I stared at her lifeless body, feeling nothing but a cold numbness that had spread through my chest. Hands clasped my cheeks turning my face towards them. My eyes were met with sky black ones, so black they were almost blue, they had concern swirling through their dark gaze. "I need you to listen to me," Raiden said in a calm manner even though I could tell that was the opposite of what he was feeling. It was for my benefit. "We need to get out of here, right now."

I instantly shook my head fiercely and looked back to Nisha.

I couldn't leave her. I wouldn't leave her.

Raiden's hands pulled my face back to him. "Look at me," he growled, frustrated. "I need you to focus, I realize you're hurt, but be hurt after we're out of here, okay? I need you here, all of you."

My brain suddenly registered his words.

We?

What did that mean? Was he-? Was he going to help me escape-? No. No, he couldn't. It was a lie. This was a mind trick that his father had him play on me. I was sure of it. He couldn't help me, he hated me. But as I looked into his eyes all I saw was the truth. It was genuine and real.

He did want to help me.

I nodded my head, numbly, agreeing to his words.

"Good, let's go." He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the gallery and I was grateful for it. I didn't think I had the strength to do it myself. As I was being pulled behind Raiden, I saw that he had changed from his suit and was now in his usual uniform, his signature weapons draped across his body. As we rushed through the halls it was then I realized there was some kind of alarm going off. I suddenly understood why Raiden was in such a hurry. They were searching for me.

Us.

As we turned down another corridor Raiden suddenly stopped, causing me to run into his back, he turned us so the wall was blocking us from view. I saw guards on the other side. At least ten or twelve. "Shit," Raiden exclaimed and then turned us in the other direction.

"But the passage is that-"

"I know, we're going to have to go a different way." Raiden led us through numerous halls, left and right. There was a part of me wondering if this was a trick. If this was all supposed to be a joke, or a game. That Raiden was supposed to give me hope only to take it away. I shook those thoughts from my head. I couldn't think like that right now. I had to have hope. I had to have hope for Nisha.

"Can't you do that cool disappearing thingy and get us out of here?"

"It doesn't work like that. I can't take anyone but myself," he explained as we rushed through halls.

We finally reached a staircase that was hidden by a bookshelf.

I wanted to roll my eyes. Very original.

The steps were stone and it was pitch black throughout it. I clung on to Raiden's arm praying I didn't fall or trip. After what felt like ten minutes we reached the bottom. Our footsteps echoed as we moved forward. Dust and the smell of old wood crowded my senses and the temperature dropped at least ten degrees. Raiden grabbed a torch from the wall and lit it, light filled through, bouncing off the stone walls. I looked around, my heart stuttering.

"Raiden?"

"Mmh?"

"Tell me these aren't catacombs."

He looked over his shoulder at me and smiled. "These aren't catacombs."

My heart sunk.

The stone ceiling was high, covered in spiderwebs and dust, and the walls ... the walls were lined with tombed caskets. Horror filled my veins, this was like a scary movie.
Raiden walked first, which I was glad for. It seems like nobody had been down here for a while. The giant halls were empty and quiet, but I felt like we were being watched. It was the paranoia of being surrounded by dead people.

I was however a bit concerned on how Raiden knew where to go. "Do you mind telling me why there are catacombs under your castle?"

"Under all of Arawyn, actually. And I don't know, they've just always been here."

Lies. He was lying but I figured right now was not the time to call him out on it. Raiden stopped abruptly and put an arm out stopping me too.

"What-" but I stopped myself when I heard it.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the catacombs coming from in front of us.

Raiden made a move to turn around but stopped when footsteps came from that direction too. There had to be about seven or eight of them.

We were screwed.

Raiden didn't say anything, I could practically see the possibilities running through his face.

The steps got closer.

Raiden turned to me and handed me two of his throwing knives and then moved me in the direction of one of the walls. He stood in front of me so I was facing his back. "Don't move," he demanded.

I nodded even though he couldn't see me.
I gripped Raiden's daggers more firmly as the footsteps approached.

There were six in total, three on the left and three on the right.

Raiden unsheathed his swords. "I'll give you three seconds," he told them and I noted the amusement in his voice. How in the hell was he amused right now?

"One."

Oh God, he was counting.

He was actually counting.

He was such an arrogant bastard.

"Two."

The guards hesitated for a split second and that was all the time Raiden needed. He gave no warning when he attacked. He was quicker than air, he moved smoothly like some kind of animal, so fast you could barely see him. The guards put up a fight but they were no match for him. Raiden was deadly, he moved his swords as if he was performing an art. Each slash was like the stroke of a paint brush. He did it somehow gracefully. He made it look easy, he didn't struggle at all as he fought six men. His moves were quick and he somehow knew what they were going to do before they even did it. While he was fighting them he was also predicting their next moves.

