Author's note: Let me just quickly say with a bittersweet heart - that after this chapter we are entering the CLIMAX. Just a handful more chapters to go, but we still have different POV chapters, addition of new characters, and a war looming overhead.

Being said that - this chapter is a DOUBLE POV. #ElDorado - coined by EternalSu ❤

***

A sharp intake of breath had me gasping. I felt breathless.

Fear. Like always.

My eyes snapped open while in a reflex my hand fisted the tunic over my heart. I looked around the arsenal. I spotted Ralph talking to the Commanders of our Realm. Serena rambling, and Una looking at her as if listening to a thrilling story. Nova, busy in conversation with Dylan and two other Eclipses, from Aries House - the Eclipses always fascinated him - and that's why, I, like everyone else, never gave it a second thought when Neo suggested searching for them.

I walked to a window, fear palpating slow and gradual, and looked out. The palace's backyard was empty. My eyes roamed around as far as they could go. For three days, she had been fine. Since coming to the palace, she had been fine. But now... she was scared again. Unease dropped into my stomach like leaden ash.

"Ralph?" I called out, my heart racing wild, eyes unfocused. "Where is Eleni?" He perked up. Everyone did.

"She went up in her room." I registered Una's voice and ran off towards the exit without missing a beat. The distance between the guardhouse and palace seemed never-ending. My unease spread, as I ran across the palace's slippery floor, and flung open the door to her room, not bothering to knock.

I called her name, again and again. But her fear spiked through me like a volcano ready to froth up. Her room was just the same, neat and not a thing out of place. She wasn't here. She was far, far away from me. In danger. Yet again.

It cost me precious moments to run back, and find Dylan. They had all gathered in the backyard. And when our eyes met, I knew he had bad news for me. "The wards, "Dylan gulped, "They were t-tampered with, but I thought one of you must have gone out. T-The magic felt familiar."

A chill spread through the room. I felt all the four elements collapsing down, with a dread like never before.

"I swear, if Eleni went on her own again, I'll kill her myself," Serena raged, afraid and scared.

She had a point. Eleni was capable of taking such rash, impulsive decisions. Going alone, like an idiot, as she had clearly hinted. She was miserable since having learnt about her sister, and no one could blame her. But I had made Dylan secure the wards for just this purpose. She would be zapped hard and stuck to the ward, until the one who had cast it would release her.

It was her stubborn attitude that had made me take such an extreme decision. And I had never been so right. Eleni was gone. But not by herself. Had Neo been here?

Another sharp pain jolted in my chest and I rested my back against a pillar behind me, my eyes squeezed shut. Had I failed to keep her safe? Had I forced her too much to stay inside the palace, that she had felt the need to take things in her own hands? I recalled our last conversation, my last sentence to her, and my heart broke into uncountable pieces. I knew Neo wanted her, everyone knew, and that bastard manipulated her like no one else. All my efforts to keep her calm and inside the safety with everyone was down the gutter. 

Was she with Neo right in the moment?

No, she didn't go out on her. She won't. She wouldn't. And if she did... maybe she really didn't trust me. Trusted no one. 

"Stay strong, son. We will find her." Father had clutched my shoulders. His face was panicked, and I realized just how much he had come to adore her. I'd bring her back, father, I promise.

Eleni was scared for her life somewhere and I was scared for my own. She had become my life.

Una said something about the possibility of Eleni fainting again, after the magic she had done, but I had stopped listening, drifting to the numbing sensation that was gripping me. My eyes closed. Her scent, like the soil after rains, her midnight black eyes shining like starlight, her cheeks that flared up with a blush every time I'd touch her, the way she swirled her fingers and let her magic spill - everything about her was pulling me into a spiral of helplessness. 

I had fallen for her with her a little too early, even before knowing that she had Earth powers, even before knowing that she was the one who had raised that black tower, saving my useless life. I'd get her... pay my debt and walk out of her life, if she still didn't trust me to be by her side. To fight by her side. To avenge all the sufferings Neo had caused both of us. 

"Where is Orella?" Ralph asked. My eyes opened, wayward thoughts suddenly dissipating.

His desperate, enraged voice tore through the room and awakened me. I met his intense red gaze, and we reluctantly converged onto the erratic thought that had whirred between us ever since Orella had come into the palace. No, it couldn't be! He shook his head unsure, and I shook mine. No, it couldn't be!

The magic felt familiar - Dylan had said. Neither the guards could go out, or come in, without Dylan feeling it. And no one moved. Wouldn't dare. Only someone who had access in and out, could break those wards. I gulped. Ralph said something about gathering the guards and enquiring them, but I drifted out, zoned out. He walked away like the hot-head he was, when Eleni wasn't around. I wanted to stop him from murdering someone but my legs seemed to have turned into stone, speech impaired.

