So in light of tonight's events where we find out who will lead the United States, I decided to upload a new chapter.

I really get such an insane amount of anxiety from this election. But enough about politics let's enjoy a new chapter.

Also a huge thank you to: inkodoodles from Tumblr who let me use their picture as a cover image for this story! They really are an amazing artist and you should go and check them out!

Mathias walked just across the dusty area to reach an older looking man. He was tall but slightly hunched over, leaning against a cane. His skin was dark and looked mostly like leather from years of hard work. The rest of his body now a mere reflection of what his former body used to be. His right leg was clearly crippled and he was talking to another older man whose hair was pushed back and wearing fine clothes just like himself. But this man was only slightly shorter than him, with a robust figure. "What do you expect me to do?" the man said smoking a cigar and blowing out some smoke.

"Lord Bisok this is your mine! You have to do something!" The old man pleaded

"I don't have to do anything," Bisok said glancing over at the feeble mayor. "Remember mayor, the only reason you are who you are is because I allow it. Don't forget that."

The elderly man trembled a bit, "Then please, save our men. They all have families. You are of noble rank, you can use magic can you not?"

"Of course I can," Bisok smirked as he tapped his cigar making the ashes fall to the dirt, "But doesn't mean I'll waste my power on them." Bisok only smiled to himself before glancing at the mayor once more. "When - and if - they get these men out. Tell them they are all fired."

The mayor watched in horror as Bisok walked off and dropped his unfinished cigar in the dirt casually stepping over it and then headed out of the disaster sight.

"Ah, excuse me," Mathias interrupted and the mayor looked over at him. He didn't recognize the well dressed man.

"May I help you?" the mayor asked, only pausing to cough with all the dust in the air.

Mathias nodded, "Yes, I assume you're the mayor?" he asked and the other man nodded. "Good, because I have a proposal for you."

Miles outside of town in the black forests, where any sane man would not dare enter without magic, was a large mansion. It looked as if it could be more of a palace than anything else, but it laid quietly with large iron gates surrounding it. The majority of the black plants leaning over the iron bars only gave the home a more eerie look.

Inside the large house that was shrouded and safely guarded by forest was a man who stared out the window. His shoulders were broad and his gaze seemed cold as he stared outside at the beauty of the black forest. His blond hair just reaching the top of his eyes and barely brushing the top of his glasses. He sighed out and turned away from the window, he wondered where Mathias could be. He had sent him out not to long ago, he should have been back by now. He walked out of his room, that began to feel cramped, and walked around the large house.

The house itself was mostly darkened and hardly anything was lit up. Most of it seemed as if it was just left to rot in the darkness. Even though paintings of a former glorious past resided on the walls there was little emotions left of the time. The blond man, Berwald, walked through the halls aimlessly. His fingers brushing against the walls that he had come to know. His solitary confinement that he subjugated himself to was only reasonable.

He was, after all, nothing but a monster.

He paused as he heard the front door open and he walked to the beginning of the staircase looking down. " I've arrived!" Mathias called as he closed the door.

Berwald sighed, "Good, what took you so long? Did you get what I asked for?"

"I'm afraid not, you see the shopkeeper wasn't there. The mine in the town collapsed and everyone is trying their hardest to dig out any survivors." Mathias took off the gloves he wore setting them on a table beside him. "However, I may have gotten you a deal," he smiled.

"What did you get me into Mathias?" Berwald sighed and his hands rested on the railing.

"You see, the Lord in the town who owns the mine doesn't want to do anything about it. So I proposed you help, in exchange you get to choose a wife." Mathias seemed far to pleased with himself as he walked up the steps toward Berwald. He stared at him who had his head down looking at the railing, "It's a good idea is it not?"

Berwald remained silent and then sighed out. "They don't agree with dark magic-"

"As if they care right now," Mathias interrupted. "They simply want to see their men safe, and I'm sure if you help them they won't care."

Once again Berwald was rendered silent and he stared down contemplating it all, before he gripped the railing a little tighter. "What have you heard?" he asked

"What do you mean?" Mathias asked leaning against the railing as well with a small cheeky smile.

"You had to have another reason for this, something other than what you're telling me."

Mathias sighed and raised his hands up in defense, "I can't seem to get away with anything can I?"

"Spit it out."

"Well on my way to the mine I noticed a small cottage not too far from it, it was littered with moon roses," he hummed watching Berwald for a reaction.

He did receive one as Berwald glanced up at him quickly. "Isn't there only one Lord there?" he asked.

"Yes, but I don't think he realizes what the moon roses are." Mathias took another step toward him, "His son however is planning to marry the same person who takes cares of the garden. I think he may have some knowledge as to what they are capable of. Especially about the person who grows them."

Berwald didn't say anything for a few moments before he fell silent and stared at the large opening in front of him. "Fine, but I don't want anyone around when I use my magic."

"Of course, shall I inform the mayor of your assistance?" Berwald nodded turning away from Mathias and Mathias smiled to himself. Once again he left the large house and Berwald was alone.

