The field behind Will's house had always been used as a hang out place for Will and Bianca. He had always felt more relaxed there. At the far corner of it, there was a playground. The swings were Bianca's favorite place. The group, including Leo, would always hang out at Java Joint though the park was Will's and Bianca's alone. He remembered all the times they had spent on the swing set under the stars. They would both unwind and tell each other what their day had been like. The field would always have a special place in Will's heart.

Cutting across the neighbor’s yard, they made their way into the field. Bianca wouldn't allow Will even a small gap between them. She believed that if she let go of him, he would just disappear again. She was not about to let even the slightest possibility of that to happen. As long as he was alive, she would never let him out of her sight again.

“Where did you go, Will?” she asked as soon as they entered the field, her head down as if admiring the freshly laid snow. It was a nice night for January weather though Bianca couldn't help but shiver in her winter coat. “Me and Lee thought you were abducted or something, we were really worried.” They both must have sent him texts a thousand times a piece and still never gave up hope of finding him. Will let out a sigh, to explain what he had been doing without sounding like a lunatic might be a bit of an issue.

“You two weren't far from the truth,” he said, putting his arm around Bianca to keep her warm. “I was brought somewhere I doubt anyone here has ever been.” At that point, Will was skeptical of telling her everything. He was afraid if he said it all aloud, even he would question his sanity. Bianca just gave him a look; she wouldn't let him off the hook even if he tried to avoid the question.

“Let’s start with a name then,” she said as she raised an eyebrow. “What was the name of this place no one has heard of? I'm sure Leo could look it up.” Will laughed as her face turned pink. “What's so funny? If there's a place on earth and you have identifying features, Leo could pick you out anywhere,” she said in a matter-of-fact.

“If that were true, how did he not find me while I was gone?” Will asked as he kicked the back of her shoe.

“This isn't a game, Will, we were both worried about you,” Bianca said as she punched his shoulder. Will didn't really notice it all that much. “Now you come back, and you're dodging all my questions, what am I supposed to think?” Bianca put her head down; he could tell there were tears in her eyes. Of course she would be worried. He was alone for several months. He had almost given in when he spent as much time as he did with Maya, he had almost given up hope.

“My uncle came and got me from Colorado,” he started his explanation. “He's a soldier like Jonathan. For the past six months, I've been training in ways that I've never tried before,” he said as he brushed the tears out of her eyes. “If I could have kept in contact, you know I would have.”

Thinking back on the last six months, the desert which he landed in, the thugs in the woods and saving Maya, training his flame on his own, fighting the wraiths and losing, and finally his training with Michael. Will's grip on Bianca tightened, sending waves of heat from his aura cascading off of her.

“How are you this warm? It’s freezing out,” she said while loosening his grip on her, yet not letting him go.

“It’s not all that bad out, maybe twenty degrees?” He said while looking up at clouds as it started to part. The snow had stopped, and Will almost had a clear view of the stars. The best thing about this field was the view of the stars, he used to climb up on the football post they had in the corner of the field just to see the city lights and look up.

“It feels at least twenty below out here,” she said as her body started shivering uncontrollably.

Something was wrong; Will didn't feel the same coldness that Bianca did. The only time he had ever felt that cold was when he was around the wraiths that were alert to his presence.

Looking around the field, Will instantly became alert. “Bianca, I want you to run from here as fast as you can. It’s no longer safe to talk. I'll come find you later,” he said as he let go of her, his aura emanating dangerously around him. His power only activated at the sign of danger, and it was on overdrive at the time.

Bianca looked at her boyfriend; his eyes held a look of danger, and she swore she saw sheen of red covering his body. Instead of arguing, she took a few strides backward away from him.

Will faced away from his girlfriend, his eyes focused on the darkness, finding a shape of black within. The wraith drew its sword from its scabbard, the steel shining off of a street light. Will had no choice, for Bianca's sake, he had to try.

The closer the wraith got, the colder it got. Will's aura would protect him for a time, but he was worried about the shivering Bianca behind him.

Thoughts of the last time he faced one of these creatures flashed in Will's mind, what he had lost. Maya’s haunting screams followed the wraith with every step. With each step, his aura dissipated slightly. Will finally felt the chill of death settle on him again.

Starting to shiver slightly, the wraith was already upon him, sword raised and ready to strike. Will was stuck in the trauma of the last time, he wasn't even aware of the presence of his opponent.

Everything was going black, the sound blocked out by Maya's screams. Why should he try? Why should he go against the inevitable when he already knew the outcome?

Just give up. Surrender. Defeat is inevitable, a voice was calling out to him, soothing him to accept what was to come.

