Chapter 28

Like a phoenix

Loud steady breathing was all she could hear echoing through the silence. She felt stiff as a piece of wood; what was going on? Suddenly pain started throbbing in her head, she tried to raise a hand to hold her head but she couldn't. What is wrong? She began to panic, but she then took a deep breath and realized that the breathing she noticed before was her own; so she is not dead then. She slowly moved her fingers and started to comprehend her position, she was lying on a soft material on her left side and her body was covered with what must be a blanket.

She shifted her body as she heard her own moan instantly feeling more comfortable, if it just wasn't for the throbbing pain in her head! This time she managed to get her head to her head and with two fingers she began massaging it hoping to get the pain to go. But, where is she? At this moment Miley found it a genius idea to open her eyes. She slowly did and blinked a few times before getting good vision; she was indeed in a bed and covered in a thin blanket in a small dimly lit room, it was pretty much empty however, she eventually made out a silhouette in the far corner of the room, she shifted into a sitting position with narrowed eyes trying to have a better look.

It was someone who was sinking in a big chair and had his arms folded over his chest and his head was resting on his shoulder, he appeared to be sleeping and he was indeed a man.

She sat up straight trying to know the identity of the familiar person and apparently her shifting around made more noise than intended because he woke up and it took him a couple of seconds before he realized she was up too and he immediately was up on his feet,

"Hey you're up! Are you okay?" he said stepping forward in the range of light rays and his features finally became clear.

Her eyes widened and she looked around, "What's going on? Where am I?"

"Relax, you're safe."

XxXx

It was the second night post Miley's disappearance, and of course its effect on the residents of the Demetriana castle was extremely negative. They have sent search parties all around their kingdom and in the forests but they all failed to find a clue of her whereabouts. They tried to know if –God forbid- any announcements were made about her in Paul's kingdom, but still, there was none made thankfully, at least Paul didn't find her.

They were all sticking to the probability that she must be up to something; it's Miley, she's always with a plan, she always looks for a way out to get what she wants, and what she wants is avenge, so, she must have something in mind, and is trying to figure out a way for it to work, but they all secretly knew the timing of her disappearance is a bit too suspicious. They have just received the news about Nick, and Miley has been quiet silent about it, the one thing she said was the fact that she lastly told Nick she hated him –which was also the last thing she ever said to anyone of them before vanishing.

If she was in on one of her crazy plans, why wouldn't she tell at least her sister before going? Why didn't she take soldiers with her? Demi didn't even get to talk to her about Nick's death. She didn't get to hold her and let her cry about it. She now regrets it.

"I should have gone after her." Her mother said guiltily pacing back and forth.

"Mother, that's not helping." Demi complained; she was irritated, she felt helpless and she didn't like it, and the last thing she wanted was her mother adding to the guilt.

"She was devastated." Tricia went on as if never hearing her daughter who let out a huff, "Oh, dear God, she wouldn't do anything to herself, would she?" she stopped in her tracks and finally voiced what everyone feared to bring up all along with a look of horror on her face.

Denise knew exactly what the woman is going through having been through it herself quiet recently; she knew the guilt is eating her up, she knew she wished she would have been more understanding of her daughter's needs and feelings, she knew the worry is driving her crazy, so she slowly got up, walked over towards her and wrapped her arms around the woman who looked at her and let the silent tears fall resting her head on her rival's wife's shoulder. Denise wished Tricia's fears won't be confirmed true like hers did.

"Where's Joe?" Taylor asked.

"He's looking for her, he took soldiers." Demi replied looking over the horizon from the balcony window.

"Where?" Prince Harry asked.

She shook her head, "Anywhere, everywhere, I don't know."

Demi didn't know what she should do, for the first time, she had no idea what to do, doesn't they say that everyone has a weakness point; Demi recently came to realize that hers is her family. When he father died, she was broken yes, she knew it was her fault yes, and she still carries that burden in her heart, but she also realizes that there's no time to fall apart and breakdown, she needs to get her people out of this mess without letting them down, she has to bury her own grief, and while it's still fresh and aching, the news of Nick's death struck and it added another stab in her healing wound, Nick wasn't immediate family to her but he was still family, friend, brother, she loved him, and she knew it killed her husband, and then came the current situation of Miley's disappearance to open the wound and leave it bleeding, leave it bleeding for the fact that she doesn't even have any idea if she's still alive, or if she chose to go by her will or something happened. She missed and cursed her sister both at once. She knows that Miley is stubborn and that sometimes she likes to keep things to herself until they become clear, but how could she leave just like that in such a day after receiving such news?

