After pulling return of the darkness, even after some time passed, the sudden return was both jarring and exhausting. This was a different kind of darkness, much different than the darkness the Werewolf has been trying to put me in. It was a loneliness that penetrated every part of me, a deep pain made worse by the fact that I had done this for her. I wasn't sure why it hurt worse than it would have if Sapphire hadn't been a part of it, if I had simply never had a chance to break the curse. Maybe it was because now I was losing more than I otherwise would have. Maybe...it was because she had carved a place into my heart, just like Adam, and now it was as if I had lost a limb.

Yes...if I was being truly honest, I was more upset at the prospect of losing her than I was at the idea of being a Werewolf forever. I noticed that I was much more upset than when my little cousin ran away from me...and become fearful of me. After being in the light for the first time in so long, the darkness hurt that much worse. I was in love...and I was alone.

I sighed and rested my head on my paws. I had confined myself to one corner of the chambers, not wanting to destroy the work Sapphire and I had done. It was a symbol of how much she had helped me, but symbols didn't stop the rose petals from falling. How many were left now? Four, maybe? Two had fallen on each of the first few days she was gone. The past two days the rose had only lost one. It was decrepit—wilted and pale...like a wounded warrior standing in a pool of its own blood. It wouldn't last much longer...and therefore...neither would I.

The Werewolf knew how heartbroken I was; he was taking advantage of it. He would take over my body sometimes, but I never let him harm the servants, the different rooms...and the work Sapphire and I had done in here. He would also taunt me and always tell me that Sapphire was never coming back; even though I refused to believe that...I feared that...he might be right. I tried not to let it bother me, but everytime the Werewolf taunted me, my heart breaks even more.

There was a faint tap on the door, but I didn't move. I figured it would be Brimley, come again to try to drag me out of this room, to pull me from this darkness and also...talk me out of leaving. He came every day, since Sapphire left, bringing me food and trying to cheer me up, or else to insist on coming with me when I leave. I was never very engaged, unless the Werewolf came out and tried to go after him. I never gave Brimley any indication that I was changing my mind, but that didn't stop him from coming into my room

The tapping was louder now, but I still didn't react. If he wanted to see me, he could've came in because the door was unlocked. As I knew it would, the door eased open slowly. I averted my night-accustomed eyes from the sudden light. I heard footsteps and I lethargically squinted in their direction. I could tell that it wasn't Brimley because that wasn't his rhythm of footsteps I heard. I saw a tray laden with food was hovering in the air, but my stomach cringed at the thought of it. The tray had paused uncertainly a few feet away from me, as if waiting for something.

"What is it?" I rasped after a moment of staring at the floating tray. The last thing I wanted to do was get involved in any sort of interaction that would cause the Werewolf to come out. I wanted to be left alone in my misery. I wondered why whoever came into my room had decided to take a risk and come up here.

"I, um, ah, I brought you some breakfast, Sagittarius." I heard. I lifted my head from my paws when I realized that the voice belonged to Lilla. A couple dishes clattered against each other as she nervously changed position.

"Lilla?" I asked, "Why are you here? What happened to Brimley?"

"He's, um...he's downstairs." She answered, "He can't stand your decision to leave if Sapphire doesn't return so...he's looking at all the maps to figure out which one Sapphire might be in." I was dumbfounded. He's trying to find Sapphire so he can bring her back. He's trying to save me and he knew as well as I that we had days left, at best. He was smarter than any of us here. Brimley had decided to do something instead of simply waiting, like me.

"I understand he's trying," I said, "but it's too late."

"It's never too late!" She said. Lilla's high little voice was holding more conviction than I had ever heard there before. I stared as she put her tray down on one of the more lightly damaged end tables...with what appeared to be a little more force than necessary. "He's working to help you!" She added, "We all want to see you succeed. You love her, so much so that...you're willing to disappear without her in your life; this is your chance and here you are wasting it. Sire, just look at yourself!" She walked toward me, her footsteps echoing hollowly around the wooden walls and knelt down in front of me, putting her hand on my shoulder.

