After two weeks, Dante was nearly completely healed. He was still under observation, but in his own room. Isabel stayed in the room with him. If she wasn't in Dante's room looking after him, she was plastered to the king and queen's side. The slash on Isabel's face was healed too, although she did have a small scar.

Isabel was on strict palace arrest. She wasn't allowed to leave the palace unless the king or queen accompanied her. She didn't want to leave the palace anyways. At least not without Dante.

No one has seen or heard from that guard since he nearly killed Dante. Isabel was completely paranoid at this point. She didn't eat or drink anything unless she saw it being prepared. She didn't let anyone more than arms length near her or anyone in her family. Isabel tried to avoid any and all palace guards as possible. If that one guard betrayed the princess, who says the other guards won't betray her, as well?

"Isabel, darling, feel like training today?" the queen asked peaking her head in the door of Dante's room.

Dante was asleep and Isabel was sitting next to him in bed reading.

Isabel said nothing. She didn't even look up from her book. She just shook her head.

The queen sighed and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. She walked over to Isabel and snatched the book out of her hand and closed it, putting it on the desk.

"Hey? What are you doing?" she said.

"This is an intervention. You haven't trained in weeks. You've barely left this room since Dante got hurt. You've got to come out, eventually. Might as well start today." she said opening the binds in the room. 

Isabel shielded her eyes from the sudden blast of light. 

"I don't want to train, okay?" she said taking her book off the desk and opening it again.

The queen took a deep breath and calmly walked over to the bed again. She removed the book from Isabel's grasp once more.

"I am the adult. I am the queen. You will train because I commanded you to do so. Now get out of bed and come down to the caves. You have ten minutes. If you aren't down there by then, there will be consequences." 

"What about Dante?" Isabel said.

"He'll be fine. Hurry up. Get dressed." the queen said walking to the door.

She held the book up.

"And this..." she said waving it around, "is mine for now. Now come on. Let's go. You have nine more minutes."

Isabel smiled slightly. It was the first time she's smiled in a couple of days.

Isabel looked at Dante, kissed his forehead, and got out of the bed. She ran to her room and got dressed in under three minutes. Then she raced down to the caverns.

She hasn't been underground since Dante was nearly killed. When she entered the caves, it was hard to breathe, the walls felt like they were closing in and everything looked and sounded like it was far away. She was breathing rapidly. She sunk to her knees and covered her head with her arms. Her body turned into fire the same way it did when she was first given the Gift of the Phoenix.

The queen came rushing to her side.

"Isabel? What's wrong honey?" she said worried. The queen couldn't touch her because of the fire surrounding her body.

Isabel couldn't speak.

"Remember, your emotions fuels your powers. Calm down. Relax. It's okay." the queen said in a soft tone.

Isabel tried to take a breath to calm down. She calmed down enough to extinguish the flames, but she was still having a hard time breathing and seeing.

"Okay, okay. Come on. Let's go back outside." the queen helped her to her feet. Isabel gripped her chest as she walked.

Once they were outside, they sat on in the soft, green grass. Isabel closed her eyes and held her breath. She felt the grass between her fingers and on her feet. She had to remind herself that she was outside. Nothing could collapse on her now. Only when she was finally able to breathe did she open her eyes.

"What happened in there?" the queen asked.

"I... I don't know. The walls were closing in and I couldn't see. Everything sounded and looked like it was far away. I never felt like that before. Being down there, it reminded me of how close I came to losing Dante." she said.

"Oh. That's what it was." the queen said nodding.

"What?"

"You had a panic attack. That's completely understandable. A man held you hostage and when Dante tried to save you, he was nearly killed. Not everyone can handle a situation like that. It'll get better." the queen said. "I'm really sorry I made you go down there. I didn't think about that."

Isabel waved her hand dismissing the topic.

"Don't worry about it. I didn't know I would react like that, Aunt Alicia. To be fair, I haven't been underground since... you know." she said.

There was moment of silence. The queen cleared her throat.

"You feel like training still? Out here? You are a little rusty... I mean after what just happened, you could use the practice." she said winking.

Isabel laughed.

"Really? Are you talking about what just happened? Too soon. Way too soon." Isabel said. "But yeah. Out here is perfect."

