Chapter 36: Dove's Missing, Eve's Found

I looked up and blood rushed to my face again. No wonder… Dan looked down at me with rage twisting his face. He hissed through his clenched teeth. "I thought…I said… DON'T TOUCH HER."

I stood up from where I fell. "What makes you think that you can control her?"

"She's MINE." He yelled.

"What did you just say?" I felt my blood boiling.

"She's always been mine! I made sure of that… No one came near her when I was around." He stated; my jaw dropped. That's why… "That is, until she moved. Then she met you."

My head began to spin. Right now, I didn't care about the enraged Dan in front of me or my clueless friends out searching for Eve. I felt my throat burn with anger. What did I do…?

Dan brought me back to reality by grabbing my shoulders and pushing me to the floor. "Now look what you've done!" He screamed. "I knew it! I knew you would be nothing but a nuisance in her life!" I felt my face go red. "You've caused her nothing but pain! NOTHING!"

My breath became heavy and irregular. My heart pounded in my chest so hard and fast I thought it would burst. Dan glared at me with pure hatred. My hands tensed into fists as I stared into his glower. I got up and ran to throw a punch, but something strong held me back.

I turned to see Gray had grabbed my shoulder and arm. Dan laughed wickedly. "See that? ...You're pathetic, Cliff." He spat out my name. He continued to frown. "Nothing but hurt… that's all you've given her." I breathed heavily for a few minutes and then it got softer.

I felt… sore. Nothing but pain and hurt… My head fell to my chest as I wilted. It was useless… Dan was right. Dan strode over to my limp head and stood still for a few minutes. You couldn't hear a thing in the vast room; everyone's attention was on us.

Dan broke the horrendous silence. "Give her up. You're nothing to her anymore. Let. Her. Go." He said the last part clearly and with venom.

I didn't look up. Like I said before… useless. Dan's frown deepened. But a voice broke the silence again. "ENOUGH!" We all looked up to see the king had stood up. His face was covered in frustration. "COME HERE!"

Gray helped me regain my posture and we all walked over to the king.

As we walked before him, he shouted to the guards. "Take the guests to the other ball room. We have to discuss something here…"

The guards nodded and began to remove the guests from the room. Once it was empty, the king spoke to his queen. "Where is Dove? I thought I saw her-"

"She's… not well my husband…" The queen's young face drooped slightly.

"Would you send a servant for her?"

"Yes, my husband, may I speak to her?"

The king nodded. "Of course, anything for our Dove."

The queen got up, gave a kiss to her husband, and walked out of the enormous room. The king directed his attention to us. "I will not have this." He boomed.

I looked around for the others; Shawn, Sage, Ethica, or Kai… but no such luck. It was just Gray, Dan, and me. The king looked at me.

"What is this about? If you do not tell me, I will cast you out of here!"

"… " I closed my eyes. "… Eve…" I said plainly.

"Eve? Who is this Eve?" He asked with irritation.

"My sister, your highness." Gray told him.

"Ah, yes. That's better… I-" The king was interrupted by the queen running in.

"Your highness!" She cried.

The king looked at his wife with worry. "What is it my dear?"

She bit her lip. "We cannot find Dove! We've looked everywhere! She's gone…"

The king's brows furrowed. "What? She is royal property! She cannot leave!"

The queen came to her husband's side. "I-I…I'm worried about her, darling…"

His face softened. "Yes… yes, I too. Search for her, get the knights and search for her, at any cost. We will find our Dove."

She nodded and scurried off again. He looked at us. "You are to leave. Now. We have an issue to deal with, and yours is not important. Now leave."

"What?!" Dan screamed.

The king stood up from his throne. "You dare to oppose me?!"

Dan slightly paled. "N-No…"

"Good!" he boomed. "NOW LEAVE!"

We turned and ran. Instead of heading to the other room like Gray and Dan did, I ran out of the castle, out of the gate, out of the black walls… I ran as fast as I could and as far as I could with every breath that it would take me.

What have I done…? I've hurt her in every way possible… Why did I? Why did I hurt her? I could've told her… how much I loved her. She told me, so why didn't I tell her back? I might never see her again… she'll never know…

Sweat dripping off of my face, I sat down to lean against a small farm house. Some small children scattered the streets, homeless, searching for food and shelter. I let my head go limp again; I was too tired.

A child let out a whimper as an extremely cold wind blew by. I closed my eyes tightly, but a voice opened them back up. "Here… take this…"

My head popped up to see a child take a woolen cloak from someone. Eve's flushed, freckled cheeks were tear-stained. Her hair was still up in the high twist, but it was slightly messier from what I guessed was… running.

I looked at the dress she was wearing. It was a deep blue with many laces making her curves bolder. It was simple… but it looked beautiful in her. I stood up and walked toward her slowly, careful not to make her run away again.

