The day of the Quest, Ferry felt weird. He should have been anxious and worried. Instead, he was struck by a surprising calm. He hadn't slept in two days, that was true. He tried several times, at his father's insistence, but sleep refused to come. Truth be told, he was afraid. The plan was simple and should have worked. But the secrets surrounding the town and the fairy-hunting were old and deep. And the feeling of something big waiting to happen was getting ever overwhelming.

But he knew that if he showed the slightest trace of fear, all the confidence his friends had gained in the last few days would be gone. His father had even gotten a car to transport the fairies into the woods. Ferry didn'tt know how to interpret his gesture. On the one hand, he was glad Peter had agreed to help them without asking questions and without mumbling as he usually did. On the other hand, Ferry was angry with him and everyone in town who had known about the horrors of Pride Mansion for so long, and had done nothing to stop them, out of cowardice or indifference. But most of all, he was angry with Lavender and Parsley for refusing to help him even now, when they knew about the hunt.

Ben and his parents, Matilda and hers, as well as his father, were now in his mother's kitchen setting the final details. Everyone knew their role. Each had received a map of the Pride domain and the maze. His and Matilda's father would immobilize the cellar's guards. Ferry, Matilda, and Ben would take the fairies out of the cellar and escort them to the car his  father had borrowed from a friend in the Big City. He would take them to the forest, to the gate between the worlds which was still open. Everyone hoped the fairies in Tenalach would find out about Saraid's deal with the people and release the human prisoners. And among them, Bianca, Ben's sister.

Now, Ferry was watching everyone fidgeting and trying to look optimistic. Everyone was looking for his approval. Ferry tried to look as confident as possible.

"Meet you at dusk at the entrance to the Pride domain," he told them. "I have to stop by Lavender's. I forgot my gloves there and I need them," he said before the others said goodbye.

When everyone left, and the door closed behind them, Ferry felt his worries become even more opressive. He lyed on the couch and stared blankly. He couldn't think of anything. A knock on the door woke him from the apathy he was falling into. He got up and opened the door. It was Matilda.

"Matt, did you forget something?" he asked her.

But the girl didn't answer. She passed by him and went inside. Ferry followed, observing her. "Did something happen?"

Her forehead was frowning and her lips trembled. She sat down on the couch where he had stood a few moments ago. Ferry sat down beside her.

"Matt, what is it?" he softly asked.

She finally looked at him and two tears glistened in her eyes. "I'm so scared, Ferry ..." she whispered and a tear slid down her cheek.

Ferry forced himself to smile. "Don't be afraid, Matt ... It'll be fine. We'll all be fine. You'll see ..."

But she slowly shook her head. "What if it won't? There are so many things we don't know that can hurt us ..."

"You don't have to think like that ..." he said, avoiding looking at her so as not to guess the fear in his heart. But she knew him better than that.

"I know you're afraid too, Ferry ..." she said and turned to him. Their eyes finally met.They looked at each other without saying anything as the space between them grew smaller. When he felt her breath on his cheek, she rose abruptly and started for the door. Ferry had to run after her.

He caught up with her before she went out the door. She looked at his hand which was holding her wrist as if he didn't want to let her go. Ferry let go of the grip. He knew he didn't need any more distractions at the time. But she din't leave. She reached out and stroked his face, barely touching it. Ferry felt her warm fingers on his forehead, then on his cheek and lips as if touched by summer raindrops falling from the clear sky. He closed his eyes and pressed her hand to his face, stroking against her warm touch. He pressed her hand even harder on his cheek as if he wanted that touch that made his whole body shiver to remain impregnated in his skin forever. He felt her hand slip slightly from his. When he opened her eyes, she was no longer there. And Ferry sweared to himself he would get out of this trial alive just to feel her touch again ...

*

He headed for Lavender's house as the sun began to roll down toward the horizon. He didn't fly, but walked slowly through the town still vibrated with laughter and life. He always loved to see people laughing. There was something raw in their joy that came from within and made them look more beautiful and more alive.

But the shadows of dusk began to fall over the town and into his soul. He was close to the outskirts of the town when he noticed a figure creeping through the trees ahead of him. Ferry stepped up without losing sight of it. There was someone wearing a red jacket. Kian. Ferry felt his heart begin to pound. The red silhouette, however, didn't leave the town but went around a few streets, towards the square in the center. People began to dwindle, so now he could clearly see him almost floating above the cobblestones. Ferry ran after him, for fear of losing him.

