Happiness is just momentary?
It hurts cuz you're young

기쁨도 잠시 어머
아프니까 웬 청춘이래

-

The fact that Lukas and Sebastian were now alliances gave peace to Crystal. She sat on her bed allowing her restless thoughts to consume her. So many thoughts just hammered onto her head. Thoughts and questions. They were good and bad.

She was thankful and felt relieved. She knew that vampires were powerful and having them on their side seemed to give Lukas a small boost of hopes in regaining his kingdom.

However, Sebastian made her nervous. No, she was not attracted to him at all. She wouldn't lie for Sebastian was very attractive, but the person who made her heart flutter was Apollo. It was the fact that Sebastian seemed to cold and dark.

What she meant was while Eugene was cold and quiet and Damon was dark and enjoyed to kill, Sebastian made her fearful. Something about him was not right. While Damon and Sebastian were similiar in many ways, she did agree that Damon was much darker than him, but Sebastian seemed to be vegeancful. He enjoyed revenge and she soon realized that Sebastian did not forgive. He had no forgiveness in his heart and had only room for revenge.

The girl bit her lip as her thoughts wandered to Lukas. She was worried for him. She was afraid that Lukas would turn out like Jonathon. She could see it in his eyes, that he was slowly beginning to crave for power and wealth. She didn't want to imagine Lukas bloodthirsty for power, yet before her eyes she could see that is would happen.

She closed her eyes, sighing.

War was scary. Never would she have imagined it would ever happen during her time of life. It was dreadful to realize what war did to people

War changed people emotionally. Whether it be good or bad.

She also worried for Ryker. He changed too. In her opinion worst than Lukas. His happy spirit was gone. It wasn't the fact that he wasn't joyful, I mean who would be happy during war? I was the fact that defeat glinted in his eyes. Something she wasn't used of seeing.

She remembered as a young girl, playing with her brothers that Ryker was the most positive of all. She would never forget the glint in younger brother's eyes that would always glimmer in hope.

She wished that one more time she could repeat those memories. The times where she didn't feel any pain or sadness. Those times, she felt like those moments would last forever. Boy was she wrong. Time passed by quicker than she imagined.

Her fingers gripped on the blankets as she sat on her bed.

Sebastian and Lukas were somewhere most likely discussing about soldies and alliances.

Ryker had left and went straight to his room. While Eugene and Damon went to training grounds to practice on fighting. As for Apollo, Crystal did not know where he had went.

Her cheeks flushed, Why was she even worrying about him?

Because you like him, the voice in her head mocked her.

Thats not true!

We both know you are lying.

She groaned throwing her head back in frusturation. She knew that Apollo didn't like her and only teased her to annoy her. She was just a sister to him. After all Apollo had been friends with her Lukas for a long time and Apollo only sought out to protect her.

She scolded herself, people were dying but yet here she was worrying about her sad and pityful love life.

The door in her room suddenly swung open. Crystal jumped up in suprise as she heard a pained grunt. She watched in pure shock as the door slammed shut and Apollo came staggering in the room.

He was sweating, beads of glistened sweat falling to the floor. His handsome face was filled with pain and he was breathing heavily. His brown eyes that were usually gleaming with mischief was gleaming with pain. He shuddered as he fell to the floor groaning.

Crystal ran towards him, gasping as she saw blood pouring out of his arm. There was a big ugly gnash on his left arm. Fresh blood was stained on his clothes and she knew that it wasn't just his blood.

"Apollo?" she whispered frightfully, as he laid on the floor breathing slowly.

His eyes were closed and he didn't answer. He just laid there his face filling with agony.

She sprung to action not knowing what to do. She grabbed the nearset cloth which was her dress. She didn't hesitate as she tore the once beauitful dress which was now splattered with blood.

Tearing off a long piece of cloth, she pressed it agaisnt the fresh wound. She winced as she watched the bloody soak quicly onto the cloth.

She needed water. Jumping up she ran towards the bathroom. She grabbed cloths that were folded neatly and grabbed a pitcher of water that Addilyn had brought in earlier.

Apollo's eyes were clenched shut his face pale.

Crystal began to panick, she honestly had no idea what she was doing. She poured the water on his arm, hoping to clean the dry blood on his arm and in attempt to see the wound better.

She sucked in a breath as the water cleared away the blood revealing a nasty wound. It was an ugly cut on the arm, that was deep and fresh blood was beginning to come out again. She hurriedly pressed the clothes around his arm. Then she began to wrap the long cloths around his arm, hoping to stop the bleeding.

Apollo grunted as the cloth pressed agaisnt his arm, sweat glisntening from his forehead. His face hardened trying to overcome the pain.

"Stitch it up." Apollo hissed in pain.

