Chapter Thirty-Three
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Trigger warning: More war. Even more violence. More death.
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I'm on the trail heading east, heart racing as fast as my feet. Thanks to Jaihem and his traitorous mouth, the Soul Eaters are aware of our battle plan. My gut says that our enemies are already at the meeting site, lying in wait for Ewar and the other unsuspecting men to come along.
I have to warn them. I have to stop Ewar from walking straight into an ambush!
The trail is winding and oftentimes rugged. Many rocky outcrops are flanked along the path. Any one of them could have a Soul Eater concealed behind it. Because of that, I should be cautious. I should stop periodically, notch an arrow in my bow, and check to make sure no one is preparing to leap out and attack me.
I don't do any of that. There's no time to play it safe.
Taking in heaving gulps of air, I keep on going. But even with my adrenaline pumping at full throttle, exhaustion inevitably creeps in. My feet ache; my muscles burn. I wasn't built for long-distance running - especially in hill country. I tell myself that I'll meet up with Ewar and the other men any second now. They're probably right around this bend. Or, just over that next hill.
They say positive thinking will get you far in life. Fingers crossed that it will help power me long enough to find Ewar before Ora does.
Whenever the trail branches off in different directions, I am forced to make a quick decision. Did Ewar and the men go this way or that way? I always choose the path with the most footprints. It's a good strategy, but a tiny part of me still worries that I am going in the wrong direction. It isn't until a familiar rock formation appears up ahead that I feel confident in my navigational skills. I remember seeing that pile of stone only yesterday. The meeting site can't be much further.
But instead of relief, all I find is dread.
Unnatural sounds echo through the hills. Gut-wrenching shouts. Anguished cries. The crashing of wood against wood. It is the stuff of nightmares.
Panic fuels me to run faster. The trail makes its way up an incline, forcing me to double my efforts to climb it. My exhaustion forgotten, I scramble to the top. What I see down below turns my blood ice cold.
I am too late.
The valley floor is swarming with Soul Eaters. They have surrounded my friends, family, and allies from all sides, utilizing the same strategy we had planned to use against them. And instead of there being only a small delegation of Soul Eaters for us to deal with, their entire army is here and battle-ready.
This is that backstabbing bastard Jaihem's fault! For a moment, I wish I could bring him back from the dead just so I can be the one to kill him this time.
I shake that thought from my head. It's pointless fantasizing about revenge at a time like this. A terrible battle is taking place before my eyes. Every man's life is suddenly dependent upon his training, his cleverness, and pure luck. The Soul Eaters' combat skills are scarily impressive. It's like they were born on the battlefield. Plus, there are just so many of them! Even though we have shields to help block their attacks, that defense only goes so far against brute strength. Worse still, our weakest men - despite their recent training - are no match against the younger, stronger Soul Eaters. Some of our allies are slain moments after engaging with the enemy.
We'll be wiped out in minutes at this rate!
A heady dose of anger and despair incites me to grab an arrow and take aim. But, damn it! Both friend and foe are moving in a violent blur. If I shoot from this far away, it may hit someone from our side. I'll need to get closer if I want to help - and "help" I most certainly will do. Because, somewhere within that chaos, Ewar is fighting for his life.
I have to find him!
I launch myself downhill, slipping and sliding on the pebbles underfoot. Once I regain my balance near the bottom of the incline, I break into a clumsy run. The carnage I see makes my stomach want to turn inside out. I try not to look at the bodies - especially the ones I suspect I knew personally - and focus on the people still alive. It isn't long before I spot an altercation on the outskirts of the battle. A giant of a man is taking on two Soul Eaters at once. He is tall, built like an ox, and extremely skilled in the art of combat.
But there is no way Mett can handle two Soul Eaters all by himself forever.
The bastards are toying with him like cats who have cornered a mouse, taking turns jabbing their spears and wearing him down. Mett has to be on constant guard. He blocks their attacks with his shield very well, but all it takes is one mistake and he'll be done for.
It's with this in mind that I take aim.
Fuckface One gets an arrow to the eye socket. He is dead long before he hits the ground. Meanwhile, Fuckface Two gawks open-mouthed at the unexpected fate of his battle buddy. While the idiot is distracted, Mett smacks the guy in the head with his mace. The cracking sound reminds me of a major leaguer hitting a home run. Fuckface Two bites the dust seconds later, his skull shattered like an eggshell.
