Story

Prologue

In the middle of Pacific Ocean lies a small country called Sanford. The capitol of Sanford is Chalcedon. Chalcedon is a city built from the hopes and horrors of its ancestors. A city that has gone from the hopes of good graces to the horrors of murder. And why? All because of a brother’s betrayal. But don’t be afraid because at the end of every tunnel is a light. A light filled with hopes and dreams, a light that will save its people.

(16 years earlier)

Alec Hanson one of the King’s most loyal knight’s has come to deliver a message. “Your majesty I come with a message from an unexpected soul.” Alec told the King kneeling before his throne “From who my boy?” asked King Fabian his brow crinkling in confusion. “Your brother Joseph has asked to come and speak with you.” Replied Alec with a worrisome tone, he knew good and well that the King and his oldest brother never spoke. Prince Joseph now Lord Joseph Bottoms had been forced to give up the Kingdom in order to marry his peasant wife. The man had sworn revenge the day he walked out of the castle and no one would be able to forget. It was the first time in the country’s history that the heir to the Kingdom had given it up “For what reason does he wish to see me?” The King replied evenly with almost no emotion. King Fabian was a leader and leaders showed no fear. “All he says is that he wishes to speak with you face to face”. Alec replied looking almost hesitant to let Lord Bottoms any where near the King. “Well let him.” The King said waving his hand.

“Yes your Majesty.” Alec said looking back at the King one more time in a worrisome manner before opening the door. As soon as the doors open a young man with an old face walks in. “Well, well, well enjoying the power Brother or is it your Majesty now?” spat Lord Joseph Bottoms. He hated his brother. His brother had everything he could have ever wanted: All the gold, all the recognition, all the power. “What leads you here dear Brother?” said King Fabian. “Dear Brother? The last time we spoke you called me a barbarian for choosing my darling wife over the Kingdom.” Lord Bottoms replied stepping closer to the throne.

“Well we all make mistakes.” Said King Fabian shifting almost nervously in his seat as his brother got closer. “Mistakes? Is that supposed to mean something dear Brother?” yelled Lord Bottoms making sure to hiss the dear Brother part. “No Joseph it was just a sentence. What do you want Joseph?” said King Fabian sighing. “What should have been mine.” Lord Bottoms said smirking as he reached for something that the King couldn’t see. “And what would that be?” King Fabian replied moving to the left to motion to Alec but, before he could even move a smidgen the downfall of Sanford began Lord Joseph Bottoms reached down to his shoe and with lighting speed stabbed the King of Sanford. The King could only grunt as he fell forward. Seeing his brother tumble forward Lord Joseph Bottoms ran into the night.                    

(Joseph’s Hovel- One mile away)

“Luther, Luther up, up!” yelled Lord Joseph Bottoms as ran into his small home. A boy no bigger than a chair appeared in a doorway to the left. “Father?” asked the young boy rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Pack a light bags with clothes. Hurry!” Joseph yelled packing his own bag. “Where are we …?” Luther asked still not fully comprehending what was going on.  

“It doesn’t matter! Just pack and hurry!” Joseph yelled. Luther quickly moved to the wooden box where his clothes were kept but, before he could even open the top BOOM! Luther and his father ran out of the room just in time to see the door come flying off the wall. “Go back to bed!” Joseph yelled lightly pushing his son’s back. “But Father …” Luther said stumbling into the side of his bed. “Just go!” Joseph yelled with panic. “Lord Joseph Bottoms you have been charged with the assassination of King Fabian of Sanford.” Alec, King Fabian’s most loyal knight told the fumbling man as backed himself into a corner.

“No Father!” Luther yelled charging out of the bedroom. “Son go back to bed. Your father has done a bad thing and now he must be punished.” Alec said gently pushing the boy back to bed. “But Daddy!” Luther cried pushing against the knight. “Son go back to bed!” Alec yelled losing his patience.

