Chapter 30

Emerald P.O.V

"Miss me" he said grinning, walking towards me, jumping over Giant body easily and bowing to me dramatically, I laughed not believing my eyes any more. He is really here, "Who is he?" Alex asked confused but he was alert, his sword in his hand, ignoring his question I ran towards the person standing in front of me hugging him tightly.

"I missed you" I murmured smiling, my heart was swelling with happiness, my vision blurred due to the tears, I tried holding them back but it was impossible. In this condition, my emotions are not in control. When he heard me sniffing, he broke the hug and looked at me concern "Well, you don't have to miss me that much, I am here now" he said smiling, wiping few tears which escaped from my eyes. I tried to smile back.

"Can I know what just happened here?" Alex asked standing beside and looking at Caleb baffled, Caleb smiled his cocky smile "I saved your asses that's what happened" .

I rolled my eyes but smile nonetheless, I never thought I will meet him here, my best friend, my solace, he is here with me and now I can fight any battle when he is by my side.

"You are being modest now, but who are you?" I can detect sarcasm in Alex voice to which I snicker, they both have similar personality but Caleb is more of a goof ball. "I am?" Caleb said pointing his finger to his chest "I am Caleb Danvers, Prince of Danvers Kingdom" he stated proudly to which Alex raised his eye brow "Oh, so you are the lady man" he mused folding his arms in front of his chest. "Well if you mean popular in ladies then yes, I am" he smirked and looked at me "You don't look well" he asked, looking surprised, I grimace, I don't feel well, my eyes are red from lack of sleep and crying I have been doing lately and I am swaying from time to time due to the weakness I am feeling. "I am fine, just a little fever" I said giving him fake smile to which he scoffed seeing right through it "I know you more than you know yourself, tell me now what is happening?" he asked sternly, I looked at Alex but he was walking to the Giant to see if he is conscious or not. He pinned me with his stare making me sigh

"Rose left me" I said finally starting from the root of the problem, he raised his eye brow telling me to continue "The spell she absorbed from the Midnight is spreading in my body because Rose is not here to stop it" I said biting my lower lip to stop the turmoil of emotion, I have to tell him the real deal.

"And?" he prompted

"And I am dying" I responded closing my eyes not wanting to see his reaction, he inhaled sharply, after some time he put his hand on my shoulders "There must be a cure, right?" he asked, his voice hopeful for me, I opened my eyes and nodded my head "Yes, its in Baruna mountains" I said to which he sighed in relief "Then, lets go, we shall find it" his enthusiasm coming back, I chuckled trying to believe in his positively. "Guys, we should find others" Alex said in loud voice, I nodded and we started walking towards the same direction from where we came. "Who is he by the way?" Caleb asked indicating with his eyes towards Alex who was walking in front of us.

"He is Alexander, Chase's brother" I replied looking at my surroundings, suddenly Caleb stopped in his track stopping me as well, I raised my eyebrow in confusion, "You are friend with the enemy" he said loudly, I rolled my eyes in annoyance "He is my friend, he is helping me" I said and tried to walk around him to catch up with Alex but Caleb stopped me again "Still an enemy" he said in 'duh' tone, I huffed, "Are you guys coming?" Alex yelled from a few distance away, I nodded, "We will talk about it later" with that I dismissed the conversation and followed Alex to the place where our carriages were, There was mess everywhere, our carriages were broken, some of our soldiers were injured, we walked to them "Where is Chase?" Alex asked to one of the soldier, he was shaking in fear, blood running from his forehead, he pointed his shaky finger towards the forest, We can heard growling from that direction. Alex started running towards the sound, I quickly followed him, Caleb on my toe "Did you came alone?" I asked in curiosity, how did he found me here, Caleb laughed "Nope"

"Then?" I questioned but soon my reply came when I stopped abruptly seeing Chase fighting the biggest Giant from the group.

He must be the King.

Surprisingly, he wasn't fighting alone, my other best friend, Will was fighting with him. Both were in the fighting stance in front of the Giant. "Who is he now?" Alex asked in surprised tone, I smirked "My best friend"

"I guess, I should finish this fight" Caleb said adjusting his sleeves, his hands shining with the electricity running in his veins. He smirked at me and quickly leap in the direction of Giant, pulling electric current from his body and aiming towards the Giant.

Giant weakness is electricity otherwise their skin are hard to penetrate.

Giant's body fall to the ground with a loud thump sound, Chase was breathing heavily as well as Will and Caleb bowed his head in mock gesture. "No need to be grateful, You hero will always save you" he said smirking, his hands still shining with the blue light, Will rolled his eyes and muttered "Please" he was about to say something sarcastic when his eyes met mine and he quickly close the distance between us by taking me in his arms and hugging me, I sighed in content.

I am meeting him after seven months.

