And She's Back! Hey Guys... As you can see, it's a double update just to show you how sorry I am... So sorry... Not satisfied with these at all but I really needed to update... Sowiie.

Anyways, friendly tip: Re-read the four previous chapters so you can get your head in the game again. I had to do the same.

***
Something cold being placed on my forehead stirred me awake.

My burning eyes slowly fluttered open. A thin haze was cast before them, causing everything to appear blurred. Through the haze, albeit, I could make out the outlines of several figures hovering me. Warning bells rang through my head and I suddenly felt like I was in danger.

With a groan, I tried painfully to rise from my pillow. The room seemed to dip and spin as I did so and I was forced to fall back onto the bed.

"Easy there..." A voice from the sea of figures cajoled and wiped the wet thing-a cloth it seemed-gently across my forehead.

"Wha..." I croaked out and instantaneously began to cough. It felt as though I had swallowed mounds of sand from Sahara Desert. To make things worse, there was an obnoxious pain in the side of my head; like I was being hammered repeatedly by an angry caveman.

"Just try to take it easy Aeja..." Another voice said. It sounded distinctly like Lani's which immediately made me feel at ease.

Reassuring myself that I was safe, I closed my eyes and decided to relax.

As I did, everything came crashing back: the kiss with Aiden, the fight with Cade, the dream about my dad's turning.

Just everything.

My headache seemed to augment as those thoughts resurfaced and I groaned in displeasure.

The figures began to converse in hushed tones. It was obvious that I was the topic of discussion.

Why am I sick? I asked myself, then recollected that I had been out in the rain.

"Drink..." I heard Lani say and felt something being shoved inside my mouth. I realized it was a spoon and swallowed the contents in acquiescence.

I almost gagged at the foul taste.

Lani, I think , served me two more doses of the liquid.

Soon after, a thick fog of drowsiness and nausea pervaded my entire body.

My eyelids drooped and trembled. I almost laughed as the looming figures amalgamated then dispersed-an ongoing taunt.

I succumbed to the darkness.
*
When I woke up again, the hovering figures were gone. A dim light was escaping through the window, indicating that daylight was taking leave for a few hours. How long had I been asleep for?

I felt much better than I had before, except for a torrid feeling in my mouth and a slight headache.

Deciding to get some water, I slowly arose from the bed and took sluggish steps downstairs.

I came upon Lani, Cassia and Paige hurriedly packing knapsacks and grabbing flashlights. Where were they going?

"What's going on?" I croaked out.

"Aeja!" Lani cried and ran to embrace me, "You look better."

"I feel better," I smiled at her then reiterated, "What's going on?"

"Oh Niko said he had something to show us so we're heading out to his place."

"Without me?" I frowned.

"Well," she glanced down guiltily, "We didn't want to disturb you since you were sick but now that you're fine then you can come along!"

"Okay. Where are...the guys?"

"Oh they went ahead before us. You know, boys. Always impatient."

I was a little relieved. I wasn't ready to face any of those two.

"I'll drive you after you've freshened up," Katherine, who was doing the dishes, offered.

"Okay," I muttered and climbed atop a stool.

"So meet us there okay?" Paige smiled and gave me a gentle pat on the shoulders. I returned the gesture and nodded. Cassia smiled up at me and gave a gentle nod, then placed the hood of her dark green cape over her head.

She still had that thing?

After gathering a few more items, the girls told me they'd see me soon and left for Niko's. I sat alone in the kitchen with a humming Katherine.

"I see you're feeling better," She looked up and smiled warmly at me.

"A bit," I admitted truthfully and rubbed my temples, "Just this headache."

"Water?"

"Please."

I suddenly noticed the absence of her baby.

"Where's Lola?"

She handed me a glass of water.

"Leo and Dad took her to work with them."

She glanced at her watch and frowned, "In fact, they should be back any minute now."

"Oh..."

I wondered how their Dad was holding up after the unexpected brawl with Aiden.

Katherine studied me for a few seconds.

"You're an empath am I correct?"

"Yeah," I cocked my head to the side, "How'd you know?"

"I'm an empath too..." She stated.

"Really?" I asked and offered to help with the dishes. I didn't know many empaths so it was refreshing to meet another.

I wonder what her abilities are.

"Yes. So was Mother..."

The sadness in her voice didn't go un-noticed.

"You're very strange for an empath," she scrutinized me.

