Chapter Thirty One

My eyes opens for a quick second before they shut again. I open them again but this time, I keep them open. I slowly glance around my surrounding and realize I'm no longer laying in the snow but I'm in a moving car.

"Are you finally awake this time or are you going to fall back to sleep?"

I bring myself to sit up. "No, I don't think so. At least not right now."

He looks back at road. "Good because all I want to do is lecture you about how completely stupid you were."

"So, why don't you?" I ask.

"Because I realize that's not the most important thing at the moment." He looks at me through the rear view mirror. "You being safe is all that matters."

"I'm sorry, Hayes. I really thought we could out smart Ramadi. He played us though."

"It's Ramadi. Even when you think you're one step ahead of him, you're not." He says. "He thinks of every possible outcomes and prepares for them. He knew exactly how to get you and Lily away from the mansion to finish his task and he did it."

He planted those images in Abe's mind because he knew Lily would look for him. He knew we would come after Abe ourselves and we played right into his trap. He was never going to the mansion and he knew if we thought that we could "save" Abe from the lake, we'd go. The same road, we took, is the same one his men were waiting for us on. They knew we were going to drive through it and they planned the perfect ambushed.

Ramadi knew he couldn't come for Lily and I directly without a fight so he waited until Abe left for his meeting to make his move. He knew we wouldn't sit by and wait. He knew we would take action and we practically handed Tartarus over to him.

And through all of that, Ramadi still has Abe.

"Are you going to tell me what happened after I blacked out or am I going to have to figure it out?" I ask.

"You did the right thing. You called out for Aqua and she was by your side in a blink of an eye. She keep your heart beating long enough until I could get there. She gave you some of her energy to hold you through. But it was only a small amount in doses. So, that's why you didn't because fully conscious until now."

"How did you know where to find me?"

"After we find the car completely totaled, I knew Ramadi took both of you and from there I had to play the waiting game. When the lights reached the sky, we knew where you two were. We separated and I headed for you while Lucas and Reid went for Lily." He tells me. "You were up in Alaska and Lily was in Brazil."

"Where are we now?" I ask, looking through the windows.

"Back in Montana. We took a plane to get back here."

I frown. "If we're back in Montana, then I've been out for-"

"Roughly six hours." He finishes for me. "We're almost to the mansion."

I nod. "Great. But what are we going to do about Abe?"

"Don't worry about that. Reid and I will find him and get him back."

"I want to help."

"You've done enough helping."

I stay silent for the rest of the drive and forty minutes later, we're back at the mansion. It seems like I've been gone for days but in reality is only been a day. Marie checks my vitals and gives me fluids I lost before I'm back to almost being normal.

I head to my room to shower and think about our next move. Obviously we can't do anything until Lily gets back but once she is here, we have a lot of things to discuss and work out.

But she doesn't get here for another two hours and by then it's one in the morning, on Sunday.

She walks through the front door, looking rough and I'm sure that's how I looked before I took a shower. She doesn't say anything. She just heads to her room and doesn't return until another hour passes by. She looks refreshed and I see the anger on her face.

"I'm gonna tip their bloody heads off!" She tells us. "They took our dad. They tricked us and on top of that they almost killed us. Do I need to say anymore?"

"No." Reid says. "Hayes and I are already working on getting Abe back."

"Good because I want to be there when we see them. I'm gonna make them pay for pretty everything they did to us." Lily says, sitting down on the couch beside me.

"You're not going anywhere." Reid tells her. "You're staying here while we go get Abe."

"No, we're not." Lily protests. "Didn't you just hear what I said?"

He nods. "I did which it more reasons for you two to stay here. Hayes contacted Ramadi and he's willing to meet us in two hours to return Abe to us."

"Does it not scream, it's a trap?" I ask. "Ramadi is giving us Abe with no strings attached. It doesn't seem right. Shady actually."

"We know that." Hayes says. "That's why we're bringing our own backup."

"We need to go too." Lily says. "I overheard Ramadi's men saying he's in a weak state right now because of awakening Tartarus."

That's why Dante said Ramadi wanted them to leave right then and there because he was weak and he needed his protection.

"Why is he weak?" I ask. "We're the ones who did all the work?"

Hayes frowns. "Think about it." He says. "All Ramadi ever wanted was to awaken Tartarus, a powerful monster. Now that he accomplished that he's weak. As in five hundred years weak."

Reid understands immediately. "He wanted to become all powerful and when he awakened Tartarus, Tartarus's power went into Ramadi."

"They're connected." Lucas says. "And if this guy is a dangerous as you're making him seem then he just because invincible and indestructible."

