Iuliān could feel her already grieving

"Come on," Iuliān said with his hands on both his knees chasing his breath. His thighs almost gave up on him.

He just ran the stairs in the tower to get to this room and it was worth the sweat when he saw Geiyra.

"How... why?... I'm sorry huh?" as much as she is startled she is also confused.

Not knowing that her house is slowly being engulfed by hot flames, she stood as she looked at his face, and before she could take her second step Iuliān grabbed her out and then dragged her back again to the room. What's he doing?

"Put on some outer garment... or something." He said trying not to look at her.

Geiyra then grabs the ankle-length rust jacket she only wore in winter that was hanging on a screw near her. That was embarrassing. Iuliān just saw Geiyra vulnerable.

She also picked up her old boots on the ground and wore them on her bare feet right away. They then rushed downstairs while she belted her jacket into a ribbon.

Unsure if she would really go with this man, his father would be angry and her mother would be worried. As for Radelaine, she wouldn't know. She is not aware is back at home.

"Your house will be on ashes in a minute, we need to find a way out," Iuliān said panting as they walk down the stairs of the tower.

Geiyra's jaw dropped as she figured right away that the cause is her. What else would it be if not for who she is this is happening? It has to be because of her, she's sure of it.

She remembered what her father said when she locked her up. "There's no other way to calm the king. I have to do this," he said already feeling repentant to his daughter.

Of course, why else was she hearing people outside... and the scream. No better way to explain this than her existence to be murdered by the king's orders.

"How did you find me?" she asked feeling the guilt of her horrific deeds while still on this long staircase.

She's starting to sense the acrid smell in the air. Looking at the Lord's cousin all sweaty, she feels bad knowing that the side this man chose is the one that has more enemies.

"When I was opening doors, I heard glass breaking... there were utensils and a few more things downstairs... who else would be locked up here if it isn't you. Unless your family is hiding a fugitive or something." He said and when they finally reached for the door there revealed to them the burning sensation of the ranging fire.

That was not was she was asking but she nodded. She was asking how they got to Kilruin, the town they are in at the moment.

It was not of her awareness that they brought her sister home in their family carriage about an hour before now.

"Where are they?" She said as she coughs from the smoke trying to go to the living area to look for any of her family.

"No! let's go, Lord Phraselm will be looking for them." He said insisting they should leave the house. The fire is getting out of hand and it wouldn't be too safe to stay for long. They will only suffer from the heat and smoke.

In times like this, to Iuliān, saving a few is better than saving none. Regardless of what will happen to Lord Phraselm, Iuliān just needs one to save. It has to be the lady she is with now.

"He's here too? How're you people even here?" She asked flinching when the smell of the paint got to her nose and started to trap the passage of air in her lungs.

Thinking about why they are here in the first place, she couldn't help but really question them. No matter how thankful she is somebody actually speeds up to the tower to save her, and this man happens to be nearby.

"Got lucky... Let's go!" He screamed when he saw a painting that is burning collapse towards them. It was rather too late for the corner of the canvass hit the shoulders of Geiyra. She groaned in agony.

Her jacket quickly caught the fire and she cringed. The pain was like acid melting her down and It was horrible.

He pulled her away from the fallen painting and dragged her out as he covered her shoulders with his damp sleeve.

In her pain, Geiyra caught a glimpse of Lord Phraselm and so is Lord Phraselm when both met each other's eyes. She knew he was heading the right way to somehow save her family so with so much trust in the Lord, she made her way out for escape and trusted Iuliān with her.

He remembered which way to the back door that he and his cousin forced themselves into to alarm the family but it was already too late when they got there.

She stumbled in pain twice and her hands are bruised from falling down when finally, they escaped danger but it didn't ease Geiyra's mind, not even an ounce.

Now that she's out here in extreme ache, all that she could do is feel suffocated in her own self of doubt. She couldn't stay still.

Will it be selfish for her to save herself and leave saving her family to someone else? And much more the Lord is alone doing so?

Waiting is nothing for her, as all that she could think of just a few minutes ago is when would her father set her free again... in a few months? Years?

But waiting now, felt like forever to her. She is continuously pacing back and forth with her hand on her chin waiting for anybody to come out of the house.

And continuously denying the fact that something already happened to them. That Lord Phraselm will eventually be out on that door with everyone. There's no way they're not fine. Right?

"The-they should be fi-ine." No confidence was in Iuliān's voice when he said those words. He clearly doesn't know but he hopes he'll be out any second now.

Geiyra went straight ahead to the burning house hearing what he just said. She doesn't like what's happening.

Her hands are trembling and bruised. She doesn't know what to do if she ever plans to get inside but she just can't do anything at all.

Iuliān tried to stop her but Geiyra would just remove his hands and didn't even bother looking at him. She didn't care about anything right now.

Right by the door, she saw Lord Phraselm now on the ground as he was pushed by someone she couldn't reckon who.

"What was that?" both of them questioned in unison.

The confusion quickly dissipated when to such disappointment, nobody is with him. Not her mother, father, and Radelaine.

She marches towards him with pursed lips and impatiently asked, "Why are you alone?!"

He didn't answer but he rose to the ground and banged at the door with his body a few times with no success, "Open the door!" he yelled.

"Why are you alone?" She asked once more with such misery marked on her voice.

Lord Phraselm didn't listen and continued violently beating the door open. In frustration, she grabbed him by his arms and start hitting his chest.

"Why are you alone!" She said once more no gentler than before.

The tears she was trying hard not to shed came like rivers. She knelt and screamed so loud Iuliān could feel her already grieving. He understood she was sorrowful what it was like seeing her once again the way she was at the banquet.

Geiyra was getting mortified not seeing any of her family when suddenly an explosion deafened them.

She froze as she saw how the walls cracked and smoke escaped from the roof.

She fell to the ground and screamed at the top of her lungs for what loss this could be.

They are not still out and she assumed the worst thing that can happen to them.

Her whole body felt so much suffering smashing her like tons of gold and silver. Her throat is closing, her face is swelling, and in her pain, there is anger that longs to be unleashed.

Her screams were anger that she felt she needed to do - because she wants to.

Her emotions got out of control that Iuliān cowardly couldn't tap her back to console her. Her screams are anguish you cannot comfort.

Lord Phraselm on the other hand is blankly staring at the ground speechless at what just happened.

Looking at the state Geiyra is in, is enough for Iuliān to step back and regret restraining her at all.

And right now, she is giving into the darkness she has always been resisting to.

Finally, the whispers in her head took over her for the first time once and for all.