Chapter 47: Dangerous or Safe? You Choose.

Through the whole journey back to Los Royaux, I couldn't stop staring at the ruby placed around my neck. It's swirling red light inside kept igniting back at my eyes as if it was smiling at me. Strange as it may seem I could feel a connection between the ruby and I but it was a connection I couldn't explain. Deep down I knew it protected me back at that battle but trying to explain that to everyone else would be a whole different story, by the looks on their faces they didn't believe me when I told them in the first place so going any further with it would be a waste of my breath so why would I even bother? It was best to keep it to myself than say anything else but what I really wanted to know was how to get the water element out of the necklace before it was too late for Nathan and the four kingdoms. It didn't matter because as long as I had the necklace I'll be able to destroy it whenever I feel the time is right since by the looks of things no one is able to touch it without injuring themselves. As wrong as it was to think of this, I was glad Jayden was the first to get hurt by the device because after all he's done he's the one who deserves it most out of any of us. I wasn't even going to try and answer the question to why I was the only one allowed to touch it because then my head would be frazzled and I can't deal with anymore confusion to the brain it'll just tire me out and I don't need that. Who knows, maybe I'll gain another nose bleed and pass out again which will drive everyone nuts to wonder what is happening with me. I'm pretty sure Alesandro knows what's wrong with me, but the question to whether or not he'll tell me is another story entirely because how am I supposed to know whether he sent Jayden out to look for me once I found the necklace, as I was pretty convinced there was a slight entity of trust between Alesandro and I. Or was I just being a fool to believe any trust could be gained from that man?

Los Royaux appeared in the distance and Crystal zoomed ahead of Kai and Taylor who were behind. Hayden tightened his grip around my waist so he didn't fall off Crystal's back as she neared closer and closer. Her claws planted on the ground letting Hayden and I slide neatly off from her back. I petted her side as she nuzzled her head against me sharing the love between the pair of us while Hayden just gave me a look while I stared at him back "What?" I questioned his stare at me while he analysed me and Crystal hugging each other "Nothing, I just can't get over you and one of the most lethal dragons having connections that's all," immediately Crystal bared her teeth towards Hayden obviously feeling offended by his remark while I laughed at her holding her back while reassuring her everything was fine whereas Hayden just crossed his arms glaring at a dragon obviously unimpressed with her attitude. In my eyes, these two are just as bad as each other with the way they have suddenly started behaving with each other. It didn't take long for Kai and Taylor to land next to the three of us raising an eyebrow at the scene between Hayden and my dragon and I just finished it with "Don't ask," each of them nodded as we all headed back inside the castle. I slowed down as they all carried on so I could tie up my boot lace but as soon as I pulled back up I knocked my head against something harsh making me clutch my head immediately in pain but as I looked up I noticed Kai clutching hold of his chin moving it back in place. "Sorry..." I apologised to him as he shook it off "Its fine," it crossed my mind to wonder why he was still here when Taylor and Hayden had already moved on ahead to meet Yvette and Elyria probably but I didn't question because I didn't want to make things awkward between us. That's when the kiss exploded in my mind bringing back the moment between us lying in the snow.

The texture of his arm wrapped around me come flooding back in and goose-bumps started trailing up my body as the pair of started to walk again. The sweet sensation of his lips touching mine sent warm boils of excitement screaming around every vein and blood vessel possible. There's no way I would know whether or not he'd be feeling the same as I am right now but it wasn't until I could feel a slight tingle happen when I could feel a soft movement pass by my hand, I looked down without making it too obvious only to see him draping his fingers next to mine letting them slide into my hesitantly. Instinct must be taking over my body as I let my eyes pull away from the scene and let my fingers intertwine themselves through his with peace and without the disruption. Before I knew it our palms were pressed against each other with our fingers intertwined as we made our way to room across from us. For a moment, I could feel an evaporation of warmth circulate around my body making me almost lost in the moment just like back at the lake. I never thought I could feel this way about someone, yet here it was an adrenaline pulsing through me every time he was close to me sending channels of love through every bone underneath this thick shell of mine. We entered the room already to see Hayden and Taylor filling in Yvette, Elyria and Xira of the events that have just taken place; their gaze lifted from them and onto us as soon as we entered the room but once again I couldn't see any sign of Corinne anywhere in the room which was sending alarm bells around in my head since this is the second time I have seen her gone missing. I was starting to get suspicious.

When I thought about it, I couldn't see any sign of Nathan either the only people left in the room were Ziva and Shawn. "Don't tell me you forgot?" I looked at Yvette raising an eyebrow while she forced her eyes down on me. Once I kept staring at her for a long period it suddenly hit me and I ran out the room unleashing my hand away from Kai's leaving a lot of confused faces in my trail. I plummeted back outside and jumped on Crystal's back and flew straight back the place I just disappeared from, Ivna. It didn't take Crystal long to make it back to the castle because I found myself at the gates in an instance. I thrust them open and ran through the door in a flash and hurried down the halls back to my room where I haven't been in what felt like years. I was unsure how I was able to keep running, surely all the air in my lungs would have run out by now that's what was running through my head but whatever it took I kept running and running. Seriously, has this castle always been this big? I feel as if I've been running a marathon trying to get back to my room ready for this. When I thought I was going to make it without any disruptions I landed straight into my father. "Willow, where have you been?!" I looked up at him with regret in my eyes even when I knew I shouldn't I tried dodging around him but he kept blocking my way "Willow we have to talk," he carried on trying to make conversation with me. I stopped and finally looked up at him "Really? You want to talk now or let me get ready for the Nathan and Corinne's birthday party?" I proved to be the winner and he stepped aside and let me go in my room. I raced over to my curtains and opened them to let light seep through every crack in my room letting it emit with brightness and just as I turned round I saw the person I longed to see in a while, Sienna.

