50 Drops of Water (1/2)

The lightning archway closed the moment a tear stained face of Bianca appeared within the courtyard. Leo knew what happened and for once, he didn't really blame Will.

He had heard the end result of Bianca's rant before entering the portal. Now he knew that Bianca would doom an entire continent before allowing Will to follow his rightful destiny.

Bianca looked around at the kids she had been put in charge of during the attack. They all wore guarded expressions as they glanced her way. ”What are you looking at?” she yelled at the group. ”Why don't you go find your squat quarters or something, there's nothing to see here.”

She was already upset with Will, she wasn't about to take any more drama from the people Will had ordered back to her world. It was bad enough he had chosen them over her, now she had to share an atmosphere with them.

”I'll go talk to Michael about finding a ticket back to Minnesota for you.” Leo said as he turned to walk to the large double doors of the mansion. ”I have to find these guys a place to live anyway.”

”So that's it Leo?” she yelled as he walked towards the door. ”After all we've been through, this is where it ends? I thought we were better friends than that.” Leo could hear the hurt in her voice, but he was beyond caring. After what she said, she was no better than the corruption that left the two hundred and fifty teens orphans.

”Yep, that's it Bianca. You swore off helping Will.” he stopped next to the door but didn't turn back around. ”What else could there be between us?” Bianca could see the jury within his eyes as he spoke. She could tell he didn't truly wish to say what he was telling her.

”So what if me and Will broke up? What does that have to do with you?” Bianca started walking through the crowd to Leo. ”We have been through too much over the years to let it end like this.” fresh tears leaked down her cheeks as she looked at her best friend.

”Why did we become friends?” he asked Bianca as he put his hand on the door handle. ”Why have we been through as much as we have together?”

Bianca reached for any other explanation besides the one she knew was right. In the end, she stopped short and looked at the ground. Tiny wet drops appeared by her feet. She thought of the many times he hung out with her back in Saint Cloud. Even after Will left, Leo still hung out with her, but at most they had always talked about Will. She was about to tell him it was more than just Will, but she faltered.

”That's right, it was Will.” he finally looked back at her, his eyes glazed over in an uninterested way as if he were just waiting for her to stop talking. ”Without Will, do you really think I would ever have talked to you? Looked in your direction or even trusted you?” every question he threw at her made a fresh new stab at Bianca's heart. She knew he was right, but hearing it was something she wasn't ready for.

”I thought we had more than that now.” Bianca said through sobs. ”I'm only upset with Will, sooner or later I'll come around, you know that.” she was only upset with Will for not putting her first, what was wrong with that? She pleaded to Leo, trying to get him to understand her point of view. It's not as if I hate him or anything. She thought as she tried to grasp to reason.

Leo didn't even blink, instead he did the one thing he could to prove his point. Holding up his fist, a gale of wind and lightning danced around his body, playing with the his baggy clothes and messy hair. His silver and gold sword appeared in his hand and he raised his sword to Bianca. ”Your turn.” he said simply and waited for her.

Bianca looked from Leo to her own ring. The once ruby stone in the center had become a dull silver once more. She didn't even have to call on her power to know it wouldn't come. ”I can't.” she whimpered. She thought of the other times she had called upon her aura, the only thing she could think of was Will. Every time she had her crimson flame, it was to protect him, to support him. Without the feeling of needing to help him, the ring remained the stone color, not even a speck of crimson leaked through.

”Everyone here do me a favor!” Leo shouted at the crowd. ”Show your faith in Will!”

Roy stepped forward with Jacob, their auras glowed around them as if they were lit from the inside. Crimson heat circled the formation only to be blown around by a gale of wind from the new affinity.

Bianca turned around to see a flaming tornado which reached towards the sky. The true meaning of what she had lost was staring her down from above. She remembered the crimson pillar from the fight with Jake. During that time, her thoughts had only been on how confused she had been by Will's comment before the battle. We will talk about this later, he had said before racing to face Jake with Maya by his side. She had been so hurt that he wouldn't bring her for such a fight. He had set her up as one of his generals instead. Resentment poured from her as she looked at the pillar of flame in front of her, a constant reminder that she was not and never would be the one that supported Will.

”You didn't give up on just Will,” Leo started as he put his hand back on the door. ”You lost faith in humanity and put yourself before an entire civilization.” opening the door slowly, he looked over his shoulder at Bianca one last time. ”I think it would be best if you stayed in your room until travel arrangements have been settled.” he walked through the door. ”For your safety of course.” with that, the door shut behind him, leaving a broken Bianca staring at the double doors, too defeated to chase after him.

Bianca couldn't believe what she was hearing. Yes, she had been mad at Will, but she did still care about what happened to him. She thought back to the time she and Leo travelled the Kings Road to each village he had gone to. Leo awakened their lineage weapons and collected them for his friend. He had ensured their safety.

A thought hit Bianca faster than she could process it. What did I do? She thought back to the journey. She had complained about not being near Will the whole time. Leo had to console her as well as take care of the orphans. She acted as a child would while Leo took on all the responsibility. So that's why. She thought as she started walking towards the side entrance. Leo was able to say what he did because it was true. She had lost faith in humanity by hanging every thought on Will.

Bianca turned her teared up eyes to Roy. ”I'm sorry.” she said quietly as she continued her way to the side entrance, hoping not to run into Leo again.

Roy looked at Bianca with anger at first, but then he saw the absolute destruction in front of him. There was nothing left of Bianca to truly be mad at. He watched her with pity in his eyes as she opened the side door.

Bianca looked one last time upon the crimson storm behind her. I am so sorry. She said as she shut the door behind her.