Kian reached the front of the school and from an impossible jolt for a human, he jumped over the fence and disappeared into the bushes in the school yard. Ferry did the same. He barely had time to see a glimpse of his red jacket at the corner of the school. He reached the back of the school and stopped. Kian was out of sight. Instead, the door to the basement was open. Ferry ran in a rush and went down the steep stairs, almost collapsing at their base. The door slammed shut behind him and the heavy iron lock was pulled.

Ferry breathed the still, dark air of the school's basement. He climbed back the stairs and tried the door. It was blocked. He was locked inside. He could hear a faint sound on the other side of the door.

"Kian, let me go!" he shouted. He pushed hard into the door. His hands, unprotected by the gloves, felt the burn of iron.

"Kian! You won't get away with this! Let me go! Now!" he shouted with all his strenght.

But the footsteps behind the door went away and a deep silence fell everywhere. Ferry kicked the door, but it stood still. He went the stairs and searched the basement. The light from the street lamp came down through the upper window, the only one that connected that place with the outside world. Ferry flew to it. But the window was barred with thick iron bars, and Ferry cried out in pain, trying to shake them with his bare hands. He fell to the ground, injured and exhausted.

He was beginning to worry. It was dark outside and his friends had probably reached the Pride domain. He could feel the air getting thinner, and he struggled to breathe. He had to admit: it was a trap and he had fallen into it. Kian, probably an ally to Albert Pride Sr. and Lily Jones, had drawn him into it and he had fallen like the fool was.

He could feel his temples pulsing. He began to walk along the dark room, covering his head with his hands. The fairies were in danger. His friends were in danger. And he was trapped. Useless and powerless.

He began to hit the thick wall of his prison until his fists bled. He cried out in pain and dispair, hitting the wall again and again. But it remained unbroken. Ferry collapsed near the wall and hot tears fell down his cheeks.

"Thyme!" he shouted. "Where are you? Why did you leave me too?"

But the echo of his despair melted, and Ferry thought it was no use crying and feeling sorry for himself. He clasped his knees to his chest, trying to calm himself down.

"Mum, help me ..." he whispered.

He closed his eyes and tried to imagine her. Her warm smile. Her hand taking away any pain with just a touch. Her voice, sweeter than honey.

"I'll always be with you, my sweet boy ... Always ..." he heard a whisper as if real.

He opened his eyes and watched the moonlight slip through the iron bars. He crawled over to it and stood there, looking up at it. He remembered what Parsley told him about the fairy's gift of going through walls. He imagined the world beyond the thick wall. The fresh air of the evening. The soft light of the moon. The touch of the wind in his hair. He flew into the moonlight and touched the moist wall with his fingers dripping with his white blood. His blood that meant so much to so many. His palms became one with the cold wall. He imagined the bridge to the long, dark outside world, but at the end of which a faril trace of light awaited him. He pushed the wall even harder and felt like it wasn't so hard anymore. It grew softer more and more, crumbling around him, letting him cross the bridge to the light. He was awakened by the heavy fall on the other side of the wall and the hard ground beneath it. He jumped to his feet and looked around. He made it. There was no time to waste. He took his flight to the Pride Mansion.

*

The flight to the mansion proved to be difficult. Ferry hit the branches and lost his balance, falling into the void, then managing to rise into the air before touching the ground. He could feel the sky spinning above him and the night air becoming hard to breathe. The power of the iron had overwhelmed him again.

When he reached above of the mansion, he noticed the light of the lanterns fluttering in the maze. The fairy hunt had begun. He almost collapsed when he had to take off. He turned invisible and crept past the hedge of the mansion. There were shouting coming from the maze, and Ferry thought it was too late. Then, he saw the Quest participants running chaotically out of the maze. They wore masks made of tree bark adorned with branches and green leaves and capes that mimicked the foliage of the bushes. Camouflage to confuse the fairies, already weak and confused. They shouted at each other and came out of the maze one by one. Something was happening. But no trace of fairies. Nor of his friends.

