Feardia gave up on trying to talk to Jaxin. He was unresponsive, still trembling on the ground. He turned on his heel and strode towards the middle of the field where Faye was kneeling. He wondered what she had done during the battle and what she was doing now. Maybe she was praying, he thought in disgust. A bit late for that now.
Approaching her, he slowed down. Her face was absolutely blank; eyes dead, face bloodless. He felt concern for her although he hated it. If he were to care about Faye, he would spend every moment of every day doing so. She wasnât made for this world. âFaye?â His voice was soft and cautious. âFaye, you shouldnât have come out. You know youâre not used to all this gore.â
She looked up at him, eyes unseeing. âFeardia?â
âCome, Faye. Weâre leaving this place. You wonât ever have to see this again. C--â
He stopped talking and looked her up and down. For the first time, he had noticed the empty vials at her waist. Glancing at her face, he slipped one out of their holds and sniffed it. He looked at her again, but now for the first time as if he was really seeing her. âFaye?â
âYes?â She replied, emotionless.
âThis vial used to hold poison. So did all those at your waist, I dare suppose. But now theyâre empty.â
âAnd?â
âWhat did you do?â Horror was growing in his chest. Death and murder didnât bother him. But that Faye could lose her innocence, that this wretched place was capable of tearing even the most untainted of consciences, was appalling. She may have been irritating, but she was a breath of fresh, clean air at times.
âThey were in pain. Unable to be saved. So I prayed for them and ended their life.â The words were spoken as if they were foreign and she didnât understand the meaning of them. The only sign of distress were her hands; her nails were dug deeply into the flesh of her thighs. Feardia didnât know what to say to her, for the first time in his life.
âIt.. you did well, Faye. Come now. Itâs time to go. We went through this before, remember? Youâre coming with us.â He took hold of her arms and pulled her up.
âDonât speak to me like a child.â Emotion flared on her face in the form of a flush. âIâm not going.â She ripped her arms away from him.
âWhat?â He was dumbfounded. It made absolutely no sense that she didnât want to go with them. Fair enough, she had never joined in on their conversations of their escape, but never had she made any inclination that she wasnât going to join them. The idea was ridiculous. She simply couldn't protect herself alone, not to mention survive by herself in Alabaster's castle. "What are you messing at, Faye?" He demanded, confusion quickly turning to anger.
"I can't leave." She replied, her eyebrows set resolutely.Â
"You can't not leave. You were welcomed here as a guest of a Faerie Prince. Now that exact Faerie Prince is stealing away one of Alabaster's most prized warriors. You're not even significant enough to be punished for my actions, but you certainly won't be welcome. If you're lucky, you won't die for quite a while. But that innocence face of yours is simply too tempting for the occupants of this place. Besides that, you have a tendency to be annoying. Especially if you attempt to interact with Alienor. She's lost to us, Faye, since before we met her, since she stumbled upon this black land. Coming here was her downfall, and staying here will be yours. You'll die one day, alone and unnoticed except for the rats who will feed off your flesh. Your body will rot in a forgotten room, in a forgotten corridor, not grieved for by a single soul. If someone comes across your bones one day, they'll throw them to the dogs, and not even the dogs will want to eat from them. Is that all worth whatever idiotic reason you have for staying?"
"That..image you painted so well won't happen, Feardia. Go without me. Be happy. Make Skye happy."
"So this is what it's about? Your foolish infatuation with me? You can't stand to see me with her? You stupid child."
"That's not it." She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Goodbye, friend. Bade my farewell to Skye too. But I am to stay here."
"...Please, Faye."
"Thank you, Feardia, for your concern, but you can't change my mind."
Feardia withdrew his outstretched arm. "This is not out of concern." He said, sounding furious. "Do you know how many pains I've been through to save your worthless hide? The inconveniences I've endured with the role of your guardian thrust upon my unconsenting shoulders? I've protected you from my family, forgiven you for putting Skye's life on the line when you betrayed us... And now you want to throw it all away? Damn you."
"I'm already damned," she said softly. "I'll be fine. Trust me. Now go. Be lighthearted knowing I am no longer your burden. Spent your time protected you lovely other half instead. I will keep you in my prayers."
Feardia scoffed. "You'll need more than prayers, dear. You'll need a miracle. You have no other protector. Even Jaxin will leave you. He's going, didn't you know?"
"He.. But he's Alienor's protector."
"And like I said, she's gone beyond his help. Besides, Helen will be a frequent visitor. It isn't wise for any type of angel to be alone with her in a castle laden with torture equipment."
Feardia imagined that if her face could get any paler, it would have then. "..I'm sorry."
Without a word, he turned away and left her. Faye felt terrible that their parting was so full of bitterness and misunderstanding, but unlike him, she knew it wouldn't be her last.