Hey guys i'm alive! I am so sorry for such a long delay on this chapter any other chapters that are on their way. I have been super busy with real life problems. College is one of them, but I am going to manage. I hope you all will forgive me for such a long delay inbetween this and the last chapter. I hope you all enjoy this and all the other storeis that will arise soon. I'll let you know if I am going to be taking a haitus next time I do. Enjoy~

Chapter 15: Risk it All

It had been about an hour or so, when Alister finally got Vianca to calm down and tell him what happened. She told him how it seemed to be a normal day, while Lara was exploring another ruin. She described her fear and how Zip whisked her away to safety as they were being closed in on. Alister sat there, listening intently to every detail of her tale.

"Then, he put the amulet in the shoe box after we entered the closet and he said that he had to go place the sticky note on the desk for you or Lara to find it," She said as tears ran down her face. "I tried to stop him and tell him not to go, but he didn't listen to me. He left and then….I went back into my amulet."

"Zip, why would you risk that?" Alister muttered to himself. He looked over at Vianca and sees her curl up, covering her face. "Vianca?"

"I could've stopped him. I could've helped him," She said as more tears raced down her cheeks and dripped off her chin. "I just...just let him. I should've grabbed him by the arm and…" Alister quickly pulled her into his embrace as he tried to comfort her again. She quickly turned to him and buried her face in his chest.

"Vianca, Zip did this for you. You know what it means if they get you and he didn't want that for you," Alister said as he rubbed her back in hopes of calming her down. "He knew what he was doing, or at least I hope so. He knew that there was a chance that he was going to get captured. In his mind, it was either him or both of you." Vianca remained silent, tears still streaming down her face. Alister managed to get her to look up at him and he smiled at her reassuringly.

"What do we do now, Alister? What if they….they try to do some sort of ritual with Zip?" Vianca said as the thought of such a thing only hurt her more. "I could never forgive myself if he gets…." Alister raised his hand to her face and whipped away the tears that came from her eyes.

"I won't let that happen. We'll get him back before anything happens," Alister said. "Once Lara gets back, we'll discuss a plan to get back Zip." Vianca silently nodded and continue to cling to Alister for comfort.

It wasn't long after that Lara returned. Alister filled in Lara on what Vianca told him. Vianca sat there on the couch curled up, watching the two talk. After the conversation, Lara thought for a moment trying to figure out where they would be.

"There has to be a place where she always goes," Lara said as she began to pace back and forth. "Some place that she would take him to keep him prisoner for awhile." The words prisoner perked Vianca's interest, not a good way. She thought for a moment and a flashback came to her.

~Flashback~

Vianca was hiding behind a suit of armor, listening in on who she suspected to be a witch. She saw her talking to someone, who she didn't recognize at all. The woman she came to know as her father's Court Mage, or whatever it was. Her name was Lady Zaphara. She seemed to be very frustrated with the person.

"Do you not understand what I am trying to do?" She asked angrily "If I am caught doing this they will burn me at the stake. I can't have anyone making mistakes, which means you." The unknown stranger raised their hands defensively.

"Hey, don't look at me. I am just giving you a report on what happened. I am just a messenger," They said in their muffled voice. Now noticing, that they had cloth covering the lower part of their face. "If you want to get mad at someone, get mad at the one who failed not me." She grabbed the guy by their torso and pulled them over to her.

"I've been at this for centuries and I am not about to let anyone stop me now when I am so close to my goal," She said angrily, "This castle has been my main grounds for rituals for far beyond your existence. I don't plan to give this place up easily. It's too perfect for these rituals to give it up." She pushed the stranger away and he nearly fell backwards, but caught himself.

"Yes, Lady Zaphara," He said with a reluctant and fearful tone. He walked away and she began to head in the other direction. Vianca followed after her and sees her enter the throne room. She waited for a moment and sees her going behind her father's throne. Vianca's eyes narrowed and she quickly followed, but when she got to her father's throne she didn't see the woman. She had disappeared.

~End of Flashback~

"I know where she is," Vianca said as she looked down at the ground. Alister and Lara looked at her with a surprised look.

"You do?" Alister asked as he looked down at the once scared girl in his arms. Vianca nodded and took a step away from Alister.

"Remember where you found me Lara?" Vianca asked as she looked straight at her. "The very first time you found my amulet." Lara thought and then a light sparkled in her eye.

"The ruins of the castle, there was a secret passage behind the throne," Lara answered. "Are you saying she's there?" Vianca nodded and looked down a bit again.

"I had a flashback to when I was alive. I overheard her saying that she's been there for centuries, or so, doing rituals and she said that she wasn't giving this place up that easily," Vianca explained in a very shy voice. "She's there, it's the only place for her to go. Her and her so called lover."

"He is going to probably be near her or keeping an eye on Zip," Alister said as he looked at Lara. "We need to get him out of there." Lara nodded and they began to go back and forth trying to get things together. Vianca thought for a moment and nodded to herself.

"I'm coming with you on this one," Vianca said stepping forward. Alister and Lara stopped, looking at her.

"It's too dangerous this time, Vianca," Lara answered. "If she's there then she'll do everything in her power to get to you for herself. She'll use you for your life force." Alister didn't say anything, but it couldn't be shaken from his face that he agreed with Lara. Vianca sighed with an annoyed tone to her voice.

"I am going, and there is nothing you can say that will change my mind. I can help. I can see people who are around each corner and every trap that might be there," Vianca argued. "I also want to help end this. I put you all in danger when I first spoke and explained my situation. I brought this all upon you. I need to set this right, even if I don't ever get out of that accursed trinket that I am bound to. I need to fix this. Let me fix it." The two looked between each other and then back at Vianca. Before Lara could speak, Alister spoke up.

"If you're going then I am going to, I know I don't have much experience in the field as far as Lara goes, but I will not allow that witch to take this amulet from my neck as long as I wear it," Alister said as he walked over Vianca. "I'm not going to sit idly by and let you go off into danger again. I could've lost you once during that first encounter with the witch, but I won't allow that to happen this time." Alister placed a hand on her cheek and gave her the kindest smile. Vianca looked up at him surprised, but then smiled at him sweetly.

"If that is the case, then I won't allow a single harm to come within inches of you," Vianca said as placed a hand on his. "I will die a thousand more deaths but harm comes to you or your friends. If you will it, then that it will be. Besides, I am bound to obey you." Alister chuckled at the notion and then looked at Lara, who was sitting there smiling to herself.

"Oh, alright," Lara gave in. "You both can go, but try to stay quiet and be careful. Although, you have Vianca to protect you Alister, we still don't know if she can drain herself from using too much of her powers." Alister nodded and turned to Vianca, who smiled at him confidently.

"I won't allow anything to happen to any of you. Do not worry about me. Like I said, I want to set everything right, even if it means I will never feel what it's like to be free," Vianca said as she looked back at Lara. " I will risk everything for you all. You've already done so much for me. Now, it's my turn to do something for you." They all sighed, knowing they couldn't talk her out of what she was saying, and nodded. They all began to pack supplies and get ready for this new and possibly last adventure.