Recap: The stone wall was a bit slippery and I clutched at the small crevices tightly. I moved down the wall, slowly, fearing a fall to my death. Life! I'm such an idiot. I am never doing this again, I cried to myself in the silence of my thoughts. I tried not to panic or look down. I focused on my next movement and hanging on. I hope that no one saw what I was doing. I would die from embarrassment, if I didn't die from this activity.

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I was stuck and the only way to get off was either up or down and I wasn't about to go back to where I started. I definitely couldn't appear in someone's room through their window. Ack, I thought. To die of embarrassment or plunge to my death. This wasn't exactly a pleasant thought, but my mind was never one to be normal, if there is such a thing. The sharp edges of the stones cut into my palms, scratching it until it bled freely. My body was sore from these strains and it cried out in pain, although my mouth wouldn't dare utter a sound. My fears were so strong I was surprised that it wasn't emanating from me. Soon, the world around me spun crazily and I was completely exhausted, panting for air and in so much pain, both physically and emotionally that I didn't know what to do. I stopped suddenly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Unknown POV ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ha, I exclaimed. I can't believe what I'm seeing. What an imbecile of a girl. Ha, she falls and she'll do my job for me. To think, I was having a lot of fun playing with her. My eyes followed her movements down the towering wall. I felt like laughing at her brainless and unwise action to climb out the window. I had to admit though, this girl was something. She's much more interesting that the usual court girls. If only, she wasn't who she is now. I continued staring up at her. I have work to do, if she didn't fall. My mind urged her to. A malicious smirk tugged at the corners of my face. This was going to be an interesting couple of minutes.

{W/R: As you see, the unknown guy or gal is not a "good" person. Let's tune into what's going on with Elestra, why don't we.}

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I took deep breaths and blocked out everything around me, as best I could. I cleared my mind of everything, especially my regrets of climbing out the window. I was wholly intent on climbing down and getting to the ground safely. I started moving again. Left, right, left, right. I slowed my heartbeat enough so that it wasn't roaring in my ears anymore. Soon, I couldn't hear anything but my steady breathing and my seemingly resting heartbeat. My eyes focused onto the wall and my next movement. I felt nothing, but the cold, wet rocks I clung onto. My pace grew faster, but not so much that I couldn't keep up. I felt nothing inside of me and suddenly, I landed. There were no more crevices to move into and solid ground was beneath me finally. My heavy arms fell to my sides and a wind blew past me, causing my hair to move along its currents and cooling me down, not that I noticed much.

I exhaled a large breath, relieved and the bubble atmosphere that had surrounded me during most the climb down collapsed deafeningly. I could hear the birds, see the colors around me, and feel the wind caressing me. I felt an emptiness fill me and weightlessness in me that almost made me feel as if I were flying or at least hovering off the ground. It was an odd sensation, but a breathtaking feeling. My knees buckled unexpectedly from my lack of strength. I closed my eyes involuntarily, awaiting the impact. It didn't come and instead arms were grasping me up. I looked up expecting my usual savior, but my widened eyes and gaping mouth expressed my shock when it wasn't. This caused me to nearly to fall again, but he was there to catch me. "Easy there." He said, helping my move to sit down, apparently not noticing my gaping mouth.

"Thanks," I replied, composing myself. "I didn't think you'd be so anxious to get away from me," He replied, softly and he looked genuinely hurt from my actions. I didn't know what to say to that and looked down at my bloody hands. He seemed to understand, not pressing me for an answer. Instead, he took my hands and examined them.

"I should probably take you to the healers. These look like pretty deep cuts."

I pulled my hands out of his and placed them in my lap, although it bloodied my outfit a little,

"It's nothing," I told him with a frown.

I sat there sleepily, but not from my small blood loss. A large ripping sound beside me made me jump. I turned to see Lord Damien shirtless and my mouth fell wide open.

"Life, what are you doing?" I asked, looking at him as if he had gone crazy.

"I'm going to make bandages for your hands, if you're not going to go inside anytime soon. I doubt you'll enter the infirmary anytime soon anyway, even with my amazing persuasion abilities."

I laughed and shook my head at his silliness.

"Then, just how will you explain the absence of your shirt?" I asked with a lifted eyebrow.

Don't look at his chest, don't look at his chest, I told myself. My eyes lowered to the area and they snapped up when I realized what I had done. A dark red blush flamed my face. Luckily, Damien was still ripping his shirt to shreds. Oh goddess, oh god, oh heavens, just oh, I exclaimed in my mind.

"Um…a new style perhaps?" He said, with his tongue out to the side over his upper lip, as he tried to rip a particularly hard part of the cloth.

He turned to see what I thought of the idea and I looked at him with a look of utter doubt. Hopefully, he doesn't realize I'm blushing.

