As I came back to my current self, I tried desperately not to lose control of myself like before. I got my bearings before sitting up.

Sebastian had moved us across the room and laid me on the bed. He was sat beside me, worry on his expression.

"What happened? You screamed, but I couldn't wake you."

"Did I lose control again?" I asked as I tried to gather my thoughts.

Sebastian shook his head with the slightest of smiles. "No, My Love. You've gotten much stronger."

I smiled to myself a little, hopeful that maybe one day I'd be strong enough to not worry about hurting people while I was unconscious.

"Chrystal, please tell me what you saw. You were completely still and somewhere else but you still managed to scream my name. When I couldn't do anything-"

I blinked. "I screamed? I thought that was in the vision." I had rarely ever seen such fear and helplessness on Sebastian's face. It crushed me.

I quickly moved to him, wrapping my arms around his neck in a tight embrace. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He held me tightly to him as I explained what I saw. I told him of Sarah and Jasmine disappearing, then running into the demon and him taking me away.

I held him tighter. "He's going to take my friends first, then he'll take me. That's his plan. Then the bad stuff happens..." I willed away the tears that were threatening my eyes. I didn't want to cry over it anymore. Besides, I still didn't have the most faith in my visions.

"We will be sure to warn them to stay vigilant. Was there anything else you saw? Think hard on this. We do not want to miss a single detail that could be of importance."

I thought back on the vision. "When it first started, I'd just noticed that Sarah and Jasmine weren't behind me anymore. They were walking somewhere with me, and I had my swords..." Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in my head. My gaze met Sebastian's again. "I was on my way back to my room. I was thinking about how I was supposed to be getting ready for my coronation."

He stared back at me silently, thinking, then looked at me with contentment. "So you're going to accept your role soon. That's good to hear."

I didn't respond. I wasn't sure how.

He kept talking, either not noticing my silence or knowing that I didn't really want to talk about that at the moment. "Of course they would make their biggest strike right before the coronation. Once you become queen, you should have full access to all of your powers. He knows he won't stand a chance to you then. It would be his last shot to take you out."

I felt my body shudder at the thought. One last attack. It reminded me of my final trial against the demon in the hotel. One final epic battle to determine if I would live or die. If I was truly fit to be queen.

A new thought occurred to me then. "What do you mean, 'full access'? I don't have all my powers yet?" There was so much power I had now that I couldn't even learn to control. I was going to have more?

Sebastian ran a calming hand over my head and through my hair as he sensed my growing anxiety. "No, you don't. I wish I could tell you more, but I'm not quite sure how it works myself. But as soon as you officially become queen, you'll become stronger than any demon. That's as the prophecy says."

I leaned into him, my mind whirling with thoughts about the prophecy and powers that I could potentially gain access to. Were they going to be like superhero powers, similar to my elemental magic, or perhaps just more powers that give me more control over the other demons, like what happened at the ball? After a moment I tried my best to turn my brain off. I was mentally exhausted after everything that had happened today. I didn't want to think about my scary visions or possible powers anymore.

Sebastian sighed and smiled, placing his forehead to mine. "Rest here for a while, My Love. I should go and inform the others of what you've told me. Both your friends and the guards." His smile fell. "I do not understand how he keeps managing to get in here when we have every guard we have posted all throughout the castle. I should have killed him at the ball. I should have been able to stop him. He shouldn't have been able to put his hands on you."

"It's alright." I told him quietly, leaning back to meet his gaze. "You still saved me, remember? If anything, I should be apologizing to you. That vision came to me out of nowhere. I didn't even know it was coming. I need to learn to control them. If I don't, I'll only end up putting us in even worse situations."

His smile came back, and he closed the distance between us and kissed me. It was brief, but I was able to feel everything he was in that moment. So much love and self loathing. It broke my heart.

"You are still learning, Chrystal," he said once he pulled away. "You've grown so much, yet you still have a long way to go. Even when that time comes, and you've finally mastered your powers, it will still forever be my duty to protect you."

"That may be true, but you shouldn't think of saving me as failing to protect me. He may have got away, but I was your priority. You had no way of knowing if I'd passed out from a vision or if he'd done something to me. You did the right thing by our contract." I stared at him earnestly. "By our love, right?"

He stared at me for a long time, taking in what I had said. I knew he wasn't doubting what we had, I just wanted to be sure he understood. Unless...

When he still hadn't said anything, I felt my anxiety skyrocket and tears threaten my eyes. I looked down at my hands. "Of course, I wouldn't blame you if you decided I was too much of a hassle. Protecting me every day must be-"

He didn't let me finish as he quickly pulled me into another kiss, this one much deeper than the former. I threw my arms around him again, my tears spilling over and down my face.

It was several long moments before we pulled apart again. Sebastian held me close as I tried to stop the flow of my tears.

"I'm sorry. I should have answered you immediately, but my mind was full of thoughts. I know you are correct. You are always my priority, and no matter how tough things get, I will always be by your side. I will always love you. Please do not ever doubt that."

His voice sounded broken, like he was also fighting not to cry. That was new. Sebastian didn't cry. This revelation only made me cry harder as I buried myself in his chest.

"I know," I sobbed. "I just don't want to be a burden anymore. You've done so much for me, and I don't have anything to give in return."

He held me tightly to him. "As long as you are here with me, I do not need anything else. Knowing you are alive and awaiting my return is more than enough."

We sat holding each other for a while, before Sebastian spoke again. "As much as I hate to leave you, I must inform the others of your vision. Please rest here. I'll be back shortly."

I nodded and reluctantly released him. He smiled and kissed my forehead before leaving, and I laid down on the soft bed and let myself drift off to sleep.