It was cold and dark. Whisperer drifted, lost between worlds. Caught on the precipice between the spiritual and material, he fought for purchase; fought to find his way back.

How long had it been? The darkness held no time and the intermittent periods of grey mist were little better. When the mists came, Whisperer caught glimpses of shadowy shelves of books . . . tables . . . chairs . . . So he was still in the Library - insomuch as he was anywhere.

The Library . . . Yes, he had been in the Library with Lacey, reveling in her heat and passion. She had responded well to him, made him feel alive and then . . . Something happened. Whisperer couldn't remember.

But now, Lacey was gone and he was lost in the dark. Sometimes, in the mist, he glimpsed others; tried to reach for them. But few even acknowledged his presence and fewer still heard the vague whispers or saw the pale flames he could manage. Perhaps they told their friends about strange lights and sounds in the Library. Perhaps his existence had faded to the realm of rumor.

Whisperer despaired, wondering if his time to cross over had finally come. Would his end come without so much as a fading whimper?

But, then, in the darkness . . . A light! Distant and flickering, it nonetheless gave him a beacon, something to focus on. Perhaps even some hope. Though the light seemed stark and uncompromising, it was most definitely alive! It was a young woman, one of the students. Yet she was stronger than most and Whisperer felt the presence of unusual talents within her essence.

As the invisible phantom focused on and studied this new presence, he began to feel stronger. Perhaps this girl held the key he needed to find his way back to the world. Perhaps he would soon find out, for she seemed to be getting closer.

As she approached, the darkness faded, giving way to misty shadows. Whisperer felt stronger still. He reached out to the young woman's mind, probing her defences experimentally. He sensed something akin to feedback, as though she had some rudimentary psychic sensitivity. It was likely the girl felt it too - as a chill in her spine or the feeling of being watched. Maybe even a vague hint of Whisperer's curiosity.

Regardless, the ghostly creature continued to explore the edges of the girl's psyche, gaining strength by the moment. Perhaps soon he could reach her. Perhaps soon he could touch her. Perhaps soon . . . But as yet, he was still unable to manifest, and though he could touch her mind, he couldn't penetrate it. He needed more time in her presence.

Not many frequent the library at this hour. The librarian was cataloging books that had recently been returned. Most students hurried to return books on time and welcome the coming weekend. The doors opened, revealing the long silver hair and familiar light blue sash of one of Shokushu's Head Girls. A pair of girls were leaving as Vera entered, the girls were quick to dart around the Asian woman, not seeking to be in her way. Her uniform was immaculate. It hugged her lovely features just like on all students who wear Shokushu's attire. Breasts swayed gently with every determined step. Long silver hair trailed in her wake. The light blue sash hung loosely around her waist, revealing her position in the school. Her short skirt whisped gently against silky smooth thighs, the fabric barely keeping her modesty.

Vera had a few reasons coming at to the library. She had books to return herself. It would be trivial to have a Prefect or another student take care of this simple chore. But, the Head Girl did like doing things herself and it gave her an excuse to get up and leave the tower suite from time to time. As a Head Girl and practitioner of magical arts, she also had to go herself if she ever wanted to check out any writings that the school considered sensitive. Such texts did not belong in the hands of just any student. The final reason she came was to check with the school's librarian and log any demerits students may have accumulated due to misbehavior or failure to return books on time. Again, this was handled by Prefects usually. But, Vera happened to be in the area so there was no harm in saving them a trip.

The silver haired woman returned the books she had on hand and asked if any books she ordered had came in yet. Eyes scanned the library briefly as she waited. There was a student here and there, reading quietly. She could sense faint emotions though it was not very vivid at this distance. It did not matter in the end. The students were behaving and trying to better themselves or catch up on work after procrastinating. Until rules were violated, she had no reason to investigate further.

Vera did feel something else. The room felt a bit chilly or perhaps that was just her imagination. There was a sensation of being watched but, that was not an uncommon sensation on this island. It was possible an alien guest was lurking about this quiet and secluded place. But, there was no point in making blind assumptions. Having been on this island so long, it was natural to have some paranoia in general.

