Needing Each Other The Most

Alice's POV

"This is the way out of this world. Once you stepped pass this barrier you won't see this part of the world unless you are able to cross as Fay or with a Fay." Devlin spoke to me as I looked at him confused.

"So once I pass here where will I be?" I questioned.

"Outside the barrier to this world in a forest not too far from the Dark Court." He instructed.

I nodded to him and took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the barrier. I felt myself passing through the barrier and suddenly I was now in a forest just like he said I'd be. I turned around and noticed nothing was behind me, but a forest. No giant court or anything.

"ALICE!" I heard someone shout.

I quickly turned around and was suddenly hugged be Mira who was crying soft tears as I stared at her in awe. Soon I saw Travis and Alex suddenly appear as well looking at me in shock! I saw Mira finally push me back a little to look at me in surprise as I stared at them in surprise as well.

"How did you escape Faery!? Are you on the run from the Queen!?" Mira exclaimed, but I shook my head.

"No it's nothing like that. We talked and well let's just say we made a sort of agreement for me living for the time being." I explained.

"I can't believe you're still alive!" Alex exclaimed as everyone stared at him frowning toward him as he puts his hands up in defense.

"What you were all thinking the same thing!" He exclaimed.

"He's right, I'm surprised myself. She wanted to kill me at first, but well . . ." I spoke.

Soon as we stood there I started to explain to them everything that had happened to me in Faery. From the knife game we played, to talking about the upcoming war, and to me gaining her trust. At first they were all quiet shocked, but then sort of understood.

"Either way she would have no choice, but to take the deal if it meant her living." Travis explained.

"Still now she'll be caught up in this war that we aren't apart of remember?" Alex replied.

"Alex," Mira spoke, but I stopped her.

"He's right, I'm not going to involve any of you in my battles. You became Solitary for a reason and there for this war has nothing to do with you guys. I'll handle things myself since I sort of can get help from Summer and Dark Court as they are a part of this war as well and are allied with the High Court. Plus there's Shun." I said and suddenly realization hit me.

I looked around and saw that he was nowhere to be seen. Panic rose in me and I had no idea where he was! I looked to them as they now realized I had noticed Shun was nowhere to be found.

"Where's Shun?" I questioned them, but no answer as they exchanged looks until Travis spoke.

"At Dark Court with Fang." He replied, but something as he said that didn't seem right.

"Why?" I questioned as I tried to sound calm even when I wasn't.

"Alice, we've tried to reason with Fang, but-." Mari spoke, but I cut her off.

"Why is Shun there and not with you guys!?" I exclaimed.

"It's because Fang is using his emotions to feed his court to stay strong." Alex replied as my eyes widen.

"What!?" I questioned.

"We've tried to convince Fang each day to let Shun go, but he keeps saying he will do no such thing until he was sure you were either dead or alive." Alex explained, but then my heart dropped as I heard the word day.

"What do you mean by each day?" I questioned and suddenly they exchanged looks again.

"Alice, you've been gone for three days." Mira explained.

"What!? That can't be it was only a day since I left!" I exclaimed.

"In Faery one day is like three days depending how long you stay." Travis stated.

"So I've been gone for three days!? Oh my god, I have to get to Shun now! He must think I'm dead!" I exclaimed.

"Calm down Alice panicking won't help. You need to stay calm; Shun's a tough guy I'm sure he's holding up alright." Alex explained.

"In either case I have to get to him. I don't care what it takes, but I'm getting him back." I responded.

I started to walk past them and remember what Devlin had told me. The barrier entrance isn't too far from the Dark Court which means I'm bound to find it even if it is dark out. Suddenly I felt a pair of strong arms lift me. My eyes widen and a small blush crept on my face as I looked up to Travis who held me in his arms.

"I made a promise to you that I would protect you. I shall keep my promise." Travis smiled to me.

"We're in this together," Mira replied as Alex nodded to me.

I looked to all of them and I felt myself getting emotional as I smiled and nodded to them. Without a second to lose they dashed off with me still in Travis's arms as he ran. I looked around and saw how dark it really was and how hard it was to see. Lucky we didn't run into any trees though as soon we found ourselves face to face with the Dark Court doors. This place looked exactly like it did when I first arrived.

"Should we knock?" Alex joked.

Without even thinking as soon as Travis let me down, I barged in much to everyone's surprise. Soon I watched as all eyes of Fay laid eyes on me as I came in looking everywhere for Fang or Shun. Soon Travis, Mira, and Alex came in and I could hear Alex laughing a little in the background.

