Ollie's incessant need to be by Ben's side every waking minute was tearing at my heart more than it should. After her shifting interests over the past year pullulating promise and taking it just as quickly away, watching her around him now only cemented the death of all hope. There was no going back from what had happened to her. Whatever had flicked the switch in her head threw her as far away as possible from me and right towards Ben.

So I did my best to avoid looking at them as we walked around Cologne the next morning, taking in this tourist attraction and that tourist attraction. Ollie hadn't had the chance to see much since she had moved to Europe... so we thought we should at least let her get somewhat of a taste of travel while we were here.

Anything to keep us away from Windeck for as long as possible.

"This is spectacular," the red-haired girl ended up exclaiming as she craned her head to take in the twin spires of the Kölner Dom. "You wouldn't believe this was bombed in the second world war."

Following her line of sight as I took in the flying buttresses, pinnacles, and arches, their exterior fading to grey, I recalled its appearance just before. Back when the sandstone was almost white. "Well it was," I couldn't help but mutter back to her. "I remember looking at it not long after it happened."

"You saw it?" she asked, head immediately whipping towards me, voice tainted with way too much excitement. Almost as though she missed talking to me... which was unfair.

I gave her a curt nod before saying back, "Some of the only times I was free from my uncle's demise was during the wars."

All joy from her face immediately dropped, that familiar pity creeping in. Though the longing that often came with her gaze was long gone.

How did you just turn it off, Ollie?

And how do I do it?

"Did you guys want a drink?" Ben asked, breaking our eye contact.

Ollie was quick to face him, smile plastering back across her cheeks before she said, "Yes, please."

"Sure," I muttered, still studying her as though I could find the answer to my previous question etched somewhere within her features.

Though the moment Ben was out of our sight, she turned back to face me. Smile falling again, she said softly, "Are we okay?"

"Of course, Ollie," I said back, though we both could hear the lack of conviction to my tone.

"Did I do something?" she pressed.

Shaking my head, I stepped forward, closer to the building and hiding my face from her. I didn't want her studying me. I didn't want her trying to understand me anymore.

I just wanted my uncle gone.

Then I wanted my feelings for her gone.

I wanted the pain to stop.

Though Ollie was relentless on her path for answers. "Because I feel like I did," she went on, still pressing on the 'what did I do' debate.

For a brief moment, I considered running from her and this conversation. But something about her need to find out despite giving me the cold shoulder irked me too much to leave this conversation. So, instead, I finally faced her, just like she wanted. And also like she wanted, I spat back, "What do you want me to say, Olivia?"

She winced at me calling by her full first name—a thing I only did when mad at her, which she knew.

"One second, we're in the pool, having a moment, and I'm thinking that maybe you actually like me... then next you're all over Ben again." I'm going to have to wipe this conversation, I realised immediately after the accusations left my mouth. Though let's at least get this out considering I've started it... might be cathartic.

"What does it matter if I like you or not?" she snapped back. "You should be glad I've gotten rid of those feelings considering you've got that other girl to worry about. You don't need me contributing to your confusion."

Your sudden 180 is contributing to my confusion. "Sometimes you are so dense, Ollie."

"What does that mean?" she demanded.

But I merely shook my head at her before turning away. Taking a deep breath, I muttered, "Nothing."

She mirrored my sigh before breathing, "I just want us to be okay."

"We are fine."

"Well, it doesn't seem it..."

If you would stop breaking my heart—. No. If I could just go away so you don't have the power to break my heart... then we will be okay, Ollie. Then you and I will be the best friends we can be and... that will be it. That will be us. I won't have to hurt anymore.

Lips pursing though as I took her in, here eyes were full of sadness but only the pitying kind... not the old type that seemed to be agonising in longing.

How had I missed for so long that Ben's Ollie liked me? My Ollie was right... it was so obvious. Now that it's gone... I know what an Ollie who cannot like me looks like.

"How can you just be over your feelings suddenly?" I suddenly asked out loud. And then, as if my body was on autopilot, my hand raised to her face, prepared to touch her.

But she flinched away.

"Normally your heart would flutter at that," I whispered.

