PROLOGUE
There was an eerie chill to the wind that kept billowing her hair, making it a tangled mess. She didn't try to stop it. It took her mind off of what was to come. She fiddled with the strange amulet at her neck that hung from a thin silver chain. She opened her eyes to gaze at the mountain tops in front of her. They were almost completely hidden from view, but they were still as beautiful- as breathtaking- as always. Even though her eyes were looking at the ice-capped mountains, her mind was with what the old woman had revealed. The inevitable future, looming like an ominous sign, with no promise. But she had to decide now.

Blue eyes flashed with determination, as she blew out a breath. She fisted her hand as her mind flashed back to what had occurred in the past two days. She remembered the blood, the pulsing energy. Her fists clenched tighter as pondered the decision that had to be made. She squeezed her eyes in an effort to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall down her cheeks, the cheeks that had now gotten slightly red due to the whipping of the wind. She felt the wind pick up, heard it howl. She took a deep breath and let it out as the wind died down. She stared towards the horizon. The sun was setting and the world below looked mesmerizing with the splash of red, yellow and orange.

She sensed a presence next to her. She knew he would come to find her sooner or later. He always did. She sighed as she heard the footsteps come towards her. Calloused hands caressed her cheek softly, wiping away the single tear that managed to escape, whispering softly for her to come down. She uncurled her fingers and noticed moon-shaped indentions on her palm, a drop of blood dripping from the cut. She watched it fall slowly, as if time was still, onto the ground. Like black on white, the blood was on the snow-just a drop, but darker than regret is to a dying man. A darkness she had come to dread. A darkness so close, so forbidding, that she felt a prickle right in her soul.

She turned back to the mountains, walking forward and searching the horizon for a sign, for an answer. She closed her eyes, praying that when she opened it she would be transported back to a time when everything was easy and there was no blood-spilled and lives lost. No villages plundered, no children orphaned. A time when everything was better. She feared to open her eyes now, knowing no matter how much she wished for it, it was all in vain. She could hear him plead with her to open her eyes and step off the edge but she shook her head and let the tears flow for all that’s lost and will never be gained.

All that was lost because of her and at that moment she knew what she had to do. She had to it, even if she didn’t want to. She owed that much for every sacrifice that had been made for her, for every headstone in the cemetery and for every hole dug. She couldn’t afford to be selfish, to hold on to everything she loved tightly, when loved ones were murdered because of her-for her.

She screamed out loudly at the unfairness of it all as it started to rain hard and the wind howled. She felt herself sway dangerously and she heard a faint scream as if from a long distance and yet seemed so much closer. She moved away from the edge, falling back against a hard chest. She felt the person behind her encircle her waist, pulling her back tightly as if afraid to let her go. As if she would fly away if he did.

She wished she could fly away, far away from this situation and never turn back; but she would be leaving everything behind and she didn’t know if she was strong enough to live her life without everything that made her feel alive, made her life worth living. She leaned into the warm embrace tiredly as the rain died down as suddenly as it started. She sighed and breathed in his scent of fresh grass and rain. She could feel his heart beat, rhythmically and sighed.

Her head hurt and she moved out of his embrace, turning to see him full on the face. She had to look him in the eye when she tells him what she is about to. She had to let him see how much it pains her to tell him this, how much she wished she had any other choice. But she didn’t and no matter how much she prayed and begged, there will never be another choice. He looked at her like he knew what she was going to say and she saw his face crumble, painfully beautiful. He started to protest but when he saw the look on her face he stopped and nodded in understanding. They both turned to look out at the horizon. The sun had set and it couldn’t have been more beautiful. He grabbed her hand and it sent chills down her spine as she remembered a familiar time from a lifetime ago.

Her decision had been made.

2: Shadows

Tap, tap, tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The consistent tapping came from Evanna's phone.

'Whr r u?' it read. This was one of the hundred messages she'd left Scarlet Collins, her best friend, in the past hour.

Evanna looked over her shoulder for the tenth time that minute, feeling the same, strange, prickling-between-the-shoulder-blades feeling she's been having for the past week. She rolled her shoulders to get rid of the crick that was forming in her neck, hoping to get rid of the feeling of being watched along with it. As she resisted the urge to look over her shoulder once again, her cell phone beeped.

'Be there in ten. –S'

Evanna sighed and was about to text her back when the trees surrounding her started blowing lightly and yet there was no sign of wind.

'Get a grip, Harthlow.' She told herself. She looked around her. She was sitting at a worn out picnic table. At the edge of the woods, no less.

'Paranoid. That's what you are. No one is around.'

She got up, dusted herself and picked up her bag to leave when-

CRASH.

'That was not my imagination.' It sounded like something big falling down, from up a tree or something like that. She saw a shadow to her right from the corner of her eyes and whipped her head to the side. But there was nothing there. Typical, she thought. Dismissing it, she walked towards the forest to inspect the noise, her curiosity winning over reason.

She walked cautiously, past the line of trees that marked the beginning of the forest. She hadn't gone in too deep, but it had already gotten a darker and definitely colder. Evanna shivered, whether from the cold or from the eeriness of it all, she couldn't say. She pulled her coat tighter around her.

Again. There it was. The shadow. She whipped her head around, to her left this time. But again, nothing was there.

Caw. Caw. Caw.

Evanna jumped and almost screamed. Ravens. They were everywhere. On the trees, on the branches. Everywhere. It was like they had appeared out of thin air. One minute it was just the empty forest and now it an empty forest that was the home of ravens.

An icy feeling shot up her spine, cold and unwelcoming-Fear. Pure, dark, unadulterated fear gripped her heart, choking her and she knew that something was wrong. It had gotten darker and colder within seconds. She had to get out of there. And fast. She sucked in a breath when she felt the presence of someone, something get closer with every second. Evanna was paralysed by the fear and she squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't know why but she knew this was bad. And that something was going to happen. Something bad.

Closer and closer. She could feel the presence get closer and closer. She heard rather felt the sudden gust of wind rush past her. She gasped in surprise and fear, turning this way and that.

'EVAAA-NAAAA! Where are you?' She heard someone scream. ‘Scarlet!’ she thought, relieved.

All of the sudden, the darkness and the dampness were all gone. Dizzy, but relieved she stumbled out of the woods and over to her friend, hoping she didn't look crazy.

'What happened?!' Scarlet gasped, taking in the rattled appearance of her best friend and rushed over to check her for injuries.

'Will you believe me if I say nothing?' Evanna asked, trying to smile but it just turned out to be a grimace.

'What happened?' Scarlet asked again, softer this time.

'It's just...' Evanna paused, thinking how absurd it actually sounded. It was nothing. It just got a little darker. I'm being silly.

'Evanna?' Scarlet asked, jostling her from her inner monologue. 'What is it?' concern was etched on her face.

'It was nothing. It's silly.' Evanna forced a laugh, still shaken from her encounter-if you could even call it that. She started to reach for her bag, when she felt a pain near her abdomen. She reached up and touched the spot and felt something warm. Red. Blood.

Blood? What the hell is going on?

Scarlet's eyes widened in fear. 'Are you hurt, Evanna?'

Evanna didn't answer her and instead lifted up her shirt to revel a cut like from a knife. It was straight and fine. Not to deep, but deep enough for it to bleed.

'What the hell was going on? I don't remember falling down, let alone get hurt.'

'I-I heard a crash from the woods and I went to see what it was. A-and it got dark and cold and there were shadows and it was all so weird, Scar. And there were ravens everywhere.' Evanna said, stumbling through the words.

'What? What are you talking about, Evanna? Slow down.' Scarlet said, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder.

Evanna took a deep breath and started, 'I heard a noise from the woods, like-like someone fell down or something. And I went to see what it was and it started to get darker and colder by the second. And I saw someone or something, l-like a shadow.' Her voice was trembling now, as she remembered the paralyzing fear that had gripped her, rooting her to her spot. She turned her back to her friend, so she couldn't see how scared she actually was. 'Then there were ravens everywhere! It had gotten really dark by then and I felt something closing in on me and I-I couldn't move. I was so scared and I didn't even know why. I-I know how this must all sound but I swear I'm not making it all up. And-' Evanna turned to see Scarlet’s eyes wide with fear. 'Scar? What is it?'

'Did you say shadows?' She asked Evanna, shocked.

'Yeah, what's wrong?' Scarlet didn't answer. She just started collecting their bags and dragging Evanna away. She wretched her arm from Scarlet's surprisingly strong hand and spun her around.

'Scar, what is going on?' She demanded.

'Evanna. We have to get out of here. I'll tell you everything once we get home. I promise.'

'Everything? Everything about what? Do you know something? You have to tell me, Scarlet!'

'I will. I promise. But right now, the only thing I have to do is to get you out of here and somewhere safe. Please, come on.'

‘Safe from what?’ she wanted to ask, but just nodded more confused- and dare she say?- a little frightened. ‘Alright,’ she agreed and hesitantly followed the red head.

Evanna was highly frustrated by the uncomfortable silence in the car. You could cut the tension with a knife. She knew Scarlet knows something. Scarlet knows that she knows that she knows. Then why not just tell her already.

Evanna sighed, 'Scarlet, what is going on? You're acting really weird and it's really creeping me out.' she asked, scrunching up her eyebrows.

'Evanna, I can't tell you now okay? We'll go home and we'll tell you everything.' Scarlet replied, not taking her eyes off of the road.

'"We"? We who?' She asked, even more confused.

Scarlet sighed, 'Just be patient until we get home, alright?' Then she finally turned to look at her best friend and gave her a small smile.

They reached her house a few minutes after that and Scarlet rushed the both of them into the house and shut the door, quickly locking it as if someone was cashing them. Evanna kept quiet, knowing that she will probably be ignored.

'Evanna?' a soft voice called out from the kitchen. A tall, blonde woman came in, wearing an apron which was covered in flour. 'What's with all the noise? Oh, hello there Scarlet, honey. How nice to see you,' she smiled, just noticing her.

'Mom, will you just ask-'

'Mrs. Harthlow, can I speak to you for a minute in the kitchen?' Scarlet asked, cutting off whatever Evanna was about to say.

'Is there something wrong?' she asked, concerned and confused. But Scarlet just shook her head and said, ‘Umm, can I just talk to you? Will you excuse us for a minute Evanna?' she asked, turning to her. Without waiting for a reply, the two went inside the kitchen leaving Evanna alone in the hallway.

Evanna, confused and beyond frustrated started pacing when she felt a sharp pain near her abdomen. Remembering her wound, she winced and went inside the bathroom to get it cleaned up.

She cleaned the wound with antiseptic and turned towards the mirror to observe the cut. It wasn’t bad enough to need stitches. Evanna sighed and covered it with a band-aid, when she heard loud voices coming from the kitchen. She went out to see what the commotion was, surprised by what she found.

'What do you mean you're not sure?!' her mother, Sara, shouted. Evanna was taken aback and went inside the kitchen.

'I mean I wasn't ther-' Scarlet stopped when she saw Evanna at the door. 'Evanna, I-'

Evanna ignored her and turned to her mom. 'What's going on, mom?' she asked, looking at her directly in the eyes.

'Evanna, honey, we should wait until your father gets home,' her mother said, trying to soothe her.

'No, mom. Either one of you are going to tell me what is going on! What is it that you are so afraid to tell me?' she demanded, getting angrier.

'I will when you father gets home. He needs to be here too,' her mother tried to reason.

Evanna glared at her and then turned towards her best friend, giving her a pointed look.

'I'm sorry Evanna. I would if I could,' she said, avoiding her eyes. Evanna sighed and said, ‘Please, mom. I’m confused and freaking out here. Why are you shouting? If there is something wrong, then I want to know!’

'Evanna, I can understand. Can you just wait for a few more minutes for your father to get home? Please, honey. Then we'll tell you the whole story.'

'Whole story? About what?' she asked, confused.

'About everything that happened today,' said a deep voice behind her. She turned to a tall, burly man at the entrance to the kitchen.

'Dad! You're here. Can you please tell me what is going on? I’m really confused,' Evanna said, scrunching up her eyebrows.

He looked at hard at her, his face blank. She waited patiently for him to speak, leaning against the table with her hands crossed over her chest.

'We should sit down,' he said finally and moved to sit at one of the chairs. Her mom sat beside him and Scarlet sat opposite him. Evanna sighed and sat next to Scarlet.

Her father cleared his throat and placed his hands on the table. 'Okay. What I am about to say is going to sound really strange so don't ask any questions until I'm done, alright?' he said, looking her directly in the eyes. She grew more confused and apprehensive, but nodded her agreement.

Taking a deep breath, he started, 'There’s a land called Zamiro, where people of great power, magic, lived together in harmony. They were called Mystics and Sorcerers. The kings of the Mystics and Sorcerers were both great friends, just like their ancestors were. But about fifty years ago, there was a king called Cicero. He was the king of the Sorcerers. Unlike his ancestors, he hated the Mystics. He thought that they were beneath him and his people. He thought that they were weak, useless.

He wanted to capture all the Mystics and bring them under his control. Make them his slaves. When the king of the Mystics, King Esmond Bertrand, found out about this, he was furious. He was a very powerful man. He held great power. It was said that he had enough power-more power than all the mystics combined- to destroy even Cicero with a single blast. No one knew whether the extent of his powers, because it was unlike any other. It was wild, a physical representation of his emotions. He had great trouble controlling it. Anyway, he went to see his dear friend, a psychic.

He asked her for a way to kill Cicero. Sorcerers were really powerful. They can kill you easily. And since they are so powerful, it is very hard to kill them. The psychic said, "The only way to destroy him is to destroy his heart with the power of the Gods.”The king was confused. He didn't know what the power of the Gods meant. When he asked her, she drew four circles connected to one another, the centre of which she pointed to and said “Spirit”. Then he understood.