They both stood up and began their training. Isabel learned how to better control her gift. If she was angry and her flames was out of control, she had to think about something or someone that made her happy. She learned how to created a whirlwind of fire. She was taught how to channel the Gift of the Phoenix without her emotions. She even learned how to grow her fiery wings on command.

"This. Is. Amazing." Isabel said flying through the air on her wings.

Isabel misjudged the landing and she fell on her knees and laughed. It was the first genuine laugh in a while. Isabel's laughter was contagious. The queen started laughing too.

Isabel made her wings disappear and laid on her back. She watched as the clouds moved slowly across the sky. She took a deep breath and exhaled.

The queen cleared her throat.

"So, this is really bad timing, but I have some news." the queen said.

Isabel sat up and looked at her curiously.

"What is it?"

"I don't know how to say this so I'm just going to say it. The king doesn't know this and you're not going to tell him, okay?" she said.

Isabel nodded.

"I went to this, uh... oracle, of sorts. This woman, Genovia, helped me and the king find you. She was the one that told us about you."

Isabel held up her hand.

"Hold on. What is an oracle? And how did she know about me if you didn't?" Isabel asked.

"An oracle is someone who can give prophecies, predict the future, or recite the past. And that pretty much explains your second question. Anyways, I went to Genovia a few days after Dante was hurt. You locked yourself in your room and said hardly anything about what happened. So I went to her seeking answers about this traitor... without the king's knowledge or permission."

"Okay. And what did you find out?" Isabel asked, a little afraid of the answer.

"She said that... she said the traitor is no where to be found. She said that even if he is in the kingdom, she can't see him. He must be shielded by some kind of magic. Genovia can see anyone in the kingdom, as long as they aren't charmed by magic." the queen said. "Genovia doesn't even know his name."

Isabel took a deep breath.

"It's fine. It's fine. Right?" she said, trying to convince herself.

The queen shrugged.

"I don't know. But I do know that we have to be on high alert for the time being." she said. She stood up and wiped the dirt off herself. "We should get back to the palace now."

Isabel stood up and followed the queen to the palace. The queen escorted Isabel back to Dante's room.

"Thanks for forcing me out of my depression, Auntie." Isabel said chuckling.

"No problem. I'll always be here for you. Especially to drag you out of your room." the queen said winking. "Now go look after your man."

Isabel smiled and quietly opened the door as the queen walked down the hallway.

When she went in the room, Dante wasn't anywhere in sight.

Isabel looked around frantically.

"Dante?!" she said throwing open the closet.

He wasn't there.

"Dante?!" she said running into the hallway. She started having another panic attack.

The door next door burst open and Dante appeared in the hallway pulling his shirt back over his body.

"Isabel? What's wrong?" he asked pressing gauze up to the wound in his abdomen.

Isabel sighed with relief.

"Oh thank God!" Isabel said running over to Dante and giving him a hug.

Dante winced and grunted.

"Sorry." Isabel said pulling away. "Where were you? You scared me. I thought the guard took you."

"I'm fine. I was just in the bathroom cleaning my wounds and replacing my bandages. It's okay. I promise. I'm fine." Dante said.

Isabel sighed and forced a laugh.

"I'm really really sorry. I just... I'm scared." she said.

They both went back to Dante's room.

Dante sat in the chair and Isabel sat in the floor with her back against his legs, with a blank expression on her face.

"Tell me. What's bothering you?" he said.

Isabel turned around and sighed.

"I've been having panic attacks. Since this whole thing." she said motioning to Dante's wounds. "And to make things worse, the queen told me that she went to go see an oracle."

"An oracle?" Dante asked with his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah. Anyways. She said that the oracle, Genovia, had no idea where or even who this guard is. The oracle can see anyone in the kingdom, unless they are protected by magic. The queen said that the oracle couldn't see him, even if he was in the kingdom. Genovia doesn't even know his name. She knows nothing about him. I'm scared, Dante. What if he comes back?"

Dante sighed and stretched in his chair, wincing in the process.

"We will cross that bridge when we get to it, okay? As of right now, we just have to keep level heads. Try not to freak out every time I leave the room for one second. I know you're afraid, but it's alright. We'll get through this together. I mean.... I haven't died, yet." Dante said, laughing.

Isabel elbowed him in the leg.