Ferry snuck past the walls of the mansion to the back side. He saw the two guards, their hainds bound at their back, at the entrance to the cellar. The heavy doors were open -- his friends had managed to get the fairies out of there. But where were they now?

Ferry started on towards the Pride domain's exit. He scrutinized the darkness. No movement. He saw the car with which they had to take the fairies to the forest, abandoned by the roadside. They couldn't be far. Ferry sang like an owl, the signal he had established with his friends. Then he saw a twinkle coming from the bushes on the side of the road. He breathed a sigh of relief when he discovered them all in the flickering light that trembled in Matilda's hand.

She lit his face with a flashlight, making him avoid the bright light.

"What happened to you?" she gasped when she saw his scratched face.

"I'm fine, Matt. Kian locked me in the school's basement. They probably want to keep me away from the Quest. But I managed to get out," he tried to smile.

Ben stepped closer. "Why would they do that? They need the Moon's Tear. They can't activate it without you. It doesn't make sense," he said.

"We don't have time for that now, Ben," Ferry said. "Where are the fairies?"

Matilda aimed the flashlight at a larger bush. Behind it, the humans made a circle of protection with the invisibility shields. In the middle of that circle, he discovered the fairies, weak, hungry, and scared. But alive.

"We have to hurry," Ferry told them. "The hunters have already noticed that they are missing. They are probably looking for them."

"We can't," Ben said. "The car your father brought broke down. We have to carry them to the forest. But that's hard. Besides, we have to protect them and ourselves with the shields."

"I'm sorry, Ferry," his father said.

Ferry felt his temples pulse again. No one had thought of that.

"We'll take them one at a time," he decided. "One of us will stay with the rest of the fairies, protected by the shields of invisibility. The rest of us must do without. There is no other way."

"I'm staying," said Matilda's father.

Ferry nodded. "Let's go!"

He slowly stepped closer to the fairies, and they began to shiver at the sight of him. He saw Mamma Leena trying to calm down a fairy who was crying in her arms.

"Don't be afraid," Ferry told them softly. "We'll get you out of here."

Mamma Leena recognized him. "Ferry, is that you?" she asked. "I thought I was dreaming," she whispered. "But I'd recognize your light from a thousand," she said, stroking his scratched cheek.

"It's me, Mamma Leena. But now we must go," he said, lifting one of the fairies in his arms, the weakest of them all. The other five helped the other fairies to their feet, leaning on their shoulders. There were four left. "Don't worry. We'll come back for you."

They set off, with Ferry leading the way. It was dark and the road to the forest was long. In the distance, shouts could be heard. But the fairies were too weak and could barely walk. Carrying them in their  arms meant that rescuers got tired too quickly. Matilda was always behind because the fairy leaning on her fragile shoulders was too heavy for her. Ferry has to turn several times for fear of losing them.

"Ferry, we need to stop. We need to take a break," Ben said, barely breathing.

"We can't," Ferry replied. "We're wasting too much time. Everyone in the mansion is already looking for us," he said, continuing to walk.

But something made him stop. He heard the crack of branches somewhere on a road parallel to them.

"Someone's watching us," he whispered. They set off again, this time faster. The fairies moaned and groaned in their arms.

But the footsteps came closer and a figure emerged from the shadows. Ferry pointed his flashlight at him. It was one of the participants in the Quest. He wore a mask imitating a bird and a black cape. They were discovered. They all stopped, waiting for other figures to emerge from the shadows. Waiting for them to be hunted. But that did't happen. The man took off his mask. It was Albert Pride Jr. Ferry lightly let go of the fairy and stood in front of everyone, his body a shield of protection.

"Come with me," Albert Pride told them shortly. "I know a shortcut."

"We're not coming with you!" Matilda protested. "A shortcut to what? To the fairy hunt?" she shouted.

"Ms. Harper, I'd rather you didn't scream," he said just as calmly, "I'm trying to get you and your friends out of here."

"Of course you do. You want to feather us and hunt us all like pheasants just for your amusement, don't you?" said Matilda, startled.

Albert Pride stepped closer to Ferry. "Mr. Donovan, I have a car that works and can transport all the fairies to Shepherd's Forest, where they belong. But there's no time. We have to go. Now."

"How do we not know it's not a trap?" Ferry asked. "Why would I believe you? You've been behind this all along."

