GUEST CHAPTER!

So, this chapter is from my good friend Kylie, who wanted to have a go at it. I figured, what the hell. So here is her stab at it, and hopefully you won't hate it too much. Sorry about the long wait, by the way. Between work and Christmas/New Year holidays (I only got back at the end of January) I haven't had much time to do anything! (So lucky Kyle wrote this or you would've had to wait an extra month or so :P) Thanks for all the reviews, patience and love!

-

Hayden sighed, kicking the ground gently, his bare toes prodding the grass. “Now what?”

Linaria glanced back at her cousin almost helplessly. “Noah?”

Noah shrugged stiffly, his fingers curled into his hips. “I dunno. I…I don’t know.” He scoffed bitterly, shutting his eyes against them. Why did they have to turn to him for guidance? He was just as clueless as they were. He didn’t know what the hell to do, what the hell he was doing.

And Elias’ lip had been so soft.

Fuck.

He wrenched his eyes open, hissing violently at himself. What was wrong with him?! His heated glare hit the shimmering blue stone on his finger, and all of a sudden he wanted to smash it. It was the Key’s fault. It had to be.

“Maybe…” Hayden trailed off, clearly hesitant. He licked his chapped lips cautiously, rubbing his healed arm. “Maybe the Light has the right idea. About…well, about Elias.”

“What?!” Noah’s head snapped up, and Linaria gaped at him, clearly mortified.

“How could you even think that?” She demanded hotly and Hayden threw his hands up defensively.

“I don’t! I’m not saying we should go kill him, fuck. I just…what if there is no other way?”

“There is.” Noah said immediately, his voice strangely high-pitched. “There has to be.”

Hayden sighed, lifting his shoulders almost helplessly. “And if there isn’t? I’m just sayin’, man. We should be prepared for –”

“For what?” Linaria cut off, her eyes slitting and lips pursing. “For our friend to die? To, what, kill him?”

“What?! No! Fuck. Just forget it!” Hayden growled, crossing his arms in frustration. He hadn’t meant he supported killing Elias, he didn’t, but…it was still something they had to be prepared for. Because if there really was no other way to close the Door, to save the world…what choice did they have?

“It won’t come to that.” Noah said feebly, this throat oddly dry. “We’ll work something out. He isn’t going to die.” He can’t, he added silently as he swallowed the lump down, this thumb burning.

-

“You’re always so tense.” Three’s cold hands moved up his muscular back, under his black silk shirt. Her breath was tickling his ear, though not in a particularly pleasant way. He growled, jerking his head away as her blood-red lips caressed the side of his neck, her pointed fangs ripping at his pale skin, her body pressing firmly against his back.

“Where’s Nine?” He demanded impatiently, black eyes sweeping over the mass of Soulless below. All standing at attention, ready for attack. Ready to give their lives, for he knew many of them would not survive the day.

“Ugh, who cares.” She took his waist again, continuing her assault on his skin, tugging down the collar of his shirt to suckle the back of his neck. She pouted when he pulled away completely , whipping around to glare ferociously at her.

“Considering he’s one of the best fighters we have, I think many do.” He snarled at her stupidity. As much as the blond irritated him, infuriated him, disgusted and confused him, hew knew damn well that next to himself and Eight Nine was the best they had. Unfortunately.

“Aw, you miss me already? Why Seven, I didn’t know you cared.” Nine smirked as he phased in, the leash wrapped firmly around his hand.

“About time you showed up.” Seven snapped, his glare faltering when he noticed the leash. Or, more correctly, who was attached to it. His eyes slit instantly, mouth twist into a hard line as Eight’s eyes sparkled beneath his hair. Nine had put the mask back around his face, and it sent a bolt or something like…relief through him. Until the anger took over, and he merely snarled before turning back to the balcony edge as if Eight’s presence didn’t bother him at all.

“You ready?” He was asking Nine, but it was Three that answered.

“Hell yes. Let’s rip those fucking brats apart already.”

At Nine’s silence he turned questioningly, to find a sombre look on the blonde’s face. He snorted quietly, his teeth grazing over his lower lip slowly. “Sure. Why not. Always up for a little suicide, right? And, hey, who cares if we lose a few. Fucking hell. No, I’m not ready. Fuck you.”

Seven scowled angrily – trust Nine to act all human about it. Like he was actually worried, like he cared. About them, his fellow Soulless. About him. He wanted t I punch the other man, slam his face against the marble floor because Soulless didn’t feel, didn’t he get the memo? He couldn’t claim to care, couldn’t claim to love. It was impossible. He didn’t even have a goddamn soul left.

“Fine.” He said coldly, clearing his throat to address the other waiting Soulless.

-

“Alright.” Hayden sighed again, clearly exasperated. “But…I’m just saying, and I don’t like it anymore than you guys, but Elias is the end of the world, basically. That’s our homes, families, mates…and you gotta remember that we still have to get home. And if he’s the only portal…”

Noah’s eyes widened. The only portal. He hadn’t even considered that. If Elias was the only way home, and the only way to open him was to bleed him then…no. They couldn’t do that, ever.

Linaria visibly faltered, here eyes flicking back and forth between them uncertainly. “Hayden…we can’t be sure of anything yet. We don’t even know if Elias is the only way back. I mean, the Key transported us here in the first place, right? Maybe we can use that or something.”

Noah lifted the ring in surprise; he’d completely forgotten about it. It was the Key that had transported them to the Neverworld, not Elias. It had happened when he’d picked it up – Elias hadn’t gone anywhere near it. Maybe…maybe they could use that and Elias would be okay. Alive.