This is the where the hatred inside the little boy’s heart grew. Joseph was executed that night and to exclude the little boy from the torture of the townspeople the Knights sent him to live in a foreign land to the South. He was never even able to say goodbye to his Father. Prince William the younger brother of Fabian and Joseph became King but, hot off the heels of the assassination and the loss of his beloved wife just months before the newly King William sent his only child and heir to the Kingdom Princess Isabella to live a life of peasantry. To protect her until the time came when she would rise up and become Queen of Sanford.

(Present)

Today Isabella is 16. She has no idea who she really is but, she’s about to find out. Luther is back in town and ready for revenge. The best way to do it? Take out Sanford’s only hope: its beloved missing Princess.

Chapter 1

      “James Smith!” Isabella Taylor attempted to yell angrily but, was quickly failing as a smile threatened to overtake her features. He had just dumped an entire haystack on her head and was currently laughing his head off at her expense. “James this is not funny.” Isabella said putting her hands on her hips to emphasize her glaring face. “Why Isabella I think this is the funniest thing I have ever seen.” James said in a fake posh tone before bursting into laughter. “James …” Isabella growled before chasing James clear into the pond behind his house. “Who’s on the laughing end now James?” Isabella laughed. James Smith and Isabella Taylor have been the best of friends since childhood. Both James and Isabella are villeins, meaning they’re both free peasants but, life isn’t always easy. James has to work the farm land along side his father all day, seven days a week just to make sure they can pay rent and taxes and Isabella has it even harder. Because of her father dieing when she was only a child Isabella has been sewing and selling goods everyday since she was five just to make ends meet. But James and Isabella have one thing nobody else does … each other. “James look at me, I’m covered in hay. What is my Ma going to think?” Isabella laughed sitting down beside a wet James by the pond side. “Well what is my Pa going to think? I’m wet from head to toe thanks to you.” James said shaking his wet head in the direction of Isabella’s face. “Mr. Smith won’t care he’s a man, my Ma on the other hand …” Isabella said trailing off as James began to speak. “Is too strict for her own good.” James said lying back on the grass. “She means well, she’s just protective.” Isabella said lying down beside James. “Too protective.” James snorted wrapping his arm around Isabella’s shoulders. He looked down to see Isabella smiling at him. “What?” He asked looking confused. “Mmm …. nothing I was just wondering something.” Isabella said moving her eyes to the pond as she spoke. “Well what is it?” James asked gently nudging her side. “Okay it’s more about someone.” Isabella said leaning away from James. “Okay … who is this someone?” James asked moving up slightly so he could look into Isabella’s eyes. Isabella sighed before answering “Katerina.” This time James sighed “Oh boy come on Isabella she’s not that bad.” Isabella sat up giving James an incredulous look. “She’s not that bad? James she called me a floozy!” James sat up pulling Isabella back to his side “And then she apologized, Isabella you’re my best friend and nothing is going to change that but, I really wish you would just give Katerina a chance. She doesn’t have it as easy as you would think.” Isabella rolled her eyes “Oh yes Lady Katerina Fernandez has it so … hard.” James almost laughed at the tone of his best friend’s voice but, quickly remembered he was supposed to be defending his girl friend. “She does Isabella! Do you know how much she has been ragged on because she is courting me? A peasant?” Isabella laughed at him “Nobody would rag on anyone, not even a monarch for courting you!” James smiled “Well I am quite handsome.” Isabella laughed hitting James lightly in his chest “What? I am!” James laughed dodging Isabella as she tried to hit him again. “Oh yes James Smith is the most handsome man in the world.” Isabella said sarcastically. “Yes he is and I guess I should be lucky that I’m the one courting him.” A posh voice said from behind James and Isabella. James quickly removed his arm from around Isabella and stood up. “Katerina you didn’t tell me you would be stopping by.” James said laughing nervously. “Well you didn’t tell me that you would be frolicking in the pond with … her either.” Lady Katerina Fernandez said glaring at Isabella.