The Mystics worshiped four Gods, Annata, the Goddess of the Wind; Hanzey, the God of the Water; Ranaeder, the God of the Fire; and Pissoda, the Goddess of the Earth. Each Mystic had the control over all the four elements. The key to destroy a sorcerer was to produce a ball of energy combined with the powers from all the four elements and fire it straight to a sorcerer's heart. But it takes a lot of effort and energy to master Spirit. Controlling ones powers separately is completely different to controlling the combination of all four. Spirit is the manifestation of your soul and it’s like controlling the wildest of stallions. Thus, the King started training all of his soldiers. They were called Guardians. The army was very strong, but that of the sorcerers’ were stronger. So, the King and the psychic created a barrier around the Kingdom of the Mystics where no sorcerer can enter. As long as the barrier was there, the mystics were all safe.

Cicero was enraged by this and swore that he would find a way to break the barrier and make the kingdom his. He seeked the help from some of the most powerful witches, warlocks and psychics. But none of them could help him. He was angry beyond belief and killed every single one of them. Years later, King Esmond's son, Prince James had a daughter. She was so beautiful and the whole kingdom celebrated her birth. But, on the day she was born, Cicero managed to break the barrier and waged a war against the kingdom. King Esmond went to fight him off with renowned vigour, protecting his only granddaughter. The psychic went to protect the child when she felt something in her aura. Something so powerful, she knew that the child was in danger.

She alerted the prince and his wife, when one of his Guardians rushed in to tell him that the King had died. The prince was frightened for his child and he was left to defend his kingdom. The prince called upon his most trusted Guardians and handed them his child. He asked them to take her away, far away to another world and keep her safe. He gave them enough gold to help them survive and the psychic created a portal for them to another universe. Everything was happening really fast and the prince's wife never got to bid goodbye to her child. But everyone who saw the child knew at once that she was an exact replica of her mother. Princess Leanora was tall, fair, striking sapphire coloured eyes and long, curly black hair. Just like you, Evanna,' her father paused, looking at her tenderly. 

3: Over My Head

Everyone waited with batted breath, waiting for Evanna to make the connection. She was staring straight ahead, eyes unfocused. After a few minutes she seemed to awaken from a trance and turned to her parents and asked, 'Are you-Are you saying that you are not my real family?' Her voice trembled slightly.

'Oh, honey. We may not be your biological parents, but we'll always be your family,' her mom said, looking at her despairingly. Reaching across the table she took Evanna's hands in her own. 'You have to trust us.'

'How can I, mom? My whole life has been a lie,' Evanna said, prying her mom's hands from her own and standing up. 'I have to get away from here,' she said, not looking at anyone and rushing to the front door.

'Evanna! Wait!' her father, called out.

She spun around, her face contorted in anger. 'Why? So you can tell me some more lies?' She felt the tears well up, but she refused to cry.

'Evanna...' her dad said, warningly.

'Why did you do it, dad? Or should I even call you that?' she asked.

'I am still your father, Evanna. I was getting to that. Please, just calm down.'

'Fine. But no more lies, alright?' she asked, looking him in the eyes.

'Alright. No more lies. Let's all just sit down and you can ask whatever you want to ask.'

She nodded and went to sit on one of the armchairs. Scarlet was quiet through all of this. Evanna glanced at her and asked, 'Are you one of them?'

Startled, she replied, 'Mystics? Yeah. I'm a guardian, actually. Your guardian.' Evanna was surprised to hear this and raised an eyebrow, 'I have a guardian?' she asked her mom.

'Technically, you have more than one.' She replied. Raising both eyebrows, she asked, 'Really? Who?'

'Well, there's Scarlet, her parents and your high school history teacher.' her dad replied.

'Wait a minute, Mr. Peters is a...mystic-guardian-guy?' she asked.

'Yep.' Scarlet said, popping the 'p'.

She was silent for a really long time before finally looking at her mom and asked, 'What do you know about my real parents?'

Her mom sighed and turned to her dad. He just nodded for her to continue. She took a deep breath, leaned forward slightly. 'Prince Leander and Princess Leanora. They were... perfect. Everyone loved your mother, Princess Leanora. She’s kind, brave, just... Stunningly beautiful. There wasn’t a person in our land who didn’t love and respect her. She’s so pure. And your father, he’s an honest man, a man with morals. He’s courageous and willing to sacrifice everything for other. Even his own happiness.

They had you two years after they had gotten married and they were so happy. Edmund and I were one of their personal guardians. Your father was heartbroken when he found out that the only way to save you was to send you away. He was so scared for you. You were this tiny little thing, Evanna. He said the princess won't be able to bear it if she found out that you had to be sent away. He was worried that she will try to stop us from taking you away. So, he asked us to take you away when she was sleeping, take you and never look back.

That was the last time he saw you. He was scared that if he tried to make contact with you, Cicero will find out and kill you,' Sara paused, closing her eyes.

'Wait. Cicero? As in the sorcerer? He is still alive?' Evanna asked, confused.

'I don't think you understood how powerful he actually is,' Scarlet said, her face dark.

'What about King Esmond? He was my grandfather?'

'Yes, he was.' Her mom replied. 'He fought really hard to protect you, but he was killed Evanna. But the psychic put up the barrier again, this time stronger. None of us know what she did. All she said was, to keep you safe and that you held all the answers.'

'What answers? I didn't even know about all of this until you told me.' Evanna said, confused.

'We didn't know what she meant. But we figured it was something related to what she saw in your aura,' her father replied.

'Do you,' Evanna swallowed, 'Do you know what happened to my parents?'

'The last time we heard, which was ten years ago, they were both alive. But they were heartbroken without you. Your father wanted to take you back, but he was too scared of what Cicero might do. He didn’t know that you are still alive, but I have a feeling he does now and that you are threat to him. If he finds you he will surely try to kill you or worse...' her father trailed off.

Before Evanna could ask another question, Scarlet asked 'Evanna, do you remember anything about the shadows that you saw?'

Confused by the sudden change of topic, she replied, 'No. Just, I kept seeing these shadows from the corner of my eyes and when I turn around there seemed to be nothing there. Why? Do you think it was a sorcerer?' her voice slightly breathless.

'No. It was one of the Shadows,' her mother said, frowning.

'Yes, I know. But whose shadow was it?' she asked.

Scarlet laughed, her laugh being the first in a long time. 'No, Evanna. Shadows are like spies to sorcerers. They don't have a particular shape or form. So, you can't really capture them. But they're easy to destroy if you are quick enough. Fire,' she said, shrugging her shoulders. 'But they are really fast and if they get a hold of your shadow it's hard to kill them without hurting the captive.'

'So you think they came to get Evanna's blood? Why?' her mom asked. Evanna raised her eyebrows in surprise.

'Is that why I was bleeding? But I didn't even feel anything.' She said.

'Yeah, you usually don't.' Her father said, glancing at her. 'I think they wanted her blood to perform a binding ritual. Are you sure the Shadow didn't touch you? Or anywhere close enough for that matter?' he asked.

'Well, I am not sure. I felt something close in on me and then a rush of wind right past me, but I didn’t feel anything. I don’t know,' she said. 'Wait. What binding ritual?' she asked, scrunching up her eyebrows.

'A binding ritual is when you bind two people together using their blood. It takes a lot of black magic from a very powerful witch. I think Cicero wants to bind you to himself so he can find you. Or maybe he wants you alive for some reason?' her father now looked confused. ‘I honestly hope they weren’t close enough to take you blood. Are you sure you didn’t feel anything?’ he asked again.

‘Except for the cold, no. I thought you said I wouldn’t feel anything anyway.’

‘No, when they take your blood. It hurts. A lot. It doesn’t hurt when they cut you, a false sense of hope,’ he replied darkly.

‘How come you know so much?’ Evanna asked, crossing her arms.

‘That how they torture people. Taking your blood,’ he said.

‘You-You’ve been tortured?’ she asked, her eyes wide.

‘We’re drifting off topic,’ Edmund said instead. ‘If they had taken your blood, it may also be for anything else other than the binding ritual. There are so many different curses that these witches know. That's why he keeps them at hand.'

 'But if he sent them here to get her blood then he must know that she's here, right?' her mom asked, panicking.

'Yes, I already thought of that. That's why I think it's about time she went back to Vinden Valley,' her father replied, standing up.

'Wait,' Evanna said, 'what is Vinden valley?' she asked.

'Vinden Valley is the place where you were born. It is where the castle is,' her mom said, smiling slightly.

‘Oh, we’re going back to this Zamiro place then?’ she asked.

'We're going to call for reinforcements to get rid of the Shadows. We don't know how many there are. And then, we're going back to Zamiro,' her father replied.

'Are you going to do the magic-element thingy?' she asked, hesitant and excited at the same time.

'Yeah. You wanna see some real magic?' Scarlet asked, standing up.

'Scarlet...' her mother started in a warning tone.

'Rel

'Scarlet...' her mother started in a warning tone.

'Relax Mrs. Harthlow. It’s just a few tricks. I think it’s about time she knows who she is,' she said breezing out of the door way, dragging Evanna along with her. She led them to the back yard and pulled out a chain strange looking pendant.

'It's really beautiful,' Evanna said, smiling slightly at her best friend.

'Thanks.' she grinned. 'It’s our amulet. We can't do our magic without it. It's made especially for each individual mystic.' She pointed to the concentric circles that hung from the end. ‘Magic and Soul’ she said.

'Oh, wow,' Evanna breathed out. It was not very big, two thin circular bands set in a concentric manner.

'This is what lets you control the elements?'

'Yep. 'Cause otherwise everyone just misuses their powers. Our probation is basically taking this away.'

'Do I have one of these?' Evanna asked, her eyes still on the pendent.

'Yeah, I guess. If it is, it will probably be back in the castle. No one thought that you were ever going to need it.'

'So, how do you make one of these?'

'Yeah, I guess. If it is, it will probably be back in the castle. No one thought that you were ever going to need it.'

'So, how do you make one of these?'

'Oh, we don't make them. The priests do.'

'We have priests?' Evanna asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

'Yeah. We have Gods. We have priests. Now, do you wanna see something really cool?' Scarlet asked, rubbing her hands together. Evanna nodded enthusiastically.

Scarlet closed her eyes and her brow creased slightly in concentration. Evanna felt something stir behind her and turned around to see what it was. She gasped at the sight in front of her, staring mesmerised.

Leaves were swirling in intricate patterns while the earth sprouted tiny little plants which blossomed into beautiful flowers. Evanna was mesmerised by everything. The tree branches swayed in the wind, like it was dancing to soft music that human ears couldn't pick up. She started laughing with euphoric glee. Her eyes shined, in amazement, at the magic. She could feel it in the air, electric. It was so beautiful, not at all weird or scary like she thought it would be. It almost felt comforting, as if reassuring that the whole situation is not as bad- as bizarre- as she thought it would be. Evanna spun in circles, dancing along with the leaves and the trees. She stopped and closed her eyes, took a deep breath, trying to etch this moment of elation in her memory. She realised that it is in this moment that she saw the prospect of being a mystic was not a very bad one.

She could do this, go to a new world and learn to use her powers. That thrilled her. She’ll get to know her real parents; that terrified her. She didn’t want to even think for a moment that they may be dead, they can’t be. She feels the energy pulse in sync with her heartbeat, it was like a breath of fresh air.  I can’t imagine how it would feel for me to use it. She smiled and opened her eyes, her smile only widened as she caught her friend's brown ones.

Scarlet’s red hair was wilder than usual and her eyes shined with mirth and euphoric high that one gets only when they make leaves and trees dance. She grinned back at Evanna, her teeth pearly white and straight. 'How do you feel?' she asked, still grinning.

'Euphoric. And I wasn't even the one doing the control thingy,' she replied, returning her grin.

'Trust me when you do do it for the first time, you'll feel hundred times what you do now. You can actually feel the power flow through every part of your body. It comes from the very depth of your soul,' she explained. 'But we better get back in the house. I think it's about time we prepare for your departure,'

Evanna caught her arm, successively stopping her. 'What do you mean my "departure"? Where am I departing to?'

'Evanna we just explained how dangerous it is for you to be here. You have to go back to Vinden Valley. You'll be safer there,' Scarlet said. Evanna looked uneasy. ‘I didn’t realise they meant so soon. I thought we were taking care of the Shadow problem first,’ she said, biting her bottom lip.

‘We are. But it’s not safe for you. You’ll be leaving as soon as possible,’ Scarlet explained.

'You're all coming with me, right?' she asked, trying to wrap her head around the fact that she has to go to a whole new world. When Scarlet avoided her eyes, Evanna took a hold of her shoulder, forcing her best friend to look her in the eyes. 'You're not letting complete strangers take me to a complete new world where I have complete different parents, are you?' she demanded.

'I don't know Evanna,' Scarlet sighed. 'Your parents might come with you,' she said, trying to appease her. 'It'll be okay. Tell you what, I'll try and convince them to let me come with you, alright?' she smiled.

Evanna dropped her hands from Scarlet's shoulders in defeat and just shrugged in defeat. She turned to go back in, her shoulders slumped, the weight of the day's events catching up to her.

'Evanna...' Scarlet sighed. 'Evanna, wait up,' she called out to her, following her inside.

When she went inside, the living room housed a lot more people than there were when she went out back. She hadn’t heard anyone come in. ‘What were they all doing here?’ she wondered. Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion and turned to her mom. 'What's going on, mom?' She noticed Scarlet's parents and asked, surprised, 'Mrs. Collins, What're you doing here? Not that it's not nice to see you,' she quickly reassured. Everyone exchanged uneasy looks and Evanna grew apprehensive.

'It's can't get any worse, now can it?' she asked, half-joking. Seeing the sombre expression on everyone's faces, 'Can it?' she asked again, serious this time.

'Evanna, we have to get you out of here. You'll be going with Scarlet and her parents back to Vinden Valley,' her mom started. 'Can you please go pack a bag? Just the essentials and don't over pack or-'

'Wait a minute. Just hold on. You aren't coming with me?' she asked, already knowing the answer and but she still hoped that maybe-maybe - she's wrong. But her mom's eyes said it all. She was leaving and her parents were staying. Angry at the cruelty of it all she stormed out of the room. Her mom followed her and caught her arm.

