Balance of the World
Chapter 14-A Way Back

Chapter 14: A Way Back

Zoeysighed contentedly as she snuggled into something warm lying next to her and amoment later her eyes fluttered open. She gave a frown as she looked ahead of her and she grinned again as shefound Elias lying next to her, smiling down at her as he stroked her hair.

“Hello,Angel,” he murmured. “How are youfeeling, my love?”

“Muchbetter,” she smiled in a daze. “Where’sEona?”

“Makingdinner,” he replied, pulling her closer to hug her tightly. “You’ve been asleep since we came back. I was starting to worry.”

“Iwas having a wonderful dream,” she grinned as she stretched and slid her armsaround his neck. “I dreamt that ahandsome general snuck into my room while I was asleep and sang to me.”

“Didhe wake you?” Elias asked through a smirk of his own as he buried his face intoher neck, making her giggle.

“Notat first,” Zoey smiled. “When he kissedme, I did.”

“Andhow did he kiss you?” he whispered into her ear before pulling away enough togaze into her eyes. “Like this, perhaps?”

Eliaspressed his lips to hers and kissed her deeply, making her giggle again as herolled her onto her back, shifting the kiss to passionate and making hermoan. Her fingers threaded through histhick black hair to pull him closer as his mouth trailed to her neck. A knock on the door made him give a smallgrowl and Zoey gave a giggle.

“Yes?”he called, his tone slightly irritable.

“Elias,there’s a letter for you and Zoey,” Eona called from the other side of the doorand Zoey frowned at him as he stood from the bed and stepped toward thedoor. He opened it and leaned back onthe doorframe as Eona handed the letter to him and he examined it as Zoey satup in the bed. Eona peeked into the roomand smiled, waving to Zoey who quickly climbed out of the bed and headed towardthem. “You look like you’re feeling muchbetter, Zoey.”

“Iam,” Zoey nodded. “How are you feeling, Eona?”

“Muchbetter myself, thank you,” Eona nodded before both girls looked to Elias. “Well, what does it say, Elias?”

“It’san invitation to King/Captain Kaysar’s castle,” he replied, still reading theletter. “We are cordially invited to Castle Harma where King/Captain Kaysar willhonor the Enuria with a ball.”

“Howsweet of him,” Zoey smiled. “Who elsewill be there?”

“Everyoneof importance, I’d guess,” Elias shrugged. “The Generals, Felix and Chanel may be there, and of course Kaysar’screw. His castle is near the shore, sothe mermaids can be part of the entertainment. He’s done that before.”

“Soundslike fun,” Zoey smiled, then turned to ask Eona with a bright smile, “What’sfor dinner? Do you need help withanything?”

“Actually,I could use some help with a few things,” Eona smiled, waving Zoey toward thekitchen as she headed there as well and Zoey quickly pressed a kiss to Elias’scheek before heading after Eona.

Evening...

“Thatwas delicious!” Zoey giggled,spinning into the bedroom with Elias behind her and she plopped onto the bed ashe shut the door behind him. “Eona cancook!”

“Idid miss her cooking,” Elias agreed and ran to jump onto his bed next to Zoey,making her giggle when she bounced on the bed and looked down at him as hecradled his head in his hands. “You’rehappier than I’ve ever seen you.”

“Well,everything’s back to normal now, right?” she smiled, curling up next to him andhe lowered his arm to wrap it around her. “That makes me happier.”

“Angel,”he murmured, shifting to face her as she smiled up at him. “Thank you for removing the scales from myface. You did not have to.”

“Iknow,” she nodded, lifting a hand to stroke his face. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to come backand I wanted to leave you with something…good.”

“Ihave something good, my love,” hesmiled, pulling her closer to lean his lips a breath away from hers. “I have younow.”

“Yes,you do,” Zoey grinned, meeting his lips with hers in a small kiss beforeadding, “Until I go back home, I’m allyours.”

Eliasfroze and leaned his face from hers, making her frown at him in wonder.

“Until…yougo back?” he echoed with a frown ofhis own.

“Well,yeah,” Zoey nodded, still confused. “Ithought you knew. I can’t stay here,Elias.”

“Whynot?” he questioned and they both sat up as Zoey still frowned at him.

“Mymother, sister and friends are back home,” she explained. “I’ve disappeared without a trace there! They’ll all be looking for me!”

“Afterall of this, you’ll just leave? Whatabout…our love?”

