• "Yes," she whispered, "it's true." Triumph flooded Kieran's soul when he heard those words. He smiled crookedly at the girl, holding her arms tightly. Lissabeth. She stared back at him, her heart in her glowing blue eyes. He sucked in his breath. She was so beautiful... Abruptly, he released her and turned away. She fell. He quickly turned back.

    "I'm so sorry. It was a shock..." he said, helping her up. Lissabeth smiled.

    "That's alright. I understand," she hesitated, "Listen, Kieran, you're the only person I've ever told that to. Please. Don't tell anyone else." She gripped his hand tightly.

    "I...understand." Kieran replied. A sense of guilt rose up in him. He swallowed it. He had to get that jewel. He had to save Cora. Slowly, he took her in his arms. He loved the girl. Lissabeth let out a contented sigh, pressing her blonde head against his warm chest.

    "Kieran...I don't know where we are, or why we're here but...I don't care! As long as I'm with you I--" she stopped, embarrased. Kieran looked down into her face. Her eyes were glowing, her petal pink lips trembling, and her cheeks were flooded with color.

    "Lissabeth, you-you can't mean you...?" he whispered urgently, eyes wide. She nodded slowly.

    "Oh Kieran! I don't care where I am, why I'm here, or how long I'll be here as long as I have you! Kieran, I-I love you!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. He looked into her earnest face, and knew she spoke the truth. He had accomplished his mission. She had fell for him, ensnaring herself in an inescapable trap. Cora would be freed. And with this beautiful thought, he leaned down and kissed her.

    The moment his lips touched hers, Lissabeth began to glow. It was dull at first, and grew brighter and brighter the longer their kiss went on. Kieran detached himself and stood back. Lissabeth stood frozen, the light around her growing steadily brighter. Kieran pulled out a pair of sunglasses and put them on. He stared at her chest. Soon enough, a hole opened up, on the exact position of her heart. He strode over to her, pulling out a syringe. With one hand he stabbed her arm with the needle, and with the other pulled out the object hidden in the hole. A jewel. THe light from Lissabeth had died away, so Kieran could see nothing. A muffled thud sounded from beside him. Lissabeth had collapsed.

    Then, quite suddenly, lights flickered on overhead.

    "Bravo, my dear boy, bravo!" cried a man, applauding as he walked into the room. He was soon followed by three other men. Kieran narrowed his eyes.

    "Where's Cora? You promised, Dieredre!" he cried. He stared at the man, hate bubbling inside him. Who was he to have taken Cora, his beloved younger sister? Who was he to have made him steal Lissabeth's heart, knowing full well whatwould happen at the end? He clenched his fists as Dieredre spoke, smiling infuriatingly,

    "Calm yourself boy! I promised did I not? Now. Hand over that jewel, and you will get your sister back. And take this," he threw a syringe, "and wake up that girl." Kieran caught the needle, stabbing the girl once again. Lissabeth woke up, panting.

    "Kieran what happened? Where are we? I feel weird! Somethings mi-"

    "Shut her up!" Dieredre shouted furiously. Not knowing what else to do, and, quite frankly, because he wanted to, he kissed her again. Her arms immediatly twisted themselves around his neck, and he, wrapping his arms securely around her, heaved her up. For a moment, it seemed as if it were only the two of them. Her lips pressed against his, his arms wrapped around her and her arms around him...

    Dieredre laughed pointedly, breaking the spell. Kieran gently disengaged himself from her, heat rising in his face. Why had he done something so stupid? Dieredre did not need to know that he, despite all his obvious efforts not to, had fallen in love with her. The many days he had spent charming her had taken its toll on him. Ashamed, he walked over to the man and held out his hand.

    "The jewel." he said curtly, "take it and give me my sister. Give me Cora." He heard Lissabeth gasp. She stumbled towards him.

    "How-how did you get that?! Kieran how could you! I'll die without that! No, no, no! Give it back! Please!" she cried, gripping his arm. Kieran was silent, but Dieredre sneered.

    "You don't understand do you stupid girl? This boy, Kieran, he used you! Took advantage of you! All he wanted was this precious jewel!" Lissabeth stood, horror etched all over her face. She shook her head.

    "No!" she shouted, "No! Kieran wouldn't! He loves me! Kieran, my love, tell him! Tell him its a lie! Make him give me back my jewel!" Kieran turned to her, eyes blazing and wrenched his arm out of her grip.

    "Yes. Its true. I took that jewel from you knowing full well what would happen. I needed it; I had to save my sister." Somehow, he managed to say all this coldly, not betraying his inner turmoil in the least.

    "But!" Lissabeth stammered, "You-you love me! You wouldn't do this! Kieran please!" She was sobbing now. Oh God. It hurt. It hurt so, so bad. He wanted to take her in his arms, kiss away each and every one of her tears, and tell her that everything was okay. But he couldn't. No. He couldn't. He turned away from her.

    "No.I don't love you." he said carelessly, glancing at her grief stricken face. His heart twisted in agony. I do love you! it cried. But he could never voice the words he longed to say. He had to save Cora.

    She stopped crying abruptly. Kieran looked up at her in surprise. Lissabeth stood tall, anger and betrayal blazing on her face.

    "I loved you, Kieran. I loved you so very much. And had you only asked, I would have given you that jewel, my heart, without hesitation for I know what it means to lose family. But you didn't. And for that, you're a fool." she paused thoughtfully, "I won't tell you what everyone but you already knows, because I know it will destroy you. I still love you Kieran." The anger was gone, replaced with bitterness. "I'm going to die, bitter and hard, like an old woman. Goodbye, Kieran."

    Kieran stared at her, wanting so much to run to her, hold her, and tell her how very, very sorry he was. Every one of her words had cut into him like a knife, tearing his heart to shreds and leaving him an empty shell. And now as he watched her, she fell, her body falling backwards in what seemed like an elegant swoon. Falling, falling, falling... Falling for what seemed an eternity to him. And he ran, ran to her, the one he loved.

    He caught her as she fell, words tumbling out of his mouth just as the tears fell from his eyes. But it was too late. Lissabeth was dead. Her blue eyes were closed forever, her mouth never to smile at him again. He sobbed pressing his face into her soft hair. And he knew that Cora was just as dead as she was. Had been dead for a long, long time. He didn't know how he knew, but he did. Everyone was gone. He was alone, clutching Lissabeth's body to his chest as he rained kisses on her lifeless face. He was alone, alone to live with his regrets and his broken heart. Alone even as he held the body of his love. He was alone.