"I think not."

"You had it the last time."

"Well, I want it now again. Besides it's mine isn't it? You don't pay for this."

"I don't remember you telling me that I had to, and what happened to making yourself at home?"

Cleo rolls her eyes and takes the toasted cake out of his hands for the fourth time this morning.

Ezra here wanted her cake. Can you bloody believe it?

"Ezra dear. I like cakes and I'm still hungry."

"You had majority of the eggs and both slices of bread. I had a fruit salad and one streak of bacon. You call that a fair meal?"

"Is this because you are a man, and they always eat more than women? That's prejudice. I have an appetite too. We have a big day."

"Exactly. A big day. And I don't get shit to eat."

She gets off the bed with a quick slide. "Oh please. Be grateful you at least get something."

Ezra follows after her as he dresses himself into the guard uniform. She goes to her dresser and looks at her face and hair before pulling the wet strands into a tight fitted braid against her scalp; all the while Ezra watching her movements.

"You're the one who should be grateful." He sneers and shudders as if he had a rough tingling sensation trickling down his neck.

She looks away from his mad eyes and meets her own cold ones, and the nasty scar lining her neck filled with scabs. Just how many times was she going to get scarred and mauled and verbally abused?

"How was your evening Ezra? Any problem?"

He combs his hair with a comb she lent him and told him to keep for himself because she didn't want it returned with lice, even though he didn't have any; and he kept his mouth shut, obviously not wanting to start another fight with her so early in the morning, which she also welcomed with open arms.

"No hustle."

She ties the elastic on the ends of her hair, wrinkling her nose at the big fat liar she was staring at. "Is that so?"

She buttons up her hooded shirt in the front and closes all the clasps and buckles of her protective, yet also sexy stylish gear.

"What caused you to suddenly shout at me to order the horses and guards to take leave this morning?" She crosses her arms.

He sighs and slips the comb into his pocket showing off his thick hand veins. "Because you can't wait any longer. You ceremony is days away. You'll be thanking me soon for this decision that I enforced upon you."

She snorts. "What happened to waiting for the mage?"

He looks away from her. Instead looking outside to the clear skies and still rising sun. He is in the clouds — completely warped into his own head.

He faces her once again with a casual and calming look in his eyes. "Just trust me on this Cleo."

And then without another word he jumped over her balcony before she could even give him the leftover breakfast that she realized was too selfish to save for the trip.

                                                          °°°

So how the hell are you going Ezra? Ever thought about that?

She bites harshly into the chewy cake tasting of honey and dough. Scowling in the meantime about how fucking stupid Ezra was. He just left. He ditched her. Just like everyone did to her. Jezio. Kaleb. Who else?

It's like she was meant to be alone, after spending an entire evening with Ezra who snores like a damn pig, and even him breaking in to come and assist her, and them making plans to go to the Demon Tower together; all for him to just abandon her?

Men are all the same. Each and every single one of them.

She was in the foyer ignoring everyone's calls, and also rubbing the sleep out of her eyes from the previous evenings preparations and alterations. She could hardly remember anything, there was water dripping, there was things she had to repeat, she had to wear a stupid veil as well as doing gestures with her body which would favor the world. Hell knows what that means. But she was too tired to even attempt a thought about the evening.

She groaned before and after each activity, and wished someone could die so that she could leave that peculiar inane evening. But unfortunately none of that happened, so she was forced to complete the moronic rituals.

Then she came to her room finding Ezra with no pants on, passed out on her settee.

She had enough control on herself to not burn off his hair. But she was close. Very very close.

She finishes her cake and turns around to the rest of the scene unfolding behind her.

The servants were scattered all over, some with a variety of table cloths, a few with crockery and cutlery, some had ranges of dresses and shoes and crowns and other hair stuff.

"Well?" Cleo asks, searching the suddenly silent room.

She rolls her eyes. "Where are the cakes?"

Immediately a thick curved woman sprang up and sang a coming along, before scuttling up the stairs but realized that's not where the kitchen was, and then came down and out the backdoor.

She turns back again to the door. She could of sworn she has made decisions on what she wanted, the dresses and cloths and food. It was what she always picked wasn't it? She couldn't understand why they would need her opinion on every little thing.

