I slept. Silently, he gathered things. Grabbed laces from old running shoes in the closet and a pair of socks from his hamper.Hardon raging, he trie...d the door and it opened. Stunned, he checked around. I snored. He steeled his nerves - someone would be bent to his will, his power. Swiftly he prepped a knot to secure his prey. He gingerly placed my wrist in the loop and then gathered my hands together. He managed two loops before I was aware. My scream was cut short by a brutal hand,. " I will mom. There are just so many things and I don't know where tostart." Well, dear, when we get home we will start from the beginning. Just takeone question at a time and we will get things worked out."So Renee sat back and began to think about her new life and what was instore for her next as she got ready to finish the school year and moveforward.As they got out of the car and walked towards the front door, Reneenoticed that all of her sisters were standing there with smiles on. You should have seen the idiotic grin that it took days to fade. Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus. The email was so innocuous, “do you remember me, by chance?” By chance, by chance she asks, oh boy ask me if I remember to breathe, or how to ride a bicycle. “Yes,” I reply, “I remember you, and it is not by chance, but by design.” Just that, nothing else, still afraid to be the fool. I need not have feared, her reply was enthusiastic and things progressed rapidly. Until, ever the brave one,. And Alston knew just how to repay him for his temerity in assuming he could out maneuver a man of Alston’s caliber.The Hand of Power knew there were two ways he could fall into the obvious trap set by the withered old fool to his right. Do nothing; and lose both face within The Imperium, as well as his strangle hold on influence within the Church. Or react predictably and remove the immediate threat. Which would provoke a violent backlash from both The High Priest, as well as King Alarach IV.