“Whoa.” Hayden’s elbow jarred him from his thoughts, and he glanced up in surprise to see the High Priest approaching, a grave looking Elias by his side. Noah’s heart froze for a moment, his thumb tingling madly, his face burning hotter by the second. He determinedly avoided looking at his mouth, his lips.

“Are you okay?” Linaria asked Elias straight away, and Noah froze when he realised how red the smaller boy’s eyes were. He’d been crying.

Elias didn’t answer – he stared at the ground intently, and Noah’s frown deepened as worry kicked in. He swallowed, nervousness fluttering at the base of his throat. Was he angry at him for before? “E-E…El?”

Elias looked away, the simple action sending horror tearing through the blond.

“I have fantastic news.” The High Priest announced, his tone joyful, and the trip looked at him in surprise. Noah had been so caught up in Elias’ reaction (to the what? Touch? Caress? What?) that he’d completely forgotten the bald man was even there.

“The Master quit?” Hayden asked hopefully, and he received a chuckle.

“I wish. That would be the best news of all. However, we now have a fighting chance. In fact, we’re going to win.”

Linaria was surprised and her cousins’ eyes slipped back to Elias helplessly, wishing he would just look up, look at him. “What do you mean?”

The High Priest practically beamed, his hand moving to Elias’ shoulder. “Elias has bravely agreed to allow us to close the Door. We have won.”

“What?!” Noah swung back around in horror, his heart seizing frantically. “You can’t be serious! Elias?!”

Elias still didn’t respond – his eyes slipped shut and he grit his teeth, refusing to acknowledge the other boy. Any of them. Because if he did, if he saw how panicked, how worried they (he) were, he didn’t think he could take it.

“Elias, you can’t!” Linaria joined in the protest, grabbing his wrist and he yanked it away, taking several steps back and refusing to look up, as his stomach sunk horribly. Didn’t they understand? He didn’t have a choice. He had to do it, had to let them close the Door. Kill him.

He had to.

They would all die if he didn’t.

“What did you do to him?! What the fuck did you say?!” Noah yelled at the High Priest furiously, his fists clenched tightly and the High Priest looked alarmed, raising his hands in an attempt to soothe the boy.

“I didn’t say anything, Noah. Elias knows what must be done, and he is an extremely brave and selfless person for doing so. He –”

“Fuck you!” Noah cut off angrily and Elias flinched, his breath quickening as Linaria’s fingers reached for him again – he pulled back and his breath caught somewhere; he swallowed quickly as his eyes began to burn and he wiped them on his arm hurriedly. “Elias, you don’t have to do this. I said find another fucking way!”

“There is no other way!” The High Priest snapped back and Noah snarled, whirling around to Elias. He froze at the other boy’s stance, his slumped shoulders, red eyes, the way he was refusing to look in their direction, and all of a sudden he wanted to cry.

“Elias?” He whispered, swallowing. “El, you don’t have to…you don’t have to do this. Please. Just give us a chance, yeah? We can find another way, I swear, just –”

“It’s too late, Noah.” The High Priest didn’t give him a chance to continue; he took Elias’ shoulder again and the black-haired boy winced, “Elias has already made his choice. Now if you don’t mind we must prepare for the ritual, so –”

“Yes, I fucking do mind! You can’t do this! He’s just a fucking kid, you can’t, you can’t do this! Elias! Elias, fucking please!” His voice choked, his heart rushing madly in his ears as the other boy shuddered. “El.” It was a desperate plea, and suddenly he didn’t care if the others knew about his stupid twisted obsession with him, he didn’t care if it was blurted to the whole bloody world, as long as Elias was okay. “Elias, fucking…p-please, you have to think about this.”

“I already have.” Elias’ voice was faint, almost pained. He shook his head desperately, teeth sinking into his lip as he wished Noah would just shut up, would stop looking at him like that, like his whole bloody life depended on him. It was too much, it was all too much. “I need…I need to do this. It’s the only way.”

“N-No…” He shook his head slowly, taking a horrified step back. “That isn’t…fuck, you’re not even giving it a chance…”

“I’m sorry, Noah.” The High Priest broke in. “But Elias has made his choice, and we must go prepare ourselves.” And he turned sharply, so sharply Elias stumbled over his feet and nearly fell, saved only by the man’s vice-like grip on his shoulder.

“Elias!” Noah yelled, immediately throwing himself after them but he slammed into Hayden instead, as the other boy caught him mid-dart.

“Noah, Noah, calm down!” He grit his teeth, wincing as his friend struggled madly, Elias’ name leaving his lips in panicked cries. “Noah! Stop!” He threw him back, panting as the blonde fell to the ground, numb with shock.

“Noah!” Linaria fell beside him at once, her hands smoothing over his shoulders as he stared up at their friend in shock.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?! We can’t let them do this!”

“At the moment we don’t have a choice.” Hayden snapped, his eyes slitting into a glare. “Elias has obviously made up his mind, and I seriously doubt the High Priest is gonna let you talk him out of it.”

“So, what?” Noah demanded angrily, ignoring his cousin’s concern as he leapt to his feet. “We just let him fucking die?!”

“No! I, fuck! I don’t fucking know!” Hayden threw his arms up in a mixture of rage and frustration, giving the ground another harsh kick. “I don’t want the kid to fucking die, and I don’t want my whole bloody world, our homes, to fucking die either! In case you haven’t noticed, it’s kind of complicated!”

