Before you start reading; I wanted to recommend you a small playlist you can listen while reading because those were the pieces I listened to while writing.

EFISIO CROSS / And she was born from the above

EFISIO CROSS / Solomon's Shulamite

EFISIO CROSS / Laying hands on Baldwin IV

EFISIO CROSS / Elisheva

EFISIO CROSS / Nothing is impossible if you believe

EFISIO CROSS / Through the storms we stand

EFISIO CROSS / And Jesus wept


Stella found herself in a position so close that her arms were resting on Brandon's chest, and her face was almost nestled into the curve of his neck. Brandon's arms were wrapped tightly around her, his deep breaths indicating he was still asleep. How could he hold me so tightly even while sleeping? She lifted her head to glance at Brandon's sleepy face. Being this close to him stirred such strange feelings inside her that she couldn't tell if she was melting or trembling. His cold demeanor hadn't left him; even while sleeping his eyebrows remained furrowed. Though she felt an urge to trace his facial features with her finger, she restrained herself and continued to study him. Handsome and arrogant, and I'm foolishly falling for it. No matter what, one thing was certain: no matter how strong her feelings for Brandon were, Stella couldn't erase the past in her head.

Forgetting was too difficult for her. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered the friends she had lost. In the war, by taking their side and targeting the fairies, Brandon had shattered any possibility that existed between them. When the trigger was pointed at her and Brandon fired without hesitation, Stella couldn't forget that bullet, barrier or not. The traumas left by wars were unforgettable, but Stella had succumbed to her emotions then. She had cursed her own foolishness, berating her inexperience. The fires and storms within her had never ceased for a moment, and every time she saw the specialists, those fires would flare up, causing an inferno inside her.

"It's strange to see someone who's not afraid to be so close to him."

Startled, Stella turned towards the voice coming from behind her, clutching the cloak still draped over her as if she were naked underneath. A surprised and frightened cry escaped her lips. In response, Brandon's eyes immediately opened, looking for Stella. The shock and fear in her eyes were enough to prompt a swift reaction from him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and covering her more securely with the bulletproof cloak and using his arm as a barrier to protect her body as well. Stella looked in astonishment at the young and handsome man standing before them, clad in a uniform similar to those of the specialists, crouching down and polishing his sword. Or something like that, as all the swords were neon-lit ad electric-powered, it probably wasn't polishing what they were doing, but she didn't know what it was either.

"Good morning, or good evening. It's hard to tell the time here."

Brandon's eyebrows furrowed further as he cast a glance at the Dark Mountain specialist standing before him. His memory was strong enough to memorize all the specialists from a very young age, and he instantly recognized the man as Aaron. The same rivalry that existed between witches and fairies also applied to the specialists of Red Fountain and Dark Mountain. He knew that the specialist who had deceived the underground queen and become king was also a specialist of Dark Mountain. What he didn't know and really wanted to know now was why and how this guy was here.

"Why are you here?"

His voice was alluring enough to indicate he had just woken up but firm enough to clearly convey his anger and frustration. Stella, focusing on the first part, tried to calm herself, but it was better for her reflexes to remain tense at this moment, so her gaze returned to the man. He was probably another specialist around Brandon's age, quite handsome and muscular, but he paled in comparison to Brandon. Stella furrowed her brows, trying to understand why she was comparing this stranger to Brandon, but before she could give herself an answer, the man sighed and replied to Brandon.

"For the same reason as you. I've come to find Darkar."

"Alone?" Brandon spoke in a clear voice, shaking off any remnants of sleepiness and beginning to interrogate the man. In response, the man sighed and glanced at Stella, raising his eyebrows and scanning her thoroughly while whistling like he had just seen her.

"Wow, who's this doll?"

Brandon's growl-like response caused Stella to tremble, and he pulled her behind him, leaning towards the man while with another hand grabbing his sword just in case.

"If you keep looking at her, I'll knock your teeth out."

Aaron raised his hands in a gesture of innocence, turning to Brandon. "Since when did fairies and Red Fountain specialists start working together? I thought you hated each other."