'Evanna, listen to me. We have to make sure that the Shadows don't escape. It's for your own safety. Be reasonable, please,' her mom said, looking her in the eyes.

'Reasonable?' she shouted, enraged. 'I have been nothing but! Mom, this is a lot to take in,' she cried, angry tears forming in her eyes. This just seemed to make Evanna even angrier. She swiped at her eyes and declared, 'I'm going out. I need to clear my head,' and grabbed her coat and started to walk out the door. Right when she was about to turn the knob her mom said, 'Evanna, it isn't safe out there. Don't you dare take another step forward,' her mom threatened.

Evanna turned around to face her mom, her face blank and arms crossed over her chest. But her mom knew how upset Evanna was. 'Or what, mom? Are you going to force me?' she challenged, provoking her mother.

'Don't tempt me, Evanna,' her mom warned. Evanna looked over her mother's shoulders, glaring at everyone who was listening to their exchange. Her blue eyes shifted to her mother's. She sighed, all the fight leaving her. 'Mom, I just need some space, alright? I need some time to wrap my head around everything. It's all happening too fast,' she said, her eyes pleading.

Her mother turned to look at her father who sighed heavily and nodded. 'Be careful,' her mom said, still reluctant. She nodded and walked out of the house.

‘Evanna,’ her father called out after her, coming out the door and shutting it behind him.

‘What?’ she snapped and immediately felt bad. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘It’s fine,’ he reassured her. ‘I know this is hard on you. We’re really sorry we didn’t tell you about your real family. It wasn’t right. We wanted to keep you safe and felt the lesser you knew, the better it would be. It isn’t going to be easy after this and I just want to know no matter what, we still love you as our own. You and I- we’ve always had a special bond, and I just want to say, just because I’m not your real father doesn’t mean you can’t talk to me like you used to. You are my daughter, Evanna and I would do anything to protect you.’

She felt the tears prick her eyes and hugged her father tight. ‘I don’t want things to change,’ she cried into his shoulder. She wanted to go back to being the little girl who ran to daddy whenever she was hurt and he would just kiss it away. ‘I’m scared. I don’t know about any of this, dad. And I don’t want to go there alone,’ she admitted.

‘Oh, I know, sweetheart. But we have to stay back and make sure everything is taken care of,’ he pulled back. ‘But don’t worry. It’s just a couple of Shadows, they can’t harm your old man,’ he joked, wiping away her tears.

She laughed lightly, wiping away at the rest of the tears. ‘You’ll finish up here and come there right?’ she asked.

‘I can’t think of anywhere else I would rather be,’ he reassured her.

‘You were wrong, by the way,’ she said. He started at her in confusion. ‘About what?’

‘You are my dad. You are my family. Nothing will change that,’ she said seriously.

He grinned widely when she said that. ‘You wouldn’t believe how happy it makes me to hear you say that. Just because we adopted you, doesn’t mean we love you any less. Family isn’t blood, it’s about the heart.’

Evanna smiled. ‘I still need some time to myself,’ she said.

‘I know. I wasn’t trying to stop you,’ he said, giving her a knowing look. ‘Be careful okay? And don’t go too far,’ he warned.

‘I won’t,’ she reassured him.

‘Can I ask you something?’ he asked, slightly hesitant, when she turned to go.

Turning around, ‘Sure,’ she said. He started to ask something but closed his mouth. He sighed and said, ‘It’s nothing.’

Evanna nodded and waved. She jogged to her favourite spot to think-the park. She sat down on the slightly rusty bench and placed her elbows on her knees and her forehead on her palms. She closed her eyes, exhausted.

Her mind sifted through all that she learnt today. It felt like forever since she had time to herself. She let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. Her parents weren't her real parents. Her real parents were probably dead. She might never get to meet them. She was a mystic. And she was sought after by only the most powerful sorcerer to ever exist. She would have laughed out loud at the bizarreness of it all, if she wasn’t upset about it. There has to be a reason why he was after her. Why he wanted to- she gulped- kill her. The thought that she probably won't come out of this situation alive made her swallow painfully around the lump in her throat.

All the lies, she thought shaking her head. All those lies kept me from living my real life. From my real parents. I wonder how much I am like them. She closed her eyes, imagining what life would be like over there. She imagined not knowing her adoptive parents and shook her head. She wouldn’t be who she was today, if it weren’t for them. Nothing was worth not knowing them. She meant what she said to her dad; they may not be her real family, but they are her family.

All these thoughts swirled around her head, distracting her from the sudden drop in the temperature and the darkening skies. A sudden, strong breeze blew her hair around, breaking her from her reverie. She then noticed the changes around her and a familiar shiver of dread ran down her spine.

She quickly got up and started to jog, when she noticed the shadows out of the corner of her eyes and she started running. Suddenly she was surrounded by black; she couldn't see anything at all. She kept running blindly, her lungs constricting. She felt them closing in on her, something brushing against her. She dared to look back to see if she could see any of the shadows at least. Big mistake.

She tumbled to the ground, holding out her hand blindly to cushion her fall. She hit her head on something hard, but hardly noticed it as she rushed to get up and away from the shadows, her heart hammering in her chest.

The tears were flowing down her face and she squeezed her eyes shut and pushed her legs as fast as they could go. She has no way of defending herself and they’re going to catch up with her soon. She can’t run forever, especially if she can’t even see where she’s going. She forced herself to keep moving, ignoring her throbbing head. She felt her vision blur, her breath coming out in pants.

Suddenly, she bumped hard into something. She expected it to be the rough bark of a tree but it was something relatively soft. She looked up and she could make out the silhouette of a person. Her heart stopped beating for a second but the next second her body jumped into action, fuelled by the adrenaline, and started to push the person away. A hand shot out to grip her flailing hands while a long rope of blazing fire burst out right into the darkness.

Evanna watched in rapture as the darkness started fading and then finally disappeared. The shadows were gone and moon was out now, lighting the streets. She looked up at her saviour and her eyes met with grey-blue eyes, shining in brightly. She felt herself sag in relief and exhaustion, when the stranger caught her with his other hand, letting go of her hands to catch her properly.

4: The Stranger

Evanna hardly noticed that her saviour was still holding her. She was pre-occupied with staring into his eyes. The hands holding hers captive let go and she stumbled slightly. An arm shot out to right her and she gripped it, her eyes unwavering from the grey ones.

'Are you okay?' a soft, male voice questioned, slightly concerned with her reaction-or lack thereof. Evanna shook out of her trance and focused on the person standing in front of her. His eyes took her breath away- they were so intense, like a window into his soul. She could see the concern swimming in his eyes.

He was the definition of tall, dark and handsome. Midnight black hair, high cheekbones, stunning, soul searching grey-blue eyes, eyebrows arched in question.

'Huh?' she asked, dumbly and still in a daze.

'Are you okay?' he asked again, his beautiful eyes shining. She nodded, unable to form a verbal reply.

'Are you sure? You look a little...rattled,' he asked. The left side of his mouth lifted upward into a smirk. Evanna took in deep breath trying to clear her head from the distracting eyes. She took in his appearance, decked in black shirt, black jeans and black leather jacket, screaming 'Bad-Boy'.

'You're a mystic,' It was a statement, rather than a question.

He didn't answer. 'And you are Evanna.' Another statement.

Evanna frowned, taking a few steps back. 'Do I know you?'

'Sorry, forgot to introduce myself,' he said, still smirking. 'Aaron Cyrus, one your guardians,' he said, holding out her hands.

She just stared at him disbelievingly, hugging herself instead. 'What do you want? Why did you follow me?’

He smirked again and his eyes sparkled with barely concealed mirth, as if he found this amusing. The eyes that Evanna had found beautiful were just irritating now, as they stared deep into hers, as if they could read her soul. She pulled her jacket tighter around herself self-consciously. 'Well?' she asked, irritated.

'Well, I obviously came to save your ass from being captured by the shadows, since you were pretty incompetent at it,' he said, the stupid smirk still on his face. Evanna's mouth dropped open in shock at the blatant insult at her competence to save herself. She glared at him, wishing she could wipe the annoying smirk off of his face.

She quickly composed herself. 'I was doing fine, thank you very much,' she replied, icily, shooting daggers at him.

'Well princess, if you were doing "fine", then you wouldn't have been running. You would have already disposed them and I wouldn't have been doing that for you.' There was the smirk again.

'I don't know how to use them yet. The powers,' she said, quietly. 'I don't have an amulet.' Suddenly she felt her eyes prick with tears. She almost died. She swallowed hard and looked up at Aaron and said, 'thank you'

He nodded, no trace of a smirk on his face. 'Are you really okay, though?' he asked, genuinely concerned. She smiled slightly. 'I will be. It's just been a long day and this had just been the icing on the cake,' she replied as she started walking, feeling strangely safe with him around. ‘He saved my life. I’m pretty sure he isn’t going to harm me,’ she reassured herself.

'I'm sorry if I offended you,' he said after a while, following after her. 'You were a pretty fast runner...?' he trailed off, the statement turning into a question. He laughed. She turned to him and chuckled. But not at his effort to try and make her feel better, but because she was oddly comforted by his bad joke. She noticed his cute dimples and thought how they completely contradicted the 'bad-boy' image his demeanour otherwise gave off.

She suddenly remembered something. 'How do you know my name?' she asked, suspiciously.

'I am your guardian. I think I would know your name, don't you?,' he said, grinning. She smiled sheepishly back at him. 'I didn't see you back at the house. With all the other guardians I mean,' she asked, as they reached the park again.

Even though she had just encountered the shadows at this exact same place, she felt safe with Aaron. 'I like to make an entrance,' he said, winking at her.

'I would have never guessed,' she replied with obvious sarcasm, as she sat down on the park bench. He stood opposite her, leaning on a lamp-post. 'So, were you stalking me?'

'Not in those exact words. I was asked to keep an eye on you. I can quite clearly see why,' he said, teasingly, the smirk back in place.

She huffed in annoyance and said, 'I just wanted to be left alone.'

'You will be when you have the ability to protect yourself, princess,' he replied.

'Why do you call me that?' she asked, suddenly.

Aaron raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, 'You are a princess, aren't you?' It hadn't struck her until then that she was, in fact, a princess. 'Huh. I guess I am,' she smiled slightly to herself.

They were quite for some time before he broke the silence, 'So, how are you handling the whole, "You're a Mystic. You've got super-powers," thing?' She noticed how he skipped her possible death. She felt relieved and thankful for that.

'As well as someone who knew nothing about all of this before: I'm freaking out,' she laughed out loud and Aaron joined in. Soon the laughter died down.

'Do you know them? My real parents?' she asked, quietly.

'Yeah. They're really good people,' he said, staring at the sky. She breathed a sigh of relief, now that she knew that her birth parents were safe and alive.

'Do you live in Vinden Valley?'

'Yes. I work there actually. But I came here for a while after my parents died,'

Evanna was shocked and her eyes softened, 'I'm sorry, Aaron,' she said, compassion filling her voice.

'It was a long time ago. I was only ten years old. I came here with my uncle when I was eleven,' he said, still not looking at her. They lapsed into a long silence, both of them staring at the starless sky, lost in their own thoughts.

'What is it like? Vinden Valley?' she asked, breaking the silence.

'It's a beautiful place surrounded by the mountains. You have a lot of villages nearby. The people are really friendly. But the King and Queen...' he trailed off, 'well, they are so kind and helpful. They're strong in the face of any adversity. They're brave and would do anything for their people and their loved ones,' he finished, looking at Evanna from the corner of his eyes, answering the question she was hesitant to ask.

She sighed and said, 'A part of me wants to be angry at my,' she swallowed, 'father for sending me away. A part of me is angry at my mom and dad for hiding this from me for so long. But the other part of me feels sorry for the woman who never got to say good-bye to her child. That part of me understands how difficult if must have been for my father to give me up and for my adoptive parents to hide it from me.

'I just... I am angry that I never got to know my real parents. My mom and dad are amazing. They're the perfect parents. But they aren't my parents. I can't help but think how my life would have been- how I would have been- if I had grown up with them. If there was no Cicero trying to kill me. That girl would've known Vinden Valley. She would have known all about the elements and the Gods. But she also wouldn't have known her adoptive parents.

'I can't not be angry at them but I can forgive them. I just... I missed out on so much,' she felt tears well up in her eyes again 'and I'm crying now. Great. I'm pouring my heart out to you and I don't even know you,' she cried.

Aaron, who hadn't said anything through her mini melt-down, sat down next to her on the bench and said, 'I think,' he started, 'that pouring your heart out to a stranger is what you needed. You needed someone who doesn't know you, so they won't expect you to react in a certain way. The others... they'll expect you to understand and not have a break-down because it is how Evanna would handle it. They'll think that you won't be angry. But me? I don't know you like they do. I have no rights to judge you and I won't. I think you are brave to open your heart so freely to someone you don't know. Even after all the secrets, you haven't shut down, Evanna. That's strong and admirable,' he turned to her and smiled. Evanna smiled back and then sighed.

'I don't want to go back again. I don't want to leave. It will just make all of this all the more real.' She closed her eyes and rested her head on the back of the park bench.

'Well, you don't have to. You have a pretty bad-ass guardian to keep you safe and out of trouble,' he replied, the smirk back on.

'Cocky much?' she asked, raising an eyebrow and mentally rolling her eyes.

'Very,' he replied and smirked wickedly. Evanna laughed and shook her head.

'Tell me some more about Vinden Valley,' she asked, leaning back against the bench.

'As I said earlier, it's a beautiful place surrounded by the mountains of Goddess Annata. It is lush with greenery and the streets are wide and maze like. The market place is always full and colourful with vendors and merchants. You can get anything starting from clothes to herbs. Sometimes you even see an occasional dragon for sale,' he said. Evanna eyes widened.

'D-Dragons?' she sputtered. 'As in real, live, fire breathing, scaly dragons? Dragons which aren't real?' she asked, incredulously.

'Oh, they're real alright. And pretty hard to capture. Not all of them are scaly though,' he smirked at her.