“I’ve noticed.” Noah bit back, before hissing and ripping his hand through his hair. It wasn’t Hayden’s fault; really, he knew that deep down but god. How could he have stopped him? He had to stop this, had to stop Elias and show him that he didn’t have to bloody die.

Couldn’t die.

“Stop it.” Linaria shook her head, slowly rising to her feet and both boys turned to her almost reproachfully. “Fighting about it isn’t going to solve anything. God, you’re such typical males.” She added under her breath, before clearing her throat and placing her hands on her bare hips. “We have to talk to Elias while the High Priest isn’t around. I get that he’s just trying to do what’s best, but maybe…I don’t know. Maybe we can try something.”

“We have to talk to the High Priest too, obviously.” Hayden snorted. “Let the man know he’s gotta sort some other shit out.”

“Right.” Noah frowned, and straightened up, feeling slightly better, more in control, now that they had a plan. “So, we’ll split up, okay? Lin and Hayden, you go try to talk to the High Priest, and I’ll…I’ll talk to Elias.”

See how badly I can screw it up this time, he added quietly to himself, and felt a low stab of guilt somewhere. Because maybe if he and Elias hadn’t fought, if he hadn’t…hadn’t freaked him out so much he wouldn’t have decided to let the High Priest kill him.

Linaria seemed to read his mind somehow, because she wavered before speaking slowly. “Are you sure you don’t want one of us to come with you?” And she had no idea what was going on – but there was clearly something happening, if Noah’s reaction before was anything to go by. She had never seen her cousin so worked up about anyone before, and it made her uneasy.

But Noah shook his head, his throat drying rapidly all over again. “I…I think I should handle this one.” He couldn’t trust Hayden to do it – well, no, that was unfair. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Hayden, it was just…and it wasn’t that he didn’t trust Linaria, he did, but…

It had to be him.

He wanted it to be only him.

And he wished he could just understand why, why the other boy had suddenly become so bloody special and ugh. He didn’t want to dwell on it, because it kind of made his head swim in confusion, and he just wasn’t up for that right now. He had to focus on one thing and one thing only – convincing the dark-haired boy to let them find another way.

If another way existed, that was.

“Okay.” Linaria didn’t seem all that convinced, but nodded and glanced at Hayden. “You ready?”

“Yeah, sure.” He muttered, and he gave Noah a hesitant look over his shoulder as they parted. Noah sighed quietly, knowing his friend was regretting the fight (not that it was much of a fight – by their standards it was barely a disagreement) and he turned towards the palace, shading his eyes against the sun with his hand.

He sighed again, his eyes trailing along the shimmering white building, so out of place in the dreary world he’d come to know, and set off towards it, uneasiness drumming through him.

-

“So, what next?” Nine asked, leaning against the archway with his fair eyebrows raised, his hands buried in his soft hair as he worked it into a ponytail.

“What do you mean?” Seven didn’t turn to look at him. They were back in his room, gathering the last of the maps and spells Seven thought they’d need. His fingertips swept over the blueprint for the Light palace, his pale mouth twisting into a scowl.

“Well, c’mon.” Nine threw him an exasperated look as he fought with his black ribbon. His hair was being especially bitchy today, and he could bet he knew why. Probably didn’t want to die. He didn’t blame it, quite frankly. He wasn’t looking forward to the whole death thing either.”Do you really think any of them are going to make it? You’re attacking them on their home dirt, Sev, and you know how feisty those Light get. It’s going to be a bloodbath, and you know it. Most won’t survive.” His fingers dropped to his chest, tracing the buttons to his flat stomach. He bit his lip, tossing his head lightly. “Probably me included.”

At that Seven snorted, and found himself gritting his teeth, but he wasn’t entirely sure what he was so angry about. “Don’t be such an idiot all your fucking life, Nine. You know damn well you’re one of the least likely to die. Stop your fucking whining.”

Nine paused in surprise for a moment, before the weight of Seven’s words actually sunk in, and a slow smirk unfurled on his feminine face. “Why, Seven. Was that meant to be a compliment? That’s so cute!”

He laughed when Seven’s white cheeks flushed with anger, narrowly dodging the vase that the other man threw. “Sorry, babe. Couldn’t resist.”

“Stop calling me that!” The roar was enraged, but Nine only smirked again, relaxing back against the archway, his hands behind his head.

“Sure thing, boss.”

Seven gnashed his teeth, hating the way the blonde ignored his threats, like he didn’t care if Seven beat him into a pulp for it. Like it was all worth it in the end. He grabbed the blueprints rougher than he intended, rolling them up and he marched to the archway, right past the blonde, until a strong hand flung out from nowhere and grabbed his wrist, yanking him to a standstill.

“Seven…” Nine hesitated, and the playful smirk was gone. His face was dead serious, cautious, and he tightened his grip on the other man’s wrist as their eyes met. Seven scowled deeply, resentment rising that the blonde had dared to touch him, was daring to look at him so…so fucking tenderly. “Look…if we don’t…if it all goes wrong, I just want you to know that…well…” he was clearly struggling for the right words, knowing all too well how sensitive Seven was to Those Three Words.

Seven’s eyes narrowed; he didn’t have time for this crap. He made to pull his wrist free but Nine’s other hand flew up and caught him, so that both his hands were wrapped around his arm and the blonde stepped closer, his heart speeding up because he knew he was stepping Way Out Of Line, and Seven was sure to kick his ass for it the moment he was freed.

“Just fucking listen for a moment, okay? Because if shit goes down and it all fucks up this is the last time I’ll ever get to talk to you, I mean really talk to you, and, and fucking hell, Seven. You have to know.”

