Finally! I released this chapter. Hope you all enjoy :D

Warning: There is some mild cursing

The surrounding air felt warm, a strange sensation that he could barely recall...why...why can I not remember what I was doing a second ago? Why can I not see?

His form felt bizarre like he could stretch out the tips of his claws for an eternity. Xerath tried to determine where his other senses had disappeared off to, but nothing came back to him. He felt despair and anger but could not recall why. The questions howled at him until a tiny, nearly insignificant voice tore through his wavering thoughts.

...It sounds so...familiar...sound...wait, I can hear!

At the new revelation, he concentrated all of his willpower into locating the source. Bits and pieces started to come to him, but all of it was inaudible. It was unquestionably feminine and somehow made him clench, but he kept following the trails of whispers.

Suddenly, a bright swirling light appeared beneath him. It was small like the voice but as he focused on it, the light began to grow. A rushing sensation grew within him until he realized he was falling!

He hastily broke his concentration but the light kept getting larger, eating up the darkness as it extended all around him. As he neared the surface, images swirled together like someone dipping a paintbrush into it. Momentum picking up, he tensed right before he came to a swift halt, never touching the surface.

As he forced the brief fear away, he focused again onto the golden light noticing it's similarities to an enormous mirror, although he couldn't see any part of himself. Nonetheless, as it rippled like a disturbed lake, he could see what was on the other side.

The first of several things that he could perceive was a monster that should have never been brought into existence. Its' ghastly maw was looming over a small transparent form, the being's limbs shredded with a grayish ooze spilt all around. Portions of the body were gone as the creature stuck its' snout into what seemed like a chest cavity. As he watched closer, he noticed that it took care in devouring whatever was inside that ghostly thing. The sounds it kept making were not like the ones that brought him here.

...so where are those sounds coming from? Warily, Xerath looked past the grisly scene, and took in the entire surrounding environment the best that he could. A few meters away from the creature was an unsettling darkness that seemed to cling to everything it touched, the edges of it becoming tendrils as it wrestled with whatever light that was left in the area.

Slowly his gaze drifted over to the right until it came upon a figure covered in dark sludge. The tendrils slithered all over him, turning his outer appearance into something far more sinister than the creature. Xerath's mind recoiled at his disgusting nature and instead looked beyond him. A few yards away stood a red haired woman, some of the darkness clinging to her limbs, but nothing more.

He could not make out their expressions as their eyes were dark pits and their faces constantly changing like a mirage. As best as he could determine, there were pillars engulfed in lightning standing around them, the darkness coiling into every pattern. Then the soft and fragile whisper spoke again, its' melancholy gripping him tightly. Xerath turned his attention to the only pillar that was not being used by the frantic energy, and felt like a part of him was being crushed by an unbearable weight.

Attached to the carved marble was a weeping statuette, parts of her seemingly ready to fall off only to be held up by metallic chains. The darkness just sat at the edges of her body, not able to get past her bright runic tattoos; they seemed to glow just like the golden mirror. Torn and scorched fabric drifted from her limbs as her eyes were shut tight…

...Tabia...

The sudden thought confused him. He could not recall where he had heard such a name, let alone why the statuette made him think it. Yet, the new word gave him an unquenchable longing. The name kept repeating itself over and over again…

...Tabia….Tabia…..Abbia…...Annabbia…...Annabella...

...Annabella...

The new name began to ring out as a fragment of him was trying to make himself remember. Staring at the statuette more intensely, faces flashed through his mind. He knew those people, but the connections still couldn't be made when the voice unexpectedly grew louder.

The weeping woman slowly brought up her chin as she opened her eyes, a soft golden light shining from them. She was staring right at him, past the mirror like she knew he was there. Gently, her pale lips shaped words into heavenly sounds as she became more audible. Is she speaking to me?

Bewildered, he listened with everything that he could at what she was saying, impulsively reaching out to touch the mirror. The surface felt cold and smooth against his hand as he stretched his fingers.

Was his hand always covered in tan flesh? He could bend them where the joints allowed, but it felt uncomfortable, almost unnatural. Glowing purple veins bulged from underneath his skin, the energy coursing through feeling much too heavy. Ignoring the new observation, he focused again onto the statuette, wishing he could pull her down from her bindings.