I was terrified.

How does someone even become something like this? What kind of training does it take to be capable of something like this?

Raiden stood over them, he wasn't even out of breath as he sheathed his blades behind his back.

I stared at the ground where they lied. "You ... you killed them."

"We need to go," is all he said in reply. I didn't look at him. I was too busy staring at the bodies he produced. I didn't understand how someone could be alive one second and then gone the next.

It was ... it was a strange thing to witness death. My mind somehow couldn't possibly understand it. I thought of Nisha. She was-

"Avaryn."

My eyes lifted to Raiden's hard face. He extended one of his black gloved hands to me.

His hands that murdered people.

The hands of a coldblooded killer. Did he even feel remorse for them? Did he feel as guilty as I was feeling?

"Don't look at me like that," he snapped at me out of nowhere, his eyes were cold and somehow heartless.

I chose to ignore his comment and ask what was on my mind. "Why are you helping me?"

He lifted a shoulder, his cold expression being replaced with fake humor. "I was bored."

"Raiden," I warned. I didn't want his games, I didn't want the version of him who didn't care about anything. I wanted the truth. "The truth, if you even know how to give it."

His jaw screwed shut. "I don't know."

"Raiden-"

"I don't know." His voice was steady and firm, as if saying 'drop it.' "We need to leave."

Before I could abject he grabbed my arm and pulled me anyway. Warmth spread from his hand through my arm. He was always warm.

"For the record, I don't trust you."

I could hear the amusement in his voice and picture the smirk on his face as he said, "I don't trust you either, Little Thief," his voice was filled with mockery, "that's the fun part."

We walked for what felt like hours, I believed Raiden when he'd said these catacombs ran underneath the city. They went on for miles. How were so many people buried under here? Did they not have cemeteries here? The whole time we were down here I got this eerie feeling in my stomach, I still felt like someone was watching us. And Raiden was keeping me very close to him, as if there could be danger any second. I got the feeling there was something more to these catacombs, more than Raiden was telling me.

A low rumble suddenly echoed through the tunnels, so loud and strong it almost felt like it shook us and the tombs.

I gripped Raiden's arm. "What was that?"

"The Lacuna," he answered gruffly and kept walking.

"Those creepy shadow things?"

He made a low noise in agreement and kept trekking forward. We made a couple more turns until Raiden stopped us next to one of the tomb doors. There were few tomb doors, I assumed inside it was just a room full of caskets, maybe the tombs were for families. He put his hands on the hundreds of years old stone and with ease ripped the door open. He faced me, his face showed no sign of emotion. "Get in."

I blinked at him. "Excuse me?"

"Get in."

I stared at him, then the dark tomb, then back at him. He must have lost his mind. He's gone crazy. There was no way he was suggesting I get inside of a tomb with spider webs and a hundred year old dead people.

I scoffed at him. "I will do no such thing."

"Now is not the time to be difficult," his voice was low and demanding. Something about him had shifted. He had become more serious, more ... responsible. More demanding.

"Raiden, there are dead people in there!" I whisper yelled at him. Did he not understand?

"I'm well aware, thank you, but if you don't get in, you're going to be a dead person."

The low rumble throughout the tunnels became excessively louder and more alive as if they were nearing us. I looked back at the tomb contemplating. It was pitch black in there. No light. It would be me alone with insects and dead people. I looked back to Raiden. "Maybe I could just protect myself?"

He gave me a blank stare. "You have the fighting skills of a newborn kitten."

"Why are there so many people after us anyway? I am just one girl." it didn't sit right with me that the whole of the guards were looking for me and now they have their shadow minions searching too. I didn't understand how I could stir up that much trouble.

Was it because Raiden was with me? Did they even know that he was with me?

Raiden winced. "About that," he said and then reached down to unsheathe a sword that was on his hip. I had never seen him use that sword before. I had never noticed it was there, actually, I never acknowledged it because the entirety of his body was covered in weapons anyway. It had not seemed of importance but as he unsheathed it, I saw that it was only half a blade. It was cut off within inches of the hilt. It was silver and alluring like nothing else, I immediately recognized it.

"You stole the Vad!" I gasped at him.

He grinned at my face. "Jealous I stole something more grand than you did?"

Maybe. "Of course not, I just didn't know you were that stupid."

He tossed me a fake smile and said, "get in the tomb."

"I don't think it's the best idea actually-"

before I could get the words out he pushed me in without a warning and closed the door in my face. "Raiden!" I gasped. I thought I might've heard him chuckle outside the tomb.