"So we took the direct approach I guess." Alex spoke.

Soon I noticed Raye coming down stairs and staring at me in surprise. As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs however, I saw Fay now surrounding us as I felt Travis and Alex pull me back a little as they protected me.

"Well if this isn't a surprise!" I heard Fang exclaim from the stairs.

Soon though he made it to the ground floor in lightning speed and waved his men to back off a little as he came toward us with a grin. I wasn't exactly happy with Fang right now as he was keeping Shun away from me. Soon though he came up toward me and took my hand and kissed the top of it, but I pulled away quickly as he laughed.

"I take it you're not very pleased with me. I can taste your anger toward me right now." He spoke.

"Good, now where is Shun!?" I demanded as he laughed and put his hands in defense.

"I'll take you to him no need to be upset. Just follow me," He grinned as he started to walk.

Without thinking twice I followed him along with Travis, Mira, and Alex following behind. I noticed he was taking us to a part of the house I've never been before. There were a lot of rooms we passed and the more we passed them the more noises I could hear that were very unsettling. As he led us on, soon he stopped at a door and turned to us.

"Alice is the only one who can go from this point on." Fang explained.

"Fang, we're not leaving her with-." Travis spoke, but then I touched his arm and he stopped as he looked into my eyes.

"It's ok, I'll be fine." I replied with a warm smile.

He was going to argue, but remained silent and slowly nodded to me. I turned back to Fang who opened the door for me. In there I could hear moaning and groaning which made me a little scared, but Shun was in there and I needed to find him. I slowly walked into the room with Fang behind me as he closed the door and locked it. The rooms weren't very bright, but dim rather as I looked everywhere for Shun. However, every time I turned my head I would see cages with fay who looked miserable and dead. A shiver went down my spine as I saw a lot of Fay with scars on them.

"There are a lot of secrets I keep about the Dark Court and I would hope you wouldn't let a word out about what I do like they did. You might end up like them, if you catch my drift." He grinned to me as I tried to stay strong and brave.

Suddenly up a head, I could see a figure leaning against the bars of a cage on the ground. His hair was dark and I couldn't see his eyes. He looked so pale and ghost like as we got closer. Soon though I gasped and immediately ran to the cage as I knew it was Shun. I got on my knees as I placed my hand on the bars and screamed his name.

"Shun!" I screamed, but he just groaned and ignored me.

"Shun!" I cried as I reached for his hand, but then he pulled away and moved to the other side of the cage and spoke.

"Get . . . away . . ." He moaned.

"What have you done to him!?" I exclaimed as I turned to Fang who grinned.

"The past three days I lied and told him that you had died." He replied as I stared at him shocked and furious.

"What!?" I shouted and stood up.

"It was all for the sake of my court. My people need those types of emotions to feed off of. Hate, anger, frustration, desire, remorse, depression, and etc. Shun was able to provide all that believing that you had died after I lied to him." He spoke like it was nothing.

"Why doesn't he recognize that it's me then when I'm right here!?" I shouted.

"He's weak . . . He doesn't believe anything is real, he has given up. He refuses to feed off any emotion or touch and has completely shut down. He's trying to starve himself." Fang replied with a hint of sadness.

"Unlock the cage," I spoke and Fang did so and I entered the cage and got on my knees.

I looked to Shun and saw how awful he looked after what Fang had put him through. I was beyond upset and furious with Fang, but that would have to wait until I get Shun out of here.

"Shun," I spoke softly, but he didn't answer.

"Shun, please look at me." I replied as he still didn't move or say anything as he sat there motionless.

I felt my eyes water as I could not get him to move at all. I slowly looked at his hand and slowly reached for it in mine. As soon as I touched it though he began to push me away as I held on tight to it.

"Let me go!" He shouted, but I refused and held tighter.

"I SAID LET GO OF ME! JUST LET ME DIE!" He shouted angry.

"NO! I WON'T LET YOU DIE! SHUN PLEASE LOOK AT ME AND STOP!" I cried as tears fell from my face.

Suddenly one of my tears landed on his hand and he immediately stopped resisting. His head slowly turned to me. As soon as our eyes met, I noticed how his hazel eyes didn't glow as bright as they did once before. He looked at me with such sad and dead eyes as if he had lost all hope. I felt him tighten my hand a little as I placed my free hand on his cheek as he gazed at me as tears fell from my eyes.

