~(A/N: Plot twist! Author's note at the beginning of the chapter!! Actually, the reason I'm doing this is because this is not an actual chapter. This is the beginning of chapter nine, the way I originally wrote it. I had not planned to write it like this, but it just sort of happened. This is obviously different than the one that you've read. Well, it technically starts out the same, but you'll see where it changes. In many ways I kind of like this version better, but the other is good as well. As I said, this was unexpected for me to write. I didn't plan it this way, but sometimes your characters end up taking over. I REALLY want to hear you thoughts on this version compared to the other, so PLEASE let me know!! If you guys think this version is better, I'll rewrite chapter nine, so it fits with this. I know I said I was hoping to get chapter ten up soon, and I am, but I realized I wanted to get thoughts on this first! SO PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS ONE VS THE ONE YOU ALREADY READ!!!! Thank you guys!!!!!! LOVE Y'ALL!!!!!!!)~

EVABELLE

"I wish I could heal you." Evabelle confessed as she watched the pale orange haired, oriental elf woman spread a gross yellowish paste over the nasty cut on her friend's leg.

"Don't sweat it." Aza waved her hand dismissively and pulled a face as the cold slime seeped into the wound.

"There was once a time that Anahalians could heal humans too, in the same way they heal themselves." The elf, who had introduced herself as Taiga, spoke with an accent just like all the other elves Evabelle had met, including Kai. It was kind of British sounding, but with an almost melodic airier tone. She stood and began to apply the adhesive to Aza's forehead without glancing at the girls.

"Really?" Evabelle asked, stepping forward. "What happened? Why can't they now?"

Taiga turned her back on the two of them and grabbed a towel from her kit to wipe off her hands. "The Anahalians were formidable, powerful creatures, but once they decided to run away, showing their true colors, some of that power was taken away from them. I suppose God decided they weren't worthy. If they weren't going to stay with the humans then why have that power." Then the woman drew the strings of her bag and left the room without another word.

Evabelle sighed and Aza's eyes widened as she watched the woman leave. "Well, well, haters really hate, don't they," she shook her head, bounded to her feet, and winced. "Okay, so their magic ain't instantaneous."

"It probably works similar to the Anahalians healing magic." Evabelle sank down on the bed that Aza had just risen and stared down at her feet. "It doesn't heal things right away. It just sort of speeds up the natural process."

"Hey, are you alright?" Aza sat down again, next to her friend. "Do you want me to go kick her butt? Because I totally will."

Evabelle gave a small smile. "Oh, I know you would. And no, I don't want you to do that."

Aza crossed her arms and stared at the empty doorway. "Well, she has it coming. What right does she have to say all that crap?"

"The Anahalians left. The elves and the other angel borns feel abandoned." Evabelle replied.

Aza scoffed. "They left like over a thousand years ago, or something. They really need to get over it. And besides they weren't the ones that were left. It was a totally different generation."

Evabelle lifted her head and stared at her friend, her father's words finally clicking into place, or rather the lack of them. "Anahalians were once very loved. They were the heroes to everyone. They didn't just protect humans, but elves, fairies, pixies, all of them from the demons and their descendants. They were the fighters."

"...Why are you referring to Anahalians as 'they'? You're an Anahalian too."

Zion hadn't answered then. He wanted her to put it together. "They're angry at the Anahalians from all that time ago." Evabelle murmured. The last thing her father had been saying filled in the rest as well. "Are? Evabelle, the people who decided to create this world are not the same people living in it today. You can't-" You can't assume that we are the same as those who lived so long ago. Or at least that's what Evabelle figured what he was going to say.

For a moment, Evabelle felt a little better, but then there was still one thing. "Maybe that's true. The Anahalians aren't the same ones who left, but they're still the ones in Jovis. They haven't come back."

Aza shook her head. "Well, that's not entirely true. Lucis, Del, Faux, Tru. They're all Anahalians, who left that place to come here and help."

The corner of Evabelle's tugged up a little bit. She turned her head and gave a small nod to Aza. "That's true."