"Strange?" I stopped mid process of putting a dish in the drainer, slightly offended.

"How so?"

"I didn't mean to offend you."

"You didn't offend me."

"Your aura says differently," she smiled.

I shrugged.

"It was just an observation though," she commenced, "Empathy is a very sensitive ability to possess. Unlike most, it requires much serenity and a clear state of mind."

Huh.

"Your emotions and empathy liaise directly with each other- they act as a link," She handed me a dish, "In order to effectively utilize your abilities-and trust me, empathy is not just about reading auras- your emotions must be stable."

I had never heard that before. There wasn't exactly an empathic class back at the academy.

'Not enough wielders of the skill' they'd said. Complete bullshit.

However, Katherine's words had piqued my interest and I wanted to know more.

"So... what are you saying?" I querried, "Is something wrong with my essence?"

"Well," she gave me a quick glance, "Not entirely wrong perse. Your emotions are just a bit...discordant- out of place."

Out of place?

Yes, Sherlock that's what she said.

She continued. "There are many different emotions present: hurt,pain,loss,anger,self-loath..."

I see.

Katherine continued. " Your mind is your most powerful tool. To free your mind is to free your being. The accumulation of these emotions without a filter can destroy you. You do know that, right?"

"Not...really." I felt slightly uncomfortable.

Her hands trembled, "Just like it destroyed mom..."

Whoa, what?

"I thought... Wasn't it sickness that..." I trailed off.

Katherine smiled sadly. "Long story short, she was driven to the pinnacle of insanity."

Holy shit...

"I'm... I am so sorry..." I offered, still a bit thrown off by what I'd heard.

"It's okay... You just have to learn to quell and suppress. That's the technique. I don't mean to scare you or anything but you were ill this morning because of all those feelings bouncing around."

No way. I thought it was just the flu or something: with me being all Captain-Save-Aiden in the rain the previous day.

"I don't expect you to be a brick wall Aeja. You're way too fierce for that. Just take one feeling at a time. Shut down those tabs in your head."

She smiled at me.

"Isn't there like a pill or something I can take to help me if my 'emotions' take a toll on my body again..?"

I mustered up a joke, though there was some seriousness behind it.

"Like antibiotics or Tylenol or..."

"There is no cure for insanity." She stated seriously.

I gulped.

"Go freshen up. We need to head out soon."

Just like that, she'd discarded the entire conversation. That didn't help the way I was feeling either: anxious and jittery from what I'd heard.

By the time I'd freshened up and gotten back the flush in my cheeks, night had already fallen. The sky was painted a compelling shade of black, with strings of clouds floating lazily about and winking masses of galactic gases. The night was simply breath-taking.

Kat ushered me into her car and started out for Niko's. She didn't say much, which I was thankful for. I was busy observing what Hollington looked like at night. It was nothing less than beautiful. The houses were so huge. Damn.

We passed this house with an arrangement of crosses in the front yard. I raised my eyebrow and asked Kat who was trying to keep out vampires. She laughed and told me that it was a preacher's house.

"Makes sense," I commented and kept staring. As the car zoomed past the house, I looked back to see a girl with unnaturally white hair standing at a window, staring at the car. At one point, it even seemed like she was staring at me. I shuddered and was grateful when the car bent a corner.

Niko's house, like every other in Hollington was grandeur. A few personally touches were added though; like the big ass golden lion statues in the frontyard and a massive tree decored with pink blossoms.

How asian-y.

Katherine and I walked up to the porch. She rung the doorbell. It opened to reveal a pretty Hispanic-looking teen about my age. She was fiddling with a bag slung across her shoulders then finally looked up at us.

"Oh hola Katherina," she greeted pleasantly in a thick accent. I half-listened to their exchange of greetings because I was busy poking Simba in the mouth.

"Nia! Hi! I didn't know you were back!"

"I arrived yesterday," she explained and glanced over at me, "¿Quienes?"

"Oh this is Aeja, a Guardian of the Electi."

Nia frowned.

"Oh. You're... her."

I raised my eyebrow at her hostility.

What the hell did she mean by 'her'? She didn't even know me.

"I thought you were indisposed or something," she challenged.

"Well then obviously I feel better," I cocked my head to the side and cracked my knuckles. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by Katherine.

"Where's Niko and the others?"

"Oh they actually just left for the woods.... Out by the old graveyard."

A graveyard? At Night? I didn't like that very much. Had they never heard of Jason?

