Katalina

Unfortunately, even though it's still raining the day has grown muggy. If Pearl were here, she'd complain about the humidity making her hair fussy. Pearl's always liked to keep order everything must be organized, categorized, and in its place.

I suppose for a healer these are important traits, she's the better of the two of us. She's always been more compassionate something I could never feel. One of the few things we have in common is our distrust in others of course who can blame her considering the first few years of her life.

That night neither one of us slept and even though we had just met I felt a bond with her, and I think she did the same with me. We pressed our foreheads together as Raksha got justice for Pearl and her mama and those who had suffered. The gesture may have seemed small to some but to Pearl, I know it meant the world.

"What are you thinking?" Night pulls me from my thoughts a black skin apple in his outstretched hand.

I smile at him as I take the slice, he's cut out for me its as sweet as nectar, "just wishing I could see my sister one last time. I don't blame her for how our lives turned out we had no control over them, to begin with. Our fates were decided long ago."

Night leans in our faces a breath apart, "that doesn't mean you can't change the outcome besides I am certain your sister is aware of how much you care for her and of all you've sacrificed."

I eat the last of the apple licking the sweet nectar of my fingers, "how can you be so certain?" I ask him a warm breeze blowing my hair into his face.

Night lets out a warm laugh, wrapping his fingers around my hair as he brings his lips to mine; the rumble of his laughter easing the not at the pit of my stomach. We have been seating before the imprisoned Katalina for the last two days uncertain as to how we'll set her free. Her crystal prison continues to give off a pulsing as if it were her beating heart.

Its iridescent light bathing the fallen column in indigo, red, green, and a golden halo of light. The closer we got to the ruins the more we could feel its pulsing. I wonder if she's aware of our presence.

"She's quite lovely," I say, breaking free of Night's grasp and leaning my head against his chest. The beating of his heart lulling me to sleep.

He starts running his hand up and down my spine adding to the calmness only he can provide me, "I suppose for someone whose impaled she's not half bad," Night says sleep finally winning over.

###

"If it weren't for the fact, I don't wish to disrupt her sleep I'd kill you," I say, as Anas and Maximiliano step into the ruins of what was once an art museum.

Anas smile is as sinister as her soul, I'm tempted to show them exactly who I am but that would defy the purpose of Father changing our appearance. After all, how can the world know the Dark King and Shadow Queen intend on sacrificing themselves just to avoid another pointless war. I wouldn't be my Mother's son if I took the easy way out now, would I?

If Mother can pretend to be the Shadow Princess; rather than our one and only Queen I can pretend to be a mere thief, assassin, whatever is required to fulfill the task. I set Ruby down wrapping her in a cocoon of shadows and darkness. Let them think we are nothing more than mortals raised in the Shadow and Dark Realm.

"How did you make it rain?" Maximiliano asks the curiosity in his eyes giving way to his bored tone.

I cock my head to the side a bemused smile on my face, "you can't think a couple of mortals with a little bit of magic can do something as grand as control the weather," almost as if in response the sky rumbles.

Anas scrunches her nose as if something smelled, "mortals with a little bit of magic cant sprout wings."

Maximiliano nods his head in agreement and takes a step towards us stopping the moment the roar of a jaguar is heard mixed in with that of the rain. While a Vampire Max seems to be to slow to move out of the jaguar's reach. She clenches her maw around his throat severing it from his body.

"Well this is unexpected," Ruby steps out the cocoon bow trained on Anas, "I do wonder, how did you find me?"

Anas opens her mouth but the jaguar roars again taking a protective stance in front of us. "Let me guess this is Pearl," I send Ruby.

She gives me a wink her only response, the jaguar remains between us with Anas uncertain of her next move. The earth starts to shake stone braking through the vines wrapped around the fallen columns.

"I think I know how to wake her," Ruby lets loose an arrow impaling Anas against the massive crystal. The moment her blood touches the crystal the earth shakes once more the sky joining in with a loud boom.

Thunder can be heard nearing, "perhaps we've angered her," I say.

The jaguar gives me a once over finding me not to her liking she turns her attention on Ruby. Golden light engulfs her as she walks towards her within a second a naked female has her arms wrapped around Ruby. I summon a cloak and hand it to her the last thing I need is to be accused of pepping.

Ruby takes it and wraps her sister in it, "How…

"Master found me said to give you this," Pearl holds out her free hand a crimson box with obsidian stones for the locks manifest in her hand, "she said you know what it's for."

Ruby runs her hands over her sister's face, "I never hated you," she takes the box and hands it to me.

Pearl smiles her entire face lighting up, "oh, I know," she gives me a once over again and I have to say I find it more unsettling now than when she was in her jaguar form, "who's he?"

Ruby tucks her bow away and walks toward the crystal, "my mate," she pulls out a dagger and slashes her hand, "an exchange that's what we need. I'll find you, in our next life."

Just as the first drop of blood is about to touch the stone Pearl pulls her back yanking the dagger from Ruby's hand and slashing her own, "I know you'll find a way; the war has already started."

Light erupts all around us the remaining columns falling sending bits od broken glass flying. Ruby tries to pull Pearl away from the crystal prison but at that moment a figure steps out from the light. I look up to see Katalina is no longer impaled in her crystal prison. Ruby lets out a growl striking Katalina as the light fades away and Pearl collapses.

"You'll find a way," Pearl smiles at her sister the world shifting under our feet.

I open the box and trap the last piece of crystal from Katalina's prison. Ruby summons her wings and lifts Pearl's body into the ai just in time. I snatch Katalina and we fly out and over the city or what remains of it.

"Welcome to your new world," I say for nothing, but ruins remain the storm has claimed what little remained.