"Not necessarily." I speak. "Lily and I gave Tartarus his powers and we can take it away. And if Lucas is right about them being connected then we can take both of them out."

"One problem." Reid says. "You're supposed to be dead, remember?"

I nod. "Exactly. That's our advantage. They think we died and there's no one on this planet that can stop them. They think they won but we take them by surprise. We play them at their own game."

Lily looks at me, smiling. "That's a brilliant idea. You're supposed to be meeting him soon and we'll go with you. Ramadi is weak and this may be our only chance to defeat him. Our best chance."

"And if we defeat Ramadi, we defeat Tartarus." I add. "It's a great plan."

"And let's say we don't defeat Ramadi." Hayes speaks. "Then he'll know you two are alive and there goes our element of surprise."

I shrug. "Then we can't lose. We destroy him today."

"They have the right idea." Reid says, looking at Hayes. "Ramadi is weak and we take him out before he gets stronger."

"I agree with them." Lucas says. "It is our best chance."

"And who said you were coming?" Hayes asks, lifting an eyebrow. "Look, I understand how high our chances are but I don't want to risk anything."

"You're already risking something." I point out. "You're going to meet Ramadi to get our father back. Ramadi can't be trusted and who's the say he will even bring Abe with him? For all we know, he can be sending you to this location, for your death. So why not risk this?"

He runs his hand down his face, thinking about what we said before sighing.

"Okay, if we're going to do this, we're going to do it my way and my way only."

We listen carefully to what his plan is and in the next hour we get everything we need and pile into the SUV, ready to finally end this once and for all.

The destination Ramadi wants to meet is only an hour away, in a remote location, concealed by trees. Hayes park the car on an hidden dirt road and we get out the car.

"Stick with the plan." He reminds us as we head in a different way than them. "And don't do anything reckless this time."

I nod. "We got this, okay."

Hayes gives me one last look before disappearing into the trees. They're meeting in the middle and instead of going the short way, Lily and I, head in the long direction. The way, that takes us behind the enemies.

We would've went in the same direction as them but Hayes pointed out that Ramadi's men have an annoying habit of making sure no one who wasn't invited doesn't came. So, they marked out bringing their own back up.

So, heading to Ramadi's side it actually safer. They won't expect us to be behind them and with the exchange going on they won't even notice us. They won't expect us until it's too late.

We reach our destination in about five minutes and we climb up the trees for a better view point and to stay conceal by the leaves. Plus it's still kinda dark outside. The sun won't be raising until another hour or so.

"You can tell your men to stand down." Hayes says. "We didn't bring anyone else."

"I'm sure if you were in my position, you will be concern as well." I hear Ramadi's voice before I see him.

"Ah, so the rumors are truth then. You are in a weak state." Hayes replies.

"Not weak enough for you to kill, if that's what your thinking."

Hayes shrugs. "Maybe not. Or maybe you've given me a strong enough reason to tear your head from your body." He says, coldly.

"What are those reasons? I'm sure your friends and king are dying to know." Ramadi taunts.

"There's a lot." Hayes says. "But the one thing that tops everything is killing the princesses."

"What?" Abe asks, shocked. "My daughters are dead?" He struggles against his captivators. "You killed my daughters! The only two things I have left in this world!"

"I didn't know they were dead until now." Ramadi tells him. "I didn't want them to die but I can't say I'm not happy they aren't here anymore. They're the only ones who could've stopped me and now that they're gone, there's no one who can touch me." He brags. "It actually saves me the trouble of having to kill them when they came after me. Everything works itself out, doesn't it?"

I exchange a glance with Lily. Think again.

"I might add, their deaths did not go in vain." Ramadi continues. "After all, I owe it to them for making me the powerful being on this planet. They made me ruler. What's a better way to die?"

"Enough with the small talk." Reid steps in. "Head over Abe and we can all leave."

"Right, the king." Ramadi looks over to Abe. "How does it feel to know your let your daughters down? They trusted you with their life and you let them die? What would Allison think? She left her daughters in your hands and you couldn't keep them safe. You failed as a father, as a king."

Abe doesn't say anything and I know he must feel heartbroken not knowing Lily and I are still alive and we're right behind him, waiting for the signal to end Ramadi.

"You have nothing to say for yourself." Ramadi says. "Very well then. Release him so he can go grief with the rest."

They let Abe go and he doesn't even think to attack Ramadi. I'm sure Ramadi watches Abe walk away from him with a proud look on his face, as if he truly won.

