Recap: I had missed him, even though I didn't think about him as often. Maybe, I did have a chance to save my mother and Rhianna and then, finally get some questions answered. I braced myself for the worst, as we neared the open door to our destination. Here goes everything…

{W/R: Re-edited this chapter, it has changed a lot, I think. Oh yeah, no more of my comments interrupting your reading, so if there's any questions email me.}

--------Flauvic POV--------

"Elestra, wait." I said.

She withdrew her step and half-turned to look at me. She was obviously confused. It was another aspect that reminded me of Meliara, the small inability to hide emotions, well at least most of the time.

"Here, you might need this more than me."

I hastily took her hand into mine and placed the object into her hand. Before it got even more awkward, I stepped into the room, but I didn't miss her look of surprise and further confusion. She followed me without a word and then sidestepped me to walk further into the room. I wondered what she thought of my gesture. I wasn't even sure of my motives behind it either, but what done was done.

Dark thunderclouds cloaked the moon and stars. Thunder wailed and lightning illuminated the room every so often. The window shutters smacked the walls, threatening to fling off somewhere with the winds' desires. Rain pelted callously and so much so that it seemed to storm inside the vast room. Not a good omen, not at all. It was quite a change from the atmosphere of the hallway from which we came from.

"Encouraging signs, huh?" Elestra joked with a small smile.

She didn't directly looking at me. I bet that I made her quite uncomfortable, not to mention putting myself in the same uncomfortable situation.

"Exactly what we need," I replied sarcastically.

Lightning flashed and the light upon her skin made it seem unearthly, before she disappeared into darkness. Is that what I will do to her, I wondered, bitterly. She moved toward her mother and followed. Meliara was frozen in place, fingertips upon the Lord's temples. Everything happened in flashes of cold white lightning, like when a person blinks quickly and everything jumps a second later. I felt as if I was watching from elsewhere, immobile so that I couldn't do anything. A chill, not from the cold air and rain, down my spine told me too late that something bad was to happen. The moment Elestra touched her mother's hand, the illusion of Mel, that lord, and his wife disappeared and so did Elestra. In that moment, I reached out to grab Elestra's, before plunging into a cold, sub-zero realm. I had almost thought that I wouldn't make it. I didn't know what I'd do if I hadn't, but I felt her smooth hand in mine and it kept me from having a heart attack.

Blinking furiously, my eyes adjusted to the warm light. I was outside. A weight on my chest caused me to look down. I did something I hadn't done, since puberty. I blushed. A murmur from that heavenly form on me caused me to compose myself. Carefully, I lifted her off of me and placed her against the tree behind me. I sat before her, staring at her in wonderment of how this came to be. Her brown locks shaded her eyes and her nose crinkled adorably, as the strand tickled her nose. Smiling, I tucked the mischievous chocolate wisps behind her ears.

Her eyes flickered open and a smile graced her lips at the sight of me. The hypnotic sight before me made me forget everything. I desired to stay in this moment and now forever. I leaned in close to her, my palm against the tree, keeping me balanced and steady. My eyes locked onto hers, occasionally straying to her pink, soft lips. Her eyes were filled with anticipation and her lips curled into a wider, shy smile, but she looked away, blushing a little. My other hand traced her jaw line and tilted her head so she faced me again. I felt her quickening, warm breath on my lips. I finally descended the rest of the way to unite our lips. It was…

------------End of Flauvic's POV & Start of Elestra's POV----------

"Elestra, wait." He said.

It made me jump a bit though I hoped he didn't notice. I took a step back away from the room and looked at him, wondering why he wanted to wait for.

"Here, you might need this more than me." He said, almost in one breath.