"What?" Crystal exclaimed as she attempted to pick Apollo up so she could put him on the bed.

Using her strength she swung his arm over her shoulder.

Apollo understanding what she was doing grunted as he attempted to use the strength he had to stand up. With the help of Crystal he limped over the bed.

He fell on the bed, breathing heavily. His arm burned with pain.

Crystal painfully realized that the wound on his arm, wasn't the only wound he had. He had big and small cuts all himself. There was a cut on his cheek and a few bloody cuts on his neck and shoulder. His chest too had a few cuts and small gnashes. One thing was for sure was that Apollo was a bloody mess.

"Stitch it up." Apollo whispered again, this time more of a plea than order.

Crystal shook her head, "I've never stitched anything up. I was a horrible sewer, why don't I call Lukas or somebody?" she crid hysterically.

Apollo shook his head slowly, "Stitch it up. Please." he murmured softly.

Crystal was trembling. She nodded, opening cabinets and drawers in attempt to find a needle and string. Opening a drawer she sighed in relief for there was a basket with needles and strings for sewing. She winced as she grabbed the biggest needle and the strongest looking string.

She grimaced as she stared at the sharp long needle.

She looked at Apollo hesitant. She didn't want to give him more pain, for she could already see that he was already in too much pain.

She opened her mouth to argue, but Apollo beat her to it, "Just do it." he growled.

The girl nodded shakily as she slowly began to unravel the cloth around his arm. The blood seemed to stop flowing for now. She poured some water over a cloth dabbing the warm wound with it.

Apollo snarled as Crystal pressed the cloth agaisnt it.

"Sorry." she winced as Apollo let out another grunt.

After it seemed cleaned enough, Crystal tied the string onto the needle.

She took a deep breath, "You ready?" she asked softly.

"On the count of three." Apollo hissed, stiffening, "One, two-" He didn't get to finish for Crystal plunged the needle into his skin.

"I said on the count of three!" Apollo said scowling in annoyance and shock, for it had taken him by shock.

"Sorry, sorry." Cyrtal apologized, her hands shaking, "I was just nervous." She whispered.

Apollo snorted, "Well it hurt." he muttered gritting his teeth in pain.

Crystal sighed agitated by his childish complaint, plunging the needle again in his skin, making Apollo grunt. She winced as she stared at her sloppy work. Her stitches were uneven and ugly.

Her shoulders slumped as she finsihed breaking the string. She gently grabbed his arm, wrapping a fresh piece of cloth on his arm. She wiped the bloody needle on a cloth setting it softly on the table.

Apollo lay on the bed, his eyes closed. His arm wrapped up neatly against his chest.

She sighed, as she dipped a piece of cloth into the water, cleaning his bloody and scratched up face.

She begin to gently wipe off the specks of dry blood and sticky dirt off his face.

"What happened?" she whispered, her heart beginning to stop racing. She scanned him wincing at his state.

"Got into a fight with a bunch of vampires." He grunted, "They were robbers. They live on the outskirts on the castle."

"I was worried." Crystal murmured gently, dabbing his cheek.

A side of his lip curved up, "If I'll get this much attention from you, I would do it again- ow!" he winced at Crystal soft punch on his wounded arm.

Her eyes widened, "Sorry! I didn't mean to. I forgot- I mean I forgot that was your hurt arm." she shook her head, "What happened after that?"

"Well they attacked me hoping to get something nice. There was about ten vampires and just one of me. Killed two barely. I sliced up one of them on the leg, but as you can see they did a lot of damage on me." he said wincing as he moved trying to get comfortable, "Thankful there were some guards patrolling nearby and they killed the rest of the vampires except the one I wounded."

"Vampires are scary." Crystal stated as she began to clean his neck. His face was now clean, no more blood or sweat on it.

"They are." Apollo agreed, "They are so much stronger than men and they are extremely fast and agile."

"You still killed two." Crystal said in awe. She could see muscles protruding from his chest going up and down as Apollo breathed heavily. She slightly lowered the collar of his clothes to wipe off the blood.

"Barely." he said, but there was a hint of pride in it, "If Damon was there all the vampires would have been goners."

"Damon," she murmured quietly, a picture of him popping into my mind. He was the happiest and most energetic of the group, but he also seemed to be the darkest one amongst us.

"He's not evil you know." Apollo said raising a brow, reading my mind.

She flushed, "That's not what I meant. It just something about him makes me uneasy."

Apollo gave her a sad smile, "I know what you mean. He's the most happiest amongst us, but he enjoys the darkness. He enjoys killing and he enjoys making people suffer, but that's only towards those who are bad and those he doesn't like. I'm not saying that killing is good, but Damon, though he may seem cruel and cold he does fight against evil, in his own way. Unlike most demons he's not hungry for power and he's not greedy. He hated living with his clan who is the most powerful amongst the clans, but are the greediest. Why else is he with us? He left his family and sought a different path."