Mett, now free from the two-on-one fight, stops to look in my direction. He jumps in place once it hits him who I am.
"How did you get here?!" he bellows.
"Never mind about that! Have you seen Ewar?"
Mett waves vaguely at the mass of battling men nearby. "He's somewhere..."
His information is lacking in detail, but it doesn't discourage me. I march forward to enter the fray. Just as quickly, Mett snatches my wrist and hangs on tight.
"You can't go in there!"
"Why not? I have a weapon."
He snorts. "Weapon or not, a little thing like you won't make it two steps before a Soul Eater stops you. You better get back to the cave while you still can."
I rip my hand indignantly from his grasp. "I am not going anywhere, Mett. I'm here to find my husband and help where I can. And since you can't tell me where he is, you can at least step aside so I can look for him myself!"
Mett and I engage in an intense staring match. Although he may be the size of the Hulk, underneath that tough exterior, he is marshmallow-soft. Before I know it, he exhales in defeat.
"Ewar is going to kill me," he grumbles.
"What do you-"
"It means I'll take you to him, Bella."
His sudden change of heart puts a smile on my face. "You will? Thank you!"
He rolls his eyes. "Don't thank me yet. Ewar isn't going to be happy about this, you know."
Mett instructs me to sandwich myself between his body and his shield. The shield blocks my view from the front, but I can still see fine from either side.
"Are you ready?" he asks.
"Yes. Let's go!"
With a mighty dinosaur roar, Mett charges forward, sweeping me along with him. He reminds me of a bulldozer plowing through a mound of dirt. Everyone in our path gets shoved out of the way. If it's an ally, they are left unharmed. If it's a Soul Eater, Mett makes sure to whack'em as we pass by. The battle is surging all around us. I hear grunts and moans; crazed yells and last gasps of breath. Bones crack and snap. Blood splatters like raindrops. I want to shut my eyes to the violence, but I cannot. I have to make sure I am keeping in step with Mett. Tripping would be a death sentence.
No warning whatsoever, Mett comes to a stop. "Ewar... I'm sorry!"
The shield is lifted. I am revealed to the world like a prize on a game show. Ewar is several steps away, sweaty hair plastered to his forehead. It is obvious he has been fighting hard for a while, but no one is attacking him at this moment.
His complexion pales as though he has just seen a ghost. "Bella!"
Now that I have set eyes on him, I feel a lot better. I glance at Mett. "Thanks again for your help."
He nods in acknowledgment and charges back into the madness, swinging his weapon like a windmill.
A hand grabs my arm and twirls me around as soon as Mett is gone. Ewar gets in my face, eyes burning like twin suns. To say he is furious would be an understatement. But I won't lie about the effect this is having on me. The intense gaze; his hair in disarray. He looks ridiculously hot. If we weren't standing in the middle of a battlefield - and, you know, risking death - I would unhesitatingly jump his bones.
"What are you doing here?" he demands gruffly.
"I came to warn you that the Soul Eaters found out about our plan! But I was too late..."
He grasps my shoulders like he's trying to shake some sense into me. "You shouldn't have come. Have you gone insane?!"
I squint in annoyance. "I have had one shitfest of a day, Ewar. I've been catcalled, chased after, attacked by a lunatic, and almost kidnapped - so don't even start with me!"
"You have to go, now!"
"How am I supposed to do that? We're surrounded!"
Ewar clenches his jaw. "I will find a way to get you out."
"There's no time for that! Since I'm here anyway, I think I should help..."
A yell loud enough to be heard in the heavens interrupts our heated exchange. A Soul Eater is headed this way, an axe firmly in his grip. Ewar sweeps me behind him and braces himself for the impending attack. With a mighty whack, the tip of the axe buries itself in Ewar's shield. As the dickhead attempts yanking it out to use it again, I slip around Ewar and release my arrow.
"Argh!"
The guy abandons his axe to deal with the projectile impaling his side. Ewar finishes him off with two well-placed blows of his mace.
"See," I cry triumphantly. "We can work together! We'll be like a team... Eek!"
