Nighttime. Lord Titus is still out, and hasn't returned word of when he expects to be back. But then, he rarely does so. Most of the servants are asleep now, as one can only scrub so much.

Zorah remained a while, giving just a little bit of information to Kaela about her other sisters, or at least their names. The daughters of Ibis and Abana were, starting with the eldest, Third-Vision, Long-Lope, Fire-Mane, Moon-Brow, Storm-Hand, Cloud-Mark … and last but certainly not least, Emerald-Eyes.

But Zorah left, giving Kaela a chance to get some much-needed rest. But going to bed early can often mean that when you wake up in the night, you just can't get to sleep again … at least, not without making yourself tired first.

And so, perhaps that is why the night finds Kaela wandering about aimlessly and quietly in the gardens, with much to occupy her thoughts.

Kaela quietly presses through the undergrowth. Past the bush with the little yellow flowers. Around the statue of a strange jungle denizen, with the chipped nose. She's lived in the gardens long enough to know them even in the darkness of night.

However, there's something out of place here, something different about this night, though it's so hard to place. There's this feeling in the air … and Kaela has felt it a few times before, since she returned from the City of Hands.

Now, it seems especially alive … here in the garden. The light of the Procession shining through the leaves makes shadows dance across the grass before the Savanite kit.

Kaela scents the air, blinking slowly and looking around. Slowly, she makes her way around the bowed tree and towards the clearing beyond.

Now the kit realizes what's wrong. The air is still. The branches and leaves aren't moving.

But something in the clearing is moving.

Kaela freezes. She very slowly scans the clearing with just her eyes, trying to focus in on that movement.

A tall, lithe form is dancing in the faint glow from the sky, twirling and swaying, stepping this way and that. Silently. Like another shadow among so many.

Shadows of leaves and branches move about as well, changing and shifting. They begin to suggest things that they are not. Forms lying on the ground, stirring slowly.

Kaela blinks, and swallows hard. Slowly she begins to inch towards that dancing form, squinting to try to make out what it is…

A faint glow appears every once in a while … from what would be the forehead of the dancer. There is no mistaking … Jezebel.

Kaela holds very still, watching.

The shadows on the ground begin to move … and rise … like slumberers who have slowly stirred to wakefulness. They stand, humanoid, silhouettes of cheetahs, but elongated and unreal … and faintly translucent.

Kaela swallows hard, pressing harder down against the ground. Is she dreaming? This has to be a dream… her fur begins to stand on end.

The figures begin to move, forming a ring around the central dancer. And then, they too begin to dance, leaping and falling slowly, as if they are almost as light as air … twirling and swaying, like the central dancer who leads and compels them.

Kaela watches quietly, shivering in the cool, still air.

A shadow play proceeds before Kaela, commanded by the central dancer. Back and forth, pirhouetting, diving, catching each other, leaping up and bounding off each others' shoulders. The shadow acrobats perform feats that would be amazing for real persons.

And then, the figures still dancing about her, Jezebel stands in the open center of the clearing, and pauses. The dance still continues, like a bath of water that has been stirred up and has not yet calmed. She looks toward Kaela – even though Kaela should be well hidden in the shadow of the trees – and smiles.

A hand lifts up slowly, pointing toward Kaela. The fingers move. Jezebel is beckoning toward Kaela to come … to join in the dance.

Kaela swallows hard. She presses closer in against the side of the tree. Her hands move in faint gestures. "What are you doing?"

Jezebel does not answer. Waiting just a bit more, she drops her hand, and then picks up the step again, back into the dance once more.

The faint starlight reflects off of Jezebel's spotted fur, though it seems more silvery than golden in the darkness.

Kaela inches a little closer to the dancers, to get a better look.

It seems that the closer Kaela tries to scrutinize the dancers … the less real they seem. Out of the corner of her eye – or if she is only vaguely looking at them – they seem more real. But looking directly at them … they seem to fade away. Much like the clouds that would seem cottony and almost substantial at a distance, but would be nothing more than dusty air as the Savan Queen would pass through.

Kaela frowns, and moves in closer, reassured by the shades' unreality. "What are you doing?" she signs again, her motions larger and more exaggerated.

Jezebel continues turning around and around in a circle, like the hub of a wheel formed by the shadowy dancers. She leans to one side, arms held wide, seeming to wobble, becoming more and more unstable – and then she rolls on her hips and straightens out, hands out, and stops … and the shadow dancers begin to step away, one by one, returning to their places on the ground, reclining and fading into patterns made by leaves. Gone.

And yet, something remains. Perhaps the dance, somehow, hasn't ended. But Jezebel's attention is now fully on Kaela. "I dance," she signs, smiling.