I felt my foot step onto a twig and her head snapped in my direction. Her face went from soothing to fear in a matter of seconds. Before she could turn to run, I grabbed her arm, careful to not grab it where I…

She shook as I pulled her to me. I let my voice whisper. "Please… don't me afraid of me Eve…" She didn't speak, but continued to shiver. I sighed and got a little angry. "Don't just stay silent! Say something!"

She shrunk in my arms. I calmed down and spoke quietly again. "I-I'm…" I sighed and yet my voice still shook. "I-I'm sorry, Eve… I-I'm so sorry… I-I didn't mean to… I was…"

I couldn't think because of Eve's silence and fearful gaze. She let her head fall. "No… don't be sorry…" I looked at her with a worried gaze. "Y-You didn't like me like I-"

"No!" My sharp voice caused her to flinch and look up at me. "D-Don't… don't say that." She looked confused.

"W-What? W-Why?" She asked meekly.

"J-Just… don't say that." I sighed. "Y-You just don't know…"

Her face fell back down to her chest limply. I snaked one arm around her waist and the other free hand went to her chin. I picked her head up to look at me, but her eyes remained closed. I spoke so very softly. "Look at me, Eve…"

Her eyes opened slowly, hesitantly, as if she was cautious. I smiled as her blue eyes stared up at me. I stared back, making her feel uncomfortable. "That's better…"

"W-What do you want C-Cliff?"

My brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I-I… Just… just tell me… I can't stand it…" She told me. "Why do you do this to me? Every time y-you… yell at me or… oh, I don't know! Y-You always come back a-and apologize, b-but…" She sighed and tears came back to her eyes. I pulled her chin up as she tried to hide her face.

"What?" I demanded, getting frustrated.

"…Y-You always do it again… a-and I d-don't know if…" I got closer to her face as she tried to pull it away. "I-I don't know if you even mean it… I-I don't know if you… want me to be there anymore…"

I took my other hand away from her side and cupped her face with both of them. "Never. Never think that Eve… Y-You just d-don't get it…"

"W-What's there to get, Cliff?" She asked me.

"… "I had nothing to say. I just stared down onto her face. I leaned my forehead against the top of her head. "J-Just… come back to me, Eve… don't ever leave me again…"

She closed her eyes. "Cliff…"

I didn't listen to her plea. I didn't care about that right now. She was here with me, and I wouldn't let her go.

"C-Cliff… stop. P-Please…" Eve's voice shook. I pulled my head away to see tears come back to her eyes. "J-Just stop…" she sobbed.

I looked at her with concern. "B-But…"

"I-It's not fair C-Cliff… I-It's not fair…" I tried to put my hand to her face again, but she swatted it away. "Stop! J-Just stop!"

Tears poured down her cheeks. "Don't do this to me! You know t-that I love you! How can you taunt me like this?!"

"I…" She got out of my grasp, but didn't run away. She put a hand to her face and sobbed.

I put another hand out, but she just moved back. "D-Don't... Touch me..." she managed to gasp.

"Eve… don't…"

"D-Don't what?" She asked me, not angry, but hurt. "I-I've been so nice to y-you… I-I was your friend, goddess! D-Don't t-toy with me!"

"… Don't say that… I-I-"

She looked at me with hurting eyes. "What?" she asked emotionlessly. "What are you going to do Cliff? Beg me to come back to Mineral Town and once I do just break my heart again?" her eyes watered.

"No." I said plainly. She walked around me, trying to head back to the castle, but I grabbed her arms and pressed her against the walls of the farmer's house. She struggled to get out of my grasp, but couldn't.

I kissed her roughly. Her eyes flew open and stared at me with surprise. I continued to kiss her against her effort to run away. I fought it, I admit, after she kissed me as a dare, not to want to kiss her again. That's one battle… I'm glad I lost.

I pulled back and looked at her face. Her eyes had closed and once they opened, she looked at me with total confusion.

Eve tried to sneak out of my arms again, but my grip was too strong. I finally let her go after a few minutes of struggling. She looked at me with shock. Eve began to walk away from me, but I always copied her footsteps.

To her displeasure, she had backed up into a tree and I put my hands against the tree… trapping her. I pressed my lips to hers again, harshly. She tried to fight me off again… but she slowly softened until finally she gave up.

I pulled back again. Her eyes fluttered open and her face blushed. "B-But…"

I smirked at her fluttered expression. "Didn't you like it?"

"I-I uh, no… b-but, um…"

"Then, my darling, what did you think of it?"

"…" she looked away from me. I put one hand softly under her chin.

"I'll let you know now that I most certainly did…" her mouth fell open. I chuckled and used my other hand to let her tresses free from the bun they were held in; her long red hair fell.

We just stood there, motionless, as snow began to fall lightly. It sparkled as it flew into her bright hair. She gave me a look of confusion. "I-I still… I-I…"

"What's there to get, Eve? You should know by now…" She shook her head, making the snow sparkle even more.

I leaned in closer and wrapped my arms tighter around her sides. I laughed softly, and spoke gently.

"I love you, Eve."

Awwww! HappyHappyHappyHappy! But, it's not the end juuuuuust yet! They still gotta get out of there!