It was her.

This was't just the mention of her name or a glimpse of a dream, it was truly her and the thought made my blood run cold.

She was tall, not too tall but it still looked unnatural on her as she loomed at a 6ft height across the clearing like a dark presence. Her raven-black hair was just as long, cascading down her back and across the ground like a cloak that surrounded her. Her face was what horrified me the most and I willed myself to look away, but I couldn't. Her silver- almost white- eyes were narrowed and wide like snake eyes, flitting across the surroundings at a rapid speed. She was smiling all the while, her red lips unnaturally long and curled up too high. As she smiled, her skin stretched dangerously as though it was about to rip with any sudden movement. What's more was how gray it was, devoid of any life and showing black thin veins that danced across her body. She was hideously beautiful in a way that made me want to cry but also bow in her presence. Emut had said once how bending the natural elements of the world can distort the appearance and Anouke was evidence of just that. She was wearing a flimsy black dress that showed her grey legs and a very bony foot that rested now against Ayla's chest.

My hands clenched in anger as Ayla let out a weak cough, but this only made Anouke smile, her mouth opening to show her sharp skewer teeth.

"I wouldn't try anything if I were you. It would only take a second for me to snap the warper's tiny neck. Need I remind you that when I'm touching her, her powers are obsolete." She mused, her snake eyes flitting across the surroundings and I gaped at her words. Without Ayla, we were unable to retreat back home and that meant facing this danger. I bit my lip in thought, thinking of a next potential step, but the sound of Anouke's laughter cut through the silence, making shivers crawl up my spine.

"You have caused me much trouble. I wonder why I shouldn't just kill you." She mused again, her blood lips widening again in a petrifying smile, her large black nails coming to rest against her grey slender chin. I stilled at her words, looking to Demir beside me who kept his stoic gaze on the scene in the midst of the clearing, his grip tightening against his glaive.

I looked to the other side with wide eyes as Abrax moved towards Ayla only to be held back by Maya beside him, her arms around his waist. This only made my fists clench as I thought to how we couldn't even move out from the hidden trees to help our friend. We had to be strategic. The Chigaru were still frozen in place, their eyes vacant and I ignored the need to keep my eye on them.

When all she was met with was silence, Anouke smiled, seemingly liking that her presence prohibited any verbal challenge. She nodded in mock-thought, her hair stroking across the grass as she looked to the skies.

"Well, I will consider letting you live so long as you comply to one request." She began and my eyebrows furrowed at her words, looking to Emut who had his fiery gaze on Anouke; even from here, I could tell he was confused too. My blood ran cold at hearing that she had a request, knowing that this attack had been meticulously planned. She wanted something and we had played into her hands.

Again, she was met with silence and I breathed heavily as Ayla writhed on the floor, losing more blood by the minute, but Anouke didn't care for this. The lives of others, like Ayla, were insignificant to her and the very thought scared me. It would be so easy for her to end Ayla right now and that was the only reason I stayed put. Anouke knew she had us right where she wanted us and I watched with gritted teeth as she smiled, her sharp teeth showing as well as a bit of her pale-white tongue.

"I will let you go so long as one of you stays behind. The one I choose." She finished, her smile widening at the dilemma that she had placed us in and I froze at her words, my heart beating so loud that I was afraid she could hear it. At her words, Emut's, Abrax's and Maya's eyes flitted to me from the other side of the clearing and Demir moved in front of me slightly, his body rigid and his glaive raised. Emut watched with his jaw clenched, nodding at Demir as if to tell him to keep watch of me.

It was as though Anouke could sense our inner turmoil as her smile widened even more so then as she looked around to the trees that hid us.

"Whenever you're ready...Demir." She said in a sing-song voice and I stilled as I processed her words, feeling Demir tense in front of me.

It was as though a true silence passed this time as we all took in who she wanted, the shock evident on all of our faces. It was Emut who responded first, lurching forward aggressively at this, moving towards the clearing where he would be visible to Anouke, but Maya held him back with the arm that wasn't around Abrax.

The very struggle made the sound of crunching leaves arise in the air and Anouke raised a black sharp eyebrow, something that seemed too 'human' of an action for her.

"I'll give you a minute to decide before I snap the warper's neck and feed the blood to my bakens. Pray you heed my words." She threatened darkly, the wide smile still on her face and I ran a hand through my air anxiously at the impending threat. On instinct, I pulled Demir back slightly by his arm so that we were hidden more so by the foliage, in case Anouke came seeking for him.

"How are we planning to get away?" I whispered worriedly, hoping to use the allotted minute to plan. I looked to Demir's face for some semblance of placation yet it never came and my eyes widened slightly as I took in his stoic form, his vacant gaze staring off into the distance. A look I knew too well: a look of contemplation.

"Don't even think about it." I muttered darkly, a scowl forming on my face as I sensed what he was thinking. Demir merely smiled at this, but his eyes held no mirth; just a dull sadness that reverberated through my whole body as I looked to him.

"Can you ever agree with me on anything?" He mused in a bid to joke in his usual manner, but it didn't work this time and I felt the heat run through me in anger at his lack of concern over himself, pushing him harshly before I could control myself. He didn't stumble back in the slightest and I stared at him in unriddled anger.

"It isn't the time to joke." I ground out, my body heated and Demir let out a sigh before finally turning to look at me, his familiar silver gaze locking with my own. His gaze was heavy and I found myself deflating at it.

"I have to." He murmured simply, his eyes holding the look of utter resignation and the very gaze made my breath catch in my throat. I had never heard him sound so defeated or his gaze to be so dead and I felt the sadness overtake my body as I looked to him helplessly, hoping he would come up with a plan that would get us out of this. Yet I knew he wouldn't and I watched him with pleading eyes, not even able to control the tear that streaked down my face.