If one person really had so many moon roses then could it be possible to break the curse? He's had it for so long he wasn't sure if it was even going to be breakable at this point. Even if the person did agree to marry him, he wouldn't stay for long. He had a horrible temper, he was very possessive, and above all - he was simply a monster. He clenched his jaw, what woman in the right mind would want to be with him? He clenched his jaw just thinking about it. Before he realized, his fist had gone through the wall. Again. He silently cursed himself and pulled his hand out. He was already stressing about it and nothing was for sure yet.

Tino was pulled away forced by Lukas to take a break. They had barely made a dent in the sand that seemed to just collapse in more and more. "You're going to kill yourself," Lukas mumbled making Tino drink some water.

Tino pushed it away slightly after just a few sips. "If we keep sitting around like this then they'll be dead for sure," he murmured. Lukas stayed silent and glanced back at the mayor.

"Last I heard Lord Bisok didn't want to waste his power or breath on this," Lukas sighed. Tino scoffed, how typical. He knew that Lord Bisok would never hurt himself. All he cared about was himself and money. He wiped his forehead with his dust forearm as he looked up in the sky. The sun was going down in a matter of hours and then they would have to work my lamp light, which is even more dangerous.

"We can't stop now," Tino said pushing himself up, but as soon as he did he felt his knees lock up underneath him. Lukas caught him by his arm and scowled at him.

"If you push yourself too much then there is no way you can help. You'll just be a burden to everyone here," Lukas forced him to sit back again just as the Mayor walked toward the large crowd of people followed by Mathias.

"Everyone! Everyone, please stop!" the mayor called out as people paused and he waved them over to gather around him. He coughed once again wiping the dust from his face as he looked around the crowd of people before him. "I know everyone here wants to help, but I think we may have found our answer!" He swallowed a big glancing over at Mathias who only nodded for him to go on. "A Duke not to far from here has offered his help to rescue our men!"

Tino turned quickly toward Lukas and gripped his hand. "D-did you hear that?!" Tino said excitedly. "A Duke!" he repeated and turned toward the mayor pushing himself up once again, this time able to stand. He knew a Duke had much more power than any Lord. But as people began to throw questions and create an uproar the mayor raised his hand for the crowd to hush again.

"There...is something he wants in return," the mayor began.

"Anything! We'll give him anything!"

"Please just help us!"

"Please!"

Mathias raised his hand over the crowd and they turned to the well-dressed man as he stepped up beside the mayor. "My master has agreed to help, in return, however, he will get to choose a bride from this town."

Now the crowd had become eerily quiet and there were low whispers. "A wife?" "Why would he just marry anyone?" "Who is this Duke?"Mathias could hear every question they had but he stayed quiet.

"F-Fine!" Tino suddenly said stumbling forward. "He can choose! But please just help us!" he begged looking at the much taller blond. His eyes becoming watery, he knew the rest of the towns people were thinking about it, pondering it, but there was no time for that. Each moment they wasted just thinking was a life lost. "Please!" Tino said feeling the water stream down his cheeks,

Mathias raised an eyebrow at Tino who was joined by Lukas who helped keep Tino up. "I agree, please, help us. We'll do anything for this Duke."

"I don't think the two of you can choose for the whole town-"

"We agree!"

"Yes, we do!"

"Go and get him! Please hurry!"

Mathias watched as the crowd seemed to get behind Tino and he looked at Mathias with wide lavender eyes. Mathias blinked a bit looking at the eyes and hummed a bit before nodding. "Alright, I'll go and retrieve my master, but when he is performing his magic this area must be clear. Understood?"

There were rapid nods as the crowd disbanded quickly. When Lukas turned back, Mathias was already gone. He turned to Tino and smiled at him before hugging him. "Don't give up hope, okay?" he muttered. Tino only nodded hugging him tightly before they separated and left to go with the others.

Everyone else was in town, all gathered at the town hall. The mayor there talking to a few older people, Tino was in the back with Lukas, he clenched his jaw his foot pacing quickly. "I can't just stay here."

"You know the rules," Lukas said quickly gripping his arm. "Don't even think of sneaking out."

"Well what if he needs help?" Tino pulled his arm away and crossed them across his chest.

"There is no way you can help, you have your magic locked."

"Well I can still try," Tino quickly headed for the door of the town hall, but noticed that it was being guarded. The two women who stood there glanced over at him and raised their eyebrows. He smiled weakly and waved at them before turning around. He bit his lip and then headed for the back.

"Hey! Tino!" Lukas whispered loudly taking a hold of his arm again. "You're not doing this stupid thing on your own."

"What about your mom and Emil?" he asked looking back to where they just were. His aunt sitting in a chair with Emil on her lap sound asleep.

"They'll be fine," Lukas replied. "But you're crazy if you think I'm letting you go alone."

Tino stared at Lukas for a few moments before he nodded and they made their way out through the back door.

Berwald walked into the mine area, he glanced around. Evidence of the town people being there was evident but it appeared they all left.

"How many survivors you think there are?" Mathias asked looking at the terrible scene in front of him.

"Probably none," Berwald replied and looked at the dirt underneath him. "They should have known it was dangerous, the earth here is too soft to even begin mining."

"The Lord who owns the mines knew this," Mathias added, "But he chose not to do anything."