Brandon looked at the fool standing before him for a moment. He already disliked him but needed to know how he ended up in here, at the pit they had fallen. Seeing that the fire he had lit last night had not gone out, he scrutinized Aaron. Survival skills were taught everywhere, but a highly skilled specialist could make a fire under such limited conditions. Aaron had rekindled the fire Brandon had lit without letting it go out. How long had he been standing over them, and how had Brandon not noticed? The scent and warmth of Stella had enveloped him so much that his body had relaxed more than it should have, his reflexes had gone into deep retreat. Should he be mad at himself or at the blonde who was trying to peek behind him? Stella spoke, ending his internal conflict.

"It's not the first time we're working together on a mission."

The man looked at Stella with admiration, nodding as if he understood, while Brandon tried to control himself through his increasing frustration. His face revealed no emotion, but Aaron's glances at Stella felt like needles piercing him. Other than that, his approach seemed odd and Brandon could feel darkness fill the cave they were in. A gift left by his mother was still inside him. And whenever there was evil around, Brandon could just sense it. Knowing this it was hard to let go of something, especially this bastard whose eyes were focused on Stella.

"Where's your team?"

Though his voice didn't betray him, his anger must have been evident, and Aaron finally shifted his gaze from Stella to him. Placing his sword aside, he sighed and looked around the cave.

"My friends and I were actually close to the end, but the sensitive traps activated at the last moment, and I found myself dragged into one of them. I walked here. Then I found you, fanned your fire, and was just sitting down when the fairy girl woke up." Grumbling at the way he referred to her, Stella glared at Aaron. Fairy girl, she thought, do I call you a muscle head? Brandon was as irritated as Stella, but he couldn't tell if it was because of his own feelings or because of Stella's discomfort. "How long have you been on the mission?"

Aaron, sensing both their anger, asked a question to ease the tension. "Five days now. We were delayed in underground kingdom." Aaron nodded and sighed.

"One of our friends had to leave behind his very expensive beans for us to continue. Otherwise, the woman would have taken us all as her husbands."

Despite trying to hold back, Stella couldn't help but giggle. She couldn't help but think about the conversation that would arise if Tecna's antipathy towards people met Amentia's lustfulness. Both would probably tense up, but Tecna would lose it. Two pairs of eyes turned to her, and Stella felt her cheeks flush. Aaron grinned, clearly enjoying it.

"I'm Aaron, by the way."

He said this directly to Stella and of course Brandon noticed this too, glad that he finally found the reason he needed to explode. His eyes swept over Aaron as if he wanted to tear him apart. The grin vanished from Aaron's face, replaced by straight, thin lips as he furrowed his brows and lowered his head. Brandon was so good at intimidating someone that his gaze alone could make a person shrink.

"Weren't you expelled last year? What are you doing on a mission?"

Aaron looked at Brandon in surprise, knowing exactly who he was talking to from the beginning but realizing that he was more than what was described. A brilliant mind and a great strategist. Brandon Ward, the youngest commander in the universe, and a specialist who had turned down numerous knighthood offers from many kingdoms. People had found it arrogant of Brandon to reject becoming a knight of a kingdom, and for a while, he had been known as a complete ice prince. But Brandon didn't want to be governed by any king. When Red Fountain knighted him, he continued his commandership with pride, carrying both titles proudly. Now, Aaron wasn't wondering how Brandon could recognize him. Because he knew, he never forgets anything and knows everything.

"Yeah, um, well, there was an amnesty. I returned."

Though he struggled not to roll his eyes, a grunt escaped his lips. A typical rich kid, summarizing his thoughts with a sharp gaze that wanted to cut Aaron down. "Would you two mind if I joined you?" Stella could predict how Brandon would react without even looking at him. It wasn't difficult, after all; Brandon's dismissiveness was clear as he looked at Aaron with a sneer on his lips, shaking his head and muttering something to himself. As Aaron looked at him expectantly, Brandon simply said, "No." Aaron, however, seemed to have misunderstood and smiled with satisfaction.