"Miss before you go. Mistress Penelope insisted I ask which cloth you would prefer?" The green eyed princess sends her a calming smile.

What Cleo liked more was that she got straight to the point. "Well take the one I always take."

"You never pick one Miss."

"I could of sworn I did."

"No, this is completely new. We never received any of your requests for the last ball."

"Why does everyone have to come to me for these things? I'm not the designer am I?"

"Well no, but it is your duty-"

"Miss!"

Cleo strays her attention away from the girl and sends a tongue her way before shooing her away and heading back once more to the doors.

"What is it Landon?"

She opens the door before her guards or him could react, to the still cool morning air with Landon trailing after her to the huge courtyard below the three marble steps.

Carriages were already set, four of them with four horses each and plenty guards getting prompt for the journey ahead. They were still currently loading boxes of; foods, weapons, medical supplies and some emergency clothing, taking up most of the space in the carriage itself. She frowns at the raw vegetables in the brown wooden box, and wrinkles her nose. Like hell was she going to hunt down a rabbit and burn it for their supper. Oh shit it would be rabbits.

"Miss this is not the best time-" He trails off, as she rolls her eyes.

She was sick of hearing the same shit over and over again.

But she let him continue his speech when he found his tongue again.

"You have not sufficient rest, last night's activities took a toll on you. I can even see the sluggish walks you give. Why not rest another day?"

She stands right before her bowing guards and scans the area— ringed all around with steel strong fences, and a wrought double gate where they would be exciting; and this all contained the circular driveway with stones white as snow with a rather extraordinary water fountain in the center of it. Behind her was her Court, just when last has she seen this part?

"Landon, because tomorrow you would convince me to stay again. And again and again." She clicks her knuckles and neck ridding of the knots.

Landon wasn't wrong, she is far from alright. She could feel the exhaustion creeping right into her bones. Her eyes burned from staying open too long, and she feels the deep need to collapse onto anything she saw. She partially rid of it with breakfast, and she would need it to continue being so with the journey ahead.

That's if her body didn't work against her.

He touches her shoulder making her turn around to face him slowly.

His eyes are lazy, turned down. His lips were still blue, and he had more wrinkles on his face than ever before. His monocle didn't even look as clean. His always crisp and white uniform was creased and wrinkled.

His goatee and mustache looked unwashed and unraveled.

"You cannot do this."

She blinks up at him. "Yes I can and I am, before this goes too far."

He pinches his eyes shut and she could of sworn she saw tears leaving his eyes. "This is not how this is supposed to go."

"So if I die, then you wait for the next ruler, but at least you can say that Cleo the Fire Elemental destroyed the Demon Tower in hopes of a better future, with no more hindrances and deaths. It'll all be over."

"We cannot be certain, this tower, it cannot be destroyed."

She shrugs and crosses her arms. "Well I will at least try. I bet you've never come across an Elemental like this have you?"

He says nothing, the only sound coming from him was him playing with his buckles and clasps.

"At least you have a brave ruler who doesn't run away with their tails between their legs. I am actually doing something about this shit. And I know I'm not the most favored Elemental ever to exist, but I sure as hell am going to try and make this world a better place."

Landon nods his head slowly, pausing his fingers."Indeed. We have never come across anything like this before."

Cleo flicks her braid and feels it smacking onto her bottom. Her hair was just too long, hell.

"So Landon, do you suggest I leave or what?"

He takes in a deep breathe, eyeing the ready guards, the gates opening, the packed supplies and luggages, and finally her in her brawling gear.

He took his time, taking everything in before him.

"Talk Landon. My feet hurt. I would like to get inside my carriage and leave now."

He sighs and shakes his head. "If I may say, if you don't come out of this alive, tell the remaining guards, that's if someone makes it out alive —to not bother returning back here, because everything will be destroyed."

Cleo gives him a long hard look, but he refused to meet her eyes. She could tell those words hurt him more than it did her. That's when Cleo finally realized something — he didn't trust her.

He never did. She didn't blame him at all, going through cycle after cycle must have been a pain in the ass. But what would it hurt having a little faith? In her.

She wasn't certain of the bonds he shared with the previous Elementals, but she knows the one they shared went deeper than hell itself; and that's without showing it.