Ewar lifts me one-handed around the hips and starts running. I am hauled like a sack of potatoes while he steers clear of Soul Eaters as best as he can. He eventually sets me next to the tallest object in this valley - a dead tree. It's leafless and has the ambiance of a discount Halloween decoration. It probably died as a result of last summer's drought.
"Get in the tree, Bella," he says.
"What! That thing is a death trap. One gentle breeze could blow it down!"
His eyebrows slant. "I said, GET IN THE TREE!"
His bossy attitude heightens the tension between us. Oh, ho, ho! He did NOT just talk to me that way! I'm opening my mouth to give him a well-deserved piece of my mind. However, another voice makes me reconsider everything.
"Damara! Damara!"
A Soul Eater is jabbing a finger excitedly in my direction. His nearest buddy overhears and stops beating the shit out of one of our allies to take a look.
The devious gleam in their eyes (plus the fact they both have stolen shields in their possession) convinces me to climb that fucking tree.
I clamor up the trunk like a squirrel on crack. My fingers meet brittle, half-rotted wood with frightening regularity. Certain branches crack ominously as I put my full weight on them. A couple of the smaller ones even break in my hands.
I'm more than halfway up when I stop to check what's going on down below. The two Soul Eaters are approaching. Ewar's back is against the tree trunk. He bangs his weapon against the shield, creating an intimidating racket.
"Don't step any closer!" he shouts at them. "You won't live past this point!"
One laughs. Neither takes his threat seriously.
Heart in my throat, I balance on the strongest available branch and shoot off two arrows in succession. One hits a Soul Eater. Thank God he wasn't using his stolen shield properly. Unfortunately, the other arrow misses the target. The surviving Soul Eater rushes forward to meet Ewar, weapons clashing. I try to shoot again at the asshole, but my vantage point sucks. There are too many branches in the way!
I have to hope that Ewar can handle the guy on his own.
Somehow, I gather enough awareness to take in my surroundings. The tree gives me a height advantage, allowing for a decent view of the raging battle. Alistair and Seti - a middle-aged geek and a literal child - are fighting back-to-back with a Soul Eater. Akob is fighting not too far away. He is bleeding from the shoulder and running out of steam. Ulei and Ateara are dealing with three Soul Eaters at once while also defending a fallen comrade. I'm almost certain that it is Bannar. He is much too still.
So much death. So much suffering. And it's all because of me.
Vengeance builds inside of my chest. I snatch an arrow from my quiver and send it sailing through the madness. I watch with smug satisfaction as the guy attacking Alistair gets one in the back, leaving Seti free to knock him over the head with his staff. More arrows rain down, my fingers throbbing from the constant rubbing of the bowstring. The Soul Eater that was after Jas goes down. The ones attacking Akob, Arl, and numerous others meet similar fates. I don't stop to consider the moral implications of taking their lives. After all, they were the ones who forced our hands. If I see a face painted fire engine red, I aim and fire.
The tide of the battle slowly changes. While I pick off the worst of the troublemakers from the safety of the tree, our fighters begin creating a miracle down below. This time WE have the advantage. There are now more of us alive than of them. Some of the Soul Eaters become frantic as they are surrounded and cut off from help. They behave like wild animals trapped inside a cage. Teeth barred, they go on the attack even when death is inevitable.
All goes well... until one man makes eye contact with me.
Ora seems to have materialized spontaneously within a pack of Soul Eaters. He begins moving through the sea of people, his gaze never leaving my face. I know exactly what he's up to. He's coming for me. My allies are so busy, no one pays him any mind.
This is it. When he dies, this stupid war ends - and it appears that I will have the honor of sending him straight to hell.
Never looking away from his damned smirk, I reach for my quiver. Only two arrows remain. I exhale, feeling the enormity of this moment, and notch one of them on the bowstring. Ora tilts his head quizzically. It's clear that he has never seen such a weapon before.
"Here's a present for you, asswipe," I mutter.
The arrow zips through the air, on track to pierce his dark heart. But Ora must have the reflexes of a cat. He grabs the nearest Soul Eater, using him as a human shield. Without a hint of remorse, Ora abandons him the instant the arrow punctures the guy's lung.
Jesus Christ. Ora just sacrificed one of his own men!
Fear tingling my spine, I scramble for my last arrow. Ora walks unhurriedly in my direction, his smirk growing. As I prepare to aim, my heart nearly leaps from my chest.
