She shivered hearing the voice behind her. Her eyes widened thoughts running threw her head. Is it really all true....How do i know this isn't just a dream either.... She turned looking at the man now standing in her room. Everything but him was how it has always been, or what she could always remember it being. She shook her head slightly. "this isn't real, i-its just a dream!" She turned away covering her ears. She had felt so sure that it was all true but now that it was staring her in the eyes it scared her. Her eyes teared up, she tried to shake them away but only more came. Everything confused her. Dreams were becoming reality and reality was becoming a dream. She moved her hands off of her ears. One hand dropping to her side the other twiddling with her necklace as she always did she looked down seeing the book on the floor. A few words highlighted and bolded on the page stood out in the darkness slowly filling in the room. She read the words softly aloud. "He will never be able to touch your I promise." She could her in her mind Nicholas saying it. She calmed slightly looking up at the man so full of hate that it radiated from him lie a fowl stench. "First....what did you do to them...where are they?" The only light left was the pale moon light barely slipping threw the window. Against the light she looked innocent, and scared. More of a scared little girl then a celestial priestess.

Terrance soaked in the expression of fright and horror that fell upon the princess' frowning face. He had finally done it, the curse had brought them both closer to his own goal than hers. He had truly thought that Nicholas would bring her memories back to her and break his own curse with their kiss, but he had taken care of not only the future king but her pesky sister as well. His hands stroked his chest as her voice, fragile and broken, filled the dark room with her only question. It was such a simple answer, but would it only bring him closer to having the celestial priestess into his own clutches or make his job even harder for him? This was just all to confusing.

"They are safe..." he stated with a small frown. Truth may actually help him in this situation than lies, so he stuck with the very truth. "The curse brought us all to this dimension and wiped us of most of your memories. Because I had my abilities still, I found it very easy to push them back to our own dimension where they stay waiting for your arrival, but unless I break the curse you are stuck here with me." It was all true. "We could go back... together. You and I. You will name me your husband, or I can leave you here alone with only one piece of information weighing on your head... Their deaths." Terrance smirked. "What do you say princess?"

She looked at him she could not tell if he was telling the truth or not. She wanted to believe they were ok but she could not bring her self to do it"Even if I go back with you how do I know you wont kill them anyway?." Her voice was still weak she was still scared but she knew she could not just straight give him what he wanted. A memory slowly filtered its way back to her. Terrances words played over and over in her mind. She could hear the music playing the complicated steps that seemed to flow so perfectly as she and Nich had dances. Remembering the one deal she had made brought a soft simple smile shown on her face. "You fell back on your deal....." She stepped back from him. "You lost to Nich in archery, and your curse interfered with the tango. Laws of due course would require a fair rematch same partners same dance...The deal still holds you can not touch me until it has been finished." She smiled a bit more. "even you cant break a soul deal Terrance, you would be dragged down to hell"

An eerie laughter filled the darkening room as the moonlight filtered in a blood filthy red now. Terrance had his head cocked back as he continued to laugh at the woman's words. "Dragged to hell?" Terrance ran his long clawed hands through his hair. "I don't think you understand, princess. I've already been to hell and back. Refused the welcoming of the great flames. You're dealing with a hellish spawn right now and a soul deal does nothing to me but make me wish hell would accept me." He then ran his hands down his hips and sat on the bed beside her. "But if it is a rematch you want then we shall have one." With the snap of his fingers they were sitting int he princess' palace room with Nicholas standing in the doorway as if he had just been searching for her.

"Terrance..." he growled, his emerald eyes narrowed as he stared at the dark man sitting by his frightened fiance.

"You were tricked, were you not?" Terrance questioned the man, but Nicholas stepped forward as if he were going to run to Celena's side. "I wouldn't," the dark man threw his hand out to stop Nicholas from moving toward her or her to him. "Answer the question. To marry this woman you were unaware and tricked. Correct?"

Nicholas narrowed his eyes and nodded his head. "I was, but it doesn't matter now. I love her."

Terrance's eerie laugh entered the room once more. "Then you would not mind a fair rematch for her hand in marriage, would you not?" Terrance had a wicked smile come over his lips. Nicholas did not answer with his own voice but with his head. He knew that if he was challenged to archery again he would beat the dark man again. "Good. Then here are the terms of the agreement. Similar to the last, but more final." With a flick of his wrist a large scroll appeared in his hand. "We will do archery again, to replicate the original competition. If you win, Merchant Nicholas, than you will have Princess Celena's hand in marriage and her powers will be stored away forever in the moon so that no evil shall touch it. Seem fair."

