Adam had just left Ulrica’s room. She was already on her feet and ordering her pack around. Even though they were far beneath the surface, Adam swore he could hear the rain Tio’s weather masters had called on to quench the flames of the battlefield. Adam had been around to all the injured. “I think that’s everyone,” he was muttering to himself. He had four hours until they would return to battle. “What do I do till then,” he wondered. He began wandering from room to room searching for a place to rest. The stone corridors made it so that his footsteps echoed from wall to wall. Adam was about to turn a corner when he collided with a fuming Emma.
“Adam, where have you been I have been looking all over for you!” I yelled at him after we had gotten back on our feet. “Excuse me for attending to the wounded,” he countered. “Why were you looking for me?” he asked. I paused. I couldn’t remember my reason. Ulrica! Right! “I just wanted you to heal Ulrica is all,” I told him. “Well, she’s fine. In fact, I’ve been through every room and healed all the people who had been injured,” he replied. “Oh, that’s good,” I told him. We started walking together to no place in particular. I told him about the discussion Carmen and I had with Master Tio. I told him that if our hunch was correct, then Fu has been behind this whole thing. That he knows all our powers, so the chance of surprise was out of the question, and that we didn’t have a chance of surviving. It got quiet, for a good while we walked in silence. I could tell Adam was having a hard time comprehending this. The idea that death may only be a few hours away was a lot to take in after all. I hadn’t accepted it yet. If I had I wasn’t sure if I would be able to function. The notion of death was in the back of my mind, but it was something I decided to avoid dwelling on.
Finally Adam broke the silence, “I killed more bad guys than you,” he gloated. I shook my head and nudged him, “You always were bad at math,” I countered. “I took down way more demons than you.” He laughed at my audacity, “Well aren’t you full of yourself,” criticized Adam. “No, I am honest. There is a difference,” I faked an arrogant sneer then stuck my tongue out at him like a five year old. “You do realize cutting air doesn’t count as beating up a demon,” Adam nudged me back. I gave him a dirty look. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game,” he raised his hands in defense. “Face it, Adam, now you owe me a chocolate cake when this is over,” I told him. He laughed, “Only if it is to smash in your face! Loser,” he teased. “And ruin this flawless skin? I don’t think so,” I made a show of stroking my face. Our trash talking lasted until a Reciliux foot soldier found us. “Komodo Dragon,” he saluted. Then the soldier turned to me, “Goldenflame,” he saluted. We waited for him to say something of importance and when that didn’t come we continued walking. “Wait,” the soldier stopped us. “What is it?” I said sounding exasperated. “I was sent to show you to your quarters,” he replied. “Quarters?” Adam and I looked at each other. “So that you may relax before we return to battle,” he told us. That sounds really nice, I thought to myself. We let the scrawny little soldier show us to our rooms. Adam’s room was just across the hall from mine, and Carmen had been placed next door. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this underground labyrinth, but my room was beautiful. After seeing the tiny room they had placed Ulrica in the last thing I thought to see was a large room, but it was huge. The glow from the torches surrounding the walls gave it a warm glow that soothed me. A queen sized bed with blood red sheets lay in front of me. To my right, was a couch in front of a fireplace. I gasped, the room had a shower! I shed my armor immediately leaving me in only a t-shirt and jeans which I shed next. Underground plumbing, I smiled. This place was fancy. I tested the water to make sure it was hot enough and then turned the shower head on. I slipped out of my outfit and let the water run down my back. The water felt so good against my skin. The water was so warm that I just wanted to stand under it forever. I had always considered showers as more of a luxury than a hygienic necessity. I felt as though if I stood there long enough maybe I would melt away down into the drain along with the water. I noticed the soap they had placed in there for me. It smelled of mangoes, my favorite. I was glad to replace the scent of sweat and demon blood with something more appealing. I took a deep breath and finally forced my body to leave the comfort of my liberating waterfall. I managed to find a towel and curled up in the large red bed provided for me.
“You smell like a fruit salad,” the sound of Adam’s voice woke me up. I slowly opened my eyes and had to blink a few times before everything came into focus. Adam lay beside me. He had ditched his Komodo Dragon uniform for something a little more comfortable. He wore a red hoodie, using the hood to cover his face and black jeans. “How long was I out?” I asked him. “Not long, probably about thirty minutes or so,” he answered. I was still lying in my wet towel. “There should be a change of clothes in your closet,” said Adam. “Reciliux?” I asked. Adam nodded. I found my closet and pulled out my faded jeans and an Atreyu t-shirt that I had bought at one of their concerts. Even though Adam had his hood covering his face I still went to the bathroom to change. My strawberry blond hair had turned into a mess of curls and my blue eyes looked worn with Stress.
