Ever After

☾Chapter Nineteen☽

Ever woke up in a panic. She found herself lying on the ground of what seemed to be an old castle, judging by the stone walls around her.

"Good Morning, Ever." It was Hex who appeared in front of her, his shadowy body twisting through the air.

"Where am I?" Ever asked running a hand through her black and white hair.

"You mean you don't remember?"

"Remember what?" Ever picked herself up off the floor and scrambled towards a narrow slit in the wall that must have been a window. The room didn't seem to have any doors, but that could have been because everything around her wasn't real, it was made up, another 'vision' Hex affixed in her mind.

Outside the window she could briefly make out a line of trees.

"What is it you want this time, Hex?" Ever sighed running her hand along the stone sill.

"Why, can I never help you out, without you thinking I require something in return?" Hex mused. Ever turned towards him and raised a brow.

"How are you helping me?"

"I'm trying to get you to remember your past. It's there you know, in the crevice of your mind, but someone stole it from you long ago." He made a motion in the air like he was snatching a bird mid-flight.

Ever rolled her eyes and turned back towards the window.

"And what edge does that possibly give you?" She snapped.

"Nothing. Insight, perhaps. You're quite interesting, you know. You remind me of myself sometimes."

"I think that's a bit of a far stretch." Ever retorted, tracing the outline of the window slit. Beyond the trees, she could make out an ocean. "I don't remember this place." She added in thought.

"No? Hmm... perhaps not this room, as it is something I whipped up haphazardly. But something similar."

"Similar. You mean something with a door." Ever chuckled nodding towards the stone walls that surrounded them.

"So, I missed a detail or two."

"Again, Hex. What's your reason for bothering me? Usually a spirit who only wants to 'talk' is formulating a plan. And as much as I don't trust you already, it makes me even more suspicious."

Hex made a "Hmph" sound, "If you're going to be so rude to me Ever, then why bother taking me places." He added with a sadistic laugh.

Ever rolled her eyes and watched the scene around her fade.

She woke up back in bed beside Wyll. She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, before laying her head back down upon Wyll's chest, and falling back asleep.

"Good Morning, Ever." Wyll yawned as he noticed Ever was already up and brushing out her hair.

"Morning." Ever smiled.

After her chat last night with Hex, she hadn't been able to sleep. Hex wasn't a normal spirit, he was something more of a demon. Ever knew he was up to something, but she couldn't tell what.

"What's on our schedule today?" Ever called to Wyll from the other room. Which was a cross breed between a kitchenette and a living room.

"I'm not sure." Wyll replied stepping into the room.

Suddenly, four guards burst through the door.

"What's going on here?!" Wyll demanded.

"Ever Lockewood, you're under arrest for the use of dark magic." One of the guards said before barking orders to the other three to "Seize her".

"Surely there must be some mistake?" Ever persuaded, backing up against the edge of a table. Wyll grabbed Ever's arm and pulled her behind him.

"I don't know what's going on here, but there must be a way that we can take this up with King Irving and get it sorted out?" Wyll pleaded.

"We're on orders from the High King."

"What?" Wyll was stunned. "I can assure you that Ever has not used dark magic." Ever glanced at Wyll.

He was partially correct, at least in Thouria she had not used any magic, and Prince June had promised not to tell anyone about what happened in Rosenfelle.

"That's because the witch has placed a spell on you." One of the guards spoke up.

"Excuse me?" Ever laughed. Now they were just messing with her. Wyll glanced back at Ever and gave her a look. "I don't even know a spell for that." She mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"If you admit to your sins and come quietly, your consequences will be less severe."

Ever sighed, she hadn't done anything wrong, but... Ever glanced at Wyll. "Okay. Fine."

Wyll grabbed her arm as she tried to walk past.

"What are you doing?" He questioned. Ever looked at him; his sandy blond hair that curled in every which way, his millions of freckles that dotted his tanned face, his jade green eyes that seemed to plead her to stop.

She fought against everything, why not this? She hasn't done anything wrong, but for once she has a weakness, a reason to give up and give in for fear of her weakness being hurt. The walls she had built over all these years finally came tumbling down and she found herself merely a drop of blue ink in an endless ocean.

"I'm sorry, Wyll." Ever pulled her arm from his grasp and let the guards pull her out of the room.

"Ever, wait!" Wyll yelled after her. Ever glanced back in time to see a guard block Wyll from exiting the room after her.

*Sorry for a super short chapter Lovelies, I've been extremely busy and haven't had much time to write. This chapter is my valentines present to you* 💕💝 

Lots of love~ Natalie 💖💕