I'm back! This video was an absolute pain to edit and multiple issues with upload forced a change but I think it worked out beautifully!
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@thetruecaffeinequeen
I'm back! This video was an absolute pain to edit and multiple issues with upload forced a change but I think it worked out beautifully!
Heard this song recently after watching KPop Demon Hunters and falling into the YouTube black hole but this song is AMAZING! Will try to do one for Zayne/Caleb here soon too 🥰
Link to video on my YT page (and where all my other LADS videos can be found)
https://youtu.be/Zk6sHZ4oZbg?si=8Nh9gu-ZfYCnviXV
Took a break from writing to make another video 🥰
12ww2w2222ww2w222ww2ww we
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Hey! Not exactly sure what this is 😉
Endure
Chapter 15 - Final Chapter
He bows his head, before finding his way to her bedside, sitting just at the edge of the bed. His hand finds hers again, tentative at first, then secure. He lays his head against her chest, finding comfort in the sound of her heartbeat.
They share a moment of silence.
Then — her hand tremors. It’s small. A spark of electricity passes from her palm though his.
Zayne jolts up, tightly pressing her hand to his chest, caressing her cheek and brushing the hair from her face. There’s movement behind her closed eyes, rapidly darting from side to side.
He cradles her head in his hand, studying every detail of her face. Interlacing her fingers in his, rubbing his fingers over every mark, scar, and callus -- never wanting to forget the softness of her hands. Zayne tilts her chin, placing a longing kiss across her lips as he knows this will be the last time he sees her.
“When you and the world wake up, I hope we do not meet again.” He whispers as a brilliant light emanates from his heart and hers, rapidly spreading over their bodies. For the first time, in a very long time, Zayne feels at ease, comforted knowing that she will live, even if she doesn’t remember him – he will never forget her.
Her eyes flicker rapidly as his light fades, Zayne slumps over her chest, fingers still interwoven in hers, listening to her heartbeat growing strong – while his own weakens. As the last bit of light leaves his body – her eyes open.
All she can feel is the weight across her chest, and a hand tightly clutching hers. Zayne…
She groans faintly, gently brushing his hair between her fingers. Zayne never liked to admit it, but he loved it when she played with his hair.
“Sound asleep finally, huh Zayne, did those nightmares finally pass?” She says as leans over, softly pressing a kiss on his forehead.
He’s so cold…colder than he should be. Her eyes widen, bringing her fingers to his neck, searching frantically for a pulse. But she feels nothing.
“Zayne…Zayne…hey wake up! This isn’t funny, wake up!” She screams as she vigorously shakes him.
“Please come back to me.” She shudders, stroking his cheek as she cups his head in her hand, holding him tightly against her chest, gently rocking back and forth.
“I can’t do this alone, Zayne. Please don’t make me!” Her cries echo through the hospital. Choking back tears, for if she lets them fall, it truly means he’s truly gone.
She reaches for her emergency button, hoping it’s not too late. But before she can press it, she feels something – it’s small, barely tangible, but she feels a breath brush lightly against her neck.
“Zayne…hey…hey…c’mon wake up. Open your eyes for me.” With newfound hope, she brushes the hair clinging to his forehead from his face, caressing his temples with her thumbs in slow circles.
Almost immediately, his color starts to come back, his face and hands feeling warm against hers, his breath gradually becoming more noticeable. And – what she’d been waiting for – his eyes just barely opened.
“Hey, you. Welcome back.” Her voice was shaky as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Mmmmm, what happened? Where are we?” Zayne rubbed his eyes with the palm of one hand while propping himself up on one elbow.
“Why are you crying?” He asked, grazing his thumb against her cheek, delicately wiping away her tears.
“Zayne, you were pale, cold to the touch and you didn’t have a pulse. I thought I lost you.” She lunged forward, burying her face in the crook of his neck, finally able to release the tears she’d been fighting to hold back.
He wraps his arm under hers, draping it across her back, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. Her breathing is ragged as her emotions take hold of her; Zayne holds her tightly, taking slow, deep breaths himself, trying to calm her down.
“It’s okay. C’mon deep breaths, like we practiced. In through the nose, hold for four seconds, out through the mouth for four seconds. And again. In through the nose, hold for four seconds, and out.”
They breathe in harmony, and before she realizes it, their heartbeat also syncs, as one.
“Now, are you going to tell me how we got here?” Zayne looked at her, pinching the bridge of his nose firmly.
“You don’t remember?” She asked.
“No. The last thing I remember was going to my office to grab my patient notes…after that…nothing.”
She started to explain how she found him in his office, his nightmare, how she resonated with him to try and bring him out of it.
“I even stopped by your favorite shop and brought you macaroons, but somebody had to make it all about him again so they probably went to waste.” She said jokingly, landing a halfhearted punch on his arm.
“I’m sorry…for everything.” Zayne looked down, he couldn’t bear to look her in the eye, not after what he put her through.
“I was joking, silly.” She tussled his hair, then reached town to grab his hand. But there was something he was gripping tightly.
“Hey Zayne, what’s in your hand?”
“Hmmmm, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He looked down, watching her delicate fingers gently unfurl his. In his now open palm, was a flower made of ice.
Her eyes lit up, mesmerized by the sheer beauty of what he held in his hand.
“Zayne, is this what I think it is?”
Zayne couldn’t believe it either, of all the things his subconscious could create…a jasmine flower in full bloom.
He looked at the flower, then to her. Their eyes locked on one another. She looked upon him with a love, passion, and devotion that he felt undeserving of, yet he knew – it was worth fighting for. Zayne raised her hands in his, the flower nestled perfectly between her slender fingers. “I guess, I just wanted you to have something to always remember me by. No matter where life takes us, our past, present, and future, I will always love you. And I will always find you, in this life, and the next, until my last breath, I will always choose you.” He reached a hand behind her head, fingers entangled in her hair, gently pulling her towards him. They came together, lips crashing against one another, as though Zayne wanted all to know just how much he loved her – and what he’d endure to save her.
Endure
Chapter 14
“Okay, she’s right in here.” Dr. Grayson speaks softly as he pushes Zayne through the door to her room, bringing him to a stop just beside her bed.
His hands quickly find hers, his thumb brushing against her knuckles, feeling her weak pulse beneath his fingertips and the crackling in her breath as her chest rises and falls.
“You’re stronger than this. You’ve survived worse.” His voice is low as he brings her hands to his lips, placing a gentle kiss across her knuckles.
The door opens quietly. A nurse slips in to check her vitals. She looks to Zayne and Dr. Grayson.
“Who is this?” Her head gestures in Zayne’s direction.
“She’s not supposed to have visitors right now, Dr. Grayson, you should know that.”
Zayne doesn’t move. Keeping his head low, not wanting to raise any suspicions, knowing he’ll be ripped from her again if he’s discovered. A paralyzing fear consumes him, feeling that if he lets go, she’ll slip away.
Before Dr. Grayson can respond to her, there’s a drastic shift in the temperature in the room. The hair on the back of Zayne’s arms and neck stands on edge. It’s quiet.
“No…we’re too late.” Zayne’s voice shudders as small vapors pass over her still frame.
Then, everything changes. One shrill, high-pitched note pierces through the room.
Lights flash. Sirens wale. Her body arches once, violently, then, falls, lifeless.
“Code blue!” The nurse’s voice echoes down the hallway as a team rushes in.
