The Last Saint

28: Nature

Adam wandered off with Beth, while Eve checked in with Cain. He looked around. Liz re-united with Ryan, and Kara talked with them as well. Meanwhile, Sybil and Fate talked to Baum.

"Did you hear about Garamound?" Adam said.

Beth nodded sadly. "Yeah, Ryan told me."

"How did you survive? The First's attack, I mean."

She sighed. "My parents protected me. I managed to get away from the worst of it, but I was bleeding and my head was fuzzy. I could barely see. I remember making it to the streets, but I passed out, and when I woke up I was in the hospital with Fate by my side."

"So Fate protected you?" He asked.

"Yeah. And then some things happened along the way. When Fate was captured, Ryan and I ended up joining Baum. He said you would be coming here to rescue Eve, and Ryan convinced him to come to help you and save Fate." She paused. "Adam, about Eve..."

"I know. I have to sort some things out with her. I know what she did," he replied.

Cain called everyone's attention over to the middle of the courtyard. The whole group gathered together. Fate stayed close to Sybil, while Baum lagged behind. Everyone started to gather around Eve.

Suddenly, Eve nodded to Cain. Sybil realized it just as Adam did. Cain stood in front of Fate. And when Baum got close, Eve plunged her sword into his gut. Cain swung as well, but Sybil shouted and shoved Fate out of the way. He caught her in the neck, and she fell to the ground, dying almost immediately.

"No!" Fate yelled. Kara immediately grabbed onto Eve, and Ryan pulled Baum away. 

Cain began to move towards Fate, but Ryan and Liz blocked his path.

"Eve! What are you doing!" Adam yelled.

She head butted Kara to get away, and quickly swung her sword, cutting Kara's throat. Liz and Beth both screamed. Adam raised his hand, and a blast of air magic hit Eve, sending her flying back. Ryan raised his bow and aimed an arrow at Cain's head. Adam rushed to Kara as she fell to the ground, choking on her blood. He pulled her into his arms and tried to put pressure onto the wound, but he couldn't save her.

Eventually, the life disappeared from her eyes, and her body grew cold and limp. He gently rested her on the ground, and stood up, wiping the tears from his eyes. Eve struggled to stand up.

Beth gripped her sword and started marching towards Eve. "You bitch! I'll kill you!"

Adam rushed between them, and held his arms out. "No!"

"Step aside Adam!" Beth shouted.

"I wont!"

"This murderer just killed Kara! She tried to kill me, as well!"

"I KNOW WHAT SHE'S DONE!" Adam yelled. "But I won't let you kill her."

Ryan scowled. "God dammit Adam she's not your ally! Eve is the enemy! That's why I came back! I came to tell you, Baum and Fate were never your enemies! It's always been Eve!"

"That's a lie!" Eve shouted. "It's the Fourth! He's turned them against us Adam! I always knew it, your friends can't be trusted! They've hated me from the start, they want to tear us apart!"

Adam clenched his fist, turned, grabbed Eve by the collar and slapped her across the face. "Monster!"

She started to cry, her eyes wide in disbelief, taking a step back. "W-what did you call me?"

"They're right Eve. You betrayed me. You attacked my friends! You killed Kara!" Adam yelled back at her.

She fell to her knees sobbing. "I-I was only trying to protect us! I did it because I love you! Kara was with Second! She was going to betray you! She's already betrayed you! And Beth... she tried to take you away from me. She wanted you for herself, she said I could never be with you!"

"I've loved him from the beginning!" Beth yelled. "But then you showed up and started acting like you owned him!"

"I was scared of losing you to her," Eve cried out. "I waited my whole life for you, I couldn't... I couldn't lose you like that!"

"So your solution is to kill her?" Adam said. "Just like you MURDERED Kara?!"

"I'm sorry! I wasn't right in the head! Adam, I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt you. I was only ever trying to protect you, please believe me!"

Beth stepped closer, gripping her sword. "Do we need any more proof than this? Kill her!"

Adam shook his head. "No. I need her, at the very least I need her help to defeat Taiyang and Freyja. I can't beat them without her, and they need to pay for what they did. Especially Taiyang. He killed Garamound."

Ryan sighed, and grabbed Fate, dragging her near Baum, who created a portal. "If she stays Adam, we go."

Adam nodded, and turned to Ryan, walking up to him. He stuck out his hand. Ryan shook it. "I know. Take care of yourself Ryan. When we've defeated the First, I'll reach out to you and we can decide on the future from there."

Beth sighed and walked over to Ryan as well. Finally, Liz joined them. Liz turned to Adam too, and gave him a hug. She was going with Ryan. Adam turned to Fate, and apologized for Sybil's death. She nodded.

"None of the futures in which you leave here with us, end in anything but tragedy," Fate said. "You need to be by Eve's side to make the miracle happen."

Adam nodded. "I know."

The two Saints, Ryan, Liz and Beth all left through the portal. Cain put away his sword and shrugged. Adam opened another portal, back to his own house, and walked over to Eve.

He held out his hand. Wordlessly, she took it, and he pulled her to her feet. He then picked up her sword. She didn't ask for it back, and he didn't offer it to her. He walked back to the portal, taking one last lingering look at Kara's body before he stepped through.