Seeing the stacks of books the librarian was tending to, Vera offered her assistance. With the help this staff member has provided in the past, it was a small thing to help with some mindless busy work. She stacked some books on a rolling tray and headed toward one of the numerous aisles. Eyes flicked over the codes listed along the bindings and the titles associated with them. She scanned the shelves until she found where the book belonged. One by one, she moved along the quiet aisle, sliding book after book into their home on the shelves. A required her to reach for one of the upper shelves, breasts straining against her buttoned blouse as she stretched her arm up to slide the book in place. A few required her to bend down, skirt riding up her lovely thighs and rear as she quickly returned another book and quickly sat back up, smoothing her attire before moving on.

The darkness of the void between worlds receded as Whisperer followed the woman's spiritual light toward the material plane. Dim, hazy figures became distinct, revealing the presence of other students and the librarian. The scholarly, yet comforably appointed furnishings were no longer cloaked in shadow. Whisperer regarded the aspect of his guiding light clearly for the first time. Tall and well proportioned, she exemplified the beauty the girls of this island were know for, and her cooly assured presence bespoke an air of self-confindence. The argent hue of her long, flowing hair was remarkable - the color of a substance thought to embody purity and goodness, a distant, absorbed memory told him. He wondered briefly how that might be reflected in her character, but it was too early to tell.

Whisperer barely noticed the girl's attire. Even after years of interacting with the students here, he still found the concept somewhat alien. In the past, he had seen clothes as a barrier to be negotiated or a wrapper to be torn away - though he had learned that students often valued some outfits in ways that went beyond a mere covering. Truth be told, though, few seemed to care as much about the standard uniform as this girl evidently did, given her attention to detail. The sash, however, was something new. He'd not seen its like before, but he had a vague feeling that it was something important. Whisperer wondered if it had something to do with how the other girls deferred to her and took pains to stay out of her way. Even the librarian seemed unusually respectful - as one might be to a favored pupil.

Time advanced and Whisperer strength grew apace. As he homed in on the girl's luminous spirit, his consciousness came ever closer to the physical world. While observing her interaction with the librarian, his senses cleared enough for him to glean her name from the conversatioon: Vera.

Following the lovely Vera as she pushed a cart of books into the maze of shelves, Whisperer finally gathered the strength to slip his mental feelers into her mind. Her surface thoughts and emotions became much clearer. Titles and names and codes flowed through her mind as she shelved the books neatly. Books were things that fascinated Whisperer. Like clothes, they were alien to him, but he appreciated their value more - not so much for the storage of information, but for the effects they had on the minds of beings reading them. Even a simple instructional text could produce fascinating mental and emotional patterns. And such it was with just the simple act of reading their titles. Vera probably wan't even aware, but with each book she shelved, her stalker got a little mental picture of it: whether she had read it or not, whether it was or seemed interesting, hints of thoughts they evoked. It gave each tome a special place and meaning the creature could appreciate. Whisperer realized he didn't feel quite so cold, anymore.

The creature pushed deeper into her mind, searching for a way in, a way through. If he could connect with her spirit, he could forge a bridge to her world. He scanned her psyche for the mechanism of her sensitivity. There had to be a port or channel to allow the information in. If he could find that gateway, he might be able to take advantage of it and penetrate to her core. Vera would almost certainly feel such an intrusive search, though whether she recognized it as such depended on how much experience she had with such probes. Whether she knew how to shut him out would likewise depend on such experience. Still, if he could distract her, make her focus on his presence rather than the intusion . . .

Fortunately, he now had the connection he needed to whisper to her from the spiritual realm. His wispy voice seemed both close and far away, familiar yet foreign, as it beckoned to her from the ether:

Vera . . .

Whisperer waited for Vera to acknowledge his 'presence', ready to call again if she hesitated. Meanwhile, he kept searching her mind, determined to find his way in to her world; his way to her.

Part way through Vera's work, she felt a chill run up and down her spine once more. The sudden sensation made the woman shiver briefly, nearly dropping the book she was putting away in the process. There could have been many excuses the mind could come up with for the phenomena. Could be the quiet isolation causing one's mind to drift and fabricate things and sensations from imagination. Could just be the A/C kicking in, these places tend to be kept cooler in general for some reason. Some may even try to put meaning to the event, claiming it was a sign of something supernatural. Most people would consider such a thought silly. For Vera, the realm of the unknown was something she had closer familiarity with compared to ordinary human mortals. Still though, there was no reason to jump to conclusions. The facts remain the same. Whatever was happening was outside her control. If there was something out there stalking students, it would be better for her to focus on finishing this work and leaving than investigating.

