HELLO EVERYONE QUICK UPDATE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE VIEWS AND EVERYTHING ON THIS STORY IT STILL BLOWS MY MIND HOLY HELL

Like, I have been writing this for so long but that fact it has nearly 12 thousand views on FF? Mind-boggling lol

Anyway, enough of me being a sappy fucker lol Hope you enjoy the update!

When Strickler first showed me the chains he was going to use, I was hesitant at first with him using them on Claire.

I swallowed hard as I looked at Claire with wide eyes. Her eyes were a golden color. Her thrashing about was equivalent to that of a chained beast in a cage as her low voice, very much nothing like her own, growled and snipped at the now four of us as we watched her. Well, at least as I watched her.

How could this just slip past me? How could I have not known? She's been acting weird for weeks and I just let it be. Never questioned it or anything.

But here she is. The Juliet to my Romeo thrashing like a rabid animal and cursing the four of us out.

"Well you really got yourselves into a mess now didn't you?" I glanced over toward the boy that was somehow here before Strickler, Toby, and I who was leaning against the wall of Claire's opposite bedroom wall. "How did your friend here even get this way? Any clue?" I gave the boy a confused look as I glanced between him and Claire.

How in the hell did Douxie get here before us? How does he even understand what's going on here? Maybe it's just my brain being all out of whack from having to fight my own girlfriend a few minutes ago, but something was definitely not right here. Definitely not.

"Excuse me," Toby spoke up before I could though as he neared the punk. "Do you mind me asking you how in the fuck you know what's going on here?"

"Do you think Troll kind are the only ones that know about the prophecy?" Douxie gave Toby an amused look as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you think others do not know of it? Besides trolls that is?"

"Actually yeah. Especially since Captain Shapeshifter here didn't know jackshit about Jimbo here and his giant ass crystal." Toby pointed his thumb at me and Strickler as the changeling just simply shot a glare at the smaller boy as he cyphered through a book he had in hand.

"Well let's just say my kind knows exactly what's going on here. Maybe even a little more than you and your mates do." Douxie gave Toby a knowing smile before bringing his attention over toward Claire. "She's possessed by a witch named Morgana. I know how to break it, but it's gonna take some help from the lot of you."

"And why should we trust you, Douxie?"

"Douxie." I snapped my head toward Claire who was now speaking in her dark tone once more. A bit of anger and aggression in the voice that was very much not my sorcerous girlfriend's. "Hisirdoux Casperan. Lapdog of the magical kind. How dare you try to stop me?"

"Oh hush your mouth, ya green-handed twit." The punk rolled his eyes as he pushed himself away from the wall and adjusted a gauntlet-like device he had upon his wrist. "Didn't Merlin teach you a lesson the last time you decided to cause a ruckus?"

"How dare you speak to me as such?!" The voice growled as Douxie just waved the voice off as he made his way over toward me.

"We don't get much time and the more Morgana tries to delay everything, the more likely she and Claire will become one. We need to get you into the Shadow Realm and grab Claire out of there by force." I gave Douxie a wide-eyed look as he just adjusted his gauntlet once more.

"Hold up," I shook myself out of shock before questioning the older boy. "What's this Shadow Realm? How do you expect me to just grab her out of there?" I got sassier as the punk ran a hand through his black and indigo locks. "And also, the fact that this Morgana lady knows you," I gestured toward where "Claire" was sitting as a frown graced my face. "Scares me more than makes me trust you."

"Would it help more that I know exactly what to do to save her?" The punk seemed to get irritated with me as he placed a hand on my shoulder. His demeanor was rather calm despite the irritability in his voice. "That I could even help all of you more than you know?" He seemed to not think as much as he looked me deep in the eyes. He just seemed desperate to just get me to believe him. "Maybe the fact that I helped write your prophecy down? Does that make you trust me yet?"

"Wait." Toby jumped in at this point. "How old even are you?" Douxie looked as if he wanted to bite his tongue as Toby just continued. "And you know Merlin? The guy that made the amulet? The one to create the prophecy in the first place?!"

"Yes. Yes. Yes again, but enough about me." Douxie brought his attention toward me once more. "You don't want to lose her, right?"