I slammed my hand against the door. I hit it about ten times before I gave up. It wouldn't open, all it did was make my hands bruise. I was going to kill him. I swear to god I was.

A gentle breeze blew through my hair and goosebumps pricked my skin. I felt someone watching me. It was dead people. I was surrounded by corpses and bones. I felt a soft tickle on my right arm, I held in a yelp and hit my arm so hard. There were spiders. Ants. Bugs. Scorpions. Or some magical shadow bugs that could kill me. There had to be. Oh my god they were on me!

I could've sworn I heard a soft hum behind me. My heart jumped into my throat. Don't look behind you, Ryn. Don't do it.

Slowly I turned my head away from the door. I saw nothing. Nothing but darkness but i swear i heard a hum. It felt like there were bugs crawling on my skin, and spider webs in my hair.

Avarynnnn, a voice whispered.

I jumped back, hitting the stone door. Oh my god! Someone-

Someone was in here with me.

***

If only I knew how to use my abilities. If only I knew how to fight, how to be something other than human. It was funny because that was the only thing I wasn't; human. And that seemed to be the only thing I knew how to be. I hated how weak I was. I hated that people constantly had to protect me, and I hated how Raiden had to right now, Raiden of all people.

Avarynnn, the cold voice whispered in my ear.

Shivers of fear crawled down my spine. I was going to die. By a ghost. A ghost was going to kill me.

I wish I could see. See the room around me, but it was pitch black. I was helpless and alone.

Abominationnnn, It's hisses crawled up my neck, You shouldn't be hereeee.

I felt an ice cold slithering hand grip my arm and yank me. "Ah!" I yelped and fell to the ground, the force of that thing touching, me bringing me to my knees. Please. I don't want to die.

I know what you areee, it hissed. I felt something like fingernails scrape down my cheek. My mouth opened in a silent scream as pain shot through my veins. I didn't want to be weak. I wanted to be able to save myself. I wanted to be strong. I wanted to feel safe alone.

I felt blood run down my face and neck.

You're blood is not puree.

It's silky ice hand touched my cheek again. I suddenly felt a surge of power strike through my chest.

A spark of energy ignited somewhere deep inside of me. It was the same thing I felt when Everson got stabbed. Tingles of warmth prickled across my skin. That was new. I hadn't felt warmth before, but right now that was all I felt. Heat blasted through me, It was building up inside me like this impeccable rage that I needed to get out. I felt the hair rise on my arms. It was strong and suffocating. It was pure power. Maybe the most I'd ever felt before. What was this? What power did I have now? Or who's power did I have now? Was it the wraith's?

The heat inside of me was getting too much. I needed to let it out but I didn't know how.

You'ree powerrrfull, the thing hissed in my ear. I felt it's icy fingers grab my arm again but instead of doing anything to me, it cried out and I heard it stumble back.

Something occurred to me then. The power I had right now wasn't within. It wasn't a mental power. It was a physical power. My skin burned the ghost. I faintly thought back to a past conversation with Nyan. She'd said powerful Devara's hundreds of years ago had elemental magic. I'd asked her about fire and she said that was a Greer thing.

Fire.

That was the perfect way to explain the feeling running through me. But how? How was it possible? Nyan said people had not been able to control elements for hundreds or thousands of years. How could I do it?

The ghost thing suddenly rushed at me in a quick movement. I could feel it and hear it, instinctively I held out my hands as if to stop it. It happened so fast, the heat I felt inside me, the hot power, it all rushed from my core to my hands in an instant. The tomb lit up in crimson hot flames that surged from my body.

From my hands.

The ghost flew back into the wall, it screamed, it was ugly and annoying, making me want to rip my ears off. But I guess I would be ugly and annoying if I was being burned alive.

The flames that came from my hands were at least six feet long. They were a bright scarlet red with dark green in the middle. The flame didn't injure me. Actually it did the opposite, I felt more powerful, it felt like a relief to get the heat out of me. It felt ... exciting, thrilling.

Tingles ran up my arms.

The sensations that ran through me were intoxicating.

After I was sure the thing was dead I subside the fire, shrinking it until it was nothing but a small flame.

How did I control it so easily?

This might sound strange but I felt like the fire had a mind of its own. Like it was alive. Like it was an old friend and we were just catching up. It felt as natural as walking, like I'd been doing this my whole life.

I had the feeling it would obey whatever I told it to do.

I glimpsed around the tomb now that I could see it properly. The light from my fire bounced around and off the stone walls. There were three caskets around me and many many spiderwebs. I shivered in disgust.