Aza winked. "Chin up, Bellz. We're off to support our vampire friend become crowned prince of the elves. We've got to be thinking positive now." She leapt to her feet and held out a hand.

Evabelle gave a little snort. "Ain't that the truth." But she took the hand and rose.

The two girls left the healing ward of the castle and made their way down to the kitchens, which they had been shown to earlier. Unlike the first time they had been shown the large preparation area, it was a crawling with hundreds of elves bustling through the fantastic room.

"Oh, something smells good." Aza licked her lips, her eyes roaming over the many pots with steaming substances and the trays with an assortment of appetizers, none of which either had ever seen before.

Evabelle was still blinking in awe at all of the pointy eared beings chopping, stewing, baking in the space. She nodded. "I think that that might be everything."

"They're preparing for the coronation." Said a voice from behind the girls.

They both spun around, Evabelle gasping in surprise. The gangly henna-haired Anahalian grinned at them. He held out a hand that had several gray, mushy, berry looking things in it. "Try one. They're delicious."

Compared to all the delectable looking food, these berries seemed rather bland and, in many ways, unappetizing. "If we don't believe you, should we ask the dishes?" Aza muttered. Evabelle glanced at her. The brunette could see the spark in the blonde's eye that said she was about to bolt for some of those buttered biscuit looking things on the table behind them, and made an executive decision and quickly took one of the ugly berries and popped it into her mouth. To her surprise and delight a taste similar to that of chocolate burst onto her tongue.

"Mmm," Evabelle nodded, appreciatively. "They really are delicious!"

Aza, now seeing Evabelle's reaction, decided to try one and gasped. "It's like chocolate juice, but actually good!"

Faux raised his eyebrows. "What's that mean?"

Aza snatched most of the remaining berries from Faux's palm and began popping them in her mouth as Evabelle stole a few from the greedy blonde before they all disappeared. After swallowing several berries at once, Aza finally replied. "Well, I went through a phase, after I discovered what chocolate syrup did to milk, where I would put it in essentially everything. I know a lot of people thought it was totally gross," Evabelle pointed at herself, helpfully. "But I personally loved it, until I decided to try it in my orange juice one day."

Faux scrunched his nose. "Yuck."

Both Aza and Evabelle nodded. "You can say that again." Aza shivered. "I had never tasted anything so disgusting in my life. And I've sort of sworn off chocolate syrup since then."

Faux laughed. "That makes sense."

Several elves rushed by the three of them, knocking both girls into the Anahalian's arms. "I'm liking this place more and more." Faux chuckled, grinning down at them.

Evabelle squirmed a little, and Faux, thankfully, released them. "Maybe we should move somewhere not so in the way."

As if the one of them heard her, which was quite possible with those amazing ears, a fluffy, blue haired male elf bustled over to them. "I could lead you to a table if you would like. We are quite busy here, I'm sorry. We don't want to make you feel unwelcome. And I can have more rekaberries brought to you."

"Make it a vat and we totally forgive you." Aza replied to him, earning her a gentle swat on the arm from Evabelle.

"That would be very nice. And you don't need to apologize. We're the ones who are sorry for getting in the way." Evabelle told him.

The elf nodded with an unreadable expression on his face, and turned without even gesturing them to follow. He swiftly weaved his way through the crowd, as the others struggled to keep up, to a small sitting area, that was probably normally for the staff that worked in the kitchens. "You may eat here, and then may return to your rooms to rest for tomorrow." The elf gave a quick nod before ducking away again.

The three sat, Aza staring after him. "Does everyone seem a little cold around here, or is it just me? It's like that can't stand talking to us for too long."

Faux sighed dramatically, sinking into his chair, leaning his head over the back. "Oh no it's just you they don't like. Your shortness reminds them of how you humans actually think elves are supposed to be: tiny people who work for a big fat man."

Aza stuck her tongue out at him.

Faux ginned at her and pushed himself up. "No, you're not just imagining it. The elves are not particularly happy with any of us."