'Are you playing me?' she asked, raising her eyebrow. 'You are, aren't you?' she asked, frowning.

'Actually, no. They really do exist,'

Evanna's mouth dropped open and she gaped at him. 'Really? Wow.'

'Yep. You don't find that many near the Valley, though,'

'What is your favourite place there?' she asked, all of the sudden.

'The market. It's crowded and loud. You meet a lot of people. Mystics, psychics, druids, merchants from different realms. So many people, so many stories. You never feel out of place. You see a lot of unusual things,' he said, reminiscing.

'Do you miss it?' she asked, smiling slightly.

'Not really. I lived there ever since I became a guardian. Before, I used to visit every year,' he paused. 'I visit my parents. They're buried there,'

Before Evanna could ask about his parents, Aaron said, 'We should probably get going. It's getting late and we have to leave soon.' He got up and held out his hand for her to take. When Evanna hesitated, her kneeled in front of her and said, 'I'm not going to say the road ahead is going to be smooth, because you and I both know that won't be the truth. But what I am going to say is this: Your parents love you, all four of them. And from what I know, you are too compassionate to not forgive them. It will be okay, Evanna. All you have to do is take a chance.'

Evanna, who was staring at Aaron's out stretched hand all this while, glanced up at his ocean blue eyes. They held nothing but sincerity, no sign that he was joking or that he didn't believe in what he said.

'Are you willing to take a chance?' he asked, looking into her eyes.

Evanna looked into Aaron’s eyes, ‘Should I?’ she asked, her voice not hiding her nervousness.

‘I can’t answer for you, Evanna. I can only tell you what you’ll gain,’ he said, his gaze unwavering from hers.

‘What?’ she asked, not sounding arrogant.

‘You’ll get to know your real parents. You’ll get to know who you could have been. You can be that girl; that girl who knew everything,’ he replied with conviction. Evanna could hear the sincerity in his voice; see the promise in his eyes.

‘I’m just scared,’ she said, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

‘Take a chance, Evanna,’ he said. She took a deep breath and asked, ‘You’ll be there when I meet them?’

‘Yes, if that’s what you want,’ he replied, inclining his head to one side. ‘Now, Come on,’ he said, pushing himself up from his place in front of her and held out his hand once again. Evanna looked at it, then at him. He nodded once- a reassuring nod. She let out a breath that she didn’t even know she was holding and placed her hand in his. He squeezed it once and pulled her up from the bench.

They started towards her house when she stopped in her tracks. When she stopped, Aaron paused mid-step and turned back to face her. He rolled his eyes, exaggeratingly and asked, ‘Now what?’

‘Will you teach me how to use my powers? Once I get my amulet?’ she asked, slightly hesitant.

‘Of course,’ he replied, in a heartbeat. He smiled at her and started walking again, dragging her along.

Evanna smiled at him, although he couldn’t see it, and let go of his hand. She started walking in front of him, letting him trail after her. She tucked her hands in the back pocket of her jeans and said, not turning back, ‘Thank you, Aaron. I don’t even know you and you’ve helped me in so many different ways already.’ She turned around and started walking backwards, while facing him.

‘You’re welcome, Princess Evanna,’ he replied, smirking.

‘Hmmm. Princess Evanna. It has such a nice ring to it, don’t you think?’ she asked, still walking backwards.

‘Sure,’ he replied, shaking his head. ‘What will you miss the most about being here?’ he asked, after a minute.

Evanna thought for a really long time. She slowed down and Aaron started walking next to her, slowing down as well. He waited patiently.

‘Normalcy,’ she replied, finally. ‘I’ll miss the normalcy that was there before all this drama with the mystics and shadows and sorcerers. I’ll miss my normal friends and normal family. Nothing unusual or bizarre or scary.’

Aaron didn’t say anything and just nodded, walking slowly along-side her. He stared up at the cloudy sky. He suddenly grabbed her hand halting her in her tracks.

Evanna turned to look at him, an eyebrow raise in question. ‘What is it?’ she asked, confused and slightly concerned. ‘Is something wrong?’

‘No. Look up,’ he said.

She started at him, bemused. ‘Why?’ Her eyebrows scrunched up.

‘Just do it, please,’ he said. ‘Stop over-thinking everything.’

She shook her head, not bothering to argue, and instead looked up at the now cloudy sky. ‘Okay.... So, what am I seeing, again?’ she asked, still looking up, slightly cranking her neck. Aaron didn’t say anything for a while but before she could ask him again, the clouds started to move, the moon peeking out from behind them. She stared in awe as the stars appeared too, winking at her.

It took Evanna a minute for her to realise that Aaron was doing it. She turned to look at him, her eyes met his and just like that everything around her disappeared. It was just him, her and the moon. Everything was quite as the moon shined down on them.

She wanted to kiss him then. She knew that. But she also knew that now wasn’t the right time. She was confused, scared and vulnerable. It will be like she’s taking advantage of him. Maybe she’s feeling this connection because he saved her, from more than just the shadows. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to look away.

Aaron could see the internal battle going on inside of her and as much as he felt like kissing her, he knew that now was not the time. He held up his hand and asked, ‘Dance with me, Princess?’

‘Why?’ she asked.

‘Because it seems like you need to take your mind off of everything just for a minute,’ he replied nonchalantly.

He’s reading her like an open book and that scares her more than she would like to admit. How can he understand her so clearly when he doesn’t even know her? ‘You think you have me all figured out,’ she breathes.

‘Quite the opposite, actually. I’m just starting to,’ he replies honestly, looking at her with those intense eyes again.

She looked at him, taking in his sharp and sculpted features. She nodded and placed her right hand in his left and her left hung loosely over his shoulder. And they danced, under the moon light, and she couldn’t bring herself to deny that it was really cliché. But at that moment, under the moonlight and dancing to the music of the wind, she just couldn’t bring herself to care.

Aaron spun her out and spun her back in, bringing her closer to him. She looked up to meet his eyes, as they continued moving slowly, side to side. She could feel his breath fanning over her face and it made her aware of their close proximity. She pulled back slightly, worrying that she might do something she’s going to regret. She let her hands fall from his and stepped back.

‘We should, um.... We should get back to the house,’ she said, trying not to meet his eyes, running her fingers through her hair.

‘Yeah. Yeah, we should,’ he breathed out, sensing the awkwardness.

They walked in silence all the way to the house, which was located in the outskirts of town.

‘So,’ Aaron started, ‘it seems like there isn’t a house for miles from your place.’

‘Yeah. My mom loves the quiet,’ she replied, not looking at him. ‘But now that I think about it, it must be for safety reasons.’

They heard a commotion up ahead, near the house and looked up to see black everywhere. Evanna stopped in her tracks, her heart pounding in her ears. She turned to Aaron, her eyes wide in panic and asked, ‘What is going on? Are these shadows?’

Aaron didn’t reply, but instead grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the house, fire spouting off of his unoccupied hand, dissipating the blackness. He saw someone running towards them, fighting off the shadows, red hair blazing as bright as the fire coming out of their hands. ‘Scarlet!’ Evanna called out to the person.

‘Evanna! Thank God you’re safe. You have to get out of here. Right now!’ Scarlet shouted, over the noise of the wind.

‘What’s going on?’ Aaron asked, his grip on Evanna’s arm tightening.

‘Aaron?’ she asked, surprised for a minute.

‘Yeah, it’s me. What’s going on?’

‘You know each other?’ Evanna asked. But Scarlet didn’t hear her as someone screamed behind them. All three of them turned to see what it was, just in time to see one of the guardians fall back, her eyes wide open.

‘Scarlet, what the hell is going on?’ Aaron demanded.

‘We were-are- being attacked. One minute we were all discussing, coming up with a plan and the next we were being attacked by shadows and sorcerers. It’s bad, Aaron. There are a lot of them. We’ve dealt with almost all the shadows, but there are a lot more sorcerers than we can take on,’ she explained, just when something large and covered in a black cloak, carrying a disfigured staff came up behind her.

‘Scarlet, duck!’ Aaron shouted, raising his hand up in the air. She ducked just in time, as a big, white ball of energy hit the thing right in the chest and it disappeared in a flash of bright light. Evanna stared, shocked.

‘Was that a...?’ she trailed off, scared to complete the sentence.

‘A sorcerer. We have to get you out of here,’ Scarlet said, turning to her.

‘But-But my parents. I have to see them. Where are they?’ she asked, wrenching her arm from Aaron’s grasp and running head first into the crowd of fighting mystics, shadows and sorcerers.

‘Evanna!’ he shouted, running after her. ‘Evanna! Come back here right now!’ She didn’t listen to him as she ran ahead, faster. She stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted her parents, fighting off a bunch of shadows, or what looked like shadows, since it was all fading black mist.

‘Mom! Dad!’ she cried, relieved that they were fine. They turned to look at her and let go of a breath, in relief. ‘Evanna!’ her mom cried, running towards her.

Evanna started walking towards them, when a pair of cloaked figures came behind her parents. She felt the panic raise in her throat and pointed behind them, unable to form a coherent sentence. They turned just in time to see them. But before they could react, the black cloaked figures leaned down, the tip of their staff pointed straight at their chest. The sorcerers jerked their staffs back, and a white light came out of her parents’ bodies.

Their bodies bowing forward, they fell back, their backs hitting the concrete. Their eyes wide, they were staring straight ahead. She heard screaming and it took her a minute to realise that it was coming from her. It had all happened in seconds, but it felt like it was going in slow motion. Aaron reached her just in time to see her parents fall to the ground, dead.

‘NO! MOM! DAD!’ she started to run towards them, but she felt arms encircle around her and she fought against them. ‘LET ME GO! LET ME GO, AARON!’ she screamed.

‘Evanna. Evanna, listen to me,’ he said, holding her tight and dragging her away. She kept fighting him, hitting him on his chest and arms. ‘Evanna, we have to get away from here. None of the sorcerers have recognised you yet and I plan on keeping it that way,’

By this time, she was crying, hot tears running down her face. Scarlet reached them just then, her arm bloody. Evanna fell against his chest, sobbing.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked, Scarlet softly. She just nodded and said, ‘My parents are taking care of the sorcerers and they’ve called for reinforcements. We have to take her somewhere safe,’ cocking her head at Evanna, who was still crying and pushing against Aaron’s chest. She’d clutched his shirt tightly, hoping to hold onto a semblance of sanity. 

Her parents were dead. She never got to say goodbye. Her parents were dead. She never got to say goodbye.

These were the two things that kept repeating in her head. She could barely hear what Aaron and Scarlet were discussing. Suddenly she felt being sucked away by something and clutched Aaron’s shirt tighter, her heart pounding wildly. The next second her feet touched something hard and she stumbled a little, holding onto him for support.

She looked up, her eyes red and puffy, hot tears leaking out of the corner of her eyes. She looked around, not recognising her surroundings. It was just seconds ago, she was standing in her driveway, watching her parents die. But now she was in the middle of a large meadow, wild dandelions growing all around. She fell to the ground, her knees giving out. She didn’t bother to get up, lying face down on the earth, her heart shattered.

5: Storm

It was bright and early in the morning when she opened her eyes. Evanna yawned and stretched. She fell back on her bed, her head hitting her soft pillow. She snuggled into it and closed her eyes.

'Evanna,' an annoying voice called out. 'Wakey-Wakey.'

She groaned, 'Go away, Scar. I'm sleepy,' and pulled the covers over her face, blocking the bright sunlight.

Scarlet ignored her and pulled the covers off of her and started dragging her from her bed. 'Come on, Evanna. You're mom made blueberry pancakes,' she said, her voice too chirpy for such an early morning.

Evanna groaned loudly, accepting defeat and let her be dragged by her best friend down the stairs. Her mom turned to her and laughed at her.

'What?' Evanna asked, mid-yawn.

'Nice hair,' her mom said, going back to stirring the batter.

'Thanks. Bed hair is the new sexy,' she replied, sticking her tongue out at her mom. She just shook her head at her daughter and placed a big stack of blueberry pancakes in front of her. Evanna picked up her fork and started gobbling up the pancakes.

'Mmmmmm...Mom you make the best pancakes ever,' Evanna moaned, her mouth full.

'Don't talk with your mouth full, Evanna,' her mom chided, waving her spoon in the air.

Scarlet poured herself and Evanna coffee. She placed Evanna's cup in front of her and sipped hers. They were talking and giggling when her dad came downstairs, freshly showered.

'How are my beautiful ladies?' he asked, reaching for the coffee pot.

'Hey dad,' Evanna said, reaching over to kiss him on the cheek. Her mom kissed him and placed a plate loaded with pancakes in front of him too. They all sat and talked all through the morning, like a normal, happy family.

She felt someone shake her. She heard her name being called, but it sounded so far away as she felt the memory fade away.

'Evanna,' the voice called again, this time closer. The voice sounded so familiar. She felt herself being shaken again and she slowly opened her eyes, covering it partially against the bright sunlight.

Blue eyes met brown ones and Evanna blinked the sleep from her eyes. 'Scar?' she asked her voice rough from sleep.

'Hey,' she replied softly.

'Where're mom and dad?' she asked, rubbing her eyes.

Scarlet looked shocked for a second, before her eyes softened to something resembling pity. Evanna scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion at her friend's strange behaviour. Her eyes cleared up then and she noticed their surroundings. They were in a meadow of wild dandelions, not in her room. She sat up properly and noticed that she'd slept on the grassy ground, not her soft bed.

'Why are we here?'

'Evanna, what do you remember from yesterday?' Scarlet asked.

Evanna frowned trying to remember. She saw flashes of memory. Shadows, learning about the mystics, the park, being attacked by shadows, being rescued from shadows by Aaron. The flashes rushed by faster now. Dancing. Walking back home. Sorcerers. Seeing her parents. Her parents being killed. Crying. The meadow. Evanna's eyes snapped open, panic blatantly obvious in them.

She clutched Scarlet's arm. 'They're still alive, right Scar?' she asked, desperation laced into her words. She can't help but hope that there's a chance that they're alive. 'Please, please tell me they're alive,' she said, her nails digging into Scarlet's arm. Scarlet flinched, but not from the pain from Evanna's nails, but from the look in her friend's eyes. They were wild, unshed tears threatening to spill.

