The Jem

~51~

"I'm...I'm your mate?" Ember stuttered, dumbfounded by what Autumn had just claimed. She nodded.

"H...How do you know?" He stumbled on his words continuously and she giggled.

"Ember I felt it and I just knew. I can't explain it but your my mate. And sometimes people just ignore who their mate is but I can't. I really like you Ember." Autumn kissed him on the cheek and flushed uncontrollably.

"This is why I can't leave without you." He moaned but this time she brought her lips to his and he slid his hand to her back, holding her.

"We have to get ready!" Brice shouted from a distance. Ember pulled back unwillingly and stood from the bench. "I really like you too." He whispered in her right ear then walked away. A feeling she couldn't quite name, shot through her and she sighed hazily.

~

"Goodbye My Tree Princess, we will see each other again." Hunter hadn't been apart from Crimson since the first time they met and now it filled him with anxiousness that he couldn't be there to protect her and comfort her. So he quickly spun her around to face him and held her face with both his gloved hands.

A tear rolled down her cheek and he wiped it away just like she had done once for him, "I promise we will see each other again." He confirmed and she smiled a little.

"I love you." She whispered then kissed him.

"I love you too." He said onto her mouth.

"Bye Hunter." She turned and strode out of his room, only looking back once. And when she had left he fell onto his knees and a little tear escaped his eyes.

An ocean losing a drop of its crystal blue water.

~

The teleporters had arrived in the morning and were preparing to take Clay's armies, the four element wielders and Clay himself. Everyone had said goodbye to each other. The queen and king in tears and Autumn had kissed Ember passionately before they had left. This was all so real and Darya hadn't though what would happen when they finally arrived at Rhijaline where the war now occurred the most. She fiddled with her stolen bracelet that she had taken from the market in her village and where she had met Crimson, Hunter and Deeja. Where she had met her family for the first time.

A hand fell upon hers and she looked at its owner-Crimson. "It's going to be okay. We have each other." She smiled at Darya then at Brice and Ember. The four wielders of destruction individually and together.

"Yes, lets go kick 7th realm ass!" Darya laughed hoarsely. They all smiled and a little amused sound fluttered out of Ember. She had warmed up to him but although he was the holder of fire, he wasn't the warmest person to be around.

"Let's do this." Brice nodded to the teleporter and he nodded back. They all joined hands and... POOF!

They were in the 3rd realm and what Darya looked at was nothing she expected, it was bigger destruction than she'd ever imagined. It was a city of cinders and ashes.

~

"I can't teleport you to the castle, it has protection wards but you can make it there by foot." Cole, the teleporter, apologized

"Thank you for everything." Crimson nodded her head and he vanished. "Are you guys ready?" Darya asked.

"Together." Brice affirmed, his honey eyes danced with dismay. The sound of screaming and terror sounded in every turn and step. Swords clinking rapidly and explosions erupted every once in a while. If the 7th realm's goal was to divide the realms and kingdoms...they had succeeded.

                                      ~

They finally reached the castle and when the guards stepped in their way, Brice was about to suffocate them for delaying them. But Crimson said in calm voice, "I'm Crimson Waldorf. The queen has been seeking me for sometime now, I'm here to-apologize."

"The queen is not in good spirits currently, I suggest trying not to get on her bad side." One of them warned. "Thanks but we don't need your advice. Please move!" Darya's strain on patience was dying down and her temper was erupting. She took a deep breath and followed Crimson in.

"Queen Cordelia!" Crimson called as she led the way to the Throne room. Crimson pushed the doors open and found the queen pacing up and down impatiently. "Queen Cordelia." She repeated, the queen looked up and something like anger but gratitude flared in her silver eyes.

"I've found the element wielders." Crimson declared. And a laugh churned up in the queens throat.

"Of course your all a bunch of kids! Of course!" She snorted.

"We are all so powerful individually. And Destructive Together." That's what the fuaths had wanted Crimson to be, a destructive force. And she had become just that.

"Where is Hunter." Cordelia snapped.

"He'll be here in a few days." She promised.

"Do you know what you have cost us?" Cassava bellowed as she came to her queen's side.

"No one was talking to you, Bitch. You want to live or die, it's you choice really. Because we can leave this castle and you can all perish." Darya spat. Crimson had told them about Cassava but she had still not mentioned that she wasn't a human.

"NO ONE WAS SPEAKING TO YOU!" Cassava parroted at Darya. If her and Darya went head to head only the Gods would know what would become of it. Crimson swallowed hard.

"Fine, get ready to fight." The queen rasped, shoving Cassava aside.