EPILOGUE: Return Home

EPILOGUE: Return Home
That evening, in the dead of night, Tristan appeared, escorting a single Griffin. He seemed slightly nervous, and I wondered just how much danger he was putting himself in to help us.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Elias asked as he took the creature's reigns from him. "Won't they notice one is missing?"

"I have a plan." Tristan smirked.

"Okay," Elias murmured, holding out a hand. "Thank you for all your help, my friend."

"Anytime." Tristan beamed. "Just try to stay out of trouble, got it?"

"Sure." Elias chuckled.

I could feel tears beginning to prick at my eyes from the warm send-off between the two men. I couldn't explain it, but to see Elias having someone on the other side that has his back made me feel a little more at peace with the fact I could leave him at any moment.

"I'll see you when I see you, then." Tristan announced taking a step back. "Hopefully next time will be under better circumstances."

"We can only hope." Elias agreed.

With that, he turned and grabbed my waist. A small gasp escaped as he lifted and sat me on top of the griffin before jumping on himself.

"You ready?" He husked close to my ear, sending a shiver through me.

"Y-yeah," I breathed, flushing.

Chuckling at my reaction, he wrapped his arms around me and grabbed the reins. With his warmth surrounding me, I felt myself beginning to relax as he lifted the creature's reins and released a piercing whistle that spurred the griffin into motion.

"Bye!" Elias called over his shoulder as we began to rise.

Closing my eyes, I cuddled up against him as the warmth of the sun pressed against my skin. This would be the last time for a while that I would get to experience it, and I wanted to savor it.

"I swear, I'll find a way to break the curse so that you can experience this in Allsbrook." Elias said, catching me by surprise.

"I'd like that." I sighed. "But I would like for it to be broken so I can atone for letting that bastard fool me."

A low, rumbling growl sounded from Elias at my words, causing a shiver to rush through me, followed by guilt. Even if Elias had forgiven me for being involved in the curse, that didn't make me any less guilty.

"I will do everything in my power to lift it." I whispered, causing Elias to tense behind me.

For a second, neither of us spoke as we got lost in our thoughts. I could only hope that he wasn't changing his mind.

"Stop blaming yourself." He finally said, "You are no longer that woman from then. You are you."

I was me... I had never thought of it like that, but he was right. That person from that time wasn't me. However, that person's guilt still weighed heavily on my shoulders.

"Maybe not, but I carry all of her karma."

There was no getting around that, and I didn't intend to pretend otherwise.

"Then let me help you carry it too." Elias sighed, pulling me closer. "That's what I'm supposed to do for my woman as a man."

A slow blush began to creep up my cheeks at his  words. It was going to take time for me to get used to him being so sweet.

"What about Veronica?" I found myself suddenly asking. "Aren't you still engaged to her?"

"Don't mention her." He growled.

My eyes widened as I wiggled around to face him. What in the world happened between them while I was away?

"I was waiting for you to tell me, but I guess I've revealed it." Elias huffed, causing understanding to rush through me.

"You found out..."

"How do you think I discovered that you were gone? One of your maids witnessed the whole thing and immediately informed me."

"What did you do to her?" I asked slowly, realizing that Elias severely punishing Veronica could cause a clash between his and her families. "You didn't beat her or lock her away, did you?"

"As much as I would have loved to have done that, I only had her grounded to her mansion to repent.”

I wasn't quite sure how to feel about Elias' response. On the one hand, I was relieved that it didn't cause a huge ordeal. On the other hand, I was upset; that was all she got after causing me to nearly die.

"Are you unsatisfied?"

Was I? Probably. Would I admit it? No.

"I'm fine." I assured him. "Just tired."

It wasn't a lie. I was tired. Exhausted even. After everything that had happened, I was drained. Not to mention, the slowly dying thing was taking its toll as well.

However, for now, I wasn't going to think about it. I was going to simply remain positive and enjoy whatever time I had left with Elias. I would also use that time to lift the curse so that the people of Allsbrook could flourish. I guess you could say it was my last will and testament. Of course, these promises I would keep close to myself right in my heart, but they were here, and that was all that mattered. As these thoughts swirled, the griffin beneath us began to buck and sway.

"What's going on?" I asked, my eyes searching the area. "Why is it freaking out?"

"Below us," Elias hissed.

Confused, I looked down to find a squad of knights beginning to shoot arrows straight at us.

"They've found us already?" I asked, unable to believe it.

"Yeah, hang on."

Nodding, I tried my best to hold onto the beast that we were riding as Elias began to lead it out of the way of the arrows that were flying at us. My heart pounded in my chest as they grew more and more until finally one managed to connect with the griffin's wing. Cursing, Elias tried to grab hold of me just as I found myself slipping off the creature and falling towards the ground with wide eyes.

Above, I could see Elias' lips moving, trying their best to say something, but I couldn't make it out. I don't know if it was the shock of falling to my death or something else, but I began to feel so dizzy. Until finally, the world disappeared around me.

I don't know how much time passed before an irritating beeping noise began to rouse me from the darkness that consumed me. Groaning, I attempted to lift my hands to cover my ears, but an odd stinging sensation stopped me.

Prying my eyes open, I was nearly blinded by a much too bright light that was shining. Trying to make sense of the scene, I began to focus on my surroundings until I finally realized that I was in a hospital bed and the light was coming from a flashlight that a doctor was holding above me.

I was no longer in the perpetually cursed world I had just been, instead, I was back in my world and I was alive.

TO BE CONTINUED...