Colvile (Afton) politely addressed the restaurant manager.

“What is it, Colvile?” the man asked, his face flushed from the heat.

“I have urgent business for the whole of next week,” Colvile said quietly.

“Ok, then, Colvile, I'll excuse you just this week.”

Heart-beating madly in his chest, he left the restaurant, dragging his feet all the way back to his own rented room.

Why did he feel so reluctant? Yet... he was sure something was pulling him to go.

Argh! I hate contradicting thoughts!

Colvile took up his bag and his sword before leaving the room. He'd never brought himself to unpack his bag... he was always ready to fly. He didn't know why, it just happened that way.

****

The next couple of days flew by with nothing special to note about. Only, the road to Chrision seemed vaguely familiar...

The third day came and went... he'd arrived at the heart of the land, Sundance.

From the address, he was supposed to enter the city, but something drew him elsewhere. It seems like the dry blades of the tall grass whispered to him. The breeze, too, beckoned him... but where? Why?

Afton followed the illusion. Soon, it had drawn him far from the original destination. Yet... it continued pressing him forward, calling from all sides...

So.... annoying

But he followed it all the way to a bare patch of ground in the middle of nowhere.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. However, as he took a couple more steps, it must have activated something because a hatch opened underneath him.

The sudden lurch had caused him to lose his balance, which he almost immediately regained with the help of his sword... just to find himself falling to the depths in a whirlwind of debris, bruises, and a bumped-up package.

Fortunately, nothing, save a sense of déjà vu, hit him as he fell. Colvile rubbed his head and looked up. Boy, was he in for it... Apparently, he'd damaged the whole cover. Bits of wire and other metals stuck out like spits with no roast. A few more pieces came crashing down with a loud clanging.

Like that wasn't already loud enough...

Colvile picked up his package and sword before hurrying away down a slope. He didn't even know where he was going, but when he came to a fork in the road, he didn't even hesitate. Colvile was being driven by the hand of an immortal.

Through tunnels he'd never known existed, 'coincidentally' placing a hand on buttons turning out to be keys to yet another secret hole, Colvile passed a good two hours with no idea what he was doing.

Finally, when he thought he'd never be able to get out of the mess he got himself into, Colvile sensed that he should stop.

It was strange... to stop in the middle of a giant room full of wonders. It was almost repulsive... the fragrances in the air. Everything sparkled clean. Where he was, he didn't have time to contemplate over. For, soon after he'd stopped, his brains returned in a flash. For a moment the master-mind behind all those skillful attacks returned.

Colvile's instincts propelled him into a corner at the echoing of footsteps around the big hall. From the safety of the curtains, he sneaked a peek at the newcomer.

It was a young and beautiful maiden decked with jewels from head to toe. Her clothes betrayed her status and Colvile knew somehow that she was the queen of Chrision. Was it the way she held herself when she walked? Or was it because he'd seen her before? Either way, he knew it was her.

Soon, the woman, or girl, was left alone to herself as her two escorts took their leaves.

With a sigh, she set herself down upon a chair.

It was at this exact moment that Afton came back to Colvile and he fingered the pistol in his belt.

He stepped out of hiding and with purpose in each step he took, he raised the firearm and aimed. She would die for bringing pain to the love of his life. Yes, she would die by his hands.

The index finger slipped into position, the left hand flew under his right to still his shaking hand.

The girl/woman who'd been occupied staring into space was suddenly aware of his presence. Her eyes grew wide with horror as she stared in shock at the pistol, cocked and aimed, ready to fire.

Why am I doing this?! It's the queen! But... something tells me to. Argh!

The queen stood up, any words or even screams were caught in her throat. Colvile was safe... or not.

The clatter of a breakable crashing to the ground together with a high-pitched scream set Colvile off. He crumbled to the ground against his (Afton's) own will. A dining knife was hurled in his direction and a rotund figure came running soon after.

Fortunately, the queen's attendant was no professional skilled in the art of killing, so the knife did him no harm. The scream, however, was more than Colvile could bear. He covered his ears with his hands, but it was too late. His head was splitting all for that scream.

The attendant was upon him in an instant, holding him down from sheer weight and calling at the top of her lungs for anyone to kindly intervene.

****

Meanwhile, the king had made an entrance into that dimly lit cave to the underground.

There was no one to greet them, but the most suspicious of it all was the fact that even the opening seemed hostile with the spears of metal protruding, seemingly grinning evilly at them. Still, the king pressed on, following the instructions from the letter...

****

Afton soon came back to earth and, using that brain of his, fired a shot straight into the wall to misdirect her attention before using all the muscles he'd built in the last four months to do a push-up to completely throw the chubby woman off.

Gah!

He quickly aimed the pistol once again to the queen's head. And would have fired had not the king of Isumton's presence been announced.

Something in Colvile(Afton) hesitated.... but he fired any way.

However, the result was a dent in the metal wall. Ten steps away, the queen lay breathless with fright, pale as the snow.

“Afton!” came a few voices at once. Some were of surprise, others of contempt, yet one more was of disappointment.

Something sort of returned at once to Colvile (Afton). But it was only Afton, who'd been hiding the whole time, who finally broke through. “What do you want, Kaylie?” he snapped, annoyed, “don't interfere!”

“You don't tell me what to do, Afton!” she snapped back, hovering protectively over the fainted queen.

So... it's come to this...(Afton)

Eyes burning with all kinds of emotions –hurt, sadness, wistfulness-- Afton took up his pistol once more and fired it at the queen, who was safely teleported away again.

