Hey! (: Um, not really a lot to say..I've read your comments/reviews and I'm super sorry for the delayed chapters. But school is dying down and I have some more free time now, so updates should be more regular. And thank you ALL for sticking with me. You guys are pretty amazing! (: Okay, again, THANK YOU! Enjoy! :D

Chapter 7

We rode our horses just barely outside of the palace and tied them up to a tree. We put nuzzles over there mouths, keeping them quiet. First, we scouted the palace, circling it twice, looking for secret passageways or entrances. Of course, we found nothing. We ran into a couple of guards but Drew took care of that quickly, knocking them out. My mission was to find Clare. I finally found a fence, scaling up the side of castle. It led up to a room, with a balcony, the light inside flicked on. I could see shadows moving about and heard the slight ring of words being said. I pointed up the ladder type thing with vines growing in and out of it to Drew and he came over to me. He placed his hands on the fence-type thing and shook it a little, testing it's strength.

"It could work, but you would have to be super careful. It might be fine down here, but it could be a total different story up there" he told me. "I'm gonna stay down here, scour a little bit more. If I hear something or anything that makes it look like you need help I'll be up there in a flash" he said. I smiled, nodding at him and we separated.

I set my foot and tested the placement and began climbing up the scale. Heights have always been my weak point so I didn't look down, not once. Finally, I came to the top and peered over the ledge and through the balcony to find a bedroom. The bed was large, white with four post and a canopy, with a book opened and a pen laying across it. The sheets were a deep purple and the room had gold accents. I watched longer. A couple servants came in and out, setting food or drinks on a tray. After a while, no activity happened so I softly jumped over the balcony and made my way towards the bedroom.

I walked in, and smelled lilacs and lilies. A fresh bouquet was sitting on the desk, with some paper and a pen. The chair was half out, a rob draped over it. Pictures of—I'm guessing—Reese's ancestors were plastered on the walls. Just to the right of the bed was a large walk in closet, with clothes hanging, and folded neatly. Across from the bed was the desk with the paper, pen, a mirror and a jewelry box. I opened, praying it didn't make noise, and sighed in relief when it didn't. The jewelry box consisted of 8 necklaces, 2 rings, and some fancy hair clips. I picked up a ring—silver with gold cursive writing—that said, "Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger". I gasped, and dropped the ring back into the box. It landed with a soft thud and I closed the box.

I knew that ring. I know that ring from anywhere. Then why can't I remember where I know it from? How could I forget? I mentally groaned at myself, and continued to look around the desk. I picked up a piece of paper, with neat, familiar handwriting. It read, "The brave may not live forever, but the cautious don't live at all".

"The brave may not...Oh my god..."I whispered. I knew it. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it.

Clare.

I heard footsteps padding across the soft carpet and panicked. I quickly ran into the closet and shut it, letting just a bit show so I could see through it. A girl walked in, with wavy black hair, and sat on the bed. She pulled out a diary and opened to the page she left off on.

I smiled and my heart soared as the girl I grew to love wrote down her thoughts in the book.

"Clare"I whispered, her name falling effortlessly from my lips. Her head snapped up, and I hid. It was silent for a while and then I peered over back and saw her writing again. I sighed in relief and began looking around the closet, noticing Clare's dresses and her sweaters. I ran my fingers along them, then froze, hearing footsteps again. I peered through the crack of the closet door and saw Reese in my view of Clare.

"Hello" he said his voice smooth. My vision blurred as my body temperature rose in anger. I placed my hand on the dagger strapped to my belt. I closed my eyes and counted ten, slowly released my hand from the daggers grip.

"What else, could you possibly what?" Clare growled. I smirked.

"Why are you so snappy with me?" he growled back. Clare scoffed.

"You took me away from everything I love" she spat. He grunted dismissively and began walking out.

"I'll be back at 10. For some...quality time" he said, his voice seductive and walked away.

Clare winced, bowed her head down and began crying.

I couldn't breath. I couldn't move. I was so angry, so mad. I could kill him. I will kill him. He's not touching her. He'll touch her over my dead body. I'm taking her home. Now.

I stepped out of the closet and closed her front door. It creaked and Clare's head snapped up. I turned around and my eyes clashed with blue orbs, I've grown to love.

She stared me longer. She cocked her head to side, and her face washed with confusion. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and I smirked. Her eyes widened and I walked towards her. She stood up and met me halfway. We stopped in front of each other and she continued to stare at me. I smirked again.

"I know I'm the best looking guy in the Kingdom, but you don't have to stare" I told her, my voice smooth. She gasped and stumbled back a step.

"Your not real" she whispered.

