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Aleytys. A sweet little girl, stuck inside a thick armor made of ice and darkness. After Connor had returned, it felt as if Edward was engaged in a constant struggle, fighting against the coldness that was attempting to take control of her. He fought like a tiger, stubbornly and with everything he had in order to keep her from succumbing into the darkness entirely.

He looked down at her. She was every bit as beautiful as always, even when sleeping. Her chest moved up and down in calm manner as he leaned in, smiled and whispered quietly into her ear:

"You say that you will need the angel of the night, my sweet thing.. but I'll be here, thinking about the warm piece of your heart. You are my better half, Allie. I don't really know what I would do without you.."

Edward grimaced as he thought about Connor again.
"To him it's just a game that we are living in pain, Sunshine.."

He did not want the coldness to take over her entirely. Never.
But still.. Fighting alone, he could only keep up the uncertain status quo for only so long. She would have to help him to help herself. Aleytys would always have to remember that he loved her, remember how she was making him suffer and most of all, remember that she loved him as well. If she could let the thought linger on her mind, even in the presence of Connor.. Maybe there was hope for them both. Hope for the confused man and the sweet girl.

If she could fight the darkness and remember her love, then maybe.. maybe they had created something that would last. Then maybe she would not drive him back into the darkness with her cold side.. Maybe they would spend their eternity together, be that in Heaven or Hell.

One thing was sure.. As long as there was a sparkle of warmth in his heart left, as long as there was hope, he would fight for her.

He stared at her for a moment, before continuing the thought out loud. He whispered into her ear, with a stern and stubborn voice:
"..That I promise from my heart."

Her dark eyes, like two black obsidians, gaze at the weapons. She scrutinises every inch of the blade with her thumb, nodding then with satisfaction and laying it beside her.
The next blade is taken and after examining it in same manner, she begins to sharpen the blade with careful moves.
"So, little Girl, hear what I say. You can play with your toy, but don't overact. I keep you alive -- don't forget this fact weak girl."

The facial expression turns in a mischievous and mocking grin
" Hey, cold one, shut up dear... You are nothing without us... only a dark, empty shadow.. mmh ? "

" No discussion, you play with Faran, enjoy your life "

A mocking, half-hearted chuckle is heard " Ah -- Darling, you are jealous of us? Edward’s Love is strong .. are you afraid now ?? "

Her face changes to another one, like a marble statue, unemotional and cold.
" Hold your mocking tongue.. It’s true, I don’t see Connor as often as I wish, but his darkness and mine are similar. We are dark twins in the night. More then you can say about your toy Faran, mocking lady. We don't need another, but we enjoy the company ... "

A warm glint grows in the dark eyes
" Edward will fight the world for us if is necessary YOU should don't forget this, because he loves me very deeply, strong, he loves me so much that nothing else plays any role... He will give his life and all for me, and in fact also for you then....You can't destroy this love, you can't... I swear "

Her eyes narrow, with a icy shimmer in them ...
" One word more .... and I ban you into the darkness. Give up for now. Let me do my bloody work. You need me to survive in this battle which coming. And also your pretty "Sweetheart" Prince Charming benefits from this. You need my pitiless acting and astute thoughts. Don't forget weak, little girlie... you are under MY control... now and then when I am in the mood. I allow you to live, allow you to love... so handle with and be careful with your words. And you, mocking sister, you are for the crowd and such... but not really necessary"

The mocking chuckle breaks out another one " Oh wait, wait darling.. You say that I am not necessary.. what a shame,, me is the reason so many standing on our side... without me you are an empty nutshell, and without the little loving girl you lost all .. So I think that I am the controller of us three."

Behind the Lady appears a dark creature, a black panther. The wild animal stops ....
Aleytys turns without haste, very slow, as if she could feel the presence of the Panther.
She stares into his eyes, motionless, like a stone, with a dark flaming gaze.
The Panther bares his enormous teeth and a loud growl in guttural fashion breaks out from his mouth. His ears are strongly pressed on his head, every muscle tensed on his beautiful dark body. His tail is lashing nervously from side to side.
Suddenly he ducks his head, it seems like he bows before the lady, and with a deep growl he walks backwards, very slowly.... disappearing in the woods then.

Aleytys turns with a cold smile back to her blades

"What if I said that I keep both of you alive?? "

Sitting in Salkamar, waiting for Gwendolin, she let wandering her thoughts.