Nicholas stared at Terrance a moment then nodded his head. "Sounds fair enough. As long as you swear taking her power from her body will not harm her."

"It can not harm her, young Nicholas. It is a power that is just resting in her body. It will not help nor kill the young woman to lose her abilities." He gave him a soft nod that Nicholas took as a vowel of trust. "Now, the fun part. If I win... I get to marry this young beauty and rule over the lands. Her power will still go to the moon so that I will not be all to powerful over the lands, but also, you'll become your worst nightmare and a slave of our household to be a reminder to my love that you are not worthy to be at her side." Nicholas stood in the door with his hands clenched in fists. He did not like the idea of being a slave to the evil sorcerer, but if it meant that he tried to keep Celena safe from him than he would do it.

Her eyes glimmered with a soft hope when she saw Nich. She looked at the contract glaring softly. She felt a pressure on her chest like something pushing her back keeping her there. She struggled against it but was not able to move. The ring he had given her was still resting against her neck half hidden by a scarf but the light simply reflected off of the ring. She looked Nich in the eyes wanting to be able to do more then just sit there held down by Terrances power.

Nicholas sighed. He had to do this for her, if not him who would get her out of such a terrible situation. The kingdom would not be able to survive under an evil ruler. "I'll do it." Terrance's smile grew at Nicholas' response and a feather with an ink bottle appeared in mid air next to the young man. Terrance nodded to the scroll that unfolded before their eyes and had two lines for the men's signatures. The young merchant took up the feather, dipped it in the ink, and then signed the bottom of the scroll. Terrance stood and repeated Nicholas' actions.

"I'll see you both tomorrow." Terrance smirked. "Enjoy the night." And with a slight 'pop' Terrance was gone, the light returned to the room and the two were able to speak to one another.

Nicholas went to Celena immediately and knelt before her. "What happen..." Nich asked. "We were in the ball room and you just vanished. I thought I had finally lost to that tyrant." He took her hands in his own. "I promise I won't let him win, I'm the best archer in the kingdom." He smiled.

She could feel Terrances leave. She breathed in deep. Looking back at Nich seeing him knelt in front of her. She instantly knelt down and hugged him. She pulled away and sat there for a moment before answering. "Remember he had cursed me and the curse was activated when you kissed me..." She looked down her eyes tearing up again. "I-Im scared something doesnt seem right about that challenge I know you are the best archer but Terrance does not play fare he never has." She sighed softly closing her eyes softly. She felt like crying but the tears would not fall. Her bangs fell over her eyes. She could now remember everything, slowly taking her necklace off she slipped the ring off of the chain and out it back on her left hand.

Nicholas stared at her a moment then brushed her hair away from her frightened face. "Don't worry..." he stated. "Even if he doesn't play fair I will win. As long as there is hope and love his darkness can be shattered."

(Sorry it is so short, couldn't think of much else at the moment.)

She looked back up at him. "I know that is true" sighed slightly and half smiled. "Well Nich we have one night of peace till tomorrow and no matter what the outcome tomorrow is tonight should not be spent over worrying should it" She tried to smile a bit brighter hoping to lighten the mood.

Nicholas nodded his head. It would be great for the two of them to have at least one night together in complete harmony, something they have not been able to do since they met in the streets of the market place. The young dark haired man gently kissed the back of her hand and then rose to his feet. "We have a little more time, would you like to finish our dance?" he asked her, holding his hand out in waiting for her answer. He had the perfect place in mind for their dance, one that would put them both at ease. Her father, sister, nor Terrance would be able to break up their most wonderful night before the nightmares began once more.

(which world are we in?)
She reached up and took his hand smiling. She stood up looking in his eyes. "I would love to finish our dance" She laughed softly. "If you dont mind me not being in a dress" Her voice was teasing light and almost carefree.

((We're back in their true world, no longer in the modern world..))

"Dress or no dress, we'll still be in the moment," Nicholas responded as he slowly guided her through the palace halls and out to the back courtyard. Soon they were in the middle of a lack in an all white gazebo with crimson roses mingling with sunshine-yellow roses up the poles and onto the top of the gazebo. Music began to play around them, not orchestra music, but nature had done that for them. He took her in his arms and began to sway throughout the platform as rainfall began to pitter-patter around them.

