A week passed. I spent every spare minute training in the forest.

I didn't see the shadow figure again, so I didn't tell anyone and I passed it off as a hallucination. Same with the fire..

The only time I saw the others was at meal times. Or sometimes Mistalya or Ash would watch me train.

I had decided to train in a new part of the forest today. Instead of the clearing by the oak.

I stalked through the trees, passing my normal training spot.

I was already in my gear, so I wasn't carrying anything. I had however added 3 small daggers to my throwing knives.

About half a mile from the oak tree, I felt something following me.

It was the same feeling I had a month ago.

It was back.

I paused and drew my katana. I had a custom made oil spill katana, with a matte black hilt.

I felt something behind me.

I slowly turned around and raised my blade.

I saw a boy, engulfed in what could only be described as shadow fire.

Black tendrils wrapped around him, curling and waving with the breeze.

He had black hair, tan skin and purple eyes.

I swung my katana, preparing for a blow.

Something told me not to strike.

I froze, the blade inches away from his face.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't speak.

I couldn't even blink.

"You don't want to do that Princess." He purred.

Oh god. Not this again.

I tried to talk, and found that whatever sorcery he had used, had worn off enough for me to talk.

"For gods sake. Why can't everyone get it into their thick heads. I am not the freaking Princess."

He started making a slow circle around me, the shadow flames whipping the air in his wake.

"Whether you think you are or not, you're still valuable."

What the hell does he mean? Valuable?

This is bullshit.

He stopped behind me, and plucked the katana out of my hands.

He must have been admiring it's workmanship.

"Nice."

"Give it back."

"I think not. Tell me what other weapons you have, your name, who knows you're here and where you are staying. And I will let you leave."

I thought through what he wanted to know.

"Tell me your name first."

He chuckled at my demand.

"You're in no position to ask anything of me."

He was right.

I still couldn't move, plus he had started to bind my wrists behind my back.

I could tell there was no way he would leave without any information. On me apparently. By any means necessary.

He walked back around to face me, and leant back against a tree.

"I'm waiting."

"You might as well tie me up completely and let me sit down. You know. Considering we're both gonna be here for a long time."

His black flames flared behind him.

That can't be good.

"I will release my hold once you answer the first question. And don't even try lying to me."

There is no way Dylan's ever letting me out after this..

"Fine. There are six knives on my left arm. My kali sticks and boxing gloves are in the hollow of an oak tree about half a mile north."

"There. That wasn't too hard was it?"

He sauntered over and pulled up the sleeve of my gui to reveal the knives in my arm guard.

"Nice kit."

I glared at him in reply.

"Break or scratch them in any way, and you're dead."

I remembered unwrapping the parcel, the Christmas before the crash. The set of oil spill blades.

I loved this kit.

He placed all the weapons I had found on the grass about a metre away from me.

There was no way I'd get to them before him.

He moved with a confident swagger that told me he knew it too.

"And the rest?"

Damn. He's good.

"On my necklace."

If he so much as tried to open it. I would kill him.

He reached over my head and removed the locket.

He lay it down with the others.

"Spell?" I asked

His eyes flickered over to me, and I felt my muscles relax, I slumped over, grateful for the tree behind me, I slid down it until I was sitting awkwardly, trying to keep the weight off of my bound hands.

Once I was sitting, he came over and tied my ankles together.

Prick.

"Name." He reminded me.

He didn't say which one.

Hell I didn't know which one.

I decided to go with Emba.

"Emba James."

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Are you sure.?"

"The name I go by is Emba. Take it or leave it."

He analysed my words carefully.

"The name you go by. What about the name that others gave you?"

Clever asshole.

"Forsythia" I whispered.