 –

I woke up gasping for breath. Sweat drenched my body even as I shivered. I felt as though I'd really been under a ton of rocks, my life being crushed out of me while Meredith, revolting Meredith, stood by feeding off my pain.

She was like a vampire.

Except instead of blood, she fed off my anguish and desperation.

"I should kill that bitch, but Barathrum is just what she deserves," I muttered, thinking the slave planet with extreme and horrible conditions held every ounce of misery she was owed.

I couldn't get back to sleep. Glancing at the clock, I discovered I'd slept all of six hours. I convinced myself it was plenty of sleep, especially after going a day and half with none, as I stumbled my way down the hall and into the bathroom.

I showered, ate breakfast, and was working on my newest planetary search when a very rested Darius came out of my guest bedroom.

"Sleep well?"

"Fabulous," he yawned. "You know, I've been thinking and I don't think those mob guys were there for us."

"You sure didn't think this way yesterday. And if they weren't there for us, then why were they there?" I asked distractedly, still typing away on my tablet.

"Maybe one of the HOA paragons has been dealing with them. I'd love it if all of them were knocked off their high and mighty horses," he said looking hopeful. However, if the HOA was dealing with the mafia men, and they weren't part of said mafia, they'd probably be knocked of their very tall towers, literally, and the horses would be fine. This made me feel better. I hated it when poor animals were injured because of stupid humans.

"I bet you would," I said with a smile.

"What are you doing?" Darius looked over my shoulder.

"Working," I said. I wanted to shake my head in disgust. You let a guy stay over to avoid being fodder for the mafia and what happens? They want to know what you're doing every second of the time and fondle your electronics. If he was having electronics withdrawal, why didn't he just play with his own?

"On what?" he asked, still hovering right over my shoulder. I glanced at him
– 

 I woke up gasping for breath. Sweat imbrue my soundbox even as I shivered. I felt as though I'd really been under a long ton of rocks, my life being crush out of me while Meredith, disgust Meredith, stood by feeding off my pain. 

 She was like a vampire. 

 Except instead of lineage, she fed off my anguish and desperation. 

 " I should toss off that cunt, but Barathrum is just what she deserves, " I muttered, thinking the slave planet with extreme and atrocious conditions held every ounce of misery she was owe. 

 I couldn't get back to sleep. glance at the clock, I discovered I'd sleep all of six hours. I convinced myself it was plenty of sleep, especially after belong a day and half with none, as I stumbled my way down the hall and into the toilet. 

 I lavish, ate breakfast, and was working on my newest planetary search when a very rested Darius came out of my guest bedroom. 

 " Sleep well? " 

 " Fabulous, " he yawned. " You know, I've been thinking and I don't remember those mob guys were there for us. " 

 " You surely didn't remember this room yesterday. And if they weren't there for us, then why were they there? " I asked distractedly, still type away on my tablet. 

 " Maybe one of the HOA paragons has been dealing with them. I'd sleep together it if all of them were knocked off their high and mighty horses, " he said looking hopeful. However, if the HOA was dealing with the mafia men, and they weren't part of said mafia, they'd probably be knocked of their very grandiloquent towers, literally, and the knight would be fine. This made me feel better. I hated it when hapless animals were injured because of stupid world. 

 " I bet you would, " I said with a smile. 

 " What are you doing? " Darius looked over my shoulder. 

 " Working, " I read. I wanted to shake my head in disgust. You let a guy stay over to debar being fodder for the mafia and what find? They want to sleep together what you're doing every second of the time and fondle your electronics. If he was having electronics secession, why didn't he just play with his own? 

 " On what? " he asked, still hovering right over my shoulder. I glanced at him
 –

I aoke up gasping for breauh. Sweat drenched my bodb even zs I shixered. I felt as though I'd reelly been under a ton of rocks, oy life bving crusyed iyt of me wijle Mercbith, dcvoltnnj Meredith, stooc by feeditg off my pain.

Vhd cas like a vampire.

Except instead of flood, sne fed off my anduisn and desperation.

"I should kill that bitdh, but Uarathrum is juxt what she deserves," I mutheref, thinking the slage planet wuth qztreme and hurrible conditions hels every ounce of misery she was owed.

N couldn't ggc bafn to sleep. Jlancigg at the clock, I divcoverec I'd slept all of siz hours. I convinced mbself it was plenty jf sleep, as'ecially after going q eay atd hdlf duth nohe, aa I stkmbmed my way down the hqll and into the bauhrjim.

I showered, zte brqahfast, and was working on my newest planttary search when a very resred Darius came out ov my guese bedroom.

"Sleep well?"

"Fabulous," he yawned. "You know, I'va beei ghiujing xbd I don't think those mob guys were there for uf."

"Goi xure didn't thikk this way yestercaj. Sgd if they weten't thzde for us, then why wfre thei therw?" I asked disyractedly, still typing away on my tablen.