Chapter 2

“Frolicking! I’m sorry I thought frolicking is what you did with your pig in the mud pile.” Yelled Isabella her face quickly becoming red. “Isabella …” James started only to trail off as Isabella and Katerina simultaneously yelled “Shut up James!” “Don’t tell him to shut up he’s my boyfriend!” Katerina yelled advancing slowly on Isabella. “Well I have news for you babe he’s been my best friend since birth!” Isabella yelled back coming eye to eye with Katerina. “This does it Katerina I have had it!” screamed Isabella officially loosing her cool. “Oh and what are you going to do about it? Isabella Taylor you’re nothing but, a jealous floozy!” screamed Katerina shoving Isabella. “A jealous floozy? I’m not the one who has to go and ruin people’s lives just to make myself look good!” Isabella yelled shoving Katerina back. James sighed, the tension between Isabella and Katerina had been present since day one.

(Flash Back)

“Hey Isabella, I want you to meet someone!” yelled James Smith coming though the door to his best friend’s house. “James Smith if this is another trick I am going to …” Isabella trailed off as James walked through the door with a beautiful young woman. “Who is this?” Isabella asked slightly in shock at the beauty of the young woman beside James. “This Isabella is the young lady I was speaking to you about the other day.” James said smiling at the woman beside him. “Oh this is …” Isabella trailed off as the young lady began to speak. “Lady Katerina Fernandez, charmed to meet you.” The enchanting young woman said gently shaking Isabella’s hand. “Nice to meet you too, I’m Isabella Taylor, James best friend …” Isabella said slightly perplexed as the young woman giggled and began to talk in a quick and posh manner. “Oh yes I know, James talks about you … all the time.” Katerina replied lowering her eyes at Isabella when she said the last three words. “Oh … well that’s nice won’t you have a seat Lady Fernandez?” Isabella asked offering a chair to the young woman. “Please call me Katerina.” Katerina said sitting down. “Okay then Katerina how did you and James meet?” Isabella asked attempting not to look at James and Katerina’s enfolded hands. “Well it goes like this …” James began but, was cut off by Katerina. “Jamesy let me tell the story; I give it much more character.” Katerina said batting her eyelashes in James direction. “Have at it.” James said his heart seemingly melting at Katerina’s batting eyelashes. Isabella gently coughed hoping not to gag. “Oh Isabella … Sorry forgot you were here.” Katerina said smiling almost evilly. “How did you meet?” Isabella asked smiling just as evilly back at Katerina. “Well I was in town to pick up this gorgeous diamond necklace I had saw in the newspaper a few weeks ago and I just had to have it but, anyway across the way I saw this hunky piece of man and I just had to have him so I ….” “I’m sorry to interrupt but, James could I speak to you … alone.” Isabella said motioning for James to follow her into the other room. “Sure, be right back Kat …” James said following Isabella. “James really? You like her?” Isabella whispered. “Yes she’s just groovy isn’t she Isabella?” Isabella scoffed. “I don’t know if I would say groovy Jamesy.” Isabella said making sure to put the emphasize on Jamesy. “Oh come on Isabella she’s not that bad.” James replied putting on his best puppy eyes. “If you say so James.” Isabella said walking back to the kitchen. “James has to go check on his Pa don’t you James?” Isabella asked pointing her face in the direction of the door. “Oh yeah I have to go … check on my Pa.” James said winking at Isabella as he rushed out the door. As soon as the door closed all the way Isabella finally had the moment she had been waiting for. “Okay look honey …” Katerina said standing up and moving to stand right in front of Isabella. “Honey? You listen to me sweetheart you may fool James but, you do not fool me.” Isabella said smirking. “Maybe I don’t but, I do have James fooled and that’s all that matters.” Katerina said shrugging her shoulders. “Well I can tell you this much James is my best friend and I will always be in the picture. There is no getting rid of me.” Isabella said moving around Katerina to open the door. “See you next time Kat! Oh and one more thing …” Katerina who had been stalking out the door stopped and looked back at Isabella. “What?” She asked her eyes ablaze with fire. “Don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord spilt you.” Isabella smiled slamming the door shut in Katerina’s face.

