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Video name: Epic Pop - Closer [feat. Keeley Bumford](J2 - The Iconic Series)

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Alena's P.O.V

I hastened out of the woods, desperate to escape what was following me back there. Only, I felt as if I was dancing with the shadowy mist as they moved along with me, hiding the warriors of darkness.

I kept running until I arrived at a wide glade, where the trees fell away, revealing the dark skies. For a moment, I thought that I found my salvation. Nothing moved, nothing reflected, nothing sang. A hollow echoing, like the hushed sounds of a great, slabbed temple, entombed the wood.

I looked at the skies and closed my eyes, praying for the strength not to fail me, but I was so wrong as the mist forced me to stop right in my spot.

"Stop, please." Pleaded the voice. "I mean you no harm. You're the only one who can save me, princess. I beg of you, listen to me."

"Who are you?" I muttered I didn't want to awake all the creature of the night as well.

"I'm one of the reason dragon's fear this mountain, but I can assure you that I'm not their death." A loud roar of pain echoed through the forest, "I warn them, I chase them out of this forest. I try to protect them."

I touched my swollen stomach, "Then why do you hide within the mist? Why won't you confront them?"

"The mist is made of deadly creatures, they are made of dark magic. But I don't think you're ready to know who I am." He whispered. "I'm using something the black dragon taught us, deception."

My eyes widen when I heard his words, "You know king Leonidas?"

"I'm still loyal to him till my last breath," he said in a faint whisper. "My time is running up, but I need you to believe that I'm on your side. I use the same ability he used to fight Rosalie, years ago. Yet I don't have his strength. I could never have it as I control the mist only. Leonidas summoned another black dragon while he was injured and covered in his own blood and that was only a fraction of his true power."

"What are you trying to say? Who are you?" I demanded.

"I'm still alive, Alena. Tell Ardal, that soon he'll get the surprise of his life. Soon, soon you'll understand everything."

Then slowly the mist started to disappear, I drew in a deep breath and threw a wild look over my shoulder. I tripped on a hillock, nearly sending me flying. I managed to regain my balance just to see a dark figure moving right before me. When I looked closely, I could see Leon's handsome face hardly in the darkness.

Without thinking, I threw myself at him. His arms were closed around me, holding me fast. Then I buried my face in his chest and held him closer.

He rubbed my back lightly as if his only purpose in life was to make me feel better.

"It's okay, it's okay, love. There is no need to be afraid, I won't allow anything to hurt you."

"Not for long. Once Alvin gives you what you want, you'll turn your back on me," I said through clenched teeth.

His chest rumbled beneath my ear as he laughed. "If you tried to escape, I have to tell you're terrible at it love.

"Damn you! I wasn't trying to escape. There was someone chasing me back there."

His hands tenderly stroked my hair. "A ghost?" He asked in amusement. "I thought you said they weren't real? What were your words, yes! It's a fragment of our wild imagination."

"That was before. I ran into one back there," I whispered, trying to meet his gaze and fighting to steady my breathing. "I spoke to the dead armies before, but that one is nothing like it!"

Leon gazed down at me with his beautiful cobalt eyes, for a long moment, his heavy gaze lingered for long. His eyes were the perfect warning as if there were other things he would rather be doing with me in his arms.

He sighed and gently set me away from him, slowly his eyes scanned the area around us.

I clutch at his sleeves for dear life, fully ready to leap back into his arms.

"If I didn't see your magic, I would've believed that you're helpless, my love," He said in dry humour.

"I can't summon my fire whenever I wish," I shot back. Then I saw it, the mist was forming near a tree, "There! look there. How can't you see that? Are you blind now?! That ugly yellow eyes, my dear lord they'll haunt my dreams forever."

Leon fixed his eyes on the forming mist, a smile slowly began to cover his lips. "Yes, that is one of the worst ghosts around here. Alena, that's the shadow of a wildcat. A shy wildcat, they would never cross a human except if they attacked them first. There is no need to be afraid."

"I wasn't afraid because of the wildcat. I was frightened because of what I've seen." I whispered.

Leon smiled faded slowly, "what did you see?"

I shook my head, "nothing of importance."

He studied my face for a moment before he spoke, "You weren't trying to escape again? Were you, Alena?"

I turned away from him trying to hide my flushed face, "I was looking for you if you must know."

"And what did you wanted to do with me once you find me?" He purred even silkier that usual.

He was so close I could feel the heat spread from his body. I took few steps away from him. I was afraid that he might pull me back into his arms. I knew, I knew I was too weak to fight him right now.

The mist was thinner here, drifting closer to the ground. "This is the place?" I whispered. "Where Drake disappeared."

Leon didn't need to answer me, his expression said enough. "You can remove your mask, princess," He whispered. "You ask about everything as if you care, but what do you know about us? What do you know about Ardal? What do you know about me? What do you know about the father of your own child?" He shouted the last part.

"I- I," I was so confused. What was running in his head? He was acting playful seconds ago, but now he was no longer the kind person I grew to love.

"Enough said," He said grimly. "You made a huge mistake that night, Alena. Our child will pay for the foolishness of his own mother. He will suffer because his mother is too coward to stand for herself."

"You don't mean a word you said," I said in a low voice. "You are not that cruel, you're nothing like your father."

"Then you don't know me at all. The only reason you're still alive is my child and The Ancient Maze." His eyes narrowed before he spoke the following part, "Don't speak poorly of my father, you don't know him. You don't know anything thing about him. He's anything but cruel."

Leon laughed like a savage, a laughter I've never heard before, "I needed a kingdom and my friend needed his revenge. I don't need to explain the rest."

I wrapped my arms around myself. I hoped that Leon would choose me over my kingdom, but I couldn't compete with this. No matter how desperately, Leon wanted me. He would want to prove himself and get his revenge. I would never be more than a winning card in his hand, moving it as he wishes with his hands.

"Alvin won't live forever in peace. I refuse to allow him to die easily, he won't take Drake's secret to his grave."

All of a sudden something changed in Leon, his eyes held so much pain. He reached for me, but I backed away from him, I couldn't trick myself any longer. I can't lie to myself. My Leon was the far great danger to me. Alvin wanted me for my kingdom so did the man I loved.

I should've listened to his warnings long before. He told me that the truth could kill me, or it might have broken my heart. Once again Leon was right, he did break my heart in a way no one could ever fix it.

"You were right, your highness." I said in a steady voice, looking him in the eyes. "A lot of people will suffer because of my foolishness and I did the big mistake of my life when I met you."

Slowly, I gathered my skirt, I turned and gazed back at the glen, deciding what to do next. I was so lost, just like a little child with tears filling my eyes, waiting for something to save me.

But I couldn't face the harsh truth. Would I rather be brave and face the mist and ghosts drifting through these woods than the ones still lurking in Leon's heart.

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