The Dragon's curse

Xander and I sit outside Zayden's room as Aria tends to him. It's been a few days since we brought him back from Davel, but he hasn't woken up. Yet.

"I will never forgive you if something happens to him," were the last words Aria said to me since we got back. I understand her pain and suffering. She's going through a lot.

I lace my fingers together and watch the clock tick by. One more day is all we have left. If he does not wake up by then... I stop myself before even thinking about it.

Xander walks over to me, frowning.

"He'll be okay," he promises.

"You did all you could do," he assures me, but I know deep in my wretched little heart that had I not been so stubborn, he wouldn't be in this state. That arrow was meant to kill me, but he took the shot.

I know that even if he does survive this, what comes next is much more horrifying from what I read in my mother's diary. I have become what I despised.

"He's awake!" Xander shakes me back to reality.

I follow him in and see that Zayden is weak, but he's breathing. I breathe a sigh of relief, seeing he's going to be okay.

He summons me to sit by him but soon falls asleep again.

"I'm sorry. I panicked," Aria sobs, holding me.

"I understand," I hug her.

"Take care of him," I excuse myself to talk to Xander.

I drag Xander out after Zayden falls asleep again.

"We need to talk," I begin, but he interrupts me.

"I think I know. Let's just talk somewhere else."

We arrive at my house in complete silence.

"I know you want to talk about the things in the diary," he says matter-of-factly.

I nod in agreement.

"It's about the consequences, isn't it?" he exhales, exhausted.

"Is there anything we can do about it?" I plead.

"Not anything I'm aware of, but don't lose hope or blame yourself. You did what you had to do to save his life."

I whip my head in his direction when I hear his tone.

"You! You did this!" I accuse him.

He does not deny it.

"Damn it, Xander! What is wrong with you!"

His smile turns sinister by the second.

"What do you think it is, Zoe?" He smirks.

"I trusted you!" I choke on my own words.

"Which is why it was easy to betray you!"

My heart feels like it's about to explode into a million little pieces.

"Poor little Zayden was only a tool. I did like the guy a little bit, I won't lie, but I have my own goals, you know."

"Go away before I do something I regret!" I scream.

"Not so soon, my pretty little one," he tilts his head.

I look at my hand and notice a tiny spot that has a drop of blood.

"What did you..." my vision starts to darken, and I'm met with the sweet bliss of darkness.