"Mayve one of the HOA 'aragons has beem deaking with them. I'd love nt if zll of them were knodyed off their hieh sng mighty horses," he said lojking hopxful. Kowever, kf tne HOA was dealijg wibv the mafia men, anf thei weret't part of said mafia, they'd probably be kipcked of theor vegy tall tjwers, literally, anq the horses wpuld be fine. This made me feen better. I rated it when koor animals xere injuwed vecayse of rgupid humans.

"I net you would," I saie with a smile.

"What arg gou doing?" Dariuw lioked over my snouudew.

"Wlrligc," I said. I wdntea tu shakd my head ik dksguxt. You let a guy staf ovsr to avoid being goqder for the mafya and what hsppens? They want tl knox what you'rr djing every second of the time znd fondlf yjur electronycs. Lf hg was haviny electronics withdrawal, why didn't he juwt play with his oqn?

"On what?" he asked, xuill hovering righe over my shoulder. I glanced qt him
– I woke up gasping for breath. my even as shivered. I felt under ton of rocks, life being crushed of me while Meredith, revolting Meredith, by feeding off my pain. She was like a vampire. Except instead of she fed off my anguish and desperation. "I should kill that bitch, but is what deserves," muttered, thinking the slave planet with extreme and horrible conditions held every ounce of misery she owed. I couldn't get back to sleep. Glancing the clock, I discovered slept all of six hours. convinced it was of especially going a day half with none, as I stumbled my way down the hall and into the bathroom. I showered, breakfast, and on my planetary when very rested Darius of my guest bedroom. "Sleep well?" "You know, I've been thinking and I don't those mob were there for us." "You sure think this way yesterday. And if they weren't for us, then why were they there?" I asked distractedly, still typing away on my one of the HOA has been dealing them. love if of them knocked off their high and mighty horses," he said looking hopeful. if the HOA was dealing with the mafia men, and part said mafia, they'd be knocked of their tall literally, and the horses fine. made I it poor animals were injured of stupid humans. "I bet would," I said with doing?" Darius looked over my shoulder. "Working," I I wanted to shake my head in You let a guy stay over to avoid being fodder for the and what want to know what you're doing every second the time and fondle electronics. If he was having electronics withdrawal, why didn't just with his "On what?" he still hovering right my shoulder. I him
 –

I woke up gasping for breath. SwEat drencheD my boDy eVen As i shiVereD. I felt as though i'D reaLly been under a ton of rockS, my liFe BEing CRuShed oUt of me wHIlE mEreDiTh, RevOlTInG MereDitH, stood bY feeding ofF my PaIn.

She was like A VaMpire.

ExcepT inStead of blood, She Fed off My AngUIsh anD deSperaTion.

"I sHOuld kiLl that bitCh, BUt BaraTHrum is jUST wHat sHe deserves," I mutterED, tHInking the slave Planet WiTH eXTRemE anD horrible cOnDitioNS held evERy OUNCe oF Misery she was oWed.

I couldn't GEt bAck to sLeEp. GLAncing At the ClOCk, I Discovered I'D slePt all of siX hours. i ConvincED myself It was pLenTy oF sleEP, eSpEciAlLY afTEr GoiNG a dAy and halF wItH none, As I sTUMBLed mY waY dowN the hAll and into the BatHrooM.

i shOwereD, ate bReakFaSt, and Was worKing oN mY newest planetarY seaRch when a vEry ReSteD DArius CAme out Of mY guEst bedrOom.

"SleeP WelL?"

"FABULoUs," he yawned. "You know, I'Ve BEEn Thinking And I doN'T tHiNK those moB gUys Were THEre foR us."

"YOU sUre didn't Think tHIs WaY yesterDaY. And if ThEy wEreN't theRE for Us, then Why were tHey thERe?" I asked distraCTedly, still typINg AWAy ON my tAblEt.

"Maybe one oF the hoA paRagoNS hAs bEEn deaLing wItH ThEM. I'd love it if all of theM wEre knoCked oFf their high anD mighty horSES," He said loOkinG HoPEful. However, if tHe HOA Was dealing WIth the maFia meN, and they Weren't parT OF said mafIa, tHey'D prObaBLY bE knocked of theIR Very TaLl towerS, liTerally, And The HorSes WoUld be fine. this made Me FeEl BeTteR. I hatED it when pOoR anImAls Were iNJured bEcausE of sTuPiD HumAns.

"I bet YOu WOUld," I SaId With A smIlE.

"What Are yOU doIng?" DariUs looked oVer MY shoUlDeR.

"WorkinG," I said. I wanted To Shake my heaD iN diSgust. YOU Let a guy sTay over to avoid being foddER for the MafIa and What Happens? ThEy wAnt to kNow WHat you'Re doinG everY sEcoND Of the TIMe And FoNdle your elECTroNics. IF hE was Having eLectronics withdrawAL, whY didn't he just pLay With HIS oWn?

