It was a bad idea. That is what Eleanor’s superiors told her. But she didn’t heed their warning. At first, nothing amiss happened. All she had to focus on was building shelter and finding food and clean water. She was trained in survival, so it was easy. But, it was on her third day things went wrong. Her superiors told her the island was haunted. The island was a sentient being but not one of goodness. The island would appear at first “normal,” but that was just an illusion to encourage the inhabits to stay longer, so later on, they could not be able to escape its horrors. Her mission was to find the Black Gem at the center of the island and destroy it. Her idea was to go alone because an invading army would be too conspicuous considering the island is sentient.

Things went wrong. Eleanor expected she would fight off native monsters. However, she was captured on the third day she was on the island. Not by the creatures but by a group she did not expect to be there. They were from the Black League. They were the ones who captured all the other gems on the island except the Black Gem. They took her to their lair and threw her on her knees before their leader on a makeshift throne. She had tried killing him long ago but failed. She looked up at him and froze. He had the Black Gem on a ring.

When he spoke, she broke out of her stupor. “I have to say, you are a hard weasel to find.” She tried her best not to roll her eyes. It was easy to gain his trust since they were cousins. At first, she was hesitant in killing him considering they were close during their childhood. Due to his association with the Black League, she convinced herself to get rid of him. Since she had failed, she had to plot a way to kill him now before anyone tried to kill her, including her cousin. “What should I do with you?”

“Nothing,” she muttered under her breath.

“What did you say?” he asked curiously. He always had this weird calm disposition when he was angry.

“I said go to hell, Jacob!”

He laughed. “We are already in hell.” This time she rolled her eyes.

“Okay, look Eleanor. I like you and all, so I really don't want to kill you.” She sighed in annoyance. “Hear me out. So, because we were close when we were young, I think we should have that bond again.” She was about to shout how he betrayed her and went to the Black League when all his minions disappeared.

“What happened to them?” she asked as she stood up.

“Look, I had a long hard talk with myself…” She had to remember he had this tendency to converse with himself. “…and myself told me I should not betray blood and should eradicate all the Black League members just for you.”

“Why?”

“Myself pointed out you were the only one who was there for me when others were not.”

“You mean ‘accepted you’ despite your quirks.”

“Yeah. So, why don’t we live on this island together?”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why?” he asked getting irritated.

“I need those gems.”

“I destroyed them all but this one.” Jacob pointed his finger with the ring towards her face.

“No, you didn’t.”

“How so?”

“You combined them.”

“I always knew you were smart. How did you figure it out?”

“It would have left marks on your body including your face. At worst, it would have destroyed you along with it.”

“True.”

So, I need that ring.”

“Let's make a deal.”

“What deal?”

“Rule with me, and we can each have half the ring.”

“I need to destroy the ring.”

“That will not happen.”

“Why?”

“This ring gives me power.”

“Why do you want to share that power with me when you could keep it all to yourself?”

“Remember the tale your mom told us.” Eleanor’s eyes widened. How could she forget that tale?

“Yeah.”

“What happened to that man?”

“He combined the Gems as you did, became powerful, and conquered the world. However, the Gems consumed the man a year later.”

“It sucks the life out of you. But there is a way to get around that. It is said if the Gem is divided so two or more people who are related can wield its power, it will take longer to suck you dry.”

Eleanor gulped. No way was she going to do this. “I won’t do it.”

“Well, you see…” he drawled. “I do not need your permission to get what I desire.”

She knew she had to end her life. She was the only person related to him who was still alive. Before she went on her mission, they had given her a suicide pill to carry in her mouth in case any of the island’s monsters captured her. She didn’t hesitate to bite down on it. Jacob laughed in Eleanor’s face when nothing happened. “I neutralized it so it won’t kill you. You are useful to me, and I can't let you die.”

She turned on her heels and ran. She barely reached the exit door when something invisible tripped her and dragged her back to Jacob. She kicked and screamed but to no avail. An unseen force whirled her upright so she could face Jacob.

He stood up from his makeshift throne and walked over to her. The Black Gem elongated into a sharp blade. She tried struggling, but she couldn’t move. He thrust the abnormally sharp Black Gem into the middle of her forehead. She lost consciousness before she could register the pain. She collapsed onto the ground when he removed it from her brain about a minute later. He divided the Black Gem into two and placed the second Gem on a ring he created out of nothing. He lifted her middle finger and put the ring on it. He stood up and gazed at her still form. One of his minions appeared out of thin air.

Jacob ordered, “Take her as far away from this island and her superiors.”

“Almighty, what if she comes back for you?”

“I erased her memories. As long as we keep her away from anything to do with her past, it will be difficult for her to remember.”

“Should I keep tabs on her?”

“Yes. Make sure she is alive and healthy. This can only work if she is alive and her memory is wiped.”

The minion nodded. Then, he picked her up and walked to the exit. Jacob returned to his throne and sighed when he sat down. He watched them leave and smiled when the door closed behind them.