God, when she comes home safely, she's going to throw a fit at her.

She jumped slightly on the sound of the door opening behind and she turned around to see everybody's attention shifting to Joe who just walked in.

"Joe?" she asked worriedly reading his face to know that he has got news.

He sighed and sat down as she mirrored his actions and suddenly everyone was circling around eagerly, "I don't want to give you false hopes, but…" he trailed off not knowing how to say what he has to say exactly, or wither he's even supposed to tell them.

"What is it?" Tricia asked hopefully.

"Listen, I have a theory, I still don't know how accurate can it be or even if-"

"Why are you making introductions?" Demi interrupted him worriedly. "Where were you, Joe?"

He sighed, "With Paul."

His mother gasped, "What did you do?"

"We talked." He reassured her, "Listen, he said things, but I don't think it's true and I have my reasons."

"What did he say, Joe?" Taylor asked impatiently.

"He said he's going to make the announcement tomorrow morning that…" he took a deep breath, "… that he killed Miley."

Gasps and screams made him close his eyes in guilt, "But," he quickly said suddenly planting hope in their hearts, "and hear me out carefully, Liam said that he did it this time too, I asked him where the body was, and he had this poker face of his and he danced around the answer and when I insisted and cornered him, he said some lame reply about them not caring to bring unwanted bodies, the point is she is dead."

"And you think he's lying." Harry clarified.

"Don't you? I mean, Paul is a dictator, and as far as I'm concerned, so is Liam, both wouldn't miss a chance to brag about their achievements, if Liam killed her he would take the body as a prove."

"It makes sense, but why lie and say he killed someone he didn't?"

"He thinks she's dead. Look, Liam is a coward, he wouldn't come in front any of us; he would be scared because he knows none would blink to kill him." Joe explained, "So, he I think he gave the order for someone to do it for him."

"Alright and why wouldn't that person bring the body back to him?"

"There are several scenarios, maybe they faced complications, maybe they think she's dead but they for some reason had to escape and didn't have time to bring the body… or maybe that person only came up with excuses for Liam about not being able to bring the body back; maybe that person's loyalty isn't actually for Liam."

Tricia shook her head, "That sounds like false hope, Joe."

"I know it's not solid and yes, I don't know exactly what happened, but trust me, if they killed them, they wouldn't just leave the body there, they would put them in our faces, and they would do it just to hurt us even more."

"Them?" Demi asked already forming an idea of what's going on in Joe's head."

"There was never a body of Nick's too."

XxXx

"What's going on?"

"I'll tell you everything, just calm down." He said and sat down on the edge of the bed and she took a deep breath with her heart bounding. "You're not at Deniesliene, don't worry." He reassured her with a soft smile.

She breathed out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "For a moment there, I thought…"

"You thought that I would betray you? That hurts, Miley." Jacob said.

"No, no, not about you, it's just… last thing I know you're at Paul's so…"

"Relax, I know, I'm just kidding." He told her offering her a smile before starting to explain, "The chaos started at Deniesliene with Kevin disagreeing with Paul, and when Liam started to get into the picture we knew it was only a matter of time until Paul throws everything away, and sure enough, before he announced it, he made an order to kill Nick when he knew he was turning people against him. That was the last time I was at the castle."

"You ran away?"

"Of course I did, the man issued an order to arrest one of his sons and kill the other, do you think he would have left me alive knowing I was the closest to them?" he paused for a second, "You were being followed yesterday, Miley. What the hell were you thinking?"

She arched her eyebrows in disbelief; was she followed? "By whom?"

"Everyone." He said as if it was the most obvious thing and continued before she gets to ask, "Liam wanted to kill you."

"Yeah, I figured," she said remembering exactly what happened, when she was leaving as she climbed down the tree, she was met by someone with a side grin, she attempted to run, and she was almost successful until she was suddenly hit on her head and a gunshot was heard followed by an exchange of a few and a splash in the water before everything went black for her until now, "What happened?"

"Liam was waiting from a distance, he proved to be enough of a coward to not show his face on the battleground; even though you were alone, he didn't risk being face to face with you, he ordered his soldiers to find you and kill you, lucky for you, it was all a play in front of Liam."

"What you mean his soldiers aren't working for him?"

"Just one. I told you I didn't go to the castle again, but I wouldn't leave without any connections there, would I? Justin was my soldier before, and he works with me, Liam and the other soldiers think you were killed and that your body fell into the lake."

"Why would they think that?"