Evanna's eyes were wide, red and puffy from crying the whole night, desperate and already grief stricken. She could see the sliver of hope in her eyes and dreaded the fact that she had to tell her best friend that her parents were dead, shattering that hope.

Evanna could see it in her eyes. They didn't make it. But she wouldn't believe her until she got a verbal confirmation. Her eyes were fierce, coaxing her friend silently, even though she knew it will not help in any way.

Scarlet visibly paled and swallowed. 'I'm so sorry, Evanna. It was too fast,' she started, taking her hands in hers.

Evanna shook her head, trying to keep her tears at bay. 'No,' she said, defiantly. She stood up abruptly. Scarlet stood up as well, her heart going out for her friend.

'No!' Evanna cried, her eyes flashing, at Scarlet. 'They're not dead! They can't be. Maybe you just think they're dead. Like you said, it was all too fast right? There's a chance that they may be still alive! They're still alive!' she shouted. She tried to blink her tears away, but that just made them stream down her face. Her lips trembled and she shook slightly with the onslaught of emotions. She hugged herself and bit her lip, trying not to scream out loud. 'They have to be,' she said, her voice broken and full of emotion. 'I can't do this without them. And my dad, he promised he'll be there. It wasn't supposed to be this way,' she rambled, not willing to believe that they were gone.

Scarlet moved forward and hugged her best friend, offering her the tiniest bit of comfort. 'They aren't supposed to leave me all alone. It's not fair,' she cried softly, against her friend's shoulder.

'I know, I know...' she replied, softly stroking her hair. She let Evanna cry out all her tears, hugging her all the while. It reminded Evanna of the way her mom used to hug her after a bad day. She pulled back after a while and tried to stop her tears. Scarlet squeezed her hands and sat down, leaning against a tree trunk. She patted the spot next to her and Evanna sat down.

'It is because of me that they're dead,' she said, after a while.

Scarlet sighed. 'Evanna, you can't blame yourself. It's not your fault,'

'How can you say that? They were fighting off sorcerers to protect me! They were attacked in the first place, because of me! How can it not be my fault?' she demanded, angry at herself. 'I killed them,' she kept thinking.

'They were trying to protect you because they love you, Evanna. They were worried about you. They wouldn't want you to blame yourself for what happened to them. The sorcerers were just too fast and came out of nowhere,' she said. 'Do not blame yourself,' she added firmly, looking into Evanna's eyes.

'I can't stop thinking it's all my fault Scar,' she said, her voice rough. 'It is my fault. I shouldn't have argued with them. I should have just left you guys. It was because of me they were attacked. If I hadn't been there, there would've been no attack and my parents would still be alive.'

'Evanna, listen to me. It is not your fault. Who's to say they wouldn't have attacked even if you weren't there?' When Evanna was quiet, Scarlet continued, 'You can't blame yourself for something you had no control over.'

Evanna just nodded, having no energy to argue further. No matter what anyone says, she'll never stop blaming herself. They sacrificed their lives for hers; she can never come back from that. She can never forget the emptiness in their eyes when they fell to their deaths. The two girls were quiet for a few minutes, the only sounds were the occasional sniffles from Evanna. She stood up suddenly and started walking. Scarlet let her go, knowing she needed some time alone.

Evanna walked and walked, concentrating on her steps, not thinking of anything else.

Right foot forward. Left foot forward. Right foot forward. Left foot forward.

She couldn't think of anything else. She wouldn't. She looked up from the ground, coming to an abrupt stop. She was standing on top of a hill, which was, she now realised, where the meadow was. She looked at the view in front of her.

The sun was peeking from behind the clouds and the surrounding hills were lush with greenery. The village- or town, or city – was so tiny from where she was standing, so inconsequential. All she could see was brown specks and a lot of green fields. It was so quiet and calm. Like the calm before the storm. Evanna knew she had to confront the raging feelings brewing inside of her, but she was scared that if she did, it will just make the fact that her parents are dead all the more real. And right now, she was not ready to face the reality.

Just a few more minutes, she thought, just a few more minutes let me imagine that my parents are still alive and that yesterday was just a bad dream. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet air, hugged herself from the slightly chilly wind. She felt something warm slide over her shoulders and opened her eyes to meet grey-blue ones.

'Hey,' Aaron said softly.

She stared at him for a long minute and turned back to look at the hills. He was quiet, his arms crossed over his chest. He kept giving her quick looks out of the corner of his eyes.

'Stop it,' she said, turning to him finally.

'What?' he asked innocently.

'Stop looking at me like that,' she deadpanned.

'Looking at you like what?' he asked, raising his eyebrow.

'Like I'm going to fall apart any minute. I'm not.'

'I'm just concerned,' he replied, his grey eyes softening.

'Well, don't be. It's none of your business and I don't need your pity,' she said, her voice bitter.

'I know you don't, but I am still sorry. I know how much it hurts to watch your parents being murdered right in front of your eyes,' he said, his eyes growing dark like a storm was brewing behind them. Evanna looked at him, slightly confused.

'My parents were murdered by sorcerers too. I was hiding under the bed but they knew I was there. They were coming for me when a bunch of guardians came in and killed them. My parents were guardians too, so everyone I knew kept giving me pitying looks. I was only ten, but it was too hard to be around people who reminded me of what happened. So, my uncle took me away and trained me. After I turned eighteen I went back and became a guardian. It is my way of honouring them. It felt right,' he finished.

Evanna didn't say a word for a while. She just stared at him, trying to understand the man standing in front of her. She leaned forward and hugged him, because she didn't know what else to say. She couldn't imagine how it must have been for a ten year old child to see their parents being murdered in front of them. She's eighteen and she didn't how to deal with it.

He was shocked for a second but then brought his hands around her waist. 'I'm sorry about your parents,' he whispered into her hair.

She pulled back and he was afraid for a second that she was going to snap. But she surprised him by smiling slightly and replied, 'Thanks you.' She paused for a second and then added, 'I'm sorry about your parents too.' He just nodded and they both turned to look at the scenery in front of them again. In some bizarre way, they were both comforted. After a few minutes, he felt her start to shake slightly and he turned to her. She was crying silently, her body shaking and he felt his heartstrings pull for this beautiful girl who has had too much dumped on her in a day. He took her hand and squeezed her as if saying, I'm not going anywhere. She squeezed back and he knew she didn't have to say anything else.

It was midday by the time Aaron and Evanna returned to Scarlet. She was picking apples from the trees and didn't notice them. Evanna removed the jacket and handed it to Aaron, who gave her a small smile. She smiled back and called out to Scarlet.

She was a little startled and almost fell down the tree. She caught onto a branch at the last minute. She glared at her and let go, landing on her feet like a lithe cat. She smiled at Evanna. 'How're you doing?' she asked, concern etched on her face.

Evanna's face fell slightly. 'I don't know. I'm not really feeling anything, because I'm trying not to think about it. I've spent half the day crying. I just... I'm scared if I do think about it, I'll start again. And I'll feel things I don't want to because it's too hard,' she replied, tearing up again.

Scarlet nodded in understanding and said, 'Do you want to help me with the apples then?'

Evanna agreed, grateful for the distraction. She then remembered something. 'Where are we anyway?' she asked, looking around the beautiful meadow.

'Hills surrounding the Village,' Aaron replied, stretching.

'What village?' she asked, her eyebrows scrunching up.

'Purra,' he replied, now yawning.

Evanna raised her eyebrow. He sighed. 'We're in a trading village between realms,' he explained.

'A what between what?' Evanna asked, feeling like a fish out of the water.

'Well, there are many belts connecting one realm to another; sort of like a web if you will. Not everyone can teleport, so there are trading villages which have portals to take people to whichever realm they want to go to. It's the middle ground, I guess you can say. So, people from everywhere come to places like this for, let's say, easy transportation. But mainly it's a trading village-you know, like markets and stuff?'

'Wow, that is the most weirdest thing I've ever heard. So, people from Earth also come here?' she asked.

'Well, not exactly. Your people don't know of the existence of these other worlds, magical worlds. Ignorant lot, they are,' he added, winking. Evanna rolled her eyes.

Scarlet threw an apple at his head. 'Ow,' he cried, rubbing his head. 'What was that for?' he asked, biting into the same apple.

'Get off your ass and help us,' she replied, throwing down apples to Evanna.

'Fine,' he groaned. He started picking apples and all three of them didn't say a word until all the trees were stripped of all the apples. They started munching on apples, when Evanna asked, 'This teleportation you mentioned, is that how we got here?'

Scarlet nodded, pulling out her amulet, she continued, 'This doesn't just control our magic. It creates a portal as well. But only a select few can teleport between worlds.'

'Why?' Evanna asked.

'Well, otherwise, people will just keep teleporting back and forth. It's usually just the royal guards who are allowed to teleport. And the royal family of course,' she added. Evanna nodded, still not having wrapped her head around the "Royal Family" thing.

They finished eating and were lying down. 'I want to go back home,' Evanna announced, her gaze still on the clouds. She felt silly, cloud watching when her parents had been brutally murdered mere hours ago.

'Nope,' Aaron said his gaze on the clouds too.

'I wasn't asking you, dumb-ass. I'm saying,' she said, giving him a pointed look, 'that I want to go.'

'And I'm saying that you can't. It's too dangerous,' he said, sitting up.

Scarlet groaned half-asleep. 'What is going on?' she asked.

'She wants to go home.' 'I want to go home.' They both said at the same time.

Scarlet turned to Evanna and frowned slightly, 'It's too dangerous,' she mumbled.

'I know, but-'

'No, Evanna,' she replied, firmly.

'What about my parents?' she demanded.

Scarlet didn't reply.

'Aaron, please,' Evanna asked, turning to him.

'Nope. Not going to happen, Evanna. We don't know who or what is going to be waiting for us there. It is one of the most obvious places to look for you. By taking you there, we are basically handing you over to be killed,'

She glared at him. 'You both are there to protect me,' she replied.

'There are only two of us, Evanna. We'll be dead before you know it,' he replied harshly. Evanna flinched a little, hurt and got up and left, abruptly.

'Nice work, dumb-ass,' Scarlet said, shooting him a dirty look. Aaron felt bad and got up as well, stopping Scarlet. 'I'll go,' he said.

'No. I should go. You've done enough damage,' she replied harshly. He looked dejected. Her eyes softened. 'I'm sorry, Aaron. This is a really hard time for her. You have to understand all this is still new to her. Added to that, she just lost her parents.'

He just nodded and let go of her arm. 'Tell her that I am sorry.' She nodded and jogged over to Evanna.

She found her best friend crying near the stream running down the hill. She sat down next to her and put her arm over her shoulder, giving her an awkward hug. 'You didn't have come,' Evanna sniffled.

'Of course I did.'

'What happened to my parents' bodies?' she asked, her voice breaking at the last two words.

'The other guardians would have taken care of them,' Scarlet replied softly.

'Taken care how?'

'Taken them away and buried them,' she replied, wincing at how casual she sounded. 'Sorry,' she added.

'No funeral then?' Scarlet asked, biting her lip to stop from crying again.

'We usually don't have one on the day of the burial. We have one after,'

'I can't believe they are dead. I mean, I was there; I saw them die. But it's like, my mind hasn't exactly come to terms with it yet,' she replied. 'I just...God, this is all so messed up! Not two days ago, I never even knew any of this existed! Now, I'm some magical princess who is hunted by the most powerful, most dangerous sorcerer to exist!' she cried, frustrated.

'I know that this must be really hard on you. I get it; I don't know what happened to my parents either,' Scarlet said. Evanna looked up her eyes wide, opening her mouth to apologise, when she stopped her. 'I am not blaming you for anything. I'm your guardian and my duty is to protect you.'

'I'm sure they are alright,' Evanna said, looking down.

'I know they are. They had called for back –up by the time we left,' she smiled. 'Do you want to go back to the Castle? Meet your real parents?' Scarlet asked after a pause, slightly hesitant.

Evanna took a deep breath, wiping off the tears from her cheeks. 'I have to sooner or later. I would rather it be sooner. Ripping off a band-aid, you know.'

Scarlet nodded and went to get up. 'But I want to go back home first. I need to say goodbye,' she said, her voice pleading.

Scarlet stared at her best friend and she could see how hard this was all on her. Her eyes were red and she could see the tears ready to spill, she had dark circles under her eyes. She also saw the determination and the fire in her eyes and knew that she'd lost the fight. She gave her a curt nod, not wanting to argue and started walking back to the clearing when she saw Aaron come towards her.

'How is she doing?' he asked, concerned.

'She wants to go back,' she sighed.

'It's too dangerous, Scarlet,' he argued.

'You don't think I know that? She won't listen to me. But she did agree to go to the castle after.'

'Yeah, I figured she wouldn't. Going back to our home is much safer than going back to that land. We don't know what is waiting for us at her house,' he said, starting to pace.

'I know but I think it's her way of saying goodbye,' she replied, looking down.

Aaron stopped pacing and turned to her. 'We might not be able to protect her,' he said, his eyes clouding over.

'We're really good, Aaron. I've spent all my free time practising. We're trained to fight. You have killed a lot of sorcerers. We can handle it,' she stated.

He sighed. 'Is this what she really wants?'

'Yes. She's been through so much in one day, Aaron. She has to have the chance to say goodbye to her parents. Plus, I have to go see my parents, take care of some things.'

'Okay,' he replied, after thinking for a long minute.

'Okay?' she asked, surprised that he gave in.

'This is a horrible idea, but yeah, okay,' he replied, nodding.

Evanna walked over to them and asked, 'What's going on?'

'We're going back home.' Aaron replied, turning to her.

'We're going back home?' Evanna repeated.

'Yep,' Aaron nodded. He felt the wind rush by and something warm pressed against his body. He almost toppled over by her sudden hug, but managed to balance himself. He was still surprised when she pulled back a second later. She smiled up at him, her eyes shining and he was thrown off by how beautiful her smile was.