No, it couldn't be!

As long as I felt Eleni's fear, I'd live - I'd find her. The bond between us would guide me to her. I'd get her. Tell her she was an idiot, a beautiful idiot, and hold her close. I nodded to myself, and rubbed a rough hand across my face. I needed to find her. I had promised her, that I always would. But her fear was unstable, as if coming in waves... not allowing me to feel her... to locate her. This was new. And scary. Almost deliberate.

Leaving everyone standing frozen, I staggered back. The cave. I knew the way. I'd burn the whole thing down this time, if I had to. I'd search the entire Four Realms if I had to. She never wanted any of this, she didn't want to be a hero. She just wanted a few moments of peace, but the devil never let her live.

Everyone had met Neo, after having learnt the truth of his cosplay that had stretched for two years straight. My fists clenched, eyes regaining focus. Everyone had met him. But not me. 

And I wanted to meet him. With all the life in me. With all the fire in me.

But my life was sucked out suddenly - everything seemed to have died - I stopped feeling her - Or she stopped feeling altogether.

Disappeared. Asleep or... I gripped the open door to steady myself. Even before I could feel her, feel where she was... she had been snatched away...

I thumped my chest, thumped my heart to feel her, to find her. I couldn't lose her. Eleni, don't leave me! Fight it. Fight him.

But the bond was limp. Smashed. Broken.

No feeling. No fear. Nothing.

***

A sharp intake of breath had me gasping. I felt breathless.

"I have missed you so much, my dear princess."

I squinted my eyes open, like emerging out from deep waters, when a cold voice spoke. A new voice, which I had never heard before. Raspy yet deep. I realized I was sitting on a chair, a glittering blue rope spiraled around me, trapping and binding. My breathing quickened. An odd taste crinkled on my tongue. I looked up, blinking into the dim lights of what seemed like to be a small cave.

A man stood in front of me, face illuminated by flambeaus. Golden hair longer than before, a small mole near his chin. And as my own eyes accustomed completely, I found silver ones staring at me. The too familiar face laced with an amused expression.

I swallowed hard; my breathing ragged. The world seeming to close up on me. He was my worst nightmare, and now he had donned his real self. Neo, not Nova anymore.

"Where is my sister?" I asked.

"Always straight to the point," he chuckled, coming closer.

"Where is my sister?"

"First tell me, who looks better? Me or my brother?" He winked, bending down to my face.

"I want to see my sister. Bring her to me." I hissed. My brain numbed with anger.

"Who is more powerful? Me or my brother?"

"Where is Amelia?"

He raised a brow, and slowly leaned back, standing straight. Looking down at me with annoying sweetness. "We clearly love our siblings so much."

A laugh wheezed out from me. "Are you kidding me, Neo?"

He suddenly jerked ahead and pinched my chin between his fingers, "It's King Neo for you."

"Oh, please," I scoffed, peering into his silver eyes, "I know who my King is, and who the devil is. Everyone knows. I won't bow to you. Ever." Ralph would be proud.

"I see, talking like a princess, are we now?" He smirked. I glared at him.

Neo tilted his head, "No one told you then? I knew it. Let me do the honors." He bent, palms rested on either side of my chair's arms, bracketing me, "You are a princess, Eleni."

My brows knitted together at his grave voice. And he continued, "Your brother is a King and that makes you a rightful 'Princess of the Summer Realm'. I wonder why Ralph never told you?"

"Stop wasting my time. Bring me Amelia." 

"Because you are a Luesha," He continued, as if my words had been mute, "Your brother pities you enough to see you as an obligation but not as a sister who deserves the rightful share of his heritage."

My breathing faltered. The pulse in my veins growling with... hurt. Panic rising in my chest, bitter tears on the verge.

"Even, my dear old friend pitied you, when she offered to keep your secret and train you. Or maybe Una did it for her own benefit. Why, Serena is an absolute charm!" Neo tilted his head, "They all pity you."

I glared at him, my feelings entangled at his words. I reminded myself yet again, that he was messing with me. And I won't let him.

"Why are you doing this?" I kept the moisture in my eyes at bay.

"I am just... well, you see now, how similar we are!" I saw his eyes darken, "Your parents abandoned you, didn't they? So did mine. Nova had it all, friends, family, true love, people's favor. And what did I have? Their pity. Maybe not even that. I died and they felt remorse for my brother for having lost a twin. They didn't remorse for me. For the dead."

"Hell, I even had to learn to play piano for he has always been such a self-acclaimed maestro." Neo swallowed, an out-of-place emotion flashing in his eyes. 