His hug lasted for brief time when Caleb joined us yelling 'Group hug'. I laughed joyfully feeling my chest feel with warmth, we broke the hug when I heard some one coughing, I mock glare at Alex knowing he was the one who was coughing. "Well hello to you too" I said to Will, to which he was continuously staring at me, I wave my hand in front of him, he got out of his daze. "Let me see you for a bit more, its being a while" he said tiny smile appeared on his face, I chuckled and let him have this moment. "If your reunion is complete, shall we move along" Chase said, his voice void of any emotion, I looked at him, trying to read what is he thinking but he ignored me and move forward walking outside of the forest, "Come on" Alex said walking after Chase, "Why didn't you run away from them" Will asked standing in front of me and waiting for the explanation "Because he is helping me to save my life", With that I explained them everything, How I am dying, how we need to find the Gem to save me, They listened attentively, their expression serious. "Wow" Caleb said after hearing my whole adventure, Will gritted his teeth in anger when I told him how Chase was keeping me his prisoner.

"After this is over, we will go back" Will said clenching his jaw, I nodded, I want nothing less.

We started walking outside of the forest, "Where is Kyle?" I asked curiously, I just want him to be safe. "King Steve took care of him, he is home" Caleb said, I sighed in relief, finally he is out of this mess.

"You know King Steve is very angry"

I pursed my lips, Father can't do anything in this matter, I am banished from my Kingdom, until the banishment isn't over, he is unable to help me.

"Can I punch your mate?" Will suddenly said making three of us laugh.

***

Everyone was standing at the place where our carriages were destroyed, I can see multiple bodies of Giants unconscious on the ground, I looked at Caleb who looked smug watching Giants on the ground, I rolled my eyes at his childishness, Soldiers were injured but at least there were no causality. Annalise didn't even get a scratch in all of this. She must be good, I guess.

'Whose that woman?" Cal said looking towards Annalise smirking, I elbowed him in the gut, he groaned "Stay away from her, I hate that bitch" I muttered scowling at her. I don't want my best friend to even talk with that woman, she is a vile creature. Cal put his hand in surrender gesture, that's more like it.

"We are in Giant's territory now, as you all know, they are very powerful creatures I don't want my soldiers to die in vain, So everyone will go back to Midnight, the Quest is over for you" Chase announced walking away from there. Soldiers were talking among themselves, I walked to Chase "I don't want to be a burden to you and your Soldiers, I will find the Gem on my own" I said for once trying to be nice, he scoffed "Oh, so you can run away, now that you have your little group with you" he said gesturing towards my two friends who were busy talking to each other. I frowned, I never thought like that, Well actually I did. He smirked, "I am right, aren't I?" he said smugly, "I am not leaving you, that's final".

"We will carry this quest on our own" he said with finality, just then Annalise joined us "Chase, we should move quickly because night is near and If they attacked us in night time, we will be gone for" she said, first time something useful came out of her mouth. He nodded and I went back to my friends "What is happening?" Will asked watching as soldiers starting marching towards the way from where we came. "We shouldn't endanger innocent life in this, we will find the Gem on our own" I said looking at Chase who was busy conversing with Annalise, just then he looked at me and our eyes met, We stare at each other and then he jerked his head towards Annalise to answer her.

Every soldier went back to the Kingdom, only I, Cal, Will, Chase, Alex, Alyssa and Annalise moved forward towards Baruna mountains. Chase asked Annalise to go back but she was stubborn as well and denied his every command and after some arguing she was coming with us. At least now I have my friends to bear the time with these people except Alex, he is fine to talk. Alyssa was walking beside Alex timidly, she was not injured but she got afraid, I am surprised, she comes from the powerful blood line still she looked so fragile and small. But maybe looks can be deceiving.

"At least tell me, who is that Redhead?" Caleb asked sneaking glances at Alyssa, he will never change.

"Her name is Alyssa Willard" I said without looking at him, he gasped "She is a Willard, wow" he said in astonishment, I smirked, "Yeah she is a Willard and she will kick your ass if you do anything to her" I suggested knowing him very well because he will definitely gonna make a move on her. "I am not doing anything" he said pressing his hand to his chest but his eyes says whole different story, I don't want to deal with angry witch.

Suddenly I felt lightheaded which made me stumbled in my steps, "Whoa, what happened" Will asked worriedly, putting his one arm on my waist and mine on his shoulder for support. I tried to smile but I was feeling exhausted "Nothing, I just feel tired" I said trying to walk steadily with his support, he snorted "Good joke" with that he hauled me in his arms bridal style, my arms moved around his neck and I put my head on his chest, I don't care what others are thinking right now, I don't have enough strength to think about them. I closed my eyes "Sleep, I will wake you up when we reach there" his voice work like a lullaby to me sending me into dreamless sleep.