"Shut up." she said smiling.

Dante stood up and groaned.

"I'm laying back down now.... Less painful that way."

Isabel laid flat on her back in the floor as Dante laid on the bed.

"So I was wondering --"

"If you could go see the oracle tomorrow?" Dante asked, finishing her sentence.

Isabel sat up in the floor.

"How did you know?"

"We've been dating for months. I think I know you by now." Dante said.

Isabel laughed and stood up. She got in the bed with Dante and laid down. Dante had his hand over his wounds. Isabel moved his hand away and created her healing fire in her hand. She's been healing Dante's wounds slowly over the last few weeks.

Later that night, Isabel couldn't sleep. She was thinking about what she would say to the oracle. She was thinking about what the oracle would say to her.

When the sun finally rose, Isabel got a shower, got dressed, and went to see the oracle. Dante accompanied her.

"Are you sure you can do this, Dante? I don't want you to rip open your stitches."

"I'm fine. Besides, there's no way I'm letting you go by yourself."

Isabel shrugged.

They both went into a part of the forest they've never been in before.

Earlier they asked the queen where they could find the oracle. She told them to go through the Unfettered Forest, turn left at the big stone, and down a huge hill. She said the house would be camouflaged. The only way to get the house to revile itself is saying the words Révéle-toi, which means 'reveal yourself' in French.

When they finally reached their destination, they spoke the words. The woods around them shimmered with light and then a charming, yet creepy house appeared in front of then.

"Enter." an echoey, blood curdling voice said.

Isabel looked at Dante and shrugged with her eyebrows raised. Dante nodded and then they both went in, cautious of their surrounding.

When they entered the house, it was dark. Then, the door closed behind then and then torches lit up around the room, one by one.

The two royals looked around the small hut. They saw a young, green eyed, blond hair woman sitting in the floor in the middle of the room.

"Please, join me, Princess Isabel and Prince Dante. I am Genovia. But you already new that, didn't you?" the woman said.

Isabel and Dante sat on the ground.

"We're here to--"

"Find out more about the guard that poisoned you, yes?" Genovia said.

"Yes. Is there anything you can tell us about him or his magic?" Isabel said.

The oracle shook her head.

"All I know... all I can sense, is that he is very angry. He has a cold and bitter heart. He will stop it nothing to get what he wants." Genovia said.

"What does he want?" Dante asked.

"I don't know." she said looking at him.

"How do you not know? I thought you knew everything." Isabel said.

"I don't know everything, but I do know more than most." the oracle said.

"Like what?" Isabel said crossing her arms.

The oracle looked at Dante and scanned him up and down.

"I see you are hurt. It will get worse the more you fight it. The more you deny it."

Isabel creased her eyebrows and looked at Dante.

"What is she talking about, Dante?" Isabel asked.

He shrugged and looked stunned.

"I--I don't know."

"Come now, don't lie. You know I see and know all. Tell her, dear child, tell her what's going on, on the inside." Genovia said.

Dante started to sweat and fidget.

"What do you mean?" he said nervously.

"Your wounds aren't healing as they should. You're keeping things from your girlfriend, the princess." the oracle said.

"What is she talking about?" Isabel asked again.

"Will you tell her, or shall I?" Genovia said.

Dante looked at Isabel, then Genovia, then Isabel again. He sighed.

"My wounds... they're healing on the outside, but--" he looked at Genovia who raised her eyebrows. "But they are getting worse from the inside. Katia said I'm slowly being poisoned on the inside. Soon it will spread to all of my body and then... well, you know."

Isabel felt a mixture of emotions. She was furious, worried, and sad, but mostly furious.

"HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!" she said standing up. "You know how much I worry. How scared I am that something is going to happen to you. But you sit there knowing that this is happening!"

Isabel started glowing, slightly, and she felt the negative emotions and thoughts about to break through. She took a deep, shaky breath. She stopped glowing.

"I'm sorry." she said sitting back down. "How long?"

Dante looked at her with a blank expression.

"How. Long." she said again.

"About three more weeks."

Tears began to surface and a lump formed in Isabel's throat. She nodded and blinked the tears away. She looked at the oracle and cleared her throat.

"We are not here for you to reveal all of our secrets to each other. We are here to find out more about the traitor." Isabel said coldly.

