All's Fair

Daydream of Snake Oil Part 1

A/N:  This one takes place during one of my favorite episodes.  But this is more about Nora.  With great power comes great responsibilities... and Nora has already failed once before.   BTW:  snake oil- a substance with no real medicinal value sold as a remedy for all diseases.

Despite yelling, swearing and screaming at the blank monitor The Serpent didn't turn it back on.

"YOU STAY AWAY FROM JENNY! YA HEAR ME, PSYCHO? TOUCH ONE HAIR ON HER HEAD AND- RRRAAAHHHHH!!!"

Even kicking and punching the walls doesn't do any good. I'm not sure if Miss Victoria had said anything to try to get me to stop, apparently I don't notice much else when I' mad. But once I tire out, my throat becomes sore, and I have to make myself stop. Right, broken ribs I shouldn't need to remind myself. But it's more than that! I can't lose it now. Not here. Not because of him.

I clutch my head to stop the throbbing. "Just calm down." I whisper to myself. I really overdo it when I get mad... It was just a threat. Only some words. Nothing may even happen. Jenny's reclusive from people she doesn't know. Plus, The Serpent is way older than her! Jenny wouldn't fall for a play like his! She'll blow him off at first encounter and tell someone. Yeah, nothing to worry about.

"Nora?" VP Victoria calls my name, and when I slowly look up, I can see she's scared, and maybe concerned. She struggles with what to say next, "Th-There are doctors here. B-But maybe that's not what you need right now."

Then what do I do right now? Getting my head straight would be a good start. Right now I'm so angry I'm close to being sick. I've felt like this before... No... I've never felt this close to... Sensei, he told what to do!

'If your anger seems to consume you, just stop. Meditate. Lose your anger by turning your focus to another channel. One by one, eliminate the thoughts of your anger. It will take effort, but in time it will seem that your anger slowly flows away, like rocks in a river.'

"I..." I try to talk to Veronica. I don't like seeing the only person who's helped me here scared. "I need a little time to myself. To meditate."

She's quiet, and then she says, "Then go right ahead. Whatever you need."

I climb onto the mattress. I sit in a lotus position like Sensei taught me and close my eyes. I haven't done this in a while. I guess, because I haven't needed to. I concentrate on my breathing pattern. Slow...easy. You're breathing. You're still here, nothing's even happened.

In... and out.

In...and out.

In...and out.

I can't believe I'm this worked up. Not since high school have I ever felt so helpless. Meditating makes me feel at ease. I keep it up. My breathing becomes more even, gentler, and with it comes a sense of serenity. I have complete quiet around me. I don't open my eyes; I let myself slip into a state of calmness. Until it seems I'm half-asleep.

"Huh?" I wasn't even trying to fall asleep! I'm standing on an iron bridge. Below me is a clear, quiet river. And on either side of it is a forest filled with more color than the beach or garden combined. "How did I...?"

"Nora, the nature of the Baku comes to you so easily." Walking up the bridge on the right is my mentor, Sensei Hong. "I admit I am almost envious. It took me three years of trying before I was able to access the Dream-Plane through meditation."