“You don’t love me.” Seven snarled, tugging his arm ruthlessly; pain shot through it as Nine held firm, and he hated how bloody strong the blond was. “So don’t you dare –”

“Just be careful.” Nine’s plea cut him off mid-sentence, and he swallowed quickly. “Just…be careful. Please. I don’t…I can’t…I’m not so great at losing people. So come back in one piece, okay? Just…promise me you’ll be okay, and, and…you know what, fuck you. I love you.”

Seven stared at him for a moment, before his eyes narrowed into slits and Nine hurriedly released him. He stepped back, baring his teeth with a ferocious growl. “You’re fucking pathetic. I hope you do get fucking slaughtered.” And he stormed out, slamming the door behind him, marching down the hall with his jaw clenched painfully.

Nine sunk back against the archway, exhaling slowly. “Well, that could’ve been worse.” He muttered, shoving his hair out of his eyes.

-

He felt numb.

Numb and cold somehow, even though there wasn’t a single breeze in the large room. There wasn’t anything; just musty air (the room obviously hadn’t been used in quite some time) and a horrible sense of dread gnawing at his insides. The High Priest had left him there, hurrying off to ‘prepare’ with the other Light and Elias didn’t even know how long they’d be.

How long it would be. Before they’d kill him, before he’d die. Before his eyes would close and never, ever reopen.

He swallowed, his throat feeling like it was made from shards of glass, and twisted his head down, nuzzling his own shoulder with a shuddering exhale. His hands traced over his stomach, fingertips exploring the warm skin that wasn’t even really his. Skin that he’d never touch again. He’d never see any of it again. He’d never see Earth again, brilliant, beautiful Earth with all its people, everyone he knew. Teachers, everyone at the shelter.

His friends. Linaria, Hayden, Noah. And he wasn’t even sure when he started referring to them as his friends – really, he had no right to call them that considering all they’d been through, all he’d put them through.

He would never see them again.

Would never pass school, never do the graduation thing, never suffer through his first day of work, never fall in love, never grow old, have a family, live. And he never realised just how much he wanted to do all that before; how much he didn’t want to die. He wanted to pass school, he wanted to be back there, make friends, fly through exams, graduate and find a job. Grow up, grow old. Find someone amazing to fall in love with, to fall in love with him. Have a house with a yard and a family. End up in a nursing home.

He wouldn’t even make it though the day. He hadn’t even experienced his first crush, his first kiss, his first driving lesson, his first real friend, his first exam. There were a lot of things he hadn’t experienced yet, and suddenly he was dying to.

He winced, tensing when he heard the door open behind him. This was it. It was Time; the High Priest had arrived to take him to, well, wherever they were going. He would be bled, killed, and he’d never return.

“Are –” He turned, the question catching in his throat as he realised the intruder wasn’t the High Priest at all – it was Noah, his face anxious. “What are you doing here? H-How did you even…”

Noah inhaled deeply, glancing around the expansive room almost cautiously. It contained nothing but a well in the centre, and an alter at the other end. “Checked every room, this was the last one. Look, you have to fucking listen to me, okay, just for one bloody second. You can’t, you can’t…I just…Elias, this is so fucking stupid. You know it’s stupid! You don’t have to do this. I don’t know what the hell the High Priest said to you, but –”

“He told me the truth.” Elias cut off, his voice frail. “He told me…he told me the truth, Noah. That’s all. Don’t you get it? I have to do this, or…or the whole world could suffer and that isn’t fair, Noah, it isn’t fucking fair. I can’t make…I can’t put them through that just because I’m too selfish.”

“But you don’t even know the options yet! You’re making assumptions! I mean, think about the Key – it was the one that brought us here in the first place! Maybe it can be used or something –”

“You want to risk the world on your guesses?” Elias’ voice was quickly gaining strength, fury building at the other boy because why couldn’t he just leave him alone? Noah complicated everything, made it all far too confusing and they didn’t have time for this. They had to close the Door, he had to…he had to die. “This is the safest way, Noah!”

“You’re being an idiot!”

“And you’re being selfish!” He snapped back, and Noah threw his arms up in anger.

“I’m being selfish?! Gee, sorry for wanting you to fucking live!”

“I’m not even alive!” The yell was strained, and when he quickly sucked in a breath his eyes were shining with tears. “I don’t even fucking exist, Noah! What the hell does it matter if I disappear or not?! It’s me or the whole bloody world, and at least it’s actually real!”

Noah stared at him, his insides twisting painfully at the tear that rolled down the smaller boy’s delicate cheek. “Is that what this is about?” He asked in a whisper, unable to move his voice any higher. He clenched and unclenched his fists helplessly. “Because you’re not real? So, what, is this some self-pity suicidal bullshit?”

“What?! No! I, I just…” He trailed off, throwing his head to the side desperately as his eyes squeezed shut; he couldn’t let Noah see him cry, couldn’t let him see how much it fucking got to him. “N-Noah, why can’t you just see? It’s, it’s the only way.”

“Stop being so fucking stubborn!”

“Fuck you! You don’t understand, you’ll never understand! You don’t even –”

Noah moved before he could even comprehend it, his body flying across the space between them, mouth crashing into the other boy’s with an almost frantic ferocity.

And then he realised what the hell he had done, was doing, and his own eyes widened in shock at himself; Elias inhaled sharply and they both froze, Noah’s lips still pressed against his.

They snapped apart at once, mouths falling open in fright, and Elias’ voice was strangled, horrified.

“Y-You, y-y-you k-k-kissed me.”