'Vera...'

Unfortunately, Vera's unknown watcher had other ideas. The voice was quiet yet persistent, pressing against her psyche, demanding her attention. The woman jumped slightly, eyes looking around fruitlessly. A hand came to her temple, feeling pressure inside her skull along with the chills along her spine. "Who's there?" she called aloud. The pressure she felt in her head was concerning. The Head Girl knew of guests with psychic ability. Being an empath herself, she knew a few things about protecting her thoughts. But whatever this presence was, it was persistent, unrelenting. The silver haired woman tried to steel herself though the monetary distraction allowed it to slip itself deeper, like roots digging themselves into the soft earth.

"Whatever y-you are," she continued, "Get out of my head..." A fruitless demand, she knew. Still, Vera wanted to make her disapproval clear. She did not like things picking around inside her mind. Knowing that some unknown guest had taken notice of her, the Head Girl had stopped putting away books and was looking around. She could not tell if this creature had a physical body to detect. Her jaw clenched in annoyance. She rather not let this thing keep intruding on her thoughts. Did this ability have a range? Perhaps she should come up with an excuse to leaving this task half finished and take her leave of this place.

Whisperer found it interesting that Vera suspected a being such as himself was lurking nearby, yet remained realatively calm. She thought of such beings as 'guests' but not of herself as a hostess. It seemed she knew of the real pupose of the school, but was not, herself, in a position of authority. At least not over those such as he.

I have been called Whisperer by your kind, Whisperer answered the girl's query, though he did not immediately address her demand. Unlike some psychic beings, he understood her distress over his mental contact. Further, even to another telepath, what he was doing to her would constitute an assault. It was necessary. He needed her light, her spirit to bring himself back to the mortal realm. To abandon his efforts might lead to oblivion for him. Still, it didn't have to hurt . . .

Open yourself to me . . . Or there will be pain, The monster sent, even as he intensified the assault on Vera's mind. It was not meant as a threat, just a simple truth. He dared not stop and her resistance would only make things harder on both of them. However, though such resistance made things more difficult, it also indicated where he should concentrate his attack. One natually defends one's most vulnerable point. In most sensitive beings, that that was the center of their power.

You cannot run, he added in response to her unspoken thoughts. I am with you now, and I am almost through . . . Another simple truth. Range in the ether was determined not by distance, but by familiarity. He had tasted her mind, felt her thoughts; he had her 'scent' now and could follow her anywhere. Even as the contact between them went on, more and more of his essence gathered around her. His strength had grown considerably. Though he could not yet physically touch her, he could now give her a glimpse of what he was.

Small flames began to flicker into being around Vera, they shed no heat and their light seemed to touch nothing but her. Hovering at about arm's length, they circled around her, bursting and twinkling in myriad colors and intensities. The flames multiplied as they swirled, building a wall between the young woman and the world around her. As it formed and grew, the display became subtly hypnotic, tugging at Vera's focus and urging her to be calm.

Open yourself to me . . .

"Ngh! St-Stop it!"

The Head Girl winced as she felt the pressure inside her head increase. It felt like thick tendrils pushing into her psyche. Despite the pain, the woman still tried to resist. She tried to force the alien sensation out of her head even as Whisperer made it clear that there would be no escape. But, the sensations persisted. It was unrelenting and no amount of mental resolve seemed to halt the presence spreading deeper into her vulnerable mind.

A hand rubbed her temple as she looked both directions she could try fleeing in. But, it was much too late to flee. Strange flames formed out of thin air and were quickly moving to surround the silver haired student. Vera turned to flee only to have the flames quickly follow and spread rapidly around her. "No! Stop! Please..." Vera's head was hurting from all the strain and tension in her never ending battle with this unknown entity. Unfortunately for her, the lovely Head Girl was already trapped. The swirling colors drew her attention, seeking to soothe and calm her while the presence continued to dig deeper into her thoughts.

