Earth and Sky

Chapter 24

Scarlet

I firmly grasp Shadow's hand as I am pulled through a long black tunnel. While Shadow keeps going perfectly straight, I bounce between the walls like a ball. Suddenly, the tunnel gets tighter until it squeezes us out onto normal land again. I collapse to the floor and groan.

"Darling, you will need to get used to travelling like that if we startlingly marry." Shadow says as he holds out his hand for me.

Instead of taking it, I push against the ground and help myself up. I firstly glare at Shadow.

"What was that?" I demand.

Shadow just waves my question away, fueling my irritation. "Just simple shadow traveling. You didn't really believe that Shadow was my birth name right?"

I slowly back away. "You practice black magic?"

Black magic has two meanings. One is when you practice magic Mother Earth didn't give you. When my parents fought Adam, he preformed black magic when he learned all four of the elements. The second is learning illegal magic. The magic is illegal because unlike normal magic which can be used for good and bad, black magic may only be used for evil.

Even though Shadow sees how uncomfortable I am, he reaches forwards and grabs my hand.

"No, I don't practice it. I was born with it. Not all of us were born in one of Mother Earth's favorite Kingdoms."

I jump away from Shadow, for I see a crazy look appear in his eyes. I quickly try to change the subject.

"So... Marriage?"

I almost hit myself because of my stupid question. I do not want to get married yet, or maybe ever. And certainly not to this psychopath in front of me. Luckily for me, Shadow just chuckles.

"Not yet darling." He joyfully laughs.

"You've never once said my real name." I realise.

"And you've never once said mine. Names are sacred are they not? That's why we use titles. My Lord, lady, highness, those are used to respect the person. I may be an assassin, but I want to show my prey a little respect. I mean, not everybody gets to be killed by me." After finishing the final sentence, he bursts into a crazy, uncontrollable laughing fit.

I back away, noticing how he called me his 'prey'. Even if he wants to marry me, Shadow personally doesn't care about me. I'm just a tool for him to get what he wants, and I'm letting him use me.

'But this is for your friends!'

I swiftly recall what Araquiel said to me earlier. That we could have worked this out together. At the time, this seemed like the only choice. But is it truly? The only way I can be sure that my friends will be safe is if Shadow is dead. And marrying him gives me a chance to get closer to him. Even though I feel like throwing up just thinking about it, I feel like it would be better if I got to know Shadow better. I hurriedly turn around a dry heave at how gross that thought made me feel. Thankfully, Shadow didn't notice. The creep was finally recovering from his strange laughing fit. I decide that it's about time I start executing my plan.

"So..."

******************
Simona

I sit criss-cross on my sleeping bag. I take a deep breath in, and a deep breath out.

"Sim," somebody sings.

I keep my eyes closed and take another deep breath.

"Sim," they sing again.

I try to ignore it again.

"SIM!" They screech, hitting me with a snow ball.

I jump up and scream, hating the burning feeling I got in my chest. I glare at Laec.

"What the neck was that for?!" I scream at him.

He shrugs. "You were off by yourself. I just wanted to tell you it's dinner time."

"This is why people think you are going to marry Scarlet." I mumble under my breath.

"What was that?" He yells at me.

"Nothing!" I yell back at him.

Luckily for me, he was already far ahead of me and he didn't hear my little comment.

I walk by Sloane who is slowly making her way to the table. For a bit of a laugh, I run beside her and hit the back of her head. After a few minutes of being chased, we finally find our way to the table.

"Thanks for coming as soon as you were called." Zeru says dryly. He had after all, just watched us chase each other while he was waiting for us to come eat.

Sloane and I fall into identical curtsies and smiles. "Sorry!" We say in union.

Zeru sighs and shakes his head. "Are you sure Scarlet is their sister? I mean, it is totally obvious that they are triplets but... These too act way different then she does."

Araquiel laughs, the sound like little bells. Exactly like her mother's. I remember our parents telling us about when they first started to rule the Kingdoms. I had always thought the stories were romantic and amazing. But now that I'm living something similar, my impression has changed. Just because the end of the story is sweet, the actual events don't have to be. This story has been going on way too long.

I look at all of my friends. "Its time to get Scarlet back."

"That won't be a problem."

I stand up so quickly I hit my food and it goes flying. Everybody else hastily follows. Because in front of us are the two people we were talking about. Scarlet is wearing a lovely white gown, but she is far from looking like a blushing bride. She looks tired, but determined. Shadow wears a tuxedo, but he doesn't look even a little dashing. Cowering behind them is an Earth Spirit, presumably the priest. Shadow chuckles at our faces, painted in fear, and pulls my sister closer to him. She shivers in disgust but doesn't pull away.

"Let the wedding, begin."