Earth and Sky

Chapter 21

Scarlet

As I head deeper into the forest, I slowly let off steam. After complaining about Araquiel and Zeru for about half an hour, I'm completely normal again and ready to apologize to my friends. I turn around and suddenly realise something. While I was lost in my thoughts, I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. I am completely lost.

"Hello?" I shout, hoping that someone is nearby who is able to help me. In the end, I wish I hadn't.

"Hello, princess." Somebody slurs from behind me.

I whip around and see somebody approaching me. There face is almost completely covered except for a strange, eerie smile.

"Shadow." I whisper, unable to raise my voice in fear.

"The lonely princess." He mocks. "What are you doing out here without your friends?"

I bite my lip and don't respond. In reply to this, Shadow chuckles.

"Oh yeah, you don't consider them that anymore."

"That's a lie!" I shout before quickly clamping my hands over my mouth. In my anger, I forgot just how dangerous this guy is.

He slowly starts walking towards me. "Oh, my mistake. The fact that you were ignoring them and running off into the forest made me think otherwise."

"I was angry, but I will never turn against my friends."

His smile falls into a frown. "Well that's a darn shame. I was going to ask you for your help to defeat our precious princess."

"She is my best friend, nothing in the world could make me work with you."

Shadow disappears from in front of me as soon as I complete my sentence. Before I can try to look for him, hands wrap around my wrists and I am pulled into a chest.

"Nothing my poor princess?"

"N- nothing." I studder in fear from, that thing, that is holding onto me.

His hands start to move up my arms until they hold me tight under my chest. "What if, there was a way for your friend to get out of this happy, healthy, alive. Would you help then?"

"What do you mean?" I whisper wondering if there really is a way everybody can get out of this free.

"Well, it's a trade. A life for a life. But this time, the fate isn't death."

His arms hold me tighter, squeezing me so hard it's difficult to breath.

"Who?" I breath out.

"You."

I stomp on Shadow's foot and roll out of his embrace. I quickly drop down into a fighting position.

"Never in a million years."

He approaches me, palms up in surrender. "I'm not going to kill you, or anybody of your friends if you do this."

"What exactly is this." I hiss at him.

"Marriage."

My hands drop in surprise. "Marriage?!" I exclaim. "I'm only fifteen!"

"But, you are a princess. You have more power then a commoner, correct."

I stand my ground. "My power comes from those 'commoners' and from Mother Earth. They are worth more then you can dream."

"But you admit you use them, princess. All those precious people are used every time you wake up in the morning. All I want is to lead them into the correct path."

I glare at him. "They give us strength, love, and compassion. I don't know where you are from, but we cherish our loyal subjects. That is why Mother Earth choose my family as one of the rulers of the Four Kingdoms."

"But times change my darling. And if you take my offer, your friends will be saved. You will be treated well as my bride."

"And what, I'll just marry a murderer? No way." I shake my head and turn around.

"Oh, well that's so sad. How will you go back and tell your friends how you turned down an offer to keep them all alive for your own selfish purposes?"

I stop in my tracks.

'Am I being selfish?'

"Oh you've come to your senses. Good, very good."

His psychopathic smile emerges again.

"Wouldn't it be inhumane to leave your friends to die like that? Of course, I would leave you alive to see the after math."

I face Shadow. "If I do this, do you promise not to hurt my friends, family, all of the subjects in the Four Kingdoms, and myself?"

He sticks out his hand. "Deal."

Reluctantly, I grab his hand and shake it. "Deal."

A strong light emits from our linked hands, going miles into the air before disappearing.

"Also, if you don't follow through with the deal now, I will kill all of those people you wish to protect. I'll help you get home now."

With those final words, Shadow disappears again. Shivers run down my spine as I realise how easily this guy will murder my family. Suddenly, I can't keep my eyes open anymore. I drunkenly sway from foot to foot until I finally fall onto the ground and fall asleep.

******************

I blink and find myself lying on the ground, limps sprawled out like I was a lifeless doll.

"She's over here Zeru!" I hear somebody shout.

I slowly sit up, covering my eyes from the suns bright rays. Hands latch onto my sides and I am heaved up. Somebody groans and starts to walk. I look around, wondering where I am. One thing is for sure, I'm not where I met Shadow. Upon remembering my earlier meeting with the criminal I jolt awake.

"Shadow?!" I cry, scrambling around.

"Calm down Scar! Its us, your friends."

'The friends you are going to protect.'

I go slack in Zeru's, who I figure out is holding me, arms.

"I'm so glad to see you guys. I was being stupid and got lost and then I met-"

I suddenly stop talking without meaning to.

"Met who?"

I try again. "I met-" Again I stop. "I can't say it!"

"Say what?" Araquiel steps in front of me. "Are you keeping something from me?"

"I don't mean to! I physically can't! Its like magic!" I exclaim.

"So you met somebody bad?"

I nod.

"Somebody we are looking for?"

Again I nod.

"Cyanide or Shadow?"

I open and close my mouth but no noise comes out.

"Araquiel, stop pushing her. We will find out in time." Zeru commands.

She blushes. "Sorry. I just really want to know."

I shake my head. "I would tell you if I could."

Though my brain was feeling messed up, my body was now fine.

"Zeru, you can put me down now. I will walk back to the base."

"Okay."

As soon as he sets me down, I bolt down the path as quickly as I can so I can get to the camp as fast as I can. It has been a horrible day for me and I just want it to end.