"Of course not."

"Then trust me damn it." I swallowed hard as I looked back over toward where Claire was. Her golden eyes were still staring me down just how they did when they first attacked me. Her staff in her hand, a wicked grin upon her lips, and a laugh more sinister than anything I have ever heard from her.

I couldn't get myself to hurt her then.

I looked back over toward Douxie as I gave him a simple nod.

I'm only hurting Claire more just waiting around here.

"Whatever it is, I will do it."

"Glorious!" Douxie gave me a bright smile as he rolled up his hoodie sleeves. "Now, I'm not a dark magic wielder so I'm going to make a light vortex into the Shadow Realm using some of the stuff here your changeling friend here brought along. It's not gonna be very strong so you'll have ten minutes tops until you need to get out of there. Alright?" I nodded my head as Toby butted in once more.

"And what happens if he doesn't?"

"Then we'll be down an Eclipse as well as a Shadowmancer."

I pushed off another floating rock sphere allowing me to go forward in the void of darkness. I swallowed hard as I landed on a flat rock as I scanned out the area.

"So how do I find here?"

"The Shadow Realm is all about feeling. Just follow your heart and you'll find her. Reach out into the darkness and try to feel for where she is. That's the best I can give you."

I sighed a little as I stood there for a moment. My eyes closing gently as I tried to get a feel for the area.

Follow my heart. Feel for her own. Got it. Come on.

I placed a hand over my chest to feel the crystal hiding away under my jacket.

She's here somewhere. I can't lose her now.

I took a deep breath I tried my best to focus on a color in particular. One that I knew was related to Claire from the first time I saw it. A deep majestic purple she would appear whenever she touched me or smiled my way. The one I knew was for her and only for her.

The one that proved I loved her beyond anything else.

I could feel the burning touch of the crystal against my hand from under my jumper as I opened my eyes slowly. My being tugging slowly toward a distant rock structure that looked familiar and not in the same breath. Like an older more abandoned version of Claire's actually home in real life on the far horizon.

There. She's there. No doubt.

I launched off the rock with ease as I started floating my way over toward the building in question.

Don't worry, Claire. I'm here.

I grunted a little as I landed on another floating platform before leaping off once more. Gaining more speed this time as my determination rose.

I'm coming for you.

"Are you sure it's the smartest to just leave him alone in there?" I gave Toby a curious look as I leaned against the sorcerous' wall once more. My focus is specifically on the portal before us as my magical energy was pouring into the subject in question. "Why are you helping us out anyway? Besides the whole 'I know the prophecy and helped write it down' bullshit." I couldn't help but smile a little bit as I turned my attention toward the portal before us once more. Making sure that my mana was keeping it stable for the time being.

The Warhammer. The fabled best friend of the Eclipse who, in my young naive eyes at the time of Merlin telling me everything, was just the punchline of the three is already proving to fit his role so much more than he seems to understand.

He is meant to be Eclipse's safety net. His best companion. The one to protect and bring him up as the Eclipse is doing the same for the rest of the world. His sole link to being a normal human being.

My smile widened as I glanced down at my gauntlet. The blue magic pouring through the handmade device showcasing how much energy I was truly putting into the creation before me being a reminder within that moment of the old man himself.

Master always knew best as it was anyway. He's proved that time and time to me, that's for sure.

I cringed a little as several sudden memories flooded my mind. Some not as pleasant as some of the others I had of the old man.

Well. Not all of the time, that is.

"You're a good friend, Tobias." I shook myself out of my memories before smiling over toward the smaller boy. "Making sure they're alright. Protecting them as much as you can. You're a lot more than the prophecies claim of you. That's for sure."

"You're not answering my question." The red-haired boy crossed his arms over his chest as he glared at me in reply. "And your compliments aren't gonna deter me like the girls at school either." I couldn't help but chuckled at the lad as I gifted him with a smile.

"Wasn't meaning to deter you, anyway." I glanced back over toward the portal to make sure of its state before looking back over toward the human once more. "I promised my master that I would make sure of the prophecy's completion. To make sure that it heads down the path that it should with as little interaction as I could." I put my full attention toward the portal once more as I mentally placed more of my mana into it. "When I realized what exactly was going on with our little sorcerous there, I couldn't help but aid the lot of ya."

