It's dark out. Almost twilight as the wood crackles at the bonfire. It radiates warmth to us as we sit huddled up inside a large blanket.

Aiden smiles at me and I smile back at him. He brings one marshmallow up to my mouth, and I lean in to eat it, but he takes it away. I pout at him. He brings the marshmallow back near my mouth and I don't give him the chance to pull it away. I bite the marshmallow with his fingers.

He let's out a grunt and glares at me. I start laughing at him and his anger fades away as he starts laughing along with me.

However, suddenly I see Aiden stiffening and an arrow poking out from his chest as he drops to the ground.

"Aiden. No! No!"

I look around to see the source of the arrow but find nothing but darkness in the wilderness. I must save him. I try lifting him up but he grunts again and says, "No. It's too late. Just let me be here."

He caresses my cheek for a while before life ebbs away from his body and he lies still in my arms.

Pain resonates in my body and my body shakes. Darkness surrounds me as I feel suffocated.

Suddenly, a voice breaks through as I feel lightheaded.

"Wake up. It's just a dream. A nightmare."

Aiden. It's Aiden's voice. That means he is alive.

Groaning I get up to feel sparks all over my arms. My head feels heavy as I wrench open my eyes and squint at Aiden. He is fine.

"Shhh, Shh. It's alright. I am here. You are okay. You are safe." Aiden says, pacifying me.

I look at him and hug him, overcome by my emotions. My eyes well up with tears as I sob. He hugs me back but then senses my sobbing and starts patting my back in a soothing manner.

I hug him tightly, drawing him closer to me. Warm sparks fly across my cheeks, where they are pressed against Aiden's neck, and I close my eyes, relishing the sensation.

It was just a dream. Everything is okay. He is safe and with me.

'What is wrong?' He inquires via our mind link.

'Just a bad dream.' I say, refusing to let him go.

We stayed like that for a while before he gently let go of me. He tucks my hair, falling over my eyes behind my ear, as I stare at my hands in the lap. He gently grabs my chin and tugs it up. He looks at me, assessing, before he asks out loud.

"Are you fine?"

I nod at him and lean back. He looks hurt at me for breaking our physical contact.

Sighing, I look around and recognize our surroundings. Hospital. We are at a hospital and the events that took place come rushing to me.

Adrian, Giasemi and Abigail. What a mess this is. All of them must be torn.

"Umm Aiden?"

"Yes." He says, looking at me in worry. He must have seen fear on my face.

"How is Abigail? Adrian and Giasemi?" Aiden let out a sigh at my words.

"It is too much of a mess. Abigail is crying uncontrollably. I managed to convince her and dropped her off at her parents place. Adrian. Well. He is ecstatic but also upset and hurt at the same time. He feels bad for Abigail and Giasemi refuses to accept him. She thinks that Adrian and Abigail were dating. The Fae regard mate bond as sacred. They remain celibate and wait for their mates for centuries. She does not trust Adrian."

My eyes widen at his words. That sounds complex.

"But then why did the Fae king Aalstor want you to marry Maria?" I ask.

Aiden sighs at me and says, "Nothing escapes you; does it?"

I smile sheepishly at him.

"Well, Maria's real mate died when she was eighteen."

I open my mouth to ask how her mate died but his eyes flash and go out of focus. Someone must be linking him.

"We have a lead."

Finally. Both excitement and anger courses through my veins as I look at him.

My eyes widen and I ask, "How?"

"Well, that lab tech that attacked you was being interrogated, as were the men we captured at the cottage. They do not know much. They were fresh recruits. They were offered human blood for their ailing family members. But the lab tech, Harry, was getting emails. He was administered a vampire incitement shot. That is why he smells weird."

"What did he say?"

"He overheard some men—vampires—talking about a witch. A witch who knew of you."

It can't be. They can't be talking about her. That witch. It is highly unlikely for them to know about her.

No. No. No. This can't be happening. I am part Fae, which is why my blood is different. But what has that got to do with that witch?

I feel my breathing getting irregular. I am unable to breathe.

