The night began well fairly enough for Prince Eric.

After all, it is the dream of most men to spend time with a beautiful young woman.

Ariana had looked radiant as she knocked softly at his door. As per usual, all previous thoughts fled his mind when he looked into her eyes. She had that little smile again. The one that made his heart skip a beat. "Are you busy?" she said, to which he shoved the papers to the furthest corner of the desk.

"Never," he said with a smile.

Taking a deep breath, she finally and nervously spoke her mind. "Chris wishes for me to leave with her. Soon. And it got me thinking. I finally realise that I don't wish to leave. I don't want to leave you."

Happiness rising deep within him, he practically leapt up to kiss her. He thanked the spirits that once for once, she did not pull away and kissed him back, just as passionately.

But something was not right.

"Are you alright?" he asked, hardly believing himself as he pulled away slightly.

"Excuse me?" she said, not attempting to hide her confusion.

"You kiss differently," he finally said.

She raised an eyebrow. "I can stop if you want."

He was not a fool and dropped the issue.

It was not simply the kiss that was different but the way it made him feel. Normally he was unable to feel anything as the feeling of practically soaring took hold.

If anything, he felt exhaustion at that moment.

Once again, he pulled away but this was not to speak. This was to ease the suddenly aching pain in his head as his entire body suddenly felt hopeless heavy. Ariana attempted to support him but her small frail frame held no hope. Worry covered her face as she helped him to the bed. He fell down to meet the mattress but cried in pain as it created a sensation of falling on sharp stone. Numbness began to overcome the pain and with went the ability to move.

All worry from Ariana's face vanished as a look of boredom overcame it. Looking at the clock, she tapped her foot, annoyed at the amount of time it was taking him to die.

Pulling a small vile from a pocket of her cloak, she transformed back to her original form.

She relished the look of horror in Eric's eyes as he began to realise his fate. Remembering what she done, Christobelle grimaced and spat in a desperate attempt to fight her distain of touching a human.

Once again, she grew bored and stroked his forehead in an attempt to hurry along the magic as well as to belittle him. "Come now," she said gently, "this is all for the best. But I'm afraid that if you don't die soon, I will be forced to experiment with all of your fancy looking weapons. I have always wondered what a prince's inside look like. On second thought, take your time."

Magic had long since taken Eric's voice and he could only watch in horror and anger as she skipped away to play with the many daggers she had pulled over. Her cackles of glee made Eric wish his death would hurry too.

His thoughts were not on his own torture however. She was obviously a crazy woman and he prayed that Ariana would flee her. His fear was overcome with the sadness that he would never see her again.

His eyes were the last part of him to grow heavy and with it came the horrid realisation that he was about to die.

With one last prayer for his love, he gave in to the darkness.