FIONA's POV 
"Yeah..." Louis replied, his eyes narrowed down. "Nick, can you get her a slipper?" he nodded then returned with a black slipper. 

Louis gestured for me to sit, he lowered himself and raised the slippers to my feet. "I think this belongs here," he slipped the diamond ring on my middle finger.
...
I just finished my breakfast when I received a text from a private number, it read "Fiona, let's meet on the riverside." I never got Louis' contact after I changed my phone so I suspected it must be him. 

"Why would he change the venue? He said we should meet in the park yesterday" I said internally.

I wondered if Louis had something to say to my Mom, it didn't matter, she couldn't brainwash me this time. I left in a black shirt, bootcut jeans and shoes. 
...
I took off my shoes to feel the warmth, the wind whistled through the trees and waves broke on the shore. I breathed in the fragrance of a serene environment.

I thought it was best to tell Mother where I stand now, it's up to her to accept it or not. I was about to move closer when footsteps like an army of elephants surrounded me.

The men in black clicked their guns "Freeze" My heart jumped to the right side of my chest. 

I predicted their number to be thirty from the corner of my eyes. I slowly raised my hands. "We met again." They made a way as a tall blonde man walked in, I never wanted to see that face for a long time.

"I was starting to wonder why Louis was attached to this country" He looked around then continued "I'm impressed he came to his senses and texted your location," he said in his baritone voice. 

My heartbeat echoed as time froze for a second "W-what are you saying? Louis will never do that!" my eyes glistened as he raised his phone as evidence "This is his last message. It's all about the money." 

I wanted to believe the opposite but the evidence... it can't be "If you surrender we won't hurt you, otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate to blast your brain," he said. 

I darted to the footsteps coming from the forest, Louis' eyebrows rumpled at the scene "How? Why're you here?" 

The blonde man tapped his shoulders with a smile "I received your text, smart move" Louis arced a brow "What text?"

Griffin slow-clapped and moved closer "Great, so everyone got my texts. Let's start the party" The men at the left diverted their guns "Freeze"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, it's metal" He smiled as the guns pointed to their heads. "Griffin, what's going on? Explain" I half-yelled. 

"I sent a text to the Walters, I had to use you as bait cuz they're obsessed with you" he shrugged. 

"Why would you do that?" I inhaled. Griffin smiled, "to kill them, imagine a world free of mystic hunters. As the last mystical people we should put weaker creatures in their places!" he frowned 

"I will cleanse the world of the disease called humans. Starting with the influential ones," he grinned at their direction. 

"Griffin stop! We're not like them, you're better than this. Don't abuse your power, not all of them are bad" I frowned. 

Griffin's smile vanished "You're testing my patience, you're either with me or with the humans. Win or lose?"

I shook my head and stared at him, "This isn't right, I won't let you kill innocent people." Griffin's laugh echoed "You choose to protect those who want you dead? Bad choice but don't worry, I'll grant you your death wish" He transformed and punched my face.

I rubbed my bruised cheek then raised my head "Everyone! Take cover in the river, she'll protect you" The men raced to her. Louis was pulled by his dad as he was on his way to help me. 

Mom built a bubble around them. Now they're safe and I can concentrate. "You won't leave here in one piece" He kicked my ribs.

"Shut up!" I yelled then transformed. He flew as I struck a roundhouse kick, I ducked at his flying kicks.

"Devil's chain!" Griffin's eyes gleamed purple, "let's play a game called fifty perfect scars" He moved at the speed of lightning leaving sharp cuts, "That's ten, forty left." 

Griffin swirled his chain, his grin exposed all thirty-two teeth. I lunged, he countered my attacks from all corners. Griffin pulled my chained neck and smashed my face with his knee. I wiped the trickled blood from my nose. 

Green vines uprooted and bound his body, I shot a bolt of fire, he bounced on the floor with a trail of smoke. I blew a medium tornado from my mouth then froze him in it.

"I'm done playing," he scowled. Griffin swung his chain, it sliced beneath my eyes as I threw a backflip.

"Next time I'll burst those eyeballs! Hehe!" he chuckled. 

