Trisa was already fast asleep when Ella entered their room. A blanket was casually draped over her legs and she lay face up, left hand hanging over her forehead. She didn't stir or pretended not to.

Ella glanced away at her own bed and slipped off her shoes and outer clothes. Clad in a simple night gown, she sat on her bed and was about relishing the comfort of the furniture when she heard a voice.

"Ella." It came as a whisper.

"Ella."

Thinking that she was just hearing things, Ella shook her head after taking her hair out of its ponytail.

"Ella, I know you can hear me. Come outside and let's talk." Ella looked at Trisa. The voice wasn't hers.

It baffled her how a person could speak in whispers from outside and yet she could hear the voice quite alright.

"There's no time, Ella." The voice persisted.

Quickly, Ella left the room and stood at the door. "Alright, I'm here." She whispered.

"Step forward into the darkness."

Ella did as she was told and was greeted with the figure of a young girl of about sixteen if she wasn't mistaken.

"My name is Romera. I'm here to help you."

Ella almost snickered at the frail girl. Between the both of them, who needed more help?

"I'm not a frail girl. You need my help more than I need yours, Ella." Romera spoke.

Ella's breath stilled in awe. "You-"

Romera sighed, flipping her curly white hair. "I read thoughts, there, happy? Can we go already?"

"Go? To where?"

Romera rolled her eyes impatiently. "You ask too many questions, human. The Prince is in danger, come on." She held out her right hand to Ella who noticed a silver staff in the other hand.

Ella hesitantly grabbed Romera's little fingers and immediately their skins touched, Ella felt a sudden rush of energy around her and a blinding bright light enveloped them, transporting both girls to another realm.

"I call it transitioning." Romera explained after they appeared in a deserted church with cobwebs covering every single furniture around.

"Where's this place?" Ella gazed at everything her eyes could find. Old bibles, ribbons, pieces of clothes...

"It used to be a church before the Blood Witch cast a spell on the villagers. She's moving fast, Ella. She wants to take over Aria."

So, Brian was working with a force?

"Brian doesn't know what's coming, Ella. He's the least of our worries, once the Blood Witch enters Aria, I'm sorry, but you'll lose all those you ever cared about there."

Ella frowned. "Could you try not to invade my mind next time?"

"Sorry, I can't help it." Romera apologized, leading Ella down a small passage beside the altar.

"Cathy, we're home!"

Home? Ella wondered but she followed behind silently. There was nobody around to save her even if they were planning to harm her.

Romera showed Ella into a vestibule that now served as bedroom, sitting room and kitchen for the people living here. There were two beds pushed up beside the only window in the room. Other items like chairs and tables and some weird looking items were at the left and at the right was a cooking area. Surprisingly the place was spotless and a smallish figure was fussing over some dishes.

"Bring her in." Cathy or whoever she was instructed, not bothering to glance black.

Judging from the voice, Ella inferred the owner was about thirty or forty in years.

"She's here." Romera sinks into one of the uncomfortable looking chairs, leaving Ella standing awkwardly.

"Wha-" The lady turned bearing a huge smile. Her physical appearance wasn't as bad as her height. She was pretty, her long white hair was pulled together in a messy pony tail.

"Ella, welcome, welcome. I was making lunch. Just sit over there with Mera, I'll be with you shortly." She continued stirring the contents in a pot placed above the naked flame of a stove.

Ella did as she was told. They entered into an awkward silence until Romera jumped up

"I forgot to feed Jackie, Ma. I'll be back." Romera skipped out.

Ella waited for the strange woman to finish her cooking. Additional minutes passed and she was done.

"I know you probably have several questions. I'll attend your all of them now." Cathy occupied the seat Romera had been in.

"Right now?"

Cathy nodded,  picking a jar of candies and sticking one in her mouth.

"Who's the Blood Witch?"

Cathy crossed her legs. "Her name's Willow, she used to be a sweet innocent girl until she got possessed by some demons after a ritual some witches carried out on her. They needed a young virgin to carry their goddess, Samira, and Willow was the best fit. Samira requires blood every full moon to thrive and Willow does her dirty deeds. However, Samira's picky about the kind of blood she needs. This time it's royalty blood she craves."

Ella paled. Eric.

"Charity is safe at Arthur's mansion, Annabelle is the least of Willow's worries. Eric is the target, Ella."

That explains it all.

"How about Brian who stole the throne?"

Romera entered into the room again. "It was all a ploy to drive the Prince closer to her." She told Ella

"What's Becca up to?" Ella questioned.