"Looks like you've been busy miss," she stated looking me up and down so I decided to do the same and see that I looked a complete mess. I let out a small weak smile of embarrassment while she let out a small giggle directing me to the bathroom across my room. As I undressed myself she started running a warm bath sending in the glistening bubbles to make the water come to life. As soon as the water lifted to a considerable height and once she was sure it was at a good temperature she let me step inside. "Let me know when you're done and I'll help you get ready," I nodded back at Sienna as she closed the door behind me. I knew that I made it back in time before the party and feast would start but what was playing on mind was how blinded I was to forget my own sibling's birthday. I've been so caught up in what I needed to do that I pushed them out of the picture, what sort of sister am I? I slid down in the bath so I could relax in the warm waters so it was able to soak into my skin. I let the bubbles run up and down my arm making the thick shell turn into smooth scales finally, just for a moment, letting all my troubles wash away from me. I closed my eyes feeling ultimately relaxed in the presence for once not having to worry about the outside world or worry about anything in fact. When I was ready I let my head dip inside the hot waters finally letting out the smelly lake water disappears from my lock. I travelled back up out of the water and finished washing my hair and body; I dipped my head back under the water to remove any excess lake water out of my hair but as I travelled back up out of the water a vibration suddenly pulled my weight back under.

Automatic instinct was for me to scream yet when I looked down I saw the power of the ruby ignite once again and before I knew it my vision cleared into something else, everything went black and I saw myself fall into madness of images and voices cascading throughout my brain. I couldn't help but scream and scream as it pounded inside my head. The ache was unbearable and I couldn't hear my own thoughts anymore neither did I know where I was; my hands had now placed themselves on the sides of my head hoping to block out the ache but there was no use because it was doing nothing. The images and voices just flooded through faster and faster at high speed and before I knew it, it totally vanished and I felt my weight be pulled out from underneath the water, out of the bath and placed on the ground and it didn't matter if it was rough or not. A towel was immediately wrapped around me as I splattered up water from inside my lungs while I gasped for proper air as I was held close against my father's chest with his arms wrapped around me tightly his eyes looking down at me. I removed the strands of hair falling down in front of my face as I let the shake to my nerves calm down as I knew I was safe, nothing happened that was considerably dangerous. At least that's what I wanted to think but in fact I nearly drowned so it was dangerous. I gazed down to look at the necklace still giving off the smile it did earlier that day as if it wasn't a hazardous device but in fact something careful and somewhat helpful. Suddenly I was lifted in the arms of my father bridal style as he took me out of the room so he could place me down on my bed. I noticed by the side of me a dress was already picked out for the party as were the accessories and shoes but that wasn't the thing I cared about right now; I sighed heavily and placed my back against the back rest of my bed and looked at my father as he took hold of my hand delicately.

"Sienna could you leave us please?" I looked over at Sienna as my dad spoke his most sincere words of worry; of course she nodded and curtsied before taking a graceful exit shutting the door behind her. My eyes landed back on my father as I said to him "I'm guessing we should have that talk now," I don't know if I was trying to be funny or not but my dad didn't look amused especially when his eyes landed on the ruby rested around my neck. He went to touch it until I held his other hand back away from it "I wouldn't, the last person who tried touching this got hurt so I wouldn't risk it," he listened to me dropping his hand away keeping the other one rested within mine; I don't know where this sudden urge to protect him came from but I wanted to do it. "I remember," he looked up at me as I think he was startled I was the one that started the conversation "I remember everything. You and Alesandro were worried that even though Liam was dead, the growing power was still out there so you wanted to prevent it which is why you suggested I be the one to be used for the experiment as you knew that I wasn't mom's child, you were trying to cover your tracks so Alesandro wouldn't find out," sadly my dad nodded his head slowly "And it was the biggest mistake of my life because, that's when he was so sure you were going to be the saviour of this war but the thing is, we don't even know what the growing power is everything just started to die but then after the experiment and you gave off that huge explosion days past and everything started to heal and return back to normal it was weird. But Willow even though Alesandro ordered his son Liam to be killed you need to know he never did, Yvette kept him hidden in her cottage-," I had to cut him off before he could say anything more.

"I know dad and strange as it may seem I've been communicating with him," he raised his eyebrow at me "Different story for another time, but listen I know everything now but the past doesn't matter because it has no influence on what is happening now. Okay, back then you were trying to make rash decisions to save the kingdoms and yes I got hurt in the process but I was already hurt. I was born with chaos magic just like Liam with was born with electricity. We were the two children that were born from the prophecy so there was nothing you could do to prevent that afterwards so whatever you did back then I don't care anymore. What I do care about is what lies in here?" I lifted up the ruby from around my neck as it appeared I was able to touch it without any harm. "When I gave off that explosion I trapped the water element inside it but I think Alesandro believes I trapped something else inside along with it," my dad took in everything I had to say nodding along with it to show he was taking in every detail "The growing power, that's why he doesn't want you unleashing it," I nodded at him lowering the necklace so it lay back down on my skin "You'll do the right thing Willow, you always do," he leaned in and gently kissed my forehead before directing his gaze down to my dress "Now get ready you don't want to be late for your brother and sister's birthday do you?" I smiled healing the bond between my father and just as he left the room. I looked back down at the dress and sighed high devastated knowing I have to get back in a dress.

Something I didn't tell my father, something I would tell no one was how landed outside the gates that night, how I was able to get away from the room after the explosion because if I told them, then they would never understand what was to come next.