Prologue-Tisdamazymoo.

antly,asmallpurplishbirthmark-likespotbetweenherbrowsfshedcrimsonlight.

    Shestruggledtutetheenergyflow,fherselftosteadyherbreath.Themoonlightrosefromherforeheadlikeaglowingstrandofgossamer,suspehestiflingairofthebedroom.Oetheredtoherbrow,theotherstretgtowardthegapiains.

    IfLuweretoseethis...

    No.Notimetoworryaboutthat.

    Theweightinherlowerabdomengrewheavier,bulgingfaintlybehesheet.

    Almostthere.Almost.

    Reyacouldn''''''''tsitupproperly.Shebentherlegs,half-reingagainsttheheadboard,herfeetphemattress,herhandsgrippingthecarvedbedframe.Sweatbeadedonherforehead,heramethysthairgingtohercheeks,makingherdelicatefaceappearghostlypale.

    Afaintmoanbrokeinthedarkness.Soft,asifsqueezedoutfromthecrathewoodenfloorboardsbehebed.Ifoenedclosely,itwasalmostindistinct,yetitcarriedanagresonance,asifdredgedfromthedepthsofhersoul.

    Tick.

    Thepinkarmclothenightstandclickedasthehourhandpassedone.Reyaexhaledinrelief.Themoonlighttetheredtoherforeheadsuddenlysnappedfree,recoilinglikeabrokenrubberband,instantlyretreatingbacktothecream-coloreddesk.Besideit,ablue-coveredtextbook''''''''spagesflutteredfaintly,asifbrushedbyaphantombreeze,beforesettlingbatostillness.

    TheonlysouintheroomwasReya''''''''sraggedbreathing.Everythingwasnain.Asifnothi