Dr. Grayson tries to pull Zayne back, but his grip is iron clad on hers.
“Zayne, let’s give them some space to work.” He tries to gently usher Zayne back a couple of steps, but Zayne pulls his arm away sharply.
“Sir, you have to leave—”
“No.” His voice is firm.
“Security! We need some help in here!” The doctor calls out.
Moments later, two guards rush Zayne from behind. One gripping under his shoulder while the other tightly grabbed his arm, working to pry him back. Zayne fights to keep his grip on her hand, like it’s the last lifeline he has.
“Get him out of here!” A doctor yells, doing his best to hide his panic.
Finally, they manage to drag him back. Zayne stumbles, her fingers slip through his as he’s ripped away from her, and he could do nothing but watch as she grew further and further from him. Her fragile body disappears behind a wall of white coats and scrubs.
Dr. Grayson wanted nothing more than to follow, but he stays behind, knowing if he wants to help his friend, he needs to save her.
The two guards continue dragging Zayne past the doors, before coming to an abrupt stop. One placed his hand on Zayne’s shoulder forcing him to sit in a chair down the hall outside her room while the other retrieved a pair of handcuffs from his belt, securing Zayne to it.
“Don’t even think about trying to get up, understand me?” The guard’s voice was stern as he kneeled. His gaze shifting, eyeing Zayne from head to toe before he and the other guard walked off, standing at either side of the doorway to her room.
"Don’t do this," he whispers, more to himself than anyone else. Zayne’s hands clench tightly around the frame of the chair. He was too caught up in his own thoughts, that he didn’t notice the ice crystals forming over his hands, spreading like vines down the chair.
“Don’t you dare!" The familiar cold snap of his Evol crashed over him as the handcuffs shattered like glass. The suppressant was finally out of his system. But it was coming on too quickly. He had too much power raging through his entire body, and his current emotional state was only adding fuel to the fire burning within him.
“Calm down…she’ll be alright…you know what you have to do…” A voice called out, his voice, but not his words.
Zayne looked up, through the flurry of snowfall surrounding him, the man in black stood motionless in front of him.
Dazed, Zayne shakes his head, trying to clear the fog behind his eyes. The man in black slowly reaches for Zayne’s hand.
“C’mon, it’s time.” He says as he firmly takes Zayne’s hand in his.
Then—
The sound of weak, but steady beeps cut through the storm….a pulse. She’s alive.
Zayne slowly moved towards her room eyeing the guards posted at her door, but they didn’t move. As they pushed open the doors, the staff in the room were frozen in place. The only sign of movement came from the monitor, signaling that she still had fight left in her.
He looks to her, then to the man standing behind him, before inching closer to her bedside.
“You know, I don’t think we were ever properly introduced. Who do I have to thank for getting us this far?”
“I am called Dawnbreaker where I am from…but my friends call me Zayne.” A slight smile spreads across his face.
“Well, Dawnbreaker…Zayne, thank you. For everything.” He says, but as he turns to face him, he’s gone.
Endure
Chapter 13 ***Sorry it took so long to post this! Had Senior pictures to take for my best friend's daughter who graduated this year :) *** ********************************************************************
Beep…Beep…Beep…Beep…Beep “Dr. Zayne….hey…can you hear me?” A distorted voice called out to him. Zayne stirred softly, eyelids rapidly fluttering while trying to adjust to how bright the room was. He felt a thumb across his eyelid, pulling it open and a blurred figure was shining a bright light directly into his open eye.
Zayne moved to grab their hand, but something was keeping his arm pinned down.
“What is this?” Zayne groaned, forcing his eyes open, despite the discomfort it brought. Once his vision adjusted, he realized why he couldn’t move. Heavy, thick leather restrains were tightly wrapped around his hands and feet, keeping him secured to the bed.
“I am sorry Dr. Zayne, this was not my decision, but these are for your protection until we can figure out what’s going on with you.” The young doctor’s tone was somber, he couldn’t stand to see his friend like this.
“…who are you?” Zayne’s voice was raspy, thick with fatigue.
“It’s me, Dr. Grayson. Can you tell me what’s going on? The way you’ve been acting today is very out of character…even for you.” He rubbed his throat, now marked with a very distinct hand-shaped bruise.
“Please, I don’t have time to explain, you need to let me go.” Zayne pleaded, hoping to sway the young doctor.
“I can’t do that, not until we can get you fully evaluated. We need to find out whether this is stemming from your Evol or something deeper…” His body shifted, gaze averting to the floor, unable to look Zayne in the eye.
“…And the only safe way to do it was to put you on an Evol Suppressor.” Dr. Grayson gestured to the solution bag hanging from the wall next to Zayne.
Zayne’s looked over his shoulder, neck craned back trying to see what Dr. Grayson seemed so concerned about. The bag was hanging from a metal post, the contents inside flowed down the line where it looped around the bed post, ultimately finding its way to the needle inserted in the back of his hand.
“Each time we tried to run any type of test or diagnostic, our tools were frozen solid. It was the only safe way for us to try and get you some help. Please understand, this was in your best interest.”
Zayne’s jaw clenched and unclenched, the vein in his neck visibly pulsating as memories of how Astra used magic to keep him from using his Evol back in the castle came crashing over him. Would the consequences be the same here if he tried?
Zayne couldn’t just sit there, waiting for these people to finish poking and prodding him. He knew they’d never find any answers, which meant a greater likelihood of being kept like this…a prisoner once again.
“No, this can’t be happening. Not again. I won’t allow it.” Zayne clenched his fists, whatever the consequences were, he was ready to face them. Getting free and getting to her was the single thought running through his head.
Zayne tried to channel his Evol, focusing on just the restraints. But rather than a burst of magic to keep him under control as he’d prepared to face, he felt a slight humming throughout his entire nervous system. But there were no signs of his Evol emanating from his hands, no build up of power that he’d grown accustomed to…nothing at all.
“What is this? What have you done to me?!” Zayne lunged forward, thrashing against the restraints. Was he truly powerless?
“This isn’t permanent Dr. Zayne, the Evol suppressant, as you know, just acts as a dampener, a barrier so to speak between the user and their ability. Once we finish running tests and get to the bottom of what’s going on, we can get you tapered off it and you’ll be back to your old self.” Dr. Grayson seemed hopeful as he pulled up a chair and sat next to Zayne.
“Please, just let me go. I need to make everything right.” Zayne’s head crashed against the pillow, body twisting and contorting on the bed, desperately trying to free himself from the restraints. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes; he had gone through so much recently that he couldn’t even pinpoint the emotion that brought these on: fear, anger, sadness, terror, pain, confusion, hate…love?
“Dr. Zayne, please calm down, you’re going to hurt yourself.” Dr. Grayson stepped forward, wanting to console his friend.
“I just need to see her again, please I’m begging you. I can’t explain it, but things will all go back to the way they were.” His body, wracked with fatigue, muscles trembling and spasming as he continued to struggle. His hair and the hospital gown were clinging to him. His head rolled to the side. Those eyes…bloodshot, war-torn eyes, looking directly into Dr. Grayson’s.
He took a deep breath, pressing his face into his palms and rubbed his eyes before speaking again.
“Okay…I can take you to see her.” He spoke softly, as though he didn’t want anyone else to hear. Zayne’s eyes lit up, the faintest trace of hope was now within reach.
