Evanna knew what she had to do. Her father would be angry, but it was the price she had to pay. It simply had to be done.
It was a complete roll of the dice. She didn't know if it would work out. But she had to try. Muttering an incantation, fingertips glowing red, she sent out a silent prayer to the universe and whoever may be listening. It was time to send a nightmare.
Tomorrow, he would leave. It might be hard, he told himself, but it was for the best. He just didn't feel right, mountain was trapping him, restricting him. Yes, he would leave tomorrow, he thought, staring up at the ceiling. No matter what.
There was a knock on his door, yanking him out of his thoughts. "Yes," he said, sitting and assuming a cross-legged position, "you may come in."
Arra opened the door. She crossed the room with silent bare feet to sit beside him. Her hair was down, falling in waves past her shoulders.
"What are you doing up in the middle of the day?" he asked.
"Not sleeping, that's what." Arra sighed. After a few beats of silence, she hesitantly said, "I had a nightmare."
"What was it about?"
"It's going to sound stupid."
"I do not mind."
Arra sighed again, leaning against him, head resting upon his shoulder. "It was a dream where you left. Without me, without anyone. You were gone, and you weren't ever coming back. I lost you forever. And you didn't even say goodbye." Her voice was becoming choked up just remembering it.
Suddenly, a wave of emotion slammed into Larten like a ton of bricks. Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes. He turned and hugged her close, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "You can forget about that nightmare. I am not ever leaving you, I will always be there whenever you need me. I promise, that won't ever happen." All of the sudden, she was holding back her own tears. She clutched his shoulders, burying her face in his crimson shirt. For a few seconds, they sat there holding each other.
"Really? You'll be here always?" It came out more childish than she would have wanted it to.
"Yes. Always." He kissed her again, but this time his lips met her lips instead of the top of her head. She moaned softly into his mouth as he coaxed her into laying down.
Evanna broke the connection, not wanting to intrude on anymore of the couple's private moment. She sighed happily and allowed herself to smile. She felt the plan had worked. Larten Crepsley would most likely not leave the mountain, not after this. And if he did, she would certainly be coming with him, and he would never meet the boys, and Darren Shan would not become a vampire. Perhaps the War of Scars would happen some other way, but she would blow up that bridge when she came to it. For now, the world had a century or two more of relative peace.