Chapter Eight - I Will Not Die

Well, here we go. Let's see, we left Mina laying in her room, and seemingly dying. Let's see if she gets a savior or not.

The next day, I stand up and get dressed, but I don't have the life to go out to the balcony again. The energy just seems to have gone. Kaput. Water isn't a problem. I have that. I don't have food though. Does that matter? I'm not sure.

My stomach growls at the thought, but I don't want to get lost trying to find the kitchens. Especially if Teague might show up. I still cling to that hope, desperate for him to show up. To remember I exist. Why isn't he here?

So, I pace in my room instead, watching my hand. By the end of the day, it's covered my entire hand. Why though? Some side effect from the fight with the Grimorie? I can't tell.

The next day goes by the same way. Pacing and watching my hand. The cracks climb all the way up to my elbow today. It's going faster. How long till it covers all of me? What happens then? Do I die? What if it's heading for my heart instead? Will that kill me? I don't even know anymore.

That next day, I don't even have the effort to get up. I just lay on my side as the cracks climb higher and higher. They're almost up to my shoulder. Up to my shoulder. Does it matter? Does it? So what if I die? Nobody cares.

Teague obviously doesn't care. He would've come if he did. The little part of me holding onto hope is beginning to be crushed. He's not coming. I can feel it. He's not coming to see me. For some reason, he doesn't care anymore. But why? What did I do? Was it freeing Jared? Did that upset him?

But I stayed! For him!

Jared won't care. Or, more accurately, he can't care. He doesn't know there's a problem. How could he? He's probably far, far away from here.

The strangest part is that I don't feel like I'm dying. I feel perfectly fine. And yet, I know I'm dying. Deep down inside, I can feel it. Yet I can't do anything to stop it. It's a feeling of hopelessness. Abandonment. I can't keep going like this. Nobody cares here. I can't get back to my plane, where people do care about me. I might as well die. And yet, I feel fine and alive, besides feeling physically drained.

Jared's POV

I don't know how. But somehow, I know that Mina needs me. Something sends me back to the castle three days after I've left. It's very easy to get into the palace again, and make my way to Mina's room.

"Mina?" I ask as I open the door.

She's laying her bed, huddled up. It's disturbing, seeing her laying the dark, hardly moving. I can see her chest moving though, so she's alive.

"Teague?" Even her voice gives off the weak vibe.

Anger flashes through me whenever she says his name. She shouldn't be saying his name! He doesn't deserve her! In fact, it looks like he's abandoned her!

"No, not Teague." I sit beside her on her bed.

"Jared? But...How?" She looks confused as she opens her eyes and looks at me.

"I just knew something was wrong." I take her hand, and that's when I see odd marks on it. I wave my hand over the candle on her nightstand, igniting it, and look at her hand in shock. "Mina, what happened?" I really hope she doesn't hear the panic in my voice. I can't have her freaking out.

"I don't know...It started on the palm of my hand, the day you were gone. Teague never showed up after you left..."

I notice the cracks starting to disappear at her shoulder, climbing back down. "Teague is the one that saved your life and brought you here, correct?"

She nods. "Yes."

"Then that explains all of this."

"What?" She looks confused again. "How?"

"Your life isn't just tied to the Fae plane, Mina. Your life is tied to Teague as well, because he saved your life. He's ignoring your existence. Because of that, you're dying."

"I'm...What?" Panic is welling up in her. I can sense it.

"Calm down!" I plead. "Listen, because you're tied to Teague, you're also tied to me. It's obvious Teague is neglecting you, but you need one of our presences to stay alive. I need you to come with me."

"Come with you? Where?"

"I don't know. Somewhere besides here, Mina."

"Is this the only option?"

"I'm afraid so." It hurts, knowing she wants to stay here with Teague.

"Is it safe?" That takes me by surprise.

"What?"

"Is it safe to go with you?" She asks again. "Will you protect me...Like you did before?"

"Of course." I scoop her up in my arms, cradling her. "But we have to go. Now. I can't stay here, and you have to come with me."

"We're leaving now?"

"No better time than the present."

On that note, we hurry away from the castle. She's going to be okay. I'll make sure of that. Teague will never hurt her again.

Noooo, not the savior I wanted! But, she is saved, at least for now. The question is, what does Teague think on the matter. We'll see that soon...

~ Dagger