- Austin Barlow-

The palace was old and climbers peeked into my room through the waterfall like they were looking for somebody. Margaret made this place alone with her powers. My room was majestic like the royals. One of the windows opened directly to a waterfall coming from the mountains, it was like the curtain to my window. I sauntered around the room from my king sized cosy bed, making creaks on the wooden floor. This palace was built below a slanting part of the mountain. I haven't had the time to see around this place, I was exhausted last night, so I decided to take a walk. I stopped by Margaret's room to say that I was going out just so she knew. She nodded and continued meditating. She told me earlier that she acquired all her powers through meditation. She has a lot of powers like reading the surface thoughts of people, healing, making mild illusions in peoples mind, like how she shrank the place earlier. But the only thing was that she can't use the power on a person more than once. She created an illusion in our mind earlier, so she can't do it again on us and that was her limit. If we work together, we can defeat Oen. I walked past Ann's room but it was closed, she might be sleeping. I strolled down the stairs with one hand on my pocket and the other sliding down the wooden handrail. The stairs came down to the centre of the hall and to the front of it was a giant door.

A cool wind wandered all over me making a low melody and left me with earthy scent as I walked outside. Every breath I took was cool and fresh. It made me calm. I took long strides aiming the path in front of me. Both sides of the path were filled with colossal trees forming a canopy. The tree had yellow flowers which are now all over the path making it exquisite and the fragrance was enough to tantalize my senses. After walking for almost ten minutes I reached the other end of the path.

Then I heard somebody calling me. It has to be Ann. I looked for her but I couldn't see her. I walked between two trees and saw a tree house.

"Up here." She waved from the tree house

A stair spiralled up to the tree. I stuck to the sides and walked up the stairs of the tree house.

I glared at her. "How did you even find this place?"

"I'm quite an adventurer myself." She tittered gesturing me to sit.

I ambled and sat beside her placing my hands on wooden bars and legs in such a way that I can wave them to and fro in the air. The view from up above was spectacular.

"So what's up?" She asked.

"Uh. Nothing much. Just enjoying the view with my greatest enemy." I smirked.

"Well, that's a compliment since that is coming from Austin Barlow."

"Yes, it is." I mocked.

I shouldn't be enemies with her. I want to be her friend. I want to hold her hands.

"You know, Margaret told me that we can't be enemies anymore. So why don't we be friends?" I blurted.

Her eyes flared. "Sure!!. But I bet the paparazzi will be disappointed."

"Yeah, that's right. Less fight less money for them."

"True"

For the first time, I felt happiness overflowing inside me. Thanks to Margaret. I might probably sing right now but I don't want to freak her out.

"So what about you? Your parents?" She asked.

"They decided that they don't want each other so they divorced," I said.

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"That's okay. They never were a big impact on me. What about yours?"

"Its a little bit like yours expect the fact that they both got married after the divorce. Not a big impact on me either. But mom and I text sometimes when we have time."

"Oh. We've got a lot in common," I said.

"Yeah. We do. You got a girlfriend?"

Oh...um...now this is awkward. I never expected she would ask me this. My cheeks got warm.

"No. But there's a girl I like."

"Okay, and what is she like." Her eyes flickered and focused on mine.

"She's good, really talented and kind."

"Did you ask her out?" Her eyes still focused on mine.

"Nope," I said snapping my fingers.

"Why?" She shrugged.

"I'm afraid I've given quite a bad impression." I looked away.

"What if you didn't? Ooh, what if she likes you? C'mon who would want to blow a chance to date the one and only Austin Barlow. I think you should ask her."

"Who knows. Maybe I will."

"Yeah. That's the spirit."

She smiled. I made her smile. But I felt that deep inside she was not enjoying all this, the place.

"You miss him don't you?" I knew she missed Dex.

She looked at me surprised and she nodded. She loved him and I don't even stand a chance. She grazed her engagement ring.

"If you knew you'd miss him so much, then why did you do it? You should've run away with him."

"No. There was no way that we could have ran away, the king would've caught us. And I would have to see them taking him away from me. I just...just didn't want him to regret giving this ring to me."

"It was a do or die. Either I do the ritual hoping that I'd come back or just do nothing and let them break us apart. And the latter is more painful when I have got a life growing inside me."

"What?!!!" I asked with disbelief.

"Yes. I'm pregnant."

This is not happening. This is not happening. I never imagined I would be in this situation. Shit. Shit. Shit. I felt shattered. I felt my heart beats rise.

"Oh, lord!!! Does Dex know?"

"No, I was about to tell him on the first day of our visit to Berade. But instead I saw him with watery eyes and I didn't have any other options but to promise him that I'll do it. If I didn't do it, I would've to live without him with his baby. Deep inside me, I knew that I would survive and see Dex again."

"But you risked your life. Just to save somebody else and satisfy someone's wishes."

"They are not just somebody. They deserve to live. And if I can do anything to save them, then I'll do it, I don't care."

I felt my heart break into a million pieces. I bit my lips and stroked through my hair, tapping my hands nervously on the bars taking caution not to let the flame out and harm her.

I gave her a hug. "Dex is really lucky to have you."

I bit my lip and placed a hand on my forehead as if I am having a headache, actually, I am. I held my tears inside me. I am such a fool. I should've moved on when I knew that she was engaged. I gave her a weak smile.

She smiled back.

       
                    To be continued...