Once he gets to the guys, Lucas grabs Abe and whispers into his ear, telling him our plan. The plan is to get Abe away for us, away from the place and back to the mansion.

Abe nods, understanding what he has to do. Before he leaves, he turns to look at Ramadi.

"You always were the better genius." Abe says. "I tried to play a game I knew I wasn't destined to win and you proved that today. You took everything that I ever loved away from me. My family, my people, my kingdom. You took it."

Abe turns and leaves, heading for the car. If we can keep Ramadi's men distracted long enough, Abe will reach the other guardians close by and be out of harm's way.

"That's it?" Ramadi says. "You're not even going to attempt to attack? You all are more pathetic than I thought."

"What's the point of trying to attack when you know we will lose?" Reid asks. "Whatever we do, it wouldn't matter. It won't bring them back."

Ramadi nods. "That is true but you can at least try to avenge their deaths."

"You killed my girlfriend." Lucas says. "Don't you think I don't want to be right beside her?" Lucas takes a step forward.

"What are you doing, Lucas?" Hayes asks.

Lucas looks at him. "What do you think I'm doing? I want to die. I can't live without her. I won't. So, please Ramadi, kill me."

"Stop, Lucas." Reid orders him. "Lily wouldn't have wanted you to do this and you know that."

"I don't care anymore. We're all gonna die anyway." He shrugs. "It might as well be now."

He continues to walk farther getting closer to Ramadi.

"Wait!" Hayes yells. "Before you kill him, do you want to know the real reason why we haven't attacked yet?"

"Do tell." Ramadi says.

"Because we beat you at your own game." Hayes tells him. "Abe's safe now and did you really believe we would waste a perfect opportunity to kill you?" He smirks. "Now!"

There's our cue. Lily and I jump off the branch and and block Ramadi off, he's surrounded. He's taken by surprise. His eyes are widened as he sees us.

I reach behind me and grab an arrow, pointing it straight at him while Lily pressing the tip of her sword in his neck.

"You're supposed to be dead." He tells us.

"We couldn't die and miss all the fun, now could we?" I ask, smiling.

"If fun is what you want." Ramadi replies. "Then you can have all the fun you want."

I frown, confused by his words the the earth begins to move.

"Lily what are doing?" I ask.

"I'm not doing anything." She replies.

During our confusion, Ramadi takes it as his opportunity to escape from us. He slips into the forest, running away. I swear.

And before Lily and I can chase him, we figure out why the earth moved. Clawing its way out the ground it's a monster, with light grey skin and bloody red eyes. It's has three sharp claws in the front for hands and sharper teeth.

Right before it can kill us, a blade comes flying into its chest, turning it into dust. I turn my head to see Hayes coming toward us.

"What the hell was that?" Lily asks.

"A hellhound." He replies. "And there's more coming. I'll go after Ramadi and bring him back. Stay here and make sure none of the hounds survives."

He runs into the forest going after Ramadi, leaving us to deal with the hounds and a few of Ramadi's men.

I turn around and I spot a hound, sneaking up on Reid. I quickly grab an arrow, a red one, and sent it sailing through the air. It catches on fire the second it's released. It hits the hound, setting it on fire, momentarily before it also turns into dust.

"So that's what red means." I say to myself.

I don't think about it anymore when I'm tackled to the ground by one of Ramadi's men.

He wraps his hands around my throats, cutting off my airway. I hit his arms as if I'm making a difference.

"Get off my sister!" Lily orders, making a vine appear from the ground and wraps it around his throat. He lets go of me and I suck in deep breaths as she flings him through the air. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks."

I stand up and we get back into the action. I shoot arrows after arrows, turning the hounds into dust but it doesn't matter because more of them still comes.

"Do you think you can close the earth?" I ask Lily. "They won't stop coming."

Lily nods. "I can try."

I keep her protected as she focus on closing the ground. I grab my last arrow, blue, and it turn the arrow into ice. It penetrates the hound, turning it into ice as well. Lucas kicks the hound and it shattered. He goes onto his next victim without any hesitations.

Reid takes care of the last of Ramadi's men and then helps with the hounds. Lily finally closes the earth and we don't have to worry about anymore hounds arriving.

I glance around and I don't see anymore threats.

"Where's Hayes?" Reid asks, coming over to us.

I frown. "He said he was going after Ramadi but he hasn't came back yet."

Reid presses on his earpiece. "Hayes, where are you?"

While he tries to get in touch with Hayes, I look at Lily and she has this shocked expression on her face. As if someone just drop the biggest bomb on her.

"Hey." I touch her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

She snaps our her trance. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine." She tell me, looking at me. "Whatever happens next. I want you to know I will keep you safe."

