Chapter Sixteen

I began to get angry, why me of all people did this demon decide to over take, why did it choose me to fulfill his retribution and salvation and is it connected to what's had happened in our village?

　　So many questions and so little answers I must save the world, it's on my shoulders now.

　　A hand was placed on my shoulder making me jolt looking up, Ariel stood there looking down at me as I sat there not knowing what to do her hands snaked up into my hair and I couldn't control my tears.

　　Ariel took me into her arms and held me and we cried together, she has no idea what I am bearing with but I don't think she minds.

　　We didn't talk, our emotions were just to heavy and too complicated to explain.

　　I don't know who I am, I don't know where I had came from, who my family is; maybe this is the reason they gave up on me.

　　An hour went passed and I was in her arms, the girl who saved my life by taking me with her, a girl who had so much to lose yet...She still picked me.

　　I never felt such bliss, never felt such emotion, we might have been friends before but she is mine. "I swear to the heavens I will never let anything hurt you ever again,"

　　She gave me sad smile as her hands went down my face, my neck, and my chest.

　　"Thank you, Luke," Ariel replied.

　　"So many people here had suffered, and so many people died. I'll be damned if anything like this happened to you," I spoke.

　　The voice at the back of my mind spoke.

　　Aren't you already?

　　"It's a bit too late for that," Ariel gave me a sad smile and laid her head on my chest.

　　"Well, I'll never let it happen again," I swore.

　　She stayed quiet, the silence grew over us and the look of this place became more mentally draining.

　　"We should probably leave and find Merlin," I thought out loud.

　　"Your probably right," Ariel said with a sigh.

　　We got up and started walking towards a clearing through the hanging trees, the wind blowing through them you would swear you could hear the bodies wailing.

　　 Staying far from contact as possible, I don't need another vision of what happened here, my will to continue this conquest is wearing thin, but I know I can't give up because of Ariel. This is all she has to keep her own sanity.

　　"There you two are," Merlin spoke incredibly.

　　"We have been looking for the two of you for hours," Aemeon explained.

　　Ariel and I looked at each other for a split second.

　　"Yes, sorry I zoned out for a little while." I said openly.

　　"I see, well are you ready to go then or would you like to stay in the depths of existence?" Merlin said snidely.

　　"No! I mean no, let's get out of here." Ariel anxiously spoke while fiddling with her fingers.

　　I nodded with agreement.

　　I wonder how much farther the Elfin kingdom is...

　　Clasping Ariel's hand in mine and I looked at the three of them around me.

　　"How much farther Merlin?"I asked, patience wearing thin.

　　"Oh, not too far. Over the hill and far away," he joked halfheartedly.

　　Aemeon chuckled at Merlin's remark.

　　"What happened with your daughter Aemeon?" Ariel questioned softly.

　　"Ah well," He paused and looked at Merlin before he continued.

　　"I told her everything, but alas I don't think she's forgiving." He explained.

　　"That's what you think," Said a sigh behind Merlin and Aemeon.

　　We all turned to face Aemeon's daughter who stood with her arms crossed in a defensive stance.

　　"You forgive me?" Aemeon asked as his voice broke a little.

　　"Well, not completely.. but I get it," she said shyly.

　　"So you will be coming with us?" Aemeon whispered with little hope.

　　"I can't leave, this is my home. But I wish you luck on your journey," she smiled thoughtfully.

　　"I get what you mean, theres times where I wish I could go home and see my family too," Ariel reminisced.

　　Arrowen nodded sadly. "I'm unsure where you will be headed, although I wish you luck on the journey ahead of you."

　　"Thank you, that is very much appreciated." Ariel smiled back.

　　"We should head out soon, the rain turns into acid here once in a blue moon," Merlin explained.

　　"Then let's go," I prompted.

　　"Very nice meeting you Arrowen," I quickly added.

　　She walked us to the old rickety fence that was a barrier..we done our goodbyes and went on our way.

　　"Remember this world is our salvation."

　　"Shut up," I unintentionally spoke aloud.

　　"What was that, there Lucas?" Merlin asked with an raised eyebrow.

　　"Uh, oh nothing," I stumbled out.

　　"Oh alright," he dropped

　　"I am in your head so we should get along some way or another. "

　　"Ha, with you? Never!" I snorted out.

　　Everyone stopped and stared once more.

　　Ariel looked at me more worried from before. "What?

　　"Are you feeling okay?" She wondered.

　　"I feel fine, why?" I said lying.

　　"You have been talking to yourself like the people in our village had before they went mad," Ariel explained.

　　"Are you saying you think I'm crazy?" I furrowed my brow.

　　"No, not at all. Its just-," she began.

　　"Its just what exactly?" I demanded.

　　"I'm worried about you," Ariel said smalley.

　　"Well don't be I'm fine." I lied again.