"God, I'm such an idiot!"

We may be safe for now but I've really dug us into a grave with this one.

If this hasn't shown me how determined Xalale is to retrieve this stone I don't know what will. I will grant him one thing, he is diligent- but that's what has me worried.

I know he knows we're backed into a corner with nowhere to turn. We can't stay in this temple forever and he'll wait as long as he needs to in order to get this stone.

"Just when I thought my judgment couldn't get any shitter."

Thankfully, Elle and the others look at it in a more positive light, for now. I don't know when they'll figure out that we're mice trapped in a hole.

"This will give us time to finish searching for the answer," Elle says.

"True," Olivos stutters. "But what about the ki-"

"He won't try anything," I say, pausing in my pacing to answer.

Sephora sits down at the table still overwhelmed with books and starts back up with fervent determination. Olivos follows suit and soon the duo are back searching for answers. But just as that problem is being addressed another, more annoying one, pops up.

"I wanna see Axel!"

Coxen blocks the antsy boy from escaping the library. Clifford's a persistent thing but I stop him with a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Not now, Clifford, okay? Xalale's still sorting through his feelings."

He looks up at me with sad puppy dog eyes.

"When will I be able to talk to him again?"

"Soon, I promise."

Making unkeepable promises, how wonderful.

He settles down, though, curling up on a chaise and thumbing through a book with ink sketched illustrations. Coxen gives me an encouraging look, but it does little to help soothe my nerves.

After an hour or so (best guessestimations here) passes, I start to sense the familiar frustration coming from our two researchers. I'm sure it doesn't help that the person we're trying to keep the stone from is right outside. I think, unfortunately, reality is beginning to sink in about the dire straits we're in. I already have Xalale and his group outside to worry about, I don't need Sephora and them turning on me, so I speak up with a suggestion.

"Hey, why don't I ask that girl for help? The one who helped us earlier? She seems knowledgeable."

Sephora closes another book, letting out a tired sigh before looking over at me with a worn expression in her eyes.

"Perhaps that would be useful."

Olivos doesn't even respond, he's so focused on his task, though I can tell all this is wearing him down as well.

Elle gives me a nod, granting me her approval. Coxen is too busy trying to entertain Clifford to pick up on what I'm suggesting so I leave the room in search of the cheeky, yet brazen girl.

The first place I check is her study where we were before and where I naturally assumed she'd be. But peering in, my spirit deflates upon noticing it vacant. Though the temple doesn't seem too big, I'm not familiar with it so it might as well be a maze. I begin combing through the halls and checking various doors. Some doors are locked while others come up negative.

"Of course the one time I need her I can't find her."

Maybe if I sent a cry for help mentally she would be able to read my mind and find me. I doubt it, though. Maybe she's only listening for juicy thoughts.

I start looking down the hall I came from, the main one, where I looked in some of the rooms before. The temple is mostly empty except for a few stragglers drifting by and disappearing into different rooms.

One of the final rooms I check turns up with nothing, leaving me frustrated and somewhat flustered. I can't- won't- go back to the library without help. I just feel a bit stupid for not getting her name yesterday or today- grant it she never asked for mine either but she's psychic so maybe she already knows.

Just as I stop to turn around to go check her study again, I hear my name being called. I think a part of me already knows who it is that called me which explains why I don't bother facing him. Instead, I begin to briskly walk the opposite direction with my head down.

Unfortunately, Xalale's as persistent as it gets and catches up to me in no time, seizing my arm which I immediately knock off in defense. It does stop me in my tracks, though.

"What are you do-"

"Let me talk," He hisses, cutting my choice words off.

I glare at him, taking a step back.

"You're not even supposed to be in here."

"My intentions are peaceful," He counters.

I rub my arm, a bit dramatically since he didn't really grip me that hard. "You seem to be looking for a fight."

"I want to talk. Will you allow me the basic privilege to talk to you."

I glance back in the direction of where the library and study are then look at the ground in contemplation, letting my two inner voices duke it out.

"No!"

I already know which voice that is- the sensible one.

"Just hear him out. You don't have to care, you don't have to agree, just hear him out."

And I know what voice that is- the unrealistic one, of course.