"Shun," I cried as I tighten my hand in his as he stared at me awe struck.

"Alice . . ." He replied weary.

I gave a small laugh and then all of a sudden hugged him tightly not wanting to let go. I cried on his shoulder finally letting all my emotions flow after everything that has happen to me. I felt his hands slowly reach for me back and suddenly he hugged me back tightly as I cried. I never realized how much I had missed Shun and how much he was suffering without me. I never want him to be in this state again. As he hugged me tightly I felt him whisper my name over and over as I cried softly into his shoulder.

"Is it really you Alice?" Shun spoke still weary as I nodded to pulled back to look at him as he cupped my face in his hands.

"Yes Shun, it's me. Did I keep you waiting too long?" I joked as I tried to hide the pain and sadness in my voice.

"I thought . . . you died." He replied, but I shook my head and glanced toward Fang as he stood there watching us.

"No I'm not and I'll explain more later, but for now we need to get you out of here ok." I said getting up and then helping him up.

He was a little heavy, but I wasn't going to let him fall and be stuck in that cage again. As I guided Shun back to the others, I saw Fang helping me carry Shun back. I didn't understand Fang's motives to why do all this. Was it really all for the sake of his court even if it meant hurting a friend or ally? As soon as we reached back to the others they saw Shun and all came up to him and helped him stand steady as he was too weak to stand on his own. Now that I knew Shun was in good hands, I turned to Fang and spoke.

"I'd like to talk to you Fang." I said sternly as he grinned to me.

Soon he motioned me to follow him as he walked away. I turned to my friends and told them that I'd met them back at the house later. First I needed to confront Fang about some things. I realized he was leading me to his room again and as we stepped into his room we sat by the little living room areas where there were chairs and couches. As we sat down, I noticed him avoiding my gaze and thinking of something as his expression would sometimes look too serious. Soon he turned to me and smiled and leaned back on the couch and spoke.

"So what is it that you want to talk about Alice?" He questioned as I frowned to him.

Soon I started to tell him everything that has happened to me in Faery after he left be for dead there. He would occasionally nod to me and was listening to every word I had said. After I had finished he grinned to me and spoke.

"I knew you'd be an interesting girl. Getting the High Queen's trust now that is impressive for a Sighted One. Now we'll actually have a chance against this upcoming war." He replied, but then I frowned to him.

"Although I'm flattered by your last comment, I still am upset with you Fang. How could you do this to Shun and I!? Especially to Shun who trusted you! You made him suffer and he may never forgive you now!" I exclaimed.

"I'm aware of what my actions may lead me to, but it was all for my court Alice. I swore protection toward you if it was in my power, but in this case it wasn't. The High Queen requested of me to find you and so I did and I delivered you to her. In any case if I didn't bring you to her, she would have sent her advisor Devlin to fetch you and she probably would have just sent him to kill you to be honest. I was doing you two a favor." He replied, but I looked at him in disbelief.

"Ok maybe I can understand why you sent me to the High Queen, but locking Shun up in a cage and telling him I was dead! Now that was just wrong, could you imagine the pain and suffering he went through!?"

"I could and I went through with it anyways. My people need emotions like that to feed off of Alice. It was for the sake of my court. I told you before that I will put my needs before anyone else's including Shun's."

I suddenly stood up from the chair furious at Fang and was going to storm out as I reached for the door, but then I stopped and turned back to him.

"As much as I don't like you for what you've done to Shun, you're still not as dark as you think you are." I spoke and suddenly he stood in front of me with his hand to the door as he stared down at me with serious eyes.

"Why do you say that my dear?" He questioned.

"I saw you asking to see if Raye was alright that night and I heard from the High Queen that you told her to let me live. You may be the Dark King, but you're not as bad as you say you are. However, after what you did to Shun I finally see how dark you can really be to a person who actually trusted you when so many fear you. If anything I feel sorry for you now as you may have lost your only friend." I replied as he stared at me a little surprised by my statement.

Without anything left to say I opened the door and started to walk away. I can't forgive Fang for what he's done to Shun. I may never forgive him for that as I finally for the first time met the actual Dark King himself.

Shun's POV

"You lied to me!" I shouted.

"I didn't lie Shun I meant what I said when I told you I loved you!" She exclaimed, but I didn't listen.

I felt her touch my arm, but I quickly pulled away. She'd use her influence on me again to forgive her after what she did. I couldn't even look her in the eyes as I felt so betrayed by her. I heard her soft cries, but I stood my ground.

