The lightning filled the black sky and the horses screamed. The yelling filled her ears and she felt herself running. Flames licked everywhere around her and her breath grew shorter. Covering her mouth, she narrowed her eyes and kept running.

"Krystal! Help!"

Quickly she ran down the hall and found her mother lying in the corner. Diana was covering someone and she moved to their side. Carefully she helped her mother up and looked down. Val's body was covered in bruises and cuts. Quickly she lifted him into her arms and carried him outside.

Bryan met her at the bottom of the stairs and she handed him Val. The guard looked at her and then ran away. Her pulse was racing and she drew strong breaths into her lungs. Coughing out the smoke, she ran her hand through her hair and heard the scream. Her eyes moved to the gate and she quickly ran outside.

Alana was surrounded by a gang of bandits and was nursing her leg. Quickly she drew her sword and ran at the circle. A black blur passed her and her legs froze. She watched him jump into the middle and hold the woman against his chest. His eyes burned and Alana screamed.

Something hot hit her back and she felt her skin burning. Falling onto her knees, she closed her eyes and forced the pain out of her mind. A blade rested on her throat and her hand tightened around the hilt of her sword. Slowly she looked up and looked in Jacob's eyes.

"You should've trusted yourself."

Her eyes narrowed and he brought the sword up slowly. Their blades clashed and he drove her back to the gate. The manor was breaking apart and the flames were moving along the grassy walks. Jacob smirked and the sword ripped along the side of her jaw. She felt the blow on her side and fell to her knees.

Slowly she looked up and watched his smile cover his face. Tightening her grip on the sword, she watched the sword come down. She held it inches from her face and looked up at him. His eyes widened and slowly a dark stain spread over his shirt. His sword fell to the ground and the sword was pulled out.

He landed on the ground and she slowly looked up. Her eyes met his and he knelt next to her. His hand caught her shoulder and she ran her hand over his face. Holding back the pain, she smiled slowly and kissed him. He held her gaze and the fire hit her skin.

Feeling it lick her skin, she jerked awake and quickly sat up. Catching her breath, she ran her hand through her hair and looked down at him. He lay resting gently beside her and she let out a soft sigh. Slowly she slid out of bed and pulled her hair back. She pulled on her boots and tied them quickly.

Her sword rested at her side and she slid out of the bed chambers. Silently she walked onto the balcony and looked up at the evening sky. The nightmare had been intensely real and her skin still felt like it was being burned. Screaming filled her ears and she looked down at the market. The flames filled her eyes and she ran to the door.

Stepping into the hall, she saw Ala watching her and closed the door. The woman held her gaze and she ran down the hall. Feeling her pulse racing, she quickly descended into the courtyard and out the gates. Silently she ran into the market and watched the flames engulf the homes. The anguish began filling her mind and she heard the crying.

Quickly she looked around and saw families escaping. She moved to their sides and aided their flight. A screaming mother caught her attention and she looked over her shoulder. The woman ran around looking for her child and a man approached her. Her eyes narrowed and she pulled the woman out of his reach.

The woman caught her shoulder and said, "My son...please help him!"

Silently she nodded and moved into the alley. She moved between the flaming houses and heard the screaming. Quietly she looked into the street and saw the boy backed into a corner. The cloaked men raised their swords and her sword slid across their backs. They dropped to the ground in agony and she picked the boy up.

He hung tightly to her and she quickly disappeared back into the alley. Silently she worked her way back to his mother. The woman clung to him tightly and she pushed them to safety. The low chuckling reached her ear and she turned around slowly. Three cloaked men stood before her and bore drawn swords.

She deflected the first blow and dodged the second. Her body was slowly wearing thin and she felt her strength wavering. A sting on her shoulder sent her to her knee and a blow crossed her jaw. She fell back into the wall and struggled onto her knee. The three stood before her and she held tightly to her sword.

"Get away from her!"

The men looked away and she drove her sword through one's chest. He fell to the ground with a scream and the two turned back to her. The whip caught her face and cut her cheek. Her sword crossed the next man's throat and he dropped. A blow to her head sent her into the wall and she tried shaking the darkness off.

She heard the man's sword clash with another and tried to look up. The pain in her head shook her to the core and she felt herself slipping further into the darkness. Slowly she heard a body land next to her and a hand rest on her shoulder. Her eyes fell closed as a pair of arms lifted her from the blood stained ground and she felt the darkness surround her.

"She needs help. Take her to my place."

"The Prince?"

"He will know when he wakes."

"And the bodies?"

"The King can clear them up. We're losing her."

Silently the sun began to rise and the market became dead. The morning began in silence and the dread swept through the market into the castle. His eyes slowly opened and he looked around the room. Quickly he got to his feet and yanked on his boot. Silently he walked out onto the balcony and found the market quiet.

His eyes narrowed and he left his chambers. Walking down the hall, he heard the running feet and looked up. Guards were leaving the castle and he followed. Bryan led them into the market and Ala stepped into his path. He shoved her aside and followed the men into the bloody streets.

The burned homes chilled his bones and he stopped walking. His eyes rested on the three bodies on the ground and the blood around them. He felt his strength break and his knees hit the ground. Signs of the battle filled his head and he looked at the stained wall. His eyes closed and he forced control into his chaotic mind.

Bryan stood at his side and said, "There's no sign of her."

His eyes opened slowly and he rose to his feet. He turned to the men and they began to remove the dead bodies. Silently he watched the guards clean the street.

Bryan looked at him and asked, "Alexander?"

"She's alive."

The man sighed and said, "She's not here."

His hand caught the man's throat and he shoved him into the nearest wall. His eyes burned and his grip tightened.

"I said she's alive."

A hand caught his shoulder and he heard, "Let him go. Krystal will return."

Slowly he freed Bryan and stepped back. Ala held his gaze and he looked around the street. The pain filled his body and his mind slowly drew dark. His eyes burned and he walked past the two. Silently he left the market and made his way to the stables.

His eyes landed on the dancing Lucian and he watched the stallion move about. He was searching for her, but not mourning her. Smirking, he stepped into the stable and pulled Wind from his stall. He saddled the stallion and slid the bridle over his face. Silently he slid into the saddle and rode the stallion into the country.

'I will find you.'