Whisperer's words were still quiet but seemed to still pound inside her skull, demanding her to comply. Vera struggled to keep focus while her vision was assaulted by the myriad of twinkling colors and flame. She had some familiarity with hypnosis. But, it was too late to muster a means to resist. To try and fight off the hypnotic pattern meant less focus towards the intrusion in her mind and vice verse. The pain was already fading as the presence grew stronger in her head. She blinked slowly, unable to look away from the display. Even if she could, she was already surrounded by the wall of flames. The words sounded louder in her head as the hand at her temple slowly fell to her side.

Pupils dilate and grew more and more glassy as the colors flashed across Vera's vision. Thoughts were being disrupted by senses of calm and the now booming voice demanding her submission. The Head Girl could not even tell if she was fighting back anymore and did not seem to care. Her mouth hung slightly open as she stood in the middle of this hypnotic enclosure. Her mind was opening as easily as the books that had fallen to the floor during her brief struggle. A thin speckle of drool escaped her lips as she stared helplessly at the flickering flames.

~Open myself to you...~

As Whisperer suspected, Vera's first response was to fight harder. He understood her distress and heard her pleas, but could not afford to sympathize or relent. He was normally loath to cause such pain, but in this case, he had no choice. He had to reach her core, to find the bridge through. His only recourse was to make the suffering as brief as possible; so even as she strengthened her resolve, he pressed harder, digging his way through her defenses. Fortunately the addition of his hypnotic display split her attention and her mind began to relax. It meant easier going for him and less pain for her, for which he was glad.

And then her resistance dissolved completely. The lovely girl capitulated under the dual assault of psychic pressure and fiery fascination. Her mind was open, unfolding to reveal that which the phantom sought. He plunged his mental tendrils into her empathic gateway, penetrating deep into the psychic channel. His probes twisted and spread, levering open her gleaming mental orifice, preparing the way for his essence to enter.

Without, the monster's flames swirled faster and faster, coming ever closer. Soon they were brushing the entranced woman's form as they whirled and danced. Then, they formed into one long tendril of flame that dove into her body. A great serpent of unburning flame passed through her uniform as though it weren't there and seemed to bore through her navel. But it was into her mind that the flames passed. The psycho-spiritual construct of Whisperer's essence rushed through the stretched aperture of Vera's psychic sensitivity, surging into the deepest parts of her being. Cool flames danced and merged with the Head Girl's essence, pushing her weakened and entranced consciousness further to the back of her mind.

Unexpectedly, Whisperer found that as his essence flowed into and merged with Vera's, he began to usurp control of her body. Though not his intention, some instinct or force guided him to find and seize her motive nexus. The surprise momentarily disoriented the phantom, even as the last of his essence poured into his new host's mind. The ribbon of flame finally disappeared into the girl's body, which, temporarily uncontrolled, collapsed to her knees.

Moments later, Whisperer found himself slumped against a bookshelf. Luckily its stout construction kept it from swaying and dislodging any of its contents. Confused, he blinked and brought a hand to his face . . . What!? He stared at the slender and imaculately manicured digits, flexing them gently in disbelief. Flabbergasted, he tried to understand what had happened, but was distracted by the feeling of rough carpeting pressing into the soft flesh of his legs. Without thinking, he stood up, body and limbs responding smoothly through muscle memory. His body's hands moved automatically with quick precision to smooth the uniform 'he' wore.

"Vera, dear, are you alright?"

Surprised and dumfounded, Whisperer turned to see the librarian approaching. He could feel her concern as she neared. He stared at her, dazed for a moment, not yet comprehending what had happened. Vera the name finally registered in his mind. He looked around vaguely, searching for the Head Girl.

"I heard a crash," the librarian continued, stepping closer and taking Whisperer by the shoulder. With a start he spun back to face her and suddenly something clicked into place. He was Vera! Somehow, he had possesed the young woman's body!

"I-I'm alright," Whisperer managed to make Vera's mouth work after a few tries. "Just d-dizzy."

"Come along, dear," the librarian said, leading the possesed girl by the hand. "There's a couch in my office you can lie down on."

"Ngh!"

Vera's body tensed as the flames suddenly flowed into her body. The vile appendage seemed to cause any physical harm as it all continued to surge into her helpless being. Muscles twitched and spasmed slightly as the woman swayed on her feet. A heated wave washed through the Head Girl's psyche as everything seemed to fade to black.