I chuckled. "Well, last time I checked I was" I smirked again. And she let out a breath and a smile formed across her face. "Clare, it's me. I'm here. I'm here to take you back and to make sure you never leave my side again" I whispered. She smiled widely and ran to me. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and my arms immediately connected around her waist, picking her up from the ground. I inhaled her vanilla scent, almost dying as I realized just how much I missed her scent. How much I missed her scent.

I set her down and held on to her. She pulled away and smiled at me. Then, she hit me.

"Ow!" I groaned quietly. She hit me again, and again, and once more. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"What the hell are you doing her you idiot?" she shouted at me. "You could've gotten killed! You still can!" I rolled my eyes, scoffing.

"Edwards, I don't die. You should know this already" I told her, my smirk widening. She rolled her eyes and groaned. I laughed lightly and wrapped my arms around her. I pressed my lips to her neck and she smiled, cranking her neck the other way. I trailed my lips up to her ear and sucked lightly on the tops of them.

"I'm so sorry" I whispered in her ear. She smiled and chuckled softly.

"You traveled all the way here to come get me" she said, her eyes shifting up to mine. "Your forgiven" I smiled and she lifted her head up, pressing her lips to mine. I kissed her back, my hands gripping her waist tightly, pulling her into me. We kissed for a while, when someone knocked on the door. She pulled away quickly and shoved me back in the closet. She ran back to the bed and sat down, grabbing her journal and pen. The door creaked open and Clare shot up, setting the book down.

"What?" she asked, her voice soft. Reese chuckled.

"See, I knew you'd change your mind about me" he said softly. Clare pulled her lips into a tight smile. Reese walked up to her and placed her hands around her waist. I growled quietly and Clare cringed away from him. Reese chuckled and pressed his lips to Clare's neck.

"You said you would be back at t-ten" Clare stuttered, shrinking away from him.

"I lied. I do that a lot" he whispered. Clare looked at me, pleading. I shook my head, and has much as I hated it, I motioned for her to play along with it. I saw Drew's head poke through the baclony and I waved him towards Clare. Clare saw this and turned her head to Drew, and Drew motioned for a distraction. Clare nodded slightly and pulled away from Reese. She winked at him, and planted her lips on his. I nearly gagged and slowly stepped out of the closet. Drew jumped over the balcony and met me behind Reese's back.

"Get Clare outta here, I'll handle Reese and meet you back outside" I told him.

"What are you gonna do man?" Drew asked me.

"I have to kill him. For Clare and for me. He took the one thing that mattered to me. He's certainly not going to live" Drew nodded and I pulled my dagger out. Clare and Reese parted with a loud smack and I glared at him. He then turned around and punched me in the stomach, making me fall to the ground. I grunted and slammed into the desk. Drew punched across the face and grabbed Clare. Reese paid no attention to Drew and charged me.

"You stupid, stupid boy" he muttered and pounded me in the face. He hit me repeatedly and I felt the blood ooze out of my lip. I saw Drew trying to get Clare to go over the balcony but she wouldn't. I lifted my knee up and hit Reese in his stomach, hard. He doubled over in pain and I stood up, wiping blood from my mouth. I smirked evilly and kicked him.

"Get her out of here!" I growled at Drew.

"Eli, please!" Clare yelled. I ignored her and threw punches at Reese's head. I couldn't control it. No matter how many times Clare yelled at me to stop, I couldn't. I couldn't stop my hands. They were controlled by rage. I repeatedly bashed my fist into his head. My vision was clouded with rage and suddenly a burning pain stung my stomach. I stopped punching him, and gripped my stomach. I pulled my hand away and blood covered it. I stared at Reese, and then at my bloody dagger in his hand. I looked at the blood seeping out of my stomach and back at him. He smirked at me, and suddenly the room was spinning. Reese stood up, smirked and left the room. I fell over, gasping as the pain shot through me as I hit the ground.

"ELI!" Clare screamed and raced over to me. She pushed my hair away from my face and and tears ran down her face. She grabbed the silk blanket and wrapped it around me. I groaned as she pressed pressure to the wound.

"I'm sorry" she whispered, as more tears poured down her face. I stared up at her and smiled.

"Don't worry about me, honey. Remember, I don't die" I gasped out, and chuckled softly.

She smiled sadly and let a breathy laugh escape her lips.

"Your an idiot" she whispered. I slowly started to lose sight of the world around me and started to slip into darkness. Clare realized this and her eyes widened, slightly and she gripped me harder.

"No, Eli. No, please! Eli, you have to stay with me! You have to!" she started to shout at me. "I love you! You can't leave me! Please, Eli! Please!" she cried. "I love you"

I couldn't find my voice, to respond to her and the last thing I heard was an "I love you" from Clare.

I love you too, Clare. I thought. I love you too...

With that final thought, I began to fall into a dark world.

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