Agnis lurches for the paperknife but I manage to swipe it across the palm of her hand, causing her to let out an ear-bleeding screech. In her moment of weakness, I bound towards the balcony doors locking them behind me.

My breathing is rapid as I retreat, her cold eyes meeting mine as she surges towards the doors. I bang on the door of my chambers, begging for someone to let me out.

Looking behind me, I see Agnis murmuring words with her palms facing towards the handles and I know my time of safety is running thin. Agnis will be through those doors in a matter of seconds.

"Please open the door! I need help!" my hands are red-raw from hitting them so ferociously against the wood. The doors behind me burst open and I screw my eyes shut as though it will stop time.

"No one's going to help you now princess," her voice only becomes louder, alerting me that she is moving closer, that I'll cease to exist in a matter of seconds.

Please Darian I need your help, I try to open my mind and plead for him to listen. Why in the world would he leave in the first place when he knows full well that there are plenty of people out there who are praying on my demise. It's like he wants me to get killed.

"Your pretty little boyfriend won't save you now... it's too late," I can hear the grin on her face laced in between her words.

All of a sudden it feels as though a hand is clamped around my throat. Although, I bring my hand to my neck to find that it is void of any presence. My vision begins to blur as the ability to breathe is quickly being ripped from me.

I turn to face the wicked witch before I am thrown into the wall by an invisible force. My back seizes in pain... my whole body crying in agony.

By the next blink, I have thrown the paperknife, with as much might as I can, to find it planted firmly in the base of her neck. Her magic's hold on me loosens and I use the opening to throw myself at the door.

My body is aglow as I manage, by some miracle, to burst through the door and into the corridor. However, as I look back at it I see that it looks the exact same - not a single detail different.

I had just walked through a door. I am in a complete trance as I stare in awe at what I have just done. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

A strong hand covers my mouth and an arm wraps around my waist. I thrash in their hold, trying desperately to unravel myself. My body glows immediately as though it's some sort of defence mechanism. But, then that same scent fills my senses and confusion rushes through me.

"It's okay, darling... you're okay," Darian whispers in my ear and I panic. He was touching me whilst I was... "Your powers do not affect me, I am yet to find out why," he explains.

Darian quickly pulls back a tapestry, revealing a hidden space - but not big enough for us both to fit comfortably. He takes hold of my wrist and tugs me gently into the space.

We stand opposite each other, our chests touching, our breath mingling. The ceiling is so low that Darian is hunched over and I'm just about standing normally. I make a point to look anywhere but at Darian, however, I find myself wincing when I move my head to the side.

"What happened?" his voice is softer than I have ever known it to be before as his fingers gently brush against my neck. But, I take his hand in mine and move it away from me.

"Where were you?" I don't try to hide the hurt in my voice. "You left me alone in that room and you didn't think twice about it," my voice breaks and I look away, ignoring the pang of pain that shoots down my spine.

I notice him open his mouth as if to say something but he closes it again. Not even going to try to give me a reason... how predictable.

"I saw Easton," I begin, turning back to face him, finally bringing up the subject. "Saw the several bruises that stained his body, that your guards did that I am sure you ordered them to inflict," my voice is filled with nothing but disgust.

"I had nothing to do with that," the lie rolls off of his tongue so easily that I ponder on how many times he has lied to me but I've been too much of a fool to think it was anything but the truth.

"You liar," I seethe.

"What reason would I have to partake in such gruelling behaviour? You think I have spare time to spend on some mortal piece of rubbish, to go beat it senseless. Sorry Nova, but you really are mistaken," his red eyes bore into mine and I can only think of how similar they are to how I would imagine the depths of hell to be.

"There's more reasoning as to why you would do it rather than why you wouldn't," I whisper-shout.

I must remember my surroundings, that we are still in the midst of an invasion - that witches are roaming these hallways, witches who have more power than we could ever begin to imagine.

Our close proximity doesn't bode well with how infuriated I am with Darian. The fact that I can feel his breath fanning against my neck, from how he is bending down from the low ceiling, only infuriates me more.

"The mortal is jealous and quite frankly enraged over the fact that I have you up here and he's down there with nothing. He's merely trying to turn you against me for his own benefit, I wouldn't fall into his trap, darling," my anger towards him boils and I have to calm myself down for both of our sakes.

"You manipulate-" I am cut off by Darian's hand pressed over my mouth yet again. My eyebrows knit together and I send him a glare. If he wanted me to stop talking the least he could do is ask.