She missed Varshikar, the dry air, the trees.
Did she really have homesickness? It seems so..

Let us come home soon, all healthy and satisfied. I hope Edward and Ascius are well and working fast. Gwen and I have to do the same

Faces coming in her mind like ghosts ...

Faran -- his special behaviour
Ashayen - yes, odd but true
Gryphius, Maggie, Samantha and Siltaris
Magnus, Dominic, many others ...

and Connor. Him at most. His feline smile and manners, his cruel humour.

She closed her eyes, and in this quiet place of Salkamar she daydreamed and a smile rested in the corner of her mouth.

Her dark cold gaze rests on the man sleeping on her side. She could kill him now if she wished that, but the two others wouldn't allow this.
She wrinkles her forehead, and throws the night angels blossom which was behind her ear to the ground.
Three weeks now, she allowed the others loving whispers and too much nearness. His wish to build a family.. to have a child...
She had the damn feeling she was loosing the control completely.

Her thoughts rushing trough her mind.
Maybe Connor doesn't know that she was laying in Varshikar, near death, after her return from Salkamar...and even if she had died, it was simply really possible that Connor wouldn't care about it. It seems he missed nothing and especially not her.
She needed him to clear up her thoughts, his presence, his smile would be enough to bend down the others with the loving, needless heartbeatings.....

She stares to the wall, a deep yearning for freedom grows up in her...but she knows that without the two others she is nothing. And Edward fights like a tiger, like he would lose his life without her love.

Still she was strong enough, barely ....

She parried and blocked the strikes from the Mummies with a chuckle, dancing around, light-footed. The enjoyment was not hit the Undead to the ground, but rather to play with, let her laugh.
"What do you think my cold One... Edward vanquished you .. mmh ? We both know the fact. The fact he loves all of us, you just as well. With his statement he would die and waiting in hell or heaven of you was too much, I guess "

With a quick movement she rose the axe against the Undeads, few strong blows and four mummies lay motionless around her. She kicked the dead bodies away from the path, walking forward, deeper in the cave.

" So - you don't respond but I feel you agree. You begin to respect him -- aye ?
The last night was --- mmh.. it felt truly like what he said ... "Two become one Allie, two become one....." His love is a light in our darkness big sister. Let me handle this and we can live a good life I think. He gives us the freedom we need, the strength for life and warmth you enjoyed as well. And be honest.. Without him is all a bit dreary”

In the corner of her eyes she noticed a shadow, hearing a quiet noise. Waiting.... Skeletons... how much... three? Four ? On her lips appears a mischievous smile, as she prepares her body for the next fight she tightens every muscle ... still waiting

"Damn, you are right mocking one.. I will no longer resist. But I swear when he betrays us, or does anything wrong I kill him. When his love fails, I have the right to kill him.. aye? "

Her cold dark eyes observed the approach of the Skeletons. She crossed the blades in front of her, parrying the first strike. She ducked away quick, spinning around. She slashes hard and fast against the skeletons. A little noise can be heard despite the fight.. steps... His steps

The hesitating moment let her stagger under a hard blow of the skeleton which she failed to intercept. She hits one of the skeletons to the ground with a forceful blow that slashes away its feet.

"He is here, yes I know his steps, his movements, I feel him near... Edward I hope tonight I can finally show and say to you what I feel"

All this rushing in quick shreds through her minds ... fighting, dancing..... she laughs ..............

And no longer the feline smile and emerald eyes disturb the freedom in her.

"Edward Cromwell - I love you.."
The sweet, honest words were still echoing in his ears like a hundred silverbells. Her head was resting against his chest, but he could not sleep. Not tonight. The moon was shining on the cloudless sky, surrounded by countless stars that were scattered around the vast blackness that swallowed everything else. Sometimes he wondered why he always came back to Varshikar.. but at night he always remembered. For the stars on the night-sky and the star of his life, laying in his arms.

It had felt like a huge boulder had fallen off from his shoulders. His heart was still beating fast and he felt strangely.. light, like a feather. She had finally said it out loud without any hint of hesitation or regret unlike before. Finally she had come to accept the thruth and.. he had won. They had won.

He had to chuckle quietly to himself. At least Samantha would be disappointed..

He closed his eyes and his lips curled to a small smile. Edward and Aleytys were like two mighty eagles.. together but still free. It was a strange thing for them both.. A new chapter.

"Two eagles"