Katherine shook her head. "No, I have to get back home... Leo just texted and said they were back home, but please escort Aeja..."

Nia picked her nails in disinterest. "Okay."

"See you at home Aeja," Katherine waved me goodbye.

I nodded and watched as her car backed out of the driveway.

"The graveyard is this way," Nia muttered, switched on her flashlight and started off towards the back of the house, "Keep up."

I rolled my eyes and followed her. We walked swiftly across a large field with grazing cows then into a dense forest.

"How much further is this graveyard?" I asked and quickly dodged a tree branch. The darkened forest was creeping me out. The fog rolling out on the ground didn't help either.

She didn't answer; just kept on walking briskly ahead.

"Hey!" I growled as she slipped away into a row of shadowy trees. I made off after her but the flicker of her flashlight was gone.

The hell?

Was this Nia chick nutty in the head? Was this some sort of sick joke? Or... Shit, was she working with the dark clan?

Dammit. That bitch!

I spun around madly, my anxiety building as the sounds of the forest seemingly got louder; the fog got thicker, and the dark? Darker.

A twig snapped somewhere in the forest across from me.

Right, of course, I gritted my teeth. Always had to be the cliche twig snapping.

The sound seemed to have quietened the entire forest, resulting in me feeling even more damn nervous.

I clenched my fist and cautiously walked backwards, keeping my eyes open for anything.

Or anyone.

From afar off, through the fog, I spotted a soft yellow glow. I could've sworn that it was getting bigger.

Or... Was it moving towards me?

The crackling of the trees confirmed my instincts.

Whoosh! A ball of fire sailed through the air towards me.

I arched my spine back, then supported it by placing both palms on the ground.

Before I could move, thick vines slithered up my wrists and around my ankles, binding me in that position.

Okay who the hell was trying to get kinky with me?

The vines gave a sudden tug and forced my body to straighten. I landed on the earth with a loud thud.

With a frustrated grunt, I thrashed manically against the vines but suddenly stilled. Something was slowly sliding up my leg.

Holy shit... Holy shit...

Please let it be a vine and not a sn-

A soft hiss broke my thoughts.

Oh my God.

The snake was now moving up my torso and soon, I was locking gazes with a large, yellow abomination! It's tongue slithered through the fog and gave a soft hiss.

A horrid scream erupted from my mouth as it wrapped around my neck and gave me a gently squeeze.

Not cute or sexy at all!

I clamped my eyes shut as it leisurely moved across my mouth, causing my screams to be muffled against its soft scales.

Suddenly, it vanished.

What the...

I kept my eyes closed just to be sure it was completely gone, then released a shaky breath.

When I reopened them, a figure was standing above me. I stilled and strained my eyes to see who it was. Overgrown brown hair, twinkling eyes and a mischievous grin stood staring down at me.

"Oh hey Kitten. You're finally here."

"Cade," I muttered and rose from the ground as the vines fell from my body.

"What the hell was that?" I shouted and slapped him in the head.

He began to laugh then suddenly stopped, like he'd remembered something. A frown slowly overtook his features. He looked slightly uncomfortable.

Was he remembering our fight?

An awkward silence preceded. It was even more awkward because Cade and I didn't do awkward silences. See? Awkward.

"Cade listen we-"

"Yeah we should probably get going," he cut me off and started walking, "The others are waiting and this fog is getting creepy. Come on."

I sighed and followed him.

We soon entered a large area with an amass of rubble (which I soon found out to be headstones). The fog had dissipated considerably.

"Look who's here!" Niko grinned and flung an arm over my shoulders, "Enjoyed the entrance? Your screams were legendary. Who knew Big Bad Aeja was afraid of snakes?"

I frowned. " That wasn't funny."

"We just wanted to give you a scare." He winked, "Lighten up."

I glanced at Lani, Cassia and Paige.

"You guys were in on this too?"

They grinned.

"The guys didn't really give us a choice," Lani smiled apologetically.

I stuck my tongue out and finally looked at Aiden.

"Miss Cyzek, I'm glad that you're feeling better."

Ah, him.

"Mr Sage," I greeted formally and held his stare, " So am I."

I was the first to look away.

I turned to the Nia chick, " So all that hostility was just an act to lead me into that trap?"

She grinned and shrugged. "No hard feelings chica. A little fun never hurt anyone."

"Nia's my sidekick, " Niko winked at her. I was probably the only person who saw Lani giving Nia the death-glare.

