Orphan Beginning

I came up with another version for Michael and Nicole, it was pretty different and even though I had a bit of a plan, I only ever wrote the beginning. So here it is.

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It was always the same. They would courteously allow them to enter the office first then seek out my eyes giving me a wink. This particular morning Elisha had an even brighter grin on her face as she closed the door.

I couldn't help but glance in the window to see who they dragged in to take me away again. Elisha was talking and I could read her lips from watching her say these words so many times: "very bright", "patient", "obedient", "kind tempered", and "can easily fend for herself". 

I bit my lip. I felt like half of what she said wasn't true, but she always assured me it was.  

"Thank you." a little girl said as she slipped out of my lap.

"You're welcome Mary." I replied watching the small blond pig tails that I just finished brushing bounce away.   

"That man has a bad look in his eyes." 

A young man had approached where I sat glaring at the window.

He was seventeen, older than I was, tall and skinny with sand colored hair that hung around his face. He was truly a very caring person, but he could look threatening when he wanted to.

"Want me to scare him off?" he asked.  

"No Edward. It's okay."  

I would be fine, I always was. I never had a hard time, but I somehow always ended up back here in one way or another.  

I looked at the window again to find two pairs of eyes staring back at me. The man's were an amber color and danced with a wild fire as he examined me.  

They then turned back to Elisha as the word "adopt" crossed her mouth.  

I gazed up at Edward wondering if what I had seen was what bothered him. His hazel eyes bore into mine. 

"Those blue eyes of yours say otherwise." he said knowingly.  

Curse my eyes; they always gave me away no matter how hard I tried to hide what I was really feeling.  

The door to Elisha's office opened slowly and she exited holding a stack of papers in her hand. She was followed by the man who instantly looked to me with an all too dramatic smile on his face. I had stood up to be polite and Edward took my hand and pulled me a bit behind him protectively.  

Elisha's mouth tightened as she gave Edward a dirty look. He ignored her staring the man down.

"Nicole," Elisha said addressing me, "this is Lucas Prior."

"Hello." I said, holding out my hand for him to shake. 

He took it delicately but eagerly. Edward held my other hand tighter. 

I kept my eyes staring over his shoulder. I didn't want him to read them.  

"He's just adopted you hon. isn't that great?!"  

Elisha truly seemed happy about it, so did Lucas, they were the only ones excited by the idea.  

“Why don’t you go pack your things while we finish signing papers?” Elisha said.  

“Alright.” I replied gently pulling my hand from Edward’s and walking towards my room.  

“I’ll help you.” Edward mumbled and followed behind me quickly and closing the bedroom door.  

There was already a suitcase and a few duffle bags on my bed and I began pulling my things off of the dresser.  

“I don’t trust him.” Edward almost yelled. 

“You don’t trust anybody that adopts me.” My voice broke.  

In a second, he was at my side taking hold of my hand that I then noticed was shaking.  

“You’re scared.” He said gently.  

I turned away even though it was too late for my eyes to betray me. 

“I’ll hide you!” Edward began his voice becoming more frantic. “We’ll climb out the window and run for it!” 

“Edward.” My voice was weak as I continued to pack.  

“I’ll slit his tires and take out the battery!”  

“They’d know it was you.” My voice was just barely above a whisper.  

“I won’t let him take you!”  

“Edward, there’s nothing you can do!”  

He froze as if I had slapped him, then his eyebrows furrowed and he grabbed my cell phone out of the duffle bag.

“What’re you doing?” I asked.

After a moment of watching him press various buttons he put the phone back in my hand.

“I set my cell phone on speed dial one, okay?” he said forcefully. “And 9-1-1 is on number two.”  

He was then more gentle.  

“I want you to call me if anything happens. I’ll get there as fast as I can. Even if nothing happens I want you to call me. Don’t let him know you have it.”  

I looked at him worried that he might be taking it a little too far.  

“And then in seven months when I can finally get out of here. I’ll take you from there.” His face was so serious.  

“Edward…” I scolded.  

He faced the wall and I saw his hand go to his chin. He was embarrassed.  

