Chapter 8:

Laurel makes the first move, and lunges at my legs. I side-step her, but she quickly recuperates and swings her sword at my waist. Back and forth, we go, twisting and parrying to and fro, almost like a hypnotic dance.

"Enough." Laurel says, and I stop in the middle of a blow. "It's clear that we are both equally matched. So, why don't we make a deal?" Another crystal appears in her hand.

Laurel begins to play around with it. "You clearly aren't influenced by anything. Not even your dreams or your long lost love. But, I'm going to try one more time. Take the deal, Gabriel. If you take it, you can go home, rule over your kingdom, and never have to worry."

I cock my eyebrow. "What are you saying Laurel?" She smirks. "I'm offering you your kingdom's safety and happiness." My eyes widen and I stare at the crystal in her hand. In it, I see an image of my kingdom. I'm king, my brothers are happy, we're in heaven again, my uncle is nowhere to be seen.

'She's serious. But...' "How do I not know it's a trap?" I ask her. Laurel smiles almost too sincerely. "Gabriel, you've come this far, haven't you? You're still alive. And the other princes are happy." 'She's lying.'

"No. No, I talked to Earhart. None of the other lords have been seen since you had them run the Labyrinth." Laurel seems to be taken aback, but, she quickly comes back. "You can't take it on their account. Come on Gabriel, I'm offering everything you've ever wanted on a silver platter. Will you take the deal or not?"

"No." And with that response, Laurel's composure snaps. Her eyes narrow and are full of anger and rage and hate, her lips twist into a snarl. "How can you just say no?! I've given you every single chance to get out of this damn place, but you keep rejecting me!" 'She's becoming desperate. Perfect.'

Smirking, I rush up to her. "That is because my duties are to my kingdom. And no goblin magic can fix any of our problems. You have no power over me." Laurel makes a choking sound. She shakes her head and grins. "Congratulations, Prince Gabriel. You just won." Laurel throws up the crystal into the air, watching it as it turns into dust.

The world around me becomes a blur, but there is one thing I can make out clearly. All I can see is Laurel's face, as the world falls down.

The End