"After everything I did for you . . . I became one of them for you and now I come to find out your little secret that you were hiding from me!" I shouted.

"Shun it's not like that!" She cried, but I continued.

"I trusted you and you betrayed me! The moment you touched me right after I became Fay, I felt it! You were using your influence on me the whole time! My feelings for you weren't even my own, you made me believe they were!" I exclaimed.

"Shun please I love you, I never wanted any of this to happen." She explained, but I shook my head and backed away from her.

"I loved you so much . . . Now I see though that my love for you was never real. You were just manipulating me to making me feel that way."

"Shun I-!" She spoke, but I cut her off.

"It's over Fabia . . . We're done. I never should have trusted you." I spoke trying to hide the pain in my voice as I said those words.

I started to walk away from her and I could hear her crying in the background as I left her behind. My heart ached so much that day. Even though this was a dream, I could still feel the pain in my heart as I dreamed of this horrible memory. Everything I thought I knew was just a big fat lie. I gave up everything to be with her: my family, friends, and mortality all for her. How will I move on from all of this? Will I ever be able to fall truly in love with someone like I thought I did with Fabia?

"Shun!" Someone shouted, but I saw no one in site.

"Shun!" They called again and I started to recognize the voice.

"Shun please wake up!" She shouted louder.

I knew that voice . . . I heard it so many times before, but who was it. She continued to scream and cry for my name over and over as I felt my heart ache each second as she did. Why can't I remember that sweet voice?

"Please Shun wake up, I can't lose you. I need you . . ." She cried and suddenly my eyes widen.

How could I have forgotten the most important person to me? The person I swore to protect no matter what and now I've got her crying because of me. My dearest friend who I could always count on and trust about anything. The girl I truly loved after all this time . . . As I heard her soft cries I started to awaken slowly from my slumber. I had just enough strength to say her name before I awoke.

"Alice," I spoke.

Alice's POV

"Alice," He spoke and my eyes widen.

I felt his hand move in my hand a little as I looked to him. I sighed in relief to see him waking up. As soon as our eyes met, I noticed his eyes glowing a little more than before and a single tear fell from my eye as I was glad to see him ok again. I felt him tighten his grip on my hand and slowly sit up.

"Whoa take it easy Shun, you're in no state to-." I spoke, but suddenly I felt him grab my arm and pull me into a hug.

I felt his arms wrap around me tightly as I felt him burry his face on my shoulder. I was so surprised and shocked by his action, but I didn't pull away. Soon he began to speak.

"I thought you were dead." He said sadly making my heart ache as I hugged him back and shook my head.

"I know and I'm so sorry you had to go through that Shun. I wanted to see you so badly, but I just couldn't leave as soon as I thought I could." I explained as he pulled back a little and placed his hand on my cheek and wiped the tears away.

"How did you manage to escape alive from the High Queen!?" He questioned and I sighed.

"It's a long story and one I'm not sure you'll like to be honest." I replied and he looked at me worried.

Soon I began to tell him everything that happened to me from start to finish. I watched his expression change so quickly as I told him that now I was a part of this upcoming war. I would feel his hands tighten in mine as I told him. He looked at me with such sad and concern eyes. As I finished telling him everything I saw him look angry not at me but with someone else. I saw him looking frustrated as he swore under his breath and place his hand on his forehead avoiding my gaze as he looked down at the bed.

"I was supposed to protect you from this. This wasn't supposed to happen! If that freaking Dark King hadn't of stopped me, I could have-!" He exclaimed, but I stopped him and spoke.

"Done nothing Shun . . . Nothing would have changed even if you were there. She was bound to find out about me. It was my decision to go through with her deal. She would have killed me if I didn't take it. Shun it's ok, I'll get through this besides we kind of already have an army with all the courts uniting together." I explained.

"It still might now be enough to protect you. The Queen has asked for your help in the war, but when she means is that she wants you to kill her sister. Her sister is a Sighted One Alice and the only reason the Queen let you live is she believes you can kill her sister since you are a Sighted One too." Shun explained and fear rose in me.

I have to kill her sister? I felt myself start to feel sick with the thought of killing someone. I felt my eyes widen and myself shaking a little in fear. I can't believe this is happening to me. This isn't what I wanted at all. Suddenly I felt Shun's hands on my arms as I looked to him and saw his hazel eyes. I gaze into his eyes and felt myself calming down a little as he spoke.