“She’s recovering from surgery. It was touch and go for a while. But I think she should be stable enough for you to see her.” He quickly steps out of the room. Leaving Zayne in what feels like a void of deafening silence.
Dr. Grayson returns shortly after, pushing a wheelchair into the room, bringing it next to Zayne’s bedside.
“But, you have to promise me that you will say nothing, if anyone finds out it was me, it’ll be both our jobs.”
Zayne nods in agreement as Dr. Grayson disconnects the line pushing the Evol Suppressant, and begins loosening the bedside restraints one by one.
The marks on his wrists and ankles were a bright shade of red against his fair skin and were warm to the touch. Zayne gingerly rubbed his wrists, his skin felt like it was on fire. Normally his ice Evol would do the trick to soothe it, but until he was back to normal, he would have to endure the discomfort a little while longer.
“Here, let me help you.” Dr Grayson gently swung Dr Zayne’s legs over the edge of the bed. Then sat next to him on the bed, grabbing his waist and pulling him close with one arm and draping Zayne’s other arm over his shoulder.
The young doctor was surprisingly strong for his small stature; he lifted Zayne with ease and near surgical precision off the bed before turning to get him into the wheelchair. Zayne slightly winced, taking in a sharp breath as the kind doctor got him settled. He brought a blanket and slippers to Zayne, who only returned a questioning look.
“No thanks, I’m not cold. I’m fine.” Zayne said, but Dr. Grayson was persistent.
“It’s to hide the marks from the restraints, Dr. Zayne. I can’t move you looking like that. Oh, here and put this on.” He said as he handed Zayne a blue surgical mask.
Again, Zayne looked confused.
“To hide your face. If we are going to get you upstairs, we can’t raise any suspicions. And since you’re supposed to be under observation…” His voice trailed off as he held the mask out to Zayne.
Zayne sighed, he knew he had no choice in the matter. He had to put his trust in this man if he wanted to save her from Astra.
“Fine. I’ll do it. But we need to hurry. She’s running out of time.”
Endure
Chapter 12
“What do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Zayne’s eyes snapped open. The ground beneath him was cold and unforgiving. The last thing he remembered was watching her being taken away from him, but everything was foggy after that.
The only source of light came from directly above him. Panic washed over him, hitting him like a tidal wave, and he couldn't get his head above water. Was he back in the castle, had Astra finally succeeded?
“No…no…not again…” The idea of being back sent his body reeling. Tears pooling quickly behind his clenched eyes, the air felt like it’d been ripped from his lungs.
His eyes strained to focus on anything that might explain where he was and what happened. But he saw nothing, just a void of darkness that seemed to go on forever.
Zayne had to get up, he couldn’t just lie here, waiting for death to take him. Pressing his hands to the floor, he slowly started to push himself off the ground. By some miracle, he managed to get one foot out in front of him, gripping his knee to brace himself as he prepared to stand. He knew his knee may fail him, but that wouldn’t stop him.
Gingerly, he got both feet under him, clenching his jaw as the pain surged through his knee, a twisting sensation, like the muscles would tear off the bone the longer he bared weight on it. His tall, broad frame started to tremble at the sudden shift in momentum.
“Mmmmph….c’mon you can do this, don’t falter now!”
But his words had little effect on the strain his physical body was going through. His knee finally buckled under the weight, throwing him forward until he was down on all fours.
Zayne pressed his forehead against the ground, tears streaming down his hollow cheeks, and in a fit of hopelessness, slammed his fist against the ground.
“You can save her, but she’ll be lost to you if you do.” The voice echoed, surrounding him on all sides.
“Hello…,” his voice waivered, “who’s there. Come out and show yourself.”
“Are you sure this is what you want?” The voice was now crystal clear, and Zayne now recognized exactly who it belonged to.
“Yes, step into the light.” Zayne demanded.
The footsteps echoed as they drew nearer until Zayne finally could put a face to the voice in head. Adorned in all black, his shoes, pants, shirt, a heavy trench coat, and raven colored hair were a stark contrast to his fair skin.
“Hello, old friend.” He extended his open palm to Zayne, but he hesitated to grab it. What if it was another one of Astra’s traps?
“C’mon, you can’t stand on your own, you need my help. You can trust me.” He gripped Zayne’s hand tightly, then with his other hand, he grabbed Zayne’s forearm and pulled him to his feet.
Zayne let out a soft cry, the pain was no longer isolated to just his knee, it was as if everything he’d endured was tearing through him again.
“Hold on, let me get something for you.” He said as he threw Zayne’s arm over his shoulder, then reached around his waist, pulling him close to support Zayne’s weight against his own body.
The man reached into his coat pocket, retrieving a vial, the liquid swirling within a mix a blue and black.
“Here, take this. It’ll help lessen the pain.” Using his thumb to pop the lid off, he carefully brought the bottle to Zayne’s quivering lips.
“Wh..wh…what is…that?” Zayne tried to move away, but his resistance was met with a hand tightly clenching his jaw, forcing his mouth open as the liquid was poured down his throat. He knew he was not in any shape to put up a fight.
“It’s medicine, just drink it and quit struggling.” His tone, a mixture of concern for his friend, and annoyance at having to go to these lengths to help him.
The liquid was cold across his tongue as it went down his throat, causing him to cough as it settled in his chest. But it also filled him with a warmth that he’d long forgotten existed. It spread across every inch of his body; he remembered feeling like this before. In the castle, when he heard her voice call to him in Astra’s prison, she was the warmth that thawed his once frozen heart. Showed him what true love really looks like. What it feels like. To be loved for more than what he could do for her.
“Feeling better? Do you think you can stand?” The man looked to Zayne, his eyes locked on him, waiting for Zayne’s response.
“Yeah, I think I am okay.” Zayne said as he slowly shifted his weight off the man in black.
“So. Do you want to explain what’s going on? And why you look exactly like me?” Zayne couldn’t help but feel a little unsettled. This person in front of him shared his face, but that was about all they had in common, yet he seemed to know Zayne, but Zayne couldn’t place him.
“It’s…complicated. But I am you, just not of this timeline, and the version of Zayne that you’re presently inhabiting…is an alternate version of you from another life…and my past self as well. ” He sighed, fault lines of exhaustion ran deep through his voice. Despite his efforts to hide it, Zayne could sense it.
“It’s why I have been trying to contact you. Astra is not being truthful about his true intentions. It’s why I needed to take you somewhere he can’t find us so we can talk openly about what needs to happen.” The man’s tone shifted, almost pleading with Zayne.
“When he threatened to take her memories from me, what he really meant was take them from you didn’t he?”
The man in black let out a deep sigh, contemplating hard before speaking again.
“She is anchor point across all of our lives, what allows us to be connected to each other, but should any harm come to her…” His voice trailed off.
“You’ve put a rift in the timeline by coming here, one that can only be fixed…by returning to Astra’s keep.” His voice was uncompromising, yet also apologetic. He knew what Zayne had gone through but had to protect her at all costs. Neither choice was one he wanted, but he knew he had to make one…for all their sake.
Zayne’s gaze faltered at the man’s words.
“No…there has to be another way.” Zayne guardedly stepped back, as the man in black approached him, rapidly closing the distance between them.