"Because I need your help," Mr.  Pride replied. "Billy is in the maze. I need you to save him."

Matilda came to Ferry. "Ferry, don't go," she said, her voice trembling. "He's alone. We can immobilize him. We don't need his help. We can save the fairies by ourselves. Please, don't go," she begged.

The moon came out of the clouds, illuminating everything around. Ferry saw the concern on his friends' faces. His father's stare. The tears in Matilda's eyes.

"The marks on your forehead," she said, touching his skin with her fingertips. "They're brighter. Why?"

"It's a sign the time to use the Spear of Justice has come ..." he said softly.

He knew he had to make a decision. Fast. He took out Albert Pride Sr.'s contract from his pocket and handed it to Mamma Leena.

"Take this to the Council of the Wise. Tell them what Saraid did." Then he turned to Albert Pride and stretched out his hand. They shook hands. "Take care of my friends," he told him.

Albert Pride nodded. "Come on. The car is close."

But Matilda did not agree. She began to shiver as if storm clouds had gathered over her. She wanted to get closer to Ferry, but he took a few steps back. "I have to go," he said, forcing himself not to look into her eyes.

"No, Ferry, you don't have to. Don't leave!" she begged him.

Ben came to her and  lightly took her by the shoulders. "Let's go, Matt ..." he said softly.

But she began to struggle in Ben's arms. "No, Ben, we can't leave him alone," she said, unable to hold back the tears. "Ferry, let me come with you ... Please ..."

But Ferry moved even further away. He looked into his father's eyes. "Dad, take care of her. Get her out of here. That's between me and the fairies," he said, turning his back on them, heading back to the mansion.

Behind him, he heard Matilda's desperate screams and protests. He continued to walk without looking back for fear he might change his mind. Her voice, calling his name, again and again, followed. He took big steps, then began to run, his heart pounding in his ears. He could still hear her cries for a while, and Ferry covered his ears for fear of losing the last trace of courage he had. By the time her cries melted into the night, he had already reached the mansion. It was quiet. The maze rose in front of him, as silent and majestuous as a castle. Ferry looked back once more. Then, he went inside the maze.

He'd been in the maze so many times. Even at night. But now something was floating in the air. A barely perceptible breeze. Like a whisper. The foliage seemed darker. The walls of the maze seemed higher, rising to the moon like the walls of a fortress. Suddenly, branches appeared in his path like long arms clinging to his clothes and legs, though Ferry was sure he cut the bushes just a few days ago. It was as if that place kept him from finally knowing its secrets.

Ferry made his way through the increasingly thick corridors of the maze. Fragments of words came from everywhere and out of nowhere. The light of the moon poured over the leaves like drops of silver. Ferry couldn't tell if it was the light or the blood of the fairies who died in the maze of lost dreams. It even seemed to him that he had lost his way, although he knew the place like the back of his hand. The silence was suddenly pierced by a lamenting cry that froze his blood in his veins. He stopped, listening. But all he could hear was his breathing and his heartbeat growing with each passing moment. He continued on his way to the middle of the maze. The words turned louder now. Fragments of light pierced the foliage.

Ferry turned unseen and continued on his way. In the middle of themaze, he discovered several silhouettes wearing masks, surrounded by huge torches that illuminated the place as in broad daylight. In the middle of the labyrinth, a tall pillar stood like a flag. And a thick iron chain was tied to that pillar. At the other end of the chain, there was Billy. The chain had wrapped around his ankle and he was now bleeding. His blood was dripping on the ground.

Ferry slowly stepped closer. He looked at Billy. He was just a boy. A lonely, scared boy. And although Ferry was sure he didn't make the slightest noise, one of the figures came closer, sniffing the air. He took off his mask. It was Albert Pride Sr.

"Well, well," he grinned, "it looks like our guest has arrived. Come on, Garrett, get out of the shadows," he hissed in her ear.

Ferry decided to show himself. There was no point in hiding.

"Welcome to our humble gathering, Prince Garrett of Akna," Albert said, bowing. Behind the masks, the others laughed.

But Ferry did not lose his temper. "Let Billy go," he said calmly. "You don't need him. I'm here."

