Kaden

One thought ran through Kaden's mind, it was that Evangeline was losing it. She was battling the hardest battle of her life and he couldn't help her. They had been together throughout all this from the moment they had been born into their families, there was no way he was leaving her half way, they were going to finish this battle together.

Evangeline lay on his chest as he ran his fingers through her blond hair. He remembered the night before. He had never seen Evangeline so fragile and weak, and yet at the same time she had been the strongest person he had seen. To fight off such a dark entity, something that had destroyed men for centuries, she was fighting off it's call that drove men insane. She ran away to protect him from herself. He wondered if he would be able to do that? He was too selfish, he couldn't bare being away from Evangeline. They had never been apart. They were trained together as children and fought alongside each other as adults. She had always been a part of her life. To just leave her, he couldn't do it. He would miss her too much.

"Kaden?" Evangeline's soft voice brought him out of his thoughts.

"Yes my love?"

"I had wanted to run away last night, to live alone with the amulet so no one would have to go through this torture, but I think we need to go back to Adaresa. I think there might be an answer to destroy this thing. Odette should know of one, she has read almost everything there is to know about Gywith, or she would at least know what book we could look in. But..." she took in a deep breath. "Please don't leave me alone. I can't fight him off on my own, I need you."

"I will give you all my strength Eva, I believe in you. I will never leave your side, you are sort of stuck with me," he teased trying to get her to smile.

Evangeline let out a light chuckle, running a pattern on his chest with her finger making goosebumps appear on his skin. "If this were a few weeks ago I would have either killed you or myself upon hearing that."

"But now you are head over heels in love with me," Kaden smirked as Evangeline leaned her head up to look at him.

"I could say the same about you, you know?" she raised a brow challengingly.

His smirk morphed into a sweet smile. "Oh trust me, I know very well because I really am head over heels for you."

"Thank you," she whispered. Kaden leaned down and captured her lips with his. Evangeline didn't hesitate before returning his kiss with her own, adding more intensity to her kiss.

"Well, well, well... Look what we have here," a voice said, breaking them apart. Kaden was immediately on his feet, as was Evangeline who had reached for her weapon only to remember she had left it back at their earlier campsite. Kaden immediately stepped in front of Evangeline to protect her from the man.

Kaden sized up the man. He was an archer, he had his bow and arrow aimed at them. Kaden looked around to see if there was anyone with the archer, they were alone. That made their chances better, even though the man was at an advantage with his long distance weapon.

Kaden had tried reaching for his weapon but the man warned against it by shooting an arrow and grazing Kaden's arm. Kaden winced in pain touching his blood covered arm. The man knew how to use an arrow. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Not unless you want your pretty little lover to see you die in front of her."

Evangeline stepped in front of Kaden marching up to the man. Kaden tried grabbing her wrist but she shook him off. The archer looked confused, not sure where to point his arrow anymore. He decided to point it at Evangeline. "Come any closer and I will kill you."

"Don't you dare touch one hair on her," Kaden threatened but no one seemed to listen to him, not with what Evangeline was offering. She held out Lord Gywith's amulet. The archer's eyes twinkled as he eyed it.

"I will give this to you if you let us go in peace," Evangeline bargained.

The man dropped his bow as if forgetting it, as if all he could see was the amulet. Evangeline was now before him and the man raised his hand to touch the amulet. Evangeline had other plans for him. She grabbed his outreached hand and Kaden heard something snap. She broke something in his hand, and from the way the archer was screaming, Kaden could tell it was bad. She pushed the archer against the tree behind him and wrapped her hands around the archer's throat. The archer clawed at her hand trying to break free so that he may breathe.

"You hurt my Kaden," she said angrily. Her voiced filled with hatred. It was not the Evangeline he knew. "You think you could have gotten away with hurting him? I will teach you hurt."

"Evangeline!" Kaden yelled out to her. "Stop it! This isn't you!"

She continued to squeeze as the archer's lips started to turn blue. Kaden tried pulling her away from him but her grip was strong. "Eva, Eva please listen to me. You are better than this. Listen to my voice Eva, follow my voice. Please Eva, don't give in to him. You are stronger than him. Don't let him win. Follow my voice Eva."

The grip on the archer's neck loosened before Kaden pulled Evangeline away from him. The archer dropped to the floor gasping and coughing for air. Evangeline seemed to snap out of her trance before her whole body started to shake and a choked sob ripped out her throat. Kaden pulled her to his chest resting his chin on her head. "Shh my love, I'm here. I got you. You're okay."

"You are insane!" the archer said before running away, forgetting his bow and arrow behind.

"I almost killed him Kaden. I almost sacrificed him for Lord Gywith by accident. He used you against me, he took advantage of my feelings for you," she cried clenching on her his shirt.

"But you didn't, you fought and won. I am so proud of you," he reminded her.

"If you weren't here then I would have done it, I would have killed him. Don't you see Kaden, as soon one body is killed, then the need for more sacrifices will only increase. I can't kill innocent people, I can't. Tie me up, treat me as a prisoner until we figure out how to destroy it," she begged.

