Another meeting is in order. Once I had told Axil he suggested that his father should be present, and for a moment I considered it. The king holds power that not any of us can wield... well except for Axil, but that isn't for another four months. And, while it may have been a good idea for the King of Lumbridge to be present for our discussion, but I need a clear picture before involving him.

It had only hit me once Crista was there with me.

"How's the dream situation?" I pause. "Well, not dream." I shudder at the thought of slowly dying being a dream. "Have you had anymore nightmares?"

She shrunk back into her shoulders. "Only one."

She shifts uncomfortably back and forth, soothingly rocking herself. I try to blink away the hazy blue that's clouding the room but it's too strong. Blue. Not black. Worry. Not fear.

"What happened?" I ask as softly as I can.

She takes a deep breath. "It started the same as last time. That same dark hallway and... I could hear my heartbeat but this time it was different."

"Different how?"

She clasps her hands together and rubs the side of her palm. "Instead of my heartbeat getting faster it..." she stops, pondering over which word to use. "It got slower but louder. I don't even know if that makes sense. I just felt... heavy?"

I nod, keeping up with all the information. The same dream, but changing. "You say you were still going down that dark hallway. Were you running?"

She looks to the side, focusing on remembering her... dream? Nightmare? Whatever it may be.

"No." She faintly shakes her head. "I wasn't running but I know I needed to get somewhere, and quickly," she adds for effect. "It was as if time was slowing down for me and only me. Like the world was moving at a much faster pace than I could keep up with. It was like what I was looking for was right there with me and yet—

"You couldn't seem to find it."

She finally looks at me. Really looks at me.

"Yes."

My jaw becomes tight as I bite down. "Meet me in the Study in an hour."

I go to leave but as I place my hand on the door and swing it open I hear Crista's usual sassy voice with a twinge of unease.

"Where are you going?"

I turn back at her. "To round up the group. That's how we do things. Together."

***

"So, what's this big plan?" Lucy asks.

"It's not a plan yet, but I'm hoping together we can figure out what Eden might want and make a plan accordingly."

I can't help but remember the last time when I had 'made a plan.' It was all my fault. Everything was on my call, and I failed. Everyone says it wasn't my fault. Adam died fearlessly and there was nothing anyone could have done. But over time, all I can think about is all the things I could have done. Break the bonds tied to me, try just a little harder to get a scream out, fight just a little longer. But more than anything, I messed up at the beginning. I shouldn't have let John gain power over me in the first place.

I should have been more aware. I should have known he would be too sneaky to detect. I should have known he wouldn't let anyone stand in his way. He has always shown resilience... solidity... I should have told Adam and Lucy to stay away. It was my fight, not theirs and yet they were the ones to pay the consequences.

"Let's take a look at what you have so far," Axil says encouragingly. He nods slightly. An unspoken understanding.

We look over the whole list. Saying everything out loud, mismatching different points, trying to decode something that isn't there. And though we go through everything, we all seem to have a blind eye to the line about Crista.

"We really need to focus on these slave marks. They—" he bites the inside of his cheek, shaking his head with a scowl. "We need to do everything we can to get those marks off of you two."

"What we really need to do is figure out what Eden wants so badly," I speak. If there is any hope for Lucy and Crista to live through this, unfortunately, it's giving Eden what she wants."

Crista reaches her hand out into the middle of us. "What if she wants your magic?"

"Why?" Axil spits. "That doesn't make any sense. First of all, Eden's Chosen." He puts 'Chosen' in air quotes. "She's one of the most powerful sorceresses out there. What would she want with Zaria's magic?"

"You misunderstand me," Crista says suddenly very calm. "Not Zaria's magic, but the part her mother and I gave her."

"What do you mean?" he asks getting more and more annoyed.

"She thinks Zaria is too powerful," says Lucy.

She hasn't spoken this whole time.

"She's probably worried that there might be some competition now. She's afraid that there might be someone out there who is equally as powerful as her and she doesn't know her next step."

"I have my mother's magic?" I ask.

"Yes," says Lucy, confidently. When a sorcerer or sorceress dies, a bit of their magic gets passed down to their family and the rest goes into the Crystal Caves. You got it the first time she died, whether you knew it or not, and now I'm sure you've even gotten a little more."

I had just played it off as luck in Flesherg. At the time I didn't know it was due to my dead mother's magic. I got away when I shouldn't have. I seemed to turn invisible when caught. I ran faster than I should have and lifted stronger than was normal.

"Okay... But even if that's true, why go after you two, instead of Zaria?... No offense..." he says.

"None taken. I was wondering the same thing."

Lucy turns to Crista. "Honestly, we need to get a smarter group. I was dying without you here. Being the brains of this group is a heavy weight."

"Glad to help," Crista snickers. They break their huddle and Crista finally addresses the rest of us. "I mean, it's kind of obvious. She knows how many times Zaria has sacrificed herself for us. She would have no problem fighting Eden until the end, even if it meant her death."

"Wouldn't we do the same though?" Axil asks.

"Sure, we would if it meant protecting everyone else. But you have to understand, she doesn't want us, she wants Zaria. Hurting us is the best way to get her to act."

"I'm still not understanding," I say, doubtfully.

This time Lucy is the one to speak up. "You can't run off to Eden by yourself. She'll kill you, and we'll all eventually die."

"... You know?"

She folds her arms in front of her. "I know what a slave mark is, and not just the story. I know I'm dying and so does Crista." She looks towards her and they share a sympathetic look.

"What are my options?" I ask defeated.

Lucy presses her lips together. "I think there's only one."

"No!" Axil shouts. "There must be something we can do! I will not let this woman tear apart—

"SHE ALREADY HAS!" My heart skips a beat from the shock of Lucy's voice. Low and formal. She strides over right in front of Axil, looking down on him. "Face it, Axil. She knows now is the perfect time to do this. The kingdom is weak with the crown passing so soon. She will chew you up and spit you out. So do us all a favor and worry about keeping these walls up instead of chasing after some witch." She backs away. "This isn't your fight, Axil. Just promise me Lumbridge will still be standing once I'm gone."

"Lucy," I say distressed. "Let's— let's all just take a breather... Come back to this tomorrow."

I take my leave first, letting the door shut behind me. I shut out as best I can any aura that fogs up the halls. I hurry to my room and am carful to lock the door behind me.

I turn back around wanting to flop on my bed and take a nap.

"AHH!"

"Shhhh. Pack your things," Lucy says covering my mouth. "We're going on a little adventure."