She left the house in the cool early morning, unconcerned and generally light hearted. Her shift at the Dragon had gone well, for once, the night before. She had seen Skyler for a few brief moments towards the end of her shift, never enough but better than nothing. He had indicated that he was going to be home at some time last night but when he didn?t show up she was not horrible surprised as he didn?t like to come home too late and wake her up. She figured he opted to stay at Cosmo Beach after working and that she?d see him when she got back from doing a little shopping.

Despite her lack of concern, she hadn?t been able to sleep without him. She had rested for an hour or two in the early morning hours, fitfully. The rest of her time was spent in daydream fancies with the aid of her fey magic mirror. She also planned for the coming day; although she had received a bundle of unmentionables from Stephen the night before she fully intended to visit Koy?s shop to purchase some of the special items she had mentioned getting in for the upcoming Valentine?s Day.

She was approaching the end of her drive before she noticed that something was amiss. Stepping forward towards the prone form on the ground, her knees suddenly sank into the soft ground, legs unable to sustain her at the sight that was laid out before her. Here was all her nightmares from the past few weeks come to fruition. Lips mouthed a denial, as she undoubtedly knew who this was before her, despite what Tommy?s ministrations had done to him. There was nothing left to truly identify this desecration of the human body as her beautiful Adone, but Jewell just knew.

A trembling hand reached out, not quite touching his body but just hovering above it. She reached out for where his long, shiny black hair should have been. She loved his hair, had loved when hers had matched his in color and how it mingled together when they were lying in bed. Her mouth started working despite the taste of bile that was pervading it, ?No, no, no.? She started whispering again and again, as she next traced where those electric blue eyes should have been; she hadn?t been able to hide anything from them. Now, now all those secrets she had bared were hers to hide away from the world once more; she was alone with them, again. ?No, no??

Only then did she notice the note?Skyler?s departing words to her and Tommy?s cruel addition. Jewell probably had never experienced such a combination of fury and anguish mingled together as she did at that moment. Her arms wrapped around Skyler?s deflated, lifeless body, cradling it against her chest as she screamed out wordlessly. Energy erupted from her body causing a solar flare type effect; the ground was compacted around her and everything nearby?bush, tree, and animal?was pushed back forcibly.

With that explosion of energy, that created a small crater surrounding the two but left them both untouched, Jewell exhausted herself: physically, emotionally, and mentally. She kept his body cradled in her arms as she started to rock back and forth. She stayed almost completely silent, not desperate sobbing or angry screams. Her eyes closed and she occasionally let out that small, whispered, denial once more. Only if one were to get really close would they hear the small wining sound she didn?t even know she was making; it sounded remarkably like a wounded animal, a puppy kicked when it was already down.

Issy had been correct when she said that everyone had their limits regarding what they could handle. Jewell was often walking the line of her limits. This destruction of life?a life she held so dear, dearer than many had probably realized?had sent her flying past the limit of what she could handle. She was so far past it that she probably couldn?t find the line even if she had the chance to stop and look around.

She had loved Skyler, really, truly loved him. He had helped heal her, faced her demons with her. This?this left her more broken than she had been when they had first started their relationship?when she was broken over the loss of a friend and amidst a failing marriage. She had every intention of being loyal to him, of being at his side until the end of his mortal days. Those days weren?t supposed to end so soon.

Wyheree had not slept well the night before. Every time she drifted off, she would awaken suddenly, looking about for danger, but all she saw was the slumbering form of James beside her. So, she slipped from their chamber down the steps, and paced the living room, gazing at the large winter landscape that hung over the banked fireplace, trying to figure out what was amiss.

The feeling did not leave her as the sun rose. When James left to tend to matters aboard the Sea Wolf, Wyh decided to stay behind. She could not explain the reason, only that she had the sense she needed to be home today. So, after kissing James soundly, she continued her pacing of the living room, ice crystals leaking off her in her agitation.

The knock - no, pounding - on her front door made her jump, and she rushed to open it before anyone else. Her silver eyes swept over the lad shivering on her doorstep, and she got an immediate sense that something was horribly wrong, even before he spoke, his words gasping and ragged from the speed he had come down the way.

"Miss Wyheree? Come quick - It's Miss Jewell - and Skyler.."

That was all she needed to hear. Wyh tore down her drive, and up the road towards her sister's Villa. Stopping short of the crater, Wyh saw Jewell clinging to.. that could not be.. she slowly approached her sister, tears welling in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks as she knelt nearby, Jewell's little keening sounds tearing into her heart. Skyler had been one of her dearest friends. She had stood as his second twice. She had his back when he and Jewell were attacked. He had comforted her when her sorrows nearly overwhelmed her. He had always, always been kind to her.

Wyh reached out for Jewell, not just with her arms, but with her element as well. She did not know words that would ease her pain and anguish, so she offered Jewell her strength, her energy - pouring herself into Jewell as she cried by her side.

The expulsion of power was something that could easily be felt across town where he was. That push of power was a unique one, and he instantly went on the alert. There was no telling what had caused the draining of that power, but what was obvious was something had happened to Jewell.

He stood from his desk and closed the book that had lain open before him. He would get to the finances for the Isles later. Right now, it seemed that he was needed elsewhere. With a flick of his hand, he sent the doors closed to the Library and sealed the place shut. Turning, he moved to the large hearth and stepped within the flames.

~~~~~~~~~~

His feet landed on the cobblestone that led to the house. The power was still thick in the air? there, waiting for the one that it was meant to find. But that ?one? was not there? nor would they be. With a careful hand, he pulled the raw energy to him and folded it within his own. It would not do to leave that running loose with all that was potentially going on. Another could use it and that could account for all sorts of problems.

He moved down the road, his mind stretching out to find the one who lived at the end. What he found was not what he expected. She has retreated so far into herself that he could barely feel her. That was something to be worried about.

His feet carried him quicker down the path, and soon stopped short as he came to the edge of the crater. His eyes searched first the outer rim of it, expecting more trouble, but when he found none, his eyes moved to the center.. and those within.

His heart dropped.

Jewell was there? and was rocking what was left of Skyler.

Tass?s presence momentarily stirred her from her regression. She visibly flinched back, eyes clearing briefly. She did not want to awaken and return to reality, though. Reality was just too harsh to deal with for the time being; her body, in a way, was protecting her as it dragged her mind inward once more. She was moving deep down, where all her secrets were; she could hide amongst them there.

Jewell?s housekeeper was at least glad to see Tass despite the fact that Jewell might not be. All these emotions flying around were beginning to upset her as well, tears stinging her eyes. She had been fond enough of Miss Jewell?s beau since had had moved in. He got along so well with the children even though he tended to be rude at times.

?Someone?s going to have to take him from her, somehow. The morgue will be here shortly.? It hadn?t gone past her notice that Jewell did not seem to be letting go of Skyler anytime soon, holding his body protectively against her as she was.

Wyh looked up at Tass, nodding. His words gave her something to do, somewhere else to focus. As he tenderly gathered Jewell and Skyler into his arms, and headed towards the Villa, she took a deep breath, wiped her tears away, and followed them up the drive. In her mind, she had failed her friend, let him down when he needed her most. Now he was gone. Guarding Jewell, staying with her, not leaving her side - seemed the best way to somehow make it up to Skyler. Wyh kept close behind Tass and his precious cargo, steeling herself for the concerned family and friends that were sure to arrive, and hoping that Tass could reach where her Sister had hidden herself, and draw her back. As they walked, she managed a small whisper.

"Thank you."