The morning was crisp and clear and Kel's senses were high. Everything seemed to be enhanced. The metallic smell that assaulted her nostrils was overwhelming. It made her head spin. She lifted her hands and gasped. Blood. Glancing at her tunic she seemed to be soaked in it, but she felt no pain. She knew it wasn't hers. She began to run forward searching. Around her the scenery seemed to grow and swell, the blank planes beside her swirling, refusing to keep their shape. In front of her she could barley make out the shapes of her friends. Seaver was holding back Merric by the shoulders, barley holding back her screaming friend. His face was twisted with rage as he attempted to lung at the figures in front of him. Owen was huddled in a ball, weeping silently. The figures became more clear and she froze for a moment, realizing what they were. Cleon was sprawled on the ground, the color was completely drained from him. He was dead. Neal was kneeling over cleons lifeless body. Every terrible emotion seemed to be displayed on his face; fear, agony, loathing, sadness. Neal's bloodied sword lay in the grass next to Cleon's body. Her legs became heavy as she moved forward and ultimately refused to go any further. The group turned to look at her. Merric's expression turned from rage to accusation as he ripped himself from Seaver's grip.

" This is your fault! It's all your fault he's dead! If you weren't such a bloody fucking whore we'd all be better off. Why don't you just go home and leave us all alone." His face showed no sign of retribution.

Suddenly Kel felt the cool weight of a dagger in her hand. Grasping it her legs moved forward. Her mind screamed at her to stop but her body seemed to be possessed by something more powerful. Neal stood and moved towards her. They met, their faces a hairs breadth away from each others. Neal leaned in and whispered into her ear,

"It was all for you Keladry," he pulled her into a hug.

As she felt his arms loosen from her torso her arm raised itself and the knife was plunged into Neal's back. Together they fell to their knees. Kel began sobbing as Neal fell backwards, his eyes staring up at her. Even in death they were filled with love. Love for her. 'It was all for you Keladry' . Even his death was meant for her. Then she was alone. One by one her friends disappeared and she was left alone, surrounded by blood stains and nothingness.

Kel awoke.

Soaked in sweat Kel lunged forward. She wiped her eyes. She had been crying in her sleep. She shook her head. It was just a stupid, stupid dream. Shakily she swung her feet over the side of her bead and walked over to her window. She pulled the drapes aside, and saw that it wasn't yet dawn. Sighing she slumped down into her chair and took a moment to gather herself. She tried to think of a million possible reasons for her having such a dismal dream. This wasn't the first she had had. What did they mean? she began dressing for the day when there came a sudden rap on her door.

"Kel, quickly you have to open the door!"

The voice belonged to Owen. Buttoning her breaches Kel opened her door to a panicking face.

"what's wrong Owen?"

" Kel, Its Neal and Cleon they're about to duel and Cleon seems to be out for blood I don't know what's gotten into him I couldn't stop them I tried I-"

" Owen, slow down take me to them. Now."

Running through the corridors to castle Owen lead her outside. Sprinting across the castle grounds Owen took her into the forest to a small clearing. She spotted Neal and Cleon. The look on cleons face scared her. He seemed to be possessed… what was happening lately? They were poised to begin.

" Stop, stop it! What're you doing!"

Neal spun to look at her and shot an angry look at Owen. In that instant Cleon lunged in on Neal, smiling. He caught Neal's arm and Neal stumbled backwards, dropping his sword.

"Neal!" Kel screamed. She began to move forward. She didn't know what she was going to do. She hadn't thought to bring her own sword.

Neal scrambled to pick up his weapon as he dodged another of cleons blows. A large blood stain began to form at the slit in his shirt where Cleon had cut him. Readying himself they circled each other. Neal was not about to let Cleon win. Neal saw his opportunity to attack Cleon and took it. Parrying his attack Cleon began a counterattack and slashed at Neal's side. It barley missed Neal's torso. Kel panicked. If he had hit that wound may have been fatal, she had to put a stop to this.

" Cleon, Cleon listen to me please. Why are you doing this? Why?!" Kel pleaded with the red headed boy who used to be her friend.

" Why? Kel I want you and I will stop at nothing to get you. I love you Kel" the duel continued as the two boys were filled with more and more aggression towards the other. They didn't need to speak. Everything was said with their eyes.

" Cleon, I don't love you." Kel shouted at him. Her hands were in fists as tears streamed down her face.

" You don't mean that!" he shouted. " You'll see that you love me once were together. Then you'll understand that weren't meant for each other Kel."

" Cleon I love Neal!" She shouted this time, more defiantly.

" Lies!" Cleon spat. All of a sudden Neal lunged at him. His sword settled itself in cleons torso. Kel froze as Cleon stumbled backwards, his hands clenching his waist. Kel moved towards the two. Neal turned to look at her. His face was rife with regret. He didn't seem to even have words for what he had just done. Before she could even comprehend what had just happened Cleon yelled and grasped his sword. His eyes smoldered as he came at Neal.

"NO!" screamed Kel. She ran towards Neal , shoving him out of the way as Cleons sword pierced her side. Everything seemed to move in slow motion from there. She sunk to her knees. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't speak and she couldn't move. She could vaguely hear Neal screaming from all around her and Owens voice joined his. Her vision went from Brilliant green before fading to black as she sank into a dark world of unconsciousness.

Kel tried to fight her way out of the mix of black and blue inside of her. She was drowning in the black and she could feel it. Every time she felt she was slipping under a strand of green light would coax her toward he surface again. It seemed to be an endless struggle. All the while she felt nothing but pain inside her. She wouldn't cry out. She refused to. She knew she shouldn't and had a feeling she couldn't if she wanted to. Instead she clenched her jaw and took the pain in, making it a part of her. Through the pain she faintly heard sounds around her. Some accusing, others filled with worry. One voice was more precise than the others, shouting orders. The green was replaced with a feeling of warmth and a different color that she was too exhausted to make out. She just let the feeling overwhelm her. The worst was past as she sunk into sleep. Real sleep.