***

I heard shuffling around me and felt some one laying me down on soft ground, I sighed in my sleep and turned to the other side. "How much time does she have" It was Will voice I heard, "I don't know, but as her health is decreasing, we have to hurry" Alyssa said making me opened my eyes slowly and interrupting their conversation, "Where are we?" I asked hoarsely, my voice laced with tiredness. "We have just crossed Giant's forest , we are taking a break, we will reach there soon" Will said sitting beside me, I pushed my body in sitting position looking around me, we were in a forest near the cleaning, Chase was sitting in front of me on opposite side, Annalise sitting beside him, Caleb laying around in the grass staring at the star filled sky. Alex was looking at me in concerned, I smiled at him to ease his tension.

I was leaning against Will for support, feeling better after the nap "For how much time I was out?" I asked yawing, rubbing my eyes. "Just merely three hours" Caleb said picking grass carelessly. Oh, three hours.

"I have had enough" Caleb huffed and stood up from his position, taking a seat in front of me criss crossed leg "I am getting bored" he said pouting, I narrowed my eyes at him and Will groaned beside me, last time he was bored, we got attacked by merpeople. I really don't trust him whenever he says he is bored because Caleb Danvers is a mischievous man.

"I didn't even start" he scowl wrinkling his nose. I shook my head "Well if you are bored, Go fetch some woods so that we can start fire" Chase said from the other side, Caleb snapped his head towards them "I do not take order from some one" he said glaring at him, Chase smirked in his direction "Then stop your childish act" with that said he stood up and walked into the forest, Suddenly Caleb stood up, his fist clenched "This is enough, why do we have to put up with his bull shit" he growled staring in the direction Chase just went, "Calm down, we do not need to start a fight now" Will said calmly staring at Caleb, they both stare a each other and after a little bit Caleb sighed and sat in his previous place "He is so arrogant" he muttered, "And he can beat your sorry ass any time" Alex said raising his eye brow challenging him, I groaned so much testosterone here.

"Maybe I can beat only weak people like you" Caleb smirked which made Alex growled in anger.

"Let's see, how much current is running in your veins" Alex taunted, both stood up walking on each other faces, I looked at Will to stop this non sense but he was smiling enjoying the scene in front of him.

Dammit, I am not here to babysit these people.

"Stop it" I yelled glaring at both of them, standing up on my feet forcefully, they both stopped their banter and stare at me. "We are not here to fight, if you want to use your power, use it when it worth it" I snapped, my legs were shaking "You should sit down" Will said trying to make me sit, I snatched my arm away from him. "Forget it, I am fine, When you people stop show casing your powers called me then!" I walked away from there slowly walking towards the way where Chase went. At least I can do this much to help him pick woods for fire. Fortunately, no one followed me which I was grateful for, I don't want to hear their banters any more.

I walked slowly looking around my surroundings searching for Chase. I found him gathering woods using his sword, I lean against a tree to catch my breath. He was chopping the woods with his sword, his arm muscles were flexing, a look of easiness on his face. "Are you going to stare at me all day or help me?" his voice snapped me out of the daze, my face turned red due to embarrassment. I looked at him, he looked amused by my situation. "I will help" I said and together we collected the woods and went back to start a fire for night. When we went there, everyone was quite, Annalise was staring in the forest lost in her thoughts, Alyssa was talking to Alex and for once Will and Caleb sat quietly, They quickly stood up and helped us with the woods without any rude comments and bickering.

At last, we started the fire and sat in front of it in circle to keep us warm. Annalise was quite the whole time staring at fire, I was leaning against Caleb, sitting beside him, he apologized for his behavior earlier. Will sat stiff beside me, he did say apology but he was being quite. Alex was sitting in front of me warming his hands while Alyssa sat beside him, her magic was enough to keep her warm. Chase was leaning against a tree watching the forest for any danger.He said that he will watch all night so we can sleep, every one agreed without any argument even Annalise agreed with this decision. I was confused with her behavior, she was glaring at me once in a while but said nothing.

We talked for a bit and when everybody get tired, they lie down to get some sleep. I was wide awake staring at the fire dancing in front of me.

How I miss the feel of fire dancing around my fingers.

I stare at my hands trying to call my powers but as usual there was no response. Everyone asleep by the time and I was still staring at the fire.

"You should get some sleep, we have a long way to go tomorrow" Chase said staring at me, his eye shining in the darkness, "I am not tired" I said and stood up walking in his direction standing in front of him looking at the forest for any danger. "There is no deadly creature in this forest, If there were, I would have sensed them a while ago" Chase said, his gaze following my movements "I am not looking for danger, I am just watching the peaceful environment" I replied still staring at the nature, I heard a sigh coming from him. I turned to look at him, his gaze was fixed on me "How are you feeling?" he asked in soft voice, his voice clear in this silent night. I cocked my head in confusion "I am fine as fine as I can get when you know you are about to die" I chuckled humorlessly trying to rid the tension that is building inside me.

"I won't let you die" he said like a promise.