My lungs burned as I continued to run through the castle. I flinched away from everyone I passed, guards and servants alike. I could barely breath but I couldn't stop. He would kill me too if he caught up to me.
I was yanked to an abrupt stop and my heart clenched as I spun to meet the face.
"What the hell, Rose?"
William, it was just William. I spent the seconds I didn't have, gulping for air.
"I have to go," I wheezed out, trying to pull myself from his grip, scanning the hallway.
"What is going on?" He said with a light laugh, presumably at my bizarre state.
"Let. Me. Go." I stated clearly.
"No, I'm-" His hand dropped suddenly and I followed his gaze to my hand.
I closed my hand even more tightly around the stone, but the silver light still emitted from it.
"Is that?" He replied trying to keep his voice steady.
I couldn't answer. My throat seized and tears threatened to spill from my eyes, "I have to go," I repeated as I turned away and began my escape through the labyrinth of hallways once again.
"Rose!" William called after me but I ignored him, "Rosalyn I swear to the gods!"
Footsteps rang behind me and I turned and saw William following. He quickly caught up to me, running by my side.
"Is that the elemental?" He demanded an answer.
"Yes," I confessed.
"Who did it," He pressured, "who killed her,"
I skidded to a halt sticking my arm out to stop William as well.
The man stood, calm and collected, as if he was just waiting for me to arrive. My heart pounded against my chest, flooding my ears with the cadence. I looked behind us and saw his guards closing in. I met eyes with William and he quickly looked back at the Lord in front of us.
"Lord Dunstan," William addressed, one hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Sir William, I apologize for putting you in this position, I just need to speak with Madam Halvard," He said with a cold charm.
William took a step, putting himself between Dunstan and me. "I sure whatever you wish to speak of with her, I can be present for," He replied.
The Lord inhaled but continued with his smile, "As you wish,"
"You don't have to do this, just because you were her guard doesn't-," I started to tell William before being cut off.
"She was more than just a Charge to me," He said softly. I saw the pain in his eyes, the same pain I felt. He wasn't going to back down, nothing the Lord nor I could say would change that.
"Give me the elemental and you both can live," Lord Dunstan offered.
"You are not having it," William said with barred teeth.
Lord Dunstan focused his gaze to me, "Do not waste your life on this foolishness,"
There were nearly five guards around us, an elemental user in front of us, and the only thing we had was a single sword, and a stone I didn't know how to use. We were going to die. Even if I gave him the stone, I didn't trust him enough to spare us.
I was desperate. I searched the hall, hoping for a brilliant plan to be sprawled across the cobblestone. I felt the hopelessness rise in me.
Warmth spread across my fingertips and I looked down to my shaky palm. The stone was giving off a tender white light. I felt a calm wash over me as I regained my breathing.
I closed my hand around the stone again, this time with determination.
"I will never let you have it," I declared in a sneer. I clutched the stone to my chest and glared at Lord Dunstan, "You do not deserve it,"
Suddenly the white light engulfed the hallway, and all i could feel was an intense vertigo before falling to the ground.
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