We spend the rest of the night trying to collect the rest of his soldiers and supplies. Most of the supplies are gone. We lost ten men in the outburst from Zona. By the time I emerge from the medical tent, the few remaining tents have been set up just outside the destruction of the camp. Jake orders the soldiers around to bury the ten dead ones. Blake glares at me as I approach him. “I want to see Zona.” Jake looks at me frowning slightly. Before he can speak, Blake steps in front of me.

“The traitor will be sent back to the capital to get her punishment for killing our men.” I frown looking around Blake.

“Jake. I want to see her. Now.” Blake looks at Jake.

“Sir.. I think.”

“She will see her Officer.” There is a pause in Blake’s voice as I walk past him to Jake’s tent.

“But.. sir! This..” I enter the tent to see Zona tied with two large stones around her wrists. I sit down across from her as she looks down to the ground.

“Zona..” She doesn’t move or look at me.

“What do you want?” Her voice is emotionless. I feel my gut sink low as I grip my pant legs.

“You know it’s not your fault right?” She shifts in her restraints finally looking up at me. One eye is back to normal but the other one still has the tint of orange. I frown knowing that I brought whatever this is in her.

“Part of me knows that. The other part of me is happy that I did it. I deserve whatever I get.”

“But.. Zona.”

“Something in me has always wanted out. To burn everything around me. To consume everything in flames.” A slow smile starts to form on her lips. She stops the smile turning it into a frown. “Did you know that mages go crazy with power? Titus warned me to let go of my anger or it would drive me crazy. Guess he was right.”

“You are not crazy Zona. The things you’ve seen and done would make any person crazy three times over. You having this conversation right now makes me sure that you aren’t crazy.” Zona stares at me. She doesn’t say anything, doesn’t blink, nothing. She looks to be thinking over my words. I take a chance with the next words carefully. “If you forgive yourself for what you did..” Zona glares at me sitting straight up.

“Don’t say it.” I gulp finishing.

“.. what you did to Lupa.. You would feel better.” She glares at me with intense anger. Even with the dampening stones on her, the tent starts to heat up. When I think the stones might break, the heat disappears.

“What’s the point anymore?” For the first time in all my life, I hear the sound of utter defeat. Shit. I try to find a way to bring Zona up pausing for a split second. I pause realizing that I could maybe find Lupa. There wasn’t a body. Maybe she escaped. “.. I could help.” She looks at me.

“How?” I take a deep breath reaching out and touching her arm.

“I am going to find Lupa. I just need you to focus on her.” She looks in disbelief but frowns looking at me untrustworthy.

“How is that possible?” I frown slightly shrugging.

“I’ve been helping Jake trying to find his sister for the past couple months. Maybe I can do the same thing with Lupa.” A small glimmer of hope raises in her. I grip her on as her version invades my mind.

I look around seeing the lake from their home. I pause confused looking seeing Lupa opening the door yawning greatly. She looks just like her old self. Her white hair shimmering in the sun. Pale skin as white as snow. Bright purple eyes that seem to give off hope. She is wearing her customized farmer’s clothing. She walks outside tending to a garden. I frown realizing that I am reliving one of her memories. Zona walks outside looking like the person I first saw in that alley. Lupa looks up at Zona with dirt smeared across her face. “Lupa. You are completely dirty.” The memory fades away as I let go off Zona. She looks at me with hope in her eyes. “What did you see?” I go to answer but pause slightly.

“I.. need to see more later but.. I think she is alive.” Tears of joy fill Zona’s eyes as the orange eye completely returns to normal. She attempts to hug me, but the chains stop her. “I will have to do more sessions with you later to find her exact spot.” She wipes her eyes looking beyond happy.

“Thank you, Ashley... I feel... like my old self again.” I force a smile standing up.

“I am going to go talk to Jake to let you go now. We have another issue to deal with before going to the Northern Mountains.” I leave the tent feeling extremely guilty for what I did. I go up to Jake looking at him. This is just until she gets back on her feet. She just needs hope.

“Zona is better. She won’t be a problem more.” Blake rolls his eyes as Jake nods.

“Very well. I believe you.” Blake’s mouth hangs open in shocked.

“Sir! This is a complete breach..” Jake turns to him angrily.

“What was that Officer?” Blake shuts his mouth standing at attention.

“Nothing sir.” Jake relaxes looking back at me.

“Go release her then Officer.” Blake makes a face entering the tent. I look at Jake he sighs slightly.

“Um.. I need to talk to you about Grant.” He pauses and looks around. He looks back at me.

“Alright.” He leads me to a private place and sits down on a bench. I pause slightly sitting next to him. I go to speak but he cuts me off. “I want to apologize for what I did.” I pause slightly shocked.

“Um.. it’s okay. You weren’t in control..”

“No. When I broke your hand. I didn’t do anything to help you and stayed away from you for a few days. I am sorry and I won’t let that happen again.” I feel my cheeks get a little warm as I start to play with my pant leg.

“It’s fine Jake. Really… I didn’t even break my hand.” There's an awkward silence for a few seconds as we stare at each other. “.. Anyway.. Grant has been attacking towns. Completely destroying them. I think the road attacks are meant to draw us away from him.” He thinks for a second nodding.

“Yes. I agree. We should still send men to check on the road attacks though. We will go after Grant. What is the next town he is attacking?” I think for a second.

“Creek Valley is the next town he is attacking.” Jake pulls out a map looking over it. He points to Creek Valley.

“It is a two-day ride from here. We will be going soon.” He stands up somewhat quickly grabbing his side. I frown standing up trying to lift his shirt. He reacts too slow and I see bandages covering most of his ribs. I glare at him as he pulls down his shirt.

“You are hurt?” He doesn’t say anything. I get pissed standing in front of him. “Why aren’t you healing?” He stares down at me without saying anything. “Are you sick?” I slowly start to grow concerned for him. He sighs grabbing my hands with his.

“I am not sick. It just takes me longer to heal now. I am fine.” He smiles sending butterflies through my stomach. I pause feeling my cheeks getting red again. I let go of his hands trying to calm down. I don’t know why Jake causes my body to do that.

“G- Good. I will go let Zona know that we are leaving soon.” I turn away from him heading over to Zona. By the time I reach the tent she was in, I have calmed down enough. I enter the tent to see Blake leaving it. He gives me a nasty glare moving past me. Zona rubs her wrist looking at me. “We are heading to Creek Valley.” Zona looks at me confused.

“What for?” We exit the tent.

“Grant is there.” She gets a determined look in her eyes. We look to see Jake walking over with Knight.

“Officer Blake will lead the rest of you north to deal with the growing monster problem. I have already sent orders to send more men up north to set up a base of operations.” Jake walks another horse over to Zona. “We will be riding pretty hard for the next two days. Only stopping to rest.” I stop realizing that Jake helps me up on Knight. Zona has a smile on her face and flawlessly climbs onto the other horse. I notice men glare at her as Jake looks back one last time to his soldiers. “I shall join you after we complete our mission.” Jake spurs his horse forward down the road to Creek Valley. We follow suit and I get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. It feels like we’ve done this before already.