Aria's POV

Ugh, fuck...my fucking head.

I sat up slowly, looking around my room. It was dark, and I was alone.

What did I do last night? Did I get hit by a bus or something?

I stood up, my legs wobbling slightly as if I haven't used them in a while. I then walked over to my vanity, confusedly getting ready for the day.

Making my way down to the lobby, I heard loud chatter coming from the kitchen, and realized I was late for breakfast.

"Oops..." I mumbled to myself before stepping into the entryway of the kitchen. The first people to spot me were Alastor and Angel, since they were facing the doorway.

"G'mornin to you, toots!" Angel said with a wide smile, and then everyone else turned to look at me.

Thanks, Angel.

I gave them a smile and wiggled my fingers in a wave. Charlie gave me a look that was almost resembling relief, then she smiled widely.

"Good morning!" She chirped and everyone else said something of the same. Except Alastor, who just kept his eyes on me intently.

His stare made me slightly uncomfortable...mostly because I felt like I looked awful.

Slowly I made my way to my seat, sitting between Alastor and Angel. The chatter started up around me again, and I breathed out softly. My brows furrowed as I tried to remember last night.

All I remember is heading to my room for bed...and then waking up. I guess I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something.

"Dear?"

Alastor's voice pulled me back to the present, and I hummed.

"Are you not hungry?" He asked me, and I looked at my still empty plate. Quickly I grabbed some food, and chuckled.

"No I am...sorry, I just woke up feeling a bit weird today," I apologized and he waved it off.

"Nothing to be sorry over dear...we all have those days," he said with a toothy smirk that made me feel a bit warmer in the face than I'd have liked.

I ate a piece of bacon to hide it, and the rest of the morning passed by in a blur. The headache I had was splitting, and no matter what, it wouldn't go away.

Rubbing my temples would help for a moment, but then the feeling just came right back to the forefront of my skull. I decided to head somewhere dark and quiet. 

My room.

Getting up from the bar where I'd been sitting with Alastor and Husk, the men paused their conversation to look to me.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna head up to my room..." I said weakly, and Husk grunted. Alastor stayed silent.

I could feel his eyes linger on me as I walked away, and it made me shiver.

Once up to my room, I collapsed into my bed with a heavy groan. My head was pounding, and I couldn't seem to focus on anything other than the pain.

Suddenly a knock on my door made me flinch, and I sighed. It's probably Charlie wanting to do some hotel activities or something...I'm really not in the mood.

I opened the door, already beginning to explain I just need to lay down.

"Hey Charlie, I really don't feel great—" my eyes widened at the last person I expected.

"Alastor?" I asked, wincing away from the light the door was letting in.

"Hi," he said softly, "May I come in? The light seems to be causing you pain," he said and I hesitated, but decided it should be fine.

It's not like he's going to knock me out to perform some sort of ritual on me.

I allowed him inside, and shut my door, sighing at the relief the darkness brought.

"What brings you by?" I asked him. Normally when he comes by, it's because of something either business or serious.

"Nothing...just checking on you," he said, and my ears laid back.

Oh...

I blushed slightly, but shook it off and cleared my throat, "o-Oh...that's nice of you..." I said and he hummed.

"So, dear, do you feel alright?" He asked, turning to face me. His arms were behind his back, his eyes casting a glow since my room was so dim.

I stared up at him, swallowing to wet my suddenly dry throat.

"I-uh...yea I'm...I'm good, I just...my head hurts kinda bad," I explained briefly, and to put it lightly.

The look he gave me then was almost guilty, his ears twitching backwards just barely before perking up again.

He sighed, stepping closer to me.

Great, now my head is pounding along with my heart.

The warmth in my face kept growing deeper, with each step he took and my brain went over the situation in my head.

He's either about to do something completely normal, or he's going to kill me.

As worry wormed its way into my head at the threat of the last thought, my body forced me to take a step back away from him.

Suddenly, a memory hit me hard.

Flashes of me backing away from Josh in my kitchen, then me stumbling over my coffee table as he yanked my hair.

Him pulling at my pants as I screamed and cried, then glass shattering around my head.

You actually came...

Of course I did...

I gasped and blinked rapidly, shaking my head. Alastor gave me a concerned look, leaning down slightly.

"Are you alright?" He asked me gently, and I nodded quickly.

I'm confused as to why looking at Alastor triggered a memory like that. I didn't want to worry him, though, so I put on a smile and fought back the reflexive tears.

"Y-yea! Yea, sorry, just...my head, it's killing me," I chuckled nervously with a shrug and he hummed.

"Ok...come here, I think I can help," he said, gesturing me towards him. I was hesitant, but for some reason I trust him.

Of course I'm scared of him, but I also have a deeply rooted feeling of trust in him that I can't explain.

So, slowly, I stepped forward.

I felt his fingers brush against my skin as he pushed my hair away from my forehead.

Then he firmly pressed his palm against my forehead, his touch feeling cool against my burning skin.

I tensed up, but then slowly the blinding pain behind my eyes lessened. Then it dissipated completely.

My body relaxed as the pain subsided, and I let out a soft sigh, closing my eyes.

"I'll add that to the list of cool shit you can do..." I chuckled softly and he did as well, removing his hand from my skin.

"Feel better?" He asked curiously, and I met his eyes. Finally, I was able to see straight, the headache completely gone.

"Yea...I think I'm gonna stay up here and have some me time, though, so if anyone asks...you were never here, ok?" I said, poking his chest teasingly.

Little gestures like that from me don't seem to bother him. In fact, his eyes lit up at the contact and he smiled wider.

"Of course, sweetheart," he said with a wink, and I thought I was going to melt.

I need to pull my shit together. What is it about this man that's making me so flustered?! I used to never get flustered easily!

I watched as he turned and left my room, closing the door softly. A breath I didn't even know I was holding exited my lungs, and I immediately went and jumped into my bed, burying my head into my pillow.

The memory I had while he was here...why did him being here trigger that? The more I thought about it, the more confused I became.

Then suddenly my eyes widened and my lips parted slightly as I recalled one crucial part of that memory...

Josh left town around the same time I did.

He should not have been anywhere near my new house, nor even known I was home.

Unless...he never left at all...

So then why do I think he did...? Now I'm not too sure...my brain is telling me two different stories...

My brows furrowed in confusion as I buried my fingers into my hair.

Why can't I remember why he was there?! Where did he go?

And who the fuck was the other person?

Of course I did...

That soft voice bounced around my head. It sounds so far away...hazy.

I growled in frustration, cursing the blotchy parts of my memory that refuse to clear up.

Sighing heavily, I turned over in my bed, deciding to just sleep off this weird feeling in my chest.

The feeling I've had since I woke up in hell.

The feeling that something is missing.