"I don't think any land is ready for that style." I told him.

He chuckled and started wrapping up my hands in what had been his shirt. I watched him bandage my hands so delicately and carefully. Maybe if I understood him better, I could fall in love with him. Maybe…

"There!" He exclaimed, announcing his finish with a flourish bow.

I examined his work. It was neat and tight enough not to lose circulation or let more blood seep out.

"Wow," I said, awed. "You could have been a healer."

"Maybe," He said, "But then, I might never see you."

"See!" I shouted, pointing at him with a newly bandaged finger. "That is why I got these cuts in the first place!"

"Okay, okay," He cried, in the midst of his laughter and backing away from me.

I rolled my eyes at him and leaned back against the wall, trying not to join his contagious laughter. I succeeded with only a small smirk-like smile. He leaned onto my shoulder, companionably.

"Thanks for helping me." I said, once he calmed down.

"My pleasure, milady. Just how will you explain the bandages?"

I held my hands up in front of me, scrunching my face for an idea.

"I fell?" I suggested.

He started laughing and I stared at him, questioningly.

"Hey," I cried. "It wasn't that terrible!"

He smiled, still on the brink of laughter.

"I thought you'd have something more creative than that!"

"Well, it's still early. I'll think of something later."

"Now, that I have made better terms with you I have to go back to work."

"Who said we were on better terms?" I teased.

"Who said we weren't?" He joked back, walking away from me.

I gave a soft chuckle. {W/R: Does it seem weird for a girl to chuckle? I don't know, it does to me, in written words.} There was a change in the air and I heard a soft crunch of the autumn leaves.

"You can stop sneaking around, I know you're there." I half-yelled.

"How'd you know?" He asked, suspiciously.

"Shouldn't I stay a bit mysterious myself?" I said.

He slid down beside me. That was when the realization hit me. I could move, yet I didn't try to unmask him. I felt that he trusted me not to and I felt that he knew that. {W/R: Confusing line, but I think you'll get. Heehee, you want him unmasked, don't ya?} He didn't wait long until he got to the point of his appearance.

"Tell me, do you get a kick out of near death experiences?" He asked, incredulously. {W/R: I took this line from Ella Enchanted. I can't wait for the movie to come out, so I can watch it!!}

I laughed genuinely. I knew it did seem that way, which was not my fault in the least, except for being born into who I am.

'No, I don't." I replied with a smile. "You climbed down that wall too."

"That was different."

"Just because I'm a woman, does not mean that I can't do anything, but womanly duties." I told him, audaciously.

"A woman," He scoffed. "You act like you're still a child."

"That is not true," I told him in a loud voice.

"Prove it, think like an adult and leave Raea." {W/R: No offense meant to adults. They can be really cool.}

"We've been over this before and I'm not going to. No more trying to get me to."

"What, being poisoned, nearly choked to death in an alleged dream, and climbing out windows, isn't enough danger for you?"

"Everything except the last one, wasn't my fault!"

"But it was still dangerous and quite a stupid thing to do!"

I glared at him, outraged. He talked to me like I was a child and it made me feel like slapping him, but then, that also would be childish and proving his point further. I took a deep breath and released it, gradually.

"It wasn't something I planned, okay?"

He didn't continue it further, probably understanding that my rein over my temper wouldn't last much longer.

"How are your hands," He asked softly.

"It's nothing. Lord Damien bandaged them for me."

His eyes narrowed at bit at the name.

"Jealous?" I asked him, tilting my head to the side.

He locked eyes with me and I stared into his light brown eyes. He linked his fingers with mine and pulled me into his arms, so that I lay on his chest. This answered my question, somewhat. I could hear his heartbeat harmonized with mine and his breathing, as well. He appeared to be apart of me and I him. We fit together perfectly. Soul mates, maybe…

"Why are you following me?" I asked.

"I'm trying to find out the reasons why I'm so attracted and intrigued by you."

"Any luck?"

"Lost count." {W/R: Insert Awww Here}

My face reddened again. We lay there together, content. I asked him questions, in which he answered yes or no, most of which were nos. As we talked, he idly played with my hands and I watched the clouds passed by us, in my oblivious ecstasy.

"Hmm…Are you a killer or a criminal?" I asked.

He stiffened for a second.

"What's wrong?" I asked, getting up from him, slowly, fearing that I had hurt him.

"Would it matter to you?" He asked faintly.

His eyes were almost pleading. I was conflicted between my heart and mind. He seemed to look like I had hurt him.

"You aren't a killer or criminal, are you?" I asked, avoiding his question.