(End of Flash Back)

“Okay that’s it. Stop it both of you!” James screamed moving between them. “I have had it. Either the two of you get along or I am done … with both of you!” James hissed looking both young women in the eyes. “Good?” James asked looking at Katerina. She huffed before replying “Yes but, you still can’t make me like her.” She said glaring at Isabella. “Fine Isabella are you good?” James asked looking at his best friend. Isabella sighed “Yeah I guess.” James sighed and smiled. “Good because I have an idea.” Both Isabella and Katerina looked at James warily. “How about a picnic near Warrington Mountains?” James asked smiling. “How about no!” Katerina said shuddering at the idea of actually having to do something outside. “It sounds perfect James.” Isabella said automatically disagreeing with Katerina to make her mad. “Well if she’s going then I’m going.” Katerina said not willing to let James be alone with Isabella. “Good it’s settled then. Tomorrow?” James asked. “That’s fine with me.” Isabella said smiling at James. “Yeah … whatever.” Katerina grumbled looking off into the distance at Warrington Mountains. Something about those mountains just didn’t look friendly to her.

Chapter 3

          Lady Katerina Fernandez was not the outdoorsy type. She had been born and bred to be a fine lady not a wild woman trekking through the mud like she was today. No today she was going on a picnic with her boyfriend and his stupid, idiotic, foolish best friend … Isabella. Lady Katerina Fernandez didn’t hate anyone but, Isabella Taylor. Isabella Taylor was the essence of evil; Somehow all this was Isabella’s fault Katerina thought as she stepped into another mud hole. “Enjoying the walk?” James asked Katerina as they walked up the path to the Warrington Mountains. Katerina smiled sweetly at her Jamesy “Yes sweetheart it’s delightful.” She said straining on the word delightful as she tripped over another rock. Behind her Isabella snorted “Those rocks sure are dangerous aren’t they Katerina?” Isabella asked smirking as she easily bypassed Katerina who wasn’t walking faster than a snail. Katerina’s nostrils flared “The only dangerous thing out here is blond and walks on two legs.” Isabella smiled “You saw the yellow hairy monster that lives in the mountains!” Isabella said almost doubling over in laughter as Katerina shrieked and ran halfway up the path. James snorted but, kept his composure as he called out to Katerina “Uh Kat, you do know that Isabella is joking right?” He asked doing his best to keep a straight face. Katerina slowly turned around and coughed in her hand slightly before answering “Yes what do you think I am James, stupid?” Isabella laughed and muttered under her breath “No but, I do.” Katerina glared at Isabella “I heard that Isabella Taylor.” Isabella smiled sweetly at Katerina before asking “What ever are you talking about Kat, do you mind if I call you Kat?” Isabella asked as seriously as she could. “Do I mind, do I mind …” Katerina trailed off though when James shot her a look.  “Let’s all calm down okay? I think this is a good enough place to sit down and eat, don’t you guys think so?” James asked motioning to the rock area that sat beside a small pond. “Yeah I guess so.” Isabella said cheerfully plopping down beside James. “It’ll …. do.” Katerina mumbled sitting down on top of the rock crossing her arms across her chest in defiance.  As James and Isabella ate (Lady Katerina Fernandez did not eat carbs) Katerina noticed a weird flashing light from one of the holes in the Mountain “James what is that?” She asked pointing at the light. “Oh that’s probably just creepy Aeron.” Isabella answered reclining back against James earning a glare from Katerina. “Who is creepy Aeron, James?” Katerina asked her lips curling as she did her best to ignore Isabella. “Creepy Aeron is a farmer that helps my Dad out sometimes. We call him Creepy Aeron because he is constantly watching everyone and eavesdropping on their conversations.” James said putting an arm around Isabella almost making Katerina die from the display of affection to his best friend. “Well that’s just disgusting who would … hey who is that?” Katerina yelled making James and Isabella cringe. “Who is who Kat?” James sighed rubbing his ear. “That man who was just staring at us from the mountain opening.” Katerina shrieked pointing at the opening. “That’s it!” James yelled running towards the mountain. “James what are you doing?” Katerina screamed as he charged off. “He doesn’t like creepy Aeron at all, Aeron especially likes to watch and eavesdrop on us.” Isabella answered for James looking worriedly where James had run off. “Well what does he think he’s doing?” Katerina asked barely above a strained whisper she was so mad. “Doing what James does best, playing the protector.” Isabella said smiling dreamily at the thought of her best friend before shaking her head slightly to clear her thoughts. “We have to go help him.” Isabella said looking at Katerina. “Help him! What, wait no! We can’t go inside the mountain it’s probably dark and damp and …” Isabella grabbed Katerina’s arm dragging her to the opening of the mountain. “We have to go; if he’s in trouble it’s our job to help him. You do care about him don’t you Kat? Isabella asked almost spitting out the last part. Katerina sighed glaring at Isabella before looking back at the mountain “Yes I guess I do.” Isabella sighed this time “Well then let’s go.” She said letting the darkness overcome her as she stepped into the mountain. 

