Chapter 7:

It was a bad decision to wear my white woolly babydoll sweater dress, for the clouds above my head looked grey and heavy that brought the cold wind with them. Shivering I walked through the booths, wondering to myself.

I had the strangest dream last night. Maybe it was my scared mind talking, but I dreamt of someone sitting next to me on the bed. The person would cherish their hand on my face to my neck sensitively and carefully, almost as if he or she treasured it. I could faintly remember that I snuggled up to them, them being the warmest thing I had ever felt. It was comfortable and felt like home, it felt safe... it felt familiar. When I woke up it was as if the other side of the bed was taken, the sheets all wrinkled and strangely folded as if someone was seated there.

Shivering again I tucked my arms closer to my body and looked around at my surroundings, the shiver wasn't out of coldness but more a scared kind. It suddenly felt like I was being watched, but not in a good way. Walking a little faster, hastily trying to get to Gina and Olive I bumped again into Dmitry's gigantic form.

"It seems we keep meeting in this way." He smirked down at me, but it quickly vanished as he saw my restless and scared state. My eyes wide and arms hugging my shivering body. Silently he took off his jacket and placed it around my shoulders, his warmth collapsed me in a warm embrace.

"What is wrong?" He asked and hugged me closer, rubbing my back trying to warm me further.

"It's nothing." I said, but he just raised his brow in disbelieve, "Fine, I thought someone was following me around, but I guess it is just my mind playing tricks on me," I explained as he looked around us at all the tourist busying themselves at various of booths, not really paying attention to us. "They say I have a big imagination and I do agree." I laughed nervously as he looked unsure at me.

"You sure?" he asked again. He truly cared that I was scared.

"Yes, and thank you for the jacket," I thanked and took the jacket off before he stopped me.

"Please, you need it more." He said and placed the jacket on my shoulders again.

"Thanks, are you sure? It is pretty chilly today." I said unsure, as a cold breeze passed us making me shiver, "Guess that is what you get when you try to wear a dress and its cloudy outside." I laughed as a smirk returned on his face. Nodding his head forward he leads me on a path to a hot chocolate booth.

"Well, I am glad that you did. You look really beautiful in that dress." He stated and handed me a hot chocolate, while I blushed crimson. Thanking him I sipped the sweet goodness; it seems he has noticed my sweet tooth.

"Oh, how horrible of me. How are you feeling after yesterday?" I asked at him as he looked at me confused before realisation crossed his face.

"Much better thank you." He answered back and moved me to the dance floor when a soft song started to play on the speakers, "I am sorry for what I did yesterday, my manners are usually better." He said and took my hand, "I never leave a woman standing alone in the middle of a song." He said and led me in the middle of the dance floor, circling his other hand around my waist as butterflies started to flutter down my spine to my stomach. "So would you please me with this dance as an apology for my rudeness?" He asked and started to dance without my answer, but I was glad for I didn't trust myself at this moment to speak.

We danced as if no one was there, just us two looking into each other's eyes deeply. He dipped me again and as before my necklace came out for display and he stopped dancing, staring at it again hesitantly. Drops of water started to fell on us softly, but neither of us cared. Slowly taking the necklace in my hand as he watched me carefully with cold and empty eyes, I placed it back under my dress's collar.

"Maybe we shouldn't do dips," I whispered to him, knowing he hurt like all the other times before. Slowly his eyes met mine and a hint of emotion flowed through them, it was an emotion that I struggled to identify, but it quickly vanished and returned to the usual cold domineer.

Pushing me closer to him, I shudder in pleasure. This was something I have never experienced before. I might be starting to like this cold and mysterious man in front of me.

We danced again as the rain started falling harder on us, people ran to some booths to keep dry and others like us danced further in the rain, laughing and enjoying themselves. Water was starting to drip from his hair and a few strands were falling on his forehead into his eyes. Laughing at his irritation for his hair, I swiped it away and out of his eyes. His hair felt thick and wet and I loved the way it felt in my hand. Shaking his head from side to side like a dog, his hair splashed me with drops of water, making me giggle as he laughed at me. He was breath-taking while laughing and for the first time I saw happiness flash through his eyes. He looked truly happy for the first time I have met him.

He startled me when he took one of my hair strands and placed it back behind my ear. Running his fingers down my neck to my cheekbone and down to my lips, bringing shutters with them. Rubbing his thumb on my bottom lip he leaned in towards me like he was going to kiss me, and I was all up for it. I was a little nervous for it would have been my first time and I was scared that I would ruin it. I started to like him, but as our lips started to brush against each other, lighting was heard above us making both of us look up at it in awe. Then I felt it again, that strange feeling as if someone was watching me and not in a good way.

Looking back at him with scared eyes he looked back confused.

"What's wrong?" he asked and rubbed my cheek softly.

"Nothing, I should go," I said and started to walk off to where Gina and Frigg stood with Olive, but not before running back and placing a soft kiss on his cheek. Frigg had a smirk on her face and Olive and Gina looked concerned, probably for my scared domineer. Looking around I saw a man standing far away stared directly at me, he had this dangerous aura around him with a smirk on his face and dirty clothes. It made me want to run back to Dmitry's arms and into his safe embrace, but I kept walking to Gina. Looking back where the man stood I saw no one and reassured myself that it was just my imagination.

Dalia's POV:

"Our plan is working!" I chirped and ran up to Nina, he was totally smitten with her at the festival.

"You sure?" Nina asked, her dark eyes sceptical of me. She was very jitty about the whole ordeal, she never liked it from the start. Always blabbing on about how crazy we were and what would have happened if we got caught.

"You weren't there, those two couldn't keep their hands away," I reassured her and excitedly helped her take away a few boxes to the back.

"Well let's hope your plan works." She said and placed the boxes in her hand down.

"Stop doubting me, it's gonna work," I said a little irritated.

"Well your plan has one flaw..." a voice said behind me in a dark corner, making both I and Nina jump. Out of the shadow, Lily walked to us scared.

"Lily you gave us a fright." I exclaimed and hugged her from the side, "You look frightened?" I asked her.

"What do you mean there is a flaw in Dalia's plan?" Nina asked her walking closer to us. Looking sceptical at Lily too, she finally looks up from the floor and in my eyes.

"Next week..." she stuttered.

"Yes?" both I and Nina asked.

"Next week it's her birthday... her eight-tenth birthday." She stated and walked to a chair to sit on.

"I told you your plan is never going to work, that there ain't any way to break the curse and now look. Now our lives are at stake, hell if it isn't already!" Nina shouted in frustration and passed up and down.

Walking to the clear crystal ball in the middle of the room, I fall to my knees in shock. Placing my hands on the crystal ball, I didn't know what to do. How is her birthday now, it can't be? The plan was going perfect and now? Now I have placed my friends' lives in danger with mine.

"Whisper can you hear me?" I whispered into the ball, "What are we going to do?" I cried softly, a single tear running down my cheek. 

Words: 1588