'Thank you. I know you didn't want to take me back and I get that you want to protect me. But I am also grateful that you understood,' she said, smiling slightly. It didn't reach her eyes, but it was still a smile.

Aaron just nodded and said, 'We should get going then.' He marched up the hill to Scarlet. 'We should teleport right into the house. It'll be safer,' she said, when they got closer. Aaron nodded and pulled out his amulet, holding it out in his palm. It rose a little in the air, glowing brightly. It took her a minute to notice, but Evanna eventually saw the light getting brighter, before it became as big and wide as a door. Aaron walked closer to what she now understood to be the portal and he was gone in the blink of eye.

Scarlet led Evanna to the portal and once she got close enough, she felt a gravity like pulling, dragging her into the portal. She felt the ground beneath her shift before it entirely disappeared. She felt like she was floating, but before she could get used to the feeling, she stumbled into her room-well, her old room- Scarlet following right behind.

She took in her light blue walls, her twin bed, posters all over her room. It felt like she hadn't been here for years, when it had been only been a little more than a day. It all looked so normal, mundane; everything she'd said she would miss.

'Evanna?' Scarlet asked, waving her hand in front of her eyes. She was brought out of her reverie and she shook her head from her thoughts.

'Yes?' she asked, clearing her throat.

'I'm going down to my house. I'll be back in a while with the updates. Aaron is here if you need anything,' she said, tilting her head slightly.

'Okay,' she replied. Scarlet went to go out the door, when Evanna caught her arm. Scarlet flinched and Evanna noticed it.

'Hey, are you hurt?' she asked, retracting her hand from its grip on her arm.

'It's nothing,' Scarlet dismissed it. But Evanna ignored it and pulled back the sleeve of her jacket. She saw a large cut from her shoulder-blade to several inches above her elbow. She'd stopped the bleeding by tying a piece of cloth over the cut. Evanna's eyes widened and she turned her eyes up to look into her friend's brown ones.

'This is not nothing, Scarlet Collins. We're taking you to a doctor right now,' she said, her voice giving no place for an argument.

'Evanna. I'll get it cleaned it up at home, okay? Let's not make a big deal out of nothing.'

'But Scar-'

'Hey. It's fine. I'll take care of it, okay?'

'Alright,' she reluctantly agreed. 'Be careful, okay?'

'Yes, mother,' Scarlet replied, painfully sarcastic. Evanna shook her head and watched her friend walk out her door. She looked around her room once more and let out a deep breath. She picked up a suitcase from her closet and started at it. What was she supposed to take to this place? She was pretty sure that none of her clothes were normal over there. She filled it with knick-knacks from her room instead- her old teddy bear, her photo album. She moved to her gaze to her mirror when she noticed the music box sitting atop the dresser nearby. She opened it and heard the soft music come out of it. It was her mother's. She'd given it to her when she was six and had told her to make a wish every time she opened it. She'd said, 'Everything you want, you will get if you wish hard enough, honey.' 

Evanna smiled, remembering her mother's words as clear as day. She was so naïve back then, believing in making wishes and thinking that they'll really come true. But even now, she closed her eyes and wished for the one thing she knew she'll never get. She felt the tears slide down her face but she didn't wipe them off, but instead held the music box close to her heart. She slide down to the floor and cried silently and then she felt the sobs wreak her body and her cries became louder, desperate. She mourned her parents' death. She mourned the fact that she never got to say goodbye. She mourned at the unfairness of it all.

She felt a presence sit next to her and pull her closer to a warm body. She didn't have to look up to know who it was. She had become so accustomed to his embrace in such a short time that, if she hadn't been crying over her parents', she would have found it frightening. She leaned her head on her shoulder, seeking the comfort she craved, her body shaking.

She leaned on him like her life depended on it, like she couldn't hold herself together anymore. After a while she moved her arms to encircle around his neck, holding him closer. He hugged her closer and said, 'It's going to be alright, Evanna,' He shushed her, rubbing her back-up and down, up and down. She concentrated on the motion of his hands, up and down, and started to calm down. After what felt like years, Evanna pulled back, letting her hands fall down next to her. Her head was bowed down, eyes directed downwards, trying to hide the sorrow and loss behind them.

Sniffling she said, 'Thank you. I don't even know you and you've... Just, thanks.'

'Stop it. You know more about me than a lot of people. Don't think like that, that I'm just a stranger,' he replied, lifting her chin with one finger.

'I didn't mean it in that way. I meant that I haven't known you for long.'

'I know what you meant. You don't need time to know someone. Time just makes everything more complicated than it is.'

Evanna didn't say anything for a long time. She opened her palm which held the music box. Lightly tracing the design, she said, 'Sometimes time is all you have. And sometimes time is all you want. But sometimes it is something you wish you had more of, but will never have,' she said and moved past him.

She resumed packing, placing the music box in her suitcase, while he was standing stock still. 'Time makes you forget,' he said out of the blue that Evanna was slightly startled.

'Excuse me?'

'Time. It makes you forget the memories that you did have. It makes you forget the time that you did have. That's why time is insignificant. I tried so hard to hold on to the memories of my parents', but they did fade. I can't remember their faces now and it kills me.'

Evanna was quite for a long time before she said, 'I'm sorry you don't remember them.'

He just nodded and left the room, leaving Evanna to stare after his retreating form. She finished packing and looked around her room. She picked up the photo frame laying on top her bed-side table. It was a picture of her with her parents on Fourth of July last year. It had been the perfect day. She ran her finger over their faces and tried to etch the memory in her brain so she doesn't lose it.

So many memories that she didn't want to lose, but she would eventually. She wiped the single tear that escaped her eye and placed the photograph in the suitcase and closed it.

'You done?' a voice asked from her doorway.

Evanna turned around to see Scarlet freshly showered and dressed. She had a duffle bag in her hand.

'Yes.' She took a deep breath. 'Let me just take a shower,' she said.

'Of course. I'll take your bag down for you,'

'Thanks.' Scarlet took her suitcase and left the room when Evanna called after her. Scarlet poked her head into the room. 'Yeah?'

'Did you take care of your wound?'

'Yeah. My mom bit my head off and cleaned it up.'

'Did your mom have any other news?'

'Yes. Why don't you finish with your shower and come on down?' Scarlet replied, smiling slightly.

'Okay.' Evanna grabbed her clothes and toiletries and closed the bathroom door. She walked over to the mirror and looked at her reflection. Her hair was a tangled mess, her skin was deathly pale, her cheeks had dry tear tracks on them, her blue eyes that were once bright and full of life were now empty, lifeless and puffy from all the crying. All in all, Evanna Harthlow was a mess.

She let out a huge breath and closed her eyes. 'When I open my eyes, it will be the new beginning. I will stop being the girl whose life was normal. I'm going to be the girl who has to stay strong and keep her head up high no matter what. This is going to be a bloodbath and I should be ready to face whatever is going to come at me. It will be a fight of life and death and I will fight till death. For my parents. When I open my eyes, I will no longer be the girl who lived behind the green door. When I open my eyes, I will start a new chapter of my life and I will not turn back. I will charge on ahead.'

6: Finding Home

Evanna walked out of her bathroom fully dressed, towel drying her hair. She swept it back when it was completely dry and pulled it up in a high pony tail. She went downstairs and saw Scarlet and Aaron sitting quietly, drinking steaming cups of... something.

‘What’re you drinking?’ she asked, settling on one of the chairs surrounding the table. It was only after she sat down did she realise that only a day ago, she was sitting in that very chair, listening to her parents tell her about the mystics and sorcerers. It seemed like a life time ago, a lifetime where her parents were alive and she didn’t even know that any of this even existed.

But they are dead and she is a mystic. Everything has changed.

‘Hot chocolate. You want some?’ Scarlet asked.

‘Sure. I’ll make some myself, thanks,’ she replied and smiled.

Evanna took her seat after she had fixed herself a cup and turned to Scarlet. ‘What did your mom say?’

‘Well, she took care of your neighbours. She told them you and your parents had to leave so abruptly because your grandfather died and you parents didn’t want to leave your grandmother alone. She told them all of you are moving there. But the important news is everyone thinks the attack wasn’t a coincidence. They think it may have been an inside job,’

‘What do you mean “inside job”?’ Evanna asked, confused.

‘We think that someone among the guardians is working with the sorcerers. It is possible that they gave them the information about your whereabouts.’

‘Do you think that’s how the shadows found me?’

‘Yes. We have to be even more careful until we get back to the castle. The security over there is tighter. Just about anyone can’t become guardians for the royal family,’ Scarlet replied, taking a sip from her hot chocolate.

Aaron was quiet the whole time. Evanna turned to him. He looked deep in thought, his gaze distant. ‘Aaron?’ she called out. Scarlet turned to him and shook him. It seemed to wake him from his trance. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked him, raising her eyebrow.

‘Yeah,’ his gulped down his hot chocolate and pushed his chair back, getting up. He rubbed his palms on his jeans and let out a big breath. ‘So, are we ready to leave?’

Scarlet and Evanna shared a look and then turned to look at him. ‘What?’ he asked.

Scarlet raised an eyebrow and said, ‘Nothing. Let’s go.’

‘Good,’ he huffed out and walked briskly out the door.

‘What’s with him?’ Evanna asked after a few seconds.

‘You got me. Come on, let’s go.’

‘Are we meeting up with your parents?’

‘No. They still have some work left here. So, they will be joining us at the Valley in a couple of days’ time.’

‘Oh, okay. Are we teleporting again?’ she asked Scarlet with a slightly uneasy look on her face.

She laughed at her best friend’s face and replied, ‘Yep. It won’t be that bad after a while.’

‘Of course. What’s not pleasant about the ground shifting under your feet?’ she asked, flashing Scarlet a big, fake, toothy grin.

Scarlet shook her head and walked outside. Aaron was tapping his foot impatiently.

‘What’s with you today?’ Evanna asked, chuckling slightly.

‘Nothing. I’m going on ahead. We’ll teleport to the city gates.’

‘We’ll meet you there,’ Scarlet replied.

Aaron grabbed all of the bags and disappeared through the portal. She grabbed Evanna arm and they went together. Evanna felt the same ground-shifting-being-pulled-into-another-direction feeling and squeezed her eyes shut. She opened them when she felt the ground beneath her feet.

She sucked in a breath at the sight in front of her. She didn’t know what she was expecting, but this was definitely not it. The gates loomed high into the sky, so much so that she couldn’t get a glimpse of the city behind them even if she craned her neck. ‘Which city are we outside of again?’ she asked, stretching her neck despite knowing that it was useless.

‘Vinden Valley,’ Aaron replied, dropping the bags and placed his hand over the iron gates. Almost immediately, a smaller door opened and an armed guard stepped out. Evanna noticed how strangely he was dressed- fully in black leather, with a sword in his hand. Why does he need a sword when he has magic, she didn’t know. ‘Who are you and why are you trying to enter our city?’ he bellowed. Aaron walked up to him and stated who they were, asking permission to enter the city.

‘How can I believe you are who you say you are?’ he asked, looking at each of them. ‘You are dressed in clothes that do not belong here. You come from another realm and yet you state that you are inhabitants of this land. Do you think I’m foolish enough to believe you?’ he asked, stepping forward and pushing the tip of his sword against Aaron’s chest.

‘What I said was all true, ‘Aaron said, looking at the man straight in the eye. ‘We are returning from Earth, after rescuing the Princess,’ he continued, gesturing to Evanna. The man looked at her up and down.

‘What proof do you have?’ the man demanded. Aaron reached into his jacket and pulled out an old piece of paper.

‘This is the official document from the King, granting me the honour of protecting the Princess. I was asked to bring her back here and I have. You can check it and you will know that what I said was the truth. Now, will you let us pass?’ he asked, not disrespectfully.

The guard examined the piece of paper closely and then looked up at Aaron. He stared for quite a while, before relenting. ‘I’m going to need to see your amulets,’ he demanded.

‘Umm, I don’t have one,’ Evanna spoke for the first time. He glanced at her and nodded, ‘You are the only exception, then,’ he said. Aaron and Scarlet handed him their amulets, he examined them and returned them back.

‘If you are from Earth, then how did you get here?’ he asked.

‘We came through a portal,’ Scarlet replied. ‘We’re Guardians.’

He nodded and finally let them pass. He bowed when Evanna went past him, making her feel self-conscious. ‘You don’t have to do that. It’s alright,’ she said, feeling slightly embarrassed.

‘Any person must be given the respect they deserve,’ he said, straightening up.

‘I haven’t done anything worthy of your respect,’ she said.

‘Yes, but your parents have done enough for you to gain my respect, Princess,’ he replied, smiling for the first time.

Evanna nodded dazedly. Everyone holds her parents – her biological parents- on a high pedestal and she doesn’t even know them. I’m super nervous now, she thought to herself.

The three of them marched ahead. Evanna looked around the Valley, nestled between two huge mountains. It was the most beautiful place she’s ever seen. There were large trees everywhere, birds flying around and she swore she saw tiny little fairy like creatures. She blinked in surprise and there was nothing there.

There were small houses littered around and the people were wearing medieval time clothing- the women wore long, full dresses and the men were dresses in breeches and loose shirt.  There were all kinds of shops selling robes, herbs, deathly looking creatures, spell books and so many more bizarre things Evanna didn’t even recognise.

‘Oi! Wait up!’ she heard a male voice call out. A tall, lean boy who looked about eighteen was running towards them. He ground to a halt in front of them, trying to get his breathing in control.

‘Easy there, Edgewise,’ Aaron said, rolling his eyes and handing the boy, who was probably “Edgewise”, a bottle of water. The boy gulped it all down in two sips and wiped his mouth with his shirt sleeve.

‘Thank you. I saw you and I heard about the situation with the Princess.’ He glanced at Evanna, as if just noticing her. ‘Is this her?’ he asked Aaron, as if she was not standing right there.

Before he could answer, Evanna stepped forward and held her hand out, ‘Ummm... Hi. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Evanna,’ she introduced herself.

