I push down the thought. How could think, even for a moment, that anything Gwythr said would make any sesne? "Of course I have someone that I would do anything for. However, I would destroy the lives of innocents to do it. The ends do not always justify the means." The words flow from my mouth like water, but seep with a dark and bitter poison. He may believe in the "righteousness" of his actions, but no one with sanity in their minds would believe in it as well. "Your delusions all center around one thing, you and the importance that you believe you have. I will never behave as you do Gwythr. I would never want my daughter to have a father like you." Even as the venomous words leave my lips, I know immediately that I have made a mistake.

Daughter? How interesting.

"No...stop right there." I shake my head before running a slender manicured hand through gray hair. My eyes turn back up into the mirror, staring straight into the eyes of one of Shaman's greatest enemies. "You will not speak of her. I have too much to protect her from and I don't need to include your name on my list."

Why would I want to harm her? I believe that you are missing the point in all of this, you poor misled sap.

I bite down slightly on my inner cheek to hold back the sharp words that threaten to tumble out. "What do you mean?"

Child, with my body as your own, you have the power to save her from whatever it is you have to. If you take hold of the power within your fingertips, she will never have to fear anything...ever again.

I peer up at the reflection in the mirror, trying to search within the watery blue eyes for any signs of Gwythr himself. Slowly, my gaze falls down to my hands, fingertips splaying out as the words bounce around my mind. I have the power...the power to save her?

I can practically feel it as it moves throughout each vein, a sparking sensation just beneath the skin. I can use this for my own benefit, for her benefit. I can find my daughter and save her. I can...wait...

"I know you. Everything has to come at a cost. You won't just sit back and be content with my using your powers while you get nothing in return. What's the catch?"

I just want to visit Shaman again. It's been a while since I was able to enjoy it.

There it is. The catch. He says he just wants to visit the place he has been banned from, but there has to be something else. Something darker and deeper that he is hiding from me. "Liar. You are hiding something from me. What is your real reason?"

There is a moment of silence that stretches our between us; I can almost picture the wheels turning within his mind.

I want to see how Shaman is faring. I never got to see how it was doing after my experiements. There is no harm in wanting to see it.

Would it be worth it? Could I allow one of the greatest cruelties to wander amoung Shaman again for even a day?

It's for Key. I have the ability to find her. I have the power to save her. He just wants to see how Shaman is. There....there can't be that much harm in it...right?

I bit down lightly upon my lip, one hand moving to rest against the wall beside the mirror as I look back at the reflection.

One day. That's it. We keep hidden, we save my daughter, and we leave. Don't try anything or I will transport us right back here.

Perfect.

I just made a deal with the devil and I don't believe there is any going back.