"Your master?" I simply nodded my head in reply as Toby continued questioning me. "Where is he now? How is he tied up in all of this? How do you know Merlin again? And Morgana?"

"That will all come to head soon enough, Toby." I kept my attention on the portal as I started to feel the shadows pushing back at me this time around. "All I can tell you for now though is that Morgana and I were trained under the same master. That at least can cure some of your curiosity for the time being. That is, until I can actively answer all your questions."

"Why can't you answer me now?"

"Because it's not time yet." I gave him a sorry smile and a small shrug before swallowing hard. The demand of the portal starting to actually get to me a little as I stood there. "But I will answer them all in due time. If not myself, then another you will trust."

"What should we do if you cannot keep the portal open long enough for them to escape?" I grunted a little in reply to the changeling as he held a long blade in hand. "Will we have to do this the old fashion way?"

"If you dare bring that knife anywhere near Claire, Jim will kill you." I couldn't help but snicker at Toby's reply before pouring the rest of my focus into the portal before us.

We won't need to do such a thing because I will not fail. Not at this.

I felt a determined look take over my face as I took in a deep breath.

I will not fail Merlin.

Not again.

I snapped out of my thoughts once more though as a loud yell could be heard from the portal before the appearance of the Eclipse came through it once more. He fell to the floor with a thud as he let out heavy shaky breaths.

"Claire?!" He frantically got up to his feet as he searched around where he landed. "She was right here." Instead of answering the worried boy, I just closed the portal behind him with a huff.

"Good mother of Merlin that was a lot more taxing than I lead on." I shook my head a little as I looked over toward the sorcerous in question. "Her spirit should be back with her now then if all went well." I couldn't help but smile through my new tired state as the boy instantly went over to the girl to check on her. His armor a bright royal purple as he did as such.

I count that as a win I guess.

I slump down to my knees as a soft sigh escaped my lips. My eyes glancing back over toward my gauntlet as I placed my hands into my lap.

You're welcome. You sleeping pile of dust.

"Claire?" I knelt down next to where the girl was sitting in her restrictive chair. "Claire? Are you okay?" I watched with attentive eyes as she squeezed her eyes tightly for a moment as I waited with bated breath for her to wake up completely.

Please. Please be you. I can't do all of this without you.

I reached out and placed my hands on her shoulders as I heard her murmur a little.

Please be you, Claire. Please come back to me.

"Jim?" I watched as her eyes fluttered slowly for a second before looking up toward me. Her eyes the beautiful hazel that I've always loved more than anything. "Wha-What happened?" I couldn't help but smile as she looked up toward me. I went forward and wrapped my arms around her without a second thought. My head buried into her shoulder instantly as she just breathlessly giggled in reply. "Are you okay?"

"I'm much better now." I smiled as she just laughed once more at me.

"Well I would be much better with this moment if I could hug you back, but" I pulled back from her as I heard the jingle of chains once more. "Kinda tied up here." I leaped into action instantly to start untieing the girl as quickly as I could.

"Sorry," I muttered the word a little bit to myself as I already got one bit of the chains undone. "Got a little too excited there." Claire just shook her head a little as she shimmied the rest of the way out of her restraints before the last chain could properly fall to the floor.

"I don't blame you honestly." She got up from her chair and wrapped her arms around me instantly. "Thank you." Her words came out as a murmur into her neck as I just wrapped my arms around her in reply.

"Any time, Juliet." I held her tight against me as I just relished in the idea of her being here. Not Morgana. Not possessed. Just Claire. Being here with me.

Everything is okay. Everything is alright.

I couldn't help but glance over toward where Douxie was. The magic caster kneeling down onto the floor with a tired expression on his face.

Maybe he can be trusted. I should give him a chance.

I tightened my hold on Claire as I brought my attention back toward the girl in question.

He did help us out here. Maybe it's worth a shot.

But if he continues hitting on my girlfriend, me and the bastard are gonna have a problem, that's for certain.