"Oh, so you enjoyed toying with me even though you were gaga over someone else?" she grumpily said back, no jealousy clouding her gaze anymore.

"You seriously don't get it, do you?" I asked back. Surely she had some clue... unless she wasn't even capable of recognising my feelings for her now.

What changed? I couldn't help but wonder again.

"Get what?" she asked, head cocking to the side as genuine confusion moulded her face.

"Ollie... Yesterday, when I went to see my dad..." Because that was the only other time she was alone... so unless it was what she saw... "Did my mum say anything? Do anything?"

Her brows pulled together before she shook her head. "You were barely gone a second for us to talk about much."

My brows immediately shot up at her answer. "I was gone for a good ten minutes."

Ollie stepped back. "What? No. It was, like, a minute."

Immediately, my eyes roamed her face, searching for a sign in her... starting to put those final pieces together as I realised what may have happened. Though, needing to confirm it, I said, "Can you give me your hand for a second?"

"Why?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Just... trust me." Please, Ollie.

Ever so slowly, she raised her hand from her side. And almost as if the idea repulsed her, she slipped it into my waiting hand.

Pulling the magic from my core up through our touch, I immediately began raiding her body.

I hadn't done this before.

But I knew such things could be done.

So I searched and searched through her, sending my magic all over, looking for any shred of spell remaining in her that wasn't me... And then I felt it. Warm, bright, and laced with darkness... I knew it anywhere.

I dropped her hand at once, eyes flying back open. "I can't believe she did that," I hissed through clenched teeth.

"Who did what?" she demanded.

Though, at that moment, Ben returned. Drinks in hand, he passed them out to us, before asking, "Everything okay?" His eyes zeroed in on Ollie's hand, still hovering where I dropped it.

Glancing at Ben and the youthfulness that had returned to his face since him and Ollie made up yesterday, I bit back telling him.

There's no point anyway, my barely beating heart whispered.

"It's fine," I grumbled back. "We will leave it."

I started to turn back to the cathedral behind us, but Ben's hand shot out, gripping my arm and stopping me. "No, what happened?"

Brows shooting up in shock, I examined Ben for a moment, wondering why he was so interested... and if he was really sure he wanted this conversation in front of his girlfriend. Though I only responded with the first part. "What do you care?"

"I... we... we used to be good friends," he stuttered his start as he seemed to search for the right words. "And I've done a shit job at being yours ever since Olivia came into our lives. I owe you to be there for you again, like you were always there for me."

I've heard you care before... and then you went and told Olivia something else. So I said back, "You don't want to know this."

"Tell me," he insisted, not even glancing at Olivia. Eyes locked on me, his face pleaded with me to open up.

"Are you sure?" I pressed.

And he nodded, determination filling his gaze.

"Okay... I warned you." I took a deep breath, waiting for him to tell me to stop. Waiting for him to request to talk about it privately. But when it never came, I blurted out, "My mum bewitched Olivia."

Ollie stumbled back in shock, half-shouting, "Bewitched?"

Though Ben was surprisingly unfazed. And the fact that he wasn't made my stomach squirm.

Did he plan this with her or something? I immediately began to wonder, not putting it past him after everything...

"Keep it down, would you, Ollie?" I hissed at Olivia before turning back to Ben, seeing if he had changed his expression at all.

Though Ollie was determined to hog the attention. "Sorry... what do you mean 'bewitched'?"

Before I could open my mouth to explain, Ben interjected, "It means his mother wiped part of your memory." Then he heaved a sigh. "A conversation you two probably had. I had a feeling when you told me yesterday that you had a dizzy spell with her."

That's why he's not surprised.

"Why would she do that?" Ollie asked back.

"To cover her tracks most likely," I muttered, my mind starting to race as to what she felt the need to hide... and how that made Ollie so set on Ben. "Cover something she doesn't want me to know about your conversation... or a spell she potentially did to you."

What spell could do this though? I still had my bond invitation... so she hadn't wiped that. Which means Ollie's end is still there. So how can she go from having feelings for me one second to—

"Like what you did to the girl you like?" Ollie asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

My jaw instantly dropped at her question as I watched the anger pooling in her eyes. "Yeah," I muttered before looking away, not liking the look brewing.

