He left.

I knew he would, but when he did...

I guess I knew that one day this would happen. There would be a time when we would have to part ways. When I believed John to be an evil prince who murdered by mother and tried to destroy Lumbridge, it was easy for me to make that distinction. Drawing a line for our separation was simple.

But it was never a solid line. Deep down, I guess I knew there was more to the story. Or that's what I wanted to believe.

And I was right. But this... this doesn't feel right.

"Oh, I believe it feels quite right."

I startle at Eden's silky voice as it echoes through my mind.

John is not some criminal. He's not the villain I though him to be. He's not a traitor.

"But he won't stand at your side? What kind of a friend is that? Sure, he says that he's hurting, but it seems to me your the only one who is suffering."

Eden's a part of me now. I know it.

I must say, it doesn't feel the way I though it would. John warned me that something like this would happen. And it seems Eden was right. I am far too arrogant. I didn't think she would become a part of me like she became a part of John. But here we are.

A chill runs down my back as I come to the reality that I don't feel much different. It frightens me. Maybe it's because Eden is weak, I try to tell myself. I know that to be true, but something tells me I feel far too comfortable for this demon of a woman to be controlling me... even if she is weak.

Sighing I clutch my cape around me and walk on my way making sure to fluff up the snow behind me so that my trail is invisible.

What was it that Axil told me all that time ago? "I'm just like my father."

Well, I guess I am.

I guess I am just like my father. He used to be kind. I remember those days fondly. But he changed. His intentions changed like the flip of a coin and I never understood why. I had always thought maybe it was something I did that made him all of a sudden so angry. It was then he started his empire in the Mafia. And I followed in his footsteps.

I will always be the daughter of a Mafia boss. My mother has tried to change me... and I have tried to change, but it seems I always get pulled back to my old ways.

A small voice enters my mind and I can barely make it out. I physically squint to hear it better. "I trust them."

This voice... it's not Eden's, and yet it is ever familiar. I've heard her voice ever since she died. Mother.

She trust Lumbridge. She gave her life for Lumbridge. She gave her life for Axil. But what good did that ever get her? She died twice in this false hope that her good would change the world around her.

Everything has just fallen apart.

And now I don't know where I belong. I can't return back to Flesherg. Father believes me to be dead, he's the one that tried to kill me. What he doesn't know is Crista saved me. Her magic kept me on the brink of life and death until I was strong enough to fight my way out and open my eyes.

Did she save me just to perpetuate the idea that I'm some weapon? Becoming a weapon for Lumbridge was supposed to be her job... and then I came along. Now I'm the weapon.

Did she save me just so I could take her spot and be the sacrificial lamb?

I'm not scared of dying, that much is true. I've seen death more times than I can count and I've never been scared of what's on the other side. Maybe I should be...

Shaking my head I continue onward. I have work here to finish. I know I have something I must do... but I have no idea where to start or look.

I am not returning to Lumbridge. I will not be another puppet. Why can't John see that? He's under the impression that they are to be trusted.

I think differently.

I said it before and I'll say it again, I was a fool to believe my life could be a fairytale. I've been so desperate for security, I grasped for anything that looked even remotely close and I held onto it like it was the only thing keeping me alive. My eyes have opened and I can see that trusting Lumbridge has cost me nothing but my life. Time after time I have almost crossed to the other side and I can't do it anymore. The Lumbridge my mother fought for was not this.

So I trek through the Crystal Cave completely lost and alone. I have no idea where I'm going or even how long this cave will go on for.

This tunnel I travel down... this must a connection between other kingdoms who use the Crystal Cave. I always found it odd that I never saw anyone else in the cave while I was there. The whole Kingdom Realm uses magic and yet, I never encountered a single other sorceress in the Crystal Cave.

What if there are other caves? Different entrances to different Kingdoms? Should I go to one of those Kingdoms?

"I have a kingdom for you. I told you," Eden says and her voice sounds like melted chocolate. " I will rule over the Kingdom Realm and you will rule over the Common Realm."

"I don't want the Common Realm," I snap at Eden ferociously, my patience hanging on by a thread. "I don't want to rule over anything."

"Then what do you want?"

I take a deep breath. I just want to disappear, I think to myself. I want everything to stop. Just for a moment I want this storm to end.

"I must say, I've been thinking the same thing."

