Rain POV

I looked up at the castle where Tiana and the others were taken. My friend Winter and I escaped being captured by Evanora's foot soldiers by hiding in the trees.

Most of the journey to Barloveer I had scouted ahead on Flame, but when I found Tiana had taken a wrong turn I ran to Barloveer and grabbed Winter to help. The news that Eva had betrayed us was a complete shock to me, but then again I hardly knew her.

Winter came walking down the road from doing a recon inside. She was definitely troubled by something.

"What is it?" I asked as she joined me.

"Your friends are going to be put in the arena," she replied. I sighed before she continued, "Rain, they're going against an Evan."

Tiana POV

Evanora's thug grabbed my hair and dragged me in front of the throne before releasing me. My aunt snapped her fingers and Julian came out of a side passage with my knapsack. It was tossed in front of me and Evanora hissed, "Open it."

"Why don't you?" I asked.

She leaned back, "Whenever anybody tries using it, it becomes a regular knapsack. So open it."

I glanced at my bag, "What do you want from it?" Derek looked at me in shock.

"That's none of your business," Evanora said with a smile.

The room was silent as I continued to stare at my knapsack. "No," I stated. It was Evanora's turn to look at me in shock and Derek gave a sigh of relief. She stood and roughly grabbed my arm pulling me along with her. I was dragged to a balcony that overlooked a giant arena. The stands were filled with people who waited in excitement. Julian came behind me and held me firmly as Evanora once again asked me to open my knapsack. I shook my head bringing an ugly scowl to her pretty face. She snapped her fingers and Derek, Sam, and Trevor appeared in the arena.

"My people," Evanora began, "I give you the fight you've been waiting for. She snapped her fingers again and a figure appeared on the other side.

"Evan!" I screamed as I recognized him. He ignored me and pulled a sword out of a rack that materialized out of thin air. Then he charged at our friends. Sam barely pulled Trevor out of the way in time.

Julian's voice tickled my ear, "You can stop this, Tiana, just open your knapsack."

I shuddered as I was reminded of how close I was to him. "Fine," I whispered. Evanora apparently heard because she handed me my knapsack and Julian released me. "Idiots," I muttered as I ran and launched myself over the edge.

Evan POV

I watched as Tiana fell, but I couldn't do anything to help her. The boy with blonde hair saw her though. He grabbed a ring that appeared with a weapon rack, launched himself into the air and caught Tiana, landing lightly. Instead of trying to make sure she was ok I charged. My sword was held high and I was prepared to stab the white-haired girl. Then an explosion came from the side. I stopped my charge giving Tiana and the boy time to join Trevor and Sam.

Rain and the girl in purple stood in the hole. Fear clutched at my heart as I positioned myself to charge. A fireball came at me and I dodged. My dream came alive as it followed me and I charged at the girl in purple. I knew she would turn into mist, but that didn't change what happened.

My sword plunged into the mist illusion and I was hit in the back by freezing water that turned into ice when I hit the ground. Another fireball appeared in Rain's hand and I closed my eyes waiting for the inevitable end.

"Wait!" Tiana's familiar voice shouted.

No! Tiana you idiot! I shouted mentally. I opened one of my eyes from where I laid on my stomach in the dirt. She ran over to us with silver manacles on her wrists. Sam, Trevor, and the boy followed closely behind. My hand tightened on the sword and I began to struggle against my icy prison. The girl in purple added more ice to it making it impossible to break using brute force. I could hear the crowd booing Tiana, but she didn't care. Her hand touched my shoulder and I froze. She looked at Rain, "I'm not leaving without him."

Rain stared at her, I opened my mouth to protest, but couldn't form the words. She nodded at her friend and the ice lifted me up. Before she could get the ice underneath me I pulled myself loose. Everyone backed away from me, except Tiana.

"Evan, please," she whispered, "don't do this. You can fight her control over you." Tears filled my eyes as I plunged my sword into her chest

.Derek POV

I couldn't believe my eyes as the boy named Evan held that sword in her. The priest of Vanis was the first one to react. He ran forward and caught Tiana as she fell backwards. Her white shirt was quickly becoming red as her blood blossomed out. He lowered her to the ground while murmuring a prayer. The girl in purple froze Evan in place. Surprisingly, he released his sword and let tears run freely down his face. I knelt down by the priest and looked up at Evan. The small disc on his chest caught my eye and I understood.

"We can't stay here," I said. The priest nodded and scooped Tiana up in his arms. I looked at the girl in black, "Bring him."

She looked at me in shock, "What? After what he did to Tiana?" I nodded and she scowled at me, but her friend did as asked and we ran out the hole they created.

Theodora POV

Oz and I were shocked at what happened in that arena. Neither of us could believe Evan killed Tiana either. I tried to hold back my tears, but Oz did no such thing. He wept openly, his cries echoed around the throne room. Glenda, China Girl, Finley, and Knuck came in and none could find any words when they found out what happened.

"Follow them," Oz choked out. I nodded and turned back to the crystal. The picture formed slowly.

Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for all the reviews that kept me going, since I forgot to mention them earlier. So please review and thanks. :-D