The salty tang of the ocean below was carried by the wind as it howled ferociously along the cliffs outside Eirian Vale. With the looming danger of rain, the sky above was a whirling mass of gray. Watching Dorian battle Lila a few feet away, Ana stood close to the edge, her heart racing.
With her red coat blowing in the wind, Lila looked as composed as usual. However, her grin was a façade that barely covered the rage below her poisonous visage.
"You simply cannot let it go, are you able to?" Her voice pierced through the wind's howl as she sneered. "Dorian, you must always be the hero. Always attempting to make things better.
Dorian stood up and fixed her with his gaze. Despite the tempest that was building around them, he said, "What's your endgame, Lila?" in a firm voice. "Why go this far?"
Lila laughed sharply, almost uncontrollably. "You don't understand, do you? Dorian, this was never about you alone. It has to do with power. Command. When you left, you stole everything from me.
Dorian said, "I didn't take anything from you." "You ruined yourself."
Her smile faded as her eyes narrowed. "I thought we had a future because of you. You then threw everything away for her. Her eyes darted to Ana as she spat out the final word like a curse.
As Lila turned to face Ana, her stomach churned. With a shaky but determined voice, she declared, "This has nothing to do with me."
"Everything is about you," Lila growled as she moved in closer. He was unable to let go of you. He was continuously comparing me to that person. He wrecked my life because of you.
Ana's tone was stern as she replied, "Lila, your life was never about me." "You made decisions. You were manipulative. You told a falsehood. You are now the one who must deal with the fallout.
A scowl formed on Lila's lips. "You believe you're superior to me? You believe you are impervious to criticism because of your idyllic life? Her voice trailed off to a perilous whisper as she turned back to Dorian. "Dorian, she is your vulnerability. And I've always been able to take advantage of that.
Dorian moved forward, clenching his fists. "Lila, keep your distance from her. Avoid my relatives.
"Or what?" she said, her smile coming back. "Dorian, what are you going to do? Defend her? similar to how you did five years ago?
Dorian's countenance clouded as the remarks hit a nerve. His voice was low and deadly as he said, "I won't let you hurt her again."
The earth underneath them appeared to quiver as a quick boom of thunder rumbled through the air before either of them could say anything more. The loose rocks were sliding perilously near the brink, making the cliff's edge unstable.
With a hint of terror in her voice, Ana said, "Dorian, back off."
However, Lila remained steadfast in her resistance and just chuckled. "What is wrong, Ana? Fearful of heights?
Dorian looked down at the edge, his stance rigid, and Ana felt her chest clench. His tone was calm but forceful as he repeated, "Lila, don't do this."
With a sarcastic inclination of her head, she questioned, "Do what?" "It was you that followed me out here."
"Enough!" Despite the roaring wind, Ana stepped forward and yelled. "Lila, this must end. All you're doing is ruining yourself.
For an instant, Lila's visage wavered, a glimmer of something—pain, maybe—crossing her face. However, it vanished just as swiftly as it had emerged.
"You don't understand, do you?" Her voice was icy as she said. "I won't be the one to lose everything."
Lila sprang forward, pushing Dorian into the cliff's edge before anybody could react.
"Dorian!" He staggered back, and Ana shouted, her heart jumping into her throat.
Dorian's boots skidded on the slippery pebbles while his arms thrashed for balance. He was able to seize a ragged outcrop at the last second, hanging his body over the edge.
"Aid him!" Ana ran to him and wept.
Lila looked down at what she had done and remained motionless, her face white. She said, "I didn't mean—" but her voice trailed off.
"Lila, please move aside!" Pushing past her and falling to her knees close to the edge, Ana yelled.
"Dorian, wait!" With her hands stretching for him, she called.
"I'm making an effort!" He clenched his teeth and held onto the falling boulder, his knuckles white.
Ana's fingertips brushed his as she leaned as far as she could. "Grasp my hand!"
"I am unable to reach!" His voice was strained as he spoke.
Ana's eyesight became blurry as she stretched further, her pulse racing with fear. "Dorian, you're not falling. Not today.
Dorian made one last move, swinging his free arm upward and grasping Ana's wrist with his fingers. The weight made her gasp, and she pulled as hard as she could, her muscles straining.
She said in a tremulous voice, "Hold on." "Please wait."
Dorian responded, "I trust you," in a steady but scratchy voice.
Lila staggered back behind them, her eyes wide with surprise. She said, her hands shaking, "I didn't mean for this to happen."
"Then assist us!" Ana's voice was desperate as she yelled.
Lila paused, a puzzled look on her face. However, after a little pause, she took Dorian's other arm and assisted Ana in bringing him back to the ground.
Ana's body shook with relief as she put her arms around him as soon as he was secure. Her voice was full with sorrow as she murmured, "Never do that to me again."
Dorian's breathing was labored as he hugged her close. He vowed, "I won't."
However, the moment was fleeting. Lila stood a few steps away, dread and shame plastered on her face.
"Lila," Dorian stated firmly. "It's finished. Whatever you're attempting to demonstrate, it's over now.
Her stubbornness ultimately broke as her shoulders drooped. Her voice was almost heard as she murmured, "I... I didn't want this."
"Then leave," Ana stated in a firm voice. "Prior to losing what little humanity you still possess."
Lila remained still for a long time. At last, though, she turned and went slowly and unsteadily back toward the trail.
With her pulse still pounding, Ana looked back to Dorian as the storm started to pass. She framed his face with her hands and said, "Are you okay?"
His eyes softened as he added, "I am now."
Ana's lips parted as she looked into his eyes, gasping at the intensity of his feelings. And she allowed herself to think that they may have a future together for the first time in years, if they could weather the remaining challenges.
However, a sensation of dread persisted long after the wind subsided, serving as a subtle reminder that their battle was far fro