Cowards

The sun began to set making the candles glow brighter as they covered the lake like million fireflies together above a grass field. The view was ecstatic and nostalgic for Audra. As she laid down her leave and candle a small wish appeared on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to be reunited with her mother. She wished her mother could see all this and know how much these people adored her. She had heard whispers of people talking about her mother to each other while she waited to get herself the candle. She wondered what they all would think if they knew her.

Audra's eyes wandered around the people of the different kingdoms and different cast. They were all different in their own ways. She was going over the winter people with their paper white skin and jet black hairs and blue grey eyes; then suddenly Audra's tailing eyes stopped. Her grandfather's voice faded in the background. People around her vanished and she slowly backtracked her and there she saw it. One person sticking out like a sore thumb. Paper white skin but red hair and hazel eyes that stared right through her. Mom. She was hidden between many faces her hood covered half her face but of course she recognized her mother. Her breath got caught in her throat her voice lost. She couldn't believe her eyes. Her prayers had come true.

Then the moment was over. Her mother lowered her head pulling down the hood moving between the crowds getting away. She pushed away Marcello and Karl squeezing her way out from between them. She needed to get to the other side of the lake but she couldn't. So she ran her eyes tracking her mother and Audra ran on one side of the lake her pace matching her mother's. The crowd thinned as she got away from her cousins. Her breath came out labored but she didn't stop. She couldn't lose her mother again.

The luck wasn't on her side. The dress got caught in her shoes sending her tumbling down the hill. The grass blades scratched her on her bare arms sticking into her hair as she rolled down with no end in sight. She had to stop. Her hands clawed at the ground bunching grass and mud in her hand and she stopped rolling. Audra was about to stand up when a hand appeared in front of her. She looked up to see Lucio. Audra quickly grabbed his hand standing up her eyes examining the area for he r mother. She couldn't see her anywhere and her heart began to sink.

"Lucio. I need your help. I need to find my mother she was here" Audra urged him but he wasn't listening he looked down where he still had hold of her hand.

"I am sorry Audra" He apologized making her confused.

"for what." She tried to get rid of his hold but he wouldn't let go. "What are you doing? Leave my hand. I need to go"

"I can't let you go. My father would kill me" He took in a breath and then his eyes completely flipped. The same look his father had when he had gotten hold of her in the King's courtroom. Murderous. Lucio started to drag her away from the crowd. She looked back screaming for help but she had come too far from the crowd while rolling down the hill.

"You don't have to be like your father" Audra pleaded trying to get something through his head. But he wasn't listening. "Lucio please" First time Audra had thought that maybe Lucio was way stronger and dangerous than the rest of them and for what she had given him credit for. A bracelet appeared on her other wrist and she felt herself getting dizzy. It was a spellbound.

"But he is his father" A voice spoke and she turned around her head to see Ian standing behind her. And then he was gone standing in front of Lucio in a second. He had teleported.

"Get out of my way" Lucio growled. She had first time seen him stand up to Ian.

"Let her go" Ian gritted out his eyes beginning to glow. Audra noticed fire forming in Lucio's hand growing bigger and bigger.

"Ian move" She screamed in warning pulling Lucio's hand he held making him stumble to the side fire leaving his hand and just that second Ian teleported beside her kicking Lucio in the back freeing Audra. Lucio fell on the ground with a loud thump blood appearing on the side of his forehead as he stood back up glaring at Ian, ready to lunge. He came at Ian but Ian teleported again this time Beside Lucio and sending a flying punch against his face.

"You are coward" Lucio chuckled on the ground wiping blood from the side of his lips.

"And you are your father's minion" Ian spat at him coming to stand in front of Audra who crouched down the ground the spellbound weakening her.

"Why are you suddenly being so nice to her. Oh because you know she is a princess. Getting on the good side of her royal highness." Lucio mocked getting up.

"You know nothing" Ian grumbled teleporting right in front of Lucio grabbing his neck. "Lay one more finger on her and I am going to make you regret every breath you take after that" Ian sent Lucio flying away down the hill. Then he was right beside Audra who seemed to be near losing consciousness. He took hold of her hand and then Audra saw the ground beneath her blackening before it changed into a white marble floor and she looked around to realize Ian had teleported her and they weren't by the lake anymore.

"Where are we?" She barely got out before throwing up. Her throat burned and every part of her body ached. She brought up her hand to see she had thrown up blood.

"we are back at the palace" Ian answered and then noticed the blood in Audra's hand cursing under his breath. "Lucio. IT must be because of the spellbound"

"But when I had placed it on you nothing had happened" Audra couldn't take her eyes off the blood spilled in her hand.

"You don't have your powers released yet" Ian explained to her. Giving her piece of cloth to wipe the blood from her hands and lips.

"I must look like a vampire" Audra chuckled weakly wiping away the blood.

"What's a vampire?" he looked at her confused crouching beside her.

"It's a character in stories that survives on blood "she gave the shortest possible explanation.

"You really know how to joke even in these situations don't you" He looked at her with annoyance and she just shrugged. "Give me your hand" He looked at the bracelet and she placed her hand in his as he took hold of the bracelet on her wrist. Audra saw as the bracelet glowed hot red and then fell to the ground in ashes. A wave of dizziness hit her again and Ian held her from behind before she could fall hard on the floor.

"Thanks" she sat with the help of the wall staring up at the sky. They were on the roof.

"I'll be back" he vanished from his spot and then appeared few minutes later startling her. He was out of his armor he wore a plane gray shirt with pants. His hair messed up from having changed. He held a small tray with small glass bottles.

"I have never really seen you in normal clothes" She looked at him surprising him with her words.

"I know I look handsome you don't have to stare" He boasted sitting beside her earning an eye roll from Audra.

"What is that?" She asked about the bottles in his hands.

"Medicine" He pointed at the scratches that graced her hands from having rolled down the hill.

"I am starting to think Lucio was right" She eyed him peculiarly as he took out a black jelly matter from one of the bottles.

"What do you mean?" His stick came near her arms but she snatched away her hand.

"why are you helping me?" Her face entirely serious as she questioned. She didn't trust any of them as of now. She wasn't even sure about Karl.

"I am making up for when I took you to the forbidden forest" He answered not breaking the eye contact.

"why? Because I am some sort of a freaking princess now" None of this princess thing meant anything for her.

"I am not doing any of this because of you. I am doing it for your mother" And now it was her turn to be surprised.

"you met my mother?" At least she wasn't imagining things today the thought occurred in Audra's mind.

"No, I didn't meet her today or recently." Disappointment fluttered in Audra's heart. "But I knew her before she was sent away" he let down the tray between them sitting beside her by the wall.