"Evabelle mentioned that the angel borns don't like Anahalians because they feel abandoned by them," Aza urged on. "But come on, that can't be the only reason."

The russet feathered Anahalian shrugged. "It could, but in this case the main thing that's got them edge is our pale friend with the pointy teeth."

Aza gave a huff. "They won't even give him a chance."

"You've got to understand, about ninety-eight percent of vampires are real monsters. They've hurt more than you could even understand. They're coldhearted, malicious, psychopaths most of the time. The Turned ones like Kai aren't always bad, but they can't stop their desire to drink blood, occasionally getting urges to take life beyond just their need. I admit that I didn't trust Kai when we first met." Faux replied.

Evabelle nodded. "I remember that, actually. You told me to be careful around him, and then you two had a bit of an intense staring contest."

"That's right," Faux's mouth twitched up. "But I know now that Kai is good, there is no doubt for me. However for elves, vampires are so much worse than they are for us. The whole opposite thing is pretty strong between them. Now these guys are essentially being told that they're going to be ruled by their worst enemy. It's a little trying on them."

Aza's eyes narrowed. "So you're on their side?"

Faux shook his head. "No, I'm just saying I understand why they're upset. I don't know if you've grown up being told some bad things about certain people and have inherently learned to avoid them, but I can tell you it's not something you just brush off."

Just then the blue cotton candy haired elf returned with a large bowl of the rekaberries, as he had called them.

Aza didn't look at him and took a handful of berries, shoving them into her mouth without a word to him.

"Thank you," Evabelle told him and Faux gave a nod.

The elf blinked in response then turned away.

Evabelle turned to Faux. "Kai said that the elves didn't actually know he was the prince, and they weren't supposed to know until he was crowned heir."

Faux gave her a look. "Well, let's think. The King thought that his children were dead, so we can assume that there was some sort of announcement that all potential heirs were gone, but then a pair of Anahalians show up with a fallen elf, that the King has a private meeting with, leading to the sudden announcement that there will be an heir crowning ceremony after all." He crossed his arms. "Plus several elves here did know who Kai was the entire time anyway. They probably told their friends and so the wildfire spread. I wouldn't be surprised if all the Isles knew that a vampire was going to be crowned as their heir."

Aza shook her head. "Okay, I'm feeling lost now. Where'd you get all your info?"

"I've been talking with the brothers. They've filled me in on what they knew, and I pieced together the rest."

Aza rounded on Evabelle. "Why didn't you tell me any of this?"

Evabelle put her hands up. "Hey, all Kai said was that very few people were supposed to know he was a prince until his coronation."

"That's just weird." Aza shook her head and took another berry. "Okay, enough politics. It's giving me a headache," A large yawn followed this statement. "And fluffy top was right, we do need rest for tomorrow. I'd like to be up ready to party, even if these guys won't." She gestured to the elves around them.

Evabelle followed her friend's hand, looking at the pointy-eared chefs. Granted all these elves were working to make this coronation feast something spectacular, but the looks on their faces told them how unexcited they really were. Occasionally, she caught a few elves whispering darkly to one another. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but it wasn't hard to guess what it was about.

The rekaberry's sweet taste turned sour on her tongue, as her heart sank into her stomach.

Aza stood and stretched. "Well, I think I'm going to head to bed. You coming?" She glanced at Evabelle, who slowly turned back.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah I'll be up in a bit."
--DIFFERENT--
Aza shrugged and made her way through the crowd to the door. Once she had vanished, a hand slid over Evabelle's. "Alone at last."

She turned to the grinning Anahalian. "You know what happened to Aza, don't you,"

Faux blinked, taken aback. "Uh...I..."

"Something happened to her, I know. I don't know what, but those injuries weren't just a fall. I know Aza better than anyone in the entire world. I know she's hurting." Evabelle looked at Faux with pleading eyes, begging for some light on her friend.

Faux slowly withdrew his hand and sat back in his seat again, shocking Evabelle as the playfulness evaporated in a split second. "Why is it so important to you?"