“Nicole!” I quickly grabbed everything I could and stuffed them in the duffle bag, zipping it along with the suitcase and strapped it over my shoulder. I opened the door and strolled out of it with the suitcase in hand, stuffing the cell phone into my jeans pocket while putting on a brave face.  

Suddenly, there was a growth on my leg.  

“Don’t go Nikki, no!”  

Mary was burying her face into my thigh.  

“Oh sweetie, I have to go.” I to sound soothing while gently pulling her off of my leg.  

She grasped tighter with more protests.  

“Please Edward.” I whispered.  

He leaned down and pried her little arms from me.  

“No Eddie! No! No!” she cried.  

“Mary…” I sighed, setting my bags on the floor then taking her from Edward up in my arms.  

“Guess what?” I said kindly, turning her pouting face toward me and wiping a tear from her soft cheek.

“When I call Eddie you can talk to me too, okay.”  

She nodded putting her tiny arms around my neck and hugging me tightly as she began to sob.

“Shh…” I said trying to hush her.

“Why do they keep taking you away?” 

I looked past Mary’s head to see her brother, Johnny. He had a scrutinizing, but sad look on his round face, I could see the water welling up in his eyes.  

After handing Mary to Edward I leaned over so that my eyes were level with Johnny’s.  

“I can’t stay here forever Johnny, you know that.” I quietly said.  

“And why not?!” he said, his voice breaking.  

He lowered his head and rubbed his eye, trying to hide the tears.  

“Hey…” I whispered. “Hey, Jonathan, look at me.”

He looked at me again, his eyes glistening.

“Eddie won’t be here much longer either.” I made my voice kind so as not to distress him further. “So it’ll be up to you to take care of Mary, alright?”  

He nodded, suddenly leaning up and kissing my cheek.  

I stood, stunned and turned on Edward.  

“What have you been teaching him?!”  

Edward shrugged innocently. “The man can’t be denied.”

“Uh huh…” I replied as I rolled my eyes.  

“Yeah! I am almost six you know!” Johnny announced putting his hands on his lips and jutting out his chest.

I couldn’t resist a burst of laughter. 

“Are you ready Nicole?!” Elisha’s voice was becoming shrill. She just couldn’t wait to get rid of me, could she?  

“Coming!” I hollered.  

I was about to pick up my bags again when I was spun around and then found myself in the arms of Edward. 

“I will come for you.” He whispered.

I felt extremely uncomfortable with his arms around me. The genuine feel of the seriousness in his voice bothered me because I knew how unrealistic it was.

He let me go and I looked at him with sad eyes.  

He knew what I was not really saying. It can’t happen.  

I grabbed my things as more of the younger children gathered around Edward.  

I gave an encouraging smile and they all just looked at me solemnly.  

This is the only goodbye you’re going to get. I thought as they watched me walk away.  

Clouds of the April sky hung over us as we left the orphanage. I smiled quickly, inviting it to comfort me and wield my grief.  

A beast-like roar pulled me back to the black earth.

The roar calmed to a purr as my eyes rested on a gray semi-truck. It looked broken without any cargo attached. Broken, but still able.

The passenger door lay open, beckoning. Lucas sat in the driver’s seat expectantly.  

There was nothing threatening about the truck cab itself, but I couldn’t resist reconsidering climbing inside of it.  

After a moment I felt Lucas watching me. I fell out of my trance, embarrassed, then continued forward feeling my heart stop as I set my foot on the step.  

A breath managed to pass through my lungs and I pushed myself into the truck setting my suitcase between Lucas and myself and then the duffle bag by my feet.  

“Ready?” he asked.  

“Mmmhmm…” I replied, slightly more high-pitched than the normal level of my voice.  

We were then off, pulling onto the road that eventually led to the highway.  

I mostly kept my head turned toward the window, but my eyes strayed to my potential parent.  

When his eyes weren’t on me it was much easier to look at the rest of him. 

He had a goatee and slightly long, brown hair. He was wearing a white tank-top under an unbuttoned plaid shirt and jeans. All completely clean and tidy. Then what was this greasy aura that hung around him?

