---
Rex opened his eyes to the sound of rushing water. Dizziness swept over him as he took in his surroundings. He found himself tied in front of a cave, feeling disoriented.
Suddenly, a voice broke through his confusion.
"Hey! Do you remember anything? My memory seems a bit foggy…" It was her.
Rex focused on her. "We were at the…", his mind wondered till he could recall the previous drama at the church:
His voice trailed off as he stood, legs trembling, fingers fidgeting. "This… whatever this is between us, it won't work!" Her words echoed in his mind, heavy and unsettling.
Before he could process it, she bolted away. The church had turned into a graveyard, whispers rising around them. Rays of light streamed through the door, blinding him momentarily as he pushed himself up from his knees.
He rushed after her, dropping to his knees before her, taking her hands in his. Her gaze was filled with awe. She helped him up, and he pulled her into a hug. "It's fine now…" she whispered.
She threw her arms wide, exclaiming, "Everyone, everything is fine now! I'm back. The—"
"Wedding…" Rex interjected, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes! The wedding can begin…" Her words sparked a wave of cheers.
"I think I remember more now…" Rex shifted, trying to free his chained hands. She looked up, her eyes hopeful, and nodded.
He helped her onto the cruise ship. She surveyed their surroundings, frowning. "What is this? A house on the water?"
Rex chuckled, squeezing her hand. "C'mon, Beau, you know what a cruise ship is. This isn't your first time traveling, is it? Or is it just too fancy?"
She smiled, the tension easing between them.
They followed two stewards down the hall, their luggage trailing behind. Everyone they passed greeted them with warm smiles.
"No family on this ship for three days—our honeymoon is going to be an adventure…" Rex leaned closer to her, whispering in her ear.
"Honeymoon? What's that? Did the moon suddenly turn to honey?" She raised an eyebrow, teasing.
"Beau, are you sick? You've been acting strange since… since everything happened. I appreciate that you stood by me through that scary moment. I love you, Xie." He kissed her palm tenderly.
She fell back onto the bed, and he knelt by her feet, slipping off her shoes. As he did, she turned her gaze toward the tub.
Rex rolled his eyes, walking to the closet to change. He slipped on a towel and turned back to her, only to find her covering her face with her hands.
"It's an abomination to be close to the princess's mate… I won't commit such a crime," she protested, her eyes shut tight.
He lifted her in his arms and laid her gently on the bed. As he stepped away to the tub, he noticed she had drifted off to sleep. He changed into his pajamas, then returned to her side, brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
He lay beside her, wrapping his arms around her. But when he opened his eyes again, she was gone. Panic rose within him as he ventured through the walkway.
As he approached the roof, he strained to hear her humming in the distance. He moved closer to where she sat and joined her.
"Did you hear that?" she asked, wide-eyed.
"Xie, I can't hear anything," he replied, confused.
"Be quiet and listen…" She focused intently, her expression tense.
Rex strained to hear and caught a faint sound that grew louder by the second. Suddenly, she sprang up, grabbing his hand. They ran, but she stumbled, falling to the floor. He turned to her, horror striking him as blood flowed from her foot.
The water roared outside, the ship's alarm blaring to life. They dashed toward the tanks and hid behind them, peering out as two figures approached, their robes sweeping the floor. Rex quickly covered her mouth as she gasped.
A voice broke through their panic. "Drake! Untie them," one of the figures commanded. They jolted out the flashback.
Drake moved forward, loosening the ropes around them and stepping back. "Rexford Williams from Amethyst's Gates of Tomorrow, welcome to Amethyst's Flames of Memories," he said.
"Who are you? What am I doing here? How far is home? Can I go back now?" Rex demanded, glancing at Helen, who sat silently on the floor.
Drake cracked a whip against the air, the sound echoing sharply. Rex winced as bruises formed on his skin, a low groan escaping his lips. Luna, the other figure, wore a dark grin. "Take it easy, Drake. He is our pass."
She caressed Rex's face with her long nails, igniting a shiver as she leaned in, kissing his cheeks. "I might not answer all your questions, but the answers I do give must be honest. It's good to have you here. I am Luna, the holder of Amethyst's past."
"What am I doing here?" Rex asked, desperation creeping into his voice.
"You're here because of the bond that ties you to the princess. Ximena is an emotional being, even with her powerful abilities. You hold the key to her heart."
"Why does her heart matter to you?"
"I want to rule, and she alone is strong enough to cut a strand of my hair, so she needs to go down."
"How far am I from home?"
"This is where you confront the past; it is as far as your dreams and as close as your nightmares…"
Rex stood abruptly. "I want to go home. I can't survive here. I have a honeymoon to attend to. Please, I want to leave with my wife."
Luna's grin widened ominously. "Your wife, Ximena, divorced you at your wedding…"
Rex rolled his eyes, frustration boiling within him. He turned to Helen, who looked down, searching for answers.
