The Tears • Book Three

Chapter 21- The Assisstance

Author's Note: I hope you like my story! Feel free to voice your opinion, ask any questions and point out any mistakes I make.

Saber's POV

I growl with irritation as I meet another dead end. This hunt for Nia is leading me in circles, I have no idea where I should look for her. My mind often wanders to when I first came back with my memories restored, and what happened that day. It seems like it happened so long ago, but in reality it hasn't been that long.

I decide to check on Wiktor and see how he is doing. I wonder how he would react to seeing me, I don't think it'd be good. Yet, I have to try.

I make my way to Wiktor's room, not sure if he is there or not. I knock on it gently, surprise filling me when Inferno opens the door angrily. He glares at me, coldly asking,

"What do you want?" I smile softly and answer.

"I wanted to check on Wiktor. Is he doing better since..."

"Since Antonia tried to force him to kill Molly then attacked him with Darkness? He's doing as well as he can. I've tried burning the excess Darkness in his mind away, but my powers can only do so much. He won't leave his room, whatever he saw, whatever he's seeing has him extremely frightened." Inferno snaps. The Darkness inside me rears up at the challenge, wanting to show Inferno his place, but I manage to keep myself calm and the Darkness at bay.

"Can I see him? I might be able to help. I can try to take the Darkness out of his mind." I suggest. Inferno looks at me strongly, studying me to see if I'm being genuine or if I'm going to make it worse.

"Make sure you don't take all of it. If you do, he'll die." I hear Nia whisper somberly in my mind.

"Why do you care? You did this to him." I question, being harsher than I meant to. But, it's the truth, one she needs to hear.

"I like Wiktor. I don't want him to be in pain. I care for all of my loyal subjects. At the time, I didn't see him. I only saw someone that Molly cares for. I wanted her punished." Nia answers, then puts the wall fully up again. I sigh then enter Wiktor's room, moving slowly over to his bed. He is sitting on it with his knees to his chest, his arms wrapped around his legs and his forehead resting on his knees as he rocks gently back and forth.

"Wiktor?" I say cautiously as I take slow, gentle movements forward closer to him. He doesn't even speak, just lets out a small, pathetic whimper. "Wiktor, I'm going to help you. I'm going to take the Darkness away, okay?" No response.

I take the final step forward so I am next to Wiktor's bed. Still moving slowly, I reach over to Wiktor and place my hands on his head gently. I close my eyes, focusing on the Darkness that I feel in his mind. But, I'm unsure on how much I should take. What is the right amount?

"Imagine the Darkness coming to you and entering your body from Wiktor's mind. I'll do the rest." I hear Nia's voice again. It fills me with warmth knowing that she still cares about her people.

I do as she said and imagine the Darkness flowing into me, and it soon starts to follow my command and enter my body. It fills me with power, encouraging me to take more of it until there is nothing left to take. I feel the Darkness starting to flow into me quicker than before, until it suddenly stops. Anger fills me as I wonder why it stopped so soon, but I soon snap out of the trance and realize Nia stopped me from taking all of the Darkness in Wiktor and therefore killing him, since he would no longer be a Dark Warrior and all of the years he has lived would suddenly catch up to him.

I yank my hands off of Wiktor's head and storm out of the room, in utter disbelief. I can't believe how close I came to ending Wiktor's life. Having this Darkness inside can be a great thing, but it can also corrupt you and twist you. It's now obvious how Nia has changed so much from the girl she was when we were younger, but I still love her. I know the real her is there buried under the Darkness and the persona she plays to make people fear her. She just proved it when she stopped me from killing Wiktor.