Adrian and Kira Background

Okay so this will be hard to understand. I have mentioned the name Adrian before in other parts of this story, but it is never explained.

I won't explain it, so that I don't spoil anything if I do go back to this story, but just know that I had it all planned, everything had a place and purpose.

Thanks for tolerating it.

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It was a time of change. The old ways were disappearing and morphing into a new modern era of bright colors and where men hardly knew their place. Even as it swept the world there were still places here in Great Britain that were yet to take on these bold ways, but there was still a touch of it amongst the humble crowds and in ways soon to spread.

I do not know why he enjoys showing me off. I thought to myself.

It was the death-wish of my parents that I be betrothed to Neil() to secure my future. Now that my dear guardian had passed away I was forced to live with him, having no where else to go.

The people danced colorfully in front of me as I sat alone slightly above them all. Neil was dancing with some maiden. It was polite for him to dance with his female guests, but profusely impolite for his male guests to even think of dancing with me. So much so, I hardly knew how to dance.

It was not that i was strictly forbidden, it was just best for them not to. Neil had everything and what was his was untouchalbe. So I felt a bit like the royal stallion to be envied.

Bright smiles were turned to me in gretting as they twirled. Even with the masks, I knew their faces. I saw Phillip Grahm, the Duke of() with his wife Victoria, her tight smile more strictly lined this evening than I had seen it before. Then as the pairs moved the lively eyes of sweet Angelica, the daughter of the Count and Countess of(), met mine. She had become recently courtable, as I was not, and yet I was claimed.

Neil was kind enough. I had been around him for years and he had always been gentle, but I never felt as though I truly knew him. I was grateful, but I did not particularly like him, I did not dislike him either.

It was infact Neil that I saw next passing infront of me, his brilliant wavy-blonde hair swirling nearly all the way around his waist due to its length. His light green eyes appraised me with a look of satisfaction and pride about his face.

I smiled politely in return and he moved his gaze back to his partner, whom I did not bother to observe.

I looked around once more at the mass of people twirling and enjoying life as it was. The entire room was aglow with the pure festive air; every person as lite as the chandeliers hanging stories above their heads. As my eyes scanned them all another pair of eyes crossed my own. They illumed from the darkest being in the room: dressed in dark maroon and where others' shirts were white, his lay black. Then in contrast was a mask: white as bone outlining his nearly ebony eyes. His hair was somewhere between dark-brown and black making the ivory tone of his skin even more prominate at that distance.

He was the only other living thing besides myself that was not dancing.

In the corners of my vision the constant spinning objects that were ther dancers was beginning to make me feel dizzy.

I tore my gaze away from the stranger and after closing my eyes decided it was time to retire for the night.

I stood, my eyes remaining closed and turned myself to the direction behind the chair when I heard a voice like a melody.

"Dismissing yourself so soon my lady?"

Turning myself back around with difficulty, I opened my eyes again letting them fall on the one who had spoken. It was the dark stranger.

"Yes." I said with a sigh. "I have grown tired of sitting in this chair all evening time and again."

"Pardon me, my lady, but so you mean to say that in the time you have been here no one has danced with you?" he asked, obvious surprise in his voice.

I nodded slowly. "So that is why I shall be retiring now and for the last time."

I began to turn around again when the touch of his gloved hand on my arm stopped me.

"I plead for your forgiveness for this grave insult." he said with a slight bow of his head.

"There is no need, sir. This is the only time you have been here I'm sure." I told him unable to turn back around for he had captured me with his powerful eyes.

"Regardless," he nearly whispered. "Let me atone for the others' crimes."

He then took my hand and began leading me away from my pedistool, I was hardly able to resist, but managed to studder, "I am afraid I do not know much of how to."

Without breaking his stride toward the dance floor he turned back to me with a kind smile. "Do not worry, you can leave the matter with me."

We were now on the edge of the dance floor, gently but swiftly placing the hand he been holding, up more prominatly and my other, he placed caringly on his shoulder putting his own lightly on my waist. Something about his touch made me freeze and obedient as we moved in to the formation.