My whole impression of him was on the brink of shattering to pieces. Just say no. It's so easy. It's just not true. Just say it! Just say something! The ominous silence had fallen. He looked away, unable to meet my eyes anymore. I felt my eyes water. I moved to grasp his hand, as I whispered his name, but he pulled away from me and stood up. Watching him, there seemed to be a change in him. The black outfit of his, wasn't one of a champion anymore, but of a villain. It just can't be, I thought. But, he didn't deny it. The change in him scared me and it made me wonder just what he kept from me and what else there was. I'm blinded by what was before me. Of course, I should have suspected it. No one is this perfect. No one can make me so happy. I'm ugly. I deserve to be alone, it seems that's what the gods want for me. That's what I have to live with. It's not like I never knew the truth of it or even believe it. I'm not meant to be joyful for long. Salty pools of water were welling up at the corners of my eyes, awaiting a signal. Awaiting my breakdown.

"Just be careful, Elestra. Goodbye."

He gave me a final longing and sad look and turned away, walking swiftly away from me. Can a hero be evil, I wondered, as I sat there motionless. I didn't know what to do. I knew this wasn't a nightmare, no matter how much I wished it was. My hero wasn't there to save me again. It was he, who was killing me inside. The perfect way to do so with no physical marks of harm, nothing to physically heal. No physical proof of any wrongdoing. It is the perfect weakness for someone to aim for. The heart. The fickle thing. No matter how much someone denied having it. No matter how small or large it was, everyone had it.

His goodbye was not a temporary one and I felt like I could hear my heart break into millions of pieces. I wondered if I had one anymore. I wondered if I would be the same or just an empty shell of what I once was. I wondered if he even knew what he did to me, heard my heart shatter and I wondered if he felt the same. No more breathlessness bliss. No more tingling sensations from his touch. No more questions. No more wondering. No more feeling like anything was possible. No more entering the eyes that led into millions of other universes. No more feeling complete and perfect. No more heart pounding, fireworks blasting, music roaring, earth shattering, mind blowing kisses. It is over. I felt like screaming my head off in my pain or falling into a crack, never to be found again, but I couldn't, just couldn't. My memories of him, etched into my mind, will fade that I knew and I hoped it would happen soon. Out of sight, out of mind. It was what I wanted, well, at least what my mind wanted. I sighed, trying to blink away my tears and keeping from breaking down any further. It wouldn't have worked anyway. No matter what I did. He knew that and I guess this is another reason why. No point in going for the impossible. You can't reach for the stars and expect to really land on the moon. Not now, not ever. No hope. I sighed. No point in looking or wanting what was never really there or never even existed. I pulled myself up.

"Elestra!"

I wiped my tears away hastily, only to see Rhianna heading toward me. The sight of her gave me goosebumps. I didn't easily forget and my hands flew to my neck, feeling the light bruises that were still there, hidden under some powder. Was it a nightmare, a premonition? I felt cursed with not knowing what to do. The girl that was running up to me, didn't seem dangerous, but so did the other one in my dream before she tried to choke me. I felt a little pale, but smiled at Rhianna. She's my friend. It was just a dream, no matter, what Mr. Mysterious said.

"Morning, is your father better yet?" I inquired, trying to sound normal.

"Well, not so much, but you're mother is going to try to do something today. She said she told you about it."

I nodded with a small worried swallow and turning away, in the hopes she didn't notice my swollen and red eyes. My world was quite complicated now. With my luck, I'd lose everyone in my life.

"I rather not know," She said, noticing my reaction. "I just hope it works."

"Yeah," I said, although it came out like a whisper.

"Hey, what's that?" Rhianna asked, looking over my shoulder.

I turned to see the strips that had been bandages for my hands on the ground, where Mr. Mysterious and I had laid. I looked to my hands mesmerized. They were healed already. Did Mr. Mysterious do that? I frowned.

"Umm, just a…a…"

My mouth went parch, like the desert sands. I felt like a ghost had passed through me, not that, that had happened before. It was something described in books I had read. It just wasn't a pleasant experience. My vision doubled everything for a second and I felt dizzy, almost like half my body was on the ground and the other in the clouds. As amazing as it sounded, it didn't feel like such. {W/R: Trust me, I know. I felt it before.}

"You okay, Elle?" Rhianna said, looking at me worried and tapping me on my shoulder.

Even with her father still sick, she still had time to worry about me. I smiled grateful for friendships like the one I had with Rhianna. My little doubts about Rhianna melted a bit.

"Perfectly fine." I replied. I should be.

She smiled, slightly confused.

"Come on, how about a horse ride around? We haven't done that in awhile or even talk."

"Sure," I replied, happily.

For a split second, I saw something else in Rhianna's cheerful expression. It was strange, but then I had been outside for awhile, so I thought that it wasn't that much of a surprise that my mind was playing its little tricks.

"How about a short ride, I'm a bit tired." I asked.