Somewhere between my race to the battle and climbing this tree, my very last arrow snapped in two while in the quiver. It's fucking useless now!
"Ewar..."
My voice cracks. When he doesn't respond, I strain my neck to look for him. He is still locked in battle and well away from the tree. That's when I realize a hard truth.
I'm on my own for now.
There are only seconds left to decide what to do. Climb to the top of this tree, or do I slide down the trunk and make a run for it? The latter option is discarded after a few seconds thought. Ora would probably chase me down easily.
So... up the tree it is! If I'm lucky, he has a fear of heights and will be too chicken to come after me.
I begin my ascent. Even while I avoid the weaker branches, there's a good chance I'll make a mistake and put too much trust in a rotted limb. I ignore the little voice in my head, the one that's screaming this tree is going to fall at any time. I don't need the negativity right now.
"Hello, Goddess," Ora calls out from the base of the tree. "I have always enjoyed a good chase, but sadly, time is running short. How about you give up this nonsense and join me on solid ground?"
I stop climbing for a moment. "No thanks. But here's a counteroffer for you. I'll stay up here, and you can take your thumb and shove it up your ass!"
His expression darkens like a thundercloud.
Using all his might, Ora begins shaking the tree, as though it will convince me to come down. All it accomplishes is making me more terrified. The tree creaks and cracks, sounding like it might collapse any second.
On the verge of hyperventilation, I let out a scream.
"Ewar!"
He pauses in the middle of his fight. His eyes bulge when he spots Ora. "Bel-"
Before he can say my name fully, his opponent strikes Ewar in the face with his club. It must have been a relatively weak blow, thank goodness. Ewar recovers quickly even though blood drips like a faucet from his nostrils.
The fight between them rages on.
After several more shakes of the tree, Ora changes tactics. He starts climbing. I shove down my fear and make my way higher. But, fuck me! As I get closer to the top, the more the tree bends under my weight. The upper levels begin swaying precariously. I cannot safely go any further. My fingers latch around the strongest limb, waiting for whatever will come next.
Since Ora is heavier than I am, his climb isn't as easy as mine. Limbs are breaking more frequently. He grits his teeth whenever he almost loses his grip and falls. But the bastard doesn't give up. He inches closer and closer to my perch. Much too soon, he is directly below me.
"Damara," he pants angrily. "Stop playing this game. You must come with me... Now."
I cling tighter to the branch I'm sitting on. "What's the point? Your men are surrounded. You're losing the battle! There's no way all of you will escape."
He flashes a brief smile. "A new army of Soul Eaters can be made later. As long as I have you, my plan worked out flawlessly."
His hand creeps along the branch like a snake, wrapping around my foot. Before he gets the chance to pull me to him, I reveal what I've been hiding behind my back all along.
In a flash, his wandering hand gets stabbed with my broken arrow.
"Ahh!"
The attack comes as a great surprise. He loses his grip on me and the tree. He flails around for support, just barely hanging on for dear life.
Damn it! So close.
I flee higher, ignoring the scary way the tree is bending like it's about to snap. It's a risky move. But I've already decided that if it comes down to it, I'd rather break my neck and die than ever survive as Ora's slave.
With a howl of rage, he pulls out the arrowhead from the back of his hand. Blood oozes from the wound. His feral eyes find me, lips curled in a snarl.
"Damara!"
I gulp at the sight of him. His face paint (and his foul mood) really brings out the demon in him. I'm all out of weapons and ideas. He'll be up here in no time.
What will he do to me in retaliation?
He resumes his climb. I can go no higher. As Ora creeps closer, the tree begins trembling like it's caught in an earthquake. He is reluctant to climb much higher. He finds the sturdiest branch available and uses it to hold on to. His hand reaches for me; I curl myself into a little ball. I refuse to make this easy on him. He grunts and stretches his arm. His fingertips brush against my clothing. I suck in a breath. Another attempt like that, and he will have me.
Ora realizes this as well. He grins as he strains just a bit harder. His effort pays off. Between his thumb and forefinger, he has caught a pinch of my leggings. I'm as good as his now.
Then, seemingly for no reason whatsoever, his smile vanishes. He pauses in his pursuit of me and looks downward.
An infuriated pair of pine-green eyes are glaring back at him.