An idea occurred to me. I turned to the stone door that locked me in here. If the fire was strong enough to fling that thing back and burn it alive maybe it was strong enough to open the door.

It was probably safer for me to stay in here but then again who the hell knew where Raiden was. He could be lost or dead somewhere. I took a couple steps back from the door.

I sucked in a deep breath.

The power in me surged, I commanded the flame to be bigger and it grew, obeying me. Open the door, I told it and pointed the flame in the direction. I felt the heat shootout from me. I felt that same intoxicating feeling i felt before. The tingles and sensations. Out of all the powers i've used so far this was by far my favorite. I felt like I could do anything. I felt strong. But most of all I felt understood. I felt like the fire was a part of me. Like it was something I'd been missing my whole life.

After several seconds I heard a satisfying crack and soon the fire broke the stone wall, crumbling it to pieces.

I felt myself smile. I pulled my hands down and put the fire away, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do.

Just as quick as the power had come it was gone as fast. Emptiness filled me. I felt ... weak, once again. I missed the fire in an instant, I missed the feeling.

I swallowed down the loss and strode out of the tomb. I looked to my left then my right and once I saw that the tunnels were empty I turned and walked in the direction Raiden had gone.

I hoped he was okay.

Purely because he was my only way out of here. Not because I cared what happened to him. The catacombs were truly terrifying. Each grave had a different mark, symbol, maybe it was a Greer thing, I don't know, all i knew was that it put a sour taste in my mouth.

It was creepy.

Especially walking alone.

In the dark.

I wished i had my fire back but i don't think i could get it back if i tried. The only time i've summoned power is when i have near death experiences except for that one time in the Crestwood lunchroom.

A hand suddenly gripped my shoulder, I screamed and turned quicker than I knew I could move.

I let out a breath. "Nao? What are you-?" but I cut myself off as as I saw the guilt on his face.

His black hair had been ruffled as if he'd been in a fight and his eyes were tired. He was here to capture me. He was down here looking for me. Because he worked for the king. "No. please don't take me back-"

"I'm sorry Avaryn but I have to obey him. If Nisha knew you were here she'd say the same thing to you-"

"What?"

"Come on, you know how Nisha is, she'd freak-"

"You don't ... know?" I whispered, my heart breaking in the process. Please say you know. Please. I can't utter the words out loud. I can't even think them.

Nao looked at me, his eyebrows drew in and confusion spread across his face. "Know what?"

"Nao ..." I shook my head. I couldn't tell him. I couldn't tell him what happened, I couldn't be the one to break his heart. But right now it seemed I had to be. I had to be the one to tell him. He had to know the king's cruelty.

"Nisha is ..." I felt nausea swirl in my stomach, even saying her name made me want to break, it made me want to give up on everything and cry. "She's ... gone."

The confusion didn't leave Nao's face. He either wasn't understanding or he was making himself not understand. "Where did she go?"

"Nao."

It must have been the way I said it. Because I immediately saw the understanding wash over his face. The horror and the doubt, the panic and the grief. It was all there in a few seconds of a moment. "No," he muttered.

"I found her in the gallery with a sword ... through her chest. This is what the king does. He's-"

"This is your fault." I lifted my eyes, surprised at the fury in his voice. The pure rage I saw in his gaze.

"What?" I gasped. How could he even say that?

His fist clenched and everything but anger was gone from his face. I saw the look in his eyes. It was like murder. He wanted to kill me.
"This is your fault!" before i could even process his words i was slammed up against the stone wall with a strong hand enclosed against my throat. Stars filled my vision. I clawed at his hand, struggling for moments but it was no use, he was too strong, too skilled, too angry. "If you had never have come here the king would have never even known she existed. She would have never been hurt the first time. She wouldn't be dead if she were never your handmaiden!"

The air was leaving my lungs as he squeezed my throat harder. I couldn't breathe. No matter how hard I tried to gulp and seize but no air was coming to my lungs. I was beyond the point of pain. I was numb. I didnt feel anything.

At this moment I knew I was going to die. And I was going to die knowing that I was the reason Nisha was murdered. Nao was right. It was my fault. I was the reason she was in the gallery in the first place. I was the reason she was a part of this ridiculous plan in the first place.

I was the reason she died.

I thought of her dark long waves, her tan skin and golden eyes, her soft smile that was comforting beyond words. She was the sister I never had. And she was dead because of me.

I watched Nao slump in front of me, relieving his hold on my throat. Suddenly the air came back to me. I could breathe again. I sucked in deep breaths trying to calm my erratic heartbeat.

I dropped to my knees putting my hands to my throat as if that would subside the pain. It didn't. A burning ache sheathed my throat.

