As dawn's light filtered through the academy windows, casting long shadows across the floor, Eko and Matthew found themselves caught in a painful standoff. The morning, which should have begun like so many others—wrapped in each other's arms—was overshadowed by tension, with Madison's words slowly driving a wedge between them.

Matthew, usually open and warm, now seemed like a stranger, his body language guarded and his eyes, those bright blue windows to his thoughts, clouded with doubt and fear. Eko could almost see the walls he was erecting around himself, a fortress meant to shield him from potential hurt. Her heart ached seeing this, understanding that his physical withdrawal mirrored the emotional distance he was creating.

He had finished recounting Madison's words, and though Eko sensed there were gaps in his story—moments he hesitated—she didn't press him to fill in the details.

"Matthew, please, listen to me, look at me!" Eko's plea shattered the silence, her words desperate to mend the growing rift, to draw him back from the edge. Slowly, his gaze met hers again.

"I am staying! There is no other part to that statement."  Eko reaffirmed. "Have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?"

"I need to know what all of this is, Eko. I don't get it, I don't understand what the hell is happening!" Matthew's voice was thick with confusion and urgency. Ordinarily, he maintained a composed and patient demeanor, but the current situation with Eko unleashed a torrent of emotions that he found difficult to manage.

This loss of control was utterly alien to him; he had spent years since his childhood, with Teddy's guidance, learning to anchor his emotions. Yet now, faced with the complexities of his feelings for the woman before him, all his old anxieties resurfaced, intensifying his distress and shaking the foundations of the emotional discipline he had worked so hard to build.

"Madison is obsessed with us leaving. She thinks we're in danger here, but you should ha-" Eko began, her words tumbling out as she tried to inject some reason into the conversation.

He cut her off sharply, his voice slicing through her explanation. "Her obsession could get you killed! Don't you see? If you leave here and don't go to one of the academy bases, if you just run away, I won't be able to protect you!"

"I get that!" Eko asserted, her tone firm, countering the growing coldness in his demeanor. "You don't need to tell me that! What do you think I've been arguing with her about!?"

"Then don't look at me like that," his voice brimmed with frustration. "You're following her because she's the princess. I need honesty from you, Eko. I can't help you if you don't talk to me!"

Eko was momentarily stunned she didn't know what to counter first with, that he didn't believe the lie that who they buried was the princess, and that most importantly his mistaken belief that Madison was the said princess. This was the moment to set the record straight—she herself was the princess, not Madison, and this misunderstanding was at the root of her cousin's erratic behavior.

"I-I..." she stammered, her eyes wide with the realization that she needed to set things straight.

Matthew interpreted her hesitation as an admission. "Look, we clearly need to talk more about this. While I'm not happy about being kept in the dark or that you didn't tell me... Fuck. I get it, I really don't like this, but I understand," he said, shaking his head in mixed emotions. "I won't say anything more until we agree what our next steps are."

He ran his fingers through his hair, clearly wrestling with his thoughts.

"What's next, then?" Eko's brows furrowed not liking what that meant.

"The truth is, you have a pattern with men, using them as a way to cope," He paused, his expression pained. "I get it, I do. Everyone has a coping mechanism, a way to deal with their grief and trauma. You use them, like how you used me at the beginning. The same with Luke...when you felt bored and alone," his voice dropped  trailing off as he looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. "You tell them you love them."

"Did Madison say that?" Eko's voice trembled, for his last words struck her profoundly. They were said so softly, and they hurt her more than any physical pain she had endured. Give her a rampaging youma that speared her through the abdomen, or the time Ace miscalculated a move, and his dagger meant for a behemoth went into her thigh. She would take a Krackers' poisonous tentacle and endure a week of vomiting rather than ever feel what she felt at that moment when he spoke those words.

"Matthew," Eko whispered as she stepped forward, and this time she was allowed to cup his cheeks, to touch him despite his defeated look. Her hands gently brushed upwards into his hair, moving back and forth in an attempt to soothe the anxiety in his heart. "We both have had casual flings, we have both used people to feel nothing, I think a lot of people do these days. What we thought we were getting into was not what happened between us. You know that."

"I do," he nodded, his acknowledgment shaped by a palpable, uncontrolled fear.

"You are the only person I have ever loved." Eko's eyes implored him, hoping he could see the truth in her gaze. "That is not a lie. I have never told anyone else that I loved them—not in the way I love you. Before you, the only 'I love yous' were to Maddy, maybe my papa when I was little, I think... But, love was never a word I used lightly; love was never in my definition of life."

She pressed forward, kissing him. "I love you, with everything that I have." She wanted to consume him with her love, but he barely responded, his arms remaining at his sides rather than wrapping around her waist as they usually would. Desperation tightened its grip on her, and she took a step closer, clutching at his shirt as she felt the distance between them growing.

Then, a surge of determination washed over her. She was not going to lose him, not going to let Madison ruin the best thing in her life. With that resolve, Eko pulled away, her demeanor now fierce. She didn't want him to spiral any further into doubt. "You are stuck with me for the rest of your life; we're a team!" she asserted more forcefully, pointing her finger at him almost wrathfully. "Matthew, you and I, we are a fucking team, and that is the end of this whole conversation—am I understood?"

