Tonight I move on to Ekland. The journey will last about three days, but I can always hitch a ride. My wolf-dog follows me all the way to the train station. Not many commoners would dare go to Ekland, because of their society. The king only gives to the court and nobles. Maybe three Saburn make it to the commoners and criminals.

"What is a pretty girl like you doing all alone on this night? Maybe the Midnight Princess will get you. Let me accompany you." The man just grips my wrist and pulls me to an alley. First mistake, never pull me into a dark alley where I can easily kill you. Second mistake, my wolf-dog will attack anyone who harms me. I hear a small growl escape his lips. Before I know it, the man's lips are slammed against mine. I snap twice and my wolf-dog races towards the man. Merl grabs the man's leg and shakes his head. "Get off me you stupid mutt!" I draw one of my daggers and give the man a nice clean death.

"Good boy Merl." Merl wags his tail and continues to follow me. The man will be discovered tomorrow, maybe even sooner than that. Every person I kill, I remember.

Merl and I arrive at the train station and I order one ticket for me and a ticket for Merl. The man looks at me skeptically. I pay him thirty-five Saburn. Money goes quick when in Ekland. With the amount of money I have I could maybe buy a couple meals there. I have to be wise.

Merl curls up into me and I whisper goodnight to him.

Dear Journal,

Merl and I killed someone today. I wish I didn't have to kill the man. If I didn't, he would have raped others like me, unprepared and harmed. Merl gripped his leg and wouldn't let go of his leg, until the man dropped dead. I hope Merl stays with me.

Sincerely,

Adelina

I wake up to the sound of the train horn blowing. We have reached a stopping point. We are at a little village that is about five-hundred miles south of Ekland. The villagers bring us some of their crop and serve us a beautiful dinner. To much of my disappointment, the train won't leave until tomorrow. My gut tells me, "That the captain just wants to get into some of the young ladies beds." As much as he is handsome, he knows nothing of me.

I decide to practice some of my target practice. That would be a great ending to the day. Not much I can do here with this small village. Seeing someone of noble blood would be a bad reputation for the family. The nobles do not want to be seen fraternizing with the common folk. They would get disowned from their family and cast out of their home, with nothing but the shirt on their back. It pains me to know that the common folk are more accepting than others. But hey I don't get to decide the laws of the nobles. My mission is just to kill them all. I aim my dagger at a young tree. I throw it. With enough force I could easily kill the person right then and there. That is not where I am though. This day somehow reminds me of when Father left mother and I for our safety. He just left.

"I have to go. Don't tell mommy. Promise me Midnight Princess?" His voice echoes in my head. I wish he did not have to go. He did though because of a mistake my great-great-great grandfather made. If not for him I would have spent the rest of my life, living peacefully with my Dad and Mom. Many wish they had one parent in Tamchi. Most are lucky to even have one. My Dad died from Fear and Love, while my Mom died from a mortal injury Love gave her. Soon though it will be my turn to get hunted. Although, there was nothing in the rules of the hunt that the hunted can not become the hunter. I can easily kill a god or I can become their ally. The gods will decide.

"Pretty strong throw there lassie. Might want to calm down. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself ey?" An older man walks up to me. He grabs my second dagger. "Try throwing like this." He throws the dagger sideways and it slits the branch in half. "'Ell I wasn't aiming for there, but you know." I smile. No one showed me how to throw a blade like that. He obviously was skilled and practice for hours. "My name is John. What's yours?"

"I am Adelina." This is the first time I gave someone my real name in awhile. "Merl, Merl!" I whistle for my wolf-dog. Merl comes bounding for me. He jumps on top of me. "Calm, calm." Merl gets off and sits next to me. "Merl meet John. Merl we don't attack John, ok? John do you have a spare place in your house that I can stay in for the night?" John nods.

"My family always has room fer two." John leads Merl and I to his house. We smile as we see his house. John seems to have that effect on Merl and I. Merl is wagging his tail happily like nothing could possibly go wrong in the world.