"Well, she ran back to me. We're united now…" He smirked defiantly.
Luna snapped her fingers, and Drake stepped forward with a mirror, forcing Helen to look at her reflection. Horror spread across her face as her disguise fell away.
Rex's mouth fell open. Luna grinned as she touched the mirror, which revealed scenes from the church: Immediately, Ximena burst out of the church. At the entrance, she came face to face with Harriette and Helen. They cast a spell that knocked her out and disguised Helen as Ximena. "Return me to normal. I want my Ximena back!"
"Unfortunately, I give the orders around here. You might get to spend your last hours with her, but only if you follow my commands, Ford." Luna's eyes darkened, and she appeared behind Rex, whispering an incantation into his ear.
Drake handed Rex a knife. He moved like a puppet, stabbing Helen in the leg. She cried out in pain, tears streaming down Rex's face as his arms trembled. "I don't know what's wrong with me! I'm sorry!"
"I own your mind; you have your heart…" Luna laughed, her voice echoing in the darkness. "Ford, you just stabbed your great-great-grandmother, Helen. You both will live as siblings until you bring down the princess. You have a few weeks to do that, or the portal to your normal, deceitful life will close, and you will be forgotten—here and in the present."
---
Ximena shifted in her seat and woke up. She raised her brows at the unfamiliar house, feeling a knot of anxiety in her stomach. Just then, the doorknob jerked, and she quickly shut her eyes, trying to relax.
A knight walked in and dropped a tray on the table. A sizzling sound filled the room as warmth enveloped him. Then he turned and saw Ximena; she stood, her eyes filled with fury. Flames flickered around her wrists and ankles, the ropes binding her disintegrating into ashes.
The Knight screamed and fainted. Ximena seized the opportunity and dashed down the hallway, fire flaring out to deter anyone who tried to stop her.
She burst out of the building, taking in her surroundings before tripping on her next step and falling hard.
An iron cage fell to her side, and she groaned in frustration. She felt her powers fade, the flames extinguishing as she exhaled on all fours.
Harriette found Ximena and led her into a wide room, bowing slightly before laying her gently on the soft bed. Ximena rolled her eyes, pulling the duvet over herself.
"My princess, you need to get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day..."
"Hey! Whatever your name is, what do you know about long days? Today's the worst day of my life! I'm trapped here while my wedding is still happening..."
"Harriette... my name is Harriette," she replied calmly.
"Harriette, I need to go back to my family. They need me! It's my wedding day."
Harriette exhaled deeply and sat beside her.
Taking Ximena's hand, she said, "Your father, the king, has gone missing, and we need you. You're the only one who can ensure our survival..."
"Harriette, what is all this about?"
"We were once ruled by a powerful mystic queen named Luna. Amethyst suffered greatly during her reign. She wouldn't die because she sacrificed children born with the sun's power—like you—for her renewal. Her powers were strong until it was time for her sacrifice.
Then you were born a Sun child, and the king took you to the future for safety, sealing your identity with a true love's kiss. He had a golden whistle, the fastest way to reach you once the spell was broken. Now Luna is ready to come for you, and we can only prepare."
Ximena listened, her mind racing. "I can't leave you all. What happens to me and my life? I had a life! Why can't you understand? I need to care for my husband and family."
"Life and marriage built upon lies and deceit—is that what you call life there?" Harriette scoffed, her cheeks flushing with anger. Ximena's brows shot up in surprise.
Harriette stood and moved toward the door, but Ximena stepped forward and grabbed her arm. "Harriette, what do you mean by lies and deceit?"
Harriette exhaled through clenched teeth. "I never wanted to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately, I have to show you this!" Ximena watched as Harriette approached a drawer, dusting off a glass ball before handing it to her.
"What's this?"
"Why not take a look, my lady?"
Ximena peered into the ball, which began to swirl before settling on an image; Valerie sat in a room with police officers across from her. Zaire was by her side.
"So you're her sister and best friend, am I right?" one of the officers asked.
Willow stormed into the room, pushing past the officers. "Let me tear apart this seductress! She's responsible for their disappearance!"
"Ma'am, we understand how you feel..."
"No, you don't! Rexford cheated on his bride with this gold digger, this treasure hunter, and now they've vanished!" Willow breathed heavily, turning to Valerie. "I'm coming for you in this game. Watch your back."
Valerie remained silent, but Willow jerked away from the officers' grips, rummaging through her bag and flinging pictures at the police. She slammed the door behind her.
"Ma'am, you are under arrest for the disappearance of Rexford Williams and Ximena Jones. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law."
He fastened a silvery conjoined bracelet on her wrist. Willow leaned closer to Zaire, whispering, "This isn't justice. Call my lawyers."