She let him guide her threw the palace. She looked up at the starry sky and all its beauty. She smiled brighter as she took in the sights of all the wonders around her. She closed her eyes for a moment listening to the music of the natural world. She opened her eyes again and looked up at Nich. She felt so happy in his arms so at peace. "How is it some of the most amazing places I have ever seen are the places you have taken me?" Her smile was soft and gently. She wished she could freeze time.

Nicholas had been swaying around the gazebo without a care in the world, just staring at Celena's beauty and listening to the great music decided to provide them that evening. Though she had brought his attention back from the clouds by asking him a question. He gave her a soft smile in response as he thought of the answer to her question. "Because you have finally opened your eyes," he told her, his voice smooth like honey. "As a princess of the land you've been caught up in the palace for long that you've lost the eye to see true beauty, but now you have fallen in love with a merchant who sees the world through a whole new eye. Thus," he moves his face a little closer to hers. "I am able to show you places you've visited before with this new perspective to bring out the radiance that you were unable to notice before." And it was true, he had only taken her one other place that was new to her, but the gazebo had been in the back courtyard of the palace for years, and its beauty was never like it was in that moment. Though he had it wrong, it was not because he was helping her see it differently it was just merely because she had fallen in love with someone important to her.

He lifted her up from her hips and twirled her around onces then twice before lightly placing her on her feet. The moonlight caught his emerald eyes through the rain making them glitter with the love he had for her and only her. It was a shame that he had to fight for her again for as far as he was concerned she was already his to hold and love forever, but Terrance thought otherwise. Soon he realized that this was going to be their last night together, their last time for peace before he battled it out with the devil himself. If he lost he would never have the chance to be so close to Celena again. Without another word or sound, Nicholas lowered his head and took Celena's lips with his own tasting her own salty sweat (from her fear earlier in the bedroom.) Nicholas' arms wrapped tightly around her hips pulling her closely into his embrace as he held her for a long moment before slowly releasing her. "No matter what happens tomorrow," he whispered above all the chirping of crickets and the soft fall of rain, "I love you..."

She knew he was right, she had never learned to love the world around her. She felt her feet leave the ground her smile brightening. She felt so happy that nothing. She got caught up in the shimmer and beauty of the light reflecting from his eyes. Between the music, and the lights she was speechless, stunned. The moon light glimmered off of her ring. She looked down and smiled softly knowing that in that moment everything was perfect.

When she looked back up she looked back into Nichs eyes. Her lips held a soft smile. She blinked for a moment and then felt his lips against hers. The last time he had kissed her she had not felt it from the curse. Her mind wandered for a moment back to Terrance she could remember the feeling she had when he had kissed her. She pushed the thought from her mind when she felt Nichs arms tighten around her waist. She let her eyes close softly, her arms wrapping up around nicks shoulders pulling her up just slightly deepening the kiss.

When he had pulled back just a little she opened her eyes back up a soft blush on her cheek. She heard his words; they brought a smile to her face. She looked him right in the eyes. “Nich, I promise no matter what happens tomorrow I will always be yours always there is nothing that can change that ok” Her smile brightened. She thought for a moment and looked into his eyes. She knew that he was the one her heart meant her to be with. And in the next day no matter what happened her heart would always be his. Terrance could do anything and everything to her but he would never have her heart.

It was in that moment that Nicholas realized that Celena was right. Her heart would only belong to him, and his heart would only ever belong to her. It didn't matter what Terrance tried to do now, their love was too strong for one another. How could evil ever tarnish such a beautiful thing like their own love. He had a strong feeling that nothing could cause him to loose in tomorrow's battle for Celena's hand in marriage for as far as he was concerned it was his own.

Lifting her hand up to his lips, Nicholas kissed the back of her hand lightly. "We should head to bed, my sweet. For tomorrow is going to be a very long stressful day." He then started toward back toward the palace, but paused because the rain was still falling down in heavy sheets around them.

She smiled just softly. She new nothing could go wrong and if they did she was sure there was something they could do....there always had to be something. She loved him to much to be taken away from him. She looked out at the rain and her smile brightened. She looked up at Nich. Her voice was soft and calm but full of a bit of excitement. "Nich....have you ever raced in the rain before?" The one thing she could remember doing when she was little was running threw the rain to get places with her mother, and later with Phasia. She had always loved it even though her father never had anything good to say about it, he never stopped her. It was one of the simple joys she had learned to cherish in life.