“Elias,this doesn’t mean I don’t loveyou. I love you more than any man I’veever met, but my life is at home.”

“Makea new life here, with me,” hesuggested, taking her hands into his. “Ilove you far more than any of themdo.”

“Ihave no doubt of that, my love, but it’s not that easy,” she argued.

Eliaslooked deep into her eyes and suddenly recalled the discussion he’d had withFelix the first night they’d spent at the wizard’s home. He had said she would want to go home. That she was home sick. He knew he couldn’t compete with herfamily. There was no contest.

“Isuppose…” he trailed off as she frowned in wonder at him, but he took in a breathand continued, “Whatever will make you happy. I have no call to tell you where to live.”

“Elias,please don’t look so depressed,” she begged, pulling her hands from his andslipping her arms around his neck to pull herself closer to him. “I still have to figure out how to get back home. Which means I’ll need a place to stay until Ido. I’ll stay here if you want me to.”

“Ofcourse I do, Angel,” Elias smiled weakly, sliding his arms around her. “Where else would you stay if not with theman you love?”

“Ido love you, Elias,” Zoeywhispered. “I don’t want you to ever forget that.”

“Howcan I forget, my love?” he smiled, lifting a hand to stroke her face with theback of his fingers. “I only loved oneother before you, and I cannot imagine loving anyone else after you.”

“Areyou trying to make me feel guilty?”she sighed, bowing her head.

Hetook her chin into his grasp and brought her gaze to his, shaking his head ashe answered, “No, darling. I’m trying totell you that I will never forget you, no matter what happens.”

Zoeysmiled, feeling a tear trickle down her cheek that he brushed away with histhumb before leaning forward and capturing her lips with his. She moaned in approval and pulled him closeras they fell back onto the bed with Zoey on top of him and her hands slid downto rest on his chest as his settled on her hips. A moment later they came out of theirlip-lock to gaze into each other’s eyes, both realizing what was about tohappen.

“Angel,”Elias breathed. “If you’re atall…uncomfortable—”

“I’mnot,” she interrupted, shaking her head as she bit her lower lip. “I’m not uncomfortable at all, Elias.”

Shegave a startled shout when he rolled her onto her back, planting his lips tohers again in a passionate kiss which she melted into without resisting, evenwhen she felt his fingers begin to pull at her top. Instead, her hands went to work on pullingoff his shirt as well as his lips trailed down her neck.

Castle Harma...

“Wherebe that wonderful lass o’ yours, Elias?” Kaysar grinned, heading down the stepsof the castle and slapping the General on the back.

Eliasgrunted before turning to Kaysar, straightening out his black jacket andreplying, “She and Eona will be here any moment.”

“Yeseem upset,” Kaysar noticed.

Eliasglanced at the King before nodding and replying, “Zoey has decided she must goback home.”

“Ah,”Kaysar nodded in understanding. “Well,ye had to see that comin’ aye?”

“No,”Elias sighed, tiredly. “I didn’t. Felix warned me, but I didn’t listen.”

“Don’ttell me ye begged like a dog to her that she stay,” Kaysar pleaded.

“No,”Elias chuckled. “I came close, believeme. But I didn’t.”

Kaysargripped his friend’s shoulders and gave him a reassuring squeeze as he grinned,“Never fear, eh? Love conquers all, theysay.”

“Yes,well, this time it was the love for her family that conquered,” Elias muttered,hearing hoof beats heading toward them and he turned around to see Phantomgalloping toward them with Zoey and Eona on his back.

“Thesebeauties combine are lighter than youare any day, Blackwood,” Phantom instantly quipped.

Eliassaid nothing as he watched Zoey dismount with wide eyes. She was wearing one of Eona’s dresses. A long, flowing, lavender chiffon dressembroidered with silver around every border and around her waist. Her hair was curled and bouncing around her shouldersas she ran toward the men, Eona hurrying behind her in her dark blue dress thatwas a similar style to the one Zoey wore.

“Hello,Elias,” she grinned before stepping to Kaysar and giving a curtsey. “Hello YourMajesty.”

“Stopit, love,” Kaysar chuckled, taking one of her hands and kissing it,politely. “Ye’re embarrassing me. Ye look so lovely, I’m blushing.”

Zoeygave a giggle as he lowered her hand and she turned back to a still staringElias to take his arm in hers as Eona stepped up to the other side of him.