Why is he acting so nervous, I wondered. He took my hand into his and placed the object into my hand, as quick as he could and then entered the room without me. I was surprised and confused, so much so that it took a few seconds before I quit staring at what he placed in my hand and actually place it on me. My skin tingled where he held my hand and I rubbed it distractedly, as I followed him into the room. I didn't know what to say about what he did. I didn't even understand why he did it at all. A small peek at his face, as I sidestepped him to move further into the room, showed that he didn't quite understand why he did that, as well.

Rain flew into the room. It was chilly and the curious wind touched everything. I winced as thunder shook the world. I snuck a look behind me, making sure that he was still behind me. Lightning flashed too quickly for me to see much. The silence that wrapped Flauvic and I started to feel stifling and tense. I had to say something to release the atmosphere that was starting to annoy me.

"Encouraging signs, huh?" I said, jokingly and smiling a little.

"Exactly what we need," He replied and that was all he said.

Talking didn't help and if it were possible, the atmosphere was even worse. Sighing slightly, I just tolerated it and looked around in the brief moments of light for anyone in the room, other than Flauvic and me. I crossed my arms, trying to keep myself a bit warmer. My clothing was sticking to me and I was shivering a little, though I tried to hide it. Lightning made the room look like day for a second and that was when I saw Mother, looking as she did when she meditated, but this time, there was no rise or fall of her chest. The same went for Lord Devin, who still lay in bed and for Lady Aislinn, who was slumped over the bed, as if she had fallen asleep. This is what he meant by stuck, I thought. I couldn't believe that Mother would abandon her family. She promised she wouldn't. She was alive, though she didn't appear so. I walked silently across the room to the bed, to mother. She can't be dead, I told myself. She promised to be careful and not leave us. Even Flauvic said she's not dead. It's all a trick. A mean joke, only that. It has to be. Thunder and lightning brought a shudder onto me before I was at my destination.

I reached for her hand and it fazed away, bringing me along. I felt iciness around me, except for my hand. I looked back at who grasped my hand. In the diminishing flash of light, I saw Flauvic holding my hand, trying to save me from the deception I had fallen into, not caring, it seemed that he was falling into the trap with me. If only the circumstances were different. The light, the warmth, everything fades away. I was alone in this black world, this dark abyss. Falling, though it felt like flying. It cold and I was numb. This strange feeling of nothingness filled me. I felt blind, seeing all the black and I felt deaf, hearing nothing, not even the whistling of the air, as it blew against me. I just kept falling and falling or at least, I felt like I was falling. Then, there was a flash of light. This light blinded me. This enigmatic lightheld me in its grasp. It reminded me of those stories I've heard of a place after death. I wondered then if I had died, but felt no ounce of fear, only a bliss that grew, as the light dissipated and color returned to me.

There was a blue sky above me and cool, light brown sand beneath my bare feet. I could hear the beautiful ocean somewhere near. Soft light warmed me, making the cold from earlier seem like a distant memory. Everything was a distant memory now, it seemed. I was only here for the moment, on this gorgeous beach.I fell no more, instead I was running. It was scared type of run, but one of those running games from my younger years. It was fun, it was free, and it was liberating, acting like this, like a child. I laughed freely, as an unknown burden, an unknown and invisible heavy weight was lifted from me, as if my laugh dismantled a spell placed upon me. My feet eventually lead me to the shoreline of a small cove. The water was a beautiful, clear azure color and you could see the land beneath it. The salty winds played with my gown and hair. The pull of the water and the small sinking feeling, as I stood on the wet sand, massaged my feet. The bottom edge of my gown seized some of the cool water into itself, but I was too distracted by the breathtaking view to care. Arms held me from behind, but it didn't surprise me like it usually would when someone sneaks up to me. Instead of a surprised facial expression, my smile curved into a flirtatious one.

"Caught you," He said, whispering into my ear.