What the hell just happened?

My eyes finally registered what was in front of me. Nao. lying on the ground.

Dead.

He was dead.

I scrambled back away from his body. No. it couldn't be. He couldn't be dead. I felt arms wrap around my waist and instead of making me face him he lifted me up into his arms, carrying me. I instinctively curled my arms around his neck.

"How the hell did you get out of the tomb?" his dark eyes flashed with anger and his jaw was clenched so hard i thought his teeth might break.

"You killed him ..." I said and processed what had happened at the same time. I looked down at Nao's lifeless corpse. A sick feeling filled me. Oh God. Oh my god! A sob came from the back of my throat. "You killed him!"

He didn't say anything, he just kept walking in anger. He had the audacity to be angry at me? After all he's done? I didn't want to be around him. I didn't want his help anymore. He was a monster. I knew that now. Now that I'd seen him kill ruthlessly without care. What kind of person does that? How does he not feel for them?

Tears ran down my face at the loss of Nao. I didn't know him very well but ... Nisha did. Nisha loved him. "Put me down, Raiden."

He kept walking, ignoring my words.
Black spots creeped from the corner of my vision and dizziness erupted through me. I chose to ignore it and I let frustration grip me. I wiped the tears from my face. "Put me down! You're sick and twisted and I want you to put me down."

He said nothing once again. Just kept walking. I couldn't believe him. What was wrong with him? Why didn't he say anything? Why was he-? It was then I noticed how his hands shook from underneath me. I noticed how his jaw was clenched so tight. The way his eyes were propelled forward, the way they shone ... with ... I didn't know. I could never really tell with him. He seemed as if he were teetering on an edge. As if he would snap any moment. I swallowed and warily asked, "Raiden ... ?"

"I didn't mean to." His voice was so quiet I wasn't sure if I was hearing things or not. But in those four words I was almost sure I heard the hintest of real emotion in them.

"How does one not mean to kill someone?" I snapped maybe a little too harshly.

"He was my friend," he growled back, a weird look crossing his face, a look I could only describe as regret. It was the most emotion he'd ever shown in front of me. "I didnt see who it was when I ..."

Killed him.

His words were ... honest. Genuine.
I knew I shouldn't. I knew it was wrong, but I believed him. Deep down I knew his words were the truth and that he didn't actually mean to kill Nao. Through his words and eyes I could see the hurt, the regret, the grief. Something I imagined he rarely felt. And I'm sure my cruel words didn't help.

"I'm ... sorry," I found myself apologizing, for what? I'm not sure. I was just sorry and for some reason I didn't like seeing him hurt.

"Don't apologize to me," his words were gruff and commanding. I didn't understand what he meant but I nodded anyway. I got the feeling he was in no mood to talk so I just let him sulk while he was still carrying me.

After a couple of minutes I cleared my throat. "I can walk."

He didn't put me down. And I wasn't sure if it was because he didn't hear me or because he didn't care. "Raiden I can-"

"No you can't."

I narrowed my eyes at the side of his jaw which my gaze was perfectly lined with. I flicked my eyes up his face until they reached his dark eyes. He didn't look at me back. Who's he to say if I can or can't? "Put me down," I snared.

I don't need his help.

I heard him sigh, he gently shook his head and slowly, and surprisingly carefully, set me down on the ground.

My legs shook gently.

He watched me, staring, as if he were waiting for something. And then a wave of dizziness hit me so hard I thought I might tip over, the black dots I'd seen earlier faded through my vision. I stumbled back and before I could fall, Raiden caught me. How could he have possibly known I was hurt? How did he know I wouldn't be able to walk?

He picked me up once again, easily as if I were light as a feather. I stared up at him strangely.

He wasn't going to give me any snide remarks? No, 'I told you so' ? he was being ... different. Maybe Nao's death really did affect him. Maybe he wasn't as heartless as I thought him to be.

No.

I wanted to hit myself. He was still a murderer. Just because he felt bad about Nao's death doesn't mean he didn't kill him in the first place.

"We're here," he said.

I looked up from my thoughts and saw we had reached a ladder. A very long ladder leading to the ceiling which had a hatch at the top. He set me down but kept his arm around my waist so I didn't fall.

"You go first," he said. I narrowed my eyes at him. Why did I have to go first? "So I can catch you if you fall," he replied, somehow reading my exact thoughts.

"Fine but if you try anything I'll-"

He tossed me an arrogant side grin, the first one I've seen from him in about an hour. "You'll what darling?" he asked, that familiar mock in his voice. His dark eyes shone with mischief. "Throw around meaningless threats? Where is your knife by the way? I do miss it at my throat."