"I will not do that. We got through this today together. I promised you I will not leave you alone and I stay true to my word. I believe in you Eva, do you believe in me to help you through this? he asked.

"No, you don't understand. I don't believe in myself," she shook her head.

"That is not what I asked, do you believe in me?"

She nodded her head. "You are the only thing I believe in right now. The only thing that is keeping me going, that is keeping me sane."

"Then promise me you will let me help you," he asked.

"On one condition," she took in a deep breath. "If I lose control, if I take a life... Kill me."

"W-what?"

"Kill me, the world can not have another monster on the loose. Kill me and bury the amulet with me," she ordered. Kaden wondered how a person could be so strong and selfless.

"Do you not know what that will do to me?" He asked, his voice cracking.

"I am sorry to ask this of you, but you are the only person who could do this. This amulet calls out to a person's deepest desire. You have always been my deepest desire, greater than all the power and riches in the world. I will kill anyone that would try to stop me, but I will not kill you. You need to be the one to do it," she explained.

Kaden felt like he couldn't breathe. How could she ask something like this from him? Evangeline cupped his cheeks with her calloused hands, bringing his face to hers. She kissed his lips with great emotions before pulling back with a very serious expression. "I love you Kaden of Caderis. I will never stop loving you. Remember this is my choice. If the worst happens, I need you to live a long and happy life. Promise me so, it will be the only thing that would put my heart at peace."

"I can't Eva-- You can't ask this of me--"

"Promise me Kaden. If you truly love me, promise me," she said sternly.

His entire chest felt like it was shattering. It hurt so much. He forced his next words out only because it was the only thing he could give her now. "I promise."

"Thank you," she let out a sigh followed by a smile. "You have put me at peace."

Kaden was not going to give up on her so soon. There still was hope. Odette might be able to free Evangeline of her curse. They needed to go back to Adaresa as fast as their horses could carry them.

***

Evangeline

Evangeline and Kaden had arrived to Adaresa after days of pushing themselves forward through the pain, fatigue and hunger. For a slight moment, Evangeline felt happy and safe to be back home.

When they had arrived guards surrounded them not recognizing them with their disheveled appearances.

"It is us. Evangeline of Mirari and Kaden of Caderis!" Evangeline exclaimed with her hands up in surrender. She saw the eyes widen of the guards that were closest to them upon realizing it was indeed them.

"You're alive? Dear god, you're alive!"

"What happened?"

"Where have you been?"

"Are you alright?"

"What shall we do?"

They all started asking question, worried and confused. Kaden took control shaking his head and raising his hand to silence them. "We need to see Odette. Where is she?"

One guard came forth. "In the library as usual your highness."

Kaden nodded before taking Evangeline's hand in his, shocking both her and the guards.

They made their way to the library, opening the doors and marching to where Odette and Julien usually studied. It was as if it were their part of library.

Both Evangeline and Kaden stopped in their steps upon finding their siblings locking lips.

"W-what is going on?" Evangeline gasped. She knew her sister liked Julien, but to actually be with him, that was absurd. Then again, who would have assumed her and Kaden to end up together either.

Odette jumped back from Julien in embarrassment before realization hit her. "Eva!"

She ran to her sister, tears brimming her eyes before engulfing her in a strong embrace. Evangeline hugged her title and engaging her spell trying to memorize her. She had missed her sister so much. "I hate you so much. How could you scare me like this? How would I ever deal with losing you?"

"You seemed to be dealing quite well," Evangeline teased, earning an embarrassed gasp from her sister.

"Wait, wait, wait..." Kaden's jaw was still dropped. He pointed at his brother and Odette. "You and you? How is that so?"

Julien shrugged. "Love is a weird thing brother." Julien walked up to Kaden and engulfed him in a tight hug as well. "You never know how to stay out of trouble. I'm going to have a head full of white hairs before I am even thirty because of you."

"I missed you too brother," Kaden said as he hugged him back. "Now while you two were getting busy, which I do admit I am quite envious of those days, we have discovered a lot on our dangerous and noble quest."

"Just tell us what happened," Julien frowned not appreciating Kaden embarrassing him so. Evangeline could almost laugh at the sight if she wasn't such a jumble of emotions at the moment.

Evangeline and Kaden went along and told them everything that had happened to them and that they had discovered leaving a few minor details about themselves. Evangeline was not ready to tell anyone of their private moments.

They finished explaining everything waiting for the reply of their siblings. Odette quickly took a seat, as if the information was too much for her. Julien's faced paled, his fists clenched at his sides.

"Odette, please tell me you know how to destroy the amulet?" Kaden asked. She could almost hear his silent question. How do we save Evangeline?

Odette opened her mouth and closed it. "Only Zanix blood can destroy it."

Julien nodded his head ready to make a plan. "Good, we'll draw out a map determining the locations of possible Zanix people--"

Odette shook her head violently. Her voice came out shaky. "No, no. You don't understand. There are no more people of Zanix. They're all dead."

------------------

Well isn't that bad news? Good luck Eva...

There are 2 chapters left! The end is near!

Don't be silent readers!

Vote and comment!

I always love hearing what you have to say!

Love ya!

XO