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"Who are you?" said Ettol, knowing it would almost certainly go unanswered.

The stranger stepped closer. "You're not feeling well, are you?"

Ettol grabbed his forehead. "No. I know who you are, don't I? But your name--it's being--agh..."

There was no pain, but that was not a good thing, he knew. Because there should have been. Something important was missing. He could sense it. Something very important was missing from his memory.

Jonah. No. Not just Jonah. Others, as well. Someone had helped him.

The parasites? They knew about Jonah? Had made contact with him? When?

The stranger's hand was on Ettol's shoulder now.

Ettol wanted to rip it from the other man's arm. To attack and then flee as fast as he possibly could.

But his body wouldn't even move. And a foreign calm had come over him. Pressing down on his mind. His thoughts. Settling his concerns. His questions.

His impulses.

Telling him that everything was fine. There was nothing to worry about. Just like the man in front of him was doing.

"It's okay," said the stranger. "Relax. You're perfectly safe with me."

Every fiber of his being was rejecting those words.

No one did this to Ettol. Ettol did this to others. This was not allowable. Not proper or acceptable.

So why couldn't he break free, then?

Because he was still too young, of course. This incarnation, too weak.

And because of Jonah.

Always Jonah.

Undermining his every effort. Constantly.

He'd been too soft, hadn't he? Too sympathetic. Granted Jonah too much influence.

Jonah had grown stronger than he realized. Enough to conceal things from him. To manipulate his memories in return.

Kehe.

Didn't feel good, did it? Having a taste of your own medicine? There'd been a time when Jonah had thought that maybe Ettol could still change for the better--that perhaps seeing what it was like to be manipulated would alter his perspective of doing such things to others.

But no. Jonah knew better by now.

Ettol would not learn from this experience. He would only grow angry and spiteful. Which was obviously going to be a problem, of course.

But there was nothing for it, unfortunately. Jonah intended to make Ettol show his true colors, no matter what. This fight could never be won, otherwise.

Ah.

That was better. Back in control again. That was right. Just relax, Ettol. This meeting wasn't for you.

"Sermung," said Jonah.

And the other man blinked at him. "Aha... there you are, Jonah. You had me worried."