I scoffed and shook my head. Good to know he was back to being a psychotic ass. I turned around and made my way to climb up the ladder but when I stepped on the first step my foot slipped. Even though I was only a foot away from the ground he caught me anyway. He was so fast. I had no idea how he did it.

"Carefull," he demanded in my ear, his breath hitting the skin of my neck. All the humor was gone from his voice.

"I'm fine." I climbed back up the ladder being more careful this time, Raiden followed closely behind me. It took about five or ten minutes to climb up the whole thing. When I got to the latch I had to take one of my hands off the step of the ladder. I tried to push at the latch, open it but it was closed tight and there was no way I could do it with one hand. I peeked down at Raiden. "I have to use both my hands."

"I won't let you fall." was all he said. And I believed him. I lifted my other hand up and fiddled with the latch. I felt his hands grip my waist, securing me in place. I pulled at the latch harder trying to ignore the warmth coming from his touch. I heard a satisfying crack and the hatch finally popped open. I pulled myself up and out, laying on cold hard ground, grass. Raiden came up after, faster than I thought he could.

I looked around realizing we were in a forest. A very dark misty gray forest. The trees were tall and lanky, the sky was a dark charcoal color and the distance was filled with mist. I forgot we were in the shadow realm and that everything looked creepy like that here. The smell of mist and smoke crowded my senses.

"We still have a little distance to go," Raiden said and held out a hand to me, intending to help me up. I intentionally ignored his hand and got up myself. I didn't want his help.

I heard him laugh but it was devoid of humor. "You're quite stubborn, you know that?"

I didn't reply, just shot him a glare. I knew. It was one of my weaker qualities, I just tended to ignore it. Raiden started walking away and I assumed I was meant to follow him.

I strode after him, anger rushing through my veins. Everything he did annoyed me. "Where exactly are we-? oh my god!"

Raiden disappeared from mid air. Poof. gone. He just evaporated. My jaw hung open staring at the spot he just vacated. It was in between two trees. Two trees that were exactly identical.

How the hell did he just disappear? I surveyed the trees. Did he do that disappear thingy?

No. it was something else.

And suddenly it hit me. I smiled to myself and stepped in between the trees. My stomach felt hollow for a split second and my body felt as light as air. When I looked up from the ground I saw green trees and grass, the smell of pine and wood. The sky was golden and pink as if the sun was just about to set.

"Took you long enough," a voice from my right said, humor in his tone. I ignored Raiden and admired the beauty of the human realm. I missed it. I missed being home. I breathed in the cold crisp air. It smelt wet and woodsy.

"You done?"

I tossed him a scowl and leaned against a tree. "So where's the nearest town?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

He leaned against a tree across from me. The cool wind blowing through his white hair. Goosebumps pricked my arms and I was all too aware that I was wearing just a dress. "I mean, I don't know. I've never gone through that portal before. I didn't even know what kind of portal it was."

"So you just hoped?"

"I don't hope," he replied gruffly.

"I can see that." I looked around realizing that we could be stuck in the middle of nowhere. We could be anywhere in the world. We could be in the mountains somewhere. Oh my god. We were completely lost. I had no clothes but this stupid dress and I was freezing. I was probably going to die of hyperthermia in a few days. I looked at Raiden one last time before turning north and striding away.

I heard him trail behind me, sighing in the process as if he had to watch over me, like he was babysitting me or something. "Where are you going?"

"Away from you. I think it's time we go our separate ways. I can find my way back to Crestwood from here." I would find the nearest town, ask someone for their phone and call Bash. It was that simple. They would have their private jet ready within minutes, I was sure of it.

"You won't last a day out here without me." I heard the amusement in his voice.

He didn't know anything. "Yes I can."

"Oh yeah?" His humorous chuckle echoed through the trees. "Do you know how to start a fire?"

I- did I? I thought back to every book I've ever read, every study, every information. But I never learned how to start a fire. Never. My heart pounded faster, it gave me anxiety that I didn't know something so basic.

"I presume that's a no. Do you know how to provide shelter? Hunt? Protect yourself? You're going to die without me."

I whipped around towards him, he stopped in his tracks looking down at me. He was starting to aggravate me again. "Then I guess I'll just die. You can leave now."

"No."

"No?"

"Why do you hate me?" he asked out of nowhere. His face held no emotion.

I had to laugh, well, because it was hilarious. "Beside you being a murderer? I don't know, maybe because you stabbed my best friend? twice! And kidnaped me!"

His brows drew in. "He was your best friend?"

"That's what you got from that?" I scoffed. He was unbelievable. I was glad to be rid of him, he got on my very last nerve. I let out an exasperated sigh and turned on my heels away from him.