The voice sent a pleasant chill down my spine and made me tingle all over. Even my knees were weak by his presence. I didn't need to look to his face to confirm by sight, who held me, but I tilted my head over my shoulder anyway. When I got the answer I wanted, I relaxed further into his embrace, as we both looked onto the setting sun. Everything was perfect and nothing mattered, but staying here. I'm not going anywhere. This is where I belong. I'm not going to let him go this time. His lips skimmed the nape of my neck and progressed to my jaw line. I angled my head a little, so that he could continue further until our mouths could at last connect. I waited patiently until the moment came when my eyes fluttered close naturally for the kiss that would daze me and always managed to stun me, that always managed to cause me to tremble so much so that my bones vibrated. This act of kissing seemed to touch much deeper than just the action itself. It touched their souls, the very essence of themselves. An eternity passed, though to others it was merely a few milliseconds or so and our lips met each other again. It was…

--------------------End of Elestra's POV& the start of Unknown POV----------------- -- [Same person's POV from the beginning of chaps 9, 10, & 11] --

The plan is really in motion now. It was all perfect. The obstacles will be destroyed and I will get her back to me. It'll be fun along the way too. I thought as I looked upon them from my glass ball. Their images appeared bright and clear, though smoke clouded over them when I focused on my other plans. It's going to be fun indeed.

-------TBC------------------

{W/R} I hope this re-write of chapter thirteen didn't confuse anymore further or cause more trouble. I rewrote this chapter, because the previous chapter thirteen was a bit confusing and I needed more possibilities open for chapter fourteen. Thanks for reading and here are the individual thanks [which I also changed for those that reviewed the previous chapter 13]. I think that I won't write a sequel, because I have lost the will to write chapters to post for others to see. That kind of explains why I have been taking so long to update. Many apologies to all of you who wanted to read more from me.

Emerald-Random Lol. Thanks for compliment. I forgot all about translations for the Latin I used. Thanks for reminding me, but as you see, in this rewrite I decided not to use any Latin.

Rane2920072 Hey J-buddy! How's life? Sorry, I haven't been emailing much. With school starting to end for me and etc. piling on, it is quite exhausting. Thanks for the review and I hope you review again. =)

Erkith How cool, I have a mystique. Lol. You didn't ruin anything, don't worry. Thanks for the encouragement for further stories, you're going to inflate me ego with all these compliments. Blush Thanks so much for the support and for feedback on how I portray Flauvic. Keep predicting what'll happen next, I'd like to see what you expect. =]

FelSong Thanks for the review. Hope you did well on your tests. As for why I'm ending when I'm pretty much at the climax, I'm not so sure as to what is the answer for that, sorry. I hope you work on your story and get more uploaded soon. =)

Loup Garou42 I understand, there's only so much time in one day for all the things to be done. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Review please. :]

Rhexi Humph, I never did get that review. Ff.net must not want me to hear what you have to say, lol. Hopefully you can review this and tell me what you think. Thanks for advising me to remove the chapter. ;p

The Jade Lady Lol. I liked your enthusiastic review. Was this a good chapter?

JasAbby Lol. I'm a fast reader too. Sorry about the confusion I caused you. My mind can get strange and complicated sometimes. I'm glad that you're so hooked on my story. I hope you review again!!!

GothicSorceressRikku15 Thanks so much for putting me on your fav list and author alert. I hope you read Sherwood Smith's Court and Crown Duel, as well as Beauty, which is in the Firebirds anthology. Thanks for the compliments on my songfic.

Sophianwin I think I reviewed your Ella Enchanted story. As for why I'm on your author alert list, I have no idea, but it doesn't show that I am on your author alert list on my stats thing. I'm glad you like my story, though. I recommend that you read Court and Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith, as well as Beauty in the Firebirds Anthology. I am almost certain that you won't regret reading them. I hope you continue reading my story.

Awaiting reviews and hoping for 100 reviews still. Please read and REVIEW!!!! I need feedback. I can't say that I want flames, but if it'll help me improve my work and deflate my enormous ego, then go ahead, review and flame me. I hope to hear from all of you. Please don't be lazy and just read without reviewing!!!