Stella thought she was going crazy, going back and forth while looking to a Mountain and a Fountain specialist. Why were they dragging it out so much? Even though she was still tired, she wanted to complete this damn mission, but all they were doing was stare at each other like trapped animals!

"By no, he means you can't come with us." Said Stella and rolled her eyes, leaning her back against the wall, and turning her gaze to the dark cave path. This was what miscommunication looked like, and remembering that the person in question was Brandon only made her angrier because the man was never one for conversation, and it was clear that this wasn't something he did deliberately to annoy her. It was different; usually, Brandon could have long conversations with Stella. Although Stella interpreted this as him trying to keep things from dragging out, his conversations with her could end up being much longer than she anticipated.

Aaron, looking back and forth between Stella and Brandon, didn't hide his astonishment. Now was a time for unity, and he certainly hadn't expected the Red Fountain commander to be so selfish and egotistical, even in such a time. Who could blame him? He cleared his throat, and glanced at Stella reflexively—an involuntary action—and it was clear that her beauty had affected him. Having never had the chance to meet her before, and for some reason feeling like he had already lost her to Brandon, a vague sense of hopelessness settled within him. Brandon, clearly irritated by this look, growled as he stood up. Instead of yanking Stella, he helped her up gently, took his cloak from the ground, and placed it back on his shoulders as he turned to Aaron.

"You've come this far on paths that we cleaned. If you turn back now, you'll pass through clean paths again. I don't like those who try to take advantage at the last minute. So realize it yourself and leave before I make you."

Aaron looked at Stella for help, and while Stella frowned at Brandon, she made it clear with a shrug that no help would come from her. She thought she didn't really need anyone at the moment. Not knowing the state of her friends and being stuck here with pointless conversations was testing her patience. After hearing Brandon's suspicions, she was now certain there was something more behind the message from the girls. They were in danger, and instead of trying to reach them, she was stuck here, having fallen asleep with her enemy, and now listening to his absurdly long conversation with a man he probably didn't like at all.

When Aaron tried to approach Stella as a last resort, he instantly realized his mistake. Brandon's weak point. Brandon, in a speed defying light, pushed Aaron against the wall, placing his elbow right at his throat, as Aaron struggled to breathe.

"Why do you keep trying to approach her? What do you want?!"

Aaron, trembling, swallowed hard and shook his head, but even that hurt. His windpipe was straining for even the tiniest air molecule as Brandon got closer, trying to hear the raspy words coming from his mouth. Stella, looking at the two specialists in shock and anger, briefly thought about walking away. Her eyes moved to the dark path of the cave, and she hesitated for a moment before looking back at Brandon and biting her lips. His current anger would surely make Brandon slow to notice her absence. But Stella couldn't help but wonder if she would endanger the mission even more by doing so. Finally, she sighed and started walking towards Brandon, knowing she could calm him down. As she reached for Brandon's arm, Aaron's words made her freeze in her tracks, and she stared in horror at the expert pinned against the wall.

"Why are you protecting a creature whose only value lies between her legs and in her blood? You know how worthless and empty they are."

Stella couldn't see Brandon's reaction, but she didn't need to; she could smell his anger. She wasn't blind to the fact that Brandon detested fairies, but when someone insulted Stella, he turned into someone terrifying. She was also aware of the effect and attraction between them, which was mutual, but that wasn't the point. The problem was the existence of a mutual hatred so big and undeniable amidst this attraction. The attraction between Brandon and Stella would leave nothing but hatred if it culminated in a single night. Stella feared and hated this situation based on possibilities because not wanting that one night to happen would be the biggest mistake and injustice she could do to herself.

What had Aaron said? A creature whose only value lies between her legs and in her blood? It was a strange superstition, but since fairy blood had healing properties, many fairies had been previously slaughtered and tortured in various ways until not a single drop of blood was left in their bodies. Torture on a dead body, Stella shuddered, and that unwelcomed sadness she despised surged within her. People had a clear thought: fairies were just fancy beautiful objects, their blood valuable because it was healthy and healing, and every detail of their bodies could be taken and used as beautiful ornaments or surgical reserves for insecure women. Sadness turned into nausea; it was genocide against fairies, and Stella hated every form of genocide.