Albert Pride shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't do that. You see, even if you have noble blood, I can't use it. You're the bearer of the Spear of Justice. You're the only one who can use the Spear. And who can make the Moon's Tear even stronger. Invincible. Unstoppable."

Ferry looked him in the eye. "I'm not going to kill Billy. I don't even have the Moon's Tear."

Albert Pride laughed and his grotesque roar echoed in the night. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that, Your Majesty. The Tear will come to you."

Ferry looked around, trying to find the sparkle of the stone. If the moonlight touched the stone, the Spear of Justice would appear. That was what happened in Tenalach, exactly seven years ago. And he would destroy evil with the help of it. He was going to kill Albert Pride Sr. He was going to kill the Monster.

But the bushes moved, and another masked man appeared from the foliage. He was dragging someone. He threw him to the ground in front of Albert. Ferry recognized the red jacket. And the one who wore it. Parsley.

"Parsley, what are you doing here?" he said, still unable to believe it. "You locked me in the school's basement? Why did you do that?"

Parsley looked up at him. "Because you shouldn't be here, Garrett. That's what I tried to do. Stop you from coming here. But now it's too late," he sighed.

"Oh, but we don't have to be upset about that," Albert Pride laughed. "The more, the merrier."

"That's enough!" shouted Ferry. "Let go of my friends! We don't have the Tear."

"I'm afraid I can't do this," the Monster grinned. "The party has just begun. The guest of honor has not yet arrived."

One of the figures came closer to him. She was a woman. She wore a butterfly wing mask. "Who are we waiting for?" she asked. Her voice seemed familiar to Ferry.

"Be patient, my dear. Bring the girl!" he ordered.

The woman in the butterfly mask walked over to another figure, grabbed her hand and pushed her in front of Albert Pride. From her fragile stature, she looked like a girl. She stood with his head bowed. From under the mask, her red hair shone like fire. And Ferry's heart ached when she took off his mask.

"Did you find out who the Keeper is?" the Monster asked Oona.

She shook her head without looking up.

"Useless girl," the woman spat the words, rushing at her. She took off her mask. It was Lily Jones as Ferry suspected. From behind her black dress, the black dog appeared,  slowly growling. It raised his long mouth and began to smell the air around.

"Is that true Oona?" Ferry asked. "Did you spy on us?"

Parsley looked just as hurt. "See what you did, Ferry?" he said. "You brought a bloody spy among us."

Oona looked up at Ferry. She had tears in her eyes. "I didn't want to, Ferry. I'm so sorry ... I didn't mean it. You all treated me so nicely ..."

"I saved your life, Oona," Ferry shouted. "And this is how you reward us? By spying on us?"

She took a few steps toward him. "I'm sorry, Ferry ... I'm so sorry. But my mother ..."

"Don't you see it?" cried Ferry. "She's not your mother!"

That moment, Lily Jones began to laugh. Her laughter grew louder and louder, filling the maze."Oh, but I am her mother," she hissed, toring off her black wig and wiping her makeup off her face. Her face lit up. Her eyes cleared. Her blonde locks fell over her shoulders, reaching to the ground. "Although I never wanted to be the mother of such a useless, stupid being," she shouted.

Ferry, Parsley, and Oona looked at the wonderful and frightening creature in front of them. Alwyn.

"I've lived among the humans for so long. I had to endure their dirty touches and their smelly breaths. And for what? Your friends are right, Oona," she said, coming closer to her daughter and gripping her chin with her claw-like fingers. "You really are a fairy. We both are. It's just useless to you, you bad creature," she said, knocking her to the ground.

"But why? Why?" Oona asked, and tears began to flow. "You used me. And I let you," she sighed.

"For that damn stone. The Moon's Tear. Which even now, when the moon is almost full, and we still don't know where it is."

The dog behind her growled, and turned into a small creature, with rabbit ears and eyes like two black beads. Pooka. Then, it darted like an arrow at Parsley, scratching and biting his face. 

Parsley cried out in pain and before the others did realized it, an arrow of white light struck the animal and Pooka was thrown through the air like a rag.

Alwyn let out a short cry, and rushed to the fallen fur ball, caressing and stroking it. The little creature moaned.

"My little Pooka ..." she whispered. Then she turned to Parsley, "Dirty lizzard! What did you do to my little one?" she squeaked, darting at him.

