Author's Note* Before you read this final chapter, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has reviewed this story and/ or added me or this story to their favorites/ alerts! Thanks so much for your support guys!

Chapter 7- The Princess Awakens

Fabian

I crept out of bed and sidled down the hall. Nervously, I looked around. Good, the coast was clear, Victor must be in his study. The floorboards under me creaked a little, and I froze, listening intently. No one was coming. I breathed a sigh of relief and carefully eased open the front door. I quickly slipped out and softly closed it again with a muted thud. Before anyone came to investigate, I swung my leg over my parked bike and rode off.

I could feel the bracelet and the cup banging against each other in my bag ferociously, but I didn't stop to check whether or not they had been damaged. I had to get to Nina. Before Rufus does. I followed the path for a while, and then made a sharp turn as I entered the woods. Even in the dark, I knew it well; Nina and I often held Sibuna meetings in the clearing.

As I came closer to the clearing, I pedaled slower, would Rufus be there? I dismounted from my bike and propped it against a tree, making sure to hide it in the shadows. I then edged towards the open clearing.

"Come out Mr. Rutter." A voice called. "No use hiding."

I stepped out into plain view and faced Rufus.

He smiled. "Good. Have you come with the cup?"

I put a hand protectively on my bag. "Let me see Nina."

"After you give me the cup."

I looked around. "Where is she?"

"In the back of the van." He gestured to a van parked behind him.

I highly doubted Nina was in the back of the van. Or if she was, Rufus certainly wasn't going to give her up.

"Give me the cup."

"I want to see her."

"After you give me the cup." He snarled through gritted teeth.

Slowly, I opened my bag and took the cup out. It shone brighter than ever under the moonlight.

"At last." Rufus breathed. "Immortality will be mine. Now, set it on the ground in front of you."

I placed the cup on the hard ground.

"Walk away from it." Commanded Rufus.

I hesitated.

"Do as I say if you want to see Ms. Martin."

I backed away cautiously.

Keeping his eyes on me, he strode forward and picked up the cup.

"Give me Nina." I said, my voice trembling.

Rufus started walking towards the van. But instead of opening the back door, he slid into the driver's seat.

"Where's Nina?" I yelled.

Rufus looked at me through the window, "Oh, I forgot. Ms. Martin and I have some unfinished business to do."

"We had a deal!"

"I never said when I would give her back boy, now move aside." The van rumbled to life and sped towards me. I leapt out of the way, just narrowly avoiding the van. I could hear Rufus's laughter as he zoomed off into the night.

I ran towards my bike and jumped on the seat. Pedaling as fast as I could, I followed Rufus.

Nina

I leapt up from my seat as I heard Rufus return. Oh no, he's back. What am I going to do? I panicked. Brisk footsteps approached the entrance and I heard the sudden click as the door swung open. I quickly pretended to still be searching for the bracelet.

"Well?" Rufus's head appeared from behind my pile. "Found anything?"

"No."

Rufus's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you." He said. "You're hiding it."

I shook my head.

"Come now Ms. Martin. Play nicely with me and I promise I won't kill you."

"Kill me?"

"I forgot to mention one very important detail. The descendant of Amneris tears will have special qualities, you might say. Especially when mixed with that bracelet you're hiding and drunk from the cup of Ankh."

I was trembling now. "I don't have the bracelet."

Rufus drew a knife from his pocket. "See this?" he hissed. "A drop of snake venom has been added to this blade. One cut, "he sliced at the air. "will leave the victim in unbearable pain, and will cause them to die a slow, and most certainly, painful death."

I took a step backwards, and to my dismay, found myself against a wall. Now there was nowhere to go, I was cornered.

"Give me the bracelet." He demanded.

"I don't have it."

"I'll cut the truth out of you." He growled as he advanced closer to me.

Fabian

Hold on Nina, I'm almost there. I had reached an abandoned jail cell where Rufus had parked his van. I ran inside, only to find it empty. Where could they be? I hurried into cell after cell, when finally, I found an empty plastic container. This has to be Nina's. I spun in a circle, and saw a hole in the wall. Beside it, was the word Ankh. I bolted inside the passageway and sprinted through it. I could hear distant screaming that sounded undeniably like Nina.

With a final burst of energy, I ran towards the light at the end. What I saw nearly stopped my heart. Rufus was holding a blade to Nina's throat.

"Leave her!" I shouted.

Rufus spun around, surprised. When he saw me his face broke into a grin. "How nice of you to join the show Mr. Rutter. Tell me, how long do you think it will take for her to die?"

Before I could do anything, he swiped the blade at Nina and she crumpled to the floor like a rag doll, writhing and crying out in pain. I was nearly in tears now. That blade must have been poisoned. If only I could have protected her. Wait a minute! Protection!

"Nina!" I cried. "Catch!"

I flung the bracelet towards her, and it clattered on the floor in front of her. I could hear her gasping as she tried to slip it onto her wrist with shaking fingers. Eventually, she managed and the moment the bracelet dangled from her wrist a sudden burst of light exploded from her, blinding me momentarily.

When I could see again, Nina was not really Nina. She looked almost the same, except she had a glowing aura around her. The cut on her arm didn't seem to bother her, and she stood up straight and tall, as if she possessed authority and power. Sitting on top of her head, was a small crown.

Rufus looked slightly puzzled. "What are you playing at? Who do you think you are?"

Nina was silent for a moment. Then she spoke with a thunderous voice that rang throughout the room. "I am Amneris."

I stared at her. "Wait a minute. Amneris? As in princess Amneris?"

Nina/Amneris nodded. "The very same."

Rufus sneered. "You don't really think that I believe this entire mythical legend do you? Amneris died years ago."

Nina/ Amneris turned her attention to him. "I have awoken once more because the bracelet has unleashed my full power. Which I will now use on you."

Rufus was still looking unworried. "Now now, see here-"

Princess Amneris glared at him. "How dare you! You foolish man! You do not believe in my power? You try to take the tears of Amneris? You are not worthy." She scoffed.

Rufus perked up. "True." He admitted. "But what about your blood?" he lunged at Amneris, only to be blasted away by a jet of light that streamed from her hand. He fell to the side of the room, head lolling to one side, appearing unconscious if not dead.

Amneris didn't pay any attention to him as she swept out of the room. I followed her through the once dark passageway. Her glowing aura lit up the tunnel and I could see perfectly around me. I was still debating what to do when we reached the other side.

As if someone had turned off a switch, she collapsed to the floor. I dropped down with her, resting her head on my knee as I caught her. I could see the glow around her fade, and the crown perched on her head vanished in a spark of light. But her eyes remained closed.

"Nina?" I asked tentatively.

Her eyes flickered open and travelled to the cut on her arm. We both gasped as we noticed it shrink to a barely visible scar in just a matter of seconds.

"What happened?" she croaked.

Instead of answering, I leaned closer and kissed her.

The End.