He spat bitterly, recovering - "A shadow of my twin, that's what I was my whole life. Like you are - A shadow between the glimmer of royalty. Stripped off your powers since infancy, stripped off your heritage, stripped off your rights." He took a deep breath and I saw his eyes softening, "If you were at Terraskee, training with us all, maybe we both could have been friends. But you were lost in my Realm as a mere shadow. A speck of dust, despite the unnatural power you carry in your veins."

I stared at him. As if he was whispering a lullaby and I was falling asleep. The silver of his eyes, not scary anymore. And that bothered me. I should be scared of him. But he wasn't letting me.

"Eleni, sweetheart," he gently tucked my hair neatly behind my ears, "You and I are made to rule the world. I hope you realized by now, that it is your blood that gave me dark magic."

I froze. My blood? That's why he needed it.

"You are so special. And they don't see your worth. A house-arrest, really? And you let that smoky brat and his father dearest keep you there?" He moved his hand towards my palm and traced a soothing thumb over my cut.

My heart pounded in my chest. I wanted to speak, to retaliate. But I was... drowning into his words.

I saw a dagger shining in his hands and I felt nauseous. He cut open my palm swiftly, on the exact same spot where it had already been cut twice before. It hurt. But I let it not show. He pulled a vial and hummed a melody as the blood-drops dripped into the vial, excruciatingly slow. A tear slipped from my eye, and he wiped it, standing up.

Unstoppering the red vial, he handed it to a guard who hurriedly walked out... Out of what seemed to be a bluish cave. Exhaustion and pain thrashed in my veins, as I looked at the skin of my palm teared like meat. I was his weapon. Walked into his trap.

He spoke, "Orella got you, or I would have to thunder them all down. She gave me an easy way out, instead of me raging a war against the people - who she still considers as her friends. Despite the broken heart she carries, sewn on a loose thread."

My dulling earth senses, registered a few more people around me. A blue dress shimmied into my peripheral vision, and my fists clenched. The traitor.

I snapped my head at her. "Thank you for giving him an easier way out, Orella."

"You made your own choice. Don't you talk to me like that now," she rasped, her blue eyes seeming to be hardened like icy shards.

"Do you want me to curtsy then, or perhaps give you a magical toy for the Conquest?" I said, ignoring the numbing pain growing in my left temple. She had betrayed her friends. Betrayed Prince Nova!

Her fists clenched by her side. But Neo extended an arm to her, and she, changing her demeanor altogether, smiled sweetly at him, letting him pull her close. What on earth...?

"How is my brother, Orella? Surely you met him, probably threatened to kill me in front of him, no?" He smiled at her, his hand on her waist.

"Sure did. He cut his hair." She chuckled.

"You idiot." I spat. "How could you stoop to his level and for what?"

Orella glared at me, her arm draped around Neo's neck. I felt sick. And I recalled what Una had told me - 'She had always loved Nova, and he only saw her as a friend.'

Was she so desperate for love that she had fallen for just the 'face?'

"If you weren't Ralph's half-sister, I would have brought you here long back. Be grateful, you got more time to spend with my friends," she said cold and unbothered.

"Well, joke's on you because you just lost them all," I snapped.

And at my words, I saw her eyes dropping just a little. Neo clutched her waist tighter and placed a chaste kiss on her neck. She smiled a wistful one. My heart thundered. 

"This is not love." I growled, while my mind spiraled deeper into insanity.

Why were they telling me all this? Weren't they scared that I'd tell others?

Helplessness gripped me - Because I was... never going to meet the others!

Neo clicked his tongue, "Oh, you know a lot about love, I see. Where is he then? Your lover boy? If it weren't for the bond you share, if it weren't for me, who had attacked him in my first duel with Nigel, and if it weren't for you who had saved his sorry life with that black tower - he would've never had those feelings."

He tilted his head, "Doran would've never looked at you again, if it weren't for the Debt of Life. He would've forgotten you, if it weren't for the bond. It's not love, it's just how the Debt of Life works, Eleni. Grow up."

A tear slipped down my cheek. "Why did you want to kill Doran?"

"I didn't. It was an honest mistake. But I wouldn't have minded it. You see, I and Nova, always studied together, interested in Alchemy, but when Milan opened the doors for Ancient Sorcery - he forgot me! Love, he called it." Neo scoffed, "He met the Summer Princes, and forgot me."

Lord Orlon had been right all along. I was suddenly glad that Doran was not in the Conquest.

"Doran became his friend, and I, apparently was that easy to be replaced." He continued, "I don't make the same mistake again, just so you know. He had the nerve to enter my cave. Next time he won't have it that easy." I saw Neo's eyes darkening with rage, and he whispered in his most malicious tone, "I hope you bade him a good farewell." 

Bade him a farewell?

My mind screamed at me to threaten Neo to stay away from Doran, to not dare hurt him. But when I spoke, it surprised me, "I am more worried about you, than Doran." I smiled, with heavy-lidded eyes.