"That's absurd! How dare she wipe my memory!" Ollie spat, almost seeming like she wanted to throw her hands in the air.

"Calm down, Olivia, it's okay," Ben said.

Though she began to pace, doing the exact opposite of calming down.

"How can I calm down?" she spewed. "She invaded my mind and took something from me. It's wrong."

So Ben's Ollie would hate me if she knew... Not that it matters anymore. She doesn't like me.

As if he couldn't help rubbing salt into my wound, Ben muttered, "Your best friend did it to someone."

Gaze lifting to him, his eyes widened as he glanced between us. Clearly we weren't meant to hear that comment.

His brows turn down, apologetic notes masking his expression.

Though Ollie went on. "Yeah, and it's shit he did it. But I know he had his reasons, as horrible as they were. But I swear, Lukas, if you ever wipe my memory or bewitch me or whatever, I will make you a head shorter. I will never forgive you."

Her words were like a slice to the heart.

She would never love me again.

And if she knew what else I had done... what she asked me to do... she'd never be my friend.

What hope was left of us?

What was the point of anything anymore?

Though, in my silence, Ollie tense up. "What? Have you bewitched me before?"

Lifting my gaze, I took in her shocked face. Then I glanced at Ben, who was frantically looking between us, also not sure what to say.

Because, what should I say?

Do I just get it all out now while she's mad at the world? Add me to her list of people she hates and fuel that rage that will help her take out my uncle?

Or do I bury it? Hope this lie doesn't come back to bite me and cross my fingers that, after all this, we can still even be friends.

Before I could find something to say back though, Ben answered for me. "He didn't," he said. "He's only ever done it to one person... and it's that girl."

I heard the unsaid in Ben's statement.

That girl... that girl is long gone. Whoever this Olivia was... I didn't recognise her.

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

Eventually we managed to calm Ollie. And once she had vented out all her anger, she left Ben and I alone as she went to visit the bathroom.

Sitting on a bench, waiting for the red-haired fairy to reappear, Ben whispered quietly, "Olivia told me about Anja."

My head snapped up, eyes turning to meet his. "Why would she—" I started, rage pouring out from my mouth.

But Ben said, "I'm so sorry, Lukas. I wish you had opened up to me... I wish I knew that this was why, this whole time, you've never trusted anyone or let anyone close."

"What difference would that have made?" I forced through gritted teeth, turning away from him. I wasn't sure who I was mad at anymore—Olivia for telling him, Ben for bringing it up, my dad for telling my uncle, Rüdiger for killing her... or myself for letting her die.

"You wouldn't have been living with this pain alone."

"But does sharing pain help?"

"You said you told Olivia everything before... did it not help when you told her then? Or even retold her?"

Heaving a sigh, I turned my gaze to my lap. "It helped at the time to know someone knew. But... What was the point in letting her in?" I shook my head. "Just forget it."

"I won't forget it. And I will help you through it. As will Olivia. As will all of our friends."

"I don't want anyone else knowing," I quickly said, finally meeting his glistening blue gaze.

"Why?" he breathed. "We're your friends, Lukas."

"Firstly, telling people won't bring her back. Besides... They are my friends... now. If they knew what I did—"

"You didn't do anything. Your uncle—"

"Killed her. I know. But... I didn't stop him."

"He chained you up in the—"

"To get me to do something, Ben. He tried my whole life to see if I had magic. He started in the nice ways through all sorts of experts training me... but emotional training was the last way. He thought perhaps it was locked in me and only through absolute... necessity... would I be able to pull them out. But I held on. I stupidly held on and—" I choked on my words.

"I'm sure you had your reason."

I shook my head, that familiar lump coming to my throat. "I didn't have my own reason. All I knew is mum said not to show him. And that's what I did. It wasn't until later, when I was out, when I learned of the history of this continent and the fear he's inflicted on people to gain powerful mutants for his army that..." I heaved out a shaky sigh.

"Maybe that's why your mum did it," Ben then whispered.