Perhaps the reason that nothing goes as plan is because he didn't believe.

Cleo clears her throat drawing his attention to her eyes. "Landon do you know the reason why there couldn't be more than one Elemental ruling? What's the matter of not having all four?"

He looks away from her again, down to her covered feet. He was probably relieved that she put shoes on for this occasion.

"Because of jealousy." He meets her eyes. "I told you before, there would be war for this position, sharing isn't a common word used between Elementals."

"What a pathetic excuse? And for some reason I don't believe it."

"Well believe it or not, it is the truth. In the past there were battles-"

"Was it ever at the hands of an Elemental?"

His shoulders drops slightly. "No."

"Nor a demon?"

"No Miss."

"Exactly. Something isn't right here Landon, so my first guess is destroying the tower so we can save lives. And after that I request Lord Crawford. That's if I make it out alive."

He frowns. "I could of sworn he sent a letter-"

"No. He didn't." Cleo turns back to the carriage waiting for her and calls for them to start moving.

She looks over her shoulder once more. "Oh Landon, don't look so sad. Just piss off and get yourself a woman."

She hops into the carriage before looking at the remaining guards, servants, Delilah, Evans, Andrew and lastly Landon standing further away from everyone else, looking at her leaving the Court.

Cleo pouts, and thinks of what she could leave behind in memory of herself. Without further ado, she pulls off her boots and throws it out the opening covered only by a curtain.

She gets onto her knees as she their figures become smaller and smaller, and grins once she sees her boots rolling onto the stones and finally stopping midway from the water fountain.

She calls through the curtain separating herself from the rider. "Aye! Do we have extra boots? I don't think I can be barefooted in the Tower."

"Yes Miss we do."

Che finally gets off her knees and settles herself comfortably onto the soft cushions of the carriage. Penelope has outdone herself she has to say.

That's when she remembered, she forgot to kiss Kaleb goodbye, and forgot to tell Jezio that she appreciated him. And lastly forgot to tell his sister to back away from them.

She starts feeling the pool of dolefulness settling deep into her chest.

                                                             °°°

The inside of the carriage was beautifully decorated, exquisite even. With the varying shades of purple — that settled from deep plum to a light lavender colour, and the silk sheets of cushions; Cleo was actually satisfied with something her Court did.

Penelope has thoroughly outdone herself this time. Instead of having beaded putrid sheets, she finally created something that Cleo could settle her eyes upon. It was most certainly more favorable than before. Cleo could at least give her that.

She has tried to distract her thoughts from Landon, the mage, Kaleb and Jezio by fiddling about and gazing out through the window, but it started becoming tedious.

She had to confess that she missed Ezra for that short period of time that he were there with her. She is also beginning to think that he has utterly abandoned her on her mission.

How silly of her to trust him.

She wondered whether he made himself a proper breakfast when he left. She heard nothing from the Court about catching sight of anyone other than a courtesan in the yards, so that made her believe he got out safely to hells know where.

If he wanted to fix things why did he leave?

Only an idiot could answer that. The idiot being him. Surely he did not just come over for a bath.

Cleo sighs and stares out the window for the millionth time.

She came to the conclusion about a few miles ago that she despised long trips. Just what was she supposed to do? Look at more trees, plants, mountains, ridges, creeks and wild animals?

She could sworn she saw the exact view tons of times already.

She tried naps but the carriage was too short for her legs to stretch out so she could not sleep at ease, that; and also the road was too rocky. She knocked her jaws and bit her tongue too many times to count. She gave up on that, but left her legs outstretched before her on the opposite seat of the carriage. But she could feel her tailbone becoming numb and prayed they would stop soon to tend to the horses.

She tried calling for a bout but her cries went out beyond their loud singing and jests with another. Guards were people too and she couldn't get anything straight with a snap of her fingers; but then she also remembered who the hell she was and the reputation she withheld.

But aye, reputation or not they could not hear her. She wasn't even going to bother biting their heads off when they stop. She'd give them the freedom they wanted from her.

Cleo massages her thighs right where her marks are and then her neck and finally her head. She removed the hooded shirt leaving her in a cotton vest. The heat caused a headache, and sweat settled on nearly every inch of her. The breeze coming through did little to take it off.