It seemed to have an effect, as she sensed him reconnecting with her. He nodded slowly, and with that, Eko took hold of his chin, her resolve strengthening. "Now tell me what else is eating at you?"

His hand gripped her wrist, his eyes bouncing between hers. "What does it mean when the courts are reinstated? Are you leaving me?"

Eko shook her head vehemently. "No, I'm not. Absolutely not. As for the courts, I don't know, nobody does from what you've told me. Everyone's just in limbo until the year of mourning is over."

"What happens when Madison takes the throne? You're her cousin, which implies you have some royal responsibilities! So, I'm asking you again, what does that mean for us?"

"Matthew, my parents are gone, and any title I once had doesn't define who I am. Sure, I have duties, but they're not beyond what others can handle. My place is here, with you. I love you, that's all there is to it," Eko replied with conviction. "I'm staying right here with you. You are where I belong. Understood?"

He gently lowered her hand from his face and guided it down between them before letting go, stepping back slightly.

"Go and fucking sort things out with her, Eko!" Matthew's voice was tight with frustration. "Get on the same fucking page. If you love me, then you're here with me, at Allegiant. If you're not, then pack your shit and go back to the royal house. But I will not spend my life worrying that you'll turn your fucking back on me and run. I have had enough of that shit in my life, and I'm not choosing to go through it again with anyone."

Standing there, Eko could sense the deep seeds of doubt Madison had planted in his mind. without question There was more said that she didn't think he was ever going to tell her about. These words had twisted his thoughts, leading him to believe that she didn't love him, that she would  abandon him—a thought that made her blood boil with rage.

"Matthew, nobody's running," she said with firm conviction, but what surprised her was when he turned his back on her and stormed off towards the training arena. "Matthew!" Eko's voice cracked with desperation and anger. "Nobody is running, Matthew!"

******* *******

Eko stormed into the room, her fury building with each step. This relationship with Matthew was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and it was still hard to believe that she had Matthew in her life now. She was adamant about making that clear to Madison. She was here to stay, creating a new life with him and that there was no going back to their old life.

"You!" Eko burst in, startling Madison who spun around in surprise. Her fists clenched at her sides, Eko was a portrait of raw confrontation. "How dare you!"

The scene before her struck her like a blow. Madison, wide-eyed, was caught amidst scattered bags and clothing—a chaotic mess that amplified Eko's indignation. She pointed accusingly at her cousin, her voice seething with anger.

"I can't fucking believe you!" Eko's voice shook with emotion. "How fucking dare you do what you did!"

Madison scoffed, her tone dismissive. "Don't be so theatrical, as I told him, and as you know Sera, I have had enough of this ridiculous 'thing' you have going on with him. We are leaving for Mein today! I am sick and tired of your childish whims."

"You have no right to dictate my life!" Eko's anger surged to a boiling point as Madison's words sliced through the air. "And that 'THING' is my relationship with Matthew!"

Madison's temper flared up. "You are the crowned Queen," she retorted sharply. "He will never be good enough for you!"

"THEN YOU DO IT!" Eko yelled back hysterically, her emotions mirroring Madison's intensity. "BECAUSE I'M STAYING HERE!"  Her distress was palpable as she pleaded with Madison.

"What?" Madison exclaimed in confusion.

"Be me!" Eko pressed urgently, desperation in her voice as she pounded her chest with her hand. "Take the bracelet and stay as me! You are far better at it then what I am! So you do it!"

Madison shook her head, turning her back on Eko to continue packing her bags. "You've lost your mind," she muttered dismissively. "I'm not leaving you here, and I'm certainly not pretending to be you."

"Madison, stop packing!" Eko's plea was more frantic now. "I'm not leaving him; I'm not going anywhere with you!"

But Madison ignored her cousin's pleas, continuing to rummage through her bags until she found what she was looking for. With a swift motion, she zipped up the bag, grabbed it with one hand, and turned to face Sera, revealing a small bracelet on her wrist.

Eko's heart raced with the recognition of what that bracelet could do. "Maddy... where did you get a transportation device?" she stuttered, her shock evident.

"I have my sources," Madison snapped back, her voice thick with anger and resentment. "Especially when you're off with that vile creature like some... some fucking whore!"

The magic of the transportation device began to envelop Eko, its ethereal glow seeping into her very bones. She found herself powerless to resist, her anger peaking as her surroundings began to blur and shift. She shot a furious glare at Madison, realizing that her cousin could have very well pre-set their destination to Mein.

The swirl of colors and the cacophony of noises surrounding the transportation process enveloped Eko, dragging her toward an uncertain fate. Unlike the usual transportation crystals she handled, which allowed for precise manipulation, this device's experience was disorienting and unpredictable. Such magical items were notorious for their unstable nature, a fact that heightened Eko's anxiety as she was forcibly whisked away.

As reality solidified around her, Eko found herself standing on unfamiliar ground. Towering structures, weathered and crumbling, cast elongated shadows across the narrow streets in the fading light. Above, the sky painted a dramatic canvas of deep crimson mingled with strokes of orange and red, a vivid departure from the serene blues of her home world. The celestial dance of three moons in the alien sky cast an otherworldly glow, setting the scene in an eerie, unsettling light.