"—this was never meant to be, and I'm truly sorry for all of the misfortunes that I have brought onto you. The promises that Maliezek made me were always empty, and I was too blind to realize how far he would drag me down into his schemes. But when I look at you, even now, I know you are trying to break free, to rid yourself of unseen shackles attached to him…maybe in time you will forgive me," to this she gently smiled, "and maybe…we shall meet again. I will set you free even if it costs me my life..."

"...it's all that I want now..." Annabella softly whispered, closing her eyes for a second before looking back at the man who imprisoned her. He was still on the ground, his attention completely glued to the gruesome scene. The assassin was nearby as well, but she was turned away. The summoner's gaze instantly flickered over to Juniper, the damage upon the small orb unrepairable…I hope you do forgive me, Xerath…

Firmly shutting her eyes, she focused on the last of her magicka and energy, fresh tears trailing down her face. She was afraid, but she knew now was not the time for hesitation. The air around her began to charge, the markings along her dimming until it glowed with a dull shine. From the floor, ghostly massive chains began to appear, their purple radiance forming like a puzzle made of lightning. One of the chains then charged forwards, slithering hastily around the monster until it reached Xerath.

"Maliezek!" Katarina shouted, surprised to see the half-dead woman using the last of her magicka. She quickly pulled out a few short blades and flung them at the summoner. Another chain was instantly there and intercepted the onslaught, the blades slowly embedding deeply within it until the chain exploded into thousands of flickering purple flecks.

The assassin just about lunged at her when the crazed summoner brought one hand up sharply. He didn't even look at her as he shook his head.

Quickly pulling himself back to full height, Maliezek scrambled towards the pulsating orb. As he hastily seized Juniper, he began to crush the fragile instrument. Annabella quickly stopped her spell as her eyes opened wide, her breath completely gone. Her translucent chains quivered as she struggled to regain herself. Portions of the spell began to dissipate as new cracks formed all around her neck, some of them making the cracks along her body open wider until they trickled crimson.

Maliezek sneered at her as she fought to breath, pulling the orb out in front of him, "Oh little doll, it's time for you to give back what isn't yours. It's not like you have much time left anyways."

Horrified, Annabella watched in fear, parts of her vision beginning to darken. As her magicka drained away, so did her determination. Bit by bit, she knew he would consume her soul. Maliezek continued crushing the orb when a spark of lightning twisted out of Juniper's cracks. Stunned, he instinctively dropped it, confused by the sudden magical backlash.

"That magicka," His head still downturn, he swiftly brought his gaze back up to her, his eyebrows furrowed in rage, "what is his energy doing in there?!" The last few words were spitted as he took a step back. Annabella gasped for air as she became overjoyed. With the last of her magicka returning, the mad summoner no longer had control over her…I still have time…

Thanking the gods, Annabella hastily casted her spell again, reviving the dispersing chains as she was no longer afraid of her captor. The tip of the chain near Xerath's altered form reappeared and reared its' head like a serpent before plunging deeply within the purple void. Instantly, lightning traveled through her spell and into her weakening body. It took her a few moments to realize that high pitched shriek she was hearing was her own.

The otherworldly entrance began to pulse madly, ripples of powerful energy coursing through the temple.

"You idiot! Do you have any idea why I couldn't just stick my hand into the gate itself!? The pull of his power would be too much to bear and you would be pulled in yourself! What are you even trying to accomplish?!" Maliezek jabbered wildly, half to her and half to himself as he gawked at her suicidal attempt.

Wincing painfully, Annabella managed one eye open as she screamed, "I WON'T LET YOU CONDEMN ANOTHER SOUL! I WILL SAVE HIM!"

"You useless bitch! Why are you even trying to save that monster?! You're just going to end up getting me killed and ruining everything that I have done!" Maliezek then summoned several spheres of plasma and tossed them at her, his aim hitting true. But the moment his spell touched, it was absorbed into the lightning only adding more stress to the barely contained power.

Katarina just silently watched no longer sure if she should stick around to see the end outcome. This had all started off so simple with nothing more than to track down this other Champion that her commander had wanted her to find. Now, so many things were happening too quickly for her to keep up with, and none of it seemed like it was going to be giving an advantage to her fellow Noxians.