When I came back out, Carmen was sprawled out on my couch with book in hand in front of the fireplace. She wore a black mini skirt and white sweater. “The lighting here is terrible,” she squinted at the pages in her book then finally she threw a fireball into the fireplace, “That’s much better,” she smiled. Carmen looked so at ease whenever she was reading. Her straight dark brown hair hung off the arm of the couch and her thick black glasses hid her green eyes. Her eyes always look greener when we fight; partly because she doesn’t wear her glasses and partly because her power tends to make every inch of her shine. Not shine in a, “Ohhh sunny day,” kind of shine, but simply an awakened shine…if that makes any sense. “I’m going for a walk,” I told them. Adam gave me a snore while Carmen waved in response.
I had barely stepped out of my room when someone grabbed my arm and dragged me to a bridge. It was a small bridge overlooking the main hall. “Are you stupid or something?” It was Ulrica and she was angry. Her glamour was still down so I could see her wolf like features, but she had changed into a light pink dress that hugged her curves. “Last I checked my grades in school are just fine, thanks,” I told her while rubbing my arm where she had cut off my circulation. “You have been a Goldenflame for less than a year. You don’t stand a chance! If it were a mere demon then maybe, but a God, Emma! Are you crazy?! Your past life could have wiped out all the demons outside in a heartbeat without breaking a sweat while you are exhausted after disposing of half that,” she was furious. “Don’t yell at me you’re the one who was injured remember,” I responded. “I’m not a Chosen Angel,” her yelling had ceased, but she was still fuming. “What are you thinking,” asked Ulrica. “I am thinking that I can’t give up. I’m thinking that everyone has already planned my funeral, but we will never know if I don’t try!” I knew I sounded stupid, but that’s what I was thinking. “You are no good to any of us dead. You should retreat for now and get stronger,” said Ulrica. “There you go! Assuming that I’m not capable! Do not underestimate me, Ulrica,” now she was pissing me off. It got quiet for a minute and I thought I had won the argument but then Ulrica spoke. She was leaning against the railing of the bridge looking calm. “If you can beat me, then I will let you go,” she told me. “'Let?' What makes you think you have a choice in the matter?” I asked her. “Because you have to get passed me first,” the next thing I knew she lunged at me. I dodged her attack easily, but was sideswiped with an unexpected kick. “You must like that medical wing,” I retorted. Ulrica’s greatest advantage was speed. She was nearly impossible to dodge, and she moves too fast for me to land a blow. If only I could get one good hit in, I thought to myself. Clothes must really slow Ulrica down because her movements were much slower than they used to be. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to avoid her true speed. Good thing I don’t have to worry about that right now. Ulrica’s only weapons were her fangs and claws so close combat was her specialty. I was fairly certain that I was stronger than her, but strength doesn’t make me a better fighter. I managed an upper cut into her chest. Now that I had her off balance I was able to throw her to the ground. She rolled to the side, evading another one of my punches. I couldn’t let her get back on her feet, so I kept the punches coming. “Are you playing with me, Goldenflame, or is this all you got?” she laughed at me. She jumped to the ceiling and used it as leverage to make her even faster. This left me with a direct attack to my torso. I had left myself wide open. It hurt like hell, but with her at close range, I grabbed her arm and I wasn’t letting go. I gave her a head butt and couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of her stumbling in dizziness. Ulrica began laughing too, “Always knew you were hard headed.” The two of us must have looked ridiculous; exchanging blows while laughing so hard that tears came to our eyes. Ulrica had started to spin like a ballerina and every once and awhile an arm or a leg would swing out and almost hit me. I kept stepping back and was almost to the edge of the bridge. Her ballerina antics only increased my Laughter.