"Who said that!" I yell whipping my head all around. There is nothing but white in front of me. Icicles, snow, and the occasional dying crystal. "I said, who said that!" I yell again this time breaking an icicle off the rock wall next to me, wielding it like a sword.

"Come now, you don't recognize me? Even after all we've been through you can't recognize your own-"

"Father."

I turn around, holding the tip of the icicle towards him, keeping our distance. A million thoughts start to race through my mind. What? Why? But most importantly, "How?" I ask breathlessly.

He reveals himself out from the rock he had been hiding behind. He looks just as I remember him, though at the same time I have a hard time recognizing that this is my father in front of me.

His black hair has grown a little past his shoulders. He doesn't look as sick as I remember, his skin a lot tanner than I have seen in quite some time. His black eyes seem to glisten like onyx and his clothes resemble the type of apparel I had witnessed at the Spring Equinox Festival.

"How... on Earth?"

He chuckles and there is a brightness in his tone that sends a shiver down my spine. "Well, surely you know by now this isn't Earth," he remarks with a smirk. With one hand in his pocket he leans against the rock wall. I keep my icicle pointed towards him. "It's good to see you."

I scoff. "Good to see me? You should be surprised," I snort. "You shouldn't be seeing me at all. You tried to kill me."

"A mistake. One I did without thinking very much," he answers nonchalantly as if he didn't intend to kill me that night.

"You almost succeeded," I tell him truthfully.

He looks me in the eyes, "And I'm glad I didn't. Now, I need-"

"Umm," I say taking a step back as he takes a step towards me. "What do you think you're doing? I don't care what you need!"

He says my name and outstretches his hand. "Zaria-"

"No!" I yell, advancing towards him with the icicle which is now melting in my hand. "What are you doing here?!"

He raises his hands as if the act itself would mean he's harmless. Is he insane? "I know you need an explanation and I'm going to give it to you. But first I need you to come with me."

"No!" I yell again and my panic echoes throughout the cave. "I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Sshhhh!" He puts his finger up to his lips. His eyes slit into thin lines like a cat... just how I remembered. "Zaria, I need you to listen to me. Any moment now, your friends are going to be arriving at this cave and they will find you." He cocks his head and smirks. "However, I'm getting the feeling you don't want to be found."

I lower my icicle ever so slightly as he takes and he takes another step towards me. "We don't have much time," he says and there is a seriousness in his tone. "I need you to trust me."

I shake my head in amazement. "That's just the thing. I don't trust you. Why would I ever-"

Before I can react, his hands are one my shoulders, his face inches from mine. It is only now I can see the faint wrinkles and stress lines on his face that seemed to have magically smoothed. His cheekbones stick out in a way I haven't seen for years and his thick eyelashes shadow his eyes. "Because we both want to disappear."

My Heart beats so wildly in my chest I fear my father may be able to hear it. All of a sudden there is a break of water. Bubbles and splashes. They're here. Damian's eyes widen in a I-told-you-so kind of way.

"She's gone," I hear John say and there is a softness in Damian's eyes the moment he hears John's voice.

"So what's it going to be?" Damian whispers, raising his eyebrows. His grip becomes looser as if he's ready to leave at any moment without me. I really don't have a choice... do I?

"There is always a choice," I hear Eden's whisper lace around my brain. "Just make sure you pick the right one."

I squint my eyes and square off my shoulders, probably making the dumbest decision of my life. "Make me disappear."

***

The knots in the pit of my stomach are tighter than they were when I found out I had a slave mark.

This is not what I wanted, I keep telling myself. What part of my plan involved my father? No part!

But that's just it. I didn't have a plan, and right when I was questioning what I was going to do... Damian showed up.

He not my fallen guardian angel, not by a long shot.

But I can feel it.

This draw. Like a magnet; I can feel that there is something calling to me and I have no idea what it is. Could it be Damian?

I was ready to die. I was ready for Eden to kill me. I never thought I would be prepared for death. If anything, I always thought it would sneak up on me and grab me when I least expected it.

And I guess, in a sense that's exactly what happened...but I didn't die. I am still alive for some unknown reason and that must mean something. I have been given more chances than I can count. I have to act. Now.

This is my last chance.

I am Zaria Farewell, daughter of the most feared Mafia boss and Chosen sorceress, and there is nothing I can't do.