The smaller group crouched low in the brush and snow, looking at the first set of sentries. Kora took her gloves off and buried her hands into the snow, touching frozen earth. They saw the vines crawling silently under the snow like snakes. In an explosion of silent snow, the sentries were snatched and pulled into the ground before they could even cry out. Ian was impressed.
"Thats my girl." Ben whispered and they moved on. All six sentries were taken out in similar fashion, and they reached the tunnel as the moon hit its peak in the sky. Kora turned and looked around one lst time. The moonlight was blinding against the snow, and she committed it to memory. Meeting the eyes o every person in her group, she whispered
"I want to say thank you. For being with me now. "Ben kissed her, and Ikalla and Ian looked at each other, but said nothing. They moved into the tunnel and Kora moved the earth slowly. As they made their way in, Ikalla felt a sense of dread creeping up her spine.
"He knows we are here. We need to be ready when we break through." The others gripped their weapons. Suddenly, splitting up had become a bad idea. Kora sent her vines through the ground underneath them sensing into the cavern where she had been discovered, looking for any grey soldiers who may be lurking. Her anger was growing. Vines were beginning to crawl around the tunnel. Ben guessed the walls outside were beginning to be covered too, and perhaps they crept through the castle too. They started to hear the screams and knew Kora was working on it. She was killing the soldiers on the battlements and creeping their way into the castle. They broke through into the cavern where Kora had first been discovered, and 20 soldiers lay dead, vines in their eyes and mouths.
"Don't bring the castle down on us." Ian said nervously. Kora was unperturbed. She looked over her shoulder and rolled her eyes.
"Castles are made of stone Ian. I control it all." As if to prove her point the walls and castle began to vibrate. Pieces of earth fell from the ceiling, but it remained intact. She drew power to her. In the cave of her ancestors, she would be at her most powerful, and that's exactly what Drew wanted. Well what Drew wants Drew gets the thought bitterly. The ground outside the castle exploded, and the roots shot up and through the windows and doors, she began to pull the place apart and started screaming.
"Knock Knock Drew! You wanted me, come, and get me!" Soldiers battered down the stairs, and Ikalla, Ben and Ian met them head on. Kora raised her arms and using her roots and vines began to scour the castle, looking for Drew. She did not need to, like a soldier to a siren's song, her came strolling down the stairs. Ben lunged for himself first, and with a wave of a hand, he threw him across the room, trapping him in the wall. Ikalla and Ian were next. Kora could not risk them. Her vines trapped them against the wall, and she circled Drew.
"Come Kora, after so long, aren't you happy that we are together again? "Drew cried out; his eyes were wild with excitement. Kora continued to build roots around her friends and love, trying to protect them, even as they screamed and tried to cut the roots away.
"Come on Drew, let us not play games. You knew this was just going to be you and I in the end."
"Have you come to hand over your heart then?" Drew asked as he walked closer. She continued to circle, and She heard a loud noise. Shadow came bounding down the stairs, straight for Drew. He shot fire at Shadow, who dodged, and Kora took the opening. She moved in, stabbing Drew right in the chest with Reaper. Shadow bit into his shoulder, yanking him free, slinging him across the room and into the wall, Drew lay on the ground, but he was laughing. Shadow growled, and she held her hand up to stop his attack. Drew rolled and bounced to his feet. He was still laughing.
"Oh, what fun Kora, it has been ages since someone has wanted to dance this dance with me. Come on, let us do this." He suddenly grew serious and disappeared. Reappearing right behind Shadow, he stabbed the dog in the shoulder causing him to howl and turn to snap. Kora – looking deep within herself. Searching for the current of air and moisture in the room. Sensing where Drew was, she moved, and as he reappeared, she ran through him again. She had Reaper to the hilt in his stomach. He grabbed the blade and pulled her closer. He tried to kiss her, and she yanked reaper free, slashing his pretty face with the knife she hid on her wrist. He did not like that.
"Kora, I grow tired of your teasing. It is time we play with your friends." He reached, and she saw Ian being yanked from the cage she had built around him. She swung and cut Drews hand off. She released the others, so they could run. Shadow lunged and tried to snap up Drew, but he jumped. Kora watched his hand grow back. His wounds heal. She had to get close.
She ran forward, catching Drew and slamming him into the wall. He grabbed her and turned her, and his hand went straight through her chest, wrapping his hand around her heart. It was as if time stood still. The triumph on his face matched the day he had turned her to stone, and she felt herself fill with dread. She heard her friends screams, and Shadows howl. He tried to yank her heart out, but it was stuck. It would not move. Drew frowned, and the cavern lit up, all the roots of the trees began to glow. The faint sound of the song of the fae could be heard. Her ancestors. Suddenly, Kora knew, and she began to laugh.
"You cannot have it Drew! Because I have already given it away! My heart is not yours, and it is not mine." Ben approached, and he plunged his hand into Drew's back, grabbing his heart. Fear was in Drew's eyes as Ben leaned over his shoulder and whispered,
"It's mine." and ripped his heart out.