"How the heck did I end up here?"

The crystal clear water stretches out before me, the roar of the waterfall only a few yards away sending shivers of familiarity down my spine.

I remember this exact clearing and waterfall from the time I traveled with Max, Becky, and End to save my father.

Almost like my instinct, my eyes are drawn to the spot that he once stood shadowed in the shade of the nearby trees, but nothing is there.

"I thought I went the right way...", I trail off, mentally recounting my steps and the directions I took.

If I remember correctly, the Core is about twelve miles away from Highclere, which is a long way to make before nightfall, so the whole way I had been jogging on and off, and now I'm one hot, sticky, and lost mess.

But then again...if my memory also serves me right, this is where we stopped on the way to the cave that led to the Core, so maybe I am on the right track afterall.

I glance up at the sky, seeing it slightly darken as the sun starts to go down.

"Shoot,"I mutter, walking over to the edge of the water and kneeling.

I sling the backpack off my shoulder, recalling how I'd gotten at least half of a mile into the woods before a Darkling Solider managed to catch up to me, holding the backpack out to me to take as he tried to catch his breath.

Without any words about who it was from, he turned on his heel and left, but knowing Lager, it was most likely from him. I felt sorry for the poor guard though, who must have sprinted the whole half-mile to catch up with me, and made a vow in my head to scold Lager for that later.

Unzipping the bag, I open it and take a look inside for the first time, my eyes widening in surprise at the useful objects inside.

For a light backpack, it sure held a lot.

I reach in and take out a small blanket, which is followed up by a water bottle, two ripe apples, an extra set of clothes, and some medicine containers.

I reach my hand into the bag again to see if I missed anything and feel a small prick, before something wet.

I yank my hand out of the backpack, staring at my index finger where a tiny slice across the skin has appeared, blood slowly filling the crevice and spilling out.

"What the..", I mutter, before looking at the bag. I drag it closer to me and open it all the way, peering into it and seeing something gleam up at me that has my breath cacthing.

Carefully, I reach into the backpack and grab a hold onto the object, slowly pulling it out to reveal a very sharp, and very deadly looking dagger.

On the hilt of the dagger, a small piece of folded paper is tied on by a string, and I unravel the thread curiously, grabbing the piece of paper and unfolding it.

There's only two words written on it: Be careful.

The words, along with the dagger, send shivers down my spine, and I quickly thrust the dagger back into the bag along with the rest of the supplies, albeit the water bottle, and stand up.

After taking a few sips of the refreshing liquid, I put it back in the bag and scan the area, trying to recall which way the cave was from here.

That way, my instincts point me to the right, and I follow their orders, heading off into the jungle.

I can't be too far from the cave now.

As I push a cluster of vines out of the way, I wonder what's going on back in Highclere. Did Becky find Kay? Is Lager getting better? Is Max still alive?

I scoff, thinking about the inevitable death Max will one day face at the hands of Becky. Let's be real, we all see it coming. Then again.....they would make a really cute couple. They are practically already dating by the affectionate way they act, or at least, the affectionate way Max acts. Sure Becky shows her affection, just in a very odd way.

The realization that there's a smile growing on my face only makes me smile more, and the smile stays on my face until the moment I look down to make sure I'm not going to trip on a root or step on a snake and see a flash of color.

I bring my hand up to my chest and grab onto the necklace, lifting it in front of my face so I have a better view of the crystal.

The once bright, almost sky, blue has now darkened a shade, turning into more of a ocean color.

It's okay, It's fine, as long as I make it there before it turns to purple, I calm myself down inside my head. The guards at the gate said the Lyncher's guarding the Darkling territory aren't in this area, so I shouldn't run into anything that sets me off course.

Even as I say these things inside my head, my feet unconsciously start to pick up speed, carrying me towards my intended destination at a quicker pace.

It's not only a race against the setting sun now, but also the wrath of Core.

The relief I feel when I finally step out of the jungle and to the entrance of the cave is almost palpable.