"Why?"

"The mayor explained the Lord cares for nobody but himself," Mathias continued. "Apparently he even knew the mine was going to collapse sooner or later. But he thought it would be better to get his money worths before it happened.

Berwald slipped his glasses off before handing them to Mathias and silently stared at the rubble before him. He had no words to describe a man like that, he was awful to the core. But who was he to talk? His soul was probably just as stained and ugly as his.

Mathias took at few steps back as a dark aura arose around Berwald. The aura was a dark purple and black and his skin turned from a pale white to an ashy gray color. Marks began to appear upon his body as his body morphed into something other than human. Berwald snarled a bit as his teeth grew long and sharp, turning into the beast that he truly was.

He had grown slightly taller and his blond hair had become a shade of ebony. He raised his hand as the first layer of rock was engulfed in the aura color. When he raised his and higher the rocks lifted into the air. With a flick of his wrist, the rubble was thrown to the side. Berwald did this with layer after layer, soon bodies appeared and Mathias took the liberty to remove them from the rubble setting them aside.

Taisto and Elo looked up as the ground began to shake. "Y-You think they're looking for us?" Elo whispered.

Taisto nodded and they sat up underneath the slab of rock. He could hear rocks and dirt being move away and they both looked at one another rejoicing.

They were going to be saved.

"Do you think it's Lord Bisok?" Elo asked quietly.

Taisto shrugged, "Whoever it is, we owe them our lives." They both nodded and smiled at one another, the oil lamp already dying, but they weren't.

Tino was running toward the mine with Lukas right behind him. They passed his small home and he felt his stomach drop. His dad had to be alive. There was no doubt about it. He knew his dad was. He could feel it.

When they were getting closer the clouds of dust were in the air. "What do you think they're doing?" Lukas asked nearly running out of breath.

"I don't know, but it looks like it's working!" Tino smiled as he pushed his legs faster toward it.

Once they arrived, however, it was something much different. Lukas took a hold of Tino's arm just as they stopped a few yards away from the mine. Lukas could see Mathias standing off to the side, but a beast was standing not to far away from him. A dark aura around him as rocks moved easily through the air. Bodies also piled up off to the side.

Tino watched, "H-Hey!" he heard someone familiar shout. He looked to see his father and uncle being levitated in the air.

"Oh, so there were survivors," Mathias said trying to get the two away from the rubble when it was set down. Before he could reach them, his path was crossed by two blond-haired boys.

Tino nearly tackled his father back into the ground. His arms around his neck and his face red, his eyes watery as he cried. "Dad! Dad, you're alive!"

Berwald glanced over and stiffened when he saw the other two. He growled lowly and turned to Mathias who looked equally as shocked. "Y-You're not supposed to be here!" he said quickly.

Neither of the two boys listened to them as they hugged their fathers, Tino had tears streaming down his face. He couldn't believe it, his father was alive. Taisto was bleeding a bit but other than that he seemed fine.

Lukas was trying to hold back the tears as well as Elo coughed roughly and hit his chest a bit. But nonetheless, he was happy to see his son and he wrapped his arms around him as well.

"You should leave," Mathias said quickly stepping toward him.

"But I can't," Tino said and turned toward the large beast and forcing a smile. "Y-you saved my father! Thank you! Thank you so much!" he wiped the tears from his eyes. He couldn't contain himself. So many emotions were welling up inside of him. Most of it was happiness for sure, but he had no idea how to express it other than crying. Taisto got up and smiled at the large beast as well, bowing to him and hugging his son.

Berwald watched for a few moments, he was captivated by those lavender eyes. The sheer beauty of them was enough to make him forget what he was at the moment. "Berwald," Mathias said catching his attention and pulling him out from the spell he was under. He glanced over at Mathias who pointed at Tino, "That's him. The one with the rose bush." Berwald glanced back at the young blond boy, and he looked back at the dirt.

Tino was beautiful, he was surprised he wasn't a female. But he also did have the moon rose bush, which would take away the cursed body he had. He nodded toward Mathias who blinked a few times before realizing what he meant.

"O-oh! Right!" he forced a smile looking at Taisto and Tino who looked over at him. "Well I think his work here is done, but he would like to collect his reward now," he muttered.

"His reward?" Elo asked looking at the man.

"The Duke is allowed to choose his wife from the village," Lukas murmured.

"Of course," Tino whispered wiping tears from his eyes. Tino noticed the large beast disappear and turn into a man with blond hair and very fine clothes around him. Mathias handed the man a pair of glasses that he put on and when he turned around he seemed to be glaring at them. He swallowed a bit now feeling nervous around the two superiors, "All the girls and women are back at the village…"

"Yes, well it seems my Master has already decided," Mathias grinned before taking Tino's hand. "You are to be his wife."

Tino blinked a few times, "...E-excuse me?"

Taisto frowned, "What?"

"You are his reward," Mathias repeated.

I hoped you all enjoyed that and thank you so much to everyone who has revewed and left such wonderful comments! 3 I know for the most part it was obvious where this was going, so sorry if you expected all of this!

But please leave a comment? Tell me what you think? Thanks!