"Now follow me." he said sounding as though he was truly enjoying himself.

The dance began slow, the steps easy to follow, some of which I knew well enough and he told me which way to turn or step when necessary. Then it began to quicken forcing me to strictly intake his insructions. Once I got the hang of it though, we seemed to soar. It was an amazing feeling moving with the music and letting it inside you.

From then I was unable to remove my eyes from his face and he continued to look into mine with a grin lining his lips. He twirled me out, letting go of my waist. When I came back in his hand returned to its position. It was then that I realized what made me freeze under his touch. It seemed that with any contact that there were traces of with held power.

I now watched him more curiously trying to understand what it was about him that made him seem this way to me. Before I could analyze any further, he pulled us away from the formation and released me.

Others were now switching partners, unaffected by the break. I continued to feel as though I was swaying.

He bowed to me swiftly. "I thank you, my lady, for joining me. It was a pleasure."

"Thank you, sir for showing me how it is done." I was able to reply.

"But it is becoming late as you said earlier and I must return elsewhere." he then said turning to begin walking away.

"Wait." I said surprising myself.

He stopped, but did not turn around.

"You dismiss yourself without leaving even a name?" I asked in a nearly accusing voice.

He said nothing.

"If you cannot say your full name, your first at least, or any name for that matter."

His head slowly threw his overwhelming gaze on me.

"Adrian." Then he was gone through the many people and I could no longer see him.

"Adrian." I let the name fall off my lips lower than a whisper looking in the direction he left as though I could still see him, frozen in wonder.

A sudden murmer arose me like the buzz of the life of a hot summer's day. Others were saying their thanks to their partners for the song had ended after what had semed an eternity as it played, but was now only a memory. A memory that I was unable to let go of.

"Kira."

It was a voice as sharp and sudden as lightning, and at this particular moment it was particularly painful because it was not the one I had wanted to hear. I turned to face Neil, his vibrant eyes causing me to take a step back as always, putting on my best false smile.

“Have you been enjoying yourself dear one?”

Dear one. It was the only other thing he addressed me by other than my name. The pet name never appealed to me, but it caught me off guard this time; there was such a kindness in his eyes as though he truly meant what he said.

I assume that I had a strange look on my face because he then said,

“Are you feeling well?” he gently took hold of my shoulders and when I tried to look away he held my face by my chin so that I had to look at his eyes.

“I am just tired Neil.” I said calmly, putting as much truth into it as I could. He looked so worried.

I smiled almost genuinely this time to reassure him.

“I will just retire for the night.” I continued pulling away from him. He let me go and I walked past him.

“Alright, I will be in to check on you before the end of the hour.” He replied sweetly.

I turned around halfway and gave him a bow of my head without really looking at him and departed to the security of the darkness beyond the curtains.

As the curtain lightly fell back into place, the noise from the ballroom dimmed. I sighed, finally being able to breathe deeply, and rubbed my eyes with my hand.

What am I doing? I thought.

Everything just felt so strange.

I regained myself and continued forward wondering: How could things feel so odd in these familiar halls?

For a moment I remembered back to a time when I was small. I was in this same hallway after an audience. Holding my mother’s hand, my father walked beside her.

She had a smile on her face that refused to distort her soft features that were so alarmingly similar to mine, but I mostly had the eyes of my father who starred ahead with a glare as cold as ice that his eyes easily displayed.

I watched him in wonder and he must have known since he then turned to me and smiled, eyes warm, and then we separated, my mother taking me towards my room while he went in the opposite direction.

I now stood in the same place, the one hall parting into two. I dared not look at the one heading left, but swiftly turned and headed down the right. After a while longer I arrived in my room.

Demon

In book two.

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“Demon!” my own voice growled ferociously at the image.

It smiled knowingly back at me.

“Oh no. I’m not the demon. Y-”

The image disappeared in a violent crash as every mirror in the room shattered, falling to the floor.

I stood next to the chair breathing quickly, unharmed and untouched by the glass fragments surrounding me.

It was only when there was a shadow over me, did I realize that someone else was now in the room with me.