Now to see what voice I listen to.

Glancing up to meet his piercing eyes, I cross my arms and let out a discontent sigh.

"You have five minutes to say whatever it is you want to say. After that, I'm leaving."

He doesn't respond to that. Instead, he mutters for me to follow him and we head into the privacy of the main worship area where the thousand and one candles all flicker in synchronization with the androgynous statute staring on. We don't bother sitting since I intend for this to be a quick, pointless meeting.

The moment we're alone, only three feet from each other, I feel an invisible coil tightening around my chest making it hard to breathe and even harder to meet his eyes. Still, I suppress this unexplainable reaction and give him an unyielding, leveled glare.

"What point are you trying to prove, Mallory?" He starts, his tone not favoring me but not utterly hostile towards me. Nothing in his posture reads defensive like mine does. "Both of us are tired of running, of playing games."

"Don't speak on my behalf," My voice carries a lethal amount of venom to it.

He studies me a moment before responding dully. "I won't."

Silence swarms us.

It's getting hard to keep up this act, to keep my eyes from falling to the wayside first- once he falters I'll do so.

Even though this was supposed to be his time to "talk to me", I can't hold back the question that's been burning me alive since I first felt the cold metal plunge into my back.

"What are you doing?" I unfold my arms and let genuine confusion creep into my voice and face. "What are you doing?"

That takes him back a little, I can tell. The way his eyes subtlety flicker like the candlelight, to a dim perceptive of shame (I want to believe it was shame, though it registers more like secretism) then back again to indifference.

He takes his time answering me.

"What does it look like?"

Damn, throwing my words back in my face.

"Why on earth would I give you this stone?"

"I never asked you for it."

"Then why are you here?"

"To talk to you."

"About what?"

He just stares at me with those emotionless, piercing blue eyes that I've grown to hate. A minute passes before he tries to approach me but I take a step back, shooting him a warning look. He takes it and keeps his distance, though continuing to cut through me with his gaze.

Being in decent lighting without chaos occurring around us, I notice a vague but present darkness under his eyes- his eyes themselves aren't as sharp as I remember them being. In this light, he doesn't seem as steady in himself as before; he's not as invincible as he likes to present himself. As I take in the thin discolored, jagged line that travels from his temple across his right eye to his nose, I remember the laceration I gave him on his palm the last time we confronted each other. It made me wonder what it looked like or if he took care of it. But I fight to keep my eyes from leaving his.

"She expects me to return with it," He finally begins again.

I know he's taking about Aelita.

"So she sent him out here to do her dirty work?"

He isn't innocent by any means, but I could sense something deeper behind that which I choose for the moment to ignore.

"Well, won't she be disappointed," I reply coolly.

He hardens. "It's inevitable, Mallory, you can't keep up a chase you can't endure."

I'm finished with this discussion and I intend to close it- his five minutes are up.

"You run back to your master and tell her that if she wants this stone so badly she needs to stop sending her dog to go fetch it for her."

There goes that 'ping' of guilt and remorse. The very second the words leave my mouth I want to suck them all back in and pretend I never spoke them. I don't know what possessed me to become so vicious with my words, but I'm seeing the effects play out before me.

At first, I'm expecting him to explode with anger or some retaliation. A little part of me expects hurt to roll across his eyes for a split second like before. But neither of those things happens. Instead, he turns away from me, covering his eyes as though shielding them from the light. For the briefest second, I'm concerned and even take a small inch toward him in that split second.

For several tense seconds, we remain that way until he drops his hand, failing to face me again. I'm trying to pick up on any visible signs of lurking rage but I can sense none- I'm still on guard, regardless.

He speaks then. His voice is tight, tighter than steel coils pulled to their max, but still indecipherable with which true emotion he has.

"I am not a dog."

I make no comment, no apology, though one is lodged in the back of my throat.

"You can't hide in this temple forever, Mallory. These games are going to end."

With that, he begins to head swiftly to the door, leaving a cold breeze in his wake- the flames flickering. My voice, though, stops him.

"Let the others leave."

He never looks back at me yet continues to stand there.

"Please," It's more begging than I want to come across, but I want some form of response from him.

After a moment, he softly replies, "Fine."

