Chapter 17 - Warn You

Well, here we are guys. The home stretch. The last chapter. But don't fret! There will be a sequel - but now it's in your hands! Does that come next...or another fanfiction?

I have one instinct. Scream. But she clamps her hand over my mouth, and in the dark nobody would notice with a casual glance.

"Tut, tut." She shakes her head mockingly. "Can't have you alerting everyone about what's going on, now can we?"

She begins to drag me towards the nearest exit, as I kick and wriggle, trying to get away. But she pays no mind, and pulls me out, shutting the door behind her. I see a yellow glow pulse out of her hand, surrounding my mouth.

"That'll block your screams out of human ears. I can't block the Fae ears sadly, but that shouldn't matter. They won't hear you fast enough."

I open my mouth to scream for Teague. Instead, a color blast like the one she threw at me in my room hits me in the stomach, ramming me against the brick wall. The pain keeps me there as I squirm.

"I warned you." She smirks. "Can you feel the pain? It can rupture arteries, veins, and capillaries. It can shatter bones. It can cause your body temperature to go dangerously high or low. And a whole host of other things too."

It's at that point that the pain intensifies, and I let out a wordless scream of pure torture and pain, writhing. My eyes are shut, and all I can think is Make it stop!

Teague's POV

I can see Nix and Ever stop dancing to look around, confused. But no one else seems to notice the tortured screams. Half of me wonders if Nix and Ever identifies whom the tortured noise belongs too. The other half? It doesn't care. It just wants to find out what's happening.

I rush over to the exit, which seems to be the closest to the sound, and what I find is a shock. Mina is pressed against a wall by a blast of Fae magic, coming from a young girl, who looks around Jared's age. The Grimorie.

"What are you doing?" I snarl.

"I warned her. I warned her. She knew I was coming for her. I just had to wait till you were away so I could start this wonderful process. She didn't listen to my warning."

"But why?"

"Because she's a threat to me!" I can see Mina slump slightly. She's knocked out - which isn't good - so I need to be quick. But first, I need to know why she was targeted. "I know Jared's still out there, and he loves her! Until she's out of the picture, I can never fully win him over!"

"That? Seriously?" It doesn't take much to conjure up an image of this girl flying backwards, and it happens as fast as I can snap my finger. "I expected more."

I quickly add to my image handcuffs - the kind that block Fae magic - and that happens just as fast. I then get down on my knees by Mina, who's fallen to the ground. She looks peaceful until you see the pained expression on her face. In that moment, I realize she could die.

And in that moment, I also realize that I care if that happens. Normally, it wouldn't matter to me. She was supposed to be just a plaything. Something that could be tossed away with great ease, no longer wanted nor needed. As Jared had said when I looked at him in the mirror, I could never love. But, this time, that statement was wrong. I had grown to love someone.

Everything about her I loved. Her smile. Her scolding. Her laughter. Her eyes. Her voice. Even the way she said my name. And now, the moment I had finally grown to love, I could lose her.

"Mina, come on." I plead, taking her hand and squeezing it. "Come back to me!"

A small tear comes out of my eye, landing on her chest. The door opens, and from the corner of my eyes - slightly fuzzy from tears that I try to hide - I see that Ever and Nix have appeared.

"Mina!" Nix's voice is filled with panic.

"Teague, what on earth happened?" Ever is also looking distraught, but what should I expect? They're her friends, and Ever is her Fae Godmother. I'd be shocked if they weren't upset.

"She was...attacked. By her." I gesture with my free hand to the Grimorie, before scooping Mina into my arms. "I don't know what to do! She could die!"

"Teague, I think you do know what to do." Ever's voice is suddenly filled with an icy calmness, and she locks her gaze with mine.

"There's no guarantee that she'll survive that, though!"

"But she definitely won't survive if you don't!" Nix seems to have caught on.

I look down at Mina, who lies limply in my arms. They're right. I have to try. Because if I don't, then all of this will have been for nothing.

And that's the end of Blank Space! Hehe, I bet you guys all love me for ending like that and not revealing what Teague is going to do! But, I already have the basic plot (not the chapters) planned for the sequel, so now is your time to tell me if I should get the sequel going right away! If three people post reviews telling me that I need to get my butt into gear and get the sequel on, then I will. If not...well, then you guys will have to wait till I finish another fanfiction (unless I get really ambitious and want three fanfictions that are unfinished on here at once).

Anyone in the mood for a spoiler? If so, read the two words in parentheses! (Fae Plane)

So get reviewing!

~Dagger