"Let me start at the beginning." I didn't quite go back to my own genesis when I discovered my sweet blood was a dangerous commodity to have. Instead, I told of the small black cat I'd rescued, and the first time I'd seen Nightliss in human form. She hadn't spoken much English in those days, but gradually grew much better.Kaelissa seemed disinterested until I reached my first encounter with Daelissa. Her enthusiasm only grew when I told of the many battles with her awful daughter. It was hard—so damned hard—to stomach, but I made it sound like I actually respected Daelissa.I used embellishments like, "I'd never seen such raw power," or "She was so beautiful I went weak in the knees."Elyssa's grip tightened with every lie, and I'm pretty sure she gagged a couple of times."Yet, I fought because I had no choice," I continued. "My very existence was at stake.""She was so powerful with Brilliance," Kaelissa said after I finished the tale. "She was no Darkling at all."I wanted to contradict her as I had earlier, explaining about the prism I'd found in Daelissa's hand, or how completely insane she was, but I held back, certain if I gave her the brutal truth she'd either ignore it or get angry and not help us with the Mzodi.Elyssa was the one who had trouble letting it go.
