A/N: Inside the castle of Ludivics.

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"Grab!" Darcy shouted.

Before Zoe could register what he meant, a golden summoning circle appeared on his hand and a black javelin shot past her outstretched arm. She quickly held on its obsidian body, disregarding its blade glinting on her side.

Then two sets of white wings spread above Zoe as Darcy controlled their fall. He frowned as he hauled the javelin with all his force, almost closing the distance between them. The weapon disappeared with a spark and his hands instantly wrapped around her.

Although it was embarrassing, Zoe's hands found their way on his back, clinging as much as she could for her dear life. The mixed scent of sweat, lavender, and leather welcomed her the moment she crashed on his chest, feeling his hard muscles.

She shut her eyes and listened to his labored breathing that matched the sound of his strong wings, stirring the wind around them.

This was the first time that she had ever embraced a guy. Although she received hugs from his older brothers, those weren't as close as this. She could actually feel the heat of his body and his sweat on her palms that turned cold as the wind slowly dried them. After lingering there for a moment, she caught a faint scent, like the fragrance of an expensive perfume.

She moved closer to him, trying to figure if he was the source of the scent.

"Zoe," Darcy repeated for the third time.

She inhaled deeper, but with no avail.

"Zoe." The young Prince tapped her arm.

Her eyes shot open, meeting the fields of lavender that covered the ground around them. She looked up and met his golden eyes, his hand supporting her back. They seemed dull compared to earlier, made worse by shadows beneath them.

"You can let go now," he said, his hand still on her waist. "You're squeezing my wound."

"Oh." Was all she managed to say as the realization hit her.

She quickly stepped away on his feet and mentally slapped herself, feeling her face heat up like never before. She heard him chuckle and groan as he pressed his wound. Even though she wanted to glare at him, she didn't want him to see her face.

What just happened to her?

"I get that reaction a lot," he exclaimed between ragged breaths as if hearing her thoughts. "You were just... Darcyfied."

Her eyes widened after processing his words, having enough of their family's pride in one day. She balled her fists and scowled at him, being greeted by his usual smug smile.

"In your dreams!" she shouted and kicked his leg.

"Dammit!" He bent while holding his wound, rubbing the part where she kicked. "You--"

The glass window shattered again and they turned to see the King's desk plummeting to its death. It hit the grass with a bang, exploding into pieces just a block away from them, making Zoe cringe.

That could have been me, she thought.

"We should go," Darcy said, getting to his feet with a frown plastered on his face. "Spero won't be able to hold him any longer."

Before she could react, the young Prince grabbed her by the waist and slumped her on his shoulder.

"He--oof!" His wing slapped on her face and she tried to slap it back, but the soft material began to flap.

The ground suddenly zoomed out and all she could do was stare in awe as the lavenders danced as they flew above them. She glanced up and watched the white and gold castle of Ludivics shrink with every distance they gained.

"Why is your brother even helping us?"

He remained silent for a moment then answered. "He doesn't want any stain on his name. He would surely do anything to stop this incident from reaching the mass. Even if it meant helping me."

She wanted to ask him a lot of things but chose not to speak a word. She knew from his ragged breaths that Darcy wasn't faring well and something heavy began to weigh her - the feeling of being worthless.

For the first time, she thought she would finally have a role, to become useful and call her life worth living. Yet here she was, a trash escaping from the garbage collector. The fact that she was illegible to be the Heroine shocked her from the core. It was the main reason why she was here and now that reason was stripped away, it only meant one thing.

They would send her home.

Her head throbbed, debating about what she should do. She still had a lot of questions and she had no idea where to start.

But what was the use of answering them?

At the end of the day, she had nothing to do with all of this. She was not the Heroine. She had no role to play in this world. However, she couldn't disregard the fact that she wielded the sword only meant for the Heroine. It must signify something.

But what?

An omen?

As if on cue, his wings stopped moving and they began to descend in a dangerous pace. Zoe shrieked when her stomach jumped to her throat.