As her gaze turned back to Aaron, her hands began to glow, the screams of innocent fairies echoing in her mind. Stella had always wondered why they felt the need to kill someone who had done nothing wrong. Fairies that harmed no one, living peacefully on their own. Fairies who fought for the goodness, beauty, and health of the universe. Fairies who brought peace when it was missing. With tears struggling to be contained, Stella found it as hard to control her anger. Her glowing body rose with her hair fluttering, and Brandon, feeling the warmth spreading from the hot yellow light she emitted, quickly turned and released Aaron. As his eyes roamed over Stella's radiant silhouette, he didn't try to hide his admiration. He had always lived knowing she was the most beautiful girl in the universe. As he took a step towards her, Stella signaled him to stop and gestured for him to move aside.

"Stella, you'll get in trouble. Let me handle it." She didn't need to hold back her laughter; her anger was so intense that all the facial muscles required for that action seemed dead. Before Aaron could utter another word, Stella had already enveloped him with such a bright light that it seemed even his eye sockets were filled with a radiant halo, choking him. As Aaron screamed, writhing from the pain of the light struggling to escape from within him, Stella felt no remorse while watching him fall first to his knees and then face down, a lifeless, pale body with empty eye sockets.

Her feet touched the ground and her tear-filled eyes remained fixed on Aaron's lifeless body. That ridiculous hatred everyone harbored had finally made her a killer. She knew there was a difference between killing in battle and killing creatures attacking you. She also knew this was self-defense, but this time, Stella had acted first, provoked, and killed someone without a second thought.

As Brandon slowly approached her, he shielded Aaron's lifeless body with his own to draw Stella's attention. When Stella lifted her gaze to him, a tear rolled down her cheek. Pain, Brandon had tasted it many times before, but seeing Stella like this was different. Her bright amber eyes looked dull as if the light there had gone out. Brandon cupped her cheeks with his hands, resting his forehead against hers, and spoke softly to calm her, "Breathe, sunshine, breathe." Stella, looking at him, wanted to push him away for a moment, but the part of her that wanted to seek solace won, and she began to follow Brandon's words.

As her chest expanded with each breath, she exhaled, not caring that her breath hit Brandon's lips. Brandon struggled to keep his eyes open, nodding as he continued to guide Stella. Reflexively licking his lips, Stella's gaze dropped from his eyes to his mouth, and as she took another deep breath, she exhaled again onto Brandon's lips. Brandon's hand slid down to Stella's waist, pulling her close with a firm grip, their bodies pressing together as he spoke with maddening slowness and silence, "You did nothing wrong. Darkar's creatures did, I saw it, and I'm your witness. Okay? Do you understand?"

Stella shook her head and another tear fell from her eye, but Brandon instantly wiped it away with the hand resting on her cheek and caressed it slowly. "I'm a murderer." Damn it, thought Brandon.

"Stella, no, if you hadn't done it, I would have. He was already dead."

Stella shook her head again, unable to prevent a sob from escaping her lips. She knew that if it happened again, she would do the same thing, but now that it was over, and worse, that she had become a murderer, it was a heavy burden. Even after the war, Stella hadn't been able to recover for months, going through the most difficult period of her life by confronting those she had killed to protect herself and her friends in her nightmares. "I'm no longer innocent and pure enough for you to hate me."

Her lips trembled as her gaze shifted back to Brandon's eyes, and for the first time, she saw pain there. Initially thinking it was pity and recoiling, than she realized it was because Brandon was hurting from seeing her like this. Too stunned to say anything further Stella could only stare in his eyes.

"You will always be innocent and pure, Stella. Enough to drive me crazy."