My hand swung back behind me, but didn’t reach its target as expected.

Donte stood in front of me, his hand around the wrist of my fully-fledged clawed hand.

His scent said more than I wanted him to. I couldn’t look at his eyes, knowing what I’d see there: Disappointment, frustration, and a slight trace of anger.

There was nothing I could say. If he were to ask why…I wouldn’t be able to answer. I didn’t know.

Still holding my wrist, Donte raised my face gently with his other hand under my chin, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were as I thought they would be, but I thought I saw a hint of sympathy in them as he bore into these eyes of a beast.

I could probably never say how he could have affected me so, but after a few seconds the intensity of my sensibility to everything around me began to dim. The claws retreated from my fingertips and I became numb.

Donte took my hand and carefully pulled me over the broken mirrors and out the door.

Never

From what would have been the second book. A tender, but painful moment.

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“Why do you think I would do that?” he asked almost sounding angry.

“I don’t know.” I had closed my eyes in frustration and turned away from him.

He grabbed my shoulder, “Look at me.”

When I didn’t face him again he turned me forcefully.

“Nicole, look at me!” he was holding both of my shoulders away.

“I would never do that to you.” He spoke softly and I finally glanced up, his eyes then locking mine in place.

“Understand? Never.”

His eyes were unreadable. I bit my lip and turned away with water in my eyes.

Training

Would have gone in the second book, but could have possibly been in the third now that I think about it. Fun segment.

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The blades were unexpectedly comfortable in my hands. I looked at them curiously moving them in the light.

“Woah!” Michael called, taking hold of my wrists cautiously, then carefully pulling the swords from my hands.

“Don’t play with these okay.” He said. As he walked away I rolled my eyes at his use of child-like terms.

“Oh, please Michael. I’m not completely helpless.” I retorted.

He gently laid the blades down near a pile of other equipment and rose again slowly.

“I know,” he said turning to me, forcing his powerful eyes on me. “I just don’t want you to get hurt unnecessarily.”

I sighed, defeated.

“Yeah, well, don’t go easy on me.”

It seemed appropriate to say, but I wasn’t sure if I meant it. I had no idea what I could do. I’d never had to fight someone before.

Still, I was going to try my best if only for his sake.

Michael looked at me solemnly for a moment.

“I can’t afford to.” His voice was almost sad as if regretting what he was about to do.

“Now gear-up.” He then said, tossing me various pads and guards.

I was covered with something on all my limbs. My head and torso remained exposed due to the temperature.

Michael wasn’t wearing any protection and neither was anyone else. I figured that they weren’t planning on being defensive at all today.

Jason had a suspicious grin on his face and Jack was looking grim and bored as always taking a cigarette out of his mouth and putting it against the tree he was leaning on. Everyone else either looked bored or slightly amused while the wolves sat in the shade nearby.

I then realized that even though they were unprotected they still each had a firearm of one sort or another.

I looked to Michael in wonder and found him to the side his eyes dazed and distant.

I watched him sadly wondering what kind of conversation him and Donte were having. He then quickly walked toward me and held my chin with his thumb and forefinger, kissing my forehead.

“See you later love.” He said without looking at me.

I was confused, but then understood as he suddenly backed away.

I heard some of the others walk up behind me and a moment later Donte stood before us with a menacing look in his terrifying eyes.

“Let us begin.” He purred.

After a moment there was no longer any one behind me. I was surprised and completely oblivious as to what was going on, but I tried not to look it, especially with Donte standing in front of me watching my every move.

Finale

<--Previous Related Post

The title is enough information I think.

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We froze, finally noticing what we were standing on. The floor was covered with lines and symbols. A giant star made ou the biggest part of it and it was all enclosed in a circle.

"What is this?" I said to Michael.

The look on his face told me what I needed to know. Whatever it was, it was not good.

"Some people would call it witchcraft or exorcism."

Markel came out of the shadows, his green eyes piercing me, feeding my anger.

"But I am more fond of calling it alchemy."

Next moment, he threw himself down on the floor with his hands flat on the ground in front of him. The symbols began to glow and a force moved my hair and clothing around me.

