"Do you think he'll show?" I whisper to Lucy who sits to my right at the dining table. I make sure to keep my voice as low as possible. It seems everyone in Lumbridge is feeling the effects of Zaria being gone. The king and queen somberly sit at the head of the table, waiting for everyone to join around for dinner.

My mother and father and father are having dinner together in Senwain. Today was supposed to be one of our dinner nights together away from the palace, but I haven't been able to even think of my father without feeling sick to my stomach, nonetheless, sit and eat across from him.

I try to keep telling myself he had to. Eden had told him that a time would come when she would require payment for letting him live. Ever since he changed his allegiance because he fell in love with my mother, Eden has been looming in the shadows, waiting to strike. His time of hiding was up and the cost was being left with the responsibility to poison Zaria.

And my mother. She branded us all with fake marks using her magic. It was all such a hoax. I was wondering when the poison would start to set in. When would I start to feel my body turn against me? When would I start to feel as though I was slowly dying? That feeling for me never came. That feeling never came to any of us whom my mother marked.

But Zaria, who had the real mark felt the effect right away. I could see it. I could see her skin turn white, her eyes glowing unnaturally green. I could see the little fat on her body already starting to dissipate. When Axil held her in his arms and brought her to the Crystal Cave... she didn't look like the Zaria I know.

She looked like a different person, in a different time, in a different life. Looking at her, bloodied and hollowed it crossed my mind that she shouldn't have ever been here. This was not the life that she was supposed to be brought into. What a pessimistic thought. In Lumbridge, she finally got free from her father. A father who hated her. Shot her. She was free from the life of being a criminal. She could finally know what it's like to not look around every corner. She found family and friends. She got to meet her mother... however short their meeting was. She found happiness.

But she also found new enemies. As bad as it sounds, Zaria could handle Damian. He was scared of her, I know he was. I could feel it. The was a hesitation in the back of his mind with everything he did or said to her. Zaria could handle John, even when we all thought he turned evil. She could handle it.

But Eden...

Eden is a woman clothed in nightmares. She a force to be reckoned with. No one can handle Eden. It got both of our mothers killed once, and Zaria's a second time. Zaria can't handle Eden and she shouldn't have had to in the first place.

If she had stayed in Flesherg, she wouldn't be far off better, but she wouldn't be here... on the verge of death.

She could be dead if she was in Flesherg and you know it, I try to convince myself, but that's the Common Realm. In the Common Realm, death is just death.

But she has magic, I hear myself whisper over and over in my mind. I know how lost I felt thinking I didn't have any magic. I stripped myself of the very thing that made me who I am, and if Zaria hadn't come here, she would never truly know who she is and just how powerful she can be.

But she wouldn't know. She wouldn't know any of it. And that's the difference.

"Like I said," Lucy whispers, glancing at Tyrian across the table. "I had a vision of him here, tonight."

"How do you know it's tonight?" I ask, getting more anxious as I watch the big Roman clock tick closer to dinner time.

"It's tonight," she says tightly weaving her fingers together.

I keep my eyes peeled on the Grand Doors. Any moment now he should be walking in. And that's when I realized, John isn't here either. Where are they?

The king stands and everyone's chatter falls silent. Without it, the room seems way too big like it could swallow us whole, and by the watery look in everyone's eyes, I'd say it's safe to say that everyone feels the same.

"I think it would be appropriate to offer a prayer for our beloved advisor, Zaria Farewell."

Another glance at the door, but there's no movement.

"Her presence here was a gift to us all and I speak for everyone when I say we will continue to have hope of a brighter day, one where she may be sitting at this very table with us, smiling and laughing."

Have hope... we're already speaking of her as if she's dead. Is that hope?

"And because of this very reason, my son, the Future King of Lumbridge has hosted this dinner in her honor. He says dinner time was always her favorite time, because back where she came from there was never a meal they would share together. Our community was her family, so as a family let us give a moment of silence for both our sister and daughter."