"Because they saw you drop in the lake." He smirked.

"What? But, I-"

"It's a play, Miley." He rolled his eyes. "And before you ask, no, nobody was killed. Of course neither Liam nor Paul would be pleased that there's no body, but Liam saw you drop in the water himself, and right now they're trying to find your body there."

She cringed at the thought but said nothing about it, "So, where are we? At Martha's?"

"No, it's not safe there, it's a secret place. We're only a few people who knows about this."

Her heart skipped a beat, "This is where Nick was staying when he was working against Paul…" she concluded and Jacob didn't say anything. She gulped down her tears deciding that she could have time to cry later, "So, um… you're the leader here…" she concluded once again but he shook his head.

"No, not me."

"Then, who is?"

He leaned forward in his place, "Miley, there's something you need to-"

Before Jacob could finish his words, the door opened softly and slowly as her eyes drifted to the newcomer, "Jacob, is she…" he stopped mid-sentence coming face to face with her as she let her eyes linger on him for a good while.

She was totally convinced that she was dreaming; it can't be true, no, life can't be giving her a second chance, can it now? Time froze, he stood there by the door and she was sitting on the bed legs crossed from her previous conversation with Jacob. But, right now, their eyes were locked and while she was trying to figure out if this is real and he's really standing in front of her, he was scared to death that he wished he was actually dead right now if she still hates him.

What felt like a decade was actually three seconds, and in the fourth, Miley has already jumped out of the bed and into his arms like a hunting cheetah. Once her arms were wrapped tightly around him, tears fell down like rain; he was alive, Nick was alive and she was feeling his warm body right now.

"You, it's you, you're alive. Thank God, you're alive." She kept repeating holding him and holding back to look at his face just to pull him in her arms once again. He held her tight and kept brushing his hand over her hair soothingly his heart feeling finally at peace.

"I should probably… yeah!" Jacob started awkwardly but no one was actually aware of what he was saying so he left as Nick sent him a smile which he returned with a smirk before leaving and closing the door.

Miley pulled back but still so close holding his arms and then his face, "It's you. Nick, oh my God, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, Nick, I thought you betrayed me, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean what-"

"Shh, shh, relax." He said cupping her face in his hands with a smile.

She looked at his eyes and it warmed her heart, she still can't believe it's him. She leaned forward and captured his lips in a slow but short kiss, pulling away slowly she opened her eyes with a smile, "It really is you."

"It's me." He said and pulled her into his arms, "God, I missed you." He kissed the top of her hair, "Come here." He said pulling her towards the bed where he laid down and opened his arm for her and she quickly obeyed resting her head on his chest with her arm wrapped around his torso and his resting on her hip.

Nobody said anything for a while, they just held each other letting it settle in their minds; they were there together, finally, after everything they have been through, Miley was set straight on his intentions and went looking for him and he returned back from the dead and met her halfway.

"I was scared to death." Miley started, "They said you were dead, Nick. I was scared, I felt lost." She voiced out her feelings, "It was only a few hours, but it felt like centuries, the only way for me to get over it was to deny it."

He said nothing, "Nick?" she rose from her position looking at him.

"Yeah?"

"You know I was scared, right?"

"I…" he started opening his mouth but nothing came out.

"God, Nick!" she said and altered her position taking him up with her as she cupped his face, "I love you." She could actually see his eyes lighting up at her admission, "I have always loved you." She confirmed before guilt ghosted her eyes. "I'm sorry I made you doubt this fact, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-"

"Stop, stop, Mi." he said softly bringing her eyes back to his, "I know, I understand. God, it was never my intention for what happened to take place; I could never do that to you. I was a fool though; I stupidly believed that Paul will stick to my plan, and it backfired in my face, I deserve that for not thinking straight, but you…" he stopped tucking a strand of her behind her ear, "you absolutely don't deserve what happened. If anyone's at fault here it is me, if anyone should be apologizing, it's me."

She slowly shook her head, "I know it-"

He shook his head knowing what she is about to say, "You have every right to hate me; your father died because of me, and I don't know how I can possibly make this right, but…" his eyes were glistening with tears much like hers at this point, "… I was trying to. I was trying to at least help putting an end to it, I wanted to prove to you that I would never hurt you like that, even though this wouldn't change anything, but…"

She pulled him into a hug, "It wasn't your fault." She sighed pulling out, "I know you were only trying to stop the wedding and that Paul is the one who went too far. I know. But, I was hurt by that time, and I blamed you, part of me was feeling guilty and responsible –still does; and I wanted to quiet it or I would go mad, I blamed you and Liam and Paul… I… I was so hurt, Nick. I will always carry around that my actions eventually led to my father's death."