But Ferry stood in front of Parsley and Alwyn did not dare to approach.

"You're different, Moonlight Boy," she hissed. "You have finally grown up to become the man everyone expects you to be."

Albert Pride Sr., who was watching the whole scene from the edge with a grin in the corner of his mouth, walked towards Billy with a determined pace. He pulled on the iron chain and Billy cried out in pain.

"Enough with this play!" Albert shouted. "It's time for the show to begin!"

The foliage rustled again and a new figure emerged from the shadows. He wore a cloak that covered his face. He headed to Albert Pride with a determined pace, and took off his hood in front of him. He was a tall, pale boy. His white hair fell in greasy strands over his forehead. Two white eyes peered at Albert without the slightest trace of fear. He wore a strange, old attire beneath the cloak.

"I'm here, Albert," he said firmly. "Let the boy go. You don't need him."

Billy looked up at him. "Andrew ..." he whispered.

Ferry recognized Kian's voice. And all the torment, all the pain caused by his mother's death came back, stronger than ever. He tried to control his breathing and the trembling of his body.

Albert Pride Sr. clapped his hands. "Finally. The guest of honor has arrived," he said. "I think we can get started. But first, let's do the introductions. Everyone, meet Kian. The Prince of the Voids. And the Hollow Land Master's youngest son."

"Is that true, Andrew?" Billy asked.

Kian nodded slowly.

"Have you been lying to me all this time? Why?"

"I'll tell you why," Albert said. "For the Tear."

"You tricked me!" Kian shouted at Albert. "Both of you!" he said, looking at Alwyn. "I wanted the stone to save my world. Our sun is dying, and our world with it. I needed the Moon's Tear to bring light back into my world. But you," he said, looking at the two of them, "you you only wanted it for the power it gives you. " He then looked into Billy's eyes. "It's true, Billy... I lied to you. But I never lied about how I felt about you..." he gently said.

Alwyn came to him and wrapped her hands around his neck. "But we can use the stone together, my love. Forget about your world! Your world is dying. We can live in another world. In Tenalach. Let's be King and Queen in Tenalach, with the sun always shining above us ..."

 Kian removed her hands from around his neck. "I can't let my people die."

"Oh, how noble," said the Monster. "Your words almost brought me to tears."

But Kian didn't listen to him. He slowly stepped closer to Billy and kneeled beside him. "I'm sorry, my love ..." he whispered. "I'm sorry you had to find out like this. Will you ever forgive me? I couldn't tell you. Would you have loved me still if you knew who I was? What I was?"

Billy looked at him and tried to hold back his tears. "Of course I would still love you, Andrew ... That doesn't change how I feel about you ..."

Kian smiled at him, then they both wrapped their arms around each other. 

"We should have left this place," Billy said in a low voice.

Kian smiled a bitter smile. "We should have..."

But their moment did not last long. Something made them all look up at the sky. Something made everyone forget to breathe for a moment. A strong light almost blinded them. The moonlight became stronger, falling in the middle of the maze. And from it, a spear took shape. At its top, there was the Moon's Tear.

Albert Pride Sr. and his acolytes cheered, clapping like mad men. He approached Ferry, whispering in his ear, "Look at it, Garrett! Isn't it beautiful? Don't you feel the need to raise your spear and avenge your mother's death?"

Ferry felt his body tense. He could feel the power of the Spear summoning him, stronger and stronger.

"Why don't you go?" the Monster asked. "Kian killed your mother!" he shouted.

"Don't do it, Ferry!" Parsley said. "It could be anyone here!"

Alwyn rushed to Albert. "What are you doing?" she cried. "Is that all this is for? A trap for Kian?"

Albert pushed her. He kept talking to Ferry, "Your mother found out Kian's secret. She was worried. You know that, don't you? She wanted to tell everyone who he was."

Kian got up and helped Billy get up, too. "It's not true, Garrett. Your mother was the gentlest creature I've ever met. She was willing to love me even when I turned her world upside down. But I know I'm going to die today."

"He wanted to get to you," Albert continued in Ferry's ear like a bad thought. "Come on, don't be afraid. Grab the spear and kill him!"