After that everything happened so quickly. Michael started to scream, and then Donte roared as something that looked like blue lightning erupted around him, encircling and trapping him. He collapsed on the ground.

"Michael!" I called.

I then ran forward trying to get to him, but more lightning came out of the symbols, shocking me. I hollered in pain, and was then pulled to the floor almost completely numb.

I willed myself to ignore it, I had felt worse. Michael was still on the ground, but now a vague image was forming in front of him. Through the blue electricity I could see Donte roaring in agony. He was hardly there looking like a hologram or a ghost. That’s probably all he was at that moment, a ghost with no body.

Markel was suddenly near me with his arms spread out as if he were about to embrace someone cherished. Another sound then overrode Donte’s howls, Markel was laughing, his voice echoing off the walls. It had to have been the most horrible sound I had ever heard, as if straight from a nightmare.

I turned my eyes back to Donte still not understanding what was happening. Donte then faded, and he seemed to turn into a stream of light that flew through the air and straight into Markel.

The moment they had collided and a force flowed from Markel like a strong wind. This force was so powerful the ground began to crack underneath us. From the no longer smooth ground, the seal had broken and I was free again. Everything was beginning to crumble, but I still ran to Michael kneeling back on the floor.

I turned him over onto my lap stroking his face with my hand.

"Michael." I said to him over the deafening noise.

It took him a moment, but he opened his eyes slightly.

"What's happened?" he asked weakly.

"Markel's gotten Donte, Michael. He's not a part of you anymore." I replied trying to smile softly.

Michael's jaw tightened and he reached up, grabbing the side of my face having me look him straight in the eyes.

"That's not true. As long as I'm alive he is a part of me, trapped in this godforsaken world."

I shook my head, not understanding what he was saying.

"Nicole, you have to kill me."

"No..." I said shaking my head with a strengthened intensity in defiance. "No!" my voice was rising to hysterics. I closed my eyes as the tears started to pour down my cheeks relentlessly.

"Nicole," Michael said trying to still my face again. Finally he had to use both hands forcefully to stop my falling apart. "Look at me." he said sweetly, but with authority.

I opened my watery eyes.

"You have to. Even if we got away, he would come after us and we would be running away for the rest of our lives." The intensity in his eyes softened. "i don't have enough strength to protect you from him anymore, and if anything happened to you..." he stopped, looking as if he were about to cry himself.

Hot tears carrened down my face.

"I can't lose you." I choked out.

Michael chuckled as though he were in on a secret.

"You won't lose me." He said smiling. Light filling his eyes, his voice strong and confident as he spoke the only thing he needed to believe at this moment. "I will always be with you." he wiped a tear from my cheek. I grabbed his hand, putting it softly but fiercely to my lips.

"This has to end now." Michael said weakly.

He was losing conciousness, but was still trying to fight it. I bent over him nearly laying on top of his budy. He held my head as I came closer to his face.

"I love you." He breathed.

"Love you too." My voice cracked over the words.

We then kissed. It was the only kind of goodbye we could bring ourselves to. The one thing that said everything so simply.

Even though I was acting as if it were the end, I still refused to let him go regardless of him slipping through my fingers and I had no hand in it.

"Enough!"

It was as if hell had opened and the devil himself were screaming from its flaming depths.

Markel's previous laughter was nothing compared to his horrifying voice as it was now.

I pulled myself away from Michael, now unconscious on the floor, and beheld the result of Markel's transformation.

His hair was white and reaching down to his chest, hands curled with claws resting menacingly on his fingertips. His teeth were now fanged and as white as his snow hair. The most bewildering transformed part of him had to have been his eyes. Where white had once belonged were black voids and where the frightening green once lingered were now a set of red eyes.

Before I could even think, I was being thrown across the floor away from Michael. Markel had hold of Michael by the cuff of his shirt. In a moment he had him hanging over his head like a rag doll. Then, to my horror, he threw him at the wall like a baseball.

Michael crashed into the wall, falling to the ground a moment later.

“You bastard!” I screamed in a burst of rage and adrenaline.