When the flames disappeared into the silver haired woman, she collapsed onto the floor. She stirred and slowly rose back to her feet though, eyes looking over herself and testing her body. Vera was unharmed but it did not seem like she was behind the wheel controlling her body anymore.

The librarian came to check on Vera upon hearing the commotion. Vera's voice responded but it was not Vera's words. The staff member had no reason to be suspicious and led the Head Girl to her office at the far end of the library. There, the student was layed down on the couch. "I will contact the nurse, please just rest here." The door shut, leaving Vera alone in the woman's office.

Whisperer had some time to process what had happened. It was possible the nurse would come to check on the Head Girl and possibly take her back to her own office for further medical treatment. Vera's consciousness was still subdued for the time being, barely stirring from time to time before another tide of cool flames washed her psyche away. The being seemed to have total control over this woman's body.

Whisperer briefly wondered about the librarian's exiting statement. He wondered if the nurse would be able to detect his presence within Vera's mind, wondered what she would do if she did. If she was aware of the island's true purpose, as seemed most likely, she probably wouldn't intervene. Perhaps he should wait and see what happened. Regardless, he had some time, it wasn't as if this seemed like a life-threatening situation. Given the nature of the school, the nurse probably recieved many calls about fainting and dizzy spells . . .

Besides, it was warm in the young woman's body. He didn't want to leave just yet. Lying on the couch, Whisperer acquainted himself more with Vera's luscious form. He stretched arms and legs, wriggled fingers and toes, and ran hands over generous curves. The fabric of her perfectly-fitted uniform did little to disguise the soft suppleness of her flesh. Then there was the sensation of the body's reactions, warming and tingling, the feel of each light touch lingering slightly. Of course, he had felt the echoes of all these sensations before, but first hand experience was quite a different matter.

Still, something was wrong. Though the feelings were exquisitely enjoyable, they didn't affect his own essence in the usual way. Though he felt the warmth of her body and pleasure of the exploratory touches, his own flames remained cool and pale (to the mind's eye). Ironically, though the sensations more pure and direct, they weren't as compatible with his ghostly being. Perhaps he needed a conscious living mind to serve as a proper conduit? Perhaps he could experiment.

Whisperer felt Vera's mind stirring periodically and knew she must be regaining some of her will. Carefully, he wrapped a portion of his spiritual flames around her psyche in a snug coccoon, allowing just enough figurative 'space' for her to regain 'consciousness'. He allowed the sensations of her body to flow into her, but kept motor control for himself.

Wake up, Vera, he prodded psychically as he began to run the girl's hands over her body again. He started by tracing her brow and cheeks before drifting down along her smooth throat. He lightly cupped each of her fabric-constrained breasts then slid her hands to her sides, tickling her ribs lightly. Fingertips trailed down her flanks then rubbed the material of her skirt against her upper thighs.

The silver haired woman continued to touch and feel herself while laying on the couch. Vera herself soon felt her own touch only to find that she could do nothing to stop it. Hands continued to roam over her covered breasts and down her stomach until they reached the edge of her skirt. Naturally, having no control over her body's actions while still seeing and feeling it all was beyond distressing for the human woman. She tried to move, tried to stop herself from feeling herself. She tried to sit up, to call out for help. But, her body would not respond.

The immense pressure remained, keeping her smothered, contained in this part of her mind. The voice from before wanted her awake, not that she had a say in the matter. 'Get out of my head! Stop controlling my body!' She demanded mentally. Vera tried to struggle any way she could. But, she was trapped within the overwhelming presence. It was like she was entombed in rock, unable to move a mental muscle.

'What do you want?' She tried to speak inside her head. It was not something she tried doing in the past. But, it was not like she could do much else. What was this being going to do with her body? How long would she be left watching and feeling everything this monster does with her?

Whisperer continued to tease his host's body with her own hands as her captive mind struggled and railed. He directed her palms slowly up and down her torso in languid curls. The roaming touches explored everywhere easily reached in her body's comfortable, reclined position on the couch. Still, he made no move to remove her clothing nor to reach under them; such was not necessary for his current purpose.

The sensations were, indeed, more full when Vera's consciousness could feel them. Still, though he now felt them first hand and as echoes from her mind, they were still not as satisfying as he would expect, failing to heat his own essence to a significant degree. His presence in her mind seemed to retard the process somehow. No matter, he could always release her body and get what he needed with his tendrils. But not just yet.

