The Unexplained

-Jack-

"Father..." I kneel as he rises from his throne.

"Speak." He grants me permission and I stand, raising my head to look at him.

"Please, reconsider your wishes...don't force them to leave-"

"Jack." I fall silent and I look down. "We've had this conversation."

"I know but-"

"I'm not changing my mind." He sighs and slumps back down onto his throne, rubbing his forehead. "You've fallen short of your duties, Jack, and your attitude as a prince is unacceptable. Being friends with those...people...has made you this way."

I open my mouth to protest, but he silences me with a look. "After they have left, report to the south wall...you'll be checking up on the soldiers there. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, father..." I whisper numbly and I bow, my head hung before I exit the throne room.

~~

I watch as Conner goes, worried. He shouldn't have to leave...this place basically became his home after we found him...

Cas looks at me and smiles reassuringly. "I'll keep an eye on him." She gives me one of her own kind of grins since she doesn't really 'grin', and I smile thankfully.

Cas gives me one last hug before walking through the large portal generated by the city's power. I turn to look at Abby, who's the last one. She gives me a small, but adorable smile. "I'll see you again, alright? Facetime you or something..." She smirks, "If Elves even have that." She teases and I roll my eyes.

"Whatever," I mutter, and we both laugh.

Then Abby purses her lips and looks a bit worried. "Be safe...Alright?"

I nod. "Of course," I whisper, then we hug, and it feels like an eternity before letting go and she steps through the portal, but not before glancing back at me.

I watch the portal envelop her.

She gave my life meaning...

She kept me going, even though all my father's scolding and...well...bad parenting.

So now that she's gone...what's going to happen?

What's going to happen...to me?

-Phe-

I sigh, back in the same room I shared with Austin before we went to the elven realm. Apparently, Abby and Cas's grandfather had come and fixed the place and had not added any new rooms. Which means I'm stuck sleeping in the same room as Austin, with Conner Inthe master, so he has a pace to strip before shifting back and forth between his wolf form and human one. Even though Abby offered to go out and buy a mattress, I still ended up in this situation. It doesn't make me uncomfortable, it never did, but fear does linger in my mind.

What if he loses control again?

And ever since that day in the village ruins, things had been awkward between us, and we weren't even talking to each other.

Now we're back to sharing a room.

I sigh and stare at the ceiling, on my back on the bed. I try to think of something else, and the news story from yesterday portraying itself in my mind.

Abby's reaction imprinted into my brain.

Who would do it? Besides myself?

I hold up my fingers in front of my face as black flames dance along my fingertips. Austin is the only one who knows about this. Austin...