The guy named Edgewise looked startled that she was directly addressing him and glanced at her hand for a moment before gently clasping it in his. ‘An honour to meet you, Princess,’ he replied, raising her hand to his lips and kissing it quickly. Evanna smiled in embarrassment.

‘Now that we’ve gotten past that awkward moment,’ Aaron started, smirking, ‘Evanna meet Verine Edgewise. He is one of the guardians-in-training.’

Verine blushed and replied, ‘I told you not to call me that,’ he glared at a grinning Aaron. ‘Just call me Ver. My parents have a very bad sense of humour.’

‘Nice to meet you, Ver,’ Evanna laughed. Aaron laughed openly at his embarrassment and Scarlet nudged him in the ribs. She then stepped forward and said, ‘Well, well. I guess someone has forgotten about me, then.’ She had her hands on her hips but she was grinning.

‘Scar Collins?’ Ver breathed, his eyes wide in surprise. He pulled her in for a tight hug. Scarlet laughed as he picked her up and squeezed her tight, before setting her on the ground. Evanna raised her eyebrow at Aaron who just shrugged.

‘You both know each other?’ Evanna asked Scarlet.

‘Yep. We sure do. Training camp, two years ago.’ Ver replied, grinning widely, his green eyes bright. He ran his hands through his chestnut brown hair and breathed out a laugh.

‘God, you’ve changed a lot, Scar. You’re looking... you’re looking good.’

‘I could say the same for you, Ver. It’s been such a long time since I last saw you!’ she exclaimed.

Evanna watched amused at how smitten they both looked. Aaron groaned softly and she turned to glare at him. ‘What your problem today?’ she whispered.

‘Anxious. On the edge,’ he replied, half serious.

‘Why?’

‘No reason. Look, these two love birds are going to take all day. We should let them catch up and go on ahead. Don’t you want to meet your parents?’ he asked, changing the subject.

She sighed and nodded. She told Scarlet that they were going on ahead, nodded to Ver and walked towards what would probably be her new home.

After a long walk they reached the castle with its big towers that had vines covering them, the drawbridge leading into the castle gates. There were guards standing there, fully armed.

‘Who goes there?’ asked one of them.

Aaron stepped forward, ‘Aaron Cyrus, Guardian of Princess Evanna Melissa Lavinia Bertrand, Assistant Chief of Guardian Training. With me is Princess Evanna Melissa Lavinia Bertrand, daughter of King James and Queen Leanora, granddaughter of the Late King Esmond.’

Evanna looked at him like he was crazy. If the guard was surprised, then he didn’t show it. He let them pass and before she knew it she was being ushered into a huge ball room. She felt very small in the big room and she just realised that she was going to meet her real parents for the first time. It felt surreal, like one of those moments that you never imagine would ever happen and they end up happening. One of the doors opened and she whirled around to see a small man come and collect the bags from Aaron and said, his eyes on the ground, ‘The King and Queen will be with you shortly’ and left.

Evanna’s heart was racing. She was nervous and scared, but a part of her was also excited. Unfortunately for her, it was a very small part. She tried to calm down by taking deep breaths. She felt a warm hand on her back and turned to see Aaron smiling at her softly. He was there, just like he’d promised he would be. ‘It’s going to fine, Evanna. You have nothing to be nervous about.’

Whatever was going on with him, she was still glad that he was there with her, at one of the most defining moments of her life. She turned to him again and he gave her a reassuring smile. She was about to tell him something, when the door to the right banged open and a woman in her early forties rushed in, followed by a man roughly around the same age.

Evanna couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful women in front of her. Strands of her dark hair was falling out her elaborate bun, her blue robes matched her striking sapphire coloured eyes, searching the room for the baby she had lost all those years ago, now all grown up. Blue eyes met her matching blue ones and Evanna’s world stopped.

‘Evanna?’ her soft, musical voice breathed out, as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. Evanna couldn’t take her eyes off of the woman in front of her. She swallowed as she was engulfed in a tight hug by her. She took a deep breath and her eyes pricked when she smelled in the faint smell of jasmine coming from the woman. She couldn’t keep in her wild emotions anymore. Her hug surrounding her with love and safety, driving her to tears.

When Evanna started crying, Leanora hugged her tighter, running her fingers through her daughter’s hair softly, silently whispering to her. It only took her father seconds before he joined the mother and daughter. He placed a hand on his daughters shoulder. His daughter. He felt his eyes prick with tears and turned to see his wife, who was looking at him with tears in her eyes.

They were finally reunited and he was elated, relieved, even if a part of him was sad that it was under such terrible circumstances. He looked down at his daughter, his beautiful, beautiful daughter and he felt his heart break at the sight.

She was full on crying now, sobs wreaking her small frame, as she buried her head further into her mother’s hair. She had been through so much in such a short time. She’s just lost her parents, no matter whether they were related by blood; for all these years they had protected the one person who means the world to them.

Aaron watched the scene taking place in front of him. He felt her pain like his own, wanting to stay and see if she would be alright....But this was not his place, so he walked out of the room, quietly.

He walked towards the gardens. ‘Why do I care so deeply about her? I haven’t known her for that long and yet I feel the need to protect her, to be there to comfort her, to make her smile. To hold her. I feel something for her. There was something there between us when we danced that night. Great, Aaron! In the midst of all this fighting, all you can think of are your feelings.' 

He kept walking and didn’t hear someone calling out to him until he felt a small yet strong body bump into him. He stumbled a little and turned to see who it was. And there she was, all blond haired and green eyed. ‘Why, hello there Maddy,’ he said smirking.

‘Hello? Hello?! How many times do I have to call out your name?’ she half shouted, thumping his shoulder hard.

He rubbed it and grinned, ‘Sorry. I thought someone was killing a dog or something.’

‘It isn’t funny. I have been so worried. I thought you had died. Don’t do that again,’ Maddy replied.

‘Why would you think that?’ he asked, raising an eyebrow.

‘Because of the attack. A lot of our people were seriously injured and a few had even died.’

His face got darker at the mention of the attack and his thoughts went back to Evanna. He sighed and replied, ‘Scarlet and I left with Evanna before they could get their hands on her. We went to a trading village.’

‘Ohhh, how is she?’ she asked, concerned. He smiled at his best friend, noting how she worried about someone she knows nothing of. That’s the kind of person she was, pure of heart and soul.

‘Like a person who’s been through a lot.’ He replied, as the picture of a sobbing mess of a girl popped into his head again. Maddy stared at him with a sharp eye. He saw her staring and narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Out with it,’ he said.

‘What? I didn’t say a word,’ she replied defensively.

‘Maddison Moleridge,’ he started threateningly. ‘I’ve known you my whole life. I know when you want to say something. Especially if it’s something I wouldn’t want to hear.’

‘It’s nothing really. I’m just surprised that you didn’t say a lot about her; like how you usually do when you meet new people.’

‘I do not,’ he replied, huffing like a child.

‘Oh, really? Do you remember the time when you were training and you called the instructor a stuck up slut the first time you saw her? Or the time you called that guy, James Crew, I was with a cheating bastard?’

‘In my defence, she was a stuck up slut and if I recall he did turn out to be a cheating bastard. Or did you forget the unceremonious way that you broke off...whatever it was you were doing with him in the first place?’

‘God, how can I forget? I’d walked in on him having sex with-’

‘-the stuck up slut. So I was not wrong.’ Aaron replied, walking.

‘But you were also too quick to judge,’ she replied, walking alongside him.

‘What’s your point, Maddison?’ he asked, sighing softly.

‘There is no point. I’m just surprised that you aren’t passing some kind of sarcastic remark about the girl,’ she replied.

‘Yes, well, she’s been through a lot. What with losing her parents and all.’

She looked at him strangely, as if trying to figure out a puzzle. Her eyes lit up and she pointed a finger at his accusingly. ‘You like her! That’s why you were so defensive for no reason.’

His eyes grew wide, ‘What? What are you talking about? No, I do not.’

‘Yes you do. Otherwise you would have told me that something or the other is wrong with her.’

‘There is nothing wrong with her, Maddison,’ he replied, frowning.

‘Aha! You do like her.’ She replied, grinning and skipping ahead.

‘What makes you think that?’

‘Because I can sense these things. I have know you all my life, you know,’ she said, repeating his own words.

 ‘I don’t know, maybe.’

She pursed her lips and gave him a searching look. ‘She’s isn’t like all the other women you’ve been with, Aaron.’

‘I know she isn’t, Maddy,’ he replied, scowling at her.

‘Do you think it’s wise? Having feelings for the Princess?’ she asked.

‘Probably not.’

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

It took Evanna a while to quieten down her sobs to sniffles and then stop crying completely. She pulled away from her mother’s embrace and wiped at her remaining tears and looked up at her parents, her mother with her hands clasped together and her father’s arm around her. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth but nothing came out.

She cleared her throat and said, ‘I’m sorry for that. I didn’t meant to just..’ Her eyes darted around the room.

‘Oh, honey. Of course. It’s alright. You’ve been through a lot,’ Leanora replied, wringing her hands together.

Evanna didn’t reply for a long time and the other two were quite, waiting for her to start talking. When the silence only grew, the King cleared his throat awkwardly and said, ‘We should move to the sitting room. We will be more comfortable,’

She just nodded and followed them through one of the many doors, which led to a very large and elaborately decorated room. It was warm and toasty and very inviting. All three of them took a seat, Evanna facing her parents, her real parents. They were both staring at her expectantly, waiting for her to start talking.

‘Ummm, so you are my real parents then?’ she asked, feeling stupid the second the question left her mouth.

‘Yes. I’m you biological father, James Bertrand and this is my wife and your mother, Leanora.’

‘That is just... You all sound so uptight and formal,’ she said, laughing slightly and feeling out of place.

Her parents laughed along with her, the tension dissipating from the room marginally. When the laughter died down she looked at them and said, ‘I am not angry at either of you for sending me away.’ She paused, ‘It was for my safety and it was the only way. If you hadn’t done that, then I would have never gotten to know my parents.’ She paused and smiled at them slightly. ‘My other parents.’

Their answering smile was glorious and wide. Her mother took her hand in her own and said, ‘I never knew until you were sent away. I was so angry and depressed that they didn’t let me say goodbye. That was one of my biggest regrets.’ Her blue eyes were filling with tears. Evanna swallowed, understanding how difficult it must have been for her mother to have never had the opportunity to say good bye to her. She felt the same way about her parents’ death.

‘I know,’ she replied, her voice cracking slightly. She turned to see her father, his eyes not hiding his guilt. She gave him a teary smile and said, ‘You did it to save my life, even if it meant sacrificing yours. Even if it meant that you might never see me again.’

‘You cannot imagine how much what you said means to me, Evanna. I thought you would never forgive me,’ her father replied honestly.

She glanced at her mother before turning back to him. ‘I was angry at my parents. My last memory with them was a fight. And then they were gone. Life is too short to waste it being angry for things that were inevitable,’ she paused. ‘I was angry at you. But you are the only father I have left and I-I can’t waste time being angry with you.’

She was swept into a warm embrace by her father. Surprised, she hugged him back, feeling her shattered heart try to piece itself back together.

‘We can finally start our lives together. As a family,’ her mother said, grabbing each of their hands in her own.

Evanna felt that it wasn’t fair to her parents, moving on so soon. So she hid a real feelings behind a fake smile, nodding. She will never be whole again, but she can try to fill the emptiness with something new.

Maybe something better.

Maybe, she tells herself, maybe it’s not about fixing something that’s broken. Maybe it’s about starting over and creating something better.

7: Past the Witching Hour

The fire spread everywhere and a scream echoed throughout the forest. The trees added fuel to the fire and the flames grew larger. There was a solitary figure in the middle of the forest covered in soot and surrounded by blazing fire on all side. Evanna swept her blue eyes to all sides, waiting for someone to come rescue her.

‘Help!’ she tried to scream but nothing came out. She started coughing as she inhaled. She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down. ‘You can do this! Come on. You just have to try,’ she told herself. She opened her eyes and squared her shoulders. She shook off the voice at the back of her telling her to just run for it.

She scrunched up her eyes and held up her hands in front of her. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to get control over the sea of flames. She exhaled with the effort it took her, as sweat beaded her forehead from the heat. She squeezed her eyes tight and grinded her teeth with the effort it took her.

Suddenly she felt a sharp pull from inside of her and gasped for air. She dropped her hands, exhausted and clutched her stomach. She felt the sharp pain again and pressed her hand to her chest.

A painful scream echoed through the burning forest and she fell to the ground. Her fingers dug into the ground from the gut wrenching pain. She let out loud cry and lifted herself up with great effort. She lifted her hands up again, although she had trouble standing up, let alone keep her hands steady.

Her breaths started coming out as heavy pants and she let out a small cry of pain just as the air around her shifted. It seemed to have a pulse of its own, a heartbeat, something beyond ordinary.

A low groan tore from her lips as the energy shifted and expanded and then burst out in a wide arc, covering the entire forest. As the fire slowly died down, she fell down on the ground, unconscious.

Evanna jolted awake, covered in sweat. That had been the seventh night in a row she’s had that dream since she’s been here. She got up from her large bed and dragged herself to the en suite to splash some water on her face. She rubbed her tired eyes and stifled a yawn behind her hand. It had been a week since she’d been reunited with her parents and since she had been given her amulet. She was having her first training session tomorrow- well later today- with Aaron. She pulled out her amulet from inside her shirt.

She traced it lightly, her thoughts far away. The dream, it felt so real. The pain in her chest had lingered even after she’d woken up. What did it mean?

She’d asked Scarlet about it and she’d said that it probably was just nerves. Probably meant nothing.

Evanna put the amulet back inside, the pendant cold against her chest. She started around her room or rather her suite. It was a large room with a big bed in the corner near the large French windows, facing the gardens. And a big wardrobe. It was a spacious walk-in wardrobe filled with all kinds of clothing- from large ball gowns to riding breeches and tunics to silk dresses. She had to say goodbye to all her modern clothes and settle for the garb of this world. She pulled on a thick cloak over the cotton shirt and pants she had chosen to wear for bed.