Swallowing hard, Brandon caressed Stella's cheek as if he wanted to merge with her skin. The storm inside him was indescribable. A single word or action from this girl so close to him was enough to make him put the entire universe at her feet. As Stella brushed her forehead against Brandon's, he tightened his grip on her waist as if she might escape, pressing her closer. A moan escaped Stella's lips, and Brandon cursed quietly. There had always been something they avoided, especially between the two of them, but now was neither the time nor the place. Yet their bodies, hearts, and souls were ready to ignore their brains' warnings. As Stella stepped back from the man advancing on her, Brandon swallowed again, trying to regain his composure, but Stella's scent had taken his breath away. The only thing he could grasp was his desire for her.

"I hate you," she said while he growled and pressed her body against the wall. She moaned involuntarily. "I hate you, sunshine." His lips captured Stella's immediately. She moaned deeply, her hands gripping Brandon's biceps as if she might fall. Brandon's hand moved from Stella's cheek to her nape, and his other hand slid down to squeeze her hip, pulling her even closer and deepening the kiss. As muffled moans spilled from their lips, Stella had already forgotten the dead body lying just two meters away. Brandon's lips imprisoned her lower lip, sucking hard to part her lips before his tongue plunged into her mouth. This was the most challenging part. His body responded instantly, hardening, and he struggled not to press against her too roughly. His lips devoured hers with a burning intensity, thirsting for her in a way he had never felt before.

They had waited, both of them. Unknowingly, they had waited for this day. They had resisted the pull, ignored their bodies' desires. Stella's fingers gripped Brandon's biceps tightly, and he kissed her as if he couldn't get enough. He tilted his head, trying to kiss her deeper, first to the right, then to the left, but it was never enough. He was starving, and his hunger grew. He cursed himself for waiting like a fool and kissed her deeply, knowing the greatest injustice he could do to Stella would come when this kiss ended.

As he made a small move to pull away, Stella quickly grabbed his head, pulling him back to prevent the kiss from ending. Not yet. She knew it too; this wouldn't last, and it would end here. Without reaching for more, this kiss would be their seal. Brandon squeezed her hip, massaging slowly, while Stella wrapped her arms around his neck, rising on her tiptoes to plunge her tongue into his mouth, becoming the explorer this time. Brandon made a sound between a moan and a growl, lifting her suddenly so she wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands roamed her body, and Stella gave herself entirely to the kiss, surrendering to the man she loved to the point of fainting but hated for the impossibility. Her lips were swollen, breathless, yet she didn't pause, her lips barely parting from his to trail kisses down his neck, as his hands slipped under her uniform to caress her bare waist. Stella pressed herself against Brandon, letting out a muffled moan, which made Brandon look at her with hunger.

Stella returned the hungry look, but they both knew they needed to stop. They were close to the end, in every sense. After this, it wouldn't just be their kiss that ended. Knowing this, Brandon kissed her deeply and long this time, making Stella tremble. Their mouths weren't moving, but their lips were so tightly sealed together that Brandon realized this was the greatest void he had ever felt. Stella's hand moved to Brandon's stubble cheek while his grip tightened on her waist, his mouth remaining glued to hers. Stella let her hand slide down to his chest, squeezing his shoulder first, and then moving lower, until the dizziness from lack of air forced her to push him away. Her hand pressed harder against his chest, making him lift his forehead to hers.

Brandon held the woman he adored tightly. He gave them both a little more time, not wanting to think about what came next. Stella was breathing deeply, looking at Brandon through half-open eyelids. She felt like she might faint, and though Brandon didn't feel much different, he was better at hiding it. He lifted his hand to brush away a lock of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear slowly. Her hair was in a sweet disarray, and Brandon realized he preferred her like this over any other look. Seeing the marks his lips left on her skin, knowing her rapid breaths were because of him, witnessing the vibrant red and swollen state of her lips made him want to live the rest of his life in this moment. Just him and Stella. As he stroked her soft, smooth cheek, he had no idea the same storm was raging inside Stella. As they looked at each other, both out of breath, their thoughts were overwhelmingly painful.

Brandon pulled Stella's face closer, planting another kiss on her lips. Stella closed her eyes, letting the short kiss sink in this time. As Brandon reluctantly pulled his lips away, he exhaled sharply, his anger aimless.