She should have killed the fragile woman moments ago but Maliezek forbade it. He pulled rank and now they were going to get killed because of his mistake. Snapping herself out of her stupor, Katarina turned and briskly started to walk away when Maliezek roared out to her.

"I order you to stop! You will stay here to help me finish my work, or I won't be able to assure the safe outcome of Noxus!"

Katarina's hands clenched tightly as she came to a halt, reflexively pulling out her blades until they came to rest at her thighs, "We measure those by their own power, and strength, yet you have neither. You're not even a Noxian." Turning swiftly, she pointed one of her blades at his face, "You know what? I should kill you here and now since you are nothing more than a spy who was managed to wiggle his way into cheated power."

Shrugging his shoulders, some of his cocky demeanor returned as a big insane grin plastered his face, "Go ahead and try, you won't be able to draw blood from me even if I wanted you to. And it wasn't even that hard to infiltrate your precious kingdom. Most you are just crazy blood lusting idiots who just use that desire for showing off your "power". You're just as messed up as the blind justice of Demacia. I guess you might as well run back. There won't be much time left until your world is consumed anyways."

Her knuckles clenched even tighter as her grip drew blood, "How would my world be consumed if you are not there to see to that outcome." As the last of her words fell, she sprinted towards him, her weapons held up in a deadly manner. Instantly, she was behind him, one blade placed against his throat while the other was placed skillfully against his spine. She had fallen completely in step with her professional composure, not even letting a smirk light her face.

Maliezek began to tremble, his hands limp by his sides. Katarina wanted to leer when her expression darkened in realization. He was laughing at her.

Suddenly, a deformed limb seized her ankle and dragged her to the ground, knocking the wind out of her. Quickly recovering, she twisted herself around until she could see the gruesome beast had its' claws digging into her boots. She quickly plunged a blade into its' deformed paw, startling it. Black ooze dripped from its' gapping maw as it shrieked.

As the beast's grip relaxed, Katarina pulled away and rolled back onto her feet. Before she could turn her attention back to her new target, a splash of white hot pain seared her left side, igniting the dull ache in her arm. Wrapping one hand against her side, another splash of energy pierced her left abdomen.

No longer able to stand, Katarina fell to her knees before crumpling onto her side. The environment muffled around her, but even past all the earsplitting shrieks and popping energy, she could hear Maliezek's shoes stride proudly towards her.

Unable to resist, she tightly closed her eyes before opening them back up and seeing his snicker expression in her face. He walked around her once before he kicked her sharply in the gut, the sound of a rib bone cracking against his boots. Her gaze pierced him as she struggled to breath.

"Did you seriously believe I was just going to let you kill me? What is with you Champions and your superiority complexes?" Kicking her again, he crouched until he was a foot above her, pulling her hair behind her ear so he could get a better look at her pained expression.

Katarina spat out a wad of blood at his face, and shakily brought up one hand to clean her own, "Do your worst. There's no way a bastard like you…will have the pleasure of seeing me in pain." Grinning, she struggled to pick herself up off the floor. Maliezek bellowed in frustration as he quickly stood up and struggled to wipe the blood out of one eye.

The beast answered by biting down on her foot, its' teeth ripping through the leather, and slamming her into the pillar next to Annabella. Groaning, the red-haired assassin strained to get up before her muscles and mind gave out.

Annabella tensed as she watched Maliezek switch his attention back to her. The shockwaves of energy that rippled from the gateway grew more powerful when one of the lightning bolts snaked away from her and struck the ground in front of him. Surprised, he brought up one hand protectively as he looked frantically around for Juniper. Desperately looking about, more shockwaves began to erupt, some of them nearly sweeping him off his feet.

Lightning from the imprisonment sparked dangerously, hitting the ground around Maliezek again as well as the other pillars. The powerful spell on Xerath was shorting out as another lightning bolt twisted through the air and punctured one of the large stone slabs.

For a second, nothing seemed to occur when a large crack abruptly bloomed on the stone's surface. The bright runic markings upon it dimmed as the slab fell backwards, cracking the marble floor before crumbling into a thousand pieces. The enormous column of lightning that engulfed Xerath's warped form wavered as the flow of energy was interrupted, the spell broken. The raw energy then dwindled until a thin barb of light twisted back up towards the funnel of clouds.