"How dare you come near me!" The Werewolf said out of my mouth.

"You don't scare me, you stupid wolf!" Lilla pushed, "You've been getting weaker because of Sagittarius's love for Sapphire! No matter what you say or how much you taunt everyone, you'll never win!" I heard the Werewolf growl at her. Despite that his words came out of my mouth, I was still in complete control of my body. I wasn't going to let him harm anyone here, not even me.

"Sorry Lilla," I said, "I didn't mean to let him say that to you."

"I know that." She said, "Now listen to me! Your lady will soon be here, no matter what happens, and you are, forgive me, not presentable. Now come, you've hardly moved in days. You haven't been eating, either. I shall bring you downstairs to the kitchen and get you a nice warm meal and then we'll get you all cleaned up. We need to get those mats out of your fur before they get worse." Lilla pulled on my arm...and I reluctantly allowed myself to be helped to my feet.

"How do you know?" I asked, " How can you be so sure that Sapphire will come back?"

"I'm not, sire." She answered, "I know that there's a chance she could be here too late, or not at all."

"You're not making me feel any better."

"Sire, let me ask you this: what do you lose by having hope?" Hearing that, I wasn't sure if I even had an answer. "Even if she does not come back, you are no worse off than you would have been. The sting might be sharper, yes, but...that is because you let yourself truly see the possibilities. If it makes you happy, even for a short while, then what have you lost, really?" Even thought I was staring straight through Lilla, I had the odd sensation that I was seeing her for the first time. Somehow she a had known my fears; somehow, she had explained away my concerns. I was ashamed to admit to myself that I couldn't even remember her face, but somehow she had understood me. She was right, of course, I wasn't doing anyone any good by the way I had been behaving. I certainly wasn't giving Sapphire any credit. If she didn't come, I would lose everything...but it wouldn't cost me anything to hope.

"You good for nothing brat!" Hmm? "You are foolish! You don't even realize what Sagittarius will lose if Sapphire doesn't come back!"

"Go ahead and twist my words, Werewolf!" I heard Lilla almost scream, "You don't have any power here!" I heard the Werewolf growl again, but I refrain from him harming Lilla.

"Go ahead and hope all you want, because there's nothing you can do!" What's that supposed to mean? The Werewolf made a deep laugh at Lilla. "Sagittarius may keep me from harming anything," I then found myself looking at the white rose. "but once the last petal falls, Sagittarius will be gone...and you'll have me to deal with!" Hearing that, just made me more worried. The next thing I know, I felt a stinging slap across my face.

"Sire...have you come back to us?" I heard Lilla ask. I raised my paw to the area where she slapped me...well...where she slapped the Werewolf.

"Thank you, Lilla." I said, removing my paw off my face.

"You're welcome, sire." She said, "Now let's make sure the Werewolf doesn't get in the way and get something on your stomach." Though I didn't particularly feel like eating, I allowed Lilla to lead me to the kitchens. When I got there, the room was lit up...almost like the special night I made for Sapphire. I smelled the meal that was on the table. "You always loved lobster and shrimp, sire." Lilla said, "We've decided to perk your happiness a bit."

With Lilla's encouragement, I did pick at the meal a bit; I was surprised to find that as I ate, I was feeling better. Lilla had somehow managed to round up a few of the other maids and they sat around me, combing the snarls out of my fur and chattering away. I was hardly listening...because what the Werewolf said earlier was making me concerned. I now became very afraid of what would happen if I didn't break the spell...I didn't want the servants to suffer the Werewolf's wrath. If Sapphire doesn't come back, I really will have to leave. I can't let the Werewolf harm the people who had taken care of me, my mother...my father...and even my...little cousin, Adam. It's going to be too late for me...but I can only hope that Adam will have a chance to be free.