Griffin grabbed my face, the walls cracked as he shoved my head in it. I hyperventilated and fell, I knew I was no match for him. If I die this earth will turn into a wasteland—like the mystic world. 

If I use my head I might win. I crawled with a little strength in me. Griffin yanked my foot with the chain "Die! Die! Die!" he laughed like a madman and stomped on my head severally. 

My eyelids got heavier, everything was blurry. "It's over" Griffin walked away, I could hardly breathe, I gazed at the red moon from afar, I guess my time was up.

My eyes widened, and a strange power surged from within—like my heart was burning. "Die, Griffin!" I sprang up and jabbed him, he stumbled miles away. He gripped the ground as he tried to stand. 

Where did that strength come from? Was this the true power of a Salvin? It's like my body is controlling itself.

I raised my hands to the heavens, a blue magic circle fell from the sky "I call upon the spirit of the blood moon, lend me your power of spells! Activate the seal of hell!" the ground cracked under my feet as its light shone surrounded by a great wind. 

"Not bad, student" Griffin smirked before he was vaporized. My eyes opened in shock "I-I did it" I said then darkness overtook me. 
...
I forced my eyes open and gasped, I turned to the beeping dashboard, bandages and drip on my hand. I darted to Louis resting on the white bed and smiled, I'm so relieved he was alright. 

"Wait! I can't be in a hospital" I half-yelled. "You're alive!" Louis hugged me "Ouch! Careful" he moved back "Sorry, are you okay? I was worried sick, you scared me to death back there" he sighed. 

"I'm not gonna die so easily, you know?" I gave him a reassuring smile, "I don't need this either" I pulled the drip and slipped into my shoes. 

"where are you going?" Louis held my hand. "I shouldn't be in the hospital, my DNA is-" 

He cut in "I know, this is my house. I insisted so Dad allowed, Daniel is the scientist that knows about your kind, he brought you here" 

I gazed at him and murmured "He still knows?" then Louis nodded "Just him and my Dad, the guards were acting weird after the battle" 

"Hypnosis, they forgot all about me," I said. "Ehem... it didn't work on my Dad and he was at the scene" Louis whispered. I chuckled "Cuz I left him," I looked through the window, there were no stars today, only the red moon and dark clouds. 

"But why?" He said, "I just felt it was the right thing to do." I felt it would be easier for Mr. Walter to accept me as a non-human who saved his life than a random ordinary girl. 

"You should be resting," Louis rubbed my shoulders from behind, my eyes narrowed to the bandages "I'm fine, it hurt a little, that's all." 

Mr. Walter walked in with the scientist "She should be completely recovered by now" he scribbled on a book. Louis' Dad nodded then signaled us to follow.

My eyes met with Louis, he shrugged at my unasked question. I had a bad feeling about this.

We arrived in an enormous white room, the couches, tables and flower vases had some gold designs around their white body. The ceiling and carpet were like a baby lamb. I peeked under my shoes to check for a grain of sand.

"Please sit" he motioned, "thank you" I forced a smile and sat with stiff shoulders. Louis gave my hand a light squeeze with a smile.

We turned our heads as he cleared his throat and darted to me "First, I would like to thank you for the sacrifice you made for humanity but-" he paused. 

"If you expect something more from me and my son I'll have to decline" He raised his hand as Louis was about to speak.

"I want Fiona to reply" His gaze pierced into my soul, a light shiver ran through my veins. If I get intimidated things will be tougher, I didn't want to provoke him either.

I raised my face and smiled "I'm grateful for the free treatment, but with all due respect Sir, I won't leave your son, I can't" He arced a brow like he was telling me to repeat myself. 

"Why?" he said, "I love him, believe me, I tried to stay away but it did more harm than good. So we decided to travel on this rough path together" I caught a glimpse of Louis' grin.

Mr. Walter observed both of us for a while, "Your confidence is indeed commendable. I can tell your love is genuine" I nodded in satisfaction and turned to Louis. 

"If you want approval on your marriage you have to work five times harder to keep the company on top. If you fail I'll seize both the company and Fiona to make money, do we have a deal?"