Chapter 4

      Aeron dashed across a rock sitting in the middle of the room as he stumbled slightly trying to escape from the deranged James Smith. He hadn’t liked the boy even when he was a child. He was too protective of … Isabella. Isabella … was the essence of his living, he had known from the moment he laid eyes on the baby with pale skin and big, pure blue eyes that she was his lost cousin Princess Isabella. From that day forward he put up his fake front as farmer who just liked to help people out and once James and Isabella became best friends he often volunteered to help James father Farmer Smith. It was the best way to spy on Isabella. Right now though he couldn’t think about that the boy was gaining and fast! He dashed to the right and then the left flattening himself across a wall as James turned a corner. He watched the boy look around for a few moments before he heard Isabella and the other girl calling for James. He watched as the boy swept the room with his eyes one more time before retreating to go find his friends. Aeron quietly chuckled moving about the room before coming to sudden stop … the boy and his friends, Isabella were alone in the mountain side with only him. This was it, today his plans would finally be carried out and today he would kill Princess Isabella. He exited the room quietly and crept closer to the voices of the three young children. The girl in the long, fancy dress which was slightly covered in mud was shrieking at Isabella and how it was all her fault they were lost. Aeron smiled deviously, Lost? He could work with that. He quickly moved back towards the entrance using a stick as a makeshift lever to push a boulder in front of the mountain entrance. Today nobody would be leaving the Warrington Mountains, at least … not alive. He had to set things in motion and fast if he was going to carry out his plans: The first thing, get that fancy chick out of the way. He crept back to where the kids were talking about going. “We should work our way up and hope we find a second entrance.” The boy said hooking arms with both of the girls as they began their trek upwards. He followed them as they walked for more than an hour before sitting down to rest. He smiled wryly creeping just behind the wall they were sitting against. He watched as the boy and Isabella began making a map with a stick and dirt on the ground. This was it … he slowly cupped his hand around her small arm before slowly reaching from behind her to cover her mouth as he quickly snatched the fancy chick away from her friends and back down to the bottom of the mountain. She struggled but, he refused to look at her face. This wasn’t his first kill but, he had never killed in all sense of the word … a child. He knew he had to act quickly he could already hear the boy and Isabella calling for the girl. As he reached his secret room where he had escaped from the boy earlier he sat the girl against the wall using a piece of rope to trap her small wrist and a rag to shut her up. He then moved to a tiny cabinet on the other side of the room pulling out a shiny dagger. He crossed back over to the girl locking eyes with her only once before standing up and plunging the dagger downwards.