I was then on my feet, pulling my sword from its sheath at my side and running at Markel, letting out a battle cry that I never knew I had in me.

A second before I was on him, he turned around to face me and I swung. My sword made contact, but not in the way I had intended.

Markel had caught the sword in between his index and middle fingers. He was glaring at me with such ferocity that I nearly gasped.

“You dare try and fight me? After all I have offered you, you try and kill me?!” His last words were nearly screamed as he pushed me away from him, causing me to skid on the floor.

I planted my feet, keeping my balance and my sword facing him, and then slowing down to a stop.

I stayed where I was, not taking my eyes off of Markel. I realized that he was extremely strong and that I truly was no match for him, but only one person was coming out of this alive.

I charged again and he only dodged. He was then behind me and I swung, he moved to my other side. This continued for a while until my arms were pulled painfully behind me. Still I wouldn’t let go of my only weapon.

Markel’s hot breath was on my ear.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

He turned me around pinning my arms to my side.

“My offer still stands.”

He then kissed me, opening my mouth with his lips and pouring his tongue into it. I froze, knowing the best reaction was none at all. Markel squeezed my arms, making me inhale in pain, but I was then stone once more. This angered him and his claws bore into my arms. I still refused to comply. Then my arms were cut open as he dragged his claws down them. This tie I couldn’t resist a scream.

“You foolish girl!” he hollered as I fell to the floor, my arms going limp. I spat on the floor in defiance.

“Do not make me force you!” he roared.

He picked me off of the ground again from behind breathing on my neck.

I didn’t waste a moment.

Markel sounded like he was choking as he should have been since my swored was thrust through his body at such an angle that had to be more painful than getting stabbed correctly. I felt warm blood on my hands.

“I’m sorry Donte.” I said quietly.

Then pulling my sword back and turning around not hesitating to begin slashing away at Markel. I kept coming left and right and he didn’t resist or fight back. I only stopped when he finally fell to the floor, defeated.

I stood breathing rapidly looking at what I’d just done. It was over.

“Not quite.”

Markel then stood in front of me.

“I’d have thought that, you, of all people would know that you couldn’t kill me, or my host, whoever they were.”

Markel’s eyes had changed and Donte’s now looked at me lovingly.

“Donte…I…” I began with tears in my eyes.

“Shh.” He said softly, covering my mouthwith one hand and running his fingers through my hair with the other.

“I’ve found what I was looking for.”

All this time I had never understood what he had been looking for, but now it was clearer than anything in his eyes.

Donte pulled me closer to him, kissing my head softly. The only thing I could do was hug him back as I began to cry, understanding everything.

“I love you too…” I whispered.

He sighed for a moment as if relieved; he then turned and stepped a good distance away from me.

“Michael, now!” he called.

I turned and looked at Michael who was laying on the ground with a knife hovering in the direction of his chest.

Before I could react Michael drove the blade through his heart.

“No!” I yelled with an earsplitting scream.

In an instant my world was gone. He lay, a bloody heap on the ground, almost as if he were in the deep sleep I had seen him in so many times before, but he wouldn’t be waking up this time.

Markel’s body was on its knees, shaking and changing form. The waves of power were flowing again and the building’s roof was finally beginning to come down.

I felt so weak from the shock that I couldn’t get myself to move even if I had wanted to.

This couldn’t be happening, could it?

You would think that I wouldn’t have any tears left in me, and yet I was crying again.

“Go! Get out of here!”

I didn’t know whose voice and it was at the point I didn’t have the mind to care, but I did what it said. I had to practically drag myself out, having no more energy.

The sky was a soft gray as dawn began to approach. Even with this castle crashing down behind me. I was still able to notice the one star remaining in the sky.

I kept walking straight toward the forest and into the black mist. The grass on the ground crunched under my feet and the trees loomed over me like obelisks. The fog turned a cool gray color as the sun came up and I still wasn’t able to see anything five feet in front of me.

I was alone and I knew that there would ever be a time where I didn’t feel alone again. All that I loved, that really mattered in this world was now gone. I was the only survivor of this event that could remember. I was all that was left of a vicious war.

