Surviving the Dark

Chapter 31 - Bargaining

We walked around for hours trying to find Xavier. If we don't find him soon, I don't even want to think about it.

The eclipse was meant to start in an hour and a half and Zae was so looking forward to it too.

We have walked in a circle and have made out way back to the Grove. I was about ready to give up. To run away again and never look back.

I had my head down, but a nudge from Liv made me look up.

"Zae..." I breathe. He is laying on the edge of the lake, unconscious.

"XAVIER!" Shouting I rush over to his side. "Oh god, please be okay."

I lift his head into my lap and he opens his eyes slightly.

"I-Isa, it's a tr-trap."

I share questioning looks with Jamie and Liv who rushed over with me.

"What are you talking abo-" I'm cut off with Black Eyes walking out from behind the trees.

"Well isn't it little miss Princess and her two humans."

"What do you do to my brother?"

"Oh nothing. We just give him a little something."

It took me a while to realise, but the three standing in front of us now are the three I saw earlier. The ones I hid from on my way to where Zae went to turn on the sprinklers.

"You see, the Prince here did something he shouldn't have. The boy should have stayed out of our way and he would have been fine, at least for a little while longer." The leader of the group explains.

"Wh-what do you want with us?" I ask, the fear and panic I feel seeping into my voice.

"You really don't know?" The young girl asks. When I don't respond she rolls her eyes. "We want you and your brother there, dead."

"You and your kind, destroyed our home. Growing your 'precious' plants all over the place. We were meant to live in harmony with each other, but you pixies would just do your own thing. Overpowering us." The second guy states, using air quotes when he says precious.

"You attacked us, you killed my family, my friends, my home. Nothing is left." I got to my feet, moving Zae to lean on Liv. "We didn't know why we were being attacked. If we had of known what we were doing we would have stopped. We would have left your home alone."

The leader chuckles and gives me a glare.

"Oh Princess, you don't know do you? Did daddy and mummy never tell you? We did go to them. They didn't believe us. Said that the world needed more nature to survive."

I'm frozen. Unable to think of a reply.

Why didn't dad and mum do something? If they knew what we were doing was harming someone else. Why didn't they tell me the truth?

"So now girlie, its time for you and the young Prince there to die."

"Wait!" I shout as they take a step towards me. "We are meant to live in harmony. What if we make a deal?"

"We don't have time for this. Let's just kill them and get this over with." The girl says, pleading with the older men with her.

"No, no. I want to hear what this deal is, the Princess is proposing." The leader waves her off, and motions for me to continue.

"For the world to still be in balance, there needs to be one still alive. I don't want to die, and I don't want anything to happen to Xavier. What I am proposing is that, Xavier is to always wear his Rainbow Moonstone bracelet, rendering him a human for the rest of his life. And you take me to keep the balance in place." By the end, my eyes are locked on my feet and my voice is almost a whisper.

"What? No, Izzie. Don't do this. What about Xav?"

I turn to look at Jamie, his eyes full of worry.

"I am doing this for him. If I go with them, they will leave him alone. He will be safe."

I turn back to the Black Eyes group. Waiting for them to tell me if they accept my deal or not.

"You got yourself a deal there missy. I'll even be nice and let you say goodbye to your humans and your brother before we leave."

Jamie is up in an instant, spinning me around to face him.

"Izzie, please don't do this. If you go with them, I'll never see you again. We will never see you again. You only just found Xav, if you leave now-"

I move my hand to cup Jamie's cheek. He stops talking at my action and stares into my violet eyes.

"Jamie, this is how I can keep you all safe. You all mean too much to me to see anything happen to you. Zae has gone his whole life not knowing who I am. Now that he knows, well he will know that he does have blood family in the world that loves him. I know you and Liv will take care of him."

I step away from Jamie and drop to my knees next to Zae and Liv.

"Isa, don't go."

Tears are rolling down Zae's cheeks and I try my best not to let the tears threatening to fall, fall.

"I have to. It's the only way to keep you safe." I look up to see Liv crying also. I lean over and give them both a hug, almost squishing Zae in the process between Liv and I.

Taping Xavier's bracelet I look into his eyes, shining from the tears. "Make sure you keep this on okay? If you take it off they will come for you again and I don't think I would be able to keep you safe."

He just nods.

"Zae, promise me you will keep the bracelet on."

"Ok-okay, I pr-promise."

I nod and get up and make my way to the Black Eyes. My wrist is caught and I am spun around. I face Jamie again. His eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Jamie-" I start but am cut off by him bringing me close.

"Just, just be safe okay." He places a kiss to my forehead, like he did when we split up when the fog started.

"I will." I take a step back. "Keep them safe Jamie, and yourself."

I turn and follow the Black Eyes. Just before I reach the edge of the Grove where the trees become thick, I look up.

The eclipse is starting.