~Sorry I haven't updated in a while. My grandfather just passed away, so I had to take a little break. I'm back, but updates won't be too quick for a while. Thank all of you for continuing to read. I hope you enjoy this new chapter.~

Chapter 12

Diana positioned herself, standing directly in front of Aidan, and took a deep breath. She began to clear her head again, allowing the white light to take over her mind's eye. The cuff and anklet hummed on her skin and she could feel the energy connect each of them, running through her blood.

Aidan's voice came to her lightly. "When we connect, something's going to happen. Some people see it as a doorway. Whatever it is, allow it to go through."

She held her hands out, palms up. The heat of his hands was directly above her own, the presence getting stronger and stronger.

It started out subtly. The light in her mind turned to a glow of silver as their hands touched. She saw no doorway, but she suddenly felt a snap and was connected. And that's when it happened again . . .

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"Deena!"

Diana looked around. She was standing in a field of wildflowers, wearing a very long, very heavy, very black dress. My name is not Deena, it's Diana.

Her eye caught a girl running up to her. It looked just like Cassie, except she knew it wasn't. This girl's name was Hope.

"Deena, the ship has arrived. Dagan said we have to go now, the hunters are getting closer!"

Diana, or Deena, actually, grabbed the other girl's shoulders. "Hope, please calm down." She was surprised at her English accent.

"We have to leave." The girl was hysterical, tears streaming down her face. "Ashton is already there, waiting for you."

Deena walked with her, out of the field and into the woods. "Why can't we just go to the New World and find the others? I miss my sister."

"We can't find them. Hunters found them and they ran. Now we have no clue where they went."

They were moving at a faster pace now. Out of no where, Adam walked out to run with them. Not Adam . . . Bradley.

Hope reached out and grabbed his hand. The three ran together until Deena's foot got caught in something. What is a piece of rope doing in the middle of the woods?

She already knew the answer to that. It tightened on her ankles as she heard Hope scream. More rope went around her hands. "Air, water, earth and fire, please lead me with your guiding power . . ."

"Close it, you damned witch." The man behind her lifted her up, bringing his face close to hers. She could smell liquor on his breath, and the sweaty hairs of his beard scratched her cheek. "Don't use any of your powers on me." She felt heat close to her.

Deena could see Bradley standing in front of Hope, but a golden light was coming out of the trees behind them.

She screamed as an ember fell on her wrist from the torch the ugly man was holding.

The light exposed itself from the shadows, running toward her. Relief washed over her as she saw him. Aidan. "Ashton, help me!"

His golden hair was stuck to his forehead from sweat, and his eyes, the same color as his hair, were dilated, looking everywhere around him. "Deena!"

A dark figure loomed behind him. "Look out, Ashton!"

Too late. The figure had already caught him, tying him up and dragging him over next to Deena.

The silver light flashed, then thinned itself into a cord. Bright and strong, it connected Deena and Ashton together.

She looked over to see Hope and Bradley tied up as well, a silver cord of their own running between them.

All of them on their backs, she saw the fire grow in the woods.