“WILL!” a voice called out. He knew this voice. He couldn't remember where from, all he knew was to give in. He was upset that someone would try to disturb his peace.

“Will, get out of the way! He's going to kill you!” So much concern was in her voice. Will was touched that someone would think so much of him. Only two women in his life ever sounded like that, love radiating from every word. Suddenly, he recognized the voice, it was Bianca!

Flashes overcame the darkness. Flashes of spending time with her. Climbing the new library roof and eating McDonald's, movies, trips to the field, her smile at school.

Everything came back in an instant and deep within, a voice called out to him.

PROTECT HER!

Suddenly, his bonds were broken, and his aura spilled out. His cross burning his chest, begging to be held. Will was of a mind to allow his pendant to indulge in its needs.

Taking the cross from his neck, it was instantly engulfed in flame. Out within his hand, he held a gold and orange flame, the size of a sword. His hopes, desperation, and desires poured into the flame. Protect her was all that was in his head. Anything else was second. Within seconds, he was holding a silver blade of the purist quality, the hilt was silver with gold wiring, and at the pommel, lay a large ruby with gold wiring surrounding it in webs.

Will used his aura to leap back in front of a baffled Bianca. He didn't blame her; she was probably thinking exactly what he thought when Michael pulled a sword from his pocket.

Will smiled at the wraith. Where it took five of them to overpower him last time, there was only one now, and he finally gained the tool he could use against them. The heat to their chill. Even now, he couldn't feel the icy touch in which their power used to suppress him. He was completely free.

Taking a quick admiring glance at his new weapon, Will had to admit Michael was right. His uncle’s sword paled in comparison to his. It looked regal, and the power coming from it was incredible.

The wraith charged for the newly empowered Will. Its deathly iron sword was its in hand ready to take the final swing to kill the one of whom it was sent after. Will easily parried the blow, and sidestepping his opponent, he sent his own blow to the wraith’s side. An unearthly howl came from the monster as it took a few steps back. Will could tell it was no longer so sure of itself.

Will faced the monster, both of them were walking in a giant circle seeing if the other one would give an opening. Will had all the patience he needed; he made sure his defenses were up for the inevitability of the wraiths next assault. With the new power Will had attained, he felt his aura drastically increase in time, for what was six minutes of defensive was now far beyond.

The wraith was tired of waiting for an opening, instead it did something Will had half expected it to. The moment the wraith was close enough to Bianca, it tried to grab her. The moment the hand went for her, Will's sword came in for a clean cut. “None of you will ever lay a hand on her!” He shouted as he felt his anger rising. The wraith clutched its stub of an arm; an inhuman wail yet again came from its mouth. Will grabbed the now severed hand and threw it at the wraith.

“Whoever you work for, I have a message for them,” Will said with a calm demeanor. “Tell them I am getting much stronger as you can clearly see, and when I'm at my best, don't worry about chasing me down. They won't have to send you anymore.” A look of contempt crept into his face. “I'll come directly to them, and pay them back for Maya.” Will took a final swing at the wraith, only this time he didn't want it to connect. A golden aura was released from the blade, one Will had never seen before. The wraith screamed in agony as it came in contact with it. Within moments, the wraith had disappeared, limb and all.

With the wraith out of the way, Will grabbed Bianca up into his arms and circulated his aura to his feet. In seconds, they were up in the air, no longer within range of the danger below.

Bianca had no idea what was going on, or how anything she had witnessed was even possible. The one thing she did know was her life was just saved by Will. She looked below her to see the city lights as if they were stars.

“I'm in this now, Will,” she said with a serious face as they landed between a few houses, blocks over from the field.

Will set her on the ground, a look of displeasure in his eyes. “You can't be a part of it, Bianca, these people are out to kill me, and they'll do anything and hurt anyone to do it.”

“Which is exactly why,” Michael said as he appeared from behind a house, “you need to protect them.” Walking closer to Will, he saw the regal looking blade in his hand. “I see you found what you need to protect,” he lifted an eyebrow. “I told you mine can't even hold a candle to your blade.” Will nodded, he had seen the difference in the way he fought compared to his uncle’s. “How did you get rid of it?” Michael asked curiosity evident in his voice.

“I cut one of its arms off and threw it at him,” he said with a smirk. “I think I finally found a way to defeat them.” Will thought back to the golden light that was released from the blade. Whatever it was, it completely vaporized the wraith. Before he would say anything to Michael, he would have to see whether it was something he could control on his own, or if he needed guidance to use it. Whatever it was, he no longer felt vulnerable to the wraiths. Soon, they would pay for what they did to Maya.