I groan as I press my arm which the Forsaken nearly tore off. My fingers meet the soft wrapping of a bandage instead of a mass of mutilated flesh and sticky blood.

"Greetings Huntress." a voice far too familiar to my ears sounds, "Long time no see."

I smile as he helps me prop up against some pillows. He doesn't appear to have changed much. His eyes still dyed in that intriguing red twinkling mischievously at me through strands of spotless white hair cascading over his forehead. He has the figure of a nobleman and for a boy around 16 at least has an impressive feline grace about him.

"Good to see you to." I smirk.

He gives a lop sided smile as he coaxes me to drink some concoction he pours from a teacup.

"Where am I?"

"Your cottage. Can't you remember?"

I stare blankly at him. Is he serious? My cottage was turned to a useless pile of debris a year ago. It never had: daintily designed wallpaper, gilded tables nor exquisite furniture and furnishings.

"But-"

"I know. I saw your home being destroyed. I saw your grandma being devoured and nearly saw you joining her."

"That's when you saved me."

"I couldn't see you die. I don't know why- Then you ran away- soaked in blood and saying that you're a freak."

I stare at his sincere expression in his eyes. They reflect his sincerity like dew covered red roses greeting the earliest sunshine. Why did he save me? What made him? Is it because he is just so noble? Ugh. My head will explode trying to puzzle him out.

"How did you know it was me then?"

The last drops of the mixture slide down my throat leaving a fiery trail as it digests.

"Well," he grins, " It's not everyday that a beautiful masked traveler shows up and relentlessly battles the monster to save a young girl and her brother from certain death. The boy- a person she knew and secretly-"

"The cloak and mask gave it away, didn't it?"

He pouts like a small boy who has just got a new toy and it has been taken from him. The cloak and mask I wore were one of a kind. The very same intricate black outfit he gave me as a symbol of peace or so he wrote.

"Must you always ruin my perfectly enchantingly, nostalgic, romantic-"

"I wonder how many more words you'll fit in there if I don't stop you."

"Still a hostile, sarcastic huntress I see."

"And your still an obnoxious, self centered twerp."

"I like it when you criticize me. Especially since I KNOW you don't mean it."

"How would you know that?"

He gives another mischievous smile before placing a familiar looking piece of parchment into my hands. If I hadn't the level of self control as I have now, I swear I would've been blushing and he would be dead.

"After all this time, you still kept my letter?" he grins.

"It served as a reminder of my promise! It-"

I wince as an acute pain races up my arm. Agony.

"Are you alright?"

"How bad was it?" I mutter gritting my teeth to hide the pain.

"You healed pretty fast. Faerliss, my sister whose a healer said she'd never seen someone recover that quickly. She's the one who bandaged you up. I told her that it's better for you to stay here in this cottage."

"You told her to let me stay here because you wanted to surprise me with the improvements you did with the place."I point out blankly.

"See," he laughs," You're officially the first girl whose actually able to see through me. Besides you deserve this place after what you did for my sister and I."

"I did what I must. You saved me a year ago. I re-payed my debt."

"I knew you'd say something like that. You're just so noble. It's a blessing with the increased forsaken attacks."

"Increased forsaken attacks?"

Jasper didn't lie. The evil was definitely growing. It's only a matter of time before it veils the land in darkness. I hope this boy has some information.

''Yes." he says staring at me thoughtfully, "Why does this interest you so much?''

I gulp trying not to look guilty. I look at the specks of dust hovering around in the beam of sunlight streaming into the room from an open window.

Warm fingers interlace with my frozen ones and I look up. His eyes are fixated on me. They don't falter. They don't look away. I feel my heart nearly stop.

"Why do I have a feeling that you're not just here to fulfill the promise you made me?"

"PRINCE KANE THE THIRD! WHAT PRAY TELL ARE YOU DOING???!!!" a shrill voice cuts our conversation short.

He quickly takes his hand away and stares in annoyance. Oh good God Almighty. My prince of blood and snow is actually a real prince??!!