Rivals

Chapter 12: Destroy

Evangeline

Evangeline and Kaden have been riding until their horses could no longer run or walk anymore. They set up camp in the forest. They had nothing with them. They made a fire and drank from the lake they had found earlier.

Evangeline sat on the ground holding the amulet in her hands running her thumb across the dark gem.

"One sacrifice... One body and eternal power is yours... No man will dare question you as a woman... Do you not want to be the most powerful woman of all time? Your father will not dare control you... You will control the world... One sacrifice..."

"You okay there Eva?" Kaden's voice brought her out of the spell she was in. He dropped the firewood he had collected on the ground before going to sit beside her. She quickly hide the necklace from him. She knew if she told him about how it has been whispering to her he'd wear it himself to protect her. She was not going to risk his heart and mind for her own. She would protect him at all cost. She loved him. Every time they were in danger her heart stopped, not for herself but for him. There was no denying it now. After she drank the serum it opened her mind. She was deeply in love with Kaden.

Sacrifice him...

Evangeline shivered at the thought. She needed to destroy the amulet. She removed the amulet from her pocket before throwing it in the fire. She sighed in relief as she felt as if weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

"Eva!" Kaden yelled in shock staring at the fire that had swallowed the amulet.

"I'm tired Kaden, let's go to sleep," she said lying down. Kaden sighed in defeat before lying down beside her, laying on his side so that he was facing her.

She closed her eyes feeling Kaden's eyes on her. She then felt his warm lips touch her forehead. "Goodnight Eva."

"Goodnight Kaden," she mumbled extending her hand. Kaden took her hand and wrapped his fingers around hers. She gave him a small squeeze just appreciating him being there. She was going to get through this, Kaden was by her side.

***

Morning came when Evangeline heard his voice again.

"One sacrifice..."

She jumped up waking Kaden up with her as well. He jumped up beside her, his weapon in hand. He looked around to see where the danger was but could not find one.

"What is it my love?" He asked worriedly.

Evangeline looked at the dead fire, a small line of smoke still coming from it. The amulet twinkled, the soot not affecting its alluring beauty.

"It's still there," said whispered.

Kaden paled before getting a long stick and pulling it out the fire. Before he could reach for the amulet, Evangeline quickly picked it up with a cloth so she wouldn't burn her hand. She tucked it away quickly earning an odd look from Kaden. He couldn't touch it, he couldn't get infected by its evilness.

"Let's go," she said trying to take the attention away from her odd behavior. Evangeline mounted her horse waiting for Kaden to do the same. He was staring at her with an odd look, worry etched in his expression. He shook his head before following her onto his own steed.

They rode until they got hungry and wanted to hunt for food.

"You ready Eva?"

Evangeline took out her dagger ready to go hunting. She looked up at Kaden to answer when the voice echoed in her head once more.

"Kill him... One sacrifice..."

She shook her head, shaking the voice out of her head. She opened her mouth and closed it as she stared at the dagger in her hands.