"NO!" Maliezek screeched, both hands pulling at his tousled hair. Forgetting about Juniper, the sinister mage rapidly sprinted for his monstrosity. "Get up and follow me, we will finish this later!" Maliezek quickly picked up what was left of his ghostly beloved, and made a beeline for the stairwell, the creature following closely. Before he could reach the steps, a colossal burst of uncontained power slammed into him and the creature, flinging them about.

Some of the pillars were blasted away as well, chunks of them spraying everywhere. One of the slabs came crashing down next to the ex-Noxian, forcing the creature next to him over the temple's edge. Digging its' claws into the structure, it struggled to get better footing. At the same time, the ghostly woman was flung from Maliezek's arms as he was sprawled across the steps. His throat swelled as he tried to reach out and grab her, her body precariously rolling a few time before stopping on the stair's outer edge.

He wanted to call out to his monstrosity, but it was having problems of its' own as it was trying to climb back onto the roof. Another shockwave smashed into them hard, forcing her ethereal body to teeter before falling sluggishly over.

"NO! VICTORIA!" Maliezek yelled as he helplessly stretched out his hand, watching in anguish as she fell into one of the many bodies of water. As the creature finally brought itself back up, the crazed mage scrambled to his feet and bolted down the stairs. The creature followed close on his heels, only looking back once at Annabella before taking off after its' master.

The summoner then brought her full attention towards the gate, the lightning and magicka pulsing through her stronger than before. Trying to stop herself from her own deafening scream, she bit down hard on her tongue until a coppery taste filled her mouth. With her spell going further into the gateway, she began to doubt if she made it in time when the chain abruptly became taut.

Straining against his power, Annabella started to reverse the spell's direction. Bit by bit it came out, placing great tension on her. Pain shot through her left arm before growing completely numb. She hastily turned to see the damage when her voice caught. Parts of her arm darkened into a deep azure shade before turning into shards. In a matter of seconds, it was dust, the pieces of it floating to the ground.

…I can't give up…not now…I still have time…

Pulling even harder, the lightning began to lessen until the gateway bulged. At its center, the chain heaved, dragging a boney hand through until it burst into a bluish energy. As the last of the chain came out, so did Xerath's true form as he quickly fell over grasping his head. The energy of the gateway shuddered before collapsing in on itself, dropping the chunks of sarcophagus.

After a few seconds, Xerath slowly released his head as the knowledge he had from before flooded his mind. He flipped his hand over a few times trying to remember what was so different about it. To his surprise, streaks of purple energy coursed through him, poisoning his core. Some of the rocks behind him shifted as he turned to look at his enchantment. The sarcophagus twitched a few more time before sliding across the ground to him.

Flinging themselves at him, the ancient prison enveloped Xerath until he gained back his previous appearance. A bit dazed, Xerath turned around in time to see Annabella's chains break as the spell upon them was destroyed by his last shockwave. She crumpled in on herself, landing on one knee before it shattered into a fine blue dust.

Annabella! Xerath's mind screamed as he slowly walked across to her. So much of his power was drained that he could barely hover, but that didn't faze him from reaching the dying summoner. She laid still, much of her failing body solidifying into an azure stone.

Looking upon the stormy sky, she felt happy in the little that she accomplished for freeing him. He's not a monster… around the edges of her sight, darkness ebbed and flowed. She tried to turn her head to see the blue sentient, but her body had long forgotten how to move on its own.

"Annabella!" His familiar voice called out to her, the pitch deep and somber. Even as her senses drained away, she smiled a little more. At least she would see him before she disappeared. He called her name again and again, the word nearly strangled. Her vision focused again just in time to see him lean over her. His energy was sparking with purple hues, not completely settled from being pulled through his own door.

"Dammit Annabella, stay awake! Do not let sleep take you!" Xerath softly whispered, his claws quickly reaching for her face. He cupped her chin delicately between one hand while the other tapped against her cheek. Her skin chimed with a slight noise, the vibration creating a few more cracks. Xerath quickly ceased in his actions, desperately racking his thoughts for any way to keep her alive. With the noise of the storm mounting, he wanted to cry out in frustration.