"Hey, hey," he wiped her tears, "You couldn't have known, you would have never done anything to hurt him."

"Of course I wouldn't."

"What happened was going to happen anyway, Miley. Paul would have jumped at any chance like this anytime." He said holding her hair back from her face that was wet with tears, "This isn't your fault, Miley. And trust me, Paul is going to get what he deserves, I promise you."

"This must be hard for you." She said and he looked at her, "I mean he's your father after all."

He sighed, "You know what I have been going through with him-"

"Still, Nick, he's your father." She cut him off shrugging as he smiled, "What are you smiling at like that?"

"You. Your innocence." He spoke softly never quitting to brush her hair back as she rested her cheek against the balm of his hand, "Miley, this man has been putting me through hell my entire life, I always felt incomplete, never good enough, never worthy, until you came along, wasn't I telling you there's nothing such as love? Because I never had it, while you, you were full of it, and you lit my way. Not only did you make me believe, you also made me feel, fall, hard. And then I wanted nothing else in the world than to be with you, as simple as that. But Paul tried to take you away from me, he tried to pull away the only thing I had to myself since I was born, the one person who made me feel alive for the first time. So, no, he's not my father."

"Nick…" she was at loss for words.

He tilted his head to the side a little, "There's also the fact that he killed me." He frowned jokingly making her chuckle.

"I just don't want you to regret anything you do later."

"The only thing I know I will regret forever is wasting time not being with you, Mi."

"Is this real? Us, right here!" she looked at him dreamily. He put his hand on her neck and brought her face towards his kissing her deeply for a few seconds enjoying a feeling he has been longing for.

"Does it feel real?" he asked after pulling back as she shook her head with her eyes still closed.

"No, still feels like a dream." She whispered, "A dream I don't wanna wake up from." She said and kissed him again.

"I could stay like this forever." He whispered resting her forehead on hers.

"Then let's."

"I wish we can." He said and she opened her eyes and pulled back.

"You never told me what happened with you. How are you dead?"

He sighed altering his position to get more comfortable, "It was night at our old place, we were sitting around fire discussing our next movements, and Liam and his men attacked, I don't know how it happened, but the fire grew, shots were exchanged and actually, Liam managed to shoot me, but due to the increasing fire and the others shooting at him, he disappeared. They escaped one by one and if it wasn't for Justin telling Liam that I was dead and caught fire they would still be looking for me."

She cringed once again and he chuckled, "Relax, Mi, I'm okay."

"You were shot?"

"Yeah,"

"Wait, this was a few days back. Are you still injured?"

"It's nothing, it's-"

"Where?"

He sighed and opened the buttons of his shirt showing her a white bandage wrapped around his left side of the chest and going over his right shoulder with a red spot showing on his chest probably above the heart where the wound is. She gasped, "Nick! I have been hurting you the whole time."

"No, I wasn't hurt."

"You're bleeding, of course you are, you're not healed yet, idiot, why didn't you tell me?"

"It was worth it." He shrugged with a smile but she ignored him again.

"We need to do something." She said starting to unwrap the bandage when the door knocked.

"Come in." he called and a girl entered.

"Ugh, yeah, I knew this was going to happen." She said referring to his opening wound and held up her first-aid kit ready to control the damage. "Hi, Miley," she gave her a quick look and a smile while removing Nick's bandage. "Don't move, Nick!" she scolded him when he was trying to make more room for Miley to set next to him.

"Miley, this is Olivia, she's the one who saved me and she's the one who played dead you last night. Did Jacob tell you?"

"Yeah, yeah, he told me." She answered. Miley felt something sting inside of her as she watched Nick's face shift to pain when Olivia was cleaning his wound, but when he caught her eyes he gave her a smile which she returned weakly. She was really glad that life is for once standing by her side; Nick literally just rose again from the ashes like a phoenix and came back to her, and she is there hiding with him wherever they are and honestly she doesn't care as long as they're together fighting alongside… just who was that pretty woman rescuing and taking care of her man? Something was stinging and she didn't like it.

Hi, here it goes again, I personally love this chapter and I love how it turned out, hope you do too.

This chapter is dedicated to FredaI who was the main reason for it's existence, she is the one who reminded me of this story and I'm really thankful for that reminder, cause I almost forgot how much I love it, so thank you and hope you enjoyed it :)

So, anyway, if you're reading this please let me know what you think and what you think will happen later.