"Say it," he urged.

Stella kept her eyes closed, biting her lip to push back the tears threatening to fall. Her tongue wouldn't form the words Brandon wanted to hear. She was burning inside, her body where it wanted to be, yet she couldn't understand why she insisted on leaving. Her brain was clearly commanding her to flee, and Stella struggled to obey.

"I hate you," she whispered.

As Brandon pressed his forehead against Stella's, he shook his head. He couldn't remember ever being this tense before. Even when Stella stood before him in the underground kingdom, dazzling and almost mesmerizing, Brandon had managed to keep control. He paid for it in his nightmares, but he had still managed to take control without Stella noticing. But now, the situation was different. Brandon had tasted the forbidden fruit, and his body had taken over. His brain, like rebellious limbs, was malfunctioning. His entire being wanted the woman in his arms, and even though he waged war against it, he was losing. Stella waited, observing Brandon's face when he didn't respond to her words. She waited and waited. But Brandon did nothing except look at her.

"Say it." Even though her voice sounded foreign to him, Brandon shook his head from side to side. Stella frowned, continuing to wait, but Brandon didn't respond. "Brandon..."

Brandon closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and hugged Stella tightly. As he buried his face in the curve of her neck, he wrapped his arms firmly around her body. Her numb legs loosened and she landed on the ground, Stella unquestioningly wrapped her arms around him and waited for a while. "You need to say it."

Brandon, caressing Stella's hair and breathing in her scent, didn't respond. It wasn't Stella speaking, it was as if his brain was commanding him to do what needed to be done. "In my life, I have never hated you this much, Stella." Stella felt herself shudder. This wasn't like the hatred they usually expressed to each other. It was always different anyway. Stella was aware of this since she was one of which to say this. But this time, as she shuddered again, Brandon tightened his arms and pulled her closer. Then, suddenly, he let go. Stella, as if anticipating this, leaned her back against the wall, allowing distance to come between them.

As her gaze fell to the ground to avoid looking at Brandon, she faced another truth she needed to escape. The truth that she was a murderer. Taking a shaky breath, she looked at where Aaron's lifeless body had been but was startled to see that he was no longer there.

"Brandon!" Brandon was looking at the bruise he left on Stella's neck, when his eyes immediately found Stella's filled with panic, he reached for his sword while turning around to see where she was looking, as he saw the empty space. Aaron was gone. As his gaze silently scanned the cave, he stepped back, pulling Stella behind him. When a short-lived bright orange glow appeared behind him, he didn't feel the need to turn around; Stella had transformed. Even though he wanted to turn and see her in her fairy form, he had a different situation to focus on.

"I don't think the enemies should be this close."

As they both turned instantly towards the dark path of the cave, Brandon readied his sword, and Stella was already in her defensive stance, prepared to attack at the slightest movement. Her gaze fell on Brandon, a worry she had never known surfaced. She was afraid Brandon might get hurt. She had always had this worry, but Stella had never allowed it to show, until now. Aaron moved towards them, Stella didn't know whether to be shocked or terrified. With eyes as black as coal, no pupils, it was hard to say it was Aaron, but there he was, standing in front of them.

"Darkar." Aaron chuckled, nodding at Brandon, while Stella accepted it without much surprise. She knew Darkar didn't have a body of his own and usually borrowed bodies, but how had he borrowed a dead body? How could someone who fed on souls enter a soulless body? Unless… Turning to Aaron with shock and horror, Stella couldn't even feel relieved that she wasn't a murderer. Aaron had already died, and had they been talking to Darkar all this time?

Turning to Darkar with merciless eyes, she asked with fury, "Where are my friends?"

"I'm glad you got straight to the point. They're waiting for you, of course, my dear, you're very late." As she was about to lunge forward in anger, Brandon caught her arm and pulled her back, wrapping his arm around her. "Stella, no."