"I won't let you carry this burden Alice. If and when the time comes, I'll be standing right beside you in this war." He spoke, but I shook my head.

"But you're Solitary Shun. You're not part of this war, or at least you don't have to be." I replied, but he shook his head.

"Alice, I'm not going to leave you by yourself and go off to get yourself killed. No, I will protect you . . . I can't lose you Alice . . . You're really the only thing I have left that I sill care about. In fact me being locked up in that dark cage made me realize how much I missed and needed you to survive. I can't live without you Alice and I think . . . I may be in love with you." He confessed and my heart skipped a beat as he said that.

My heart started to race and my pulse began to rise. Shun loved me? Maybe? I stared at him completely shocked and a little taken back. However, I couldn't help but also smile a little as he said that to me. I've always liked Shun and just hearing him say that he may be in love with me somehow just makes me feel happy and relieved to hear those words from him. I looked to him with a grin on my face and spoke.

"Maybe in love with me?" I grinned as he gave a grin and small laugh as he leaned closer to my face and spoke in my hear making me blush.

"May be I'm already sure and I just don't want to frighten you." He said as I grinned even more and pulled back to stare at him as he continued to speak.

"I know we said we'd take things slow and that's fine. We still can," He continued, but then I smiled to him and spoke.

"What's there to be afraid of? The worse I could do is not feel the same way, but that possibility is very unlikely." I replied grinning as he grinned to me and then placed his fingers under my chin so our lips were only an inch apart.

"Fine, then I love you." He said confidently as he crashed him lips to mine.

As we kissed, I felt his arms wrap around my waist pulling me closer to him as I felt myself wrapping my arms around Shun's neck. As our kissed deepened with each passing second, I felt strong arms suddenly lift me to my surprise, but I didn't pull away. Soon I felt myself on something soft as Shun and I still kissed and that told me we were on the bed now. Suddenly though something strange changed within me. My heart started to race out of control and I felt myself becoming nervous all of the sudden. I felt Shun's hand run down my back making my spine chill a little. Suddenly though I felt his hand slip under my shirt a little causing me to break the kiss and gasp in shock as I stumbled off the bed in surprise. I felt myself breathing heavy now not only because of how long we kissed, but because I was embarrassed and shocked by the way I pulled away.

"Alice?" Shun spoke sounding worried.

Once our eyes met, I saw the hurt in his eyes as he stared at me. He looked worried and concerned as well as I felt like an idiot ruining the moment. I slowly got back up and felt so ashamed for pushing him away. He probably thinks I hate him or something now.

"I'm sorry!" We both say much to my surprise.

"Why are you sorry?" We both said again, but then Shun spoke first.

"I'm the one who should apologize Alice. I let my hunger get the best of me." He spoke as I looked at him confused.

"Hunger? You're skin hunger?" I replied and he nodded slowly now staring down at the bed.

"It's not only my skin hunger, but also my emotion hunger. I didn't think I would lose control like that. I've never shut done my emotion and skin hunger for three days straight before. I just kind of lost control for a moment and did something that upset you and made you feel uncomfortable. I didn't mean to go that far." He explained, but I could still see the hurt in his eyes.

"Still I shouldn't have freaked out so much, I just . . . I just was surprised I guess, but it didn't mean that I wanted to . . . stop." I said sheepishly as I blushed and I heard him give a small laugh.

Suddenly he was right in front of me with his arms now around me holding me tight as I hugged him back and leaned my head on his shoulders and my hands on his chest. He pulled back a little and smiled.

"We'll take things slow then ok? We don't want to make a decision that will regret so let's just wait ok? There's no rush I promise." He grinned to me and I smiled back to him and nodded.

"Ok," I replied as he grinned.

Our lips slowly met again as I slowly melted in our kiss. It was warm, sincere, sweet, and everything I expected it to be. As we kissed I spoke in between our kisses.

""I love you," I said confidently.

He pulled back a little to stare at me in awe as I smiled. Soon he began to grin as I finally said it back to him. He crashed my lips to his once more making me laugh in between our kisses, but it didn't matter. Shun and I finally admitted our true feelings toward each other. I think what we both want- needed was for us just to be together. In each other's arms just like this as we kissed passionately. It made us feel safe, happy, and also distracted. We need each other more than ever now as war is coming. I'm not sure if I'll be ready, but with Shun maybe I can be with his help or just him by my side.