But Alwyn clung to his feet, begging him, "No! What are you trying to do?" she cried. "Kill the boy! He is noble blooded. Noble blood touched by true love."

"That's right," the Monster agreed. "They  both are. It's really true love, just as strong for both of them. But the boy has only half the noble blood. Kian is the real noble blood here."

"It's your fault, Kian!" cried Alwyn. "Why did you have to fall in love with him? Why did you have to fall for a human? Wasn't I enough for you?"

"Oh, please, stop with the whimpering!" Albert spat the words. "You did the same," he told Alwyn.

"Yes! And I regretted every moment of it," Alwyn shouted. "He broke my heart. The pain was so great that I had to cross the Valley of Oblivion to forget that man. I had to forget that I carried his child. Oona."

Albert Pride Sr. began to laugh and his laughter filled the air again. "That man ... That man was me, you fool!" he shouted.

Alwyn looked at him with horrified eyes. "What?"

"You were the one who gave me blood and healed me. You were the one who started it all. YOU loved a man. You loved me."

Alwyn shook her head stubbornly. "No! It can't be true. I've always hated humans."

Albert grinned, "Yes, but have you ever wondered why?"

Alwyn began punching him in the chest. "You fooled me! You found me and made me believe in you again."

"Stop dramatizing," he said. "You've always made such big deal out of anything. I hated that about you."

"You never loved me!" she cried.

"It's true. I loved only once. She loved me, too. But she refused to live like me. She called me a monster because I used fairy blood. Me, who would have done anything for her," he shouted. "But now it does not matter. Someone will die today. And I'll take the damn stone. So Garrett, pick up the damn spear and avenge your mother!"

"Don't do it, Ferry!" Billy begged. "You're not a killer."

But Ferry felt the Spear draw him back to it like an unseen, uncontrollable force. He was striding toward the moonlight. The marks on his forehead burned. He detached the Spear from the moonlight.

The maze began to spin around him, with creatures and torches. He heard a woman's voice scream.He didn't know if it was Alwyn or Oona. The voices became louder.

"Do it!" he heard the Monster's voice. "He killed your mother! Do it!"

Ferry headed for Kian. He saw him look up at him and smiled, nodding.

Parsley tried to get closer to him, but Albert slammed him to the ground. Ferry advanced to Kian. He felt his whole body ache from so much strain and his temples twitch. He saw everything through the fog as in a bad dream. And then, his mother came to mind. She smiled at him, as she always did, wrapping him with her warm gaze.

"Don't do it, my dear," her voice sounded like in a dream. "Your soul is so kind. You couldn't hurt anyone ..."

Ferry felt the hand holding the Spear become insecure and trembling. He slowly descended the Spear. He clenched his teeth and a tear slid down his cheek. He screamed in pain and fury. Then, he could feel a whirlwind of cold air taking him over, freezing him to the bone. The Spear remained in the air. He saw Kian rise into the air, floating above the ground toward him. Towards the still lifted spear. And he saw its sharp tip pierced his heart. With his last strength, Ferry pulled the spear from Kian's chest, collapsing to the ground.

Kian's eyes widened. He looked for Billy's gaze.

"Goodbye, my love ..." he said and collapsed on his back, his hands on his chest. White blood began to flow from his pierced heart.

Billy let out a cry of dispair and crawled to him. The chain hanging from his leg could not stop him, even if the wound bled even more. With trembling hands, he pressed the wound from which the blood flooded.  Billy called out his name, his real name. But Kian didn't answer. His heart stopped beating. His body then turned into millions of light particles that rose into the sky, becoming one with the moonlight, dripping over Billy. His white blood still lingered on Billy's trembling hands.

The Spear of Justice also melted, and the Tear fell on the grass, its light pulsing like a beating heart.

Alwyn roared like a wounded beast. "NO! NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHATHAVE YOU DONE?" she screamed. Her eyes turned completely black and Ferry saw the gleam of evil in them.

"Enough!" cried Albert Pride Sr. "It's over. Let's take the stone and get out of here. We're done here," he told the two figures at the edge of the maze who hadn't taken off their masks. "Kill them all but the fairy boy. I still need him. His blood must be worth millions."

The two men drew their weapons from their belts and headed for Parsley and Oona, who had somehow reached each other. Billy was crouched on the ground where Kian's blood fell.