"Yes, Stella dear, you'd better listen to your boyfriend. I may need you, so perhaps I can't kill you, but don't think I'll spare him." As her gaze darkened, the misty spell of moon power spread around her like a howling wolf. Her transformation shifted from warm yellows and oranges to grays and whites, even Brandon was taken aback. It was a situation he had never witnessed before, but Stella could reflect her anger better when it came to moon powers. Darkar grinned with satisfaction, but his expression changed instantly, "I'm bored." He said, and shot a snake-like attack towards Stella and Brandon. They both dodged in different directions, and Stella threw a smoke bomb at Darkar, followed by a light attack from the moon's mirror without hesitation. Darkar was the lord of darkness, and his greatest enemy was, of course, the fairy who carried the light source of the entire universe, Stella. With an impact that could split the sky, Stella launched attack after attack at Darkar, and Brandon, unable to get involved, shielded his eyes from the blinding light.

With a massive roar, Darkar lunged forward and grabbed Stella's arm, causing her to scream and instinctively shove the light sphere she had formed into his empty eye sockets, making the light grow and causing Darkar to moan in pain. Though physical pain might not affect him much, as he used someone else's body, darkness had no chance against light. As Brandon opened his eyes, now that the light had somewhat lessened, and saw Darkar gripping Stella's arm, he felt the last thread of his patience snap. He grabbed his sword without hesitation and cut off Aaron's arm. Blood splattered around but Brandon ignored it, raising his sword again, however Stella, hugging his chest, pushed him back and looked at Darkar's about-to-explode body. "We need to get out of here!" Brandon shook his head side to side trying to cover Stella's body with his own in case Darkar attacks, he tried to pull her behind him again, but Stella stopped him, cupping his face and talking to him with a firm and clear voice.

"He's trapped, I'm about to make him explode, we need to get out, the cave will collapse!" Brandon looked at her in shock, but Stella knew she didn't have time for more explanations. She began enlarging the trap light she had infiltrated into the body. "Brandon, you go! I'll follow, you go!" Brandon looked at her angrily, shaking his head firmly, but Stella knew she didn't have time to deal with his stubbornness. She lifted her free hand towards Brandon, looking at him apologetically. "I hate you." As Brandon roared Stella's name loud enough to hurt his throat, she had already teleported him to the cave's exit.

Suddenly, her wings and entire form began shifting through shades of yellow, orange, gray, and white. Stella was using both her Enchantix transformations. As the heat of the sun combined with the cold of the moon, the inevitable lights intertwined. Darkar tried to escape Aaron's body, while Stella transformed her ring into the scepter, thrusting it with all her might into his empty eye socket, and pinning him there. They both screamed simultaneously, Stella from the power surging from her and Darkar realizing this was it for him. Brandon was left outside, unable to enter the cave due to the overwhelming light and heat, in a collapsed state.

Feeling more helpless than ever, Brandon's hands began to tremble. He looked around; there was no one. It was so silent, as if even the creatures were absent. As he looked around with tearful eyes, the tears streaming down his cheeks surprised even him.

"Stella." His murmur was too faint to reach Stella, but Brandon felt this way for the first time. The cave began to shake, as Brandon looked with fear at the collapsing heaps of stones. "Stella!" The entrance of the cave was closing, and Stella still hadn't come out. "Stella!" He tried to push and pull the falling stones out of his way. He realized how futile his efforts were, but his increasing helplessness only fueled his frustration. "Stella! This can't be happening, Stella!"

The crushing emotions inside him became so overwhelming that they made him want to scream, and it felt like the falling stones from the cave weren't just tumbling off a cliff but were being neatly stacked inside him. As he fell to his knees, tears began to flow more freely. Brandon had lost the woman he loved, despite his nightmare warning him.

Notes:

I feel extremely sad please don't touch me... Darkar's gone because I don't like to keep enemies too alive like they're unbeatable, besides it would've been Stella the one to kill him anyway but I just wanted to end his story and the danger he emitted. As for Brandon and Stella I wanted for them to open up before things went down... Actually I wasn't planning for the ending to be so, I don't know, harsh? But my playlist and Pinterest board lead me to here, I apologize..