“I win,” I declared. I was straddling Ulrica after knocking her to the floor, and my forearm was pushing against her wind pipe. My right arm was held in the air, ready for a punch. “It’s a tie,” she told me. What was she talking about? I obviously won. Then I felt her sharp claws against my skin and a small droplet of blood slid down my throat. I stood and helped Ulrica to her feet. “So are you going to let me go?” I asked her. “Yes, but I’m going with you.” Neither one of us took that fight seriously though. If we had there would have been some real damage. “You're weak, Emma,” said Ulrica. “I know,” was all I could say. So we stood together watching the people in the main hall scurry about like ants. I laid my head against the cool stone railing. “Any regrets?” I asked. “Huh?” wondered Ulrica. “If tonight is your last night, do you have any regrets?” She took a minute to think about it. “At my age, there is no point in regrets,” she answered, but that sadness that rarely springs out of her showed in her eyes for a glimmer of a second. Normally I would assume that I was imagining things, but this time I knew what I saw. I was starting to get to know Ulrica’s facial expressions and what the shine in her eyes meant. “What do your loved ones think about you doing this?” she asked me. “They don’t know,” I told her. “You mean you didn’t tell them?” she seemed generally surprised. “What was I supposed to do? Leave a note on the counter ‘went to war be back soon’?” the thought made me laugh. “No boyfriend?” she probed. “Naw I’ve never had much luck with guys,” I groaned in embarrassment. I made the mistake of glancing at Ulrica and then sighed. ‘You want to know why, don’t you?” she nodded. “For one, I am a terrible flirt, and second, according to Liz, guys find me intimidating. My last boyfriend cheated on me. Which is understandable considering I’m an ancient warrior and all,” I gave her a half smile to show I didn’t care. “What do you think?” I asked. “I think you are a sixteen year old girl,” said Ulrica. I lifted my head off the railing I wasn’t expecting an answer like that. Her words were simple and yet…they reached me. I thought about what Dane had said to me earlier. “Ulrica, Dane told me that your heart was icy… as if it no longer existed,” I told her. “What’s your point?” she asked. “I was just curious as to why,” I told her. “Like all cowards, once a heart is broken you tend to guard it more carefully,” she shrugged. “Maybe I hit you a little too hard on the head. Did you just refer to yourself as a coward?” Ulrica was showing me a side of her I had never seen before. To me, she was always dangerous, fierce, and unexpected, but today she was almost gentle. Then something occurred to me. “When Liz was alive, you said that her past life hated you. Why?” “My pack had grown in size, so I was expanding our territory. In the process, I killed several humans. The Chosen Angels tended to frown upon that, but the Illusionist in particularly. I think I killed one of his friends. I don’t remember,” answered Ulrica. So Ulrica had murdered humans. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Maybe I didn’t want to know about her past after all.
“Guarding your heart doesn’t make you a coward,” I went back to staring at the people below us. “Really now?” her voice had gone back to its mischievous self. She wrapped her tail around my waist and pulled me closer to her. She sniffed my hair, “Mmm, I love mangoes,” she teased. “When are you going to learn what personal space is!” I pushed her away. Why is she always picking on me? “I am going back to my room to let the others know that you’ll be going into the doorway with us,” I told her. She only giggled at me. “Stupid wolf,” I muttered before walking off.
I was almost back to my room when Adam found me. “Hey let’s go,” he ordered “Where?” I asked. “You’re hungry aren’t you?” he told me. He was right I was hungry. He led me down a familiar corridor I was starting to learn my way around this labyrinth. I called my staff to me feeling lonely without it. The staff was a part of me even when it wasn’t beside me I could feel it. “You have got to see this place Emma you’ll love it,” said Adam. “Adam just tell me where you’re taking me already,” he knew I hated surprises. “We’re almost there,” he answered. “But this one leads to the medical wing doesn’t it?” I remembered walking through here when Carmen and I were trying to find clues to who are enemy was. “I think we made a wrong turn at Albuquerque,” I told Adam as I trailed behind him. Then Adam took a left turn into a room I hadn’t even noticed was there before. He covered my eyes with his hands and pushed us through swinging doors