"You wanna know what I think?"

I heard him follow behind me. Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

"Not really."

He better not say anything stupid, he was on a thin line. The rage was so close to consuming me, I could feel it clawing up my throat waiting to be released. It was telling me to throttle Raiden.

"I think you hate me because you know, deep down, that you're more like a Greer than you are like a Devara, and you hate it."

I pulled the knife from beneath my clothes and whirled on him unable to contain the fury in my veins. I put the tip of the dagger beneath his chin. I hated him. And I wished I had the courage to actually hurt him but I didn't. I wanted to, I swear on everything I wanted to, but I couldn't. There was this pull in me, this want.

I wanted to kill him.

He smiled down at me, I just proved his point. His dark eyes sparkled. "There's the knife. I've missed it."

"I am nothing like you!" I snarled up at his face, keeping the dagger firmly in place, I knew it didn't do anything.

He was not afraid of it, if anything he liked it. but it helped with my anger. And right now that was all i cared about because it was all i was feeling and i was somewhat glad for it. I was afraid to feel anything other than fear and anger, if i did i would think of her. And I couldn't. I couldn't think of her right now. Right now I needed to survive. I didn't want to let it in, the pain.

Raiden's grin was suggestive. "Who said anything about being like me?"

"Whatever. I'm not like a Greer. Not at all."

"Oh really? And this would be the third time you've held a dagger to me? That's not very Devara like."

I kept my chin high, swallowing down the blind rage inside me. "I blame this completely on you and your attitude."

"And where exactly did you get that dress Avaryn?" a corner of his mouth lifted. "You seem more bad than good to me."

I pressed the dagger more firmly to his chin, hard enough to draw a prick of blood. I looked at the trail of blood now running down his neck. I glared at it. "I'm not bad," I murmured.

I am not. I am good.

But now that I thought about it ... Was I? Was I like a Greer? Was I bad? Was I like him? Like my father? Was I everything I swore I would never be?

I couldn't be like him, I just couldn't. He was everything bad about my life. He was the cause of most of my problems even after his death. I hated him more than I hated anything and ... I was like him?

A single finger lifted my chin up, softly, so I was staring into Raiden's black eyes. They were so dark that I drowned. That little touch from him, the little skin to skin contact, made something powerful ignite in me. My skin pricked with goosebumps and little tingles spread through my arms. What was this feeling? This feeling of power? It felt like I'd taken my first breath of pure cold air. It felt like I could breathe for the first time.

Raiden's face remained emotionless, it was safe to say he didn't feel what I felt. His words were gentle and true. "Everybody has a little darkness in them." I remembered when he first told me that. The night I found out about the Devara's. The night that changed everything. "And besides, heroes do the same treacherous things as villains but claim it's for a good reason."

Why was he trying to make me feel better?

Why did he care how I felt?

I cleared my throat and he dropped his finger. I took the knife away from his chin. I'd made my decision, even though it was absolutely the worst one I've ever made in my life. While it was foolish of me to put so much trust into someone like him, it was the wiser decision to stay with him. "What now?"

"You'll let me stay with you?"

I almost smiled at his words. Let him. It made me feel like I held the power in this situation when we both knew that it was him that did. "Just until we find a town. After that we are going our separate ways."

"And what will you do after that?"

"I'll call Bash and they'll pick me up," I answered him, taking a step back.

A strange look passed over his eyes. "Bash? That's the blonde one with the pretty eyes right?"

Raiden could feign ignorance all he liked but I wasn't foolish. There was no way he didn't know their names, know what they looked like and every single detail about them. I didn't know Raiden that well but I knew well enough to know that he would know his enemy. I remembered the rage he felt that day his people attacked the jet. The pure anger and revenge in his heart. He hated the royal Devara, therefore he had to know them.

Especially Bash.

I tilted my head and tossed him a petty smile. "Don't pretend you don't know him."

I moved past him and started picking up sticks for a fire, I may not know how to make one but I knew what was provided. Wood. I'm sure Raiden knew how to do the rest.

"Why Bash though? Why not the blonde one?"

"Everson, and don't pretend you don't know his name either.'' What kind of wood did it take to build a fire? Was it any wood? Or specifically tree wood? Ugh! This is what I get for growing up in a city my whole life. I've never even gone camping, I would not survive out here.

"How do you know I'm pretending?" Raiden asked from his tree as he watched me struggle to pick up wood.

I turned to him and blinked. "Because I'm not ignorant, and neither are you so stop acting like it."

He ignored my statement and looked down at my hands. "What are you doing?"

"Building a fire?" I'm not sure why it came out like a question.