Noah didn’t answer, couldn’t answer. He gaped soundlessly, his heart racing in his chest. He kissed him, kissed. Kissed another male, kissed Elias, and his chest rose and fell rapidly, panicked, as his skin burned with humiliation.

What the hell had he done?!

Elias’ eyes were wide and terrified. He took a quick step back, and his eyes darted about the room as though he was suddenly very desperate for a way out. “W-Why…” He couldn’t continue, his mind flashed back to the river, to Noah’s thumb brushing his lip, to the kiss.

Was it all some trick, some hoax? Just to wind him up, upset him?

“I, I –” Noah’s voice hitched; he desperately tried to calm himself as his fists clenched frenetically. He swallowed, his throat burning, and he wanted to kill himself. Elias would never speak to him again. They were over, and what the hell?! He’d never even considered kissing another boy before! It was the Key, it had to be the Key. There was no other explanation, because there was no way Noah had wanted to kiss him. No way.

He opened his mouth again, to explain (and desperately hoped Elias believed him) when a loud, ear-splitting screech filled the air.

“Argh!” He clapped his hands over his ears in pain, crying out again when the door was kicked in.

“The Soulless are attacking!” The man gasped, grabbing Elias’ arm. “We must hide you!”

Elias yelped as he was yanked through the doorway, his pulse pounding with fear, and Noah scrambled after them in terror. “What do you mean?! I thought the Soulless couldn’t get in!”

The priest didn’t have the chance to reply; before either boy could cry out a hand swooped through his chest and seized his heart, tearing it free and lifting it to bloodied lips.

“The Light always have the most delicious blood.” Eight purred, his pointed tongue flicking over the organ hungrily. His sparkling eyes met Elias’ wide orbs and he smirked. “Except yours, of course.”

He lunged for them at once, dropping the heart and they screamed, bolting down the hallway in blind fear. They reached the end of the hallway and skidded to a stop, as they gazed at the square in horror.

“Oh, fuck.” Noah whispered faintly. The square was a mess. The Light and the Soulless were battling in full force – startling beams of light shot through the air, weapons clashed and frenzied screams filled the air. Blood splattered over the startling white floor; Noah had never seen anything so horrible.

He spun around as Eight snarled, instinctively shoving Elias out of the way as the Soulless crashed into them. He howled in pain as cold fangs pierced through his forearm, Eight slamming him into the ground as he bit deeper.

“Noah!” Elias’ foot smashed into the Soulless’ face; Eight flew backwards with a furious snarl and Elias pulled the blond to his feet. They bolted around the edge of the square, desperately trying to ignore the crazy battle around them.

“We have to find the others!” Noah hollered as they ran; Elias turned sharply through the doorway to the square into another wide corridor.

He spun around as they threw themselves against the wall, painting wildly. “Your arm!”

Noah glanced down at it with a wince; warm blood was riveting down his wrist, dripping from his fingertips over the white floor. It throbbed, searing painfully, and he shuddered deeply. “Never mind that. We have to, we have to find the others and we, we have to –” He threw his head back with a dry rasp and squeezed his eyes shut in pain.

“Yeah, Eight’s a bit of a bastard sometimes.”

They scarcely had time to gasp; Nine threw his arm out and sent Noah crashing feet away. “No offence, babe, but you’re not the one I’m after. But I’ll have to visit you later anyway, and take that pretty ring of yours, so don’t feel too heartbroken.”

His long fingers latched around Elias’ throat before he could even flinch, and Noah flung the Key up in fear – he meant to shoot the lightening, something, but Nine stumbled back in surprise as the purple bubble shot up around Elias, and Noah himself blinked.

“Oh, for fuck’s sakes!” Nine snarled angrily, stomping around the bubble to the blond. “Why do you have to make everything so bloody difficult?!”

Noah scrambled to his feet and Elias cried his name in alarm, slamming his fists against the bubble frantically. “Noah, run! Run!”

The other boy fell back as Nine leapt for him, his eyes flying as a blue right blue bolt of light slammed into the Soulless’ side from nowhere.

He was flung to the wall, his head smashing into the hard and Noah was helped up by a Light priest, his mouth set in a grim line.

“Go, Noah. Take the Door and run. Find the High Priest.”

Noah nodded wildly; he grabbed Elias’ hand, not even questioning how the bubble had disappeared, and took off as Nine slowly rose to his feet.

-

“Hayden!” Linaria spun around in desperation, her wide eyes scanning the field helplessly for any sight of her friend. She flinched, stumbling on the grass as something crashed to her left. The field was in crazed ruins; half was on fire, flames licking the sky furiously, the air thick with screams and the other half was a battle scene, a mash of Light and Soulless that literally tore the place apart.

She’d lost sight of Hayden after the Soulless hit, one minute they’d been fleeing and the next she’d come to on the ground, alone. She took off in a sprint, her long bare legs flying over the grass, so red it was impossible to distinguish between blood and not. She froze as a familiar voice roared across the racket, turning to find Seven meters away, cutting a silhouette against the rapidly burning fire.

“Find the Key! And get the bloody Door! Now!”

She stared at him, frozen in one place with cold fear. That was the man that had nearly killed her. Had shoved his hand through her stomach, like she was jelly.

He obviously hadn’t seen her yet. Was too busy ordering the other Soulless around, and she turned back around hurriedly, pausing again as her eyes fell upon a shapely woman wearing a low cut dress, and feral smirk, her heavily made-up face almost hidden by her wavy black hair.

“Three.” Linaria breathed, and the older woman’s smirk deepened.

“I’m sorry, darlin’, but this is a one-woman show.”