"Wendy is Willow, Willow is Wendy. The Black Bandits are under a spell and believe me, you won't gain their trust, no matter what you do." Cathy answered.

Romera drank from a cup. "You're fighting against something bigger, Ella."

"You have to leave the Black Bandits' camp, Ella. Willow is coming for Eric. She needs his blood."

Ella had read about stuff like this in books and her mother told her stories about bad witches but it was the good that always prevailed in all of them.

"The Prince is-"

Cathy raised a finger and rose. "Ah! Yes, Mera told me he had lost his sense of free will. Willow through Becca has bewitched him so he wouldn't listen to a thing you say. But, I'm going to give you a little something-" She reached up into a small cupboard and drew out a tiny blue spray bottle. Mera got the bottle from her and muttered a few words over it. A noticeable red cloud hung around Romera before disappearing as quickly as it appeared.

"There's no time to waste, Ella. You have to go back." Cathy said. "But, you're moving away from Aria this night."

Ella raised a brow. "Leaving? To-"

"Mera will explain everything. Right now, find a way to administer that potion to the Prince without him suspecting a thing. It will have no effect on others but the person it was intended for." Cathy reminded Ella and Romera latched her hand on Ella's right arm and in a split second, they were back at the Bandits' Camp.

Romera placed the bottle in Ella's hand. "You have till tomorrow night and then we're leaving. We can't leave without the Prince so you have to be fast. The Blood Witch is coming for the Prince. We'll be leaving to America."

There was no time left to ask questions because Romera was gone in a blink of an eye.

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The most difficult part about Ella's mission was locating Eric. He didn't come for breakfast and neither did Wendy. Pascal and Einat wanted to comment about her sullen mood this morning but they didn't. Rather they talked about other things hoping Ella would join in.

"Ronnie's tooth fell off yesterday and you know what he asked me?"

Pascal shook his head, struggling with a chunk of meat. "What did he say?"

"He said he didn't want to be like Old Man Simon whose teeth weren't in their places anymore. I laughed till I tumbled over something literally." Einat said, snatching Pascal's meat and helping him split it into tiny shreds.

"Oh, thanks mom." Pascal teased her, smiling when she stepped on his right foot under the table. He faced Ella who hadn't touched a grain of her rice.

" Ella, what is going on?"

Ella sighed. A part of her wished to tell Pascal and Einat everything but the other wiser part of her decided out would be folly. She didn't know who to trust anymore. What if either of them were working hand in hand with-

"I'm going to clobber you with this spoon if you keep staring at your food like a cockroach." Einat threatened, lightening up the mood.

Ella grinned. "I can fight now."

"But not as well as me."

"So, Ella, spill the beans." Pascal pressured.

"What beans?" Ella joked. Einat rolled her eyes at her pathetic excuse of a joke.

Pascal fixed Ella a look which she couldn't resist. "Come on, Ellie."

"She's probably not going to talk, leave her alone. I'm going to the farm, there's work for me to do."  Einat left them abruptly.

" Any success with looking for Eric?"

Ella's gaze flew upwards. "How did you-"

"I noticed the way your eyes wouldn't stop wandering around. It's pretty obvious. Ella, there's something going on, I know. You have to tell me."

Ella didn't know why she suddenly had a feeling of unease around Pascal, like there was a strange air hanging around him.

"It's just these nightmares I keep on having but I'm pretty sure they'll go away just as they came."

Pascal gave her an odd look. "Are you sure about that?"

Ella nodded. "Of course."

Eager to leave Pascal's presence, she ate with the speed of lightning and polished off the remaining grains of rice. "I should get going now, Pascal. My mom needs me."

Which wasn't a total lie because Ella planned to visit her mother and if possible tell her what's going on. And Ella hoped she could leave with her mother too. She didn't want to lose her anymore.

Ella had already taken her plates and spoon to wash before Pascal looked up again. He tried tracing her in the dining room but a couple of heads obstructed the clear path of his vision. He just hoped she was okay.

While Ella walked to the centre of village, there was only one person at the front of her mind. Eric.

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I hope you liked this chapter. What are your thoughts? What do you think will happen?

Do you think The Blood Witch will strike before Ella and Eric has time to leave?

What do you feel about the little bit of magic I introduced in this chapter?

I know it's a sudden twist but you'll be seeing more of magic from now on.

Things are getting more Twisted.

In case you don't understand anything, feel free to ask.

This chapter is dedicated to CFarley982, _candy_cough_ and JessEubanks, my new found friends. Check out their amazing books if you can. Thanks guys!

Stay safe!

Stay at home!

Tris loves you.