AmethYst

Chapter Twenty-Six

Crimson stopped in his tracks, realizing they had put enough distance between themselves and the horrific scene. The rain had soaked them through, its relentless drumming on the forest canopy filling the heavy silence. Gently, he lowered Miles to the muddy ground.

Miles didn't say a word. His gaze remained fixed on his sword as if it were the only thing anchoring him to reality.

"Listen," Crimson began, trying to steady his voice. "Let's head back to Lance, grab that other sword, get Lilith, and get out of here. I've got a bad feeling... Things are about to get a lot messier."

Miles remained silent, ignoring him entirely. Instead, he knelt, plunging his sword into the ground. The blade stood like a gravestone, and Miles bowed his head, rain cascading off his drenched hair.

Crimson hesitated, watching his friend in the downpour. "Look," he tried again, his tone softer now. "I didn't know Idris as well as you, but—"

Miles's sharp glare cut him off mid-sentence. Crimson sighed heavily and knelt beside him, bowing his head toward the sword in solidarity. The rain poured harder, soaking them both as they knelt in silence.

After a moment, Crimson rose to his feet. "We need to move, Miles. While it's still raining. Grey might—"

"Why didn't you do anything to protect Idris?" Miles's voice was barely a whisper, but the words cut through the storm like thunder.

Crimson froze. "What?" he asked, turning to face him.

"I said," Miles repeated, standing now, his voice rising, "why didn't you do anything to protect Idris?"

The question hung in the air, a fragile thread threatening to snap. Crimson's frustration boiled over. He grabbed Miles by the front of his cloak and yanked him off his feet, their faces inches apart.

"You think I didn't want to protect him?" Crimson growled. "Grey is on another level, Miles. He's not just some random enemy. And if I'd tried to fight him, I'd have had to waste time protecting your reckless ass!"

The words stung, but Crimson's grip slackened, and he released Miles with a shove, his chest heaving as he tried to compose himself. Miles staggered back, his gaze heavy with both anger and sorrow.

Meanwhile, in Elven Von...

Lilith awoke with a start, her breathing ragged as she took in her surroundings. The soft mattress beneath her, the intricate Elven symbols etched into the stone walls—it was unmistakable. She was back in her room in Elven Von.

Rubbing her temples, she approached the large window at the far end of the room. The rain streaked down the glass, distorting the view below. The rhythmic patter of droplets brought flashes of memory—Crimson's gruff voice, Miles's determined eyes, and the chaos of their last battle.

Her chest tightened. "Miles... Crimson," she whispered.

Without a second thought, she rushed toward the door, pulling it open in a flurry. In the corridor stood Lance, her younger brother, his wide eyes lighting up with recognition.

"Big Sis!" he exclaimed, rushing toward her and wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. "You're finally awake!"

Lilith hugged him back, her hands trembling. "Lance... What's happening? Why am I here? Where are Miles and Crimson?"

Lance pulled back slightly, looking up at her with both relief and concern. "You were unconscious when they brought you here. Crimson told me to create a katana blade for this Miles guy, while they handled... something. But they haven't come back yet."

Lilith's heart sank. She pushed past Lance, determination igniting in her eyes. "I need to find them."

Lance grabbed her arm, his voice urgent. "Sis, wait! It's too dangerous. You're not fully recovered!" And you can't possibly be helping a person from the other side.

But Lilith shook him off, her resolve unwavering. "They need me, Lance. And I'm not losing anyone else, like the way we lost Mom, Dad and the others."

As the rain hammered relentlessly against the windows, Lilith darted through the stone corridors of Elven Von, her determination carrying her forward like a storm.

"Wait!" Lance shouted, his footsteps echoing as he chased after her. She stopped abruptly, spinning around as he caught up, panting. In his hands, he held a sheathed sword. "Take this," he said, his voice steady despite the urgency. "It's for Miles. Tell him to keep the other one. And, Sis..." Lance hesitated, his eyes flickering with worry. "Be careful. A little birdy told me the Xeno Corpse are nearby."

Lilith's heart skipped a beat. "What?" she gasped. Her hands instinctively gripped the sword as if it could shield her from the weight of those words. "The Xeno Corpse? I hope Miles and Crimson are safe."

Lance shrugged, his expression grim. "I can't promise that. But do you have to go? You're not fully recovered, Lilith. You could—"

Before he could finish, Lilith knelt in front of him, her eyes softening. She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, and Lance's face flushed bright red.

"Yes, I do," she said, her voice calm yet resolute. "Lance, you've worked so hard to rebuild the Lightwood name. It's something I want to help you protect, just like you've always wanted to protect me." She cupped his cheek, her innocent smile lighting up the corridor. "That's why I need to help Miles find his friend. We'll find a way to send them back home, and this will all be over."

Lance swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion. He placed his hand over hers. "Just promise me you'll come back safe, okay?"

Lilith stood, gripping the sword tightly. "I promise." With that, she turned and ran into the rain-soaked night, her silhouette disappearing into the storm.

Lance stood there, his hand still pressed to his cheek, the lingering warmth of her kiss keeping him rooted in place. "Please, stay safe, Sis," he whispered to the empty corridor.

 ------

Miles walked close to Crimson as the sun peeked through the dissipating clouds, its light cutting through the rain-soaked forest. The two trudged forward, careful to stay hidden beneath the thick canopy of trees. Crimson kept his eyes sharp, scanning for any signs of danger. If Grey was tracking them, they needed every second of advantage.

"We'll head to the mountains," Crimson finally said, his voice low but firm.

Miles tilted his head. "Why the mountains and not Elven Von?"

"The cave where Lance usually works," Crimson explained. "We can rest, then go for Lilith and plan our next move. But stay alert. If Grey's following us, this could still get messy."

Miles nodded but couldn't shake the weight pressing on his chest. His eyes flicked to the horizon, where the outline of the mountains loomed in the distance.

By the time they reached the rocky base of the mountains, the rain had dwindled to a faint drizzle. Miles raised his hand, letting the last few droplets fall into his palm. "Looks like the rain has finally stopped," he said, forcing a small smile.

Crimson glanced skyward, the early morning sun reflecting in his blue eyes. "Yeah," he muttered. "It does."

Their journey continued in silence, the only sound the crunch of wet gravel beneath their boots. The entrance to the cave soon came into view, offering the promise of temporary refuge.

"Be on guard," Crimson warned as they stepped inside, his voice echoing off the walls. "No telling if Grey is around."

The damp air of the cave smelled of moss and stone. Crimson moved ahead cautiously, his hand instinctively ready to conjure a weapon. But as they ventured deeper, a familiar figure appeared in the dim light.

"Lilith?" Crimson's voice softened with relief, and before Miles could react, Crimson rushed forward, pulling her into a tight hug.

Lilith's bright green eyes sparkled as she embraced him. "Crimson!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth. "You survived from Junkie."

Miles followed slowly, his expression unreadable. When his eyes met Lilith's, he simply said, "Hi. Looks like you're better now." His voice was flat, almost distant.

Lilith broke away from Crimson, rushing toward Miles. "You were incredible back there," she said, her tone earnest. "When you took down Junk—you saved my life, Miles."

Miles looked down, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his guilt. "That's... good," he muttered. "But I couldn't save Idris—" His voice faltered as tears welled in his eyes. He clenched his fists, his body trembling.

"It wasn't your fault," Lilith said firmly, stepping closer. "You did everything you could."

Before Miles could respond, Crimson gently touched Lilith's shoulder. He leaned in and whispered, "Leave him for now; he needs time." This is something different.