into a room that smelled like my grandma’s house. It was the Reciliux kitchen, but no one was here. “Are we allowed to be in here?” I asked Adam. He shrugged, “Don’t know, don’t care.” “Well you brought me here. Are you going to cook for me?” He better not have only come to get me to make me cook because I sure as hell was not in the mood. I wanted to be lazy while I had the chance. “Naw, that is what the chef is for,” said Adam. Chef? What chef? The place was deserted. The kitchen was full of stainless steel ovens, two freezers and a fridge. Hanging from the ceiling was a shelf that ran the length above the stone counter. Pots and pans dangled off of the shelf. It looked like there was an island just for knives. “Adam, we are the only ones here,” I told him. “Sorry, I was trying to fix the fryer,” said a thick southern accent. Behind one of the kitchen appliances stepped out a big man with curly brown hair and glasses. He was tall with big arms and covered in flour. His apron also had various sauces on it. “Name’s Cicero Johnson Pleasure to meet you, Ma’am,” he smiled and held out it his hand. “Emma Carter,” I said, shaking his hand in response. “I’m Adam Decker,” said Adam, Adam squeezed Cicero’s hand tightly waiting for him to give in. They tried to hide this little act of dominance, but since Adam hid his emotions very well I learned to take the slightest facial expression into account. I took a seat at the counter, setting my staff beside me, and sighed. “Adam, let go of his hand so he can make us something to eat,” I told him. I rolled my eyes, Adam was ignoring me, and Cicero wasn’t giving up anytime soon. Then I had an idea. I got behind Adam and pressed myself into his back, his shoulders twitched, so I knew I was distracting him. I stood on the tips of my toes to reach his face and blew air in his ear. Adam instantly jerked back. He let go of Cicero and held his hand to his ear. Adam didn’t say anything, only glared. I laughed and took back my seat at the counter. Cicero smiled at me like nothing had happened. “I sense a mighty fine wish for pancakes, Ma’am,” said Cicero. “Pancakes sound great,” I told him. Adam grunted like a cave man. “That means he wants some, too,” I translated Adam’s Neanderthal antics to the chef. “So Cicero, while Adam is pouting, why don’t you tell me about yourself. You’re not from around here are you,” I inquired. He gave a hearty laugh, “Nice observation skills, lil miss. I am from South Carolina. You want grits or hash browns with your pancakes?” he asked me. “Um, what are grits?” His eyes got wide and he shook his head, “You yanks don’t know good cooking. I’ll throw some grits on your plate for you, lil miss,” he told me. “What’s a yank?” I whispered to Adam. He merely shrugged.
There was something weird about this chef. He wasn’t like the rest of the Reciliux. Then it struck me. “You’re human?” I asked him. “Yes ma’am,” he told me. “How is that possible? I mean, I thought humans didn’t even know the Reciliux existed. Wait, humans shouldn’t even be able to see us because of glamour,” I looked at Adam for confirmation. “Well you see my pa was not human. He was a Reciliux soldier. When he died, the Reciliux took me in, and you're right, as a human I can’t see past glamour. That’s why the Reciliux provided me with these glasses,” Cicero pointed to the geeky glasses he had on. “You’re saying those glasses help you see what normal humans can’t?” I asked him. He nodded. Then something occurred to me. When we were at the yacht party before this whole end of the world mess I could see through the glamour surrounding any magical creature at the party, but I couldn’t see past the werewolves’ glamour. “Cicero, so those glasses can see past anything?” I asked him. He shrugged, “Far as I reckon.”
Liz could see past the werewolves’ glamour as well. After all, Liz was the one who first told me Ulrica wasn’t human. Cicero went in the back to find some spices. “The werewolves’ glamour is much stronger than normal glamour and Liz was the Illusionist, glamour was her specialty,” said Adam. “Oh you’re done pouting now? And why would you say that?” I turned to Adam. “Because that’s what you were thinking about and I wasn’t pouting. You were having so much fun talking to the chef I didn’t want to interrupt,” he yelled back. Ugh, I could never be around Adam for too long before we started fighting. Something about Adam always made me irrational so we tended to butt heads a lot. “Stop yelling you moron. You are being immature!” I yelled back. “Why should I? You afraid we might disturb that stupid chef?” yelled Adam. At this point we were on our feet inches from each other. He was so infuriating! “Why do you hate