Ewar is in the tree, balancing on the limb underneath Ora. Quick as lightning, he lunges for Ora's leg and drags him down, kicking and screaming.
Snap!
The branch supporting the two of them gives way. They both go crashing, plummeting toward the ground.
High up on my treetop perch, I scream until my lungs ache.
By some miracle, the lower branches of the tree lessens the severity of their fall. They land ungracefully in a heap, scratched up to hell and back but alive.
I let out a curse when Ora is the first on his feet.
He wastes no time and tackles Ewar, knocking him down. Ewar gathers the strength to throw him off. He hops up just as Ora rushes back. Neither have their weapons on hand. Their fight dissolves into wrestling and punches, black eyes and busted lips. It's ugly and brutal.
I have the urge to leap out of the tree to help. Thankfully, my rational side takes over, instructing me to climb down safely. When I touch solid ground, instead of finding relief, my stomach drops. The fight has turned one-sided.
Ora has Ewar in a choke hold.
Ora is behind him, the crook of an elbow crushing Ewar's throat. Ewar thrashes around but can't dislodge the choke hold. His fading complexion hints at his severe lack of oxygen. He won't make it much longer.
Hands gripping my hair, I search all around for something - ANYTHING - that might help. All I come across is my beloved bow, which must have fallen out of the tree while I was climbing up to the higher levels. Even without arrows, it has one possible use.
I sneak up behind Ora. Handling the bow like a baseball bat, I give him a whack behind his kneecaps.
"Ow!"
Just as I had hoped, he flinches, his grip slipping away from Ewar's windpipe. Ewar coughs and gasps for air, but due to his profound stubbornness, doesn't stop fighting for his life. He whirls around and plows into Ora, sending them both tumbling.
This time, Ewar is the quicker of the two.
He pins Ora down. His hand surrounds Ora's throat, demonstrating to the Soul Eater exactly what he just went through. Ora tries clawing at his face, but Ewar's longer arms keep him safely out of reach. That's not to say Ora isn't stirring up hell himself. He kicks his legs like a mule. If he manages to keep it up, he just might shake Ewar loose.
I throw myself into the struggle, landing on Ora's legs and locking my thighs around them. He thrashes harder, but I refuse to let go. Ewar and I are back-to-back, each one focused on subduing the leader of the Soul Eaters.
Minutes pass with no relief in sight.
Then, a change occurs.
Ora's movements become spastic, similar to someone suffering from a seizure. His limbs twitch.
A few more shivers and shakes, and he goes still.
At first, I'm afraid it's a trick on his part. I don't release my hold on him. But the longer he stays like this, the bigger my hope becomes.
I move off his legs and keep careful watch. Ora doesn't so much as move a muscle. I crawl on hands and knees to his head. Ewar hasn't once released the man's throat. I find Ora staring unblinking at the sky. A quick check of his pulse confirms my suspicions.
"Ewar," I whisper. "You can stop now."
I expect Ewar to release the man, to collapse from exhaustion. But, no. It's as though he can't hear a word I say. He continues to strangle the lifeless Soul Eater, shaking from the sheer force he is using.
This man - the one I love above all others - had to give up his civility to fight evil. Now he is lost, wild as the beasts on the plains.
I have to coax him back.
"Shh." I slip a gentle hand against his cheek. "You can let go now. Ora is dead."
Ewar blinks slowly. His eyes meet mine, full of confusion. "Dead?"
"That's right." I pry his fingers away from the body and keep hold of his hands. "Ora won't bother anyone ever again."
Ewar does a quick inhale. His expression goes all soft, the way it does when he sees me for the first time after having been away on a long hunt.
"Bella," he breathes.
He and I collide. We're holding on so tight not even a hurricane could blow us apart. Around us, the battle is nearing its end. Our allies have banded together to pick off the last of the Soul Eaters. Without their leader to rally them on, they are as good as dead.
While we hold one another, my fingers run through the hair on the nape of Ewar's neck. It's sweaty and chaotic and oh so beautiful. "We won, Ewar," I murmur into his ear. "It's over. It's finally over."
But it's not. Several things happen at once.
Someone yells. I glance over Ewar's shoulder. Jas is sprinting across the battlefield, shouting unintelligibly and pointing wildly at something. My eyes dart to a lone Soul Eater. His face is battered to a meaty pulp. He has managed to defy death and has gotten back on his feet.