Evabelle took a deep breath. "Aza is my best friend. I...well...okay, the thing is I hate seeing anyone is pain. I hate knowing that everyone is in pain and that I can do nothing to help them. And I know it's not much, but there's always been one person I've been able to help, and that's Aza. I know there's always been things that she hasn't told me and I haven't pushed her to it, but right now I feel like she's just another person who's suffering and not letting me in. And I can't handle feeling any more useless than I alread--"

"Stop," Faux had his eyes closed, his arms crossed, hands gripping his arms tight. "Please, don't do this."

Evabelle was stunned, realizing that a part of Faux's mask had been cracked as well. "Faux, I--"

The Anahalian's eyes flashed open. "We've all suffered, but don't think we're not strong. Don't think that our problems are yours. Don't hold a weight like that. Don't think you are useless because of us." Faux lifted a hand and pulled it down his face, taking a deep breath. "Just let..." He shook his head, an obviously strained smile slowly taking shape. "I'm sorry. It looks like my bad sleep habits have caught up to me. I think I'll go hit the hay myself." He stood and walked around the table about to enter into the mass, but then Evabelle stood.

"Just let it go?" Evabelle sensed a small quiver in her voice as it slowly began to rise. "Just don't worry about her? About you?"

Faux stiffened but slowly looked back at her.

"I can't do that. I can't stop thinking or caring about my family. I'm worried, and I'm scared for Lucis and Del because of their father and what they suffered, for Calandra and her sister, for Tru and what she's going through right now," Faux closed his eyes again and clenched his jaw. "I'm terrified for CJ and what that witch has done and is still doing to him, for my mother and brother who have no idea where I am and are probably scared to death themselves. I'm frightened for Kai, knowing that these elves will never accept him and how much it pains him that he is not the elf that his father wanted, for Aza and the trials she's had to live through. And for you, Faux Seren. I fear you pretending that you have no problems will only end up hurting yourself more than you know." Evabelle took in a deep deal of air after that, feeling flushed.

Faux didn't move or say anything for a long while, in which all of it Evabelle stared determinedly at him because he needed to hear it and know she meant it, as well as she just couldn't look at the elves that had slowed and were now not so casually eavesdropping. Evabelle really wished elves didn't have super hearing at that moment, though it probably wouldn't have mattered either way since Evabelle's voice had risen a fair few notches. Finally the normally teasing, laughing man opened his eyes and said almost inaudibly. "It's because you're an angel."

Blinking several times, Evabelle finally stammered in a much lower voice. "W-what?"

"The angels love so deeply, some say they love too much. They care more about others, and therefore end up forgetting about themselves. You have an angel's heart, Evabelle." Faux bit his lip. "If I were to even attempt to hold the burden that you do..." He shook his head, and Evabelle thought she saw those soft green eyes shimmer as if he were holding back tears. But the Anahalian never finished. He merely turned away and didn't look back.

Evabelle swayed for a moment, but she didn't sit back down. Faux was not normally an argumentative person and Evabelle was even less so. But everyone was falling apart just like she feared. The image of Faux laying on the shattered glass in a pool of blood, a dead look in his eyes flashed through Evabelle's vision. He was broken, but was afraid of letting people see that. If he kept up his game then he could never be fixed.

Just thinking of the dream brought the other parts to the surface of her mind, giving her a terrible wave of nausea. Her own words bringing back the horrifying images of all her friends covered in blood, crying, falling, failing, dying. Calandra blaming herself for Etheldreda, Del hating his power and his lack of control, Aza and Faux listening to the dreadful voice that called them curses, Lucis never saying a word as the world slowly brought him to his knees, and of Kai fearing that he would lose himself completely, hating himself so much for what he believed he was.

Dimly, Evabelle looked at the surrounding elves. What were they even doing? They didn't want Kai to rule over them, and Kai was in no fit state to do so even if they did. Essentially they were preparing a feast for the prince that would never be king. It all seemed so utterly hopeless now, looking at it all. Faux was wrong. She couldn't hold this weight, angel or no angel.