“Goodafternoon, Your Majesty,” Eona curtsied and offered her hand to Kaysar as well.

“Ah,the famous Eona,” Kaysar grinned, taking her hand and kissing it as he hadZoey’s. “We finally meet. Elias told me ye were a beauty, but he neverwent to mentionin’ exactly howgorgeous ye are.”

“Captain,you flatter me,” Eona smiled as he lowered her hand then clapped.

“Well! Now that the guest of honor is here, let’sget inside, eh?” Kaysar entreated with a sweeping gesture up the stairs.

Eliasbeamed with pride as he headed up the stairs with two beautiful women on each armas Kaysar led them up the steps and inside the castle. The roofless fortress allowed the brilliantsunlight into the grand hall where they found groups of all kinds of creaturesmingling.

Varenwas surrounded by a group of female Wizards and Elves, no doubt telling themabout his heroic part in Zoey’s fight with Jellina and basking in the attention. Zoey noticed Namir running from end to end ofthe hall and she frowned wondering what she might be doing before glancingaround the room to replace someone she needed to speak to.

“Felix!”Elias called, waving a hand toward his right where Zoey was standing and sheshot her eyes up to see the very Wizard she’d been looking for. “How are you, my friend?”

“Well,Elias,” Felix smiled to the grinning general and shaking his hand beforelooking to Eona who gave a sweet smile. His eyes were wide in disbelief as he stepped toward her and held a handtoward her.

“Eona?”he breathed. “Is that…truly you?”

Shesaid nothing as she threw her arms around his neck and he wrapped his armsaround her waist.

“Howsweet,” Zoey smiled, hugging Elias’s arm as he gazed at them for a momentbefore looking down at her. “Everyonehas a happily ever after.”

Eliasnodded, but he didn’t feel like he wasgetting a happily ever after. The womanhe loved was going to leave and he would be left alone again. Why did he not have any kind of luck with women?

“Ineed to talk to Felix for a moment,” she whispered to him, making him frowndown at her before registering her words and nodding before looking to seeFelix and Eona stepping out of their embrace. She called to the wizard who looked up at her with wide eyes filled withsurprise. “May I speak with you for a moment? I promise I’ll bring you back to Eona whenI’m finished.”

Felixgave a chuckle and nodded before turning to Eona and pressing a tender kiss toher lips before reluctantly releasing her and stepping toward Zoey who pulledhim to the side by the arm.

“What’swrong, Zoey?” Felix asked with a frown or wonder as they stopped next to along, decorated table.

“Nothing’swrong,” she replied. “I wanted to askyou about getting back to my world. Hasanyone ever done it before?”

“Youplan to go back?” Felix guessed and Zoey only nodded. “Well, no one I’ve known has ever gone back, but it can be done. You simply goback to the place you first appeared in Kalina and say, Eska.”

“Andhow do I get back here if I want to visit?” Zoey asked but frowned in wonderwhen his expression fell in sorrow. “Felix? What’s wrong?”

“Thereis no way back, Zoey,” he murmured,making her eyes shoot wide in disbelief.

“W-What?”she breathed.

“Thedoorway you came through will remain open as long as you’re here,” heexplained. “But once you go back, it closes behind you forgood. If you leave, you can never comeback.”

Zoeyfelt her heart clench so tightly she couldn’t breathe. Felix frowned at her in concern beforepulling up a chair at the table and setting it behind her so that she couldsit. She placed her hand over her heartas she felt tears come to her eyes and he knelt next to her when she grabbedone of his hands, tightly.

“Zoey?”he whispered. “Are you alright? You are ghostly pale. Shall I get Elias?”

“No!”she choked, shaking her head. “No,don’t. I just…need a moment.”

“Haveyou told Elias you’re leaving?” Felix couldn’t help but ask and she looked upat him and only nodded as she felt tears start to roll down her cheeks. “And he didn’t tell you any of this?”

Zoeylooked up at him with a frown of wonder and asked, “He knew all of this?”

“Ithought so,” Felix nodded. “At least howto get back to your world. I’m unsure ifhe knew you would never be able to return.”

Zoeylooked away from him, panting and trying to breathe before she shook her head,saying, “I don’t think he knew about that.”

“Perhapsyou need more time to think about it?” he suggested, but she shook her headagain, taking in a very deep breath.

“No,”she sighed. “I’ve made my decision. I can’t leave my family the way I did.”