Right on time too, I think with a grin while looking at the sun breaching the halfway set point, the sky beginning to turn different colors.

I start to move towards the cave, but pause just before the entrance, peering into the darkness that awaits me.

Extreme deja vu washes over me, and I can't stop the flashbacks of the last time I was at this cave, on a mission to find my father, only to be betrayed by a comrade and thrust into the hands of Mrs. Clark.

Maybe I should take another route, I consider, not liking the way the darkness of the cave now seems more dangerous and luring.

The cave is shorter though, and who knows what comes out in this jungle at night. The cave is the more practical option....so why can't I get my feet to move forward.

Ugh, I'm being stupid. It's just the bad experience I had in this cave before that's giving me a bad feeling, nothing else.

With that resolve, I manage to take a step forward, and then another step, until I'm enveloped in the darkness.

"A flashlight would be more useful than a dagger right about now." I mutter as I put my hand on the cool stone of the right wall and make my way further into the dark.

Looks like I don't have to worry about the light too much though, because as soon as I completely leave the light of the outside, I realize that there's still a faint blue glow in the cave radiating from my necklace and allowing me to see about three feet ahead of me.

I just have to continue through the cave which should lead me right to the Core and ignore the goosebumps creeping up on my arms and the frightened way my muscles tense up.

Step by step I slowly start to make my way through the winding cave, jumping at every sound of water dripping or stone skittering across the ground that I accidentally kick.

A few times I nearly scream because I see a figure on the ground and then realize it's just a small boulder. Am I particularly proud of myself at this moment?

Not at all.

A few moments pass of my skittish steps and only my thoughts to occupy me. The last time I was here, I had Max, Becky, and End, which made me a whole lot more relaxed, and now that they're gone I'm nearly jumping out of skin.

I really, really, really wish I could have brought then along, but what would have been the point. I doubt Core would have allowed them into his domain, and if the mission Core assigns me is to be kept a secret, what will I tell them?

I am so lost in my thoughts, I almost miss the sound of a stone skidding across the ground, but then I realize that my foot didn't touch anything, and the sound came from up ahead.

I freeze, my heart rate accelerating in an unhealthy way almost in an instant.

It's most likely just a rodent or maybe a bat.

As I internally have a mental panic trying to guess what could have made the noise, the air and darkness around me seems to get colder, and even the darkness darkens if that even makes sense.

I grasp my necklace and hold it up off my chest, trying to see further ahead of me, and realize that I'm no longer in the winding cave, but the large cavern I was once ambushed in by Mrs. Clark.

This means I'm close!

I walk forward, my eyes and ears extra alert thanks to that strange skittering rock. There should be an opening that will lead to another winding cave and then straight to the Core.

Finally an opening in the cavern comes into view from the light of my necklace, and I start to move forward, when something else appears into the light.

Another opening.

There's two!?!?!

I stand in confusion and shock, staring at the two openings that are next to each other.

I don't remember there being two openings!

Which one leads to the Core?

As I stand there, looking between the two openings in concentration and extreme confusion, a sudden breeze blows across the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

I turn on my heel, eyes searching the darkness and goosebumps creeping up my arms.

When nothing appears, I release a breath, shaking my head in shame at my fright. I start to turn back to face the openings, when I see a flash of steel appear in an instant and disappear just as fast.

"Hello?" I croak out, hoping that it's a Darkling solider on patrol in the jungle who decided to explore the cave.

No one answers, and in that moment I curse the necklace I'm wearing even though it's been useful up until now because it makes me a clear target.

There's another flash of steel, about five yards away and closer this time, the person wielding the steel hidden in the darkness, and I stumble back.

I don't like the feeling I'm getting right now, as if I'm prey and the person in the dark is the predator.

The person in here obviously has a weapon, and doesn't seem to be the conversational type, so talking my way out of this one doesn't seem like an option. For a moment my mind goes to the own dangerous steel I'm carrying in my backpack, but I quickly shake my head.

If I do that, they'll definitely attack, and if they're experienced with using their weapon, there's no way I stand a chance.