This is what I want from you, Whisperer explained, pressing one of Vera's palms to her cheek so that they could both feel the warmth. To feel your warmth, your vitality. To feel alive! But, perhaps a demonstration would help you understand better.

Whisperer altered the flow of sensation into Vera's mind, funneling and filtering it through his own essence to give her an impression of his own quasi-existence. Colors became dull and lifeless. Objects became slightly indistinct and hazy, as though not fully real. The quiet of the librarian's office became deeply profound, almost smothering. The touch of the girl's hands barely registered on her own body. All sense of warmth abated, leaving only a constant leeching chill.

There was a light knock on the door that echoed hollowly in this shadowy existence. Whisperer stopped running his hands over the girl's body and lay still as the Librarian poked her head in the door. Her face shown with vibrant color next to the lifelessness of the surrounding world.

"How are you feeling, dear?" The woman's voice was more substantial than the knocking had been. Its wamth and light beckoned to the chill whithin.

"Much better now, thank you," Whisperer said with Vera's voice as he sat her body up and smoothed her attire.

"In that case, the Nurse suggests you should go to your room and rest," the librarian stated, her relief washing over the possesed girl palpably. "Be sure to call her if it happens again, otherwise you should check in with her in the morning."

"Thank you; I will," Whisperer replied. Just then another student's voice could be heard from the main room.

"In your own time," the older woman addressed Vera before turning and retreating from the room. "Coming!" That last just before the door closed.

I'm going to release your body now, Whisperer sent mentally. What will you do?

The psychic being opened Vera's cocoon so that she could resume control of her body as he faded into the back of her mind. He continued to capture and subvert her sensory perceptions, though, letting her continue to taste of his spectral existence.

'Ngh!'

Vera mentally winced as her vision grew blurry. The air grew more quiet than before, a deafening silence had filled the small office. Her body felt cold. The Head Girl still could not move, leaving her enduring this hollow sensation until the librarian returned.

The older woman seemed to stand out among the lifeless. Whisperer had already explained the need for warmth and life. She was not going to go through what that all meant as she rather just get this monster out of her body. Even the librarian's voice stood out more. Again, her voice responded to the woman's concerns but, it was not Vera speaking.

The librarian relayed the nurse's suggestion of getting some rest then check in with her in the morning. Resting meant more work piling up for the Head Girl to deal with. But, it does mean she was stuck with little to do beyond trying to find out how to exorcise this being out of her.

Whisperer returned control though the strange numbing of sensation remained. Vera sat up and looked herself over briefly. She stood up, smoothing her out her uniform before heading to the door. Her jaw clenched at the question the being asked. 'It appears I am to return to my room' she replied mutely. 'How about you leave my body entirely? I do not want a parasite feeding on my life.'

It was disorientating having everything muted and unfocused around her. It would be a long journey back to the tower. But, she knew the way even with her vision hindered. All this demostration showed was that this being was a parasite, taking over bodies and feasting on them. It was unknown how long this monster would remain in her body. Perhaps NICE labs would know how to deal with something like this? That would be a last resort as even a Head Girl would not volunteer to be experimented on.

Unless hindered further, Vera would heed the nurse's message and return to the tower. She would take the elevator up to the suites and return home. The muting of all sights and sounds left the Head Girl to focus purely on how to get this parasite out of her head.

Whisperer chuckled lightly at her thought of him as a parasite. It wasn't too far off the mark, really, though he didn't actually consume anything from his prey. He wasn't sure if she would understand, but it didn't hurt to try. He wasn't expecting any sympathy or acceptance from her, but he wanted her to understand him as best she could.

I suppose I am no more than a parasite to you, he stated, wryly. But consider, all living things feed on the life of others. Even plants require the nutrients from rotting organisms. However, I do not actually feed on my prey, not like I used to . . . He trailed off as hazy memories of his former life surfaced, filling him with a different kind of loss. Vera would likely feel an echo of that sadness, since his essence was directly connected to hers. No matter, he felt no need to be guarded.

Now I only need you to feel so that I can share in those feelings. The heat if glean from your touch is not taken from you, but mirrorred like a kind of psychic resonance. To be thruthful, the monster wan't entirely sure how the process worked himself. He just knew that, though his victims were usually exhausted when he was finished with them, it wasn't because he actually absorbed their energy. It was merely the usual effect of a prolonged ravaging.