“Youknow that means you will never seeElias again, don’t you?” Felix said, wanting her to be sure she understoodeverything.

Zoeycould only nod before quickly wiping her tears away and putting on a smile.

“Well,I’ll just have to spend some time here before I go home now, won’t I?” shegrinned, trying to cheer up so that no one would ask what was wrong. “Thank you, Felix. Let’s enjoy the ball now. Where is Chanel?”

“Sheis here…somewhere,” Felix replied with a slight frown at her. “Zoey, are you sure—?”

“I’llbe fine, Felix,” she assured him. “Idied once…I think I can handle it again.”

Felixlooked to her in concern, knowing exactly what she meant when she said that,but before he could try speaking to her a little longer, her attention wascalled by Kaysar as he approached.

“Zoey!”he called, waving to her as she stood and he took her hand to drag her acrossthe room as music suddenly started and they stopped on the dance floor so thathe could frame her for a Waltz. “May Ihave this dance, lass?”

“Well,you are the king,” Zoey smiled and heled her in a dance then frowned at her in wonder.

“Wereye cryin’, love?” he wondered and Zoey glanced away from him in embarrassment.

“Iwas,” she nodded and looked back at him to shrug, “but I’m fine now. I just found something out that I didn’t knowbefore and it was…a bit of a shock.”

“Ah…yefound out you could never come back once ye left, eh?” Kaysar assumed and Zoeylooked up at him in disbelief. “I’m amind reader, love. Didn’t ye know? It’s a requirement for a King.”

Zoeycouldn’t help but giggle, knowing he was joking and he smiled at making herlaugh then suddenly pulled her off of the dance floor, making her frown inwonder.

“Captain,what—?”

Theystopped and he turned to her, digging into his pocket and pulling out acircular object.

“Iwant to give ye somethin’,” he explained, holding the thing toward her. “This is one of me compass’s. The Elves gave it to me. They put some sort o’ spell on it so that itpoints to your heart’s desire.”

“Oh,I can’t take this,” Zoey argued.

“Aye,ye can, lass,” Kaysar insisted, placing the compass in her hands.

Zoeylooked over the silver, detailed casing then looked up at him with a frown toask, “Why are you giving this to me?”

Kaysarsmirked, placing his hands on her shoulders to look he in the eye beforesaying, “Because sometimes, what we think we should do, is not what we trulywant.”

Zoeyfrowned at him in wonder and he chuckled, patting her cheek gently as he added,“Ye’ll understand when the time comes.”

“Zoey!”

Shespun around when she heard Elias call and watched him approach for a momentbefore turning back to Kaysar.

“Thankyou for the gift, Captain,” she smiled. “You really didn’t have to.”

“Ithink I did, love,” Kaysar smirked, bowing grandly just as Elias stepped up tothem and tapped her shoulder.

Sheturned and smiled at him, tucking the compass into a hidden pocket in her dressso that he could take her hands.

“Isaw you crying when you were speaking to Felix,” he murmured, making her smilefall slightly. “What’s happened, mylove?”

Zoeyswallowed before smiling again and shaking her head to shrug, “Oh, it wasnothing. Just my…over dramatics again.”

“Zoey—”

“It’snothing, Elias,” she said again then glanced to the dance floor and smiledwider. “Dance with me?”

Eliasfrowned and looked to the dance floor before looking to her and shaking hishead, saying, “Oh, Zoey…I don’t dance.”

“Don’tor won’t?” she smirked, pulling him toward the floor and he pulled her back tothrow his arms around her.

“Both,”he murmured inching closer to her face. “I’d rather replace a nice quiet spot and kissyou until your lips are swollen.”

“That’sa lot of kissing,” Zoey smiled. “We cando that tonight.”

Shequickly pulled away from his grip then grabbed his hand and dragged him towardthe floor again, catching him off guard.

“Zoey—?!”

“Justone dance, please?” she begged asthey stopped on the dance floor and she wrapped his arms around her.

Eliassighed in defeat and framed her for a dance, making her grin and he couldn’thelp smiling at seeing her so happy. Hemade a promise as he led her in the dance that however long she stayed untilshe left, he would do whatever he could to make her as happy as she was at thatmoment.

One Week Later...

Zoeygiggled hysterically while Elias tickled her as they tangled themselves evenmore in the sheets of the bed they were lying in.