“When Astra said he’d make you forget her, this is the only way he can do it. If she dies here, she will disappear from your universe…and mine, as though she never existed.” He walked towards Zayne with both hands raised, trying to show him that he meant no harm to him.
Zayne’s thoughts were racing, this man seemed to be genuine, he couldn’t sense any ill will towards him. Zayne always knew she was powerful but was she really so powerful that even Astra feared her? Could such an entity exist? Did he allow her to escape this entire time, just so that he could have her killed by Zayne’s hands?
“If you love her, truly love her, you’ll do this for her. But to do that, you must wake up.” He said, as he lowered his hands, taking a few steps back to create distance again between them.
“What do you mean ‘wake up’?” Zayne’s voice wavered. What he couldn’t see, were the black ice shards forming just behind him.
The man turned his head away as he sent the black ice shards directly towards Zayne, plunging them deep into his back.
Zayne stumbled forward, the man in black catching him just before he fell to the ground.
“I am sorry, please forgive me, old friend.” His voice cracked, pulling Zayne close, tightly cradling his head against his shoulder.
“Don’t be sorry. I’ll save her…by any means necessary…old friend.”
Endure
Chapter 11
“No, no, no, no no, c’mon stay with me!” Zayne held her body tightly to his, cradling her head against his chest.
He had never felt so helpless, in all the centuries he’s lived, with so much power at his fingertips, he was too weak to save her now. Too weak to stand, too weak to carry her to get help, too weak to resonate with her as she did for him.
Sensing her weakening aura, her slow, ragged breathing, and her heartbeat growing dangerously faint. He had to act.
“Somebody, we need help in here! Please!” Zayne shouted, hoping someone would hear his plea.
Two figures rushed through the door, a dark-haired woman and a man wearing a white lab coat with glasses. Their name tags read “Yvonne” and “Dr. Grayson”.
“What happened?” Dr Grayson asked, pulling out his stethoscope and pressing it to her chest, shifting it from side to side. The concern in his eyes was unmistakable.
“Yvonne, go grab a gurney. And page the on call Cardiac Surgeon.” She nodded and promptly left the room.
“It’s all my fault…” Zayne whispered, looking up to the young doctor. Eyes bloodshot. Glassy. Like he hadn’t slept in days. The signs of exhaustion were all over his face.
“Dr. Zayne, I need you to tell me what happened?” His voice louder this time, trying to remain calm but needing to snap his friend out of his current state.
Zayne didn’t even know where to begin or explain to him; how could he when he wasn’t even sure himself.
“I couldn’t save her…it’s my fault.” Zayne replied, each word feeling like one of Astra’s ice shards piercing his heart again.
Yvonne returns through the doorway with a gurney and a team of people at her side.
“Dr. Zayne, we need to take her now; you have to let her go.” Dr. Grayson slowly reached for Zayne’s hand.
“It’s not your fault…she’ll be fine…don’t worry.” A voice called out, yet he seemed to be the only one that heard it.
Those words…he’d heard them before…back in the castle.
His grip tightened over the girl, unsure if the voice belonged to a someone who wanted to help or bring harm upon them.
“Did you hear that?” Zayne asked.
“Dr. Zayne, we can help her, but you need to let go!” Dr. Grayson, his voice was sterner now, his concern for his patient now took priority over Zayne.
But Zayne only tensed up at his words, his eyes no longer holding any signs of light; they were cold, detached and hollow.
“No.” Zayne reached for Dr. Grayson with god-like speed, firmly gripping his throat. The young doctor clawed at Zayne’s hands, frantically trying to pry his grip open.
Yvonne sprang into action, retrieving a syringe from her scrubs and forcing it into Zayne’s neck without hesitation. She depressed the plunger to administer the sedative, then stood back as it rapidly took effect.
Zayne released his hold of Dr. Grayson, a small trickle of blood rushed down the lines of his neck, mixing with sweat and pooling in the hollow pit of his collarbone. Brushing the blood away, he brought his hand to the forefront of his gaze. The bloodstains across his fingers, the sensation of his heart beating behind his eyes. What had he done?!
“If you insist on doing this…She will be forever lost to you.” The voice sounded like it was right next to him now.
Zayne turned to find the voice, but his movement was too fast, and it sent his head spinning, his entire body started to go limp, his surroundings became hazier by the second. The figures standing around him were speaking to him, but their voices were muffled, he couldn’t make sense of what was going on. They reached for the girl, pulled her from his arms with ease, loading her fragile frame onto the gurney and rushing out the door, as he could only sit by and watch.
One figure remained behind. He kneeled in front of Zayne, then depressed two fingers on the underside of his wrist while looking at the clock on the wall.
“Dr. Zayne, we are going to get you some help.” Dr. Grayson’s voice was slightly raspy, but the concern in his tone was genuine.
“I am not sure what’s going on with you or her, but we are going to figure this out. Do you trust me?”
Zayne’s head lulled forward, barely able to focus on the young man in front of him as he sunk further and further into the oblivion. His arm was now hanging over the arm of the chair; the photo frame still tightly clutched in his fingers. The dark spots flooded his vision, consuming the last bit of light until there was nothing left. No longer able to hold on, the frame fell from his grip and hit the ground, landing face up, a single crack in the glass perfectly dividing him from her.
Endure
Chapter 10
“C’mon Zayne, wake up!” She cried out, despite the strain it put on her with own body to use her Evol at this level; Zayne needed her now, which meant she couldn’t give up. The glow of her Evol enveloping Zayne as she continued to resonate.
Zayne never talks about his nightmares with her; he casually shrugs them off whenever she’d ask about them.
“It’s nothing, I promise,” was his go to phrase, blaming it on lack of sleep or stress at work.
But this one was different, every time she’s caught him in an episode of fitful sleep, he wakes up to her touch. But seeing the ice forming around him means it must be stemming from his Evol, something he can’t escape from on his own.
She could feel his muscles tensing, his hands gripping hers with such force that she feared he’d break her fingers.
Using her free hand, she gently brushed hair that clung to his forehead; how could he be freezing and warm to the touch at the same time?
“Zayne, I am right here, we can get through this together. You just need to let go and trust me, okay. Can you do that for me? I promise, it’s you and me against the world. We will always be together, in every life, this one and the next.” Her voice, tender and soft, hoping to calm the storm brewing behind those eyes.
As she spoke these words, she could see something forming in the corners of his eyes. Tears? Did he hear her?
“Zayne, can you hear me?”
She gently wrapped her fingers around the base of his skull, cupping his head in her hands with her thumbs rubbing against his temples.
“Come back to me Zayne, please.” She whispered as she leaned in, close enough to feel the ice on his breath on her skin. She lifts his face to hers and tenderly places a kiss across his quivering lips.
It was like watching the sun come out and melt away the snowfall. She watched in awe as his entire body relaxed, his chest now rising and falling in a normal pattern, the ice that was consuming him began to recede, and his eyelids slowly fluttered open. The beautiful green and amber hues of his eyes gradually came into view as tears started to well up in the corners of her own eyes. Never did she imagine herself crying over being able to just look into his eyes once more.
“Hey, you. You had me worried there for a minute. How are you feeling?”
Zayne’s vision, while initially blurred and hazy, gradually started to come into focus. He could make out a figure before him, the words spoken where muffled and echoed softly. It was as though he was walking through a dense snowstorm and this figure was the light guiding him to safety. He rapidly blinked to try to get a clearer picture of the figure in front of him before, his gaze shifting in all directions as he tried to ground himself. The last thing he remembered was seeing Astra, his words “… choices always have consequences. Just know, this chain of events started with you” still fresh at the forefront of his mind.