"Tell me to hide it? I mean, yeah, I figured that out event—"

"No, bewitched Olivia."

My eyes narrowed in confusion.

"Maybe she could see what was going on between you two... She knows you well enough. If my dad figured it out, it's no wonder she did... Maybe she didn't want you to go through that again. Maybe she didn't want Olivia to be another who suffers at Rüdiger's hands."

"You think she was protecting her?"

Ben shrugged. "You wiped Olivia's memory to sever the bond... to protect her from anyone finding out about your connection so he couldn't use that on you. Maybe your mum picked that up."

Pressing my lips together, I muttered, "Perhaps. But... what good is knowing that?"

"Maybe... maybe there's a way to reverse what she did. Once we—fingers crossed—deal with your uncle tonight, maybe we can undo what she did."

"You want Olivia to have her feelings back for me?"

"I want Olivia to have feelings that are hers. What's going on now isn't genuine... I love that she loves me so much right now, but... I can't live with this forever. I can't... I couldn't possibly ask her to spend her life with me and have her say yes because she's under some spell. Any step I'd take from here... marriage, a house, children... her agreeance... I will always question if it's genuine or if because she's compelled to."

Compelled... "Mum did a compelling spell," I breathed. "Meaning there'd be conditions. Which explains why she isn't wavering..."

Ben nodded slowly.

But I sighed. "We will undo it. But I'm still going to break the bond."

"Lukas—"

"Whether she loves me or not, whether she'd leave you for me or not, I can't live a life with her while she's bonded to you, Ben," I confessed. Because these past twenty-four hours were torture. And if she's always going to be swayed by him because of their connection...

"Then maybe... maybe there's a way for her and I to break our bond."

"Break your..." I raised my head. "Why do you tell her one thing and me another?" I demanded.

"Because... when she's alone with me... I just want to keep her a little longer. Even if she wasn't mine first—"

"She's yours now, Ben. End of story."

"But she should be able to choose. She should be able to have her memory back and decide—"

"You can't break a bond, Ben. You know the laws. There's only one way and it involves death."

"You two broke your—"

"I have mind magic. Neither you nor Ollie have that. Meaning death is the only way out. Just... I won't be so heartbroken when the bond is gone, okay? Eventually I will be fine with it all. Eventually we will all be friends again. And I will happily smile from the sides as you and Ollie start a life together, get your own place, get married, have kids... But just stop trying to push us together as is. It won't work if the three of us are tied in these fucked up ways, okay? Only one bond can exist and considering mine and Ollie's is the only one that can be broken with no one dying..."

We both fell quiet as Ben started to accept the reality.

And as we both began to wonder where Ollie was.

Though just as I was about to say something, she appeared in the distance, walking back to us.

As she slowly sauntered our way though, Ben leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I need you to promise me something, Lukas."

"What?" I said back, not really wanting to promise him anything.

"If things go wrong tonight... I need you to get Olivia out safely. Prioritise her, okay? Even if it means leaving me behind."

"Why do you assume—"

"You both have magic. She's designed to kill us and you're a powerful fucking wizard who your uncle won't see coming. While I'm... Just a vampire. Not even a good one."

"Hey," I said softly, not liking hearing him talk about himself like that. As much as he irked me, he wasn't less of a mutant just because—

"Promise me," he said again, more urgently, as Ollie almost came into hearing distance.

"I won't let anyone harm a hair on her head," I said back.

"And if anything happens... take her and run?" he asked, eyes pleading.

And I gave him a firm nod, not liking the determination in his gaze at his question, but trying my best to not read into it.

Because the three of us would get out safely.

I'd make sure of it.

No way would I lose anyone this time.

We all know what's coming in the next couple of chapters... And not saying I'm going to tell you the answer in these chapters, but I will tell you at some point. So cast your predictions here. 

Was Ben's death:

a) An unfortunate accident that occured as Ben tried to save Olivia

b) A planned event by Lukas wanting to wipe out the one person standing between him and Ollie

c) A planned event by Ben, not wanting to get between Lukas and Olivia anymore

Those who guess correctly... I will give you a shout out when I finally reveal the answer... whenever that may be.