“Sayit!” he ordered, both laughing as he leaned over her, still tickling her.

“No! I refuse!” she laughed, kicking and trying toshove him off of her.

“Sayit, or I won’t stop!”

Zoeystill laughed, then finally threw her arms around his neck and planted her lipsto his, knowing that was the only thing that would stop him. Sure enough, he froze and melted into thekiss, slipping his arms around her to pull her close as he settled on top ofher.

“Sayit,” he murmured as his lips trailed down to her neck.

“Fine,”she sighed in defeat and he lifted his head to look at her with a grin as shesighed, “The Masked General is no more.”

“Nowhow hard was that?” Elias wondered, lowering his head to her neck again.

“Extremely hard, because I liked my Masked Knight,” she muttered,making Elias chuckle before he rolled onto his back, taking her with him andshe gave a startled shout before she giggled when she landed on top of him.

“Iam still your Masked Knight, mylove,” he smiled, holding her close. “That will never change.”

Zoeysmiled and rested her head on his chest to snuggle against him, both sighing incontentment before she started chewing nervously on her lower lip.

“Elias?”she murmured.

“Yes,Angel?” he replied, stroking her back soothingly. Zoey swallowed instead of answering, makingElias frown and he craned his neck to try to catch her eye. When she still said nothing, or looked athim, he lifted a hand to gently grip her chin and pull her gaze to his. “What’s the matter?”

Sheswallowed again and this time, she breathed, “I think it’s time I go back home,my love.”

Hisfrown fell away as he gave a sigh and Zoey shifted to bury her face into thecrook of his neck as he wrapped both arms around her again.

“Alright,”he muttered. “When?”

“Assoon as possible,” she murmured. “Idon’t want to drag this out any longer.”

Henodded before asking, “Perhaps…you can visit?”

Zoeyshut her eyes tightly, trying to stop the tears that were starting as Eliasfrowned when she didn’t respond right away.

“Zoey?”

“Ican’t come back, Elias,” she shuddered. “Felix told me…once I leave I can never come back.”

Shefelt him swallow and looked up at him to shift and look him in the eye.

“That’swhy you were crying at the ball,” Elias realized and she only nodded. “And why you’ve spent the last week here.”

“Iwanted to spend as much time with you as I could,” she shuddered, tears freelyflowing down her cheeks.

“Angel,please don’t cry,” he begged, lifting a hand to brush her tears away.

“ButI’ll never see you again!” she sobbed, lowering her head to his chest. “I won’t see Eona, or Felix and Chanel, orKaysar and Namir, or Varen—!”

“Please,Zoey, stop,” he whispered, pulling her closer. “We’ll not drag this out any longer. I’ll take you to the place you appeared tomorrow.”

Zoeylifted her head and looked at him with wide, teary eyes, shuddering, “Are youangry with me?”

“No,my love,” he smiled, weakly as he lifted a hand to stroke her hair back fromher face. “I could never be angry withyou. I just want you to be happy.”

“Iwould be happier if I could at least have the option of coming back to seeyou,” she sniffled, then suddenly looked back at him in wide-eyedrealization. “Why don’t you…come with me?”

Eliasstared at her in surprise as she only stared back expectantly.

“Felixdidn’t tell you?” he whispered, making Zoey frown in wonder and he continued,“The only way a person can go back is if they stand in the exact spot where they appeared. I could go back myself, at the same time you do, but I would end up backin London, notyour home. And I don’t think…after allthis time that I could live in that world. This is the only world I know.”

Zoeynodded in understanding. She didn’t wanthim to be unhappy just so that she could be with him. She rested against him again and snuggledinto his chest, allowing him to feel her tears falling onto his chest.

“Iwant to say goodbye to everyone before I go,” she whispered.

“Ofcourse,” he replied. “We’ll do thattomorrow.”

“Iwant Varen to take me to the spot where I came in,” she said quickly, makingElias frown down at her but she didn’t move. “It’ll be hard enough saying good bye to you, I don’t want it to be anyharder for either of us.”

Eliasnodded in understanding before laying his head back and replying, “Verywell. We’ll say our goodbyes beforeVaren takes you there, then.”

Zoeynodded and Elias hugged her close, kissing the top of her head beforemurmuring, “Sleep, my love. You’ll needyour rest for tomorrow.”

“Ilove you, Elias,” she shuddered.

“AndI love you, Angel,” he whispered. “Go tosleep.”