“What do you mean by that?” He uttered softly.
“What did who mean, Zayne? Hey. Hey. Zayne, look at me. Do you want me to go get Dr. Grayson?”
His eyes widened, his ears burning, that voice. Her voice.
She hooked her finger under his chin, lifting his head to meet her gaze, while placing her other hand across his forehead.
“You don’t feel like you have a fever.” She spoke, her hushed tone, soft as her hands against his skin.
“How?” He looked to her, eyebrows slightly furrowed, his eyes tinged with confusion.
“Stay right here, I want to have Dr. Grayson come check on you.” She hastily turned but before she made it past the desk, she felt a tight grip around her wrist.
“Please…don’t leave me…not again.” He could barely manage to get the words out, the tightness building in his chest, breath catching in his throat.
Zayne moved to stand, his once tall, broad frame, had never looked more fragile. But the sudden movement combined with the jolt of pain stemming from his knee, he was longer able to support himself and sharply pitched forward. Barely catching himself with one hand on the desk, while the other held tight to her wrist. He never wanted to let go, she was his anchor, something to keep him grounded to whatever this reality was.
She turned back to him, just able to get her arms under his to keep him upright. She could feel his breathing becoming erratic again as he winced in pain.
“I won’t go anywhere, but you’re still recovering. I swear doctors are the worst patients.” She chuckled nervously, trying to support him and reach for his cane, hoping they both didn’t end up on the ground.
Finally, after failing to reach it multiple times, she was able to grasp it and help him get a firm grip on its handle; his hand still enveloping hers.
She looked up to him, his expression relaxed slightly but she could see in his eyes that something was still off.
“Are you ready to talk about what’s been going on?” She asked before easing him back into his chair.
“And I am not buying any of this, ‘it’s work or stress’ nonsense this time.” Her tone was firm, but he knew he couldn’t lie to her anymore.
Zayne paused, he wanted to tell her everything, she deserved to know the truth.
Before the words escaped his lips, he noticed her expression had changed. There was a tremble in her hand, he could feel it, her pulse racing under his grip. She was in pain and was desperately fighting to hide it from him.
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
“It’s nothing. I’m –”
“Fine?” His gaze stern at first, but gradually softened, the corners of his lips ever so slightly forming a smile.
“I thought that was my line.” He smirked, releasing his grip on her wrist, his fingers brushed past her cheek, until they came to rest around the nape of her neck.
“It’s really nothing, I promise; you wouldn’t wake up, I think I just over did it using my Evol to try and bring you out of it.”
Zayne froze, his body seemingly in a state of suspended animation. A cold gust of air rushed through his lungs. The light that was once so prominent in his eyes, was rapidly replaced with a single emotion. Terror.
“It’s your heart…isn’t it?” His voice, shuddering at the thought; was this what Astra meant?
No sooner had he spoken, did she reach for her chest, clutching his hand in hers, desperately trying to find a release for the pain.
“Zayne….it hurts…it’s too much.” Her body went rigid, shivering uncontrollably until she fell into his arms. Her terrified cries to make it stop.
Zayne didn’t want to believe it but it had to be true; the curse she escaped from in his world, was still plaguing her in this one.
Endure
Chapter 9
Zayne groggily opened his eyes, groaning as he tried to shift his position. He moved to reach his hand to wipe the sleep from his eyes as everything around him was unfocused and hazy.
A searing pain swiftly took hold of his body as soon as he pulled his hand back. It spread like wildfire, yet there was a familiar chill coursing through him. He felt this before, it was the same pain he felt when Astra had him strung up from the ceiling just before his chest was pierced by ice.
Zayne’s gaze shifted down to his hands, a mess of entangled brambles encased in black ice coiled around his arms, legs, and torso, keeping him bound to the icy throne he found himself seated upon.
Looking closely between the thicket of barbs and ice, he could see that one of the brambles was deeply embedded in the back of his hand. The pain increased with each passing second; he needed to remove it before the agony engulfed him and he passed out again.
Slowly, he pulled his hand forward, eyeing the other barbs to ensure he didn’t get caught by another, until he had almost eased it all the way out. Scarlet red poured from the open wound, following the lines of his hands until it cascaded to the floor below.
“Almost there, just a little more.” He growled through clenched his teeth.
With one final sharp pull, he was free, and the pain ceased immediately.
The barb was smaller than he expected, probably three inches in length at most.
“All that from just a tiny little thing,” he chuckled nervously.
“It’s a funny thing, isn’t it?” A voice calls out, low, but laced with something volatile.
Zayne’s entire body freezes, breath catching in his throat. This voice wasn’t loud, but it burned. Sharp. Rigid. The kind that’s been simmering for too long.
“Sometimes, the smallest of thorns…can bring about the most intense suffering.”
The moment the words left his lips, he felt a surge of energy take hold of his arm with such force that he feared it’d break, and drive it backward, lodging the barb deeper.
The scream that tore through his body was unlike anything he’d ever heard before, it was feral and physical, every muscle fiber was a part of it. It echoed throughout the hall, almost as though it was tormenting him, a reminder that he was once again powerless.
Even more unsettling, he could feel the brambles also begin to move. Inching closer towards his throat, squeezing tighter around his limbs and sinking into his flesh. Each one sending a tidal wave of suffering crashing over him.
“How…how is this p….pp..possible? I was j..jus…just in that other room, how did I end up back here?”
His physical body was wracked by an unyielding pain, and his mental body was swept with terror, knowing he was right back where he started.
“Was it all you hoped it’d be?” hissed the voice from the shadows.
“Astra…” He says breathlessly, voice cracking under the weight of that one word.
“I see you’ve made yourself comfortable.” He said mockingly as he stepped into the light, leisurely making his way towards the stairs below the throne.
“Do be careful though,” he whispered as he continued to close the distance between himself and his captive.
“They don’t like to be tested.” The shift in his tone as he leaned in was undeniable, Zayne could see it in his eyes. Dark. Fury no longer restrained within them; this was someone who was no longer interested in being patient.
“What…do you want from me, Astra?” Zayne barely manages to choke out. His eyes lift, red-rimmed and desperate.
“I want us to finish what we started. You see, your mind has become rigid, Foreseer. Fractured, in a sense.”
Astra extends his open palm towards Zayne. He looks up at Astra, unsure, like any sudden movement may trigger him.
“Remember this?” His voice, cold and sharp like that of the brambles, keeping him confined.
Slowly, he watched as something began to materialize in front of him, a white iridescent light dancing within Astra’s palm. He could see himself within it; watched as he sat at a desk, holding a picture frame. This was the memory he had just woken from!
But something was different, he watched as she walked through the door with a box in hand. She strolled over to where he sat, wearing what looked like a work uniform, hair pulled to the side and carefully sat on his lap before opening it, revealing an assortment of macaroons. His face lit up as she picked one out, gently bringing it to his lips, she always had a knack for picking the ones he’d like.
He saw her start to giggle uncontrollably as the filling had created a little “macaroon mustache” before tenderly wiping the crumbs and jelly from his mouth. He reached for her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before digging deeper, running his fingers through her locks until he had a firm grip before moving towards her, crashing his lips into hers.