If it's even possible, the Dining Hall falls even quieter as everyone bows their head in silent prayer. It is then out of the corner of my eye I can see a little peek through the door. A tiny flash of brown. I go to stand, but Lucy's cold hands wrap around my wrist, keeping me in place. Flashing her eyebrows she pushes me back down.

Breaking the silence, the dinner bell chimes and everyone's heads raise before the chatter begins again.

"Lucy," I press, hardening my voice. "What is going on? What aren't you telling me?"

Again, she flashes her eyes over to Tyrian and he does everything in his power to not look at me.

"Guys!" I hiss.

"Things are about to start changing," Tyrian stutters, finally breaking. His luminescent hair sparkles in the soft lighting and his face looks even more pale than it usually does. "Please don't ask," he pleads, squinting his eyes. "We don't know a lot... and giving anyone's hopes up would be a disaster."

"What have you seen?" I ask ignoring his request. "I may not be part of the 'seeing into the future club', but I'm still a part of this family and I'd like to know what's happe-"

"Zaria's waking up," Lucy blurts. But, her voice doesn't sound all that cheery. I can feel my face fall as I try to piece together this puzzle. Zaria is waking up... that's great. What could be so bad about that?

Then I remember what Lucy had warned me about earlier today. "Is it... bad?" I dare to ask. I look over my shoulders to make sure no one is eavesdropping.

She presses her lips tightly together. "I hope not," she says though the confidence in her voice is less than convincing. "I saw..."

"GUYS!" someone screams and I recognize that frantic voice from anywhere. Axil?

He runs into the Dining Hall, the lapels of his suit fanned out behind him as he rushes in towards his father. "It's Zaria! She's waking up! Right now!"

"How does he know?" Tyrian whispers to us over the collective gasps.

The king stands and meets his son halfway. "How do you know?" he asks sternly. "Is she alright? What all do you know?"

"John," he says before panting to catch his breath. His face is pale, but his cheeks blush a bright red from shock. "He went into the cave and he saw her breathing."

"John?" the king asks. "No one was supposed to go into the Crystal Cave. It could disturb the balance between them. Why would he-"

"I don't know," Axil says hurriedly. "But father," his blue eyes soften, "she's waking up. She's alright."

Glasses start to clink and some people even start to whistle in celebration, but I keep my eyes focused on Lucy and Tyrian who seem to be growing more anxious by the second. Tyrian's eyebrows knit together and I've never seen him so solemn.

For the little time I've gotten to know Tyrian, he's always been a bit... snarky. But now, there's none to be found. Lucy lowers her head and shakes it slightly in disappointment. Not at her brother, but just because of the situation.

He doesn't know. Axil doesn't know anything about what could happen. How could he? He's locked himself in his room refusing to come out for three days. The look on his face is so wholesome. Like a kid on Christmas day, his eyes light up and the smile on his face is filled with excitement and relief.

"Where is John now?" the king asks, and even he seems to know that this isn't all that exciting.

"He went back to the cave right after he went to get me. He's probably there right now as we speak."

People start to rise from their seats and scurry about, ready to welcome their hero back to Lumbridge and Lucy just shakes her head even deeper. That is, before she stops and freezes in time.

I look at Tyrian and his eyes are fixed on her, waiting for her to come back to the present, her mind far into the future. How far? Hopefully far enough to get more information as to what's happening.

I try not to get too excited. I wish I could. I wish I could be just as excited as Axil is right now. Or... I guess that's a lie. As hurtful as it sounds. I wish Axil wouldn't be as excited as he is now. Because though I don't know what the future holds, I have a feeling it isn't what everyone expects it to be.

Lucy's shoulders rise and fall and Tyrian lowers his head to meet her gaze. What is it, he mouths.

She shakes her head and scrunches up her face. "No," she breathes ever so quietly. My heart rips to hear her like this. "No."

"Crista," the king bellows and I snap my head up to him before I can see what Lucy has to say.

"Yes, sir?" I say and my voice shakes. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Axil beaming, unable to control his anticipation. He had to kill her, and now she lives... but

"Take Axil to the Crystal Cave and get our Zaria back home again."