“Stop it, Afton,” Kaylie said quietly.

Without a reply, he'd fired again... and again.

The king and his escorts had gone back to safety as secret weapons faced off.

Afton, with his pursed lips, kept a cool demeanor despite knowing the fact that he was the under-dog in this game. Shot after shot was fired until there was only one left...

Kaylie could easily finish him off... but he was going to kill that queen or die trying.

Think... for once in your life... think! ...but... no... no you can't...

The arrival of the governor was announced. He came just in time to witness a bullet fly through Kaylie's head.

“What,” the governor exclaimed in surprise. Then he pointed to the girl lying on the floor, “she... she's one of those!”

Kaylie got up and passed a hand over her brows before snapping back to the task at hand. Her eyes turned that ugly blood-shot red.

Many would've thought it the result of the blood pouring from her forehead, but the governor wasn't surprised. “Get away from her, boy,” he whispered to Afton, “slowly, so as to not startle her, but quickly, for your own life.”

Afton had seen the change and had a somewhat vague idea of what was to come from signs like those. Her breathing came in hard short gasps and her eyes flickered purple and back to red as she fought the power of the serum.

“Go... Afton!” she said between breaths, “you'll... get hurt.”

Afton took out his sword and stood in defiance. Not a word escaped his lips...

Finally, the purple let off. The serum took over and Kaylie lunged for Afton.

The governor retreated after the king and slammed the door behind him. Hopefully, it'd hold back the un-dying blood-thirst of the Falconer.

Afton (Colvile) took out a dagger from his waist and braced himself.

Doesn't anything in you even feel regret at what will soon come? Doesn't even a cell in you remember that love for that girl? Don't you remember?...But there's no time to think.

She had grabbed his neck, blocking off his oxygen supply, but Afton sliced straight through her hands and caught a quick breath before spinning around and using the momentum to bring the sword further across her heart.

Yes, she was basically immortal, but this would give him time. Colvile knew that in the end, the serum wouldn't let off until someone died.

I'm going to kill that queen or die trying. She... had no right to drag a helpless child into another land without even a parent's consent. No... None of this would've happened if she'd just left Kaylie back where she was supposed to be.

Afton did a thrust at Kaylie who's serum was too dumb to make her dodge. She fell and Afton ran for it.

Die... die and pay for everything you've done!

However, Kaylie had recovered faster than he'd calculated.

My estimations were always perfect! Why?!

He to get his face punched and his sword clumsily kicked out of his hand. He fell, shocked, to the floor. His vision blurred...

Gah... Get up... You have to do this.

Afton scrambled to his feet as quickly as his recently broken body would allow(He still has a scar above the left eye from the fight those few days ago).

It was a race. It meant death or life. The queen was in the hands of living weapons.

Speed, as usual, was on Afton's side, but in his haste, he'd forgotten his sword. Seconds later, Kaylie was right behind. He could feel her anger mounting, her blood boiling. But he got the shock of his life...

“Don't Afton... Don't do this. I've... I've missed you so much. And... I think...” she whispered. The serum had failed for the first time.

Don't! You can't! But... you must, Afton... you must...

Suddenly, another interference came about. Tears overflew as Afton shut his eyes tightly and stabbed Kaylie in the heart with his right hand. His left pressed down on Alice Vasop's pale neck.

“Afton... you.... Afton...” and Kaylie fell to the ground, lifeless.

Swallowing –failing in attempt to keep the tears hidden-- Afton removed the dagger and brought it to the queen's neck.

Die... Alice Vasop.

Knife sliced flesh and a liquid squirted out together with an ear-piercing scream.

That was all... Afton fainted.

****

Three years later...

“We've now gathered here today to join together this man and...”

I promised you, didn't I? I told you you'd be safe with me, Colvile... (Isolde)

“...solemnly swear to love her, comfort her.... so long as you both are living?”

“I do.”

“And do you, Isolde, solemnly swear to.... so long as you both are living?

“I do.”

… …

“This day is finally here, Colvile. Why do you seem so down?”

Colvile plastered on a smile, “It's just a feeling I have. Just a feeling...”

Isolde held his hands and smiled at him. She knew when to keep quiet and now was the time.

I feel sorry for you. But I will never admit it. Colvile... I love you.

Colvile hugged Isolde and whispered a 'thank you'.

Colvile, you've captured my heart from the very first time I saw you. You were so loyal... so warm-hearted. Even now you are... Who knows what you've gone through?! One thing's for sure, no one else would take all of life the way you do. Afton... I'll love you to the end of time.

****

“Brakes?”

“Check!”

“Everything in order?”

“Yes!”

“Well then, we're ready to roll...! Wait... I forgot something... All aboard?”

“All except for Kaylie. She changed her mind last night.”

“No matter, let us be off!”

In a burst of flames, a crude construction of some sort began it's ascent to the world above.

****

It's been three years...

Kaylie bit her lip as she tread on the path to Isumton. It'd been years since she even brought herself to step out of her own land.

There was a deep scar at her back and front right where Afton had stabbed her.

Apparently, equipped with the serum, one wasn't infallible. There was the strongest element in the world in a person...

I haven't seen you in three years, Afton.

Step by step, on the soft green moss... trampling on harmless little twigs... but there were always the stones that cut her bare feet.

I wonder how you are... how much you've grown... and... I wonder as I wander... if you still love me.