“I had hoped you’d stay awake longer to watch the girl come visit you in that little dream of yours, just so that I could relish in tearing her from you. Your judgement is clouded by memories of this girl, what is it about her that makes her so special?”
“People deserve to choose their own fates.” Zayne’s voice is more fragile now, barely above a whisper.
“Yes, my sweet child. And choices always have consequences. Just know, this chain of events started with you.”
Endure
Chapter 8
Zayne shielded his eyes as he made his way beyond the door, nearly blinded by the intensity of the light coming from the next room. As he moved his hand away, he was at a loss for words at the scene unfolding in front of him.
No longer was he surrounded by pillars of ice, but by shelves upon shelves of books, mainly medical textbooks and journals.
He carefully steps forward, soon realizing that he was no longer supporting his weight against the Protocore staff, but what appeared to be a cane.
He caught a glimpse of himself in the window as he passed by, his wounds were all but healed, the immense, devastating pain he once felt throughout his entire body, was nothing more than a dull ache in his knee.
With his free hand, he reached down to unbutton his shirt, desperate to find some sort of proof that what he endured wasn’t just a horrible nightmare. But all he felt was smooth, flawless skin, not a scar to be found on his chest.
“Was it really just a dream?” He pondered, bringing his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose, brow furrowed as he tried to make some sense of what was going on. Slowly opening his eyes, he stared out the window, watching the trees below sway in the wind, and the clouds above swiftly moving across the clear blue sky.
Zayne turned around on his heels, now focused on the desk in the center of the room, on it, a placard reading “Dr. Zayne”, a notebook filled with what appeared to be medical notations for patients and procedures that he doesn’t understand, yet the handwriting is undeniably his, and a single photo frame facing away from him.
He gingerly sat in the chair behind the desk, letting the cane rest against it. Zayne reached towards the frame on the desk, carefully gripping it and examining the text written on the back:
“Zayne
Here’s to us, and the many new adventures that await, forever and always.
Sincerely, Your Favorite Patient”
“Why does this feel so…familiar?” He thought. Slowly, he turned the frame around. Only then did he realize why he felt an immediate connection to the text. The couple in the photo was him and the girl from the castle who risked her life for him. They looked happy, so in love; she was holding what appeared to be a small seal made of snow, and he had his arm wrapped around her shoulder, pinching her cheek.
“I don’t remember this. How could this be? Was I dreaming then, or am I dreaming now?” He leaned back against the chair, clenching tightly to the photo in one hand, while the other came to rest over his eyes. He struggled to make sense of his current situation, and it sent his mind racing, this felt so real but what he experienced in the castle felt just as real.
He was so focused on trying to piece together what was happening, that he lost track of the physical exhaustion slowly taking hold of his body, creeping up further and further like a snake coiling around its prey. Before he knew it, he was lost to the world, fast asleep.
Moments later, there was a knock at the office door.
“Zayne, I brought your favorite macaroons!”
She was met only with silence, no hurried footsteps as she was accustomed to hearing whenever there was mention of sweets.
“That’s odd, Yvonne said he was up here.”
Sensing something was wrong, she pushed the door open. The sight of him slumped over in the chair may look like he was just napping to anyone else, but she knew him better than that. She knew something was wrong. She quickly made her way over to him, cupping his cheek in her hand.
“Hey, Zayne, are you okay?”
He didn’t respond, his eyes were firmly shut, drops of sweat were forming across his forehead and his breathing was erratic; she knew all too well that he must be in the throws of yet another nightmare. He was gripping the photo of them so tightly that his knuckles were turning white and watched as it slowly became encased in ice that then started to move up his arm. She knew he’d lose control again any minute if she didn’t wake him. Setting the macaroons on the edge of the desk, she positioned herself in front of him, gripping his hand in hers, and placing her other hand across his chest. Her only hope of waking him was to resonate with him.
Endure
Chapter 7
The edges of his vision slowly began to piece back together, he could see Astra’s lifeless form lying before him; and his only means of escape, the Creatio Protocore staff, was just out of reach. It was now or never.
“C’mon, focus, now’s your only chance!” He grunted as he summoned what strength he had left to get on his feet.
First things first, he needed to break his binds, then grab the Creatio Protocore staff. He had to take it slowly, but his mind was racing all the same; get up too quickly and he’d pass out but take too long and he’d risk Astra coming to. The outcome the same for both, forced to remain as Astra’s prisoner for all time, wishing for an end that would never come.
His mind raced, picturing what happened last time he tried to free himself; Astra’s magic nearly killed him. In his current state, if he failed now, he wouldn’t survive. But all he could think about was getting back to her, and that made it worth the risk.
First, he tested the binds with a low-level use of his Evol, forming a small ice shard from the tip of his finger, and sending it into the wall behind him. He needed to be certain that their magic ceased while Astra was unconscious. There was nothing.
Confident that the magic had been nullified, Zayne closed his eyes and clasped his hands together, focusing all his energy into freezing the restraints.
But he was soon faced with another problem; with each pulse of his Evol, the blood from his wounds began flowing rapidly. Crimson red raced down his fingers from where the binds had cut into his wrists, and from his eyebrows, tracing along both sides of his jaw until they met at his chin and fell to the white floor below.
Zayne could only focus on breaking the restraints, if he stopped and attempted to seal the wounds, he may not have the strength left to get loose.
He had to block out his pain, his fears, his worry; instead, he pictured her and what she did despite her fears. If she had the strength to face Astra, knowing full well what he was capable of, he could too. Her strength was just what he needed at that moment and with one final push, the chains shattered like glass, scattering across the room like snowflakes.
“Finally, it’s over.” He sighed, as the weight of his body nearly sent him toppling over. He barely managed to get one hand out in front of him as he fell to his knees.
He wiped the blood from his brow and reached for the Creatio Protocore staff, getting to it meant getting out and he was determined, now that he was so close.
Once his hands were firmly gripped around it, he used what strength he had to pull himself back to his feet, leaning against the staff as a brace, slowly making his way towards the door.
Every step sent a new wave of pain crashing over his body; he could feel his limbs starting to tremble uncontrollably. It had to be from blood loss. Was it a mistake to wait to heal himself? His grip on the staff became unsteady as he approached the door, the spirals of red were a stark contrast to the brilliant white of the staff.
With one hand on the staff, he waved the other in front of him, making intricate patterns with his fingers, anxiously hoping that the handle would appear. After what felt like hours, the handle materialized; next to her, this was the most beautiful thing he'd seen.
He reached towards it but instinctively pulled his hand back; what if this was a trap, what if it didn’t work?
“You’ll be okay, I promise Zayne, don’t give up on yourself now. You are so close, just a little more okay,” her voice called out to him, snapping him out of his defeated state.
With newfound strength he reached for the handle, breath hitching as he steadied himself. Slowly, he depressed the handle, the sound of the locking mechanism clicking echoed within the small room, and the door cracked open. The corners of his lips curling in a slight smile as he was finally able to let out a sigh of relief.
“Yes, we will be together again soon.” He whispered, as the tears he fought so hard to hold in, were allowed to flow freely.
Endure
Chapter 6
Astra stood from his position and slowly made his way out of Zayne’s line of sight. The room fell deafeningly silent; Zayne wondered, no he prayed that Astra may have left him there with his thoughts for just a few moments more.