Then, as swiftly as he came, he leaves, letting the door shut behind him.

Though the room has a thousand candles I can't feel the warmth of a single one. My heart thunders away in my chest, each rivet sending a slamming surge of pain through me.

At this second, I'm angry, scared, depressed, frustrated, regretful, bewildered, and empty and I can't begin to explain why I feel all those things. If I look back, say the past week or so, I can't really explain any of my emotions, they come and go, some stay longer than others. I miss those simple days when I could say I felt happy because of something or I felt sad because of this or I was angry because of that, I really treasure those days now.

I'm probably worrying the others with my prolong absence so I begin to leave the worship room, but just as I'm doing so I get another interruption.

"You have been seeking me?"

Startled, I let my mind catch up before hesitantly responding.

"Uh, yeah..." I fully collect myself. "I have. I- we need your help."

The girl wears that same slightly irritating, odd expression that seems to be her resting face of a slighted grin.

"May I ask with what?"

"Yeah, but just follow me."

I take her back to the library where it seems little process has been made except a higher stack of books and scrolls. The girl immediately takes notice and stands by the side of the table peering over the materials already laid out.

"You have been quite busy," She comments, intrigued.

"Busy yet not productive," Sephora sighs, sitting back.

"Ah, I hope to be of assistance. What is it you are seeking?"

Sephora and Olivos exchange a wary look before each of them giving me a look. I decide to take the reins on this one since it is on me for trying to find a new way. I begin to take out the stone from the pouch.

"Answers on this," I hold up the small stone which she studies with keen interest. "It's part of an orb that's not put together yet-"

Without asking, she takes the stone into her own hands, inspecting it close up and personal, cutting me off in the process.

"The orb of the Orders? I hardly thought it existed, but they say the same about the other side of Edalirwen..." She glances up at each of us, her gaze settling on me then back to the stone. "I have quite the extensive knowledge on what you seek."

That peaks all of our hopes.

"Really?"

"I have a book on it. It will tell you everything you wish to know about this orb of the Orders."

After handing back the piece, she begins to head to the door informing us that she'll be right back with the book she was talking about.

"All this trouble and we could have just asked," Sephora says with amusement.

After a minute or so, she returns with a thick volume with a scarlet cover that resembled snakeskin and was embroidered with a goldenrod colored metal. It had a lock like a secret diary. She presents the book to me.

"Here it is," She seems so proud of it.

It is heavy so there must be some serious info on this orb that will definitely be useful.

"Thank you," I say gratefully. "But, um, where's the key?"

With that, she flourishes a small insignificant looking key that I also accept.

"Please keep it. It has better use with you than it does me."

"Thank you," Sephora says, genuinely touched.

The girl lets a smile spread across her freckled face for an instant before replacing it with her faint grin.

"You are all so very welcomed."

As she excuses herself, I set the book down hastily with the others surrounding me. We'll all eager to get the answers we need to end this thing once and for all. I take some comfort knowing Xalale and Aelita are going to lose- they deserve to be taken down a few pegs.

Inserting the key, I turn it in the lock only to hear a snapping sound and feel a disconnection.

At first, my mind is slow to catch onto what just happened, but it doesn't take me long to figure it out as I hold up the broken end piece.

"You have got to be shiting me."

I could cry right now, like literally bawl in frustration at the amount of ill fortune in my life. But I don't. Instead, I quickly whirl around, ignoring the others' disbelieving faces, and calling out to the girl who is almost out the door.

"It broke."

Pausing, she turns around to look back at us, not seeming to grasp what I said. I hold it up for her to see.

"The key broke." The other half is still stuck in the lock.

She steps back in (probably thinking me the biggest klutz alive right now) and tilts her head, but not in a thoughtful manner, rather with a helpless, rueful expression on her face.

"And the Fates created man."

I give her a bewildered look. "What does that mean?"

"It means I cannot help the unfortunate situation that has transpired. I only owned one key. Only one key fits in the lock."

She just continues to give me a sorry look as I stare at her with my mouth hung open like an idiot. The others let out a collective sigh of defeat.

Picking up the book, I frantically look over it, trying to think of some other way.