His face morphed into cold fury, as his gaze bore into mine. My eyes sagged lower and I
slipped deep into ugly thoughts that had sprouted by his words. 

He would've forgotten you, if it weren't for the bond.

Your brother pities you enough to see you as an obligation.

Or maybe Una did it for her own benefit.

A shadow between the glimmer of royalty.

They all pity you.

He sighed, as if sensing my thoughts, "Forget them all, sweetheart, and come with me. I will show you stars, the moon and the whole damning galaxy. Once I win the Throne."

I found my voice, suddenly, crisp and clear, "How will you win?" It sounded as if I was agreeing to whatever deal he was offering. Was I? Why was I?

"I will, and you are the key." He cupped my cheeks, a glint of hope flashing in his eyes.

"How?"

He smiled, genuine and soft, yet arrogant and smug, "I am in the Conquest, aren't I? After all, I won half of the duels."

I deadpanned, despite the sinking feeling.

"You are my 'something new'. You are the key, Eleni. Always have been." He smiled, "You are the newest power of this world. Wasn't that obvious? All are idiots, I swear."

I blinked at him, pushing firmly at the ever-growing pull in my head. Fear. I felt it. Hard and fast. Like never before. He was in the Conquest. That was his plan. And he was going to sacrifice... me.

And like always I understood the other half of his plan as well - I understood what his 'something once lost' was. His own twin - The Lost King. I felt bile up rise in my throat. 

"Are you with me, then? I will save you. I promise, Eleni. Just say yes." He whispered. "Tomorrow, we show the world, what it means to have absolute power."

Tomorrow! The Finale was tomorrow!

Blank dread stared at me, as my heart leaped. The bitter taste still circulated in my mouth and my throat was burning. It was hypnotic and I was plummeting into a depth of pure fear. Or maybe bliss. What was happening to me? Had I drunk something?

"No." I said.

Neo released me slowly and pinched the bridge of his nose, a hand on his hip. "See, Orella? I gave her a choice, didn't I?"

I focused on my breathing, despite the hammering in my head, despite the burning bitter taste at the back of my throat.  Somehow, I managed to gather words and put them together. "You want me to say what you want to hear me say. That's not a choice. Bring. Me. My. Sister."

He snapped a finger, face furious, and footsteps echoed around.

My whole body awoke at the sight.

Amelia!

Her golden hair messy, face dreadful and pale, a long white gown hanging loose, her freckles not twinkling anymore, blue eyes miserable as she took me in. She seemed so different. The last I saw her, she was sulking, but she had been safe, full of life. And I had been oblivious. How long had she been here? Fear gripped me like a vice.

"Eleni!" She screamed and I shut my eyes. My brain was numbing. What was I feeling? I wanted to run to her and hug her. Stroke her hair and take her far away. All this happening to me, was one thing, but to Amelia - No! I tugged at my bindings, and the glittering blue rope burned me, my skin blistering.

"Eleni, stay awake, ple-" she screamed yet again, and her next words got muffled. I managed to open my eyelids, fighting the thick curtain of drowsiness, to see a guard having clamped her mouth shut. Amelia was struggling, twisting her body, stomping her feet, trying to reach me. Rebelling like always. I had come to save her, but instead she was trying to save me.

How did she know that I was going into... sleep?

My eyes fluttered open, as my gaze raked over her beautiful face and halted at a long scar etched under her left eye.

"How dare you touch her?" I screamed, despite the deep binding coiled inside my brain. 

Neo shrugged. "Wild little thing, this one. Can't imagine how you single-parented her." 

I glared at him, through my hooded eyes, breathing through my mouth. My eyes snapped at from Neo to Orella, and I swear I saw Orella's blue eyes... staring at Amelia... with an emotion I couldn't quite place.

"I gave you a choice and you didn't take it. And I am glad you got to meet your sister, one last time." He said, in mock sympathy.

One last time.

"Let her go, you piece of shit," Amelia roared, after biting the guard's hand.

"Brat! I am indeed letting her go. Watch."

Amelia struggled again, and I let myself look at her. Maybe someone else will rescue her. Doran, yes. He knew! He'd take her. Even if things weren't real between us, he was a good friend. To everyone.

Serena adored Amelia anyways and Amelia would rather prefer an easy-going sister like her, than a stern one like myself. She'd be safe. Safe with Una.

Prince Nova might help her too, since she was an Air Elemental of his Realm.

Maybe Ralph would pity her as well and give her a shelter!

I released a fearful sigh. My body truly tumbling down a slope, gracefully yet abrupt.

Amelia hollered again -

"Eleni, don't fall for it. Fight it - he is making you a slave!"

And as she said it, a bond ripped apart - Bade him a farewell?

My world went dark and hollow.

No feeling. No fear. Nothing.

***