Those hopes were shattered as Zayne felt Astra’s hands firmly grasp both sides of his head.
Immediately, he was plagued by a high-pitched tone that resonated through his entire body. He wanted to scream, but he refused to give Astra the satisfaction of seeing him break. He stifled it for as long as he could, biting down on his lip until he could taste the blood. But it was becoming too much, each passing second felt like hours; the tone was so strong that the shards of ice still piercing his chest began to tremble, inching ever closer to his heart.
Zayne knew all too well what was next, he had seen Astra pull memories from those that dared to enter his castle and attempt to take what was his. He used those memories to power the Creatio Protocore, leaving the shell of the human form to serve as a reminder to those who may try to cross him, so they could see that there are such things worse than death.
“The more you resist, the more painful this will be, so I suggest you quit struggling, Foreseer.” Astra spoke, his tone sounding as though he cared for Zayne’s wellbeing.
Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes, he wanted nothing more than to hold them in, for if he allowed them to fall, he feared they would never stop. Astra, now knowing his servant’s guard was down, feeling the mental barrier blocking him break, seized his opportunity.
Astra pressed the tips of his fingers forcefully against Zayne’s temples until they were buried deep within, viciously searching the confines of the Foreseer’s memories for any trace of the girl.
Zayne couldn’t hold back any longer; he screamed until there was no more air left in his lungs, his throat was on fire like that of a thousand suns and could feel the blood coating in the back of it.
His vision flashed black and white, he couldn’t tell if he was going to lose consciousness or if he’d finally succumb to his injuries. He desperately fought to get away, using every ounce of strength he had to get out from under Astra’s grasp. But with his hands bound and knees forced to the ground, he had nowhere to go.
Astra slowly pulled his hands back from Zayne’s temples, and with them came an iridescent, flowing white essence that coiled around his fingers. Images of the Foreseer with a young woman danced between his fingertips.
“Please…don’t do this…I’m begging you. Have you no mercy, have you never known true love?” He shuddered under his hands, his breath shaking with every attempt to speak.
Astra casually sauntered around his servant’s now fragile form, kneeling whilst twirling the memories between each finger, allowing Zayne to once more be able to see her.
“I did have love for someone once. I loved him like a son and gave him the power to see all. And do you know what he did with it?” Astra cupped Zayne’s chin, eyes stained with anger, fear and desperation.
Astra leaned in, now firmly cradling Zayne’s head against his shoulder, like a parent would in attempt to console a crying child.
“He crushed it.” Astra whispered, his tone dripping with malice as he began squeezing the memory between his clenched fist.
Zayne knew Astra was hell bent on breaking him down, physically, mentally and emotionally. Without hesitation, he did the only thing he could think of at that moment. He pulled his head back and swung it forward with everything he had.
The sickening crack of his skull as it contacted Astra’s was thunderous, the impact breaking open his newly healed wounds, scarlet blood now flowed freely from his eyebrows. Between the blood in his eyes and the concussion he likely suffered, he couldn’t see straight, he could only hope that it was enough to knock Astra out and allow him to escape.
Endure
Chapter 5
The flashes of her appeared to Zayne again, they were distant and unfocused but came at him with such intensity. He barely had time to try to focus on what he was looking at before another came crashing at him. Zayne couldn’t see anything else around him. He tried to close his eyes, to shut out the barrage of what he was seeing. The moment he did, an unfamiliar voice called out to him.
“It’s not your fault…she’s fine…don’t worry.” The voice seemed gentle, almost concerned for him. For a brief moment, Zayne felt comforted by its presence. But that quickly subsided when it spoke to him again.
“If you insist on doing this, you will never find her. She will be forever lost to you.”
“Hello…is someone there? Can anyone hear me? Please...” He groaned softly.
The cold, unforgiving ground pressed against his temple. His hands were now bound behind his back by the same shackles that once suspended him in the air. Zayne tried to lift his head and shake off the fog but was met with the resounding pain in his chest from the ice shards.
His entire body was trembling, the direct contact with the frigid ground certainly wasn’t helping and his torn robes did little to protect him. He knew he had to get up, but between the crushing pain consuming him, and the tremors taking what strength he had left, he just wanted to close his eyes and rest for a bit.
As soon as he laid his head down, a familiar voice called out to him.
“Get up Zayne, you have to get up or you’ll never come out of this. You have to get up!”
His eyes shot open, frantically darting around the room, desperately trying to locate the voice. He summoned all the strength he could to lift himself off the ground, wincing and clenching his teeth with every movement until he was on his knees.
Now that he was upright, he took a moment to collect himself; he had to clear his head in order to best evaluate not only his injuries but his surroundings. His robes were barely holding together, numerous bruises in various stages of onset and lacerations that were just beginning to scab over covered nearly every inch of his body.
The room was in was much smaller than the one previous; the chains were now secured to the wall behind him but he noted several others looming above him still. It was void of any natural light, the only source appeared to be coming from directly above him but it nearly blinded him as he looked up at it.
Across the room was what appeared to be a door but as the spots in his eyes began to fade, he could see there was no handle. No way out. The resounding fear of defeat was becoming more and more of a reality. Zayne sat back on his heels, his head feeling heavy on his shoulders; the light in his eyes growing dimmer with each shallow breath he took.
“Tch, tch, tch. Now is not the time to rest Foreseer, we have some work ahead of us.” Astra’s voice filled the room.
Fear and panic took hold of Zayne like a vice grip - with each approaching footstep, his ability to control his breathing diminished. His heart was pounding, all he could think was that at any moment, it’d be pierced by the shards and he would die slowly in this dark room, alone.
“Calm down, slow breaths,” he thought to himself. He had to get himself under control if he wanted to survive this. The footsteps stopped, Zayne knew Astra was watching him, looming over him like a lion over a fresh kill. Weakly, Zayne lifted his head, staring daggers at Astra who did nothing more than smirk.
“What do you want, Astra? Has this not gone on long enough?” Zayne coughed. Astra knelt on one knee until he was level with Zayne.
“It’s simple really,” Astra hissed as he leaned in closer. “For your retribution, you’ll be sentenced to an eternity of reliving multiple lives with no hope of saving the girl. You will watch her die, over, and over, and over again.”
The hatred in Zayne’s eyes quickly dissipated, the furrow of his brow softened and forced himself to turn away.
“Look at me when I am talking to you Foreseer,” His fingers tilting Zayne’s chin upward, forcing him to meet his gaze. “Tell me, Foreseer, do you really think that you have any hope of escape?”
He could feel the weight of Astra’s power, his knees were pinned to the ground.
Zayne didn’t flinch, his neck littered with the ever-climbing scars of his Evol, of his futile attempts at resistance. This was proof of the lengths Astra was willing to go to keep him bound to the castle. Zayne knows this better than any; he’s seen it and experienced it many times over.
The crushing helplessness of his situation was becoming a more ever-present reality. Struggling was futile, he could only hope that he had the fortitude to withstand Astra’s intentions, to hold onto whatever memory he could of the woman who held his heart, the one that brought the Jasmine to bloom.
Endure
Chapter 4
“No!” Zayne screamed, his eyes shot open, the lights reflecting off the ice formations were a stark contrast to the void of darkness he had previously found himself in, making it nearly impossible to focus on his surroundings.
“That must have been some nightmare,” a voice echoed throughout the room, but Zayne could not pinpoint where it was coming from.