My eyes roam around the room as dark images flash before them. Blood everywhere. Wherever I can see. I crawl out of bed and curl up in the corner of the room.

Someone is screaming. I look around. I can see no one who is screaming. No. I don't want to hear the screaming. Raising my arms up, I hold my palms against my ears as I try to block out all the voices.

It has been many years since I felt like this. I hear the sound of footsteps coming near me.

"No! No! No!" I shout as I curl up into myself.

I don't want to see this. I don't want to hear those screams. That witch. I don't want to remember her.

"Hey, Aurelia. What's wrong?" Somebody crouches beside me and hugs me, comforting me.

Sparks erupt all over me. It is Aiden. I lean in, finding comfort in his embrace. I feel my breaths slowing down and coming down to a normal interval.

"Bella? Now tell me. What happened? Was that a panic attack?" Aiden asks me.

I nod at him and try to say something but choke on my words and start coughing, my whole body shaking. Aiden runs towards a jar of water placed on the bedside table and fills an empty glass with water. He rushes back to me and offers the glass.

I smile tentatively at him and say, "Sorry. Yes, it was a panic attack. I don't like remembering that witch."

"Oh and why is that?" He asks, sitting beside me. He stretches his legs out and leans his back against the wall. However, he turns his head towards me, staring at me.

I sigh as the memories flood into my brain. That cursed day when I lost my parents.

Flashback starts...

It is dark. Mommy and Daddy brought me to a strange house. They are worried a lot. They fuss over me. I shifted yesterday; my hand turned into a claw. Mommy is tense. A lady opens the door. It is dark inside too. There are many candles lit all over the place.

It smells like sugar is burning. Another lady stands in front of me. She is white. She wears a long skirt and a shirt. She has pretty necklaces made of brightly coloured stones around her neck. They are pretty. I want them.

I tug at my mom but she shushes me and walks towards the lady. She puts my hand into hers. The lady crouches to my level and says, "Hi Aurelia. Do you like chocolates?"

Chocolates. I love them. She takes a chocolate bar out of her pockets and gives it to me. I take it from her and tear the package, putting the bar in my mouth.

It is yummy. She holds my other hand as I finish eating the chocolate and starts chanting something. I get this overwhelming feeling of going to sleep. My eyelids feel heavy and close on their own accord.

However, sounds of someone screaming wake me up. Mommy, Daddy. Where are they? I wake up and see my mother lying beside me. Her eyes are open and there are tears in them. I can't find my dad. Something red covers my mommy from her chest down.

I look around and see the witch too, lying in that red liquid. I look down at myself. My hands are red. They are also covered in red.

Suddenly, the door bursts open and big boys enter the room. They are very big. Bigger than my uncle. They wear a uniform of some kind. Do they go to school too?

One of them comes and picks me up. I don't want to leave my mommy. I want to be with her. I wail and shout, crying as he takes me away from my mommy.

Flashback ends...

I mimicked his posture and let out a big sigh. "We went to a house. Me and my parents. My first shift was when I was four years old. Many memories are hazy but this one I remember clearly. Mom and Dad were worried.

They took me somewhere. A house in the forest. There, I met that witch. She held me and started chanting. I fell asleep. By the time I woke up, Mom and Dad. They were—"My voice breaks off, trying to let those words out but failing to do so.

"They were dead. I was beside my mother's dead body. The witch was dead. And all three of us were covered in blood. Grandma told me that my dad's dead body was found in the other room."

Aiden looks pained at my words as he brings me close to him and hugs me tight. My hands raise to hug him back but then I control myself and stop. I can't lead him on like this.

The mention of the witch in this mystery is proof enough that my presence is dangerous. Adrian was attacked because of me. Even Aiden was kidnapped, even if it was his plan for trapping them.

I move away and he looks at me in question. "Bella, I know it is painful for you but try to remember. Do you know the address of that witch? Anything that will help. Please try to remember."

I sigh and rub my temples, trying to remember anything useful. Wait the...

Word Count: 1719

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