Kaela doesn't smile. "What were those?"

Jezebel signs, "Shadows."

Kaela is emboldened. After all, Jezebel can't be her sister, even if she does deserve a similar name. "And why did you bring them here?"

"They are already here," Jezebel signs. "I only invited them to dance with me."

Kaela frowns hard. "Why?"

Jezebel flashes a toothy grin. "Because I can."

Kaela signs right back, "Is that also why you lied to me last night?"

Jezebel frowns. "In what way did I lie to you, sister?"

Kaela signs, her nosepad wrinkling in distaste, "You are not my sister."

Jezebel shakes her head. "Whether you believe it or not," she signs, "that is who I am."

Kaela snorts softly. She signs, "My sister is dead."

Jezebel steps back. "And what can be said to convince you otherwise?"

Kaela shakes her head. "Nothing," she signs. "You do not act like royalty. You do not have the mark of the royal line. And you said you were told of your 'heritage' when you came of age. But Mother does not even know of it, so how could she have told you?"

Jezebel slides back again, and turns about, then back again, then signs, "I am here, and I am real. I know my heritage, and I know my destiny. If you are my sister, than you may share in that. If you reject me, then go your way, and leave me to my dance."

"And just because our mother has not told you anything does not mean that she does not know," Jezebel signs.

"Perhaps she is afraid to let you know," she adds.

Kaela frowns hard. "Mother wouldn't lie to me. And I won't help you dance with your shadows or kill your enemies. And I won't keep your secrets."

Jezebel's eyes flash at this. "And just who will you be telling my secrets to, sister?"

Kaela glares up at Jezebel defiantly. "I am not your sister! I'll tell… " she fumbles for a moment as she tries to work out who she might tell. "… I'll tell Mama. And I'll tell Master Titus."

Jezebel shakes her head. "Tell our mother if you insist … but if you don't believe anything I have to say, then you surely realize telling of me to the Master – if he didn't know already – would be a death sentence," Jezebel signs.

"One who is marked, such as I, would be killed … because they are afraid to let a Savanite have magic. And that I have it gives reason to their fear," Jezebel signs, smiling even now.

"Do you hate me so much that you want to kill me?" Jezebel signs. "Do I displease you so?"

Kaela snorts softly. "Maybe," she signs, "you should tell me the truth. Unless you want to join my sister."

"And what truth shall I tell you?" Jezebel signs. "I am Third- Eye," she signs, "and so I always have been. I have only been 'Jezebel' since I was sold into slavery."

"I was a shamaness," Jezebel signs, "working magic in the jungle of the Savan. That abandoned village near the city ruins … that was my village … until we were betrayed."

"But betrayal is not new to me," Jezebel signs. "I have been betrayed many times before. And yet I survived. And I will survive even your treachery, sister."

Kaela shakes her head. "We all were captured. We all were sold to Masters."

Jezebel signs, "No. 'We' were all not."

Kaela frowns hard. Why is she not scared? She ought to have caved in and told the truth when Kaela threatened to tell her secret.

Jezebel slides down to a seated position on the damp grass. "Sit," she bids in sign.

Kaela quietly sits. Well out of arm's reach of Jezebel. "Why would Mama lie to me? Or Zorah?"

"Are you so sure any lies were told?" Jezebel signs.

Kaela snorts softly, her ears giving a slight, forced wiggle. "Zorah said my eldest sister is dead. You say you are my eldest sister. Either someone is lying, or you're dead."

Jezebel shrugs. "If that is what they told you," she signs, "then, yes, they were lying, for reasons I do not know. But I am not going to make up a new name for myself to please you."

Some of the shadows stir and move. Something scampers and skitters across the grass, just out of the corner of Kaela's vision.

Kaela abruptly stands and turns on her heel, unwilling to listen to any more. She's in midstride back away from the garden as something moves in the corner of her eye. She freezes instinctively and peers towards those moving shadows.

Little creeping … things … are prancing about, dancing this way and that. Blocking Kaela's way.

That is, unless Kaela is brave enough to simply step over them. Or through them.

Kaela swallows nervously. She's brave, but not that brave. Glancing back to Jezebel she signs, "Send your things away."

Jezebel is standing now, and signs, "There is nothing to be afraid of. They are only shadows. And there really are no such thing as shadows. Only light and darkness. Only our minds try to make sense of the difference and create a shadow."

Kaela is not deterred. "Then send away your darkness."

Jezebel holds out a hand. One of the little shadow-daemons flutters up to her, and perches on her wrist. Jezebel strokes its neck with her free hand.