Cicero so much? He has been perfectly nice, and he is making us pancakes,” I asked him. His stoic attitude gave me no clues as to what he was thinking. “I want to talk to you without him around…just the two of us,” said Adam. It got quiet and we both sat back down. “Well, what is it?” I asked him. He took my hands and stared at me for what felt like forever. If he didn’t speak soon I was afraid I might blush. This was so unlike Adam. “Emma,” he started. “Yes?” “Emma, I was wondering,” he stopped himself. Whatever he wanted to talk to me about he was having a hard time saying, but finally he just blurted it out. “I was wondering what you think my chances with Ulrica are?” I immediately dropped his hands and turned away from him, folding my arms across my chest, “Zero,” I answered flatly. “Oh come on! You two are friends, you can vouch for me!” he pleaded. “First of all, there is nothing to vouch, and second she is already with Dane,” I told him. “Ulrica said her and Dane were not a couple,” said Adam smugly. “If you know so much about her, what do you need me for? And just because Ulrica says they are not a couple, doesn’t mean Dane will let you have her,” he was starting to piss me off. “Blueberry pancakes with scrambled eggs and grits,” Cicero laid the plate down in front of me. Everything smelled and looked amazing. My irritation from Adam was almost gone thanks to Cicero. I smiled at him and complimented him on his cooking. From the corner of my eye I saw the slight façade of a frown from Adam, so I kept up the smiling and flirting just to piss him off. The nerve of that guy; asking me to hook him up with Ulrica. If he likes the girl, he should do it himself, not try some charade to trick her into liking him. Adam cleared his throat, “Where is my food?” he interrupted us. “Oh I’m mighty sorry I forgot you were here,” said Cicero with a grin. “I’ll get right to cooking,” he gave me another smile and went to the back to grab more flour. “Fine. Next time I see her, I’ll ask her out,” said Adam. “You do that,” I snapped. Why was this bothering me? It’s not like Ulrica would ever say yes anyways. In fact, her turning him down should be pretty funny. The thought made me smile. Cicero soon came back with a plate full of food for Adam. “If you don’t mind me asking I was wondering if you would tell me what the fourth angel was like…you know before she was killed?” asked Cicero. I dropped my fork and it clanged against my empty plate. Cicero grew concerned, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset ya.” “No, it’s ok. The question just startled me is all,” I reassured him. “You want to know about Illusionist?” asked Adam. Cicero nodded, “Curiosity, so if ya don’t wanna tell me, I got you,” he told us. “I think this story calls for hot chocolate,” I told Cicero. He nodded and whipped up a batch of hot chocolate. He poured some into a mug for me then added marshmallows. Adam cleared his throat again, so Cicero grabbed him a mug as well. “Her name was Elizabeth Mathews, but everyone called her Liz,” I told him after sipping my hot coco. “She was a spunky little thing. Always trying so hard to make everyone think she was tough,” Talking about her made me smile. “She looked up to Emma, she wanted to be just like her,” added Adam. “But despite her rough exterior, she was the kindest person I have ever met. It must have taken a lot of strength to love the way she did. She loved with all her heart even though sometimes it hurt too much to care. Whenever she was upset, she would play it off like she was fine to make other people around her happy.” “Oh please, you’re making her sound like a sap,” Interrupted Adam. “She had a decent right hook and didn’t take crap from anyone. You’d have to be a real thick head to cross her path,” said Adam. We cheered to that sentiment. Liz had been the youngest of us four so I felt the need to protect her…I couldn’t even do that right. My last words to her were in anger. I wanted to cry, but Goldenflames don’t cry. “Emma,” I looked at Adam. His honey brown eyes were always intriguing, but shrouded beneath his dark brown hair. I ran my fingers through his hair to brush it out of his face. He had a firm chin and his skin color was a shade darker than mine so in comparison I looked a lot whiter than I actually was. Adam has been my friend for a long time. Despite our constant fighting, he was someone to rely on. He was safe. Adam never wanted to be a Chosen Angel. He hates the idea completely, and yet he continues to fight. Adam is the only one that has memories from his past lives. He is convinced that we are nothing more than destroyers rather than saviors. I punched him, “Quit staring at me.”