I nod. "Of course. I know that and I'll do the same for you."

She gives me a hug before heading to Lucas. I look at her confused for a moment before I turn away. I'm heading over to Reid to see what's taking Hayes so long, when a sharp pain hits me. I fall onto my knees, letting out a Bloody Mary scream, gripping my stomach as I hear the soft sound of Lily's gasp.

I fall onto the ground, facing where I last seen Lily. I see the claw of a hellhound is in her body before it exits, making her body go slump. Lucas catches her before she hits the ground, completely in disbelief.

"Lily?" He says.

I can see Reid debating on who to go to and I point towards Lily. He heads over to Lily, looking at her wound. Even from our distant, I can feel her eyes on me as Hayes rushes over to me. I don't look at him but focus on Lily.

I promised you I would keep you safe and I meant that. I hear her voice in my head. You're gonna survive this.

What? We're connected, remember? If you die then so do I.

I know that's why I'm doing this.

I'm completely confused and I have no clue what she's taking about. Then I feel it. Or not feel it.

Lily?

The pain in my abdomen slowly fades away.

Lily!

And I can no longer reach out to Lily anymore. I can't get into her mind anymore.

Then the question she asks weeks ago, enters my mind.

Can I also save a person's life?

She knew she was going to die and she was preparing for it. All those times, she seemed so distant was because she was thinking about this field, about her death.

Once the feeling is completely gone, I get onto my feet and run over to her with tears in my eyes.

"Why would you do that?" I ask her. "Why would you disconnect us?"

"Because your story doesn't end here but mine does." She replies before adding. "Sing to me, please." She requests. "I don't want to think about the pain anymore so you can please sing to me." She looks at Lucas, waiting for him to sing.

He thinks about a song and he ends up picking a song from her favorite boy band. She gives him a small smile as she realize what song it is.

"I wanna be with you, I wanna feel your love. I wanna lay beside you. I cannot hide this even though I try." He sings, softly. "Hearts beats harder, time escapes me. Trembling hands touch skin, makes this harder. And the tears stream down my face. If we could only have this life for one more day. If we could only turn back time."

That's how far he gets before her takes her last breathe and her eyes shuts, concealing her hazel eyes. My head drops as I sob, uncontrollably. Hayes pulls me closer him, wrapping his arms around me.

This was my fault. I knew she was hiding something from me and yet I don't do anything to help her. I led her to her death. If I wasn't so worried about my own problems, I could've noticed hers. She might've not wanted anyone to know about what she was keeping but that shouldn't had stopped me for finding out. I could've prevented this. Lily's death is on me.

Then something strange happens. One moment Lily's body is right front of us then it's disappearing.

"What..what's happening?" Lucas asks, concerned.

No one has an answer for him because we don't know, either. We watch as her body changes into a big white orbit.

"What is that?" I ask.

"Her soul." Hayes replies, looking at the bright imagine.

I always knew Lily had a big heart but I never thought about her soul. It's huge and it's warm just like the sun.

We watch as it goes up the sky, disappearing, and then I glance down when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I frown, confused.

"Lily?"

She's standing beside me with a smile on her face.

"What are you staring at?" Reid asks, looking in the same direction as me.

"It's Lily." I tell them, pointing at her.

They can't see me. Only you can. Lily informs me.

No wonder why they're staring at me like I'm crazy or something.

"Lily is here but I'm the only one who can see her."

She walks over to Lucas and touches his face.

Tell Lucas I love him and I will always be with him.

"Lucas she says, she loves you and she'll always be with you." I tell him.

He's still crying but he manage to get the words out. "I love you too."

And tell Reid, to quit playing with that young girl's heart and finally be official. And he better not ever stop listening to One Direction.

I laugh. "Reid she says to ask this special girl in your life to become your girlfriend and to always listen to your favorite boy band."

"I will." He says with a small smile. "And for the last time, they're not my favorite boy band."

Tell Hayes it wasn't his fault and I don't blame him. So there's nothing I can forgive him for.

I look at Hayes. "She says, it isn't your fault. So stop blaming yourself."

I wonder why he thinks he's the one to blame. He couldn't have possible known about this, either. No did but I should've. I'm her sister, her twin and I didn't pay enough attention to her.

And Millie, there was nothing you could've done to save me. It was going to happen one way or another but know this; I'm not going anywhere. I'll be by your side every step of the way.

She says one more thing before she's gone and I can no longer feel her presence anymore. She's truly gone and she's never coming back.

"She says, she will protect us always."