Chapter Six - When You're Beside Me

So, like I mentioned in Chapter Five, this chapter is what happened in Chapter Five from a different perspective. It should shed some light on the situation at hand...The only question is, what happens because of it?

It's 11:55. It takes around five minutes to get from her room to the castle entrance. If she doesn't come out right now, she won't make it. Then again, Jared will probably hang around, so I can't bank on it. But if it hits midnight and she's still not out, then I'll be happy.

I'm actually on a ledge up near the roof. Dangerous? Very much so. But a very good spying spot. Mina never looks up, so it's not like she'll notice me if she comes out. It's the perfect spot to watch what occurs.

I'm almost ready to give in that she's staying. After all, she would've left by now. But that's when it happens. I hear a creak, and I move my gaze away from counting the cracks in the ceiling to her door. It's opening, and out steps a fully-dressed Mina. She looks both ways, before shutting the door quietly - or as quietly as she can - behind her. Then? She hurries towards the entrance.

I can feel my heart shatter. But it was her choice to make. Not mine. I was second-best anyways.

With a snap of my fingers, I return to my room.

Mina's POV

I'm sitting on the bed in my room, skimming through the pages off a notebook and pretending to admire the sketches in it. Pretending being the key word there. Anything not to meet Jared's gaze after what he just said. I don't like what he's suggesting.

"Mina, you can't have both of us. You have to choose." His words bounce around in my head.

He pushes the notebook down so I'm looking at him again. "Don't do that. Don't block me out, Mina." It's quieter, like a whisper, and he takes my hand. "You know you have to choose eventually."

"I know, but..." I trail off, my feelings a mass of confusion. What am I supposed to say to explain them?

"But what?"

"I just didn't expect to be thrown into this!" I protest, and he frowns.

"Is it that hard of a choice? Do you actually have feelings for him?" He looks me hard in the eyes.

I drop my gaze, finding myself - for once - speechless. How am I supposed to respond to that? I can't even be sure of what I feel!

He lifts my chin up with hand so that I'm looking into his beautiful, gray eyes again. He's getting angry. But, he won't hurt me. I think. "Come on, Mina! Wake up! He'll only hurt you!"

"He saved my life. Twice." At least twice. Were there more? I can't remember all of them. But he did save it quite a few times...

"He hurts everything he touches, Mina." Jared sighs, and I can tell he's doing his best to remain calm. It takes me a moment to register that he's implying that I'll be hurt by Teague. I open my mouth to protest, so he hurries on to what he wants to say next. "Look, tonight at midnight, I'll be waiting at the doors leading out of the castle. If you meet me there, you'll have chosen me, and we'll leave. We'll run off some place far, far away and start over. If you don't meet me there, I'll have my answer. I won't bother you again."

My mouth closes. Choose? Tonight? Just like that? Pain sends me swirling into confusion. How am I supposed to choose?

"O-Okay." Once again, I find my body functioning without me. That's not good.

He nods, taking my right hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I should go. He'll be checking on you soon."

After lifting my hand and giving it a quick kiss - much like a prince does in most fairytales - he walks over to the door. But, when he tries to open it, it's jammed. "What on the plane?" He mutters, jiggling the handle. He continues to look at it, and I giggle at the confused look on his face.

He makes a face at me for my laughter, but when I stand up to try and help he gently pushes my back on the bed. "Nope. You need rest."

"Jared! Let me help you or I...I'll..."

"You'll what?" He smirks.

"I haven't decided yet. Now let me up and help you!"

"Of course, m'lady. I'm sure you have much more experience with door knobs. With your luck, you'll somehow make it fall off."

"Hey!"

After a few more minutes, the door finally opens. And then he's gone.

The day goes by in a blur after that. Teague comes in at what point, but I barely remember the conversation. One thing I do remember is that he seemed more distant than usual during it. But beyond that, I don't even remember what we discussed. All I can focus on is my choice. But who to choose? And how?

I sit on my bed, staring at the clock. I checked how long it took to get to the castle entrance earlier. Five minutes. Now, the clock has just struck 11:55. Jared will probably wait past midnight for me, but still. I should go close to midnight at least. I should leave now if I want to go. I stand up, but discomfort swirls through me, and I pace for a little. Am I really going to do this?

Sighing, I open the door. Yes. I am. I close it as quietly as I can, and then hurry down the hall. But as I near the entrance, something hits me. Not literally, but the reaction is almost like that. I stop, and clutch my head as I remember.

Something claps into my foot. I turn, everything moving slowly and surreally. It's so dark and murky, nothing like the clear lake I saw above.

"Come with me..." I can't see the speaker, but I identify the voice. Teague?

"Come with me..." A repeat, but slightly different. Jared?

"Make a choice..."

"What?"

"Make a choice..."

They keep repeating each other. What on earth? "Make a choice?" Well, not really on earth. I don't think the Fae Plane counts as being on earth.

"Choose one..."

"Choose one..."

"Your fate depends on it." The last line is spoken in perfect unison. Why are there so many unison things today?

"My fate?" I squeak, and glance down. My entire arm has turned to gold. "But what if-"

"Make a choice!" Teague hisses.

My mouth acts before my brain, although I'm not sure if it's guided by instinct or by my heart. "Jared." It's a whisper, but still audible.

Both ankles are released, and the water becomes slightly less murky. Enough that I can somewhat see, at least. But as I look at Teague and Jared, Jared fades.

"Wrong choice." Teague hisses, latching onto my ankle again and beginning to pull me downward.

"No! Teague, please, no!" I scream as the darkness surrounds me. My head spins. Is this me being lightheaded? Is Fae magic taking a toll? What's going on with me?

Dread fills me. A choice. A choice between Jared and Teague. That's what I'm doing right now...And I'm making the same choice I did in the dream. The choice that was the wrong choice. I stare down the hallway, looking at the entrance - or rather, exit for me - to the castle, and then back down the hallway. My mind is made up. I'm not making the wrong choice again. I won't. The dream has to have been a warning.

I hurry back through the halls, back to my room, and shut the door.

Hm...A twist in the tale, is it not? Teague thinks she's gone, Mina has stayed, and Jared will be gone. What's going to happen next?

Any suspicions on the other part of her nightmare? I'm interested to see what you guys are thinking about it.

~ Dagger