The sky was spotless and clear. Bluer than Jezio's eyes and hotter than Kaleb. The sun is shining proud ahead onto them, showing her it could have been just after midday, meaning they rode nearly all morning without a damn bout.

She groaned in pleasure when they passed beneath a tree letting the shadows take over and for her to breathe for just a moment. She even considered bringing those with the cold to bake and fry in the heat. It could surely cure them.

And when that cool moment passed her mood went straight back to pissed and sour.

She should of brought her weeds. Or wine. Just something to pass this time.

Just then the carriage jerked causing the top of her head to hit the ceiling of the carriage. She yowls and rubs her head before bringing her face out the window ready to raise her voice and scold to whoever didn't know how to ride a carriage.

But the words never came, they all came to an abrupt stop.

They were in the middle of nowhere, in a huge forest with a wide pathway of white stones and either side lined with tall rich green trees. She didn't know the kind, but the bark was dark and smooth.

Without a further look into the vastness with not a single soul of life besides birds and a few spotted deers; Cleo opened the door and hopped out— nearly letting her doorman crash into the door and lose his footing.

Her carriage was scouted between the others, all her guards stood steady with their weapons out most of them watching her. She almost stuck her tongue out for them.

She couldn't of been their only hope.

Without another word she turns into a widdershin circle right where she was to take in the better view.

The air here was thinner and cooler. She could feel her throat swelling, and feeling red from it.

They were finally in shadows, Cleo could understand why they picked this certain spot, as it was quiet and serene in the shade to rest before picking up again.

The trees were towering above them, stretching high into the sky. She felt more at peace with the cooler air for once, and the shade. The slight breeze billowing past them smells of pinecones and fresh leave, reminding her of Jezio. The clean scent wove over her, drying her sticky and sweaty body.

God's. She felt so clean and cool. She would get used to this for a while before wanting  to... No... Needing to get heat again. At some point this shade would freeze her to death.

She closes her eyes and lays her head back continuing to breath in the fresh air contrasting the hot dry air at home, before groaning in slight satisfaction. She could stay here. She really could. She had her power to keep herself warm.

She could run away from Court start a life here, away from all the intricacies stabbing her way, everyone babbling to her like babies. She could be free here. Hell she would even stay here with Ezra if she could.

Just as her mind began straying to Kaleb in his sick bed someone cleared her clouded mind.

He first cleared his throat and bowed. Cleo could feel the action even with her eyes closed.

"Miss, we shall camp here for the night and start again at first light. The horses as well as the guards need resting and tending."

She first peels her one eye open and then the other slowly catching a glimpse of a cute man, who she could tell by his badges was the temporary King of the Guard, and perhaps the next one in waiting after Kaleb. Probably taught by Kaleb as well.

He has light blue eyes that was slightly red with purple bags beneath it, meaning he had been having sleepless nights or just simply working too hard, and light freckles dotting his nose and cheeks. His blonde hair stood up on all ends, making him look so much more innocent than she could already tell he was.

She could of sworn she has seen bigger and older men, but maybe this specific one had his reasons.

"Aye." She replies and gives him a wink before walking to the creek she sees in the distance ringed everywhere with countless trees.

Hours passed, the sun set, leaving a purple and blue hue in the cloudless sky giving a calming effect onto the small creek where they gathered water and fed the horses as well as some carrots and apples for them, and soft hay beds for them to rest. Even though half the horses preferred eating grass and fell asleep on it.

It was much cooler than sleeping on hot hay.

Everyone else kept camp in groups of about five, with a main hearth at which their supper was being made. It consisted of fired vegetables and tasteless chicken. Where they found the chicken and the skill to cook... Cleo didn't want to know.

She stayed by herself surrounded by all their tents, on her own, sitting at the entrance staring into the wavering creek like a few others listening in on the conversations and dirty jokes made by the louder ones in the group.

That was the only noise here, save for a few birds, the crickling and spitting fire and then the soft brush of the creek onto the stones.

She wasn't even bothered by any of the sounds, didn't demand them to shut up, nor did they care about her.

The only aspect she didn't like about this mission and event was how all her guards had mates to chat to and about; and she had nothing.

Not even a single soul to share her dreams with.

Nothing.

Nobody.