But Alwyn didn't give up. She raised her hands and a storm started around her. Branches, stones and dirt flew in all directions. It all happened so fast. A flash of light darted at Ferry, then the moon was covered in clouds.

When the clouds dissipated, Ferry saw Oona collapsed at his feet. She received Alwyn's blow in his place. The Moon's Tear was gone.

"What did you do, you fool?" cried Albert Pride. "Now we have lost the Tear again. Come on! We have to get out of here. Kill them all but the Moonlight Boy!" he told the two men in masks.

Then he grabbed Alwyn by the arm. She was still watching the place where Kian had turned into light, without blinking. The Monster raised one hand. He was surrounded by a black fog, then disappeared, along with Alwyn.

Barely breathing, Ferry leaned over Oona. The fairy smiled at him, stroking his face with her soft hand.

"Oona ..."

"I remember you ..." she whispered. "You're the fairy boy. My precious fairy boy ..."

Ferry understood what was happening. He understood why she remembered him--she was dying. It was the only way someone would remember after walking the Valley of Oblivion. Alwyn's magic had touched her chest. She was bleeding, just as Kian had done moments before.

"No ... No ..." he gasped. "Oona, please don't die ... Not you, too ..."

He looked up and saw Parsley and Billy's horrified eyes. The two men had drawn their weapons and were heading for them. Ferry felt his hands catch fire. He raised them up as if they were weapons and sent a beam of light to each of the men. They fell to the ground. Parsley ran toward them.

Ferry tried to stop Oona's blood with his hands.

"She's dying, Parsley ... She's losing too much blood ..." he sobbed. "Help me!"

Parsley fell to his knees beside them. He bowed his head. "I can't ... I won't be on time."

Ferry felt hot tears running down his cheeks. "Oona ..."

Then he heard his name shouted. Like a whisper. It was Billy. "Help me get out of the chain," he said in a low voice. "I can help her."

Ferry stopped thinking. He walked over to Billy. He looked at the heavy chain hanging from his wounded ankle. He placed his palm over it. He felt the pain piercing his hand and spreading throughout his body like an arrow. He closed his eyes. He held his breath, resisting the power of the iron. When he opened them, the chain was broken.

"Help me get to her," Billy said. "We have to take her to the mansion. There are still blood supplies there."

Ferry helped him get up and they both crawled to Oona.

"She's dying, Ferry ..." Parsley whispered, holding Oona's hand, tears in his eyes.

"I-- I can't fly ..." Ferry whispered. "I can barely walk ... She doesn't have much time ..."

"I'll take her," Billy said, lifting Oona in his arms.

"How?" Ferry asked.

"I still have the green feather. Remember?"

Ferry nodded. Billy rose in flight with Oona in his arms. Then, he disappeared into the deep night. Ferry collapsed and everything around him turned black.

*

When he woke up, he was in his sky-covered room at Lavender's house. He found the old fairy on the edge of the bed, looking at him worriedly. It was daylight outside.

"Oona ..." he whispered, struggling to get up. His whole body ached.

"She's downstairs ..." Lavender whispered.

Ferry got out of bed and went downstairs, holding against the walls. He found Oona lying on the couch by the fire. Parsley was with her. She was pale and her eyes were clogged. But she was alive. She smiled at him, reaching out her arms to him. Ferry hugged her, sinking his face into her fiery hair.

"I remember you, fairy boy ..." she whispered on his shoulder. "I remember everything ..."

Ferry smiled; he then succumbed to all the emotions of one of the darkest nights he had ever had and wept in her arms.

"And the others?" he asked Parsley between the sobs.

"Everyone's fine. The fairies are back in Tenalach. Albert Pride Jr.  kept his word."

"Billy?" Ferry asked, and his voice broke.

"He's outside...."

Ferry slowly pulled away from Oona's embrace and went outside. He discovered Billy in Lavender's wild garden, under the weeping willows. He was watching the sunrise pouring around him, announcing a new day. Billy's body shivered, his eyes lost in the distance to the light that had taken away his one true love. He still had Kian's blood on his hands ...

https://youtu.be/GrpSjXo6ah0

This song is dedicated to one of the most intriguing, most layered characters I've ever written. Kian of the Voids. I'm going to miss writing him...