Once again, the civilians cheer. Some even start to dance. I slowly rise from my chair, crossing my fingers behind my back till they hurt. I walk over to Axil and I can't help but force myself to smile for him. Lucy said Zaria is waking up and that should be something to celebrate. She's not dead. She lives... but at what cost?

I grab Axil's hand and the second my fingertips reach his palm they burn. I didn't realize how cold my hands were until they reach my cousin's. He tugs at my hand and we are off, racing to the Twilight Zone. Picking up my skirt with my other hand I try to keep up with his long strides but I keep almost tripping, but Axil doesn't even notice.

He drags me all the way past the Grand Entrance and I pull him back. "Axil." He keeps running, pulling me along. "Axil," I say a bit louder, but he doesn't seem to hear me. I rack up all of my strength and pull him back making him almost fall backwards.

"CRISTA! What are you doing?" he yells annoyed before climbing back to his feet, trying to sprint off again.

"Axil, would you please listen to me?" I plead with him keeping any hint of anger out of my voice.

"Can't it wait?!" he asks even more annoyed. "What don't you understand about the fact that Zaria is waking up? We have to be there for her when she comes to."

"Axil. I need to warn you," I say, planting my feet on the floor. "I don't know if this is going to go the way you expect," I say not really knowing how to phrase it. How do you tell someone the person they love might come back unrecognizable?

"Warn me about what? What do you mean, Crista?" His hand all of a sudden becomes clammy and the sparkle in his eye dwindles.

"Just... prepare yourself. I-"

"Lucy's been talking with you. Hastn't she?" His face becomes hard as his eyebrows furrow.

I cock my head in confusion. "Yes, actually. They're the only ones who seem to know anything around here. Why wouldn't I talk with her."

He tisks his tongue. "I don't trust her fully right now."

"How could you say that, Axil? We all want the same thing. Why would she look into the future if it wasn't to help you?"

His hands become tight around mine. "I don't trust Tyrian... and I don't like how close Lucy is getting to him. Our kingdom has never been one to trust the Fae easily. And now the second he comes into the palace, I have to kill my girlfriend. It all seems rather convient, doesn't it?"

"What has Tyrian done that makes you so hostile towards him?" I ask not following his frustration.

"Like I said, Crista. I'm not saying that he's the one that caused all of this, but the second he arrived in the palace things went south. Now are you coming or are you staying?"

He lets go of my hand and stalks off.

"Axil," I grumble, now allowing my anger to show. "You can't be mad at anyone for this besides Eden. We're all here to support you. We're on your side."

"Yeah?" he questions. "You didn't come to visit me. Not once." He stops and walks towards me like a predator stalking its prey. "Do you know how guilty I felt? How guilty I still feel? Even though what I did saved her life, will she ever be able to look at me the same? I'll be king one day. How will people react when they hear their own king assassinated their future queen?"

"Axil..."

"Tyrian might have been the one to tell me how to save her, but he still pushed that responsibility on me. Lucy could see into the future and yet never warned me about any of it. And you..." he squints his eyes like he's trying to figure out some puzzle, "somehow still have magic. How? And why couldn't you do anything to stop it?"

"You can't possibly expect that I knew I had my magic back!" I counter. "It was just as much of a surprise to you as it was to me." I stalk closer to him and point my finger in his face. "And how would you feel if it were Tyrian who killed Zaria? Would that truly make you feel any better?"

"I'm not arguing this with you right now, Crista. Zaria needs me right now. I suggest you decide whose side you're on."

"I'm not on anyone's side," I state clearly. "What happened to all of us coming together just a few days ago?"

"That was before one of us died and the other became a killer. Now, we are divided. So I'll ask you again. Are you coming or are you staying?"

Though I love my cousin. I don't decide to follow him because I agree with him but because I agree that Zaria needs us right now. No matter what may have happened or who she might be now, she needs us. And I will be there for her, regardless.