I glance at the two openings out of the corner of my eye, my eyebrows furrowing in resolve. I'll have to pick one and hope it's the right one. I might as well pray that I can outrun them whileI'm at it.

I tense myself, getting ready to run and reaching up and tucking my necklace into my shirt so the light is dulled.

I hear a sheer sound suddenly of metal skidding on rock, and I choose that moment to spin on my heel, taking a step to sprint towards the right opening.

I manage to get about seven strides into the right cave opening, before I hear footsteps behind me.

Even though I know I shouldn't, I look behind me as see yet again another flash of steel, this time only three feet away, before something hard crashes down on my head mercilessly.

I don't even have time to yelp, dropping to the ground like a sack of potatoes as my nervous system fails me and I start to lose consciousness.

The last thing I see as I struggle to keep my eyes open is a dark figure looming over me.

I close my eyes.



* * * * * *



"No, Becky! Take Max, not me!" I yell, bolting up into a sitting position from where I was laying down and panting as the nightmare I was just having of Becky the Reaper slowly fades from my mind.

"Ouch." I grimace, reaching up with one hand to rub my eyes and the other to massage my temple.

My ears are ringing and head pounding horribly. Did Max slip me some Lecic while I was sleeping? When I get my hands on him....

That's when I notice my surroundings, and all the memories of what happened before I went unconscious slam into my head.

Someone knocked me out in the cave and brought me....here? Where exactly is here?

I glance around the room in confusion, taking into account the walls that look like they're made from the jungle trees and even the mat I was sleeping on with only a small pillow. No furniture adorns the room, and there's no windows, only a single door and the mat I'm laying on.

I slowly stand up, stumbling for a second because of my head. Using a hand, I carefully prod my scalp, only taking a few seconds to find the knot from where I was hit across the head.

"They couldn't have used a tranquilizer or chloroform or something?" I mutter under my breath in an irritated tone.

That's when I notice that my backpack is missing.

"Darn it." I hiss, and slowly walk over to the wooden door that doesn't have a knob, but is instead a swinging door.

Could escaping be this easy? Or are there guards posted outside? Who even kidnapped me? The Lightlings? Or could it be the.....

Whoever it is, I need to escape. Who knows how dangerous the people who took me are. Escaping is top priority.

I place both my hands against the door, preparing to push it open and bolt, when I hear two voices.

"Do you think she's awake by now?" That voice.....my very blood freezes as it reaches my ears, and I could swear my heart stops.

"It's difficult to say. I did hit her pretty hard." An unknown female voice replies nonchalantly, but I'm not focused on her, instead all of my senses are focused on the huff that comes from the voice that she's speaking to.

I need to move. They're getting closer. But I'm frozen.

"You're lucky you didn't kill her." The familiar and rough voice says, sounding only a few yards away from the door now. "Go tell the council to postpone the gathering for later tonight."

Move, Ashley!

I dart back towards the mat, lying down and curling into a ball as my heart pounds in my ears.

The door opens only a few seconds later, and I inhale a breath, holding it as I hear heavy footsteps enter the room.

No,no, no, no! This can't be happening. It's too soon. There's no way I'm ready to face him yet.

It's silent for a few moments, which doesn't help my mini-panic attack at all. Is he just going to watch me "sleep"?

I hear him inhale a breath, and then he finally speaks.

"I know you're awake."

My eyes shoot open, my back towards him as I stare at the way in shock.

"Ashley." He speaks again, his tone taking on a softer lilt, but I'm completely speechless and my muscles are completely iced over and frozen.

I hear him release another sigh, and then footsteps. There's the creak of the wooden door swinging open and then shutting, and more silence.

Is he gone?

I roll over, turning my head to face the door, only to come face-to-face with a pair of shining grey eyes.

Zero.

"Gotcha." He whispers in a slightly amused and coarse voice, his face only inches from mine and close enough that I can see the small pang of sadness in his eyes from where he kneels beside me.