"Darcy!"

She shifted and his hand slipped from her waist, causing her to cling on his neck.

"Darcy!"

Panic kicked in when she saw his eyes were closed.

"Darcy!" she repeated, but the young bodyguard didn't respond.

What should she do? Her hands were full.

Then her eyes traveled to his lips and a crazy idea rendered her heart galloping miles away. She glanced and saw the thick forest beneath them, closing at an alarming speed.

I had no choice, she thought.

Zoe shut her eyes.

"Darcy!"

BANG!

She headbutted the young Prince and almost lost her hold from the impact. She heard the leaves rustled as they came crashing down and a muffled scream escaped her throat. For a moment, she thought they were dead.

She slowly opened her eyes and the soft material embracing her opened to the sun. She swallowed and caught her breath, listening to a raising heartbeat. It might be hers, startled from the sudden impact, or to the person lying beneath her.

Her ashen face changed to a deep red when she realized their position. She crept out from his embrace and sat beside him, pushing down the urge to lay back there.

"Darcy?" she said, gently tapping his cheeks now beaded with sweat.

She felt his chest rise and fall under her palm, followed by a low groan as he opened his eyes, glowering at the sun. His attention slid to her, placing his hand on hers. Zoe quickly pulled away, averting her gaze at his wings, which immediately disappeared on his back.

"Are you hurt?" he asked and started to get up only to slump back on the grass.

"I'm fine." She looked down on her arms. "Just a few cuts, but I'll live."

"You should go from here."

Their eyes met and there was something there that she didn't like.

"What?" she asked, furrowing her brows. "Are you telling me to just leave you?"

He broke from her gaze and stared at the rich greenery at her back. "I'll be fine."

Liar, she thought.

"Krista already knows what to do. Just follow this trail and you'll find them."

"No!" she croaked, and after a long time, she found her vision blurring from tears. "You still owe me a lot of explanation, so don't you dare leave me in mid-air!"

He raised his hand to her face and she blinked from the contact, his finger softly wiping her tears.

"Have you forgotten who I am?" He smirked and gently flicked her on the forehead. "I can't die just yet."

BOOM!

The ground shook and the leaves screamed with the violent gush of wind.

"Dammit!" He gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. A golden light shimmered from his hand as he called on his sword. "Go, now!"

Without waiting for her response, the young Prince charged and Zoe followed him, seeing his father emerged from the woods. Unlike his previous attire, he was now wearing an armor that made her knees tremble. Its white, blue, and gold colors adorned his four wings and she wondered if he was that muscular earlier.

CLANG!

Sparks flew as they exchanged blows, cutting trees on their way, but mostly by his father. However, Darcy lost his speed, barely deflecting all his attacks. She remained there, watching as the young Prince buy her some time, yet she couldn't manage to leave him.

Should she go and ask for help?

Or do something heroic and stupid again?

CLANG!

The former King struck and Darcy's sword landed a few feet away from Zoe.

She looked as the obsidian metal glimmered, as though telling her to wield it. The next thing she heard was Darcy's sharp gasp when he crashed into a tree, falling to the ground with a thud and didn't move again.

Her voice remained stuck in her throat as the man raised his humongous sword, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

She had to do something. But against someone like him, she had no idea what she could actually do. If only she could use her powers.

"Zoe," whispered by a female's voice.

Her vision distorted and she was back in her dream, standing in front of the huge cell lingering in darkness. And just like before, the woman was offering her hand as pale as the snow.

"I can give you the power that you seek," she said.

"Who are you and what do you want from me?" Yet her words never came out.

"I am your ally," she answered, "and I can help you save the young man."

She hesitated, staring inside the cell and saw nothing but her silhouette.

"Time is running out, Zoe," the woman urged. "You could take my hand or watch him die."

Without giving it more thought, Zoe grabbed her cold hand.

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Dedicated to xxDAuthorxx

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XOXO