---

¬HILN

Strome went quiet. Then she chuckled. "You… you know nothing," she hissed, reaching back and tearing herself from my hold. 

I let her go as she crawled backwards, a wary gaze filled with hatred directed at me. 

"I know nothing?" I chuckled. Then I reared my head back and laughed, my chest heaving as I did so. When last had I found something so humorous? "That 'know-it-all' attitude of yours would be your very undoing just like your sister's." My lips twisted into a crooked grin as a slow frown built over Strome's features, her real appearance revealing itself. 

"You're the one who did it?" she whispered.