Noia tucks the phone into a back pocket and the key card in another. She then sets the bagged old clothes on the end table near the elevator entrance to the suite and looks around. Switches by the elevator entrance controlled the intensity of the foyer lights and she twists the knobs, revealing her vicinity, and turns her back to the elevator.

To her right is a floor-to-ceiling bookcase and a computer workstation set up with a large, curved screen much like the set up in Crevan’s office. Beyond that is a square social area accessed by taking two steps down where sofas and floor pillows are arranged around a coffee table. A massive TV is mounted to the wall facing her right. On the other side of the sofas is a wall of glass panels. The center section looks as though they could be slide open, two per side, for wide access to the pool and connected Jacuzzi. Lights glow under the water and closer examination reveals one long end of the pool is thick glass that looks over the damaged city.

Then she gets a full view of the windows. They are three stories tall for the entire section facing the pool. She gasps at the sight, stilled for a few moments to watch lightning flash between the clouds…

To the left of the pool area are two circular patio tables with closed umbrellas at their center. The wall by the grill area is lined with solar panels.

Back inside on the left side of the first story of the penthouse is a bar and dining area that could easily support two dozen guests. Closer to the entrance is a kitchen equipped with more tech and tools than she could make proper use of but it was surely an area the best of chef’s could appreciate on vacation. Finally, nestled in the corner, are the stairs.

The stairs take her to a grand bathroom with both a tub large enough for three and a standing shower area for the same number. This room has an open section of wall that looks over the work station and social area. At the other end of this space is another stairway.

The third floor is a landing with an open section that looks down on the social area. There is a door which, when opened, reveals a bedroom and walk-in closet but she is drawn up the final, spiral staircase whereupon she finds herself in a glass-domed garden. There are plants all around the covered area along with benches and a table with a pitcher of water. Part of this area is open to the roof and she pushes the double doors open and takes a deep breath by the edge that looks over the pool.

The air smells of rain.

This open view of the sky soothes her nerves for the moment – until she notices the lightning. It gives her a feeling of yearning that she does not quite understand…

The next flash of lightning brands spots across Noia’s eyes and she gasps, clutching the brick edge as another vision seizes her.

“Give back what you have stolen!”

This is Noia’s voice, ragged with anger. Light flashes around her and dims to reveal her storming into a grand hall where HE stands, all power and glory and splendor but the glittering view of him is tainted by her knowledge of his narcissism – his arrogance.

“Why Levanoia, I believe you have me wrong. I am only focusing my protection over what is already mine as part of my kingdom.”

“You may have united the Great Ones to defeat the World Eater but that does not make the world yours to possess!”

“How else could I have gifted you your domain, luscious Levan? You are a powerful woman now. The sky is yours and you will use it to nurture the earth. Would you prefer it be left to roil in the chaos of pollution beset upon it?”

“I am not a mindless slave, Zuiter. If that is what you wanted you should have taken another–”

“My lovely Levan, please. What I took was causing trouble for us all. You should be thanking me, really.”

Noia flung one arm forward and his body is slammed back against a pillar. “Give them back, Zuiter!”

Static crackled across the room and before Noia could react in the memory small hands snatched her clothes. They pulled her back from the crackle of energy Zuiter drew between them like a sword. The force of the energy knocked all of them onto the floor. Noia blinked spots from her eyes, her cheek pressed to the cold floor.

Zuiter stood and straightened his robes – those disgusting folds imbued with holy glow – then approached until his sandal clapped down by her nose. There was a moment where only the sounds of Noia’s struggling and the static in the air could be heard. Then he knelt and lifted her chin.

“I will be generous, Levanoia, because you once did me a great service. Consider the favor of a life for a life repaid. Now,” with a motion of his hand he dismisses the bolt in a vacuum of air, “you are still perfectly capable of completing your duties to make the earth fertile once again. These little creatures will only be a distraction.”

He brought her to her feet but Noia clenched her jaw. “They should not be out on their own yet.”

Zuiter clicked his tongue. “Oh, my dear, I believe you mean they should not be on their own unsupervised, yes? I am perfectly able to properly supervise your – what do you call them? Ah, yes, lightning children. Besides, you are so busy with work lately that they caused a little trouble, I heard. Beings of pure energy scampering across the land brings vertebrates belly-up in lakes and singes flora and fauna alike.”

Noia lifted her chin higher. “They have more potential to do us good on a whole than I – or even you.”

Pain bites her cheek and she tastes blood from the force of the slap.

She jumped when he kissed her smarting cheek.

“You will go back to your castle in the sky, Levanoia, and you will leave the children with me where they will receive proper attention.”

Noia looked at the sparkling creatures out of the corner of her eye – the bearers of the small hands that had saved her from the lightning that lanced between herself and Zuiter. They have the form of children and now she could make out the metal circuits around their necks, Zuiter’s gift to them.

To control them. It was what he did: steal. First the bolts of lightning and now these.

Noia bowed her head but swore on the copper and iron liquid on her tongue to make Zuiter pay.

Back in the present Noia opens her mouth, stretching her jaw free of the memory. It takes another few breaths to raise her hands and force her fingers to uncurl. She has left half-moon impressions all along the heel of both hands.

Had she ever gotten them back? What did they have to do with the box?

One thing Noia is sure of: after the searing intensity of that memory she will no longer have a problem telling the difference between a dream and a memory.

Still caught in the anger of the memory Noia turns on her heel and slams the glass doors behind her. She stomps down the staircases until she is by the elevator again. With one last glare around the penthouse and she presses the button for the elevator. It is only when she is inside the metal box that she can take a full breath. Clutching her head she tries to focus on the panel of numbers. The elevator is still, waiting. She jabs the button that will take her the furthest from the painful memories of the sky: B8.