"Brother." The black-haired Latina girl tried to call out to the figure walking ahead of her. She quickened her pace, crossing the dark passageway to approach her beloved brother.
But her brother did not stop and wait for her as usual. Instead, he slowed down, standing silently in place with his head slightly lowered.
"I sensed that you were in danger." Jena said in a tearful voice, "For a moment, I even thought you were dead. Did you...?"
"My dear Jena." A somewhat deep young man's voice echoed through the silent corridor. Jena heard her brother say, "Don't ask a question whose answer you already know. We've always been this attuned to each other, haven't we?"
The tears finally fell. The petite girl crouched on the floor and wept softly, and then she heard her brother speak again.
"Now isn't the time to cry. Wait until the trial is over, until the guillotine is at my neck, then you can cry."
"No! You can't!" Jena shouted like she had gone mad. "You can't die! You can't... you can't leave me alone! We promised we'd be together forever!"
Jena could no longer bear it. She got to her feet, rushed forward, and hugged Zan from behind. Through her tears, she said, "Ever since we left home, we've never been apart. You said you were going on patrol, and I was worried. I should have stopped you then!"
Schiller, controlling Zan's body, turned around and drew Jena into his arms, gently stroking her head and back.
Jena could not feel any warmth from him, as though she were hugging a stone, yet those gentle movements made her feel warmer than the heat of blood ever could.
"I won't let them kill you," Jena said. "Even if you've become a vampire, you're still