"Kool. Soo, what have you guys been doing out here?"

Niko looked at me seriously. "We actually just got here. I wanted to show you guys something that Nia and I discovered couple days ago. I have a feeling that it has something to do with your uhm...kind."

I raised my eyebrow.

"Follow me."

The group followed Niko as he weaved through the graveyard towards a sparsely vegetated glade.

"Here we go..." He stopped in front of a bunch of trees that looked as though they had grown together to form a circle. There were seven of them in total and were the only trees in that area.

Strange, I thought. I could see that the others thought the same thing.

The seven trees looked eerily different from the other trees I had seen in the forest. I suddenly noticed why. Each tree bore a strange symbol on the bark.

I frowned and walked up to one of them. My fingers slid over the queer symbol.

"Why do you think this has anything to do with wielders?" I asked Niko, still scrutinizing the tree bark.

"Well," he began, "From what I know, in ancient times, wielders spoke Latin. Right Aid?"

Aiden nodded.

"The symbols are latin letters..." Nia told us.

"But...we don't speak latin anymore," Cade commented.

"I know," Niko smiled, "But I do."

"Really?" Lani asked, impressed. I rolled my eyes.

"So what does it say?" I asked.

Niko crinkled his eyebrows in frustration. "Well see, I came up with S U T C N A S."

"What the hell is that?" I asked.

"I don't know."

"Wait," Lani interjected, " Tell me the letters in reverse."

Niko nodded and studied the seven trees, " S A N C T U S. Sanctus."

"Sanctus..." Aiden muttered and repeated the word, as though he was feeling it out.

The word sounded oddly familiar.

"Sanctus Bellators." Cassia whispered.

"Wait," my eyes widened, "As in, The Sanctus Bellators?"

Remember when I mentioned them? No? Well let me tell you again. About 300 years ago, a set of commons, known to us as the Sanctus Bellators (Latin for holy warriors) or Sanctors were on a mission to wipe us out. At that time, not all wielders, especially the young ones knew how to control their power so it was easy for them to be killed by the Sanctors.

To them, we were witches and demons, saying that magic wasn't of God. However, how they could detect us and kill us was a mystery. It was rumored that they had a form of magic themselves, which would be totally contradictory to what they fought for.

"What would this be doing here then?" Paige asked, " I thought all traces of the sanctors were expelled."

"So did I," Aiden muttered, "I think we should leave this-"

"Who are you and what are you doing on Holy Ground?"

We all froze qnd slowly turned around to face the speaker.

Alright, who invited Pope Francis?

The speaker was this burly-looking man robed in white from head to toe with a red scarf thingy around his neck. A long scar ran from his brows to the corner of his mouth, giving him this sinister appearance. He looked to be about late forties with dark hair streaked with aging grey. His eyes were a very light blue with dark circles around the iris.

Creepy.

He placed his palms against his chest in the praying position. A girl with unnaturally white hair stood next to him. She looked really familiar. Wait... She was the girl I saw at the window!

Her eyes were a very pale shade of gray and were deadset on the group. She looked like an unearthly being.

I noticed that a couple more robed figures were a distance behind them, hidden slightly by the darkness.

"Uh, Preacher Carlisle...," Niko spoke up.

"You know this creep?" I nudged Niko and asked through gritted teeth.

"Hardly," Niko muttered, "He's this creepy preacher who moved here couple months ago."

"You again," Creepy Carlisle growled, "How many times have I told you NOT to come around these parts of the woods? This is holy ground."

"Uh, sorry man," Niko scratched his head, "Was just showing my friends around."

Crazy Carlisle looked at us with an unreadable expression on his face.

"I see," he said softly and shared a look with the white-haired girl.

"Don't let me catch you here again. Understood?"

"Got it," Niko gulped, "We'll uhm...leave right now."

Carlisle stared impassively at us as we hurriedly walked past them. As I brushed past the girl, a nauseous feeling overtook my body. I suddenly felt weak and almost tumbled to the ground.

"Are you alright?" She bent to help me up. Her palms seemed to burn my skin and I flailed backwards in fright, hellbent on getting away from her.

She stared at me with a confused look.

"Diana," Creepy Carlisle warned. She gave me another strange look and got up to stand next to her father.

"What happened?" Lani bent to help me up.

"I don't know," I answered as we slipped through the forest towards Niko's house.

I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.

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