"I won't let you." I whispered firmly, holding onto any persistence I could find and Demir softened when he saw my tears, shaking his head.

"Why must you be so difficult?" He asked gently, retreating backwards and my eyes widened at this and I reached forward in panic, gripping to the front of his top to which he stilled slightly.

"Don't, please." I sobbed out and he sighed before placing his hands over my own.

"It's okay." He reassured me, his eyes gazing into my own and I shook my head as I thought of the irony of his words. After the loss of Negus and Arun, I couldn't quite take it if anyone else left and that was what he was planning to do. How could anything be okay if he was relenting?

"Nothing is okay." I sobbed, my eyes burning as I cried, admitting the only thing I had been feeling for the last few days. Demir's hands tightened on my own at this and I looked up at his firm gaze.

"It is okay, Hanna, I'll make it okay." He reassured and I let out a frustrated sigh at the very thought of him having to sacrifice himself to make it okay.

"I'm the prophecy; I'm meant to fix this." I muttered out through sobs and Demir nodded at my words, his hair flopping in his eyes as he looked down at me.

"You're the prophecy, not me. If you're safe, it'll be okay." He retorted, but this was not our typical argument of wit and Demir wasn't standing down. At my silence, he retreated back again, trying to pull my hands off his top gently, but I held as tight as I could, not willing to let go.

"No, please, no." I cried out repeatedly, holding as tight as I could and he tightened his hold for a second as he looked to me.

"You'll live, Hanna; there's still hope. Go home." He instructed and I shook my head stubbornly at his words. How could there be hope when we only suffered? They had all put up so much of an effort to keep me safe and for what? So, I could defeat Anouke as the prophecy foretold, but to no avail. I was weak and helpless, something they didn't anticipate and now they had to pay the price for putting their faith in me. I let out a small whimper, pulling him closer with his top.

"I'm so weak; I can't even do anything for you." I uttered quietly and I heard the sound of Demir move closer before I felt my hand being raised. I looked up when the palm of my hand rested against Demir's smooth jaw, his silver gaze making me momentarily lose sight of the situation.

"Don't make this more difficult." He murmured in response, his eyes flitting across my face and I let out a small sound as his hand tightened on mine before he dropped my hand, retreating back yet again. This time, I had forgotten to hold him and I moved forward to grab him, but the feeling of a grip on my ankles made me stop. I looked down to see the sand engulfing my legs before looking up in shock at Demir's glowing eyes, his hair blowing erratically in the wind.

I begged and pleaded then, but Demir paid no heed, turning around and walking away. When he had reached the end of the hidden foliage, he paused before turning to look back at me. His eyes flitted across my tear-streaked face again almost as though he was committing it to memory before he shook his head, his eyes glinting like the moon.

"You really are bothersome, Hanna." He murmured the words more to himself and then he was walking away, ignoring my cries and pleas.

When he reached the outskirts of the trees, he glanced to Emut who in response was shaking his head in warning, his eyes fiery in a way that was more angry than I had ever experienced. Abrax and Maya merely watched in shock. Demir ignored Emut's instruction, walking out of the hidden area and into the open clearing to which the sound of Anouke's laughter voiced across the forest.

"Oh, how wonderful! I had thought I would have to come to fetch you and kill your little friends while I was at it!" She mused, eyeing him like a greedy predator and Demir ignored her taunts, moving and ducking near Ayla, inspecting her.

"Let her go now." He commanded, his voice holding the same power it always did as though he was unfazed by her and she rolled her eyes at this, her sharp black claws drumming against her own leg.

"The rodent was free, the moment you stepped out." She commented simply, removing her foot off Ayla and Ayla let out a spluttered cough as the weight was removed.

In response, Demir moved closer, lifting Ayla up with ease and moving her towards the clearing where I was. Anouke only watched with amused eyes, knowing full well that she held the cards and no one would dare defy her. He placed her on the edge of the clearing, his eyes gazing slightly to where I was hidden behind the trees and I knew he had put her there for me to heal her immediately, making me tear up all the more.

He moved to get up then, but Ayla gripped at his top weakly, making Demir tense as he looked to her shrivelled form.

"Don't go." She whispered out shakily, a tear escaping her swollen eye and he stilled at this, crouching down and uncharacteristically stroking a hand through her hair affectionately.

"Emut will take care of you." He murmured, brushing her hair back gently. After a small moment, he stood up, much to Ayla's dismay before making his way over to Anouke who was still smiling.

"Any other last words?" She mocked, clearly feeding off the sad display and Demir paid no heed to her, turning his head to the side of the foliage that was opposite to me.

"Don't blame yourself, Emut." He said simply, but his words hit another chord and I watched as Emut looked away, in anger or sadness, I couldn't tell. He moved forward, but a look from a grim and teary Maya made him still. Demir turned back to look at Anouke with a nod, an impassive look on his face and her eyes glittered in a green glow before she wrapped her long grey fingers around his arm.

Suddenly, the Chigaru beside me began seeping into the ground like a cloud of darkness and I felt the feeling in my chest lighten, making my gaze snap to the now empty clearing. The sand gave away at that moment and, without thought, I ran forward to look around; only to find Abrax clutching Ayla to his chest as blood seeped from her mouth. He looked to me with pleading eyes and I ducked quickly, letting the doors open. Despite this, I kept my anxious gaze on the surroundings, watching as Emut and Maya ran through the trees.

They called his name repeatedly, the very sound echoing back to where we were crouched. They called his name as though he would appear, but I already knew it. I knew it when he gave me that final look.

He was gone.