As he started to come around, he immediately felt the burning pain in his arms, shoulders and back. Looking up he could see the already raw and cracked skin forming around his wrists from the shackles. Zayne tried to use his Evol to freeze them, hoping they’d break. Instead, he felt a surge of energy flow through his entire body like electricity. His body spasmed, forcing his back to arch in as his nails pierced the soft flesh of his palms. Zayne didn’t know how much more of this he could take, he knew he’d black out again any minute if he didn’t figure something out soon.
“Stop, please! I can’t go back there again! Just please…make it stop!” He cried out through gritted teeth. His chest heaved, each breath feeling heavy in his lungs. Through the haze developing in his vision, he could see a clouted figure standing in front of him. He lifted his hand, placed it upon Zayne’s chest, and ceased his attack.
“I wouldn’t try that again if I were you, Foreseer. Next time it will not be pleasant.” Astra’s voice boomed throughout the prison; Zayne shuddered at the thought if that was Astra’s idea of pleasant.
Knowing he needed to stabilize his heart rate, Zayne tried to take a deep breath. His lungs started to spasm, sending him into a coughing fit, it was like he was going the entire onslaught again as every inch of his body now felt like it was on fire. His vision started to go white, eyes fluttering while trying to look around the room, hoping for some clue as to where he was but was at a loss.
“Where am I?” Zayne asked, “I’ve walked every inch of this castle and never once seen this place before.”
Astra chuckled, “It was developed for you Foreseer, designed to imprison you should you ever have the gall to cross me.”
Zayne could feel Astra standing behind him, he turned his head in attempt to get away knowing all the while knowing it was hopeless while he was hanging in the air. Astra, enraged by the willful disrespect, grabbed Zayne by the hair and wrenched his head back.
“No one knows it exists but me,” Astra leaned in, Zayne could feel his breath on his skin, “Meaning no one will ever find you - no matter how loud you scream. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll forget ever having met that girl,” he growled, “even if I have to rip her from your memory myself.”
Astra released his hold of Zayne, tossing his head forward harshly. Zayne didn’t t move, didn’t want to even breathe while Astra was still in the room for fear of what fate had in store for him.
Astra placed a hand in the middle of Zayne’s back; Zayne couldn’t help but let out a soft cry, lips quivering at his touch. He shivered as a cold snap took hold of his body, crystallized formations slowly spread across his skin. Zayne’s eyes widened with panic as he felt it becoming harder to breathe.
He gathered all the strength he had left, calmed his breathing and swung to face Astra. “Will this this be my eternal punishment? To be left as a frozen reminder of your power in this prison? For what, choosing love over servitude to you? Do your worst Astra, I will never choose you!”
Zayne’s eyes were filled with a rage Astra had never seen before, as the harshness of his tone rattled though out the prison.
Astra chuckled under his breath, and with lightning fast speed, grabbed Zayne by the throat.
“You insulant fool! You will never see her again and with a little time and coercing, you won’t ever remember she ever existed. You will ONLY remember your duty to me and bend to my every whim!” Zayne’s feet thrashed as he tried helplessly to get away.
Astra’s eye’s glowed white with fury, Zayne could feel a burning sensation on his skin as ice flowed out from under Astra’s hand around his throat, and something sharp in his chest, a pressure that felt like it was emanating from deep inside. Before he had time to question it, an explosion of pain erupted from his chest. Zayne couldn’t even manage a scream while Astra had a grip on his throat.
He looked down in horror as he observed several long shards of ice protruding from his torso. Astra could feel the fight in Zayne slowly dwindling. He released his hold of Zayne, using the same hand to wipe his robe of the mixture of blood and snow drops before firmly grabbing Zayne by the chin.
“Wh…wh…what is…th…this,” he stammered through chattering teeth, unsure if it was from the cold or the shock.
“This is just the beginning Foreseer. Let this serve as a reminder of what happens when you choose your heart over your duties. Try to get some rest, you’re going to need if for tomorrow.”
Zayne could barely keep his eyes open, everything he recently went through was finally weighing on him. Weakly, he watched in the reflections of the ice as Astra walked towards what appeared to be a staircase. With every breath, he winced, between the pain and exhaustion, it was only a matter of seconds before he lost consciousness again.
“Stay awake, c’mon just a little longer, I have to see how he leaves, it may be my only chance.” He thought, he could sense the swiftly approaching darkness, he was running out of time. Astra’s form was still visible in the reflections, his eyes were heavy, and Astra had not moved from his position.
“What is he waiting for?” Zayne was starting to lose his battle with the conscious world around him, his eyes fluttered, he let them rest for just a second, but when he opened his eyes again, Astra was gone. This must be what Astra meant when he said no one would find him, a room with no door, and no means of escape. Zayne sighed, he didn’t have any more fight in him to try to work out his next move and allowed the edges of darkness to fully immerse him.
Endure
Chapter 3
Deep within the depths of the castle, Astra carried Zayne over his shoulder down a narrow corridor that was seemingly unending. He stopped, checked that Zayne was still unconscious, and waved the scepter. A swirling vortex of light and snow appeared to him and formed a door - one known only to him. He proceeded through the white archway - which rapidly dissipated as soon as he walked beyond it, walked down the wraparound staircase, and laid Zayne in the middle of the room.
With a snap of his fingers, a pair of shackles fell from the ceiling - he clasped them around Zayne’s wrists, imbued them with magic and then stood back as Zayne was slowly lifted off the ground. Now he’d wait.
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Flashes of her appeared to him, they were rapid, unfocused images and he lost her almost as quickly as he saw her; unable to picture her but knowing she was just within reach - he knew that he had to save her. He could hear her crying but couldn’t find her, he only saw darkness and felt the frigid air surrounding him. Zayne started to panic, he had to find her - it was his one purpose - to save her. After stumbling around he finally came upon a silhouette in the distance, Could it be her?
He sprinted as fast as he could towards her, shouting out to try and get her to turn and look at him - but she never did. As Zayne finally reached her, completely out of breath, “You’re going to be okay, I’m here,” laying a hand on her shoulder. As soon as his fingers brushed up against her, he saw a glowing blue light rapidly spread across her body, ice began to take hold of her.
Zayne cried out, “No! Not again, please stop, get a hold of yourself. Control it, take control of it,” he clutched his arm which was now encased in ice and continued up his shoulder - snowflake like crystals began to form across his neck.
He was helpless to watch as the ice consumed them both. Just as he thought this was the end for both of them, he heard her whisper to him, “It’s going to okay, I’ll always be with you.” Zayne’s eyes widened as he saw what happened next - her heart began emanating a bright blue light, black crystals beginning to take shape across her body. Everything was still and quiet, he held his breath, through tear-streaked eyes only able to think of one thing to say in this moment.
“I’m sorry. I failed you,” she looked to him once more as if to say thank you before her body began to contort and twist, slowly taking on the shape of a Wanderer, as everything around them began to shake. Zayne clenched his eyes shut, he could feel the ground beneath him start to give way; he knew what he had to do, and he had to do it fast if she was going to be at peace. He raised an arm towards her, an ice shard forming at his fingertips, directly aimed at her heart in order to minimize her pain.
Just as he was preparing to release it, the ground beneath him was gone, sending him plummeting as he watched her become the beast he tried so hard to protect her from.