The talisman

Arrived at the castle, Annabelle and Damon run toward me hugging me tightly, expressing their joy that I am safe and back home.

I tell them both how much I love them and that I will do so for all eternity, and explain to them how their mommy will always be here for them, no matter what.

Dracono greets me as well, informing me about Dark, who has left for two days. When I ask if he can give me more specific details, he says that is all that Dark told him.

I kiss my kids and go to see how Anna is doing, just to find her dancing in the living room.

I smile when I see her coping so well, then I see that she is wearing the talisman. I think to myself that it must be working, helping Anna to handle the loss of her husband.

When Anna gets tired, she sits down and turns off the music.

I sit next to her and ask her how she is doing. She tells me that she is much better, thanks to the talisman that I left her.

"-Thank you, Mom, for this wonderful talisman, which helps me see and talk to Jonas while I am asleep.

-I didn't know it could help you stay in touch with Jonas, but I am glad you are better." I say to Anna, then give her a big hug.

This is weird, and I have some doubts about it, so I go to Dracono and ask him about it.

He was feeding my children and Anna's, as a wonderful father he is.

I ask him to come with me, so we can talk in private and explain the situation to him.

He confesses he knew about this, but he believes it truly helps Anna.

I do not agree with him, as this might get her addicted, and lead to unexpected situations, like she won't believe that Jonas is dead anymore.

I return to Anna and tell her that I am worried about what effects the talisman might have on her. She gets easily angry and tells me to stay away and not touch her.

Exactly as I suspected, Anna is not okay. But I will let her wear it for two more days, explaining to her that she has to take it off, after that and say her goodbye to Jonas.

I eat and go to bed for some well-deserved rest. Quickly falling into a deep sleep, I dream about my entire life events.

I wake up and I see Dark sitting next to my bed, holding my hand.

I get up and kiss him wildly, then ask him how come he returned so soon.

He looks at me and says that he didn't return soon and that I have slept for two whole days, and no one could wake me up.

I look surprised, but then I say it must have been the exhaustion after my journey.

Dark asks me if I have found the answers that I was looking for, and I show him the gold bottle that I have to take a sip from, one time per month.

He smiles, but then asks me for how long will the bottle help me, and I tell him for as long as I take it, this bottle being enough for two years.

"-Will you use it, or you haven't decided yet? Dark asks me.

-Dark, my love, I will prove my love to you right now, that serious I am." I say to Dark, then take the first sip.

He picks me up from the bed in his arms and spins me all over the room.

We both laugh and smile, then kiss with immense love.

I let Dark know about the situation with Anna, and how I am about to fix it today.

He kisses me and goes to prepare some documents.

I knock at Anna's door but she doesn't open it. I try the handle to open it myself, but it is locked.

I try to force it, but nothing. No noise can be heard, so I decided to break it all.

I pull my foot up and break the entire door with two kicks.

Anna appears to be in a very deep sleep. When I try to remove the talisman from her hand, Dracono stops me by yelling at me.

"-Why would you stop me? I want to help her. I say to Dracono while reaching for Anna's hand.

-No, don't do it, you will lose her!"Dracono says to me as he pulls my hand away.

I ask him to explain in detail, and he tells me that the talisman can be removed only when Anna is awake, otherwise, she will remain in a deep sleep for her entire life.

When I asked him how long she has been sleeping already, he told me that for two days, like I did, she should wake up anytime now.

I wait for Anna to wake up for hours, but nothing. I am getting desperate and I try to wake her up in all the possible ways, but I fail.

Dark comes and asks me to go outside and get some fresh air, as he will watch over Anna and let me know if she wakes up.

I walk through the garden, thinking about what could I do to help Anna, when I see Adrien running toward me, carrying something between his teeth.

He stops in front of me and drops off two small silver bottles, one with a pink liquid inside and the other with a blue one.

Adrien can barely breathe, so I offer him some water, then ask him what is happening.

Adrien explains to me that he also went to see the old witch and that she demanded him to rush and find me as my daughter is in great danger.

I think to myself that the witch's reputation is not in vain, as she is extremely good at what she does.

Adrien explains to me, that Anna needs to drink the silver bottle with the pink liquid, while he has to drink the one with the blue liquid, but at the same time, otherwise, Anna will never wake up.

"-She doesn't want to wake up, does she? I ask Adrien, sure that the witch already told him everything.

-No, Andrea, she doesn't, and she won't if I do not help her right now. Adrien says.

-Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go! But wait, why do you have to drink that bottle too? I ask Adrien.

-It doesn't matter, let's just go, we don't have that much time!"

I listen to Adrien, and we rush to Anna's room. I spill the liquid in her mouth at the same time that Dark is giving the other bottle to Adrien.

A huge ray of light surrounds their bodies, making them float to the ceiling, spinning them around, surrounding them both, making them as one, then they land on the bed.

Anna wakes up, and Adrien has changed into Jonas.

Jonas wakes up and kisses Anna with so much passion, that makes me cry.

I ask Jonas if it is him, and when he says he is, I ask what happened to Adrien. He replies to me that Adrien offered himself as a trade so he can live.

I am in shock and don't know how to react to this, then Jonas tells me that he has a message for me from Adrien.

"My dear Andrea, you have saved me from my darkness, you offered me what I never deserved, and for that, I will always be grateful to you. I am happy and honored, to have saved your daughter, that is the least I could do. Do not worry, we will see each other again, in one way or another. With love, Adrien."

This is unexpected, but I will always be grateful to him as well.

I leave Anna to catch up and enjoy her husband.

The night has fallen, and I sit on the porch admiring the full moon.

Dark joins me, I put my head on his shoulder, and we both admire the night sky.

When the moon reaches its highest glow, Dark kneels in front of me, and reminds me of the promise that he made to me many years ago and that he kept and always will. But that he desires more from me, that he wishes me to be his wife for as long as he will live.

"Dark, my love, I promise to love you for all eternity, and I will be happy to be your wife with all my heart and soul. I will not make other promises to you, only that I will do my best to cherish you for all your life!" I say to Dark, accepting the ring he pulled off his pocket.

We kiss and kiss, glowing with joy, surrounded by waves of love.

At midnight, he takes me in his arms and leads me to my bedroom.

We make tremendous love for the entire night.

In the morning, I go to the kitchen, preparing a delicious breakfast for everyone.

As we are all eating, someone knocks at the door. Dracono opens it and it is no one else but Layla, looking more gorgeous than ever.

Dracono invites her to eat with us, which she gladly accepts.

We all eat and talk about how good things are, only Dracono seems sad.

Layla notices and takes his hand, looking him straight in the eyes, telling him to not be sad, and that she is there for him.

It is obvious that Layla is a grown-up now, and that all her problems are gone, but I was not aware that she has something with Dracono.