ARROWS

Aunt Ruella led me to a house near the cafe. A flight of spiral staircases made me sick the moment we stepped in. After a few moments, we reached an old living room that had a large bookshelf on one side and several couches neatly settled on the other. The floorboards creaked as we walked around. There's a large window that overlooked the whole village. Even Liondalle can be pictured perfectly from this angle.

"Where are we?" I asked, amazed with all the floating orbs that lit the room.

"This is my house, Aza. During school breaks, you're free to come here. Treat this as your third home." She smiled at me and sat down on the floor, playing the orbs with her wand. I furrowed my eyebrows. "Third?"

"But, of course! You're firsy home's the one you have in the land-dweller's world. Your second home's Liondalle.. So doesn't this make it your third?"

I shook my head. To be honest, I can't even consider Liondalle as my second home. Shit happens. People there aren't comfortable with me around. I mean, yeah, maybe some students would talk to me in class and the teachers are really nice in their own twisted little ways, but I can't help but feel a sense of longing. And deep inside, I know my greatest desire is to return to the land-dweller's world. I want to be with my sister.

Aunt Ruella smiled in amusement.

"You don't have to explain."

I raised my head. "What? You used some Teletransition charm on me?"

Auntie stood up and dusted her blue robes. "There's no need for that. Your eyes speak for yourself. But I must warn you, my dear.."

She then stepped closer towards me and placed her hands on my shoulders. An uneasy smile crossed auntie's face and suddenly, her eyes told me a different story.

"Your emotions will be your downfall. There's no room for that in the MidWorld. Guard yourself."

What?

*

I'm on my way back to the castle. Auntie Ruella had some business with some Furballs. Fluffy balls that can talk and cuss. How wicked can this world get? As I passed by the stores, I spotted some students from Liondalle. My eyes searched for Beau and Nat but I can't see them from all the unicorns popping out of nowhere.

"Umbracolis Majori,"

My head shot towards the origin of that voice. I'm pretty sure it's a spell and I just can't help but wonder what's it for. But suddenly, a black figure came running towards me at full speed.

"Ah!" I shielded myself with the use of my arms and closed my eyes. I was in that position for a few more seconds when I realized that wasn't any impact. The heck?

And when I opened my eyes again, I saw several shadow figures dancing in the streets and passing through other wizards as if they were ghosts. So, that one just passed me by? I then noticed a man, covered in a black hood, controlling those puppets with the use of his red wand.

"Wow.." He's some sort of puppet master?

"Better close that mouth of yours Sterlings, or else I'll summon a Tigle and let him creep up on you for my entertainment."

I froze when I recognized the voice of the man standing next to me. I glared daggers at Matt who smirked arrogantly at me. "So, you choose to talk to me after ditching me last night in the training room?"

He rose an eyebrow. "It's not my fault you waited up on me 'til midnight. By the way, you suck at sneaking up after curfew hours."

"What the f----!"

"Yup. Lincoln told us about it."

I shook my head. I can't believe this jerk! "You two aren't even close!"

He shrugged and started walking away. "I have my ways. Ciao."

In frustration, I stormed after him. He was heading to Liondalle too, so that's out of the question. I struggled to keep up with his long strides.

"You're an asshole, you know that, Clintwood?!"

"You're welcome."

I stopped in my tracks and crosses my arms over my chest. "What's that suppose to mean?!" But in a split second, he pushed me to the ground and shouted,

"Vencilia!"

My eyes widened in amazement as a semi-transparent force field erupted from the tip of his wand. But when shocked me more, was the fact that arrows where shooting from a certain direction, scathing the force field Matt enchanted.

After the last arrow, he dismissed the force field and grabbed my hand to pull me onto my feet. I steadied my breathing. "W-Where did those came from?!"

Matt Clintwood's eyes bore into mine.

"You need to be careful from now on."

"Why?"

"These arrows," he motioned towards the wooden arrows with sharp, steel tips lying on the ground, "..were for you."

My jaw dropped and I'm pretty sure I heard him correctly! F-For me?! He's got to be kidding right? But when I glanced down at the arrows, something in my churned. A feeling of danger rushed towards me and I scanned the area for any sign of life.

Shit. We were already at the ground trail that led to the castle gates. The forest stretched on each sides of us and the village seemed too far away. The someone did try to kill me.

"W-Who would want to kill me, Matt?" My hands shook with fear. Matt boredly grasped my hand and pulled me closer. His breath fanned my face and I can't help but smell his minty and musculine scent.

His eyes caught mine and a concerned glint crossed my features.

"No matter what happens, you have to stay near me. Got it?"

That made me more confused. Matt Clintwood sighed and stared at the direction where the arrows came from. I can see his jaw clenched and his breathing became shallow.

"Do you have a choice? We're both aware that you're not capable of protecting yourself yet.. And until then, I'll be the one to beshield you from harm."

I calmed myself and hestitantly nodded. Creepy things are happening around here and I'm not liking any bit of it.

***