"Gah!" I yell as a late reaction, throwing myself backwards and scrambling away until my back is against the wooden wall and there's a healthy amount of space between us.

A second later though my sudden movements catch up with me, and I groan as my head lets out a painful throb.

He frowns, rising to stand and taking a step closer, but I throw out a hand, making him pause.

"Are you alright?" He asks.

Obviously not, I want to say, but keep silent, just staring at him.

"Would some water help?" He tries again, an almost awkward aura radiating off him.

I continue to stare at him in silence, growing more frustrated as time passes. Things didn't exactly end on a good note between us, and as the months went by I've managed to start slowly pushing him to the back of my mind, but here he is now after all this time, knocking me over the head and acting like everything is just fine and dandy between us.

He sighs, shaking his head and letting a rumble escape from his chest. "Are you giving me the silent treatment?"

Duh.

Then he chuckles, almost bitterly, and shakes his head. "It's to be expected, you used to often do something childish like that."

Childish!?!? How dare he!!! But still I don't speak.

Even if I wanted to speak I probably couldn't, because my brain is acting super slow right now and hasn't gotten over the shock of this turn of events.

We both fall into silence, Zero looking intently down at me from across the room and me looking intently down at the ground.

Please leave, I want to say, but another part of me almost wants to ask him to stay. To question what he's been up to these past three months, and if he tried to erase me from his mind like I tried to.

Suddenly, the wooden door swings open again, and I jerk my head to face the incoming person, expecting it to be a guard or something, but am surprised to say the least, when a tall girl walks in, who looks no more than at most two years older than me.

She has dirty blonde hair that's tied in a single braid down her back, exposing her sharp features and green eyes that seem to have a fierce intensity to them. Her skin is a gorgeous, golden tan, and she's honestly so pretty I feel quite jealous.

That's also when I notice her outfit, or more like, what's on her outfit. She wears a plain white tank-top with tan pants and sturdy boots, but there's also a strap that goes diagonally across her chest, and connected to this strap and resting on her back, is a staff about two yards long, that's double-edged with blades on each end. It looks incredibly dangerous and deadly.

This must be the girl I heard him talking to outside earlier. The same girl who hit me over the head in the cave. My eyebrows furrow in dislike.

"The council has been alerted of the changes." She speaks coolly, not even glancing at me as she stands at attention facing Zero, her voice confirming my suspicions as the earlier voice I heard.

"Thank you, Aella." Zero responds, turning to face her.

She nods once, then finally her eyes land on me.

"So you're the Ashley I've heard so much about." She drawls, leaning casually as she leans against the door frame, sizing me up and not seeming too impressed with what she sees.

"Where am I?" I finally manage to open my mouth in ask, most likely because I'm not looking at Zero, and instead this new girl Aella.

Out of the corner of my eye though, I see Zero's head whip towards me in surprise at my voice, but I refuse to look for fear that I might lose my confidence.

"I though it would be obvious." Aella says as she tilts her head to the side. "You are officially inside the heart of Kinling territory."

I have a feeling my headache is just about to get a whole lot worse.



Dear readers, I'm so excited I was able to update today! A few of you asked when I was going to update last chapter, and I really appreciate your curiosity, and I try hard to do one update every week, but lately it's becoming one update every two weeks, which I apologize for. Zero's back! For all those Zero fans out there, here ya go! For all those Zero haters out there, I'm sorry! XD. I'm also sure you noticed, but I've introduced a new chapter to the story. Aella! I have a feeling she's going to become one of my favorites, just because I'm already loving her cool and bad arse demeanor. I got inspiration for this character actually from her name. The name Aella originates from a fierce Amazon warrior who wielded a double-edged axe. Although her weapon is not an axe, I can only imagine that their personalities are the same. I hope you enjoyed reading this, and feel free to comment thoughts about anything, like the new character or Zero being back into the picture. Vote, comment, and eat the ears of a chocolate bunny first, cause it's just the way it's supposed to be. XD. Lots of love,

Dangeroustoken