The mist was beginning to thin and I could see clearer, but I was starting to feel too exhausted to continue.

I came along a tree that I decided to sit against. I got myself down to the ground, shivering as the now wet grass met my skin.

I closed my eyes and I saw only one thing. Michael’s face. I threw my eyes open again, tears streaming out of them again. I couldn’t handle that right now.

I sat there staring at the ground for a long time, not thinking, now too numb to feel and hardly breathing. I was completely unaware of anything else around me until I heard it.

My whistle was echoing through the trees. I didn’t react. I knew it had to be a hallucination. I tried to ignore it, but it kept growing louder, wherever the sound was coming from it was getting closer.

There were footsteps now, coming from the direction of the ruined castle. I stood up against the tree trying to prepare myself for whomever or whatever it was. A figure was becoming clearer through the mist. It was tall, definitely bigger than me. I paid closer attention to how the figure walked and I froze in disbelief. They were walking like Michael.

Michael was dead. It couldn’t be him, could it?

Sure enough, Michael Dotson walked out of the mist looking as perfect as an angel.

If he was here unharmed and majestic then I had to have died. It was the only logical explination. So he was coming for me. Maybe being dead wouldn’t be so bad if he was with me.

My heart pounded in my chest as Michael came closer. My upper arms hurt and warm blood ran down them.

Wait. Dead people’s hearts don’t beat, their blood isn’t warm either.

Michael stood in front of me now smiling as if everything was all right. I didn’t understand what was happening, nothing made sense. Even when he spoke to me it didn’t click.

“You did it. It’s over.” His voice was so clear, so real.

“Markel is dead, you’re free.”

I continued to stare at him in disbelief.

His expression dropped slightly.

“Nicole, are you okay? It’s me, Michael.” He scanned my body. “Are you hurt?” His eyes rested on one of my injured arms. They looked back at my face, confused.

Michael was about to speak again, but I reached out with my hand toward his face. I was able to touch it. It was real. He was here. He was alive. He was wiping the tears off of my face before I even noticed them there.

“Michael?” I choked out.

“Yeah…” he smiled.

“You’re…we’re…”

“Yes, we’re alive.” He said stressfully. “Now let’s get your arms bandaged. You’re bleeding pretty badly.”

I didn’t hear his last sentence because I was laughing in relief, feeling his hair, his eyes, his nose, his lips. He kissed my fingertips as the moved over his mouth.

“How are you alive? I saw you-” Michael cut me off.

“Donte gave what remaining power he had to save me.” He replied respectfully.

“I’m going to miss him.” I said softly.

“Me too.” Michael’s voice was even softer.


Even though Donte was gone, everything was back to normal. We were together, and that’s how it was supposed to be.




 Michael and I were side by side on the bed in our room. Michael had his arm wrapped around me and I had my head on his chest. His finger gently traced my bandaged arm and I was breathing softly.

Suddenly, Michael moved, jumping out of the bed. My head hit the pillow and then I sat up watching him curiously. He returned a moment later with something in his hands. He crawled back on the bed kneeling in front of me. Whatever was in his hand was now hidden between his legs. He then took my hands in his.

“You know I love you more than life itself and always will, right?” he asked, his topaz eyes boring into mine.

I smiled, “Yes, I know.”

“Then, would you make this life worth living and marry me?”

Michael didn’t look his usual confident self when he asked me this and really, I hadn’t expected it. Regardless, I knew my answer.

“Yes.” I said, then began to laugh slightly. “Of course.”

He pulled out the ring, slipping it on my finger. I didn’t bother to look at it, I was too busy watching his face. He looked like he was trying to keep a straight expression, and having a hard time doing so.

“Good.” He answered matter-o-factly.

I raised my eyebrow curiously, “Yes?”

A menacing grin crossed his lips.

“It’s good because there was something I wanted to try.”

He reached out gently putting one hand behind my head, the other slowly pulling my legs out from under me. Then he was on top of me pushing me down softly. And as my head hit the pillow our lips met once again.

The End
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