Earth and Sky

Chapter 23

Scarlet

After a while, everybody dispersed to get ready for the day. But it was still obvious there minds were focuses on the deal I made with Shadow. I look up at the sun and estimate that it is about noon.

I quickly clap my hands together. "Hey guys, maybe we should eat lunch."

I am met by silence. I frantically look around. My friends, who were working hard just a minute ago, had vanished. I run around, searching for them in the bushes in case this was a mean prank. When I still don't find them I can only think of one cause. I ball my fists and face the sky.

"Shadow!" I yell. "Where did you take them."

"Finally you noticed darling. I was starting to worry that you were mentally ill." I spin around to face the voice that came from behind me.

Now I saw Shadow as he used to be. He wore simple farmer clothing- shirt, overalls, and knee high boots. His hair was chin length and he had a very handsome face. The only thing that stayed the same was the creepy smile he wore on his face.

Even though he looked different, this man was still Shadow. My anger didn't fade one. But at his new appearance. "Where are my friends?!"

"Right here, darling."

He reaches out with one of his hands and a water ribbon shoots out. It grabs onto something hidden in the trees and starts pulling it into the camp. I gasp as I realise the object it is pulling is all of my friends, tightly wrapped in those watery ribbons. They start struggling as they see me.

"Scarlet!" My sisters scream.

"Let them go," I growl.

Shadow laughs menacingly. "But don't you want your friends at our wedding?"

"Wedding?!" Zeru exclaims looking bewildered.

I shamefully stare at the ground. "It was the only way to save you guys." I say in a flat voice.

"Only way?!" Araquiel screams. "We aren't defenseless you know!"

"But this way I know you'll be safe!" I shout back. "He promised that if I follow through, everybody in the kingdom, our parents, you guys, and myself will be safe from Shadow. Who cares if I have to endure this? At least the people I care most about will be safe!"

"I care!" Araquiel rebutes.

I stare at her in shock. I'm doing this for her!

"Its too late anyways," I finally say. "The deal has been made. He already has all of you. I'm going through with it."

Shadow extends his hand to me. "Show me you are certain of your choice."

"No! Wait!" Zeru cries.

But for me there is no choice. This way everybody I love will be safe. I reach out and grab Shadows hand. His darkness envelopes me into his cold desolate world.

****************
Araquiel

As soon as Scarlet touches Shadow's hand, they both disappear. The ribbons binding us together fall back to the floor as water. We drop to the ground, aching and sore from our time in captivity. I can't believe Shadow was able to ambush us with our magic shield... Unless he was already here in the first place. I turn to Zeru to voice my concerns.

"Zeru," I pant, "what if... Shadow was here the entire time?"

Zeru nods. "That explain how he was able to get in." He cups his face in his hands and groans. "I wasn't careful enough."

I pat his back. "Hey, it's a mistake. Like I said to Scar, we have to learn from our mistakes not re-live them."

"But Scarlet is gone now." Laec cuts in.

Silence envelopes us as we are left to our thoughts. I bite my lip.

"They'll be back." Somebody interrupts.

We all turn to face Sloane. Ever since she was shot by the arrow that night at my ball, it was like she transformed into a new person. She stood here strong and proud, while earlier she wouldn't have had the courage to ever accompany us on our quest. She was defiantly standing up to do what was right, whatever the cost.

"What do you mean?" Simons asks. She too wasn't the stubborn, girly princess she was when I was first captured. Both sisters had grown up in my short absence.

"He showed up today to try and turn us against Scarlet, correct? Well wouldn't it upset us more to see her go through the wedding?"

Lace nods. "And most likely, he wants it to be memorable. He is using Scarlet because of her position as a princess. He already thinks of himself as a Royal, marrying Scarlet would just make it official. Wouldn't a Royal wedding be extravagant?"

"And he probably wants it to be soon." Sloane explains. "Shadow is very patient, but now that he has us in his hands like puppets, he might want to speed things up."

"Then what do you suppose we should do?" I finally say as I join the conversation.

"I think I have a plan." Zeru says, smirk growing on his face.