He shook his head and I could tell he was containing his laughter. "Put that down, I'll do it."

My first instinct was to argue with him but the truth was I had no idea what I was doing, so I dropped the random sticks from my hands and sunk down onto the forest floor. Raiden left and when he came back he had four logs of wood in his arms. How the hell did he manage to do that? Did he cut a whole tree down while he was gone?

A cool breeze blew through the wind ruffling my hair. Shivers crawled down my arms and my jaw trembled.

I was freezing.

Wasn't I supposed to be invincible to stuff like this? Considering i wasn't human?

I looked at Raiden's cloak, longingly, he had so many layers. I peered up at him to catch him staring at me.

He smirked and I could already guess what was coming. "If you want something darling, all you have to do is ask."

I very much doubt that. I narrowed my eyes at his cloak. He knew what I wanted. "You're supposed to offer like a gentleman."

"Well, too bad I'm not one."

I stared at him, expectantly.

He stared at me, grinning.

He was just as stubborn as i was, i assumed this could probably go on for hours. Finally I sighed in frustration. "Can I please have your cloak?"

He smiled at my words and continued building the fire. "No."

"No?"

He made a noise in agreement.

"You're an ass! You made me ask for no reason!" Ugh. He was infuriating. Every second I was with him I wanted to either punch him or myself for even having to listen to him. Why did I have to be here with him of all people? I would take Roz over him. Hell, I would take anyone over him.

"I didn't make you do anything."

I hated his words. I hated them because they were true. Most of the time they were and that really bothered me. Actually I couldn't recall a time where Raiden had ever been wrong.
My brows drew in. "It's not like you'll get cold without it, you're just saying no to make me mad."

I saw his dark eyes gaze at me across from the small fire he had somehow already started. "Who says I don't get cold? I get cold."

I figured it out about a half hour after I was out of the tomb. Raiden was always warm, He told me the story of Chaska and her fire. Nyan said that some powerful Greers had physical powers, such as fire and he never even mentioned his ability once in front of me. I could put two and two together. "You're fire abilities say otherwise."

He froze, for several seconds he was rooted in place but then he slowly, carefully, turned his eyes to mine. Something like astonishment shown in his, and disbelief. "How do you know that?"

I winced. "I might've, accidentally, stole it."

He didn't say anything. He was very quiet, very calm. It was starting to freak me out. He just stared at me, like really stared, as if he had never seen me before. His dark gaze was hard and ... angry? I wasn't sure. "How?" his voice was still, that scary calm that sent shivers down my spine.

"I'm not sure. I thought the person's abilities I steal had to be around me and I at least had to know their gift to use it, but ... I don't know. I just did it." and it was great. It was amazing actually. It made me feel ... alive.

"Well don't do it again," he said and blew on the fire, the flames expanding. He took off his cloak and threw at me, I caught it before it could hit my head.

"How kind of you," I murmured and put it around my freezing shoulders. It smelt like spice and cinnamon. Raiden stared at me strangely, an unfamiliar look passed over his face. I scowled. "What?"

"Nothing." He unstrapped his weapons and laid them, gracefully and gently, on a tree beside him. He treated his weapons as one might treat a fragile piece of glass or a kitten who had been frightened. I fought the urge to snicker, he would probably kill me for making fun of him.

"You're a strange boy ... How old are you?" I asked curiously. I had never thought about it before. Was he old like the royal devara?

He laid down on the grassy bed and closed his eyes, pretending he didn't hear me. "Why do you care?"

"I don't," I said, a little too quickly, I cleared my throat. "Just curious."

He didn't say anything for multiple minutes, I actually started to believe he went to sleep. I sighed and laid down on the hard ground, I put my hands under my head and turned on my side. The heat from the fire immediately warmed me, plus Raiden's cloak. I wasn't necessarily comfortable, but it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be.

"Nineteen."

My eyes opened, I turned to him, his eyes were closed and I contemplated if I imagined those words. "Oh." I expected him to be at least twenty two, or twenty three. But nineteen? He was still a teenager, barely a kid. And he was .. a killer. A murderer. Something close to sympathy ran through me. What age did he first kill? When did he become this deadly monster? Had he always been heartless?

"Go to sleep," I heard him mumble.

And I listened, closing my eyes and wondering how he knew I wasn't asleep already.

***

This is the longest chapter ever holy shit I'm sorry! Anyways I hope you enjoy ☺️

The Devaras are coming back soon I promise 😩

Anyways i hope you all have a great day. I'm truly thankful for all of you and everybody reading. I've literally been writing this book for like a year and I thought nobody would like it! It make me want to cry every time y'all say u love it!