Note: Do you like the cover in the image slot or the one I have now?

~.~.~

Seth came back to where I was staying. We turned on The Ride, the Nicolas Sparks movie, but didn't spend much time watching it. You get that right? (If not, we were making out.)

"We should go back," Seth's breath was heavy, his lips a paper's length away from mine. I didn't want to leave. I want to stay, cuddle next to my boyfriend, for the rest of my life. No more hero versus villains. Just us, laying on a bed wrapped in each other's heat.

"Please, I just need some space from everyone else." I breathed.

"You don't need to ask twice,"

We spent the night wrapped in each other's heat, lips grazing lips, hands holing hands.

~.~.~

"We should wake up," Seth sighed. His voice was husky with sleep.

"Ugh," I pulled the covers over my head. "I don't wanna."

"Me neither, but we have stuff to do." Seth tugged at the covers.

"Like stay in bed. You're right." I fought in a game of tug-a-war with him for the blanket.

"No, like stand up to Klarion. Find your team and tell them the truth. And I'm hungry." Seth turned to his side and faced me. He wore his shirt from yesterday.

"Tomorrow," I shut my eyes tight.

"You can't hide forever. Come on," He stood and the weight on the bed shifted.

I sighed, but sat up and got ready. I pulled on an old t-shirt, but that didn't really matter since I stole Seth's hoodie and hid the shirt. I wasn't exactly ready to go back, but I grabbed my bag and plopped it in the bed so I could grab it when I left. In a drawer in the side table was the bracelets. I placed them there so I wouldn't even have to look that them.

I thought someone tampered with them when I first saw them. Their color was... Different. Gold marbled with silver shifting with strange magical movement.

"They used to be gold, but you... changed. You are ready, now that they have changed to silver. Although it is not black, it will do."

Klarion had said something about the colors a few months back. The bracelets began as gold, turned silver, but Klarion wanted them black. They were changing again. Does this mean I'm changing?

I stuffed the weapon into my bag in hopes if Seth not seeing them. Yes, I trusted him with my life. But with my life, his own life, and the team's? No. I would have to keep it to myself.

"Ready?" Seth asked as he left the bathroom, "We can ride the motorcycle if you don't mind wearing the backpack."

"Sure," I smiled tightly. It was forced, he sensed that as his face twitched, but ignored it. I'm assuming you're guessing I'm jut stressed about facing Klarion.

"Let's go," he grasped my hand and we walked to the main office where I checked out.

"When will you let me drive?" I teased as I sat behind him.

"When I'm dead." He said I'm a flat tone. I was surprised, but he laughed.

"I'm kidding," he chuckled. "But seriously, maybe you can drive some other time. This is my baby, second to you of course."

My heart fluttered and I forgot completely about it. I wrapped my arms around his waist and we left.

~.~.~

"I don't think I can do this," I turned to Seth whom was leaning against the house, mansion, whatever you wanted to call it. 

"You'll do fine." Seth assured me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'll be right out here if you need me. Just... Shout." He winked.

"Seriously," I ran my hand through my hair. "Jeez, he's going to kill me."

"I won't let that happen."

I turned away from him and clicked on the bracelets, under the hidden view of the hoodie. With a heavy sigh, my hand met the cold metal and opened the door.

"Klarion?" I asked in a low shout. "Klarion!" I called louder when I received no reply.

I walked around, looking for anyone really, but no one was in sight. Actually, it felt like I was at the wrong place. The mansion was not how I remembered. White marble floor was no longer polished until it shown, but was cracked and stained with mud an dirt. The walls that are once decorated with dark paintings were deteriorating and the paintings were ripped, falling apart.

What the hell?

"Is everything alright?!" Seth called from outside.

"Yeah, I'm good, but no one's here," I turned and started to he's back outside.

Seth was leaning against the wall, twiddling with his thumbs. His face lit up as I closed the door behind me.

"That was short. What happened?" He stood straight again.

"Nothing. Exactly nothing. No one was in there, it was like everyone disappeared. Klarion left, the coward." I sighed, "But I guess that's a good thing. That's one thing I don't have to bother with. Now, I have to face the team. I'm not exactly excited about that either."

"I can come with you want me to," Seth suggested.

"No, it's better if I do this myself. I'll call you after," I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Okay, see you around." He winked and I laughed. It was nice to laugh.

"And you're not getting this back," I pulled at the collar of his jacket.

"I figured. It's okay, I have plenty more. You can have that one," he smiled and we kissed one last time before I took off running towards the Cave. I had to pause and put in my earbuds to listen to music. My normal playlist consisted of Twenty One Pilots, Melanie Martinez, and Marina and The Diamonds. This time I listened to a calmer playlist of Ed Sheeren, A Great Big World, and Shawn Mendes.  

I ran with the music blaring in my ears. The song that came on first seemed to fit my mood whenever I was with Seth: Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

Take this sinking boat and point it home

We've still got time

Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice

You'll make it now