She reached her hand out into the rain. The drops of water were barely cool, almost warm. Pulling her hand back she looked out at the rain and the gardens. She waited for Nich's response. She looked back up at Nich her eyes were glimmering softly the light captured in the rain reflecting softly into her eyes.

It had not occurred to Nicholas to run through the rain toward the palace. For as long as he had been a merchant on the road, rain had been an enemy of his causing shipments to be late or business to slow. The last time had actually raced someone in the rain was with his mother when he was no older than six-years of age, the year to follow this would be his mother’s death from small pox. Deciding not to dwell on his past, Nicholas glanced back down at the princess and gave her a large smile. “Of course I’ve raced in the rain, who hasn’t…” he chuckled lightly before glancing up at dark sky with lightening slithering across the clouds. “On your mark… get set…” and he was off before even saying go. It was unfair, but honestly the man didn’t like the rain, only when he listened to it. Soon he was halfway across the courtyard, soaked to the bone.

She looked up as he said on her mark and get set....Then he took off. She laughed and took off after him. "H-hey! That isnt fair." she got half way getting soaked but she did not care very much from the rain. She had almost caught up to him by the time they had reached the door. Her hair was flattened and her clothes were soaked to her skin clinging tight. She took one more step yelling softly as she fell back onto the walk way. She laughed slightly looking over at Nich. She tried to stand back up but only slipped again. She never would have thought she would fall but honestly she laughed at it.

((made an edit to my first post))

As he darted through the rain Nicholas could not help but categorize the small droplets of water as daggers of a cool substance trying to dampen away his own warmth, but his thoughts were shattered when he heard Celena call out from behind him. It was true that he had darted before her, even cheated a bit when he knew that beating her to the castle was no hardship on his behalf. Once under the safety of the castle balcony, he spun around to see the woman still running through the rain with a smile spread from one ear to the other. Her golden locks(if I remember correctly she had blond hair) stuck to the back of her neck and on her cheeks as she tried to catch up to him.

Just as she was about to reach solid ground, she slipped. Mud glided off her shoes as she was lifted into he air and then returned to the ground on her buttocks. Laughter, it was all Nicholas had as he saw his love tainted in mud and soaked to the bone in the night rain. "I'm sorry," his voice uttered when he was able to take a full breath from his own laughter. "I haven't seen that move done in quite some time now... are you alright?" he asked, his eyes gleaming from the laughter dulled into worry and concern. Nicholas stepped out into the dagger drops and grasped her arm before lifting her from her feet into his chest.

"Now look at you..." he did a quick look over the princess, "you're gonna catch a cold love." He chuckled again, though the worry still held true his blue eyes.

She laughed when she heard Nich say he had not seen someone fall like that in a while, She herself had never fallen like that before. She smiled softly at him when he asked if she was all right. "Yes I am fine, other than the mud and rain I am perfectly fine." She watched him walk back out to her, she giggled softly hen he pulled her up back in close to him. She looked right into his eyes. Her eyes were filled with joy an emotion she had not truly felt in a long while. Se say the worry in his eyes, she did not want him to worry in fact that was the last thing she wanted him to do.

Her voice was soft almost playful. "If your so worried I am going to catch a cold," She paused for a moment looking back over at the door. "Maybe we should go in and sit near the fire for a while." She looked back up at his eyes smiling brightly. In the dim light of the night her green eyes almost seemed colorless but some how so full of life, the cold air and rain drops paled out her face making her hair seem brighter and full of color. She reached over and grabbed his hand softly and carefully walked back over to the door opening it up. She carefully stepped inside and looked back to make sure he was following.

Warm air shot out of the palace door just as if all the fireplaces in the building had been lit. Dull candle light filled the hall way illuminating the garden right outside the door. Shadows danced as the light from the candles flickered. She brushed the hair out of her face putting it behind her ear. After a few moments she let go of his hand stepping a bit further inside. She could feel the water dripping off of her clothing onto the tile floor. She looked back at him thinking for a moment. "Nich....you do not have another clothes here and well I doubt yours will dry by tomorrow morning." She was not sure if she should be worried about his clothes being dry. But then again he was the one that had to be in the best of health in the morning.

It would not be a long walk to her room where she new her fireplace would be lit and the room would be warm. She started to slowly walk down the hall but first held her hand back for Nich's, not wanting to be far from him. She was letting her muscles relax as the warm air brought some of the color back to her cheeks.