2 PROLOGUE

I am running. My ribs, they hurt. I looked around and turned away immediately at the number of bodies on the battleground. My head is spinning from the lack of water in my system.

I was tempted to look behind and search for him.

He wouldn't leave, would he?

Not after yesterday, no.

I could still feel his warm breath on my neck. The same warm breath that tickled down my bare body. His rough hands that softly caressed my face. That could be the last time, he could have ever held me.

He was alive, Rosa.

He promised he would stay alive.

For me. For us. For the future that we had planned.

Red filled my eyes as the bloody bodies increased. The foul smell made me gag.

I cursed as I almost tripped over a rock. If I didn't run fast enough and stop Andre from getting the grimoire we were all going to die.

After all, it was the grimoire that was keeping all of us alive.

And Andre would do anything to defeat me.

It would all be over.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned.

A warrior.

Green armor.

He's the enemy.

I sneered at him and took my sword out. The sharp blade glistened under the sun's rays. The black-eyed warrior raised his sword and threw an overhand cut. I reflexively blocked his sword with mine. We moved back and forth until he was on the ground saying, "You win, Queen!"

I smirked and moved forward. In that moment of glory, I forgot about the Grimoire. I heard a quiet but calculated movement behind me.

Someone was there, applauding, but it sounded sarcastic to me. I turned around carefully, just hoping to not make a wrong move and end up like the millions of bodies on the ground.

There he stood. A metal green armor along with a sword painted green.

He smirked.

My fear heightened.

He wasn't after the grimoire.

He was after me.