"Come out little child... wherever you are," Agnis' voice echoes from somewhere down the hallway. Oh.

Why don't you use your sneaky little shadows to kill the woman, I try to say to him and he rolls his eyes before shaking his head as though I am clueless.

Don't you think I would have done that already if I could, I can hear him scoff and it's my turn to roll my eyes.

I thought you were supposed to be all-powerful and have the whole no one can even step foot near you without being killed type of thing going on, I mock him knowing he can't do anything at this moment in time.

"I can smell the stench of your royal blood," Agnis snarls, her voice much closer now and I debate just going out there and attempting to kill her myself.

Brace yourself, Darian speaks and my panic only increases.

What for? Heavens save me for what is going to come next.

I've never done this before so don't hate me if it goes wrong, my heart pounds in my chest. Done what. What is he doing? His arms wrap around my waist and I try to push against him.

I already hate you, darkness swirls around me and despite my instincts, I cling to Darian for dear life. I bury my face in his chest and screw my eyes shut as the wind swirls around us in large gusts.

Then everything stops. Only the warm night air can be felt and utter silence. I let out a sigh of relief when I can still feel Darian's arms around me but still refuse to open my eyes.

Until the noise of some kind of animal tears my eyes open. I turn my head to the side to see a huge, black bird of some sort. The sight and mere size of it make me stagger backwards out of Darian's arms.

Then I notice the view around me - we are at the very top of the palace. "Why... why are we here?" I dare ask and Darian looks to the floor.

"The only way to preserve your life is for you to be gone whilst we take down the threat, it's not ideal but I have an island that not one soul knows about... you will be safe there. This is Manora, she is a night phoenix and she will be taking you there," I am at a loss for words.

"No... I can't leave and I won't let you ship me away," I can't help the tears that prick my eyes and I turn away, tugging at the roots of my hair.

"It's the only way to keep you safe," Darian insists and I turn to face him.

"I refuse to let you take me further away from my home, further away from my court, and my family. If you do this, I will hate you forever and I will never... never forgive you," my eyes burn with tears as I point an accusing finger his way.

I swallow the ball of emotion rising in my throat as he meets my eyes again.

"This is for the best... I'll be meeting you there later tonight," he says and I put my hand over my mouth to stifle a sob.

"I hate you," I manage to say and place my other hand over my stomach. It feels as though this is physically paining me and for him to act like this is not tearing me apart only makes it hurt more.

"I'd rather you hate me and be alive than you love me and be dead," I search frantically for somewhere to escape. I will not be setting foot outside of Merthia, there is not a chance in hell.

I run to the edge of the roof, contemplating for a moment if I should jump to the balcony below and hope that I don't break anything. There is no way that I am leaving and this seems the only way out.

I mean it's only a metre or two... I think. I don't dare look back as I swing my leg over the railing, the gown making it harder than it should.

As soon as I am on the other side of the railing, Darian begins running towards me. "What the hell are you doing?" he shouts and this is the only chance I will get.

I let go of the railing. But... nothing.

I open my eyes and find that I am back on the roof. "Get off of me," I spit, Darian's hand is awfully tight around my wrist. I use all of my strength in trying to pull myself in the opposite direction.

"You try anything like that again and you will regret it," he says although his voice is the epitome of calm. I thrash in his hold and I can't hold back the sobs anymore.

"Please," I cry as I try to plead with him. Looking into those cold eyes of him, through my tear-blurred vision, I see no emotion.

His hands are tight on my hips as he lifts me onto Manora and I finally give up. "Believe that I am only trying to protect you, Nova," he says with the same gentleness I have only heard a few times since we have known each other.

I stare at the moon and act as though he does not exist. Oh, how I wish he didn't. He has ruined everything for me.

"Nova, please," he whispers but I turn my face the other way. I wish he would just leave, leave like he always does. Leave and never look back. I don't need him and most of all I certainly do not want him.

I want my old life back. The life where I had people that didn't cause me so much pain.

"Take care of her Manora," Darian touches his hand to the head of the night phoenix before he steps back and she gets ready to take flight. I feel his hand brush against mine but I move away as though his touch had burned me.

I close my eyes as the phoenix takes flight and the wind brushes away the remnants of the tears on my cheeks. I hug the neck of Manora, cling to her like my life depends on it and hope that this will all end very soon.