"We can glue it or something, right?" Does glue even exist here? "There has to be another way!"

"There is always the key maker," She suggests it so casually like she might not have told me if it hadn't crossed her mind.

"Key maker?"

"Oh, yes, a very cantankerous woman but very skilled at her craft. The book will not accept any ordinary key, it needs a specially designed one which the key maker can craft for you. She lives east of here in the secluded province of Frethind."

Yet another errand to do just to discover how to disconnect Xalale's connection with this stone.

"Thank you," Sephora says again but with more of a burden.

The girl nods in return then exits, leaving us to soak in what just happened and what needs to occur.

"Frethind," Coxen thinks out loud. "It's not too far away. Maybe an hours walk away."

"That isn't horrid," Elle says, still trying to be the optimistic one.

"More walking?" Clifford moans.

"Yes, but not a lot so don't whine," I reply rubbing my temples.

Olivos speaks up uneasily. "How are we to get there? The king and his men are still outside, they are sure to have us surrounded."

Yet another gray hair to my head of worries. It would definitely be a struggle for me to escape, especially after my slip of words. But it shouldn't be for them.

"You guys can leave," I tell them.

They give me strange looks, questioning how that would be possible but I cut them off.

"You don't have the stone, I do. As long as you're not a threat he'll let you pass." Hopefully.

They're all a bit unsure about this for different reasons.

"Are you certain it isn't a trap?" Coxen says.

"What about you?" Elle cries.

I start to pace, my mind at work (I swear, I've used my mind more intensely in the last two weeks than I have in my whole school life).

"I don't have to leave." I begin, an idea taking hold. "You guys can go find this key lady or whatever, get her to make a new key, come back here, and then you can unlock it."

"What happens after we unlock it?" Sephora questions. "You still need to get out."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Elle expresses her concerns. "What about food and water? How will you eat while we're gone?"

"Someone can stay with me and go out and get something to bring back."

"Hey, this plan is starting to sound pretty good." Wonder which part of my brain came up with such brilliancy.

The others are starting to see the benefits of this plan as well, thankfully. I mean, it's foolproof, right? Besides, Xalale- however determined he is- can't stick around forever, he'll give up eventually.

"So," I begin. "Sounds like a plan?"

They exchange looks then nod.

"I want to stay with you," Elle says immediately.

I frown slightly.

Honestly, I wanted Clifford to stay with me so I could keep him out of trouble, but I guess I can have both of them with me- Elle for the food and Clifford to keep out of trouble. But, of course, Clifford wants to mess up that plan.

"Can I go with the others?" He asks me with earnest.

"You were crying a minute ago about the walking and now you want to go?"

"It's better than being stuck here."

I'm not budging on this one, not this time.

"No, Clifford, you're staying here where I can keep an eye on you."

"No!" He whines. "Coxen can watch me. You'll watch me, right-"

"Clifford, the answer is no, end of discussion."

He pouts, wandering off to simmer in his discontent.

Coxen glances up at the sky dome.

"We might be able to arrive in Frethind before nightfall. We should return by tomorrow morning."

"Sounds like a plan," I say, daring myself to hope again.

It doesn't take them long to organize themselves before we're walking to the front doors. Elle and I linger, standing back to watch them depart. I give the book over to Sephora to keep care of. I'm holding my breath a little, hoping Xalale stays true to his word of letting them pass peacefully.

"We will see you on the morrow," Olivos says to us, turning to leave.

From what I can see, Xalale and his men are still out there waiting, momentarily raising their weapons when the doors open but lowering them once seeing it's not their target. As the doors begin to close, I lock eyes with Xalale who watches me- I watch him back.

Just as the doors are about to close entirely, I feel a quick breeze pass me and shove through the doors like it's a prison break. I'm discombobulated for a second, as is Elle, before I realize it was Clifford who ran past us.

Though I go to chase him, angry that he purposefully disobeyed me, Elle stops me before I can reach the doors, reminding me that I'm in no position to chase after him.

"Don't worry. He'll be safe with the others, Coxen will make sure of it."

I know that's true, but he's in for a rude awakening the second they return. For the time being, we retreat back into the temple's core to do the only thing we can: sit and wait.