“No – ” Her cry was cut short as Three plunged the dagger into her; she let out a blood curdling scream and Three held her close, pushing the blade deeper with glee.

“Scream. Bring him to me.”

-

Noah paused mid-step, his fingers tightening around Elias’ thin wrist. “That…that sounded like…Linaria!”

He didn’t even stop to question or consider, and Elias yelped as he was pulled along behind him, bursting through the archway into the field. Noah’s eyes darted about quickly – he found his cousin in seconds, some distance away.

Clutched tightly in Three’s arms.

“Linaria!” He darted for her, barely making three steps when something black and horrible darted from the sky and tore Elias from his grasp.

“Elias!” He spun around just in time to see a kicking and screaming Elias dragged into the sky, a Soulless riding something scaly and horrible that looked like some twisted bird hybrid. “Elias! El! Fuck!”

“Too late!” Three’s razor sharp nails tore through his back, her fangs glittering manically as she took his throat. “Nine was right – you are cute.”

“Let me go!” Elias howled hysterically struggling madly as they swooped through the air; the wind rushing around them. “Let me fucking go!”

“Stop struggling!”

“Fuck you!” Elias snarled, slamming his foot into the beast’s side; it screeched and veered right, causing the Soulless to cry in surprise, and giving Elias the prefect opportunity to pull himself free.

He fell, hurtling through the air with a frightened shout, before smashing into the river. Pain slammed into him and he gasped, water flooding his lungs as he kicked for the surface. He emerged, spluttering wildly as ice seared through his lungs.

“Elias!”

He threw his head left, meeting Hayden’s wide, dark eyes, dark face wrought with fear. He was crouched between the shrubbery, clearly trying to hide. “W-Where’s everyone? The, the Soulless hit, and, and I couldn’t find Lin, or Noah, a-and –”

He gaped at something over Elias’ head, and the smaller boy turned in confusion, his eyes finding Sevens’ cold smirk.

“How fortunate that you didn’t drown, don’t you think?”

Elias gasped and tried to swim back, but Seven’s hand was around his throat before he had any hope of escape, and he was lifted from the water.

“To think there is so much power in such a small frame.” He remarked softly, almost in wonder, watching the boy flail desperately for air. “Humans are wonderfully compact things.”

Hayden was frozen in fear – he gaped soundlessly as Seven’s eyes flicked to him disinterestedly. He jerked his head – Hayden flew into through the air and into the river, hitting it with such force that his head hit the bottom, splitting instantly.

“H – H - !” Elias’ gasped, his eyes squeezed shut desperately and his hands jerked – the ground beneath them gave a tremendous jolt and Seven stumbled as it quavered, releasing Elias in surprise.

He fell back into the water, immediately seizing Hayden and dragging him onto the bank on the other side.

“You fucking –” Seven’s snarl was cut off – Elias threw his arms up furiously and the full weight of the river rose, crashing down on Even and slamming the wiry frame. Elias leapt to his feet, his hands flying through the air without even knowing what he was doing, sending the Soulless hurtling back into the wild flames.

“Remind me not to piss you off.” Hayden gasped raggedly, as blood seeped from his head wound.

“I – I –” Elias spluttered, gaping down at his own hands in shock. What had he done? He had moved water before, yes, but not like that. His head snapped up in alarm as a ferocious snarl echoed – Seven burst form the flames wildly, completely unburnt, his black eyes glinting furiously. Elias leapt back with a shriek as he leapt, jumping right over the now-empty river and seizing him by the throat again. Elias didn’t even have time to gasp – the High Priest’s sword slit straight through the Soulless’ chest, and the Soulless was momentarily frozen with pain.

“You can’t win alone, Seven.” The High Priest snarled, giving the sword a vicious twist, and a thin line of bright red blood slowly made its way down from the corner of the black-haired man’s mouth, brilliant against his ivory skin. He twisted it again, with a low hiss, and Elias flinched as a startling white beam of light smashed straight into the Priest from the side.

“Well then,” Nine said primly as the light slowly faded, revealing the High Priest slumped on the ground several feet away, “I guess it’s a good thing he’s not alone then, isn’t it?”

Seven hissed between his teeth, throwing Elias to Nine roughly – Nine caught him by the arms and Elias immediately began to struggle, as Seven reached up and tugged the sword from his chest with a high-pitched growl.

“You know,” he turned, the sword clasped tightly in his hand and stained with his own blood, “you really ought to learn to own up to your mistakes. You created the Door, you created the Key. They’re your fuck ups. Did you honestly think you could win?” Seven sneered, striding over to the High Priest and raising the sword above his limp body. “We’re backed by the most powerful force the Universe has ever seen, ever known. We are the most powerful force the Universe has ever known.”

“You’re nothing more than lapdogs.” The High Priest’s voice croaked as his head swivelled to face Nine, his eyes narrowed. “Do you honestly think you have anything to gain from this war? What would your precious Emilie feel if she saw you now, Nine? If she saw what you’ve become. A soulless monster. Do you honestly think she would still love you?”

Nine’s eyes flew wide in shock, the gasp leaving his lips in a strangled ‘Emilie’.

The High Priest smirked victoriously, knowing full well he had hit a sore spot. “She would be horrified You’re nothing more than a monster.”

“E…Em…” He whispered, but his mind had gone numb, and Elias grabbed the opportunity by the horns – he swung his elbow into the Soulless’ gut and leapt free spinning and throwing his hands up.

Nine barely had time to scream. A spike of pure rock shot form the ground, piercing straight though his gut and hoisting him several feet into the air, like a deranged kebab.

