It took a few seconds after Sion started rubbing her back for Akiha to open her eyes. She looked down at the hair draped down her front. Black. It was black.

"...not vermillion. I didn't..." She licked her lips again, tasting the blood. "But I did." Bowing her head, she growled in frustration, still fighting against this stronger madness wavelength.

Not too far away, the inky black substance slithering along the ground formed into a black clown.