This new world was alive with an array of beings and creatures, each more peculiar and intriguing than the last. Alien forms bustled about their day, their strange features and unfamiliar motions painting a picture of life vastly different from her own. The architecture, flora, and fauna—all were strange, enveloping Eko in the profound sense of being utterly out of place.

Caught in the throng of the city's inhabitants, Eko was buffeted by bodies unfamiliar and brisk. As she struggled to maintain her balance, she realized that Madison was also fighting to keep pace, equally overwhelmed by the push and pull of the crowd.

"What have you done!" Eko's voice, sharp with panic and anger, cut through the din of the alien evening.

"I've gotten us away from Isadora," Madison called back, her tone urgent as she navigated the throng. She seized Eko's wrist, pulling her along with a determined grip, her eyes fixed on navigating through the chaotic marketplace.

Caught in a moment of uncertainty, Eko surveyed their new environment. The marketplace buzzed with activity; vendors energetically haggled over a variety of goods while exotic creatures were bartered and sold. "Okay, that's good. Trade is good," she muttered to herself, trying to find a silver lining.

However, as they ventured deeper into the market, Eko's discomfort intensified. The buildings loomed in various states of disrepair, some teetering on the brink of collapse, others patched together in a makeshift fashion. Overhead, unidentified aircraft swooped low, casting foreboding shadows across the bustling streets. Nearby, a landing pad thrummed with the sound of engines, adding to the cacophony of the market's atmosphere.

A wave of dread swept over Eko. Where exactly were they? This alien environment was unlike anything she had ever encountered, and the sheer unfamiliarity of it all magnified her anxiety. Gripping Madison's hand tightly, her heart thudded loudly as she tried to orient herself.

"Mads, where the fuck are we?" Eko demanded, her voice sharp, cutting through the noise. She withdrew her hand from Madison's grasp, her eyes widening in panic. The realization struck her hard—if she didn't even know their location, how could she possibly use her powers to escape? Eko was aware of the limitations of her abilities; traveling beyond two planets was a strain that could leave her dangerously depleted.

"Language," Madison replied coolly, seemingly unaffected by Eko's tone. "We're on Creon."

"Creon?" Eko repeated, her mind scrambling to connect the name with any known coordinates.

"It's adjacent to Mein," Madison added, offering a piece of crucial information with unsettling calmness.

"That's Cyrion, this," Eko muttered as they maneuvered through the bustling streets, her anxiety mounting with each step. "Fuck, Mads, where have you taken us!"

Madison's face paled, her earlier confidence faltering. "I checked," she protested weakly, but it was too late—Eko's anger was already simmering.

"You clearly didn't check well enough!" Eko snapped, her frustration and fear erupting. "Now we're stuck here, and I have no idea how to get us out!"

Eko's anger peaked, and in a swift motion, she yanked her wrist away, turning to fully assess their alien surroundings. "We could be in even more danger here. What were you thinking? We were safe back home!"

"I brought us here because Mein is fortified, as is our world. It's not easy to just teleport in there. This was the next best option." Madison tried to justify her decision, her voice tense.

"You're an idiot, Mads. Look at the stuff you get us into!"

Madison raised her voice, defensive. "I'd rather be here than back on Isadora, right in the middle of a war zone. At least no one here knows who you are, and they won't understand what's happening!"

Eko facepalmed her, exasperation overtaking her. She let out a weary groan. "And what exactly is your brilliant fucking plan from here?"

"This is the second time today I've had to remind you about your language, Sera!" Madison scolded sharply. "The plan remains unchanged. We find our way to Mein," she explained, her tone resolute, "you can transport us there once we figure out exactly where we are."

Eko struggled to keep her composure, biting her lip to hold back a barrage of frustrated words. She was painfully aware of the trouble they were now in, and her greatest concern was contacting Matthew to explain what had happened. He was the only one with the resources and the capability to rescue them.

Her heart plummeted as she envisioned Matthew returning to find their sudden disappearance. Imagining him alone, confronted with their hastily packed bags and an empty space where they once were, was agonizing. She could almost feel the sharp sting of betrayal that would pierce him, the profound sense of abandonment that would envelop him—his deepest insecurities laid bare and realized. This visceral image tightened a knot of guilt and remorse in her stomach, tormenting her with the realization that this chaos would only solidify all the poisonous seeds of doubt Madison had planted in Matthew's mind. The pain of this thought was nearly unbearable, intensifying her desperation.

"We need to go," Eko said, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and desperation. She grabbed Madison's wrist, her fingers digging into the skin, a physical manifestation of her determination to protect her relationship with Matthew.

Madison attempted to resist, her response feeble. But Eko's determination was clear; she was exhausted from being manipulated and tired of Madison's reckless decisions endangering their lives.

"This is for the best," Madison insisted, her voice attempting to wield authority.

"Say one more fuckin' word," Eko warned, her voice seething with finality. Her patience had reached its breaking point. She was thoroughly done with Madison's games.