Asural, Desmond, 10416 P.C.

Stephanie wasn't sure how to react to Annabella's plan. On one hand, the idea of getting out of this place and trekking across Desmond again was a welcome thought. Over the past several weeks Stephanie had been feeling trapped, finding herself wishing to leave and experience the thrill of being above ground again.

On the other hand was, well, Todd.

"You guys can't leave me," he argued for the hundredth time. "What if something happens to you?"

"Stop worrying," Annabella snapped, her patience clearly wearing thin. The soft, wonder-stricken girl Stephanie had watched dance with Todd earlier was gone, replaced again by a cold brick wall. They were in the library, standing around a map of Desmond like they had been for the past hour discussing their plans. "The plan is fool-proof. Stephanie and I will head north and look around for this prison." Annabella jammed her finger at the Misty Lake on the map. "It's somewhere around here in the Rocky Forest. Once we locate it — if we locate it — we'll make contact with the king and queen, figure out what they know, and then head back. It shouldn't take more than two weeks. And no," she added, cutting Todd off, "we can't wait."

"Then take me with you," he demanded.

"You need more training. One month's worth is laughable. You're still very much a beginner."

Stephanie couldn't disagree. Although the past month had improved on Todd's confidence and skills, it was nowhere near enough. He was still learning how to properly wield a sword. "She's right. You'd be more of a liability than an asset, Todd." She said it gently, hoping it wouldn't wound him.

He wasn't hurt. He was mad. "This is my duty! I'm supposed to be helping! I'm supposed to be finding the son and I can't do that here!"

"You can't do it as you are, either," Annabella retorted. "You're not ready. You will stay here and train. Stephanie and I will be back before you know it."

Todd turned on her. "You know, your attitude is really starting to tick me off."

"My attitude?"

Stephanie sensed a true argument in the making. "Guys."

"Your uppity attitude," Todd snapped, ignoring Stephanie entirely. "You're always acting like our boss or something and like you're better than us."

Annabella folded the map with sharp abruptness. "I take charge when there is no other capable leader. Does that bother you, Deliverer?"

"I'm just saying—"

"I don't care what you're just saying, Todd. You're staying here and that's final. Goodnight to you both." Annabella marched out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Todd dropped down into his chair, raking his fingers through his hair. "Gosh!"

"Yeah." Stephanie sat down as well. "I'm sorry. She—"

"Isn't the nicest person, I know. I'm aware of that."

"She probably didn't mean to be so harsh," Stephanie finished.

Todd looked over at her with a dull gaze. "She doesn't like me, Stephanie. She never did. She's treated me like a drag all along."

"She cares about you. Didn't you see the way she watched you while you were dancing with Colette? Or when you danced with her?" Stephanie had definitely noticed.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Yeah, and she walked away while we were dancing, remember? All with that uppity attitude, as if I was just someone she used to make a point."

Stephanie couldn't deny that. "That's... just how she is."

"Stop trying to justify her actions. She's a jerk. She doesn't want me around. I wasn't what she wanted."

"But you're what she got and she's gonna have to deal with it." Stephanie sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Look, take her with a grain of salt. She's been on her own for years, fighting for her life, and when, well, someone like you lands in her care, it can be aggravating when you don't catch on as fast as she'd like."

"Someone like me. Someone weak."

"Someone who hasn't experienced what we have," Stephanie corrected. "You aren't weak, Todd. You're different. It's what makes you, you. Personally, I think you were chosen for this. Annabella knows you were chosen for this. Maybe that's what she can't wrap her head around. That her Immortal One would pick you over her."

Todd rubbed a thumb over his lips, eyeing her. "Her Immortal One. So you don't believe."

His comment caught her off guard. Truthfully, she hadn't really thought about what she really did believe. After several moments of thought, she concluded, "I believe that you're chosen to do great things. I can see it in you. I just don't know what those great things are, or who they may include."

"So you don't believe in the Immortal One."

"I believe He exists. They never taught us otherwise. They said He was our enemy. Annabella just thinks the opposite."

"You're kinda tip-toeing around the subject."

She took a breath. "I've never seen Him. History says He's real. But He disappeared. He left us. Annabella can believe her prophesies, and I'll follow her. I'll follow you."

"But only because you don't see any other option."

"Because you are my friends. Because I'm banking on the slim chance that maybe Annabella is right, maybe the Immortal One is still out there and still cares."

"And if He doesn't?"

She bit her bottom lip, then shrugged. "I've got nothing left to lose. I joined you guys because I saw a way to avenge Marcie, not because of any belief or unbelief." She smiled faintly. "And I think you joined the circus because you had no choice. What do you believe, Deliverer?"

He rubbed his eyes and stood to his feet. "I believe," he said, "that it is time for bed."

Stephanie frowned up at him. "Really, Todd? Don't fake it. You don't believe, either."

He didn't deny it. "What would they do," he mused, trailing his fingers across the wooden table, "if they knew that their 'Deliverer' questioned their beliefs? I'm brought here and I'm just supposed to believe what they tell me to believe."

Stephanie rose to her feet. "I think they'd understand. Blind faith is exactly that: blind."

Todd met her gaze. "You think Annabella is blind?"

Stephanie thought carefully. "No. She has something we don't."

"You think we'll find it?"

"Maybe someday."

Todd's eyes drifted away, finding the folded map still laying on the table. "I don't think you guys should go. It's dangerous."

"It wouldn't be any different whether you came along or not." She nudged his arm, and he looked at her. She forced a smile — something she had become good at, especially with Colette around. "We'll be okay. I promise to keep her out of trouble."

"Don't promise things you can't keep."

"Okay, I promise to try."

He sighed. "Okay. Come back, alright?"

"I can't promise things I can't keep."

A shadow crossed his face.

"But I promise to try my very best."

Todd watched her for a moment, then pulled her into a hug. Stephanie wrapped her arms around him, relaxing in his embrace, smiling against his warmth. She loved his hugs. She loved his smile.

She might have loved him if she had known how.