Crystal nodded letting the new information sink in. Apollo was right. Yes, she had seen dangerous and an evil glint in his eye, but never once had he made her frightened. The only time she was actually fearful of Damon was before she was around him. Now that she had seen him and watched him Damon was not as cruel and evil as he seemed.

Apollo shrugged, "I know it may sound weird, but if you get to know him he's not that dark as he seems. Sometimes, people lets darkness overtake them because it seems as if they are strong and not weak."

Crystal realized that she had stopped wiping the blood and was just staring into the air. Shaking her head to wake herself up she stood straighter to keep herself from getting lost into her thoughts.

Apollo seemed to be studying Crystal. She could feel his gaze. Choosing to ignore it she focused on wiping the blood.

His piercing brown eyes were looking at her, "Thank you." he said sincerely, giving Crystal a small smile.

"Of course." she replied smiling back, biting her lips to keep herself from falling over. Her legs felt weak as he smiled at her, "Does my brother know?"

His smile fell, his eyes widening. He swore softly to himself, "I almost forgot." he muttered, "He's going to kill me." He said as he swung his legs over the bed.

He grunted as he applied pressure to his foot.

"What's wrong?" Crystal asked worriedly, grabbing his good arm to steady him.

"I must've sprained my ankle when I fell." he muttered, "I'll have to ask Damon to lend me some of his strength later."

"Do you want me to call him?" Crystal asked starting to leave, before Apollo pulled her back.

Apollo hesitated, "No."

Crystal bit her lip, "Are you sure?" she asked softly.

Apollo nodded, "I mean I'm not even badly hurt. Its been worse."

Crystal frowned, "Well we have to do something, I'm not just going to let you lay there in pain."

"Talk with me."

She blinked startled by his request. She nodded slowly, a small smile quirking up on her lips, "Ok," she trailed off unsure of what to say as she walked over to the edge of the bed sitting down, facing Apollo.

He looked at her wistfully, his eyes always softening when he looked at her. She sat there awkwardly and he watched amusingly as she bit her lip, a thing he had noticed she did when she was nervous.

"What's your favorite color?" she asked tilting her head, waiting for his answer.

He looked at her, "I just offered you to ask any question to me and you ask me that?" He asked incredibly.

She crossed her arms glaring at him, "Don't judge me."

"I'm not, Celestine."

"Stop calling me crystals!" she hissed indignantly.

"I thought your name was Crystal?" he asked with fake surprise.

"It is!" Crystal shot back narrowing her eyes, "Its Crystal not pyrite or whatever you just said, celestial."

"Its celestine."

"That's what I meant to say!"

"If you say so, Aura."

Crystal groaned, burying her face into her hands, "Gosh you are so annoying." she huffed, "Just answer the question."

"Fine," Apollo said pretending to be annoyed, "I don't really have a favorite color." he replied finally.

"What?" Crystal asked in alarm, "You don't have a favorite color?"

Apollo narrowed his eyes, "I'm sorry I didn't know it was sin, to not have a favorite color."

"Well now you know it is."

Apollo rolled his eyes, "Fine then what's your favorite color?"

"Green."

"Really? I would've thought it would be pink or white." Apollo said deadpanned.

"Its because green symbolizes the life of nature." Crystal replied confidently, "On days when you feel like everything is going wrong, look at the grass or leaves. They are still full of color, no matter how much the hot sun shines on them. No matter how harsh the wind may be or how cold and dreary the rain may be, they are still green full of life."

"Wow, well that was deep."

Crystal glared at him, "I never asked for your opinion." she scowled, "So just answer the question, what's yours?"

He sighed, "I guess," he stopped thinking, "I like the color brown. The lighter one, kind of mixed with yellow with a tint of a dirt brown. " he gave Crystal a sad smile, "Those were the color of my mother's eyes. She died when I was young and that's the only thing I can remember about her."

Crystal leaned forward, grabbing his hand, "I'm sure she's very proud of you right now." he replied sincerely.

Apollo, closed his feeling the warmth of her hand, for it reminded him of his mother's hand. He gripped her hand, making Crystal widen her eyes in surprise, but she didn't move nevertheless, "I hope she is." Apollo muttered.

Suddenly, Apollo jerked his hand away, his hands were clenched, "I have to go." he muttered all of sudden his voice hollow, getting off the bed and limping away slowly, leaving Crystal alone frozen in shock and hurt in the now tense room.

-

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment to tell me what you think of it! Anyone else getting ready for finals? UGHHHHH.

If I don't post, its probably because I'm studying. :(

Peace.

- NerdyWhale