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The bark of the tree feels like it's cutting into my skin, going right through my shirt and the thick leather of my duster. But I don't move away. Don't try to struggle away from the annoying dig. I can't, I'm planted.

A cigarette seems like a good idea now, so reaching for one slowly, trying not to disturb the air, I find it and covering the flame from my lighter as much as I can, it's ignited. I'm tempted for a second to tell her and this bleedin' tree to sod off and set the damn leaves which have decided to flicker about now and attempt to tickle my nose, on fire. But I don't. Instead I grit my teeth and watch her.

She teeters over the edge, in many ways. Her feet, strangely barefooted, tangle up in her dress. She looks for a second like she's gonna' trip and I nearly jump at the fright. But I stay grounded as she regains her composure and continues her game. Every few seconds she sways to the left, and then she'll scoop up a rock and giggle as she drops it over the edge.

"Swoosh and then crack." She says and laughs. Cutting in on me her stare is stifling as she says, "Will you mourn me if I do as that rock?"

I roll my eyes telling her I'm bored of this game as she jumps and pieces of grass and gravel tumble far below into ragged rocks. My hand clinches tightly breaking my cigarette in two. Muttering a curse I break the spell. I haven't gotten her consent to do so and she eyes me darkly as I lean away from the tree.

"Bad." She murmurs quietly, barely audible above the roaring wind and rustling branches of trees.

"Come away from there, Drusilla." I demand foolishly as she tips a foot over the edge.

"Will you miss me when I go?" She questions me as I step closer.

"Stop playing." I demand, hoping to hide any trace of fear in my eyes. Fear makes her stronger. She likes to see me cower.

"Will you care for Miss Edith, see that she gets her tea and is punished when she's out of turn?"

"I'll shatter her against a wall." I threaten moving closer.

"Will you be good to Angel when he returns to the fold?" She says smoothly, her eyes sparkling against the sky, like two stars.

"I'll shatter him against a wall." I answer refusing to flinch.

Her foot sweeps out farther as her arms extend, like she's about to play at flying. She topples slightly too close to loosing her balance that I rush at her. My hand encircles a wrist forcefully and pulls her away from the edge.

"You ruined my game!" She pouts after we tumble to the ground, rolling three times.

Holding her still, though she doesn't struggle I pull at the twigs that have wrapped themselves up in her hair.

"Don't you want to play?" She whispers to me as her hand moves up my back.

I never and always want to play.