It was already nightfall and James had not returned.  When Sally got back to the cottage, he was nowhere to be seen.  While she waited, she helped herself to some of the food Grimalkin had left.  It was exactly the same food she had served Grimalkin so Sally knew she had to have come here. Could James be with Grimalkin?  She wouldn't keep him this long.  It was too dangerous. Mustering up her courage, Sally lit a lantern and searched the area near the property.  The later it got the more desperate she became, fearing the worst had happened.  She knew James would not leave without her, something must have happened.  Her senses told her the dark was near so she retreated to the relative safety of the house and busied herself making a fire.  She wondered if she should go back to the castle and sneak in to tell Grimalkin.  She would know what to do, but Sally was too afraid.

James had done precisely what Grimalkin had warned him not to do.  Feeling hopeless and hurt he didn't care what could happen to him.  He wandered through the woods with the intention of clearing his head but had only succeeded in getting himself lost.  He finally came to an arch leading into an even darker corridor and went in to escape the cold. 

The darkness engulfed him the further he went in.  James gropes his way through the dark tunnel.  Reaching out into the darkness feeling nothing he started to run with arms extended in what seemed to be a void that had no end.  In a panic, James fell to the ground panting.  He closed his eyes tightly to regain his composure.  Fear bringing him to the edge of madness.   He extended his hand and felt the wall again as he walked trying to find a way out till he finally came to an opening.  The ground here was paved in stone as if he had entered a dwelling.  To his relief, he could see a faint glow in the distance.  He started walking towards it hoping for the best.  Before long he heard a swishing sound around him as if he was being circled.  His mind feared it was the Berserkers getting ready to attack.  He stopped in his tracks allowing his eyes to adjust to the new unexpected brightness.  Suddenly, he was being pushed against the wall.

"What do we have here?  A little mouse has entered my house.  I'm sure Grimalkin will be thrilled to see you."

Hoseok grabbed James's face and pulled him close to smell his neck.  The jealousy in him was like the sting of fire.  It burned in him making him blind to her love for him.  He was itching to bite James and drain him of his blood.  But even now he held himself back because of his love for Grimalkin.  As much as he hated James, he did not want to cause anguish to the queen of his heart.  He would only think of killing him if she betrayed him by choosing James instead.

But James felt hopeless in more ways than one.  His arms fell limp at his sides resigned to his fate. "Kill me then.  What are you waiting for?  She picked you over me."

"I'm not so sure about that.  Let's ask her, shall we?  Bring me Grimalkin, now!" He demanded to his brother.  Jabka hurried to fetch the witch knowing he would be the next dead prince if he doesn't do his brother's bidding.  

The jealous rival easily held James by the neck watching the hopeless, shaken man with the pretty eyes full of tears.

Grimalkin was dragged in by Balkai and Jabka.  She had a serious look on her face as she accessed the situation.  James had done as he threatened and the consequences were dire.

"You may leave,"  Hoseok said to his brothers.  "My dearest, we have an intruder.  What do you think we should do with him?"

Grimalkin didn't answer.  She felt powerless to save James.

"This insignificant little mouse thinks he can come here to take you away from me.  Tell me, my love, does he stand a chance with you or me?"

Hoseok squeezed his neck with one hand while James struggled to keep his feet on the ground letting out an inhuman cry, a terrible thing to behold from someone you love.

"Let him go!"  She yelled.

"Well, well, she does care.  What should I do with him, love?"

James had both hands on the prince's hand trying to pull his grasp away from his neck desperate for a breath.  In a moment Grimalkin was upon him striking Hoseok's arm at his elbow causing him to let go of James who collapsed in a heap.  The prince hissed and showed his fangs to her his eyes turning red with anger.  

"Don't do this.  I chose you, Hoseok. Let him go," the brave witch said.

Nevertheless, Hoseok attacked her ruthlessly slamming her against the wall.  James came to her aide.  Taking a dagger out he stabbed the prince repeatedly.  James dropped the bloody dagger when he saw it had no effect.  Grimalkin saw the sheathed daggers on his belt that he made for her but she knew this would only anger Hoseok more and would not kill him.  

In his rage at James' attempt, he grabbed him and bit him in the neck sucking his blood as James cried in agony.  The nearly dead boy slumped to the floor when the prince let go. Grimalkin cried when she saw her beloved dying at her feet.  

Hoseok smiled bitterly his teeth stained with James' blood.  Suddenly the veins on his face turned purple as the poisonous blood circulated in his veins.  With his face constricted in agony and disbelief, he fell to the ground near James knowing he was about to die, and as he laid there gasping for breath he looked up into her eyes and said, "I loved you."

Grimalkin fell to her knees and tenderly touched his outstretched hand.  "My name is Jennie and I loved you too." 

Closing his eyes for the last time, he breathed, "Sorry, Jennie."

Jennie was in agony. She realized she really did love him and she felt bad that she had never said it before.  The only two people that had ever loved her had killed each other. She cradled James' limp body close to her blinded by her tears.  He had only come here because he loved her. She cried wanting to die herself. She picked up the bloody dagger thinking how this object could release her from the pain. As she brought it closer to her heart James' eyes fluttered open.  She dropped it, held him close and said, "Baby, don't leave me!"