Kaela backs away, nervously.

Jezebel repositions her hands, now holding the creature with both, stroking its neck with her fingers. And then she grasps it just behind the neck.

The creature struggles and squirms, but makes no sound, as the tall cheetah grasps it firmly and gives the neck a quick twist. The creature goes still … and then fades away into nothingness.

"Are you happy now?" Jezebel signs.

Kaela swallows hard, then turns and tries to dodge through the moving group of shadows.

Jezebel looks after Kaela, a predator's grin on her face as she watches with wild eyes.

The shadows twirl and try to cling to Kaela – but they are, after all, nothing but shadows, and insubstantial.

Kaela hurries through and runs towards the doorway back into the house.

Here, the shadows stay put. No more of Jezebel's 'pets' are to be seen. Unless, that is, they might be lurking somewhere. Who can tell? Shadows are everywhere.

Kaela pauses, then turns and hurries towards the supply closet.

Nothing interferes with Kaela's flight. No one stands in her way. And, so far as she can tell, no one is watching.

Kaela steps into the oversized walk-in closet and feels across the shelves in search of lanterns and oil…

There they are, just where they should be.

Kaela fumblingly fills one of the lanterns with oil and reaches to take a small piece of flint to use to light the wick…

The door to the closet creaks open.

Kaela finally manages to get the lantern lit and holds it defensively between herself and the closet door, backing nervously into the far corner.

The face of Lianna pokes into the closet, and she blinks at the unexpected light, holding one hand up to shield.

The old nurse lowers her hand at last, as her eyes adjust, and she signs, "What is going on, it'un?"

Kaela's expression turns to one of immense relief. Rushing over to Lianna, she throws her arms about her and presses her muzzle into Lianna's belly, like a much younger kitten. She doesn't release the lantern clenched in one hand.

Lianna blinks in surprise, but then holds Kaela, purring gently … trying to gently take the lantern so it doesn't end up toppling and creating a fiery hazard.

Kaela absolutely refuses to release that lantern. She trembles in Lianna's arms, but slowly stills as Lianna's presence reassures her.

Lianna sighs. She signs, whether or not Kaela can see it, "Afraid of the dark? Poor child. So many worries, no wonder you get nightmares."

The nurse tries to lead Kaela out of the closet, giving up on removing the lantern.

Kaela pulls back, swallowing hard. "They're out there," she signs at Lianna, fearfully.

Lianna smiles, trying to be comforting, and signs back, "Then just let them stay out there. Here, child, you can stay with me tonight, if it will make you feel any better. If any nightmares come in, I'll swat them with my broom."

Kaela swallows and nods uncertainly, still looking quite afraid to step out of the closet. She signs, "Jezebel called them. To get me, I think."

Lianna shakes her head, signing, "Don't worry about that witch Jezebel. She's a wild one. She still has the jungle in her. But she won't bother a cute little kitten like yourself."

From beyond the closet, there's the sound of a door opening and closing … and then footsteps padding at a leisurely pace across the floor, accompanied by the swish of silk brushing against silk … and then another door, and whomever it was is gone.

Kaela swallows hard, suddenly feeling very little. "She's a shaman," she signs, fidgeting and shifting her weight between her paws.

Lianna purrs, brushing Kaela's fur, then signs, "Shamans are only in fables. Or they are tricksters. Don't be afraid of any jungle superstitions."

Kaela falls silent, and just remains standing there in the closet, ears focused upon the door and listening for any more sounds from outside.

Kaela's keen senses – keener so far as she knows than anyone else in the household, including her own mother – picks up no further hint of company. She can catch a whiff of perfume that verifies that Jezebel has been nearby … but is gone now.

Kaela swallows. She finally signs, "I don't want to go out."

Lianna sighs. She knows Kaela well enough to tell when the kit is truly disturbed. She nods. "Then I won't make you go out," she signs, and lets go, backing out of the closet.

Kaela abruptly sits down in the corner. "You're … leaving?" she signs.

Lianna only smiles faintly, then disappears … and returns a short while later with some blankets from the cot that Kaela normally occupies, and some extras.

"If I wake up in the morning with a crick in my back," Lianna signs sternly … then softens, "then I will not be very happy, it'un."

Kaela gives Lianna a faint smile, remaining pressed back into that corner, with the lantern before her.

The old nurse settles down, rolling up a couple of blankets for a headrest, and then putting some covers over herself and Kaela. "Good night, it'un," she signs.

Kaela remains sitting there quietly, her eyes focused upon the closet door. She keeps her vigil for many hours into the night, before exhaustion finally overcomes her and she nods off.