“The fuck?!” Seven snarled in shock; he was slammed backwards as the High Priest grabbed his sword.

“Oh, ow.” Nine groaned his head lolling as he blinked owlishly down at the rocky spike jutting from his midsection. “That hurt. Geez, kid. You’re a fast learner. So surely you’ve learnt that it takes a lot more than that to kill me.” He swung his hand downwards and the spike shattered – Elias’ eyes widened and he leapt back, raising his fists helplessly as the Soulless landed gracefully, tossing his pale blonde hair from his eyes almost irritably. His eyes were narrowed into slits, his face cold and expressionless again as he raised a hand, white light dancing around his spread fingertips. “Emilie’s dead. And may I remind you that you don’t know shit about me, so don’t even fucking try that card.”

His hand jerked sideways – the light shot through the air and enveloped the High Priest – all Elias heard was a high pitched scream before he grabbed Hayden’s wrist and bolted.

-

“You’re just a mere kid,” Three snarled, and Noah cried in surprise as threw him onto his knees in front of her, throwing his head around frantically when her cold hand wrapped around the finger with the Key, “you don’t deserve this power.”

“I don’t even fucking want it!” He yelled, struggling to pull his hand free and her crimson lips curled into a pleased smirk.

“Perfect. It’s a win-win situation then, isn’t it?”

And she ripped his finger back, the appendage snapping at the knuckle, and pain exploded through his hand, through him; he convulsed violently, howling in pain as blinding purple light shot from the Key, swallowing them and sweeping across the field.

Three stumbled back as burning pain slammed into her, the air disappearing as she retched violently, falling onto her hands and knees. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, her hair falling free from her bun as vicious heat laced down her body, blood filling up her throat from nowhere.

Noah fell back, cradling his hand with a sob, squeezing his eyes against the blinding light as it raced along the grass.

“What is that?!” Seven didn’t even get a chance to answer Nine – the light slammed into them, swirling around them ferociously, and Elias turned his face away into Hayden, the light blinding.

“What the hell is going on?!” He yelled, throwing his arms over his face as the Soulless sank to their knees in pain, and the High Priest blinked rapidly, fumbling for his sword and heaving it into the air.

“Get the hell out!” Seven yelled – Nine didn’t need to be told twice. He disappeared, heading straight back for the mansion, and Seven followed suit. Immediately, the light faded.

“What the hell was that?!” Elias cried, and alone in the field Noah groaned weakly, lifting his head. His hand throbbed, and he inhaled sharply before daring to look down. His stomach flipped violently, and he jerked his eyes away as pain seared through his arm. His finger was broken, badly. It was quickly turning purple, twisted grotesquely, and it was naked.

Three had taken the Key.

“O-Oh…” He fell back, panicked. “The Key! Fuck! They have the fucking Key!”

And then he remembered Linaria, his cousin, and he leapt to his feet, spinning around desperately, her name leaving his throat in a frenzied cry.

Nothing.

The space where her body had lain was now empty, nothing but a dark patch of crushed grass, and his eyes widened in horror.

“N-No…it, it couldn’t, it c-c-couldn’t be…”

No.

It made no sense! How could she be gone?! She was there before, with Three and…and…Three. The Soulless must have taken her, there was no other explanation. But…but…

“Linaria.” He whispered, falling back, fear clawing at his heart. Linaria.

“Th-They just left.” Elias stammered, his eyes darting about the field in shock, twisting around quickly to see the fire slowly receding. But the field was still destroyed; the once red grass now a sickening black, bodies littering the ground, and his stomach churned violently.

And it was all his fault. If he didn’t exist…

“Seven may be cocky, but he is no fool. He knows when he’s beat. There is no way they could have won today. It was foolish to even try. It does, however, demonstrate just how desperate they are to have you, Elias.”

“Lin! Lin!? Fucking hell, Lin! Answer me!” His cry was strangled by another violent sob, racing over to the others, as the High Priest grimaced.

“Noah, please, try to calm down.”

“Fuck you! Where the fuck is she?! Where?! Oh god, oh g-god, they have her, they have and th-they have the Key and oh fuck!”

“What?!” The High Priest’s eyes snapped to his hand and his jaw dropped as he fumbled for an answer, glancing at a horrified Elias desperately.

“I-I, she just grabbed it and I couldn’t, I couldn’t…I didn’t even r-realise she’d taken it until they left, it wasn’t, I- I tried –”

“Hold him.” The reply was cold.

“Wha –” Noah’s protest was cut off as cold hands seized him. “What the hell are you doing?! Lin!”

“What’s going on?! It wasn’t his fault! Let him go!” Elias demanded as the blond struggled fiercely to no avail; the priests held on tight and the High Priest sighed.

“I did hope it wouldn’t come to this. You must believe me when I say I am sorry, but there is no other way. They have the Key now; it is only a matter of time before they have the Door as well.”

Noah’s eyes widened, understand at once. “Elias, run!”

Elias didn’t stand a chance; he jerked as four hands took him too, holding him as fast as Noah cried his name, fighting madly to free himself because he couldn’t lose Elias too, couldn’t.

“Let me go!” Elias kicked frantically, he brought rocks hurtling from the ground, the ground itself trembling violently as he struggled, but the High Priest ignored it all, lifting the bloodied sword and pointing the tip at the base of his throat, and Elias froze.

“El,” Noah whispered hoarsely, also freezing. “P-Please, there must be another way. Fucking please! Don’t do this, don’t fucking do this! Please! Elias, Elias, fucking go, you can’t do this! We can get the Key back, we can, just don’t fucking touch him!”