“There are rumors going about how the Chosen Angels aren’t going to make it. I just want y’all to know it has been a pleasure meeting you and that I’ve got faith that you’ll return just fine,” said Cicero. “Don’t count us out just yet, cowboy,” I told him. “Especially when we haven’t even begun to show the bad guys our dance moves,” said Carmen, walking in with Ulrica and Dane trailing behind her. “And I’m a wicked dancer,” added Ulrica. Ulrica and Dane were still in civvies while Carmen had changed back into her Jade Magician uniform. “Hi, the name’s Carmen Jockolva, pleasure to meet you,” said Carmen, extending her hand to Cicero. “Howdy,” he replied. “Jockolva you say? Hmm... That sounds mighty familiar,” Cicero made a weird face that I assumed meant that he was trying to remember something. Carmen rolled her eyes and sighed. “Great even down here it’s famous,” she grumbled. “That’s it!” Exclaimed Cicero. “Are you the heir to Jockolva Industries?” he asked. Carmen began fidgeting with her green cloak, “Yep that is me.” Carmen’s family owned an international business corporation and was therefore extremely wealthy. Having so much money made it possible for Carmen to let Adam and Liz live with her. Liz had been an orphan who ran away from her foster parents, so she just decided to live in Carmen’s mansion. Adam sent his little brother to live in Texas because it was impossible for Adam to provide a good life for him. With his little brother taken care of, Adam decided to move in with Carmen as well. Adam’s father was a no show and his mother had died not too long ago. He tried to take care of his little brother, Logan, on his own instead of sending him into the foster care system, but once becoming a Chosen Angel entered the picture it was just too much for him to handle. Adam’s grades had been down the toilet, so not having to worry about paying for an apartment helped him to relieve stress and focus on school. I half lived with Carmen myself. I stayed there a lot but technically I still lived in a small apartment with my five brothers, dad, and dad’s girlfriend. I guess you could say we were just one big happy family. The Jockolva mansion was a haven for misfits. However, Carmen was expected to take over the family company one day and from what I could tell, this was not something she wanted. I learned at a very young age the importance of money so I considered Carmen lucky. With her money Carmen was able to help people, but she also felt tied to society’s expectations of her. Being a Chosen Angel didn’t help matters either. Even destiny had its grimy claws wrapped around Carmen. I knew she felt helpless, like a puppet, so many decisions made for her. As for me, becoming a Chosen Angel was liberating I had never felt so free. I was the girl who felt uncomfortable in her own skin. I hated everyone around me and wanted nothing more than to be left alone. Carmen, Adam, and little Liz were the only ones able to tolerate my bad attitude but once we found out we were Chosen Angels it was like I finally knew who I was…that I existed.
Carmen made a face, “What is that?” she pointed to the remnants of my grits. “Watery oatmeal,” I replied. “Those are grits ma’am and they’re a southern favorite,” corrected Cicero. Carmen just shrugged. “Calm down, cowboy, I was only kidding. They’re really not that bad,” I told Cicero.
“Ulrica Daciana,” “Dane Watson,” they introduced themselves. “So Mr. Chef, could you whip up two steaks, rare, two baked potatoes, spaghetti, crab legs, tacos and…oh French fries, please,” ordered Ulrica. “Yes, ma’am,” answered Cicero. “Would you like anything, lil miss?” Cicero asked Carmen. “Just coffee thanks,” she told him.
“That’s a lot of food,” I commented. “Us wolves burn through calories pretty quickly we’ve got to keep our energy up,” explained Dane. I could hear the sizzling of meat being cooked and the clang of pans as Cicero and what I was assuming was the rest of the kitchen staff prepared the food. A member of the kitchen staff brought Carmen her coffee. Ulrica took a seat on the opposite side of the counter not far from us but far enough that if she spoke I wouldn’t be able to hear her over the sound of bustling chefs working on her long order. Adam got up to sit next to her. Poor Adam, his little heart is about to be squashed, I thought to myself. He would be back in a minute sulking, and I was going to laugh at his failed attempt. The thought made me giggle.
But something unexpected happened.
Ulrica was smiling. Was she…could she…be flirting back? That’s impossible. She would never waste her time on Adam. Did she just touch his shirt?! I was shocked. Maybe Adam had game after all. They were laughing Together!
Dane took a seat next to me, “That’s just how she is,” he told me. “What are you talking about?” their laughing irritated me. “Ulrica is a frivolous creature. She does what she wants, whenever she wants. Even if it means toying with a young boy’s heart just to pass the time,” said Dane. Was she toying with me too? “That is just cruel,” I responded. Dane simply shrugged which only made me angrier. “You love Ulrica, so why doesn’t this bother you!” I asked him. He gave me a cold look, “Because that is who she is.” I looked back at the two enjoying each other’s company, “I don’t believe that,” I said absent mindedly. I couldn’t help but think back to the way Ulrica looked when she called herself a coward. Maybe she was frivolous, but I guess I wanted to believe she was more than that. Adam scooted closer to Ulrica’s side. “Ugh! I can’t just sit here and let her string him alo