This wasn't how this was supposed to end! He promised he would help her, he meant every word. But here she was, dying helplessly in his arms…

No! There must be another way…there is always a solution…

Reading him like a book, Annabella softly grinned, "It's okay. I don't have much time left anyways. At least the last of my strength was given to you."

"But why? Why would you do this for me? Why did you do any of this for me? I would have been able to save myself on my own; it would have just taken time. You didn't have to do this..." The words felt bitter as he said them, but he could no longer wrap his mind around the situation.

"This is what I owe you, for all the pain and trouble that I caused. Besides, love does make people do crazy things…" Annabella winced as the pain wracked what was left of her. She looked to him, staring deeply into his dumbfounded gaze. He was right of course. He probably would have broken free.

But she believed the little of his rational thoughts that he still obtained would have withered away. And he would have ceased being Xerath.

Shutting the hollow portions of his mask tightly, he bent over her in a swarm of conflicting emotions. Though he was grateful, he was also mad at her choice for giving up on her own life, and sad that he could not save her from her own destruction. Opening his sockets slowly, her stared at what was left of her. Her left arm was completely gone as was a portion of her abdomen, and leg. Only the shards across the ground spoke of what she once had.

Carefully, he wrapped his arms around her, placing one hand against the nape of her neck while the other still rested against her face. She was so light…

"...You asked once before why I stayed with you. In truth, I had no real answer at the time. Why did I stay with such a weak and frail being?" Bringing his mask up, he tried to hold her gaze as her eyes became glassy.

"Only now do I realize why. It did not matter if you were weak, or if you had as much power as me. You brought me such an innocent light wherever you walked, how could I just leave you to the harsh world?"

Looking away, Annabella silently cried, "I am not as innocent as you think. And that was not my light. It was Tab―" Xerath quickly hushed her as he brushed a claw over her lips.

"Yes, I saw Tabia within you, but she has been dead for almost as long as I have existed. I have made my peace with her long ago." Brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear, he felt practically human again. He could almost feel his powerful form dissolve back into its previous state when he had flesh and mortality.

Pulling her chin up, he slowly leaned forwards, his primal human instincts alive and hungry. Her fingers twitched before her hand slowly lifted and reached for his chest. He immediately stopped as he watched her touch his chest plating. Her delicate fingers then slowly separated as she placed the palm of her hand against him, tracing the arcs and cracks until she came to rest against his mask.

Tears dripped endlessly from her face as she stared at her hand. Her will, body, and soul were broken yet she could move. Xerath then chose to leaned slightly more into her caress, filled with such rage at his inability to touch her. They were so close yet so painfully far. And he could no longer cover that gap again.

"…Annabella…let me help you ascend…" She quickly looked at him with dread her hand beginning to fall away.

Choking, she was filled with a deep fear, "No...Please don't do that to me. I have no desire to be immortal. Please don't do this to me…"

Xerath quickly grabbed her hand, not able to understand her sudden agitation, but willing to respect she did not want it at all. "If that is true, then I shall not do it. It was...the last thing I knew of that could help you…"

A soft smile had returned beneath her pain as she placed her hand against his mask again, "This wasn't your fault Xerath. Please, as my last request… kill me and restore what I have stolen from you so you may take our revenge against that coward."

Shaking his mask back and forth, his core blazed with fury. Why was his life wrought with such painful decisions? He knew after being released upon the world once more, love would never find him again. Yet here was a woman who pulled him in, her inquisitive nature and gentle beauty almost too much for him to bear. She was his missing piece, the last of his real humanity that he had casted aside. He craved for her more than anything, to once again bond with another.

That fucking bastard did this to her, manipulating her like a puppet and twisting her hopes into failed dreams. But even in her last moments, she did love him back, and it was far from being fake.

"I will not take your life. Even if it destroys me." Before she could argue with him again, Xerath's voice rumbled, "You surely can't expect me to kill someone I care for?"

Both of them just sat in silence towards his conviction. He even surprised himself to say the least. Had he just openly admitted that he loved her? Straightening out his newfound human emotions would have to happen later.

The summoner relaxed as she closed her eyes once more, "Then will you stay with me until the end?"

Pain washed over him as he gave a small reply by resituating himself in a more comfortable position, holding her firmly in his stone covered arms.