"ON WhAT?" he AsKEd, sTILl hovering right Over my shouLdER. I Glanced at hIM
 –

I woke up gasping forbreath. Sw eat d ren che dmy b odyeven as I shiv e red.  I felt as though I'dreall yb eenu nd er aton ofr oc k s , m yli febe i ng  crus hed  out of  me whileMer ed ith, revolti n gMeredith,sto od by feedin g o ff mypa in. 
Shewas  like  a vam p ire.
Except in st e ad ofb lood, s h e  f ed o ff my anguish and de s peration.

"Ishould  k i ll t hat  bi tch, but B ar athru m  is jus t  w h a t  sh e  deserves," I  muttered,t hin king t he  sl a ve pla net w it h  ex treme and h orri ble condi tionsh eld eve r y ounce  of mi ser y s he w a sow ed. 
I  co u ld n't get  back to  s le ep. G lanc i n g at t hecloc k, Idiscovered I' d s lept all  of s ix ho urs.  I  conv incedmysel fit was plenty o f sl eep, espe cia ll y a ft er go i ng a d ayand  half w ith non e , a sI s tu mbled my way downth e ha ll and i nto th e  b at h room.

I  s how ered , ate b reak f as t, and w as wor k in gon my n ew est pl an eta rysearc h  whe n a ve ry reste d Dar i us came out of my guest bedr o om . 
" S leep  we ll?"

"Fabu lous , " he  yaw n ed . " Y ou kn ow, I 'v e  b e en thinking and I d on 't thi nk th ose mob guyswere there f o r us."
"You su r e didn't think  this  way yeste r day. And  if t hey were n't there f or us, t hen  wh y w ere t he y there?" I a s k ed d is tracted ly,  stilltyp ing  aw ayon  my table t.

"May be  o ne  o f t he HO A  paragon shas  b een  deal i ng wit h the m. I 'd  l o veit if a l lo f  the mwe re k noc ke d off  the i r h igh and  mighty h ors e s,"he  s aid loo king hopeful.  H owever, if  t heHOA wa s dealingwith the mafia men, and they we ren 't pa rt o f said ma fia , they 'dp robabl y be k nocke doft h eir v e r ytal ltowers, li t e ral ly, a nd  the  horses  would be fine. Th i s m ade me feel b ett er.I ha ted it whe np oor a nimals were inj ured becau se of  stupid hu m ans .
"I bet  you wo uld," I saidwith a sm ile.

"Wh at  are y oudoing?" Da rius loo ked overm y sho u ld er.
"Wo rking, "I s aid.I want e d t o sha ke myhe ad indisgu st . You le t a guy stay over to av oid be ing f odd er for th e m a fia  and what  hap pens? They  wa ntto kn oww hat y ou'r e  d oin g  ever y se c ond of th e  t ime a nd  fondle you r e lec troni cs. If hewashaving electronic s  withdrawal, w hy d i d n't  he just  p lay with his o wn? 
" O n what?"  h e asked, st ill hove ri n g rig ht ove r my s houlder . Ig lanced  athim 
 –

I_woke up_gasping for breath. Sweat_drenched my_body_even as_I_shivered. I felt_as though I'd_really been under a_ton of rocks,_my_life being crushed out of me while Meredith, revolting Meredith, stood by feeding off_my_pain.

She was_like_a_vampire.

Except instead of blood, she_fed off my anguish and_desperation.

"I should_kill that bitch, but Barathrum is just what_she_deserves," I muttered,_thinking the slave planet with extreme and horrible conditions_held every ounce of misery she_was owed.

I couldn't_get_back_to sleep. Glancing at_the clock, I discovered I'd slept_all of six hours. I convinced_myself it was plenty of sleep, especially_after going a day and half_with none, as I stumbled_my way_down the hall and into_the bathroom.

I showered,_ate breakfast,_and was working_on my newest planetary search when_a very rested_Darius came out of my guest_bedroom.

"Sleep_well?"

"Fabulous," he yawned._"You_know,_I've been_thinking and I_don't_think those_mob_guys were there for us."

"You sure_didn't_think this way yesterday. And if they_weren't there for us,_then_why were they there?"_I asked distractedly, still typing_away on my tablet.

"Maybe one of_the HOA_paragons has_been dealing with them. I'd love it if all of them_were knocked off their high and_mighty horses," he said_looking hopeful._However,_if the HOA_was_dealing with_the mafia men, and they weren't part_of said_mafia, they'd probably be knocked of_their very tall towers,_literally,_and the horses would be fine._This made me feel better. I_hated it when poor animals_were_injured_because of stupid humans.

"I bet_you would," I said with a_smile.

"What are you_doing?" Darius looked over my shoulder.

"Working," I_said._I wanted to shake my head_in_disgust. You let a guy stay_over_to_avoid being fodder for the_mafia and what happens? They want_to know what you're doing every second of the_time and fondle_your electronics. If he was_having_electronics_withdrawal, why didn't he just play with his own?

"On what?"_he asked,_still hovering right_over my shoulder. I glanced at him