She nodded and worried look came over her. This is Rhianna. She's not evil like that. I followed her into the stables and got a happy neigh from Chocolate, as Rhianna tended to Eclipse. Once we were both ready, Rhianna picked a trail and followed it. We talked about things that we used to and it reassured me that my dream was just that, a dream. We raced for a bit and my thoughts about Mr. Mysterious didn't all together disappear, but was buried away for awhile. Fast galloping and the sight of someone galloping toward us, interrupted our fun. Rhianna was ahead of me and met the messenger first. The courier didn't look the least bit as if he was delivering good news. He spoke to Rhianna and I was too far to hear what he said. Rhianna cast a shocked, concerned, and scared look over to me. It let me know that something was wrong with mother.

"We have to get back." Rhianna cried.

The courier had already run off, not waiting for us. I kicked Chocolate into a swift gallop and the trees whizzed past me in blurs of color. Rhianna did the same. We arrived on the castle grounds quickly and we hastily placed our horses into the stable stalls, before running to Lord Devin's room. Rhianna took the lead and I followed her. We went down a dark and damp alleyway, which led to a staircase. "Where are we going," I asked her, not recognizing the path we took.

"Just follow me, I'll take you to her, quickly."

Abruptly, Rhianna paused and turned to me, in the middle of a dark hallway I never seen before. Too much like the dream, I thought. I started feeling a bit faint and scared. My palms were a bit sweaty and I shuddered a little. Is this going to happen like my dream? This was it. Either my dream would come true and not in the good way or I would just make a complete fool of myself. Life, what I have I done to deserve this…A tear drop went down my cheek, as Rhianna took a step toward me. Apparently, my heart was hurt enough. The gods wanted to take all the good in my life, in one day. But, I have to face whatever comes my way. That's what living life is. Rhianna looked me in the eyes. I could see what she planned to do. I only wished that it were my imagination. The few seconds of life left to me, I hoped that what I saw wasn't truly there. Not in the eyes of a friend, who was like a sister to me. Yet again, I thought to myself. This can't be happening.

{W/R} I apologize sincerely. I really thought I'd fit more action in this chapter, but I already have passed the limit that I usually have for each chapter by four pages. It seems that I will most definitely end at 15 or so chapters (To Rhex: Ha, ha it's an odd number!), especially since I don't feel like typing my work anymore and much rather write in my notebook, like I used to. It's still too early to see what I'll do, but if I get enough support and time, almost anything can happen. Now thank you for reading my babbles, so here are my thanks. I'm glad you people appreciate my updates, because I'm losing my sleep and my beloved reading time over typing and making up these chapters. I'm so happy, why you ask. Well, I remembered the ending that I wanted for this story after watching the Prince and Me. Such a good movie, I tell you!! I'm sure people will NOT like it much, but being the hopeless romantic that I am, I'm sticking with the ending I chose.

Rane2920072~ I changed my review for you, because you were the first one to see the chapter eleven that I had posted up for a few hours. Thanks for reviewing every chapter. It means a lot to me and it's been fun reading your emails. J Name Club Rocks!!! Lol. Oh yeah, sorry if it seems pretty much the same, because I only edited stuff a little.

FelSong~ Hmm….we'll see. *Evil laugh* Actually, you might be very close as to what happens. Thanks for the support!!!!!!! Did you read chapter 10 (because your comment was for chapter 9)?

Emerald-Random~ Yayz, someone liked the Zorro comment. I feel very happy that I'm not that corny. Well, maybe I am. Heehee, oh wells. Sorry about the last cliffhanger and this one. I'll try to update as soon as possible, so I don't have to leave anyone hanging for too long. Lol. ;)

TheKeeperofWords~ Thanks sooooo much for putting me in your favorites list, I'm very honored and overjoyed!!! Thanks for making me so happy, but where's your review?

Rhexi~ Excuses, excuses. You're loaded with them. J/k. About the finding out who's the stranger, well, you know you can't rush a genius at work, rofl, j/j again. It's fun depriving you of Flauvic. I'm not even sure if Danric or Flauvic will appear again. Ahhh! *Ducks as Rhexi charges at me with Hachi in dragon form* (Pretty dragon, rofl.) Okay no more joking. Flauvic will definitely return for an important part, as to why he does and when he does, that's a BIG mystery at least for now. Hmm…..about Danric…..that I don't really know about. I'm not entirely sure I need him back. It hurts me so to say that, cuz he is so cool. (:P Much better than Flauvic at times, lol.) Oh yeah, how about printing the next chapter of whatever for me to edit. You sure take your time with that, lol. ;D

[W/R] Whoa nearly a page of my nonsense! Sorry to put you through that torture. Now don't torture me and REVIEW NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Sniffle* Only THREE people actually reviewed under chapter ten. I'm very sad about that, so try to review more, please.