"Please let me help you…" He whispered, pulling her a little tightly against his chest. She remained silent, her breathing shallow and shaky. It almost felt like the first time they meet, but with death looming over her head. Xerath didn't want to watch her die, not again. Not like Tabia. But he dare not leave her either.

She was looking at him once again, her own pain becoming too great. The light in her brown eyes were dimming, her coughs growing more strained. Xerath's core fluttered violently as he quickly rested her trembling body onto the marble floor.

"Annabella? Annabella! Don't do this to me, I'm not ready to let you go!" Xerath grasped both sides of her face, mustering as much energy as he could into his hands. In a heartbeat, he pulsed as much power as he could for several seconds, trying to regain the rhythm of her heart. NO, NO, NO! I can't live without you! You're my missing piece…

But even with his great power, nothing happened. Annabella brought her hand up to rest on his, trying to hold onto it with all her strength. Xerath had stopped pulsing, his core steadily becoming cold and miserable. He held her hand tenderly, afraid to grip too tightly. The summoner's lips began to move as she tried to tell him something, her voice so quiet it was no longer audible.

Xerath tried to lip-read, but his thoughts grew muddled, an unrequited sorrow gradually rising. For a few moments she stopped and smiled as earnestly as she could before the last three words were spoken. At least she was with the only person that she wanted to be with.

Her head then tilted back as her chest heaved once more. The crystalline curse that claimed her body solidified, turning what was left of her into a glass statuette, her appearance a soft blue. The rags that still clung to her fluttered lazily as a mild wind came about the temple.

He was still bent over her, grasping her azure hand…Why did she deserve this? Why couldn't I have been stronger? The magus was truly lost. Everywhere was filled with silence; it even seemed that the surrounding storm clouds were hushed. Above his helmet, thunder began to rumble before droplets of rain pelted the temple, creating a mesmerizing symphony. One of the droplets fell into the grove of Annabella's eye before rolling down her cheek.

Abruptly, Xerath's core became mad with a lust for revenge, the purple magicka erupting completely through him until his blue glow was swallowed up. The air sparked as Xerath clenched one hand, the claws digging into the ground. He still didn't want to leave her, afraid she would turn completely into dust the moment he would let go. But the overwhelming rage that was now clouding his judgment wanted nothing more than to devour the one who did this.

…Maaalllieeezeeeek…the sword whispered in his mind, joyful at the prospect of tasting blood.

…What are you waiting for? Don't you want him to die?...

At this, Xerath was back within his mind, observing the weapon coldly. There were more chains than before as the blade glowed with a profound and disgusting power. There was nothing more for him to care about. Killing that bastard would be the only way to satisfy his unquenchable passion.

Walking to the blade, he reached out before hesitating, his claws curling in…why should I do as he says? My own rage will be enough to kill him…

…TOO LATE!... The blade screeched as chains shot out from it and wrapped around his wrists. Xerath pulled away snapping them, but a dozen more took its place. The chains grew thicker as they pulled him closer until his hand was firmly wrapped around the hilt. With barely a desire to fight back, the sword was now in control.

…Why don't we improvise our method of finding that traitor? I'm sure he will be happy to see us again… the blade cackled, opening the rest of the chains around itself like a spider. In one swift motion, the blade forced Xerath's sarcophagus to close on him, becoming a solitary prison.

…Now, let us begin…

(Author's Note)

My goodness! It took forever for me to release this. I'm going to try and crank out a few more chapters before I go onto another hiatus. Hope you all enjoy :) My favorite part of this chapter has to be the sad scene. I'm probably going to go through and tweak it a bit, but I was really going for punching people in the nerves. Haha, I think I turned evil writing this ;-;

Also, if you are looking for a full impact of emotions, I suggest listening to "Oblivion soundtrack - credits song (M83 - Oblivion - ft. Susanne Sundfor)" when Xerath tries to comfort Annabella. If you have any suggestions towards better music choices combined with this story, let me know in the comments; thanks for reading :)

Thank you reviewers for commenting on my story, and keeping me going. I would have given up long ago if it wasn't for your support; so again, thank you :D

(Disclaimer)

LoL, or League of Legends, belongs to its' respective owner [Riot].