A/N: As always, thank you so much for all your love and support. Thank you for all of your patience, especially since November when I got really sick. Thank you for all your well wishes and checking in on me. Thank you for all the holiday wishes. I feel really loved that I have awesome readers and fans. Sending everyone good vibes and best wishes this new year. xoxo -ptd

(PS I just realized my sincere words to you guys and reread the title of this chapter.  Lol.  It was a coincidence.)

"Misah?" Dean whispered in surprise.

Misah died. She died in front of him. She killed herself in front of him. He held her warm body until it turned cold. He buried her. How could she be alive?

His mind shook, not believing his eyes and yet, there Misah stood. Alive. Breathing.

"How..." Dean began to say before he was cut off.

"How I'd wish our reunion was under different circumstances. I regret that I didn't think I would find another mage snooping around my property." Misah sighed as she looked at all of her prisoners behind the love of her life. "I guess I was too arrogant to think that I would be found out."

Akari's fist tightened as she stared at Dean and Misah talking. Her heart filled with rage and killing intent. Misah was no good. She should of stayed dead. After 180 years, there is no way Akari could estimate how many people Misah has hurt and killed.

Mages were suppose stay out of the government and politics. They were supposed to only be the protectors of the land. What has Misah done in the last 180 years to change Hiryir's history? Who did she collaborate with in the royal family?

"Are you telling me that you are responsible for all of this?" Dean asked. "These men, the condition they are in. It was you?"

The room fell into silence as she refused to answer. However her silence was her answer.

"I did not teach you to be this malicious! This horrible creature that tortures, confines and kills others!" Dean said sternly.

"But you did. It was because of you that I turned out this way, Teacher Koya." Misah said as she took a step forward towards Dean. "It was your lessons that you taught me that made me realize who I really was."

"I didn't teach you any of this. You did this all on your own and you decided to do this because this is in your character to do so."

"I wouldn't be where I am today if you still loved me." Misah said as she stopped a few feet away from Dean and took off her veiled hat. Misah's golden hair fell down like a silk curtain, framing her face and her delicate frame. She looked small and frail as if she needed constant protection from the sun and the wind. "I wouldn't have turned to this, if you would have loved me back the way I love you. We could have been together these last 180 years. We could have been the strongest mage couple to live. We would have several children and grandchildren by now. We could have had a happy life together, but you...."

Tears began to fall as Misah's mind filled with memories of heartbreak and sorrow.

"Why couldn't you just love me back? What was it about me that you couldn't love? I would have changed myself for you. I would have made myself into the woman that you loved and cherished, as long as I could stand by you." Misah cried softly. "But you couldn't love me. You... broke my heart... and now... to feel something... anything... I... my love... I had to resort to..."

Dean felt his whole body grow cold. The woman before him was not the same Misah that he knew. The woman before him was a stranger. A killer. A murderer. A woman that has lost her mind.

"Let them go." Dean told her softly. "They do not deserve this. You are not someone who could hurt others like this. You are not like this. The Misah I knew would never have done this. Let them go."

Misah cried harder at his words. She began to remember her life with Teacher Koya. How simple life was. How pure life was. How happy she was. She was so naive back then. Thinking that her love could conquer all. Thinking that her love for him would be enough for them. That he'll slowly learn how to love her back.

"You're words are lies." Misah said softly as she remembered Koya breaking up with her. "All of your love for me were lies. All our happiness were lies. All you ever do is lie to me."

"Misah..." Dean began to say, however Misah cut him off again.

"Don't call my name! Don't tell me what to do. The days of you telling me what to do has been long over! Those people belong to me!" Misah's clear eyes lost it's light as it clouded over with her dark thoughts. "Their life belongs to me. Their death belongs to me. Leave them and go.... before you get hurt, my love."

Akari's held her breath while she listened to Misah and Dean confront one another. What she saw in front of her made her feel jealous. The time that Dean and Misah spent together wasn't a short span of time. And after Misah died, he still thought about her, just like how she wanted him to.

Akari wanted to kill Misah for coming back into Dean's life. She also wanted to kill Misah for what she did to those men. But most of all, she wanted to kill Misah for being the mage who involved herself with the royal family, who in the end was the cause of her death.

The only thing that made Akari feel better, was the fact that Misah called Dean, Teacher Koya and not by his birth name, which she only knew.

"It doesn't have to be this way. There will be no good ending for you Misah, if you push me into a corner." Dean said as he glared at Misah. Not only did he have to protect the prisoners, but Akari as well. He was glad she hid herself well so Misah couldn't find her. "Do the right thing. Let them go. Turn yourself in. Confess to your sins and accept punishment for all the things you've done."

Misah shook her head no.

"If you do the right thing. I'll be by your side through it all. I've taught you better than this. You're a good person. Do the right thing." Dean tried to persuade Misah. He really didn't want to start fighting with Misah inside of a bookstore with several people around him who could get hurt.

"I'll let them go... if... if you stay with me." Misah's eyes lit up with hope when Koya told her that he'll say by her side. "As long as you stay by my side, love me, and be my man again... I'll let them all go."

Dean shook his head no. "I can only stay by your side as a friend and Teacher. I cannot give you the love that you want from me."

"Why!" Misah shouted. The moment she shouted, chains of lightning whipped through the air with a crack. Her blonde hair stood up with static as her magic began to unleash. "I'll give them all up for you! Just love me back and all can be forgiven!"

"You have done many evil things, Misah." Dean told her. He centralized his power in his hand and began to build power in it for an attack. "You need to do the right thing and turn yourself in. Confess your sins and be punished for the crimes you committed. If you need someone to be by your side, as a support, as a friend. That is the last thing I can do for you as your Teacher. As for being your lover again. That is something I cannot do. I do not love you."

"You could learn to love me again." Misah pleaded. It was as if she didn't hear everything that Dean said. She only heard what she wanted to hear. "I'll be patient and wait for you to slowly love me again. I'll do whatever you say, just love me."

"What you and I had, that was a long time ago. What I told you then, is how I still feel now. I am not in love with you. I cannot love you the way you want me to love you. I can only be your Teacher." Dean reminded her. "I could never love you ever again."

"You... why do you always say the meanest things to me?" Misah cried with her head bowed down. Her shoulders shook her small body frame as the lightning around her begins to disappear. "The reason you don't love me, isn't because of the things I have done. It isn't because I have changed. It isn't because of time nor because we haven't seen each other in years. It's because you have someone else. You love someone else, don't you?"

Dean did not acknowledge Misah's question. He didn't want to trigger her nor did he want to deny Akari's existence in his life. His whole life belonged to Akari. He would do anything and everything to ensure her safety and happiness. Even if it meant claiming his life.

"So... you've found someone, huh.... So fast... After I killed myself in front of you, how long after I died did you find someone else!?!" Misah shouted as she grew more angry. "You never loved me, did you. Your love for me was a lie! You don't care for me! Everything you say is a lie! You only want me to let them go is because you're protecting someone. Who is it that you're protecting? Is it the woman you love?"

Misah looked behind Dean and could only see men.

"Come out!" Misah shouted. "Come out! I want to see the woman who could win Teacher Koya's love."