-Darius- A thought had lingered in my mind for a while, and since I was not going to do another attack against the Dark Ones at the moment, I thought of something else. It was a foolish plan of mine, and I was most likely going to get killed because of it, but what choice did I have? I was too scared to make a move at the moment, especially after the wonderful gift of heads they gave us. I had to be the one willing to make a sacrifice now, but I believed it was best no one knew what my plans were. So in the middle of the night, when my own powers were much more powerful because of the darkness, I snuck to my horse, leading him in between the tents instead of through the camp, so no one would see me leave. When I was far enough away from the camp, I got on his back and rode towards the forest. Because I was a Dark One, I could see much better in the darkness, and I had no problems leading my horse there. I got off his back, though, not wanting to take him with me in there. I took off m

-Darius- I didn’t like where this was going. I had hoped for more. I prayed for more. I needed to go home before my wife was completely sucked into an evil world she could never get out of. She had already pushed herself beyond her own limits. She had already crossed boundaries she never thought she would cross, and I wondered how long it would be before she crossed more. Katherine was hungry for revenge, and I did not blame her, but I wondered what was left of her once I returned. I had hoped maybe I could strike a deal with the Dark Ones, making us return home so I could be with Katherine. So I could aid her in her revenge, but I was untrustworthy, like my brother, in the Dark One’s eyes, and I did not blame him for that. It made sense why he would not trust me. I had made it clear I was nothing like them, but I was nothing like the people on the other side either. My whole life, I had been trapped in the middle, much like Katherine, but it was only because no one knew the powers my

-Darius- Quinn and I didn’t speak much after what I pointed out. We just stood there in the middle of the camp, unable to form words, because what was there to say? What on earth could leave our lips to make this situation better? Neither of us knew. I didn’t mean to make him sad or feel afraid. I didn’t mean to ruin his night. Everyone had begun to relax around the camp, just enjoying their time as anyone would before battle. But it didn’t seem like we were going to battle for a while. I was scared of making a move, afraid of how much it would cost us, and all those lives would be on me. The generals had retreated. After being shown those heads, they had not really left their tents, and our meetings had grown quiet and still. No one spoke. No one said anything because we already knew who was the winner. It was so obvious, and it filled us with fear. Paralyzing fear that made it impossible for any of us to move. We were scared—terrified even. We didn’t know what to do with ourselves.

-Darius- As I had said, we were going to fight again in a few days. I walked through the camp in the early morning, seeing them all getting ready. They nodded at me as I walked by, and I knew many of them were nervous considering how many people we had lost fighting against them only once and then sending in the group of men into the forest. Everyone was nervous. It made the air thick with tension and almost suffocating. I had my worries too, of course. If I died, this plan would be destroyed, and all the knights and soldiers would die as well. No one would return home. We would all be drained of our powers, and I knew the Dark Ones would be very vengeful. They would come after Acan and everyone else. Maybe Katherine would be the only woman standing, considering the Dark Ones powers didn’t work on her. But I didn’t like that thought. As the last woman left, she wouldn’t be shown kindness, and I was unsure if her abilities could even be used against knives and swords. Her skin could s

-Katherine- My parents looked at me with huge eyes. I knew what I was saying was practically treason, but I was still very mad at Acan, and I couldn’t believe he would do this to his own brother. But Acan loved Acan. He didn’t share any deep affection towards anyone else. He might say he loved Darius. He might say he loved Silver, but I knew deep in his heart there was only room for himself and the crown he carried. Power meant more to him than family ever would, and it stung that it had to be this way. It stung that he was being such an awful person because he was not the one paying for it. Everyone else around him paid the price, and I was tired of paying that price. I was tired of living with the enemy, but I also knew I had to if I was going to change things. I had to stay close to my enemies. I had to make them think we were on the same side, or else I would never be able to get close enough to drive the metaphorical dagger into their black hearts. "Katherine!" my mother scolde