She followed the winds along the narrow path set before her, and the knowledge that a single misstep would signal the end of her insignificant existence still filled her with great trepidation. It was the only way to save him from the madness that had overcome the small village, and although his violence suggested otherwise, he needed salvation from such horror.

Although her heart had long ago ceased beating and had become like a stone inside her chest, it ached terribly with worry and anxiety about the fate of the man whom she had sworn to protect with all her life, or un-life, if one wanted to get technical about it.

As forbidden as it was, she allowed her thoughts to turn into things less professional and more sensual, recalling the sensation of his arms encircled about her waist, his mouth dancing patterns upon her neck, promising that their love would endure.

A single tear fell, and she realized that should she fail, Mikhail would be lost to evil, and her soul mate would vanish forever.