The oracle bowed her head.

"Of course, your highness. But I have none of the answers you seek. But I have what you desire." she said.

"Enough of the riddles!" Isabel hollered.

"What is it you truly want, Isabel Grace?" Genovia said.

Isabel started to say something but then she stopped.

"I want this to all be over. I want Dante back to his normal and healthy self. I want to find this sick bastard who poisoned me and Dante. I just want everything to go back to normal!" she said.

"I can only help with one of those things. What has happened cannot be changed. But what happens in the future is never concrete." she said.

"What can you do?" Isabel said.

"I can heal Dante. But it comes at a price." she said.

"I don't care. Do it." Isabel said. "No matter the cost."

The oracle nodded. Her eyes glowed a vivid green. Green smoke surrounded everyone. She put her hands over Dante's wounds and began chanting.

"Ripristinalo, curalo. Ripristinalo, curalo." Genovia chanted in a foreign language.

Dante's eyes glowed green, like Genovia's. He winced and and screamed as Genovia began to heal him. Then, a sickly green liquid came out of Dante's eyes and nose. Genovia lifted her hands from his wounds and then Dante's eyes stopped glowing. Genovia kept chanting and evaporated the green poison into thin air. Dante collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Isabel ran to his side. The smoke cleared and the oracle's eyes returned to normal, as well.

"Is he okay?" she asked, afraid.

"He'll be fine. That was his body's natural response to the pain he endured while I released the poison from his body." the oracle said.

Isabel nodded and looked at Dante, then at Genovia.

"Is there anything else I need to know?"

Genovia nodded.

"Something is coming. Something ancient, evil, and powerful. You will need help from everyone you love to defeat this threat." the oracle said.

"What is it?"

"I do not know. It is something much older than I. And I am over two thousand years old. I don't have the answers you seek." Genovia said.

"And you call yourself 'the oracle?' What kind of oracle are you, anyways?!" Isabel yelled. "You know what... I don't even care. You're nothing but an imposter."

Dante opened his eyes and suffered a coughing fit. He sat up and took a deep breath.

"What happened?" he said.

Isabel broke her stone cold gaze with Genovia and looked at Dante.

"Genovia cured you. No more poison. You're gonna be okay." Isabel said kissing his face.

Dante stood up and stretched. He looked over at Genovia and Isabel who were staring each other down.

"Uh... what did I miss?" Dante asked confused.

"Nothing. Let's go." Isabel said walking out the door.

"Wha-- Isabel wait!" Dante hollered at the closed door. He turned back to Genovia. "What's going on?"

"I told her that someone, something is coming. But I don't know what. She wants more information that I cannot give to her."

"I'm so sorry. I'll talk to her."

"It's okay. Just let it be. Now go, be with your girlfriend." the oracle said.

Dante nodded and left the house. Isabel was sitting on a stone bench outside the house, waiting for Dante.

"What is wrong with you, Isabel?" Dante asked. "Genovia's done all she can. She's told us all she knows. So what's really going on?"

"Ever since it was revealed that I am a princess, everything has gone wrong. People attack me and my family. Fist Merlin, then that guard. And now we have a new threat? Something that even the God forsaken oracle doesn't know?!" Isabel said.

"We'll get through this. We always have. I've said that before, but that doesn't make it any less true. You need to trust people I know that is hard with everything going on. But your aunt trusts Genovia. So should you. She healed me. I would be dead within the next few weeks if it wasn't for her. Doesn't that mean anything?"

Isabel sighed.

"Yeah. I guess."

"Come. Let's go home."

Isabel nodded.

They both headed to the palace in silence.

Once they reached the palace, Isabel couldn't bring herself to go in. She just stood in front of the palace, looking at the walls.

"Isabel, what's wrong?" Dante asked taking her hand.

"Huh? Oh nothing." she paused. "I was just.... Did you know that ever since I was a little girl I wanted to live in this palace as a princess, not a servant."

"No. But isn't that every girls dream?"

Isabel laughed.

"Yes. But since that dream came true, it's ruined everything. Everyone I love has gotten hurt, in some shape or form. I can't sit by and wait for this new threat to come find me. Ha. No. I'm going to find it." Isabel said with a determined look on her face.