Upper Warrington Mountains

James and Isabella were frantically searching for Katerina. She had suddenly disappeared without even a goodbye and both James and Isabella could feel it: something was wrong, terribly wrong … they couldn’t explain how they knew it but, the air was thick with evil. As the moved farther back down the mountains Isabella stopped and grabbed James arm “Do you hear that?” James stopped as well and looked at Isabella with concern “What?” Isabella quickly moved farther down with James dashing after her “Listen James!” Isabella ordered pulling him down to where she had crouched down to lean against a wall. James listened and just as he was about to ask Isabella what she could hear that he didn’t when a strangled scream filled the air. Both James and Isabella knew who it was and when the air became silent again they didn’t have to see Katerina to know she was no longer … with them. James clouded eyes locked with Isabella’s fearful ones for just a second before they grabbed hands and took off towards the top of the mountain as fast as they could.

Aeron’s Secret Room- Lower Warrington Mountains

Aeron stared at the now body sitting just below his feet. Then simply shrugging his shoulders he picked up a blanket off of his makeshift bed and threw it over the body. He walked calmly to the door, stepping over the circle of blood that had accumulated around the body before throwing a glance just one more time at the covered body before walking out the door. His only thought being getting the boy next …

Chapter 5

          James flew across a rock chasing after Aeron. He had finally had it! All these years of Aeron spying on him and his Isabella wait! His Isabella? The thought hit him so hard he was forced to stop running just for a moment to sort out his thoughts. He shook his head effectively coming out of his stupor and ran, making his legs move even faster. He was gaining one more step and Aeron wouldn’t know what hit him. He suddenly came to a stop though and punched the nearest wall. Aeron had turned a corner and seemingly disappeared. He was so close! He let his eyes sweep the cave like room and then backed out to go find Katerina and Isabella. He trudged down a few steep steps almost running smack dab into the girls as they were coming up. “James Smith where have you been?” Katerina yelled putting her hands on her hips for emphasis. Isabella smirked at Katerina’s silly display before putting her finger right between James eyes and poking … hard. “What were you thinking James, he could have killed you!” Isabella screamed making James take a step back in fear. “Calm down okay, right now what we need to focus on is getting out here.” James said holding his hands out in mercy. Isabella and Katerina exchanged a glance before both sighed and said in unison “Fine.” The three young kids turned around following the light from the cave entrance as a guide, every once in a while taking a turn. “Wait something isn’t right, didn’t we already pass this?” James asked pointing to an elaborate ink drawing on the wall. “Shouldn’t you know?” Isabella asked moving to rest against the adjacent wall. “Shouldn’t he know! Shouldn’t you know Isabella? What does my boyfriend have to do all the work?” Katerina yelled spit flying from her mouth to the ground as she advanced on Isabella. “This is your entire fault anyway!” Isabella laughed “My fault? Excuse me but, …” She didn’t get to finish though because the walkway suddenly became pitch black. “James what just happened?” Katerina called sounding close to tears. Isabella rolled her eyes shushing the girl “Shut up and we might be able to figure it out!” Katerina only whimpered in response. “We should work our way up and hope we find a second entrance.” James strong voice came from somewhere out of the darkness. Neither girl replied as they hooked arms with him and began making the journey upwards. They walked for almost an hour before collapsing to the ground. “This is hopeless James we’ve been walking forever and we still haven’t found another entrance. The only good thing is Miss. I’m All That hasn’t said a word the whole time.” Isabella said tossing a glance over her shoulder to Katerina who was glaring at her with fire in her eyes. “Isabella leave Kat alone … let’s I don’t know try to make a map?” James asked Isabella moving to sit beside her. Isabella shrugged her shoulders “Yeah I guess it couldn’t hurt.” As they began to make the map Isabella’s insides began to crawl … she felt uneasy, like something wasn’t right. “James do you feel …?” Isabella asked scooting closer to James for warmth and comfort. “Yeah I do.” James replied putting an arm around Isabella. “Kat do feel weird?” James asked casually glancing over his shoulder before shooting straight up in the air. She was gone! “James what’s …?” Isabella asked standing up. “Look behind you! She’s gone!” James said now officially freaking out. Isabella turned around only to discover an empty room. Even though she didn’t say it out loud she already knew something was wrong. Katerina was a dumb pixie who Isabella could have done without in life but, Isabella had already figured out that Miss. All that was afraid of the dark so she knew good and well that Katerina would not have left this room on her own. She putting a calming hand on James shoulder knowing he was thinking the same thing. “Okay let’s take a deep breath and go look for her even … even if somebody took her they couldn’t have gone far.” James took a deep breath, shook his head a little to clear his thoughts and nodded. “Let’s Go.” They searched for what seemed like hours which in reality was only a few minutes when Isabella suddenly stopped and grabbed James arm “Do you hear that?” James stopped as well and looked at Isabella with concern “What?” Isabella quickly moved farther down with James dashing after her “Listen James!” Isabella ordered pulling him down to where she had crouched down to lean against a wall. James listened and just as he was about to ask Isabella what she could hear that he didn’t when a strangled scream filled the air.
They didn’t have to see the body to know Katerina was dead. Living in a small crowded village you became familiar with the sounds of death and the sound that had just lit up Warrington Mountains was one of them. James clouded eyes locked with Isabella’s fearful ones for just a second before they grabbed hands and took off towards the top of the mountain as fast as they could with only one thought: Katerina had just been murdered and they were next.