A club is in his hand. He rears back, teeth clenching, and throws it with as much force as he can muster. It's trajectory - the back of Ewar's skull.
Without any conscious thought, I shove him out of the way.
A heartbeat later, there's an explosion of bright white light. Instant, crippling pain. A vat of black opens and swallows me whole.
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I find myself floating in a pool of nothingness. Or, perhaps "trapped" is a better way to describe this place. It's peaceful in a way, but the isolation is unnerving. I'm not sure why I'm here, or how I got here.
Then the visions begin.
At first, I see only colors and vague shapes. Sounds are distorted and weak, like static on a radio stuck between stations. When I concentrate, I make out faces through my cracked eyelids. They almost seem familiar. A woman with a caring face and no nonsense attitude is holding a bowl to my mouth. Behind her, a teary-eyed young woman stares helplessly in my direction.
I pull names out of nowhere. Ehmay and Alie.
What's going on?
Why is Ehmay caring for me? Am I sick? I hate being a burden. And where are we? We're in a hut, but whose it is I couldn't say. I try asking them questions, but my mouth refuses to cooperate. I can't move either. So, so weird...
One blink later and they are gone. Darkness sweeps the vision away, leaving me alone and just as confused as ever.
More visions come and go, temporarily rescuing me from the void. These visions are fleeting, playing out odd scenes before they vanish into the dim mist. A man is hovering over me (Arl?), applying something cool to my head. A little girl, whose name is on the tip of my tongue, lays a wild rose on my chest. People enter the room frequently. I see so many faces that they begin to blend together. I am always the star attraction. They often gather around until Ehmay shoos them away.
And, if I'm lucky, a man with the most gorgeous shade of bronze hair I've ever seen comes to visit.
His face is handsome. His presence is comforting. But his gaze is duller than a gray cloud. Where did his smile go? I can picture it, all warm and teasing in some past memory. All he ever does now is sit at the end of the bed and frown. Sometimes, he will grab my hand and speak like a man pleading for his life. I can't make out a word. Even so, I watch his lips move as if they hold all the secrets of the universe.
Ewar, my inner self reminds me. Your husband. Your world.
The next time I open my eyes, I find a blue sky above me. A breeze tickles my nose. Not a single person is within my field of view. I get the sense that I am moving, but how can that be? I'm flat on my back and couldn't move even if I tried.
This happens more and more. I'll open my eyes and see nothing except the sky. One time the stars even put in an appearance. It's beautiful, but I would much rather see a familiar face again.
At some point later, a range of mountains comes into view. They stretch across the horizon, white covering their summits. As I gaze in wonder at them, Ewar appears. It's been so long since I've seen him! But he doesn't show any pleasure at our reunion. He scoops me into his arms and carries me like a small child. An older man accompanies us. His arm is in a sling, and he squints a little as he walks.
Alistair. I remember him now. He seems to be acting as a guide today. I wonder where he's taking us?
When we reach the base of a mountain, Ewar readjusts my position in his arms. My head is propped higher, affording me a better view. What I see is puzzling. Instead of the shoes Jas made for me, sneakers are on my feet. My leggings are replaced with jeans. Why am I wearing these things? What happened to my clothes?
As Ewar begins to climb the mountain, the answer comes into view.
A tiny cave opening.
No.
I want to scream the word. Just two little letters. But it is hopeless. I have no control of my tongue. Ewar stares straight ahead with grim determination, carrying me to the cave containing the twin of the chair that brought me to him in the first place. If only I could move my mouth - or even a fucking finger! Then, maybe, I could find a way to communicate.
"I'll get better," I wish I could say. "I'll try harder. Just, please, don't send me away!"
As if the universe decided to give me a big f-you while I'm already at rock bottom, my vision begins to fog up around the edges. I fight it but am quickly pulled under, exiled back to my eternal nightmare realm. I lose sight of the cave, of Alistair, and most distressingly, Ewar.
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A/N- I'm sorry. :'( It had to be done. Not all the good guys make it out unscathed when war is involved, and this time Bella was among the casualties. There will be three more chapters after this one, so don't freak out yet.
Thanks for reading. And again, I'm so sorry!
*Edit- Bella is NOT dead! She's in a semiconscious state but very much still alive. Sorry for the confusion.