Do not worry, Whisperer replied to Vera's pointed 'request'. I will leave your body soon. He left the timeframe intentionally vague, though he planned to emerge once they were alone in her suite. In the meantime, contemplate the state of my existence as you pick your way home. Notice how each lifeform you pass becomes more and more desireable; how you feel weaker and farther away as time marches on . . .

Then Whisperer cloaked even his presence from Vera, leaving her completely alone in the consuming void - simulated though it may be. Only that continued simulation hinted that he was still there. Whether she respected his plight or not didn't really matter, only that she felt it for a time. It would make the shock of his assault all the greater when he relinquished his hold on her mind only to surround her with his fiery tentacles. Until then he would do no more to hinder her progress, just wait silently and watch.

Drawing similarities to rotting organisms was not making her feel much better. Whisperer's reassurance did little to ease Vera's worries. She had worked with and been targeted by enough of these alien guests to know how far their word really went. But, it was not like she had control over what this being did or did not do. All she could do was try and keep walking.

The walk was beyond unpleasant as the being tried to make her feel what it felt. She had little care for the existence of something that assaulted her first. Vera was used to isolation and being alone. Her position left her up in the tower suite, away from the other students. Her contact with others usually involved correcting students or tending to the needs of her Headmaster. Despite her position over students, she knew as well as anyone she was still an object, a belonging.

Her jaw clenched as fingers closed into a fist. Vera focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Even as the world itself seemed to fade from her perception and sapped her strength, the Head Girl would not let this being decide when she should give up. Eventually, her steps grew shaky. She could not see anything in front of her. The only thing pushing her forward was her own purpose and drive. Perhaps she will make it to the tower, perhaps not. For now, Vera would not know one way or another until it finally came time to feast on the helpless woman.

Whisperer wondered why he was pushing Vera so far. The more she fought, the more he felt compelled to break her. When he had first sought to enter her, he had assumed this was due to his own desperation, but now he could not deny feeling a small thrill at the thought of her collapsing in the halls. Perhaps it was like the way he mirrored the emotions of his prey; Her determination invoked his own, drawing them into a contest of wills.

But the thrill - that was an emotion entirely his. A feeling from within that did not stem from loss or despair? He hadn't thought that were possible since the sundering; since his demise. Maybe it was because he was currently residing inside a living mind? It was hard to say and he had little more time to ponder it now. Vera weakened and faltered faster than he had anticipated. His mind, though alien, had always been relatively compatible with the human psyche, but there were some things not meant for a living mind to endure.

As the young woman stumbled into the elevator and the doors shut behind her, Whisperer began to unravel himself from her essence. His flames exited as they had entered, as a serpentine ribbon of fire emanating from the middle of her abdomen. So he departed, so too did simulation of his existence slowly abate, letting Vera's senses and energy return to her even as she were surrounded by more and more of his flames. Soon the lift was filled with the swriling, unburning, inferno of his fiery manifestation, surrounding her as he had done before. This time, the sparkling colors, though brighter and more real, were not specifically hypnotic. The girl was already helpless before him, there was no need.

Whisperer wrapped himself tightly around his prey as the elevator doors slid open once more. He lifted her slightly, her feet held just an inch above the floor. Carrying her within himself, he drifted into the hall and toward her suite. Since only Vera could see or feel him, anyone watching would have seen her floating upright down the corridor, but few other students dared to tread here.

Now that you know the cold of the void, It is time we reveled in your living heat!. The monster declared, melodramatically. His flames danced and writhed against Vera, passing through her clothing as though it weren't there. Cool, pulsing waves spiralled around her as he felt her tender flesh everywhere at once. Cool, yes, but they did not leech her heat away the way the void did. It was more like being covered by a blanket on a cold night. Her warmth was being captured, but not drained away.

Meanwhile, he had reached the door to Vera's suite. Without thinking, he phased through it, and carried his captive along with him . . .

On the other side, Whisperer momentarily marveled at what he had just done. He hadn't tried to carry a physical object through such a barrier before, much less a living being, What did it mean? The pause gave Vera a moment's peace from the never-ending assault on her body. Though she was still held helpless among the flames, they stopped dancing over her skin.