The High Priest sighed again, without even sparing him a glance. His gaze remained firmly on Elias, who had gone limp with fear, his eyes brimming with panicked tears. “I am terribly sorry, Noah. But I already informed you that there is no other way. The Door must be destroyed, before it is too late.”

“No!”

Elias’ breath caught as the High Priest shoved the sword forward, his eyes flew shut and he tensed frantically, expecting to feel the sword pierce his throat, expecting to die, to never open his eyes again, never see his friends again, never see Noah, anything.

“Hayden!”

He wrenched his eyes open in shock – sure enough, Hayden had somehow gotten to his feet and had thrown himself in front of him at the last moment. The tip of the sword was brushing against his neck, the High Priest’s face twisted into an ugly snarl. “Do you think you can stop me? Do you think I won’t kill you?! What must be done must be done, regardless of cost!”

“H-Hay…” Elias’ throat was horribly dry. Hayden couldn’t seriously be considering risking his life.

But the dark boy remained in the same place, his eyes narrowed into angry slits. “You wanna kill me? Like to fucking see you try, asshole.”

The High Priests’ own eyes narrowed in anger. He drew the sword back quickly and Elias twisted his head desperately, willing it to stop – the ground suddenly gave a ferocious lurch, throwing them all backward in a sudden violent hurl.

Noah seized the opportunity immediately – he kicked free and darted over to Elias and the sword, which had fallen to the ground beside Hayden. Elias grabbed Hayden, pulling him to his feet as the High Priest struggled to stand, his hand reaching for the sword that wasn't there.

“Go!” Noah yelled, and they all took off, Hayden limping badly. The Light were after them in seconds, the High Priest bellowing orders to kill them.

“Noah, we’re heading for the edge!” Elias cried as they burst through. They quickly reached the edge of the field, a steep drop off that led directly down the mountain, and Noah gave them both harsh shoves – they didn’t have time to stop.

All three went sailing over the edge, and Elias and Hayden screamed – Noah grabbed their wrists desperately, squeezing his eyes shut as the rocky wall rushed towards them.

Please make it, please fucking make it!

They crashed into the surface, hitting hard. Elias barely managed to avoid a particularly sharp rise, and Noah lay there weakly, blinding pain overtaking him.

“N-No…” Elias croaked, forcing himself to his hands and knees, but he howled in pain as one of his hands gave way; he had broken it. Blood poured from his knees and elbows, and his hand felt as though it had been smashed with a sledgehammer. He grit his teeth, jolting unsteadily as he fought to stay standing, tears rolling down his cheeks. “W-We have t-to –” He broke off, coughing wildly.

Noah whimpered, fresh tears welling in his eyes as he struggled to move. He could barely move his left arm, couldn’t even feel it, and pain tore at him furiously everywhere else, particularly his finger, and oh god they had the Key.

He felt so weak.

The Key. And Linaria. Linaria.

She was gone. His cousin, family, best friend, blood, everything. His everything.

Gone.

He threw up violently, spasming as he sobbed harder, his face pressed against the rocky ground.

Elias jerked as there was a low crack overhead, and he turned back to Noah desperately, his heart wrenching in his chest as he forced back his own tears. “N-Noah, we have to, we, we have to go.”

“Sh-she – " Noah cried harder, and Elias dropped beside Hayden with a wince, his good fingers fumbling for a pulse. He found it, weak, but there.

“I – I know. But th-they… come on, N-Noah, we have to move. Now, before, before, we have to move.”

-

"Oh, fuck." Nine retched, blood splashing over the ground as he vomited violently, his whole body shuddering with the force. "I hate it when it does that!"

Seven could only groan; his body felt like it had been slammed repeatedly into the ground, his head swimming as he grimaced at the copper taste in his mouth. He had already thrown up more blood than he knew he had, and had struggled to his feet.

"Men." Three tsked, seated comfortably on Seven's bed, her legs crossed primly. "Do you want to see this, or not?"

"See what?" Seven snapped, brushing himself down, his fingers snaring on the rip through his shirt from the High Priet's sword. The skin beneath it was already healed over, but it didn't stop his fury at it happening.

And that kid. The Door. When the hell had he gotten so good?

"This." And she held up the glimmering ring, her lips in a pleased smirk. Seven's eyes widened and he snatched it from her at once, holding it up to the light as disbelief flooded him.

"What is it?" Nine moaned, rising to his knees and wiping his mouth, accidentally smearing the blood over his pale cheek. He rose to his feet and trotted over to Seven, his own eyes widening as well. "Holy shit. We got the Key."

"Indeed." Seven's initial pleasure faded; he dropped the Key into his pocket as his face went stony again. "At least it wasn't completely pointless."

"Oh, and I also got you this." Three smirked again, reaching beside the bed to tug Linaria's unconscious body from the floor. She threw her forward, and the girl hit the floor with a sickening slap. "Key holder's little friend. Figured she might be useful for something."

"Hm." Seven eyed her disinterestedly before turning back to Nine. "I am going to visit the Master. Find out who we have left, if any."

"Aye, cap'n." He mock-saluted and glanced at Three hesitantly. "Did you see what happened to Eight?"

Seven snorted bitterly, striding towards the door. "With any luck they've killed him. Put the girl in one of the cells. I'll be back."

-

Anyway. Next chapter will be done by me, and...yeah. Rainbow Fish readers - it will be updated before Sunday, I promise. And there will be more...stuff on that kiss. And maybe other kisses. Who knows!

(PS: Sorry for mistakes!)