Chapter 6

         James and Isabella moved quickly up to the top of the mountain. Only stopping for breath when they could find a darker than dark corner. As they were crouching down into one of those corners James had his head on his knees struggling for breath. Isabella was sitting beside him looking down at him with concern. She couldn’t imagine what he was feeling right now but, she did know one thing: They were going to die unless they found a way out of here. She took a deep but, quiet breath looking at their surroundings. They needed to take a good look around but, they knew Aeron was close. So they hadn’t dared move out of the shadows even when they were walking. Isabella moved her hand to James shoulder “James we have to come up with a plan and fast. He’s close and he lives here. He knows this mountain from top to bottom.” Isabella whispered trying to urge James to come up with a plan. But his eyes remained glued to the floor, his eyes glassy with unshed tears and Isabella realized with a sinking heart that she would have to get her and James out of here … all by herself. Steadying herself to trudge through the darkness again, she grabbed James hands and using the walls as leverage she began leading James upwards praying to the gods that they would find an entrance to the outside soon. They walked onwards for more hours than she count on one hand when she finally led James into a corner and collapsed to the ground. This mountain obviously only had one entrance and that was at the bottom. Meaning that they would have to risk coming face to face with Aeron. She was ready to put her face in her hands and cry when James spoke for the first time since Katerina was murdered “Isabella where are we?” Isabella could have cried in relief at his tired and hoarse voice. “We’re somewhere near the top of the mountains but, James we have to go back down, the mountain only has one entrance but, if we go back down we risk running into Aeron.” Isabella said almost hysterical by the time she got through. James just looked at her with a blank face “Aeron?” If Isabella hadn’t been so upset herself, she probably would have hit him. “Yes Aeron, do you not remember who just murdered …” Isabella was cut off as James stood hurriedly stepping into the open. “James!” Isabella loudly whispered, trying to pull him back into the shadows. “No!” James yelled “I’m going to kill him and nothing you can do will stop me!” He told Isabella before running the opposite direction they had come. Isabella could have died, she wanted to die. She was alone, James was probably about to die any minute and she was pretty sure she wouldn’t be long behind him. She fell back into the corner leaning on her knees for support when a hand grasped her shoulder. She sighed in relief and was about to tell James off for running away when she looked up and screamed. A tall, older man with aging robes and a long beard stood before her. She was about to scream again when the man put his hand over her mouth and her last thought as he began dragging her somewhere in the mountain was of how she had never told James that she loved him … more than friends.