Princess Prim's affection for the boy, they'd probably be together.<br/><br/>Her thoughts turned back to Dorothea, then.  Maybe Esther could undo it.  Maybe Esther could promise her pleasure if she maintained her studies and promise.  It was worth a shot.. Maybe.. Esther weakly slumped her head down on her arms.  She knew that wouldn't work.  It probably wouldn't even help herself, to try that.  No, she was the girl who couldn't fail at anything, any longer.  But there was a price for it.  What she needed to devote herself to was keeping her humanity, and helping the other three do the same.<br/><br/>Billy had said it was worth it.  Every second...<br/><br/>That was the last clear thought she had before the bell rang, and she was off to the Athletic Wing.