"Maybe we should try to find some food," I offered, looking at the fridge. I walked over, opening it up before finding a sliver of meat before tossing it over to Zion. I eyed a container with lasagna, pulling it out before eating it cold. I was too hungry or scared to care. We ate in silence, his mind no doubt racing with possibilities as mine was.

"Tell me your favorite memory," I said, breaking the silence.

He raised his eyebrow at me in curiosity.

"Actually, show me," I said, moving to sit beside him and taking his hand in mine. He smiled, nodding before closing his eyes.

"Get back here you bloody rascal!" An older man yelled playfully after the running child. I recognized the baby instantly as the adorable, younger Zion. They were outside, likely playing out in their front yard. The woman was comfortably perched on a rocking chair, watching them with a soft smile on her face as she rocked back and forth.

The child squeaked in delight, refusing as he continued running in circles as a woman on the sidelines cheered him on. I remembered them from that time I had accidentally accessed Zion's memories when we first met.

"You can't catch me," the boy taunted, racing ahead whilst also periodically turning around to see he was still being chased.

After awhile Zion gave up, stopping long enough for the man to scoop him up in his arms. He ticked Zion, causing him to erupt in more laughter.

"Come over here you two, it's almost time," the lady said, patting to the seat beside her as she looked past them.

The man obliged, walking over and sitting beside her before placing Zion in her lap. She stroked the child's hair, planting a soft kiss on his forehead as she looked out into the sky.

"Zion, do you see it? It's the first star of the night?" She whispered, bringing the Zion's arm up to point at it. He giggled in response. They sat on that porch, watching the sky as it populated with more and more stars. It was absolutely perfect.

I opened my eyes, noticing Zion's filled with sadness.

"I'm sure they'd be proud of you if they saw you now."

He forced a smile, lifting my hand up to plant a kiss on the back of it. I leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on his cheek. If this was to be the last day of my life, I couldn't think of a better way to spend it.

The moment was ruined quickly as we heard the slamming of the front door before it came crashing down.

My mouth dropped open as I saw them.

I looked over to Zion with pure horror as he stood frozen, his face paling as he realized how fucked we were.

There Liam was, the same disturbingly cold smile staring back at me as Sarav, Bay, Sam, and Caesar trailed behind him. What the fuck was going on? How did they escape?

My thoughts immediately raced back to Crexus. Had I been wrong about him? Was he the traitor and simply throwing the Headmaster under the bus to cover his own tracks.

"Surprised to see us?" Sarav said, smiling innocently at me.

Crexus, you fucking traitor.

I didn't care if he didn't respond this time. The last thing I wanted was to hear his voice in my head. I was absolutely furious. After everything, he was the one who betrayed us?! And I had been foolish enough to trust him. Now it might cost us both our lives. I was prepared to fight Liam. But I wasn't prepared for this. I doubted the old witch's magic, despite how powerful was enough for the Five most powerful supernaturals.

"No more talking," Liam snapped, turning his attention back to me as they became silent.

"This is who you stand behind? Someone who orders you around and reprimands you like children?" I yelled at them.

"Cowards," Zion spat, looking at them with pure hate.

"You shouldn't be concerned about them," Liam said, waving carelessly at them like they weren't there.

"What the fuck do you want Liam?"

"You know what I want," he replied, staring at me with ice in his eyes. I looked him up and down, noticing he was a bit slimmer than he was when we'd met. Evil takes a toll on the body, doesn't it?

You can't beat them. Not without us.

I jumped at the sound of the dark magic re emerging in my mind. It had been dormant for so long, I'd almost forgotten it was there. Ignoring it, I stepped forward.

"You want me. Leave him alone."

"I'm not concerned about your mate. They can deal with him. You're all mine," he said with a unnerving smirk upon his face.

Zion raced forward, attempting to land a blow on Liam but Liam grabbed his fist as if it was nothing, using it to throw him back as he crashed into the table.

"STOP!" I yelled, running over to Zion to help him up. Angrily, he shook off my hand before once again advancing towards Liam.

"ZION, stop. You're going to get yourself killed," I pleaded, grabbing his hand and pulling him back.

Reluctantly, he stopped, nodding at me in understanding.

I let out a sigh of relief before demanding,"Tell your minions to stand down or you won't get anything from me."

He turned around, nodding to them to remain in place as he walked towards me.

"It's simple, really. Just let go. Let the dark magic take control. Then I'll leave you and your friends alone."

"That's all?"

Zion turned at me in shock.

"Are you fucking crazy? He's lying."

"I don't think he is Zion," I said, walking towards Liam. Zion rushed after me but Liam lifted up a hand, stopping him in his place.

I tapped into my Earth magic as I neared him, asking them to help me. I had no intention of giving in to Liam. I just needed a distraction, something to stall time until I found a plan of escape. Escape was the only option that ended up with me and Zion alive.

When I was close enough, I reached out my hands towards Liam. The floor broke beneath him as roots emerged from the ground, wrapping around him as he tried and failed to use his dark magic against it. He started to grow angry, directing a burst of magic towards me. I dodged it quickly but not before it singed the edge of my shirt. I flitted back to Zion, pulling him as I started to run deeper into the house By the stomping of foot steps behind me, I could tell the others were coming after us.

"What are you doing?" Zion asked, racing beside me before breaking a window and jumping out.

"What does it look like? We're running."

"That's your plan?!"

"You have a better one?"

Before he could reply, something huge crashed into us sending us flying in opposite directions.

I tumbled, flipping and turning on the grass until I came to a halt. I got up quickly, running towards Zion who was already up and running towards me. I looked around to see what we crashed into when I saw him. Crexus, standing a couple feet away looking at me.

"Haven't you done enough?" I yelled, stalking towards him in anger.

"Saron, it wasn't me," he insisted.

"Then who was it?"

"It was the-"

That was all he was able to make out before blood started to drop from his mouth and he started choking.

"CREXUS!" I yelled, forgetting my anger as I went darting towards him. Zion got there before me, catching him before he fell to the ground.

"He was right," I commented, the blood draining from my face.

"What are you talking abou-" Zion started before following my gaze.

There she was, walking towards the others with a bloody knife in hand. I could recognize that tight dress and high ponytail, pulling back her long, white hair anywhere. As if to prove my point, she whipped her head around, staring at me blankly with her piercing, blue eyes.

"Saron, I think he's-"

I looked down in horror to see Crexus had stopped moving. No. No. No. This couldn't be happening.

"What's this?" Zion asked, pointing at the wound on his back.

There was a purple liquid dripping from his wound along with his blood. The bloody knife was poisoned.

I felt tears streaming down my face as I stared at Crexus in shock. I reached for his helmet, yanking it off to reveal his face, covered in slashes and scars. I leaned forward, planting a kiss on his forehead before standing up.

"I'm going to kill them all," I said, murder in my voice as I flitted towards them faster than I ever had before.