She retreated from her room through the large windows and started walking a path that had become familiar in the past week. She went over to the small shed which served as a house and knocked on the door.

She didn’t know why she came here every time. She just felt a pull, like it was something beyond her control. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms trying to keep herself warm. A light came on inside and she heard some shuffling before the door was opened by a half wake Aaron. He squinted his eyes and opened his door wider, wordlessly inviting her in.

He’d gotten used to her coming over every night. He put the kettle on the stove and turned to face Evanna, who was sitting at the small table, surrounded by mismatched chair.

‘Same dream again?’ he asked, raising his eyebrow at her.

‘Yep,’ she replied, popping the ‘p’. ‘Do you think it means something? That something is going happen?’ she asked, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

‘Hey, I promise, nothing like that will happen. I told you this when you first told me about it and I’m telling you now- it is just the nerves. It’s just a dream.’

‘If you say so,’ she said, still unsure.

‘I do. Don’t worry,’ he replied, getting up to shut off the screeching kettle. He filled two mugs with steaming hot tea. He placed one of them in front of Evanna. He sat opposite her quietly, leaving her to her thoughts.

Meanwhile, Evanna was thinking about everything that happened in the past week. She got her amulet blessed and presented to her by the priest. She thought about the small ceremony, she’d blanked out for most of it. All she remembered was when the priest called for all the Gods and the amulet floated in mid air for a minute before falling lightly on her out stretched palm, she felt a surge of power surge through her. Suddenly she felt all the power in her- running through her vines- like never before. Like they had been dormant all this while and have just been activated. It felt like a part of her that has been missing all these years has finally been found; the missing part of the puzzle that completed her.

She started having the nightmares from that night. On the first night, after she’d woken up, she had taken a stroll through the gardens for some fresh air. That’s when she saw the small shed and interrupted Aaron’s sleep.

Aaron was looking at her, deep in thought, the chipped mug in her hand. He thought about the first night she’d come over. He had been more than surprised to see her. She had told him about her nightmares and how she wanted to wait a few days before she started training. Every night after, she’d come over and they sat talking till dawn.

He couldn’t, for his life, remember what they’d talked about; just general things-nothing intense. But he was glad that she felt comfortable enough around him to talk about herself. He would never forget the look in her eyes when she admitted how scared she was of losing her parents, just like what had happened to her other parents. How she admitted that she couldn’t even think about what had happened without feeling guilty. How she couldn’t even bring herself to visit their graves. When the day of the funeral dawned, he’d asked her if she wanted to come, like she said she wanted to. She refused, saying she couldn’t do it.

Evanna and Aaron put down their mugs on the table at the same time. They sat silently for a long while until she asked, ‘How come you live here?’

Slightly surprised by her question, he replied, ‘I love the gardens and a couple of years back I found this abandoned shed and asked the gardener if I could fix it up and live here and he said yes. No one really comes all the way back here anyway.’ He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and moved to put the mugs in the sink. Except you, he thought.

‘Here, let me do it,’ Evanna said when he started washing up. ‘It’s the least I could do.’

He moved aside and took a rag and played with its corner, knowing there was no use arguing with her. He leaned against the counter and watched her clean them from the corner of his eyes. He was transfixed on her slow movements and breathed in deep.

He placed a hand on her soapy ones. She looked at him, eyes questioning him. He started into her eyes trying to see if she feels what he feels, if she feels connected to him like he feels, if she is aware of his every movement like he is aware of hers.

‘Aaron?’ she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

‘Just- I just want to see something...’ he replied softly, lightly framing her cheek with his other hand. He leaned in slowly, giving her time to push him away. Evanna was shocked and eyes transfixed on his lips coming closer to her own. She felt the light brush of his lips against hers and she leaned in, closing her eyes and deepening it.

So lost in the kiss, it took Evanna a moment to realise what exactly was happening. She broke the kiss and tried to catch her breath. Aaron stared into her eyes, horrified and hopeful at the same time. Horrified he actually kissed her but hopeful since she kissed him back. That is, until the next words came tumbling out of her mouth.

‘I-I’m sorry. I-We shouldn’t have done... that. I-I can’t. It’s just... I can’t. I’m sorry,’ she stuttered, looking anywhere but at Aaron. ‘I can’t. Not right now,’ she said again, looking at him at last.

Aaron moved back a little, giving her space and looked away in disappointed. ‘Of course. I am sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I just... don’t know what came over me.’ He didn’t look at her when he said this, but she could hear his discouraged tone.

‘Hey, look at me,’ she said. When he didn’t turn her way, she grabbed his chin and made him look at her. ‘I’m not saying that I didn’t want to. I do...want to. It’s just not the right time.’ She sighed at his silence. ‘It’s just that, it’s all going at a very fast pace. I need to find myself first; I don’t know what I want, what I’m going to do. Right now I just want to get past tomorrow. I have no idea about the future and whatever may happen between us, I don’t want to mess it up.’

He just nodded still clearly disappointed. ‘I’m just saying not right now. Maybe when I-’

‘Stop,’ he said, softly. ‘I get it. I should have known better.’

‘It’s fine. It isn’t your fault. It’s no one’s fault.’ She squeezed his hand lightly.

‘I should go back to my room,’ she said after an awkward silence.

He grabbed her arm when she turned to leave. ‘I want you to know something though. I like you, not that it wasn’t obvious. So that means I am willing to wait as long as you want. I am willing to do it for you.’

His eyes were burning with sincerity. She nodded, unmoving. He let go of her arm and opened the door. She walked out and turned back again, as if reluctant to leave.

‘I’m giving you your space. Good night, Evanna,’ he said and closed the door softly.

She stood there for a long time, staring at the door. She half expected him to come out and invite her in again, but he never showed. After what felt like hours she moved from the spot, her legs numb from the cold and went to her room. She snuggled under the warm comforter and wondered whether she will see Aaron again tomorrow.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Evanna blinked, staring at the ceiling. Her eyes focused, bringing her back to the present. She took a deep breath and rubbed her tired eyes. She couldn’t get a wink of sleep after coming back from Aaron’s. She couldn’t get the look on his face when he closed the door from her mind. His eyes were cold and his jaw tight. She pulled her comforter higher and pulled it over her head, trying to bury herself between her sheets and never come out.

A series of knocks sounded on her door. She groaned and called out, ‘Who is it?’

‘It’s me. Scarlet,’ she replied. Her door opened and Scarlet slid in, closing the door behind her.

‘You have to get up, Evanna. It’s your first training session!’ she said a little too loudly, jumping up and down.

Evanna squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out her best friend’s high pitched voice babbling on and on about the events about to take place in the near future.

‘-and we’ll have so much fun when we get to the-’

‘Aaron kissed me,’ Evanna blurted out.

Scarlet stopped mid-sentence, her mouth slightly open. ‘What?!’ she shouted.

‘Okay, first, shhhh. And second, yes. You heard right. Aaron kissed me last night. I don’t know why I just blurted it out like that.’

‘Oh, my God. Wha-? Ho-When?’ she asked in a dramatic whisper.

Evanna sighed, ‘Last night I was over at his house-shack and we were talking and we-we kissed,’ she replied.

‘Okaaaaay,’ Scarlet breathed out. ‘You kissed him back?’

‘Yes, for a second. But then I stopped.’

‘Why?’

‘I’m not quite sure anymore. I just said that it was too soon. And it is, Scar. I mean it has hardly been a month since I found about being a mystic and from then till now, my parents weren’t even my real parents, and then they died right in front of my eyes, I had to leave my whole life behind and come here to learn some stupid magic tricks.

‘I don’t know who I am anymore and I don’t know where I am, metaphorically. I’m all over the place and if something does happen between Aaron and me, I don’t want the ship to sink even before it has left the dock. I just need some time and space. And apparently he is all for it,’ she finished, rolling her eyes remembering his dismissal last night.

‘What do you mean?’ the red head asked, confused.

Evanna got up from her bed and walked over to her closet, taking out a pair of dark pants and a shirt. ‘After I told him I needed space, he practically kicked me out and closed the door. After he said,’ she stopped, clearing her throat. ‘“I’m giving you your space. Good night, Evanna.”’ she said in a deeper voice, clearly imitating Aaron.

‘He sounds upset to me,’ Scarlet said.

‘He was upset. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t be? The guy kissed me and I kissed him back and then I say it was wrong?!’ Evanna cried, throwing up her hands in the air.

‘Can’t argue with you there,’ Scarlet replied. Evanna slumped on the floor next to her bed, her face in her hands. ‘Why are you so frustrated?’ Scarlet asked her after a while.

‘I don’t want things to be weird with us. It was going great, you know? I had someone to talk every night after the nightmares. About a lot of other things,’ she said the last part quietly to herself.

‘Well, you don’t know if he’s going to stop talking to you,’ Scarlet said, trying to appease her best friend.

‘Let’s hope you’re right,’ Evanna sighed. ‘I’m going to take a quick shower. I should meet you where for the training again?’ she asked.

‘The arena. But I’ll take you there. It’s hard to find,’ Scarlet said and smiled.

‘Okay,’ she said and grabbed her clothes, rushing to the bathroom.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

‘So, you won’t be the one training me?’ Evanna asked, adjusting the cuff of her shirt.

‘No. I’m just a second level guardian. Aaron is the Assistant Chief of Guardian Training. He is the best. Well, after Shelby.’

‘Who is Shelby?’ Evanna asked, confused.

‘Shelby Burn is the Chief of Guardian Training. She’s great.’

‘I wanted to ask you before, isn’t Aaron a little too young to be Assistant Chief?’

‘Yes, but he is really experienced and powerful. So, Shelby convinced the Commander-in-Chief.’

‘Oh,’ she said, surprised.

The two of them reached the arena to see Aaron and a blonde haired girl with him. They were talking and didn’t see Evanna and Scarlet until they were almost in front of them. Aaron and the girl next to him turned to see them.

‘Great, you’re here,’ Aaron smiled at Evanna. She smiled back, slightly thrown off by his friendliness.

The blonde girl stepped forward, ‘Hi, I’m Maddison. But you can call me Maddy,’ she said, grinning widely. ‘I’m Aaron’s best friend.’

‘And a pain in my ass, but we’ll skip that part,’ he added, winking at them.

Evanna smiled at Maddison. ‘I’m Evanna and this is my best friend Scarlet.’

Scarlet cleared her throat and said, ‘We already know each other,’

‘Oh. Guardian Training?’ she asked, smiling.

Before Scarlet could answer, Maddison replied ‘I’m not a mystic. I’m a Child of the Light.’

Evanna looked at her confused. ‘They are mostly healers but a Child of the Light is someone who can bring back the dead,’ Aaron supplied.

Evanna raised her eyebrows in surprise. ‘You can bring anyone back from the dead?’ she asked, trying not to be too hopeful.

Maddison’s eyes turned sad and Evanna knew the answer before she heard it. ‘I’m sorry, Evanna. But we have certain rules to follow.’

Evanna nodded in understanding. She has to come to terms with her parents’ death already. She shouldn’t hold on to the hope that there was a way to bring them back.

‘We... should start training, right Aaron?’ Scarlet asked, breaking the tension.

Aaron turned to her and nodded. ‘Right.’

‘Of course,’ she said, plastering a smile on her face. Maddison was quiet, her eyes down caste. Evanna turned to her and said, ‘It was nice meeting you, Maddison. I hope to see you again soon,’ and smiled at her. Maddison smiled back and turned to Aaron.

‘I should get going. My mom asked me to run a few errands.’ He nodded. She waved at Scarlet and Evanna and walked back towards the city.

Evanna turned to Aaron, ‘Hey, about yesterday-’

‘We should start training,’ he cut her off and turned to Scarlet. ‘Can you help me?’

‘Sure,’ she smiled. Evanna tried to hide the surprise when he cut her off. Maybe he wasn’t as okay as she initially thought he was.

‘Okay, so this is the hard part,’ Aaron started. ‘You know that you have magic, the power to control the elements, but to actually do something with it is hard. You have to believe in yourself; the more you believe, the easier it will be. Anything you do gets better with practise.’

‘Yes, so you shouldn’t be disheartened that you can’t do a lot on your first try,’ Scarlet added.

‘Observe Scarlet for a minute, follow with your eyes what she’s doing,’ Aaron instructed, his arms crossed across his chest.

Scarlet held her hand, palm up; a small ball of fire appeared on it, glowing brightly. ‘This,’ Aaron pointed, ‘is a part of your soul, in the form of fire. It is the key to everything.’

‘So, it’s a...thing?’ Evanna asked dumbly.

‘Well, it’s an entity, yes. It’s flows through your blood, a part of every bit you.’

‘Oh, so the more I use it, the more I lose a part of my soul?’

‘No, no. Your soul is eternal. The more control you have over your powers, the less tiring it will be. You getting worn out has nothing to do with your soul. Do you understand me?’ he asked, Scarlet quiet through it all.

‘I think...My soul is where my magic comes from, but it’s a part of my soul, but not what give it energy?’

‘No, magic is not part of your soul. Your soul is a part of your magic.’

‘Oh, wow. So if I have no magic...?’

‘You’ll be a mortal,’ Scarlet finished. ‘Powerless.’

‘But I won’t die?’ she asked, confused. ‘I don’t get it, how can I live without my soul?’

‘Um, I don’t think I explained it properly. Okay, erm, it’s hard to explain if you didn’t go to school here.’ Evanna raised an eyebrow at that. He shook his head, picking up a stick, he drew a small circle on the ground and a bigger circle around it.

Pointing to the small one, he said, ‘That is your soul,’ and pointing to the bigger one, ‘and that is your power. When you lose your magic,’ he said, rubbing out the outer circle, ‘you have your soul left, but not your magic, you understand?’

‘Yeah, yeah. So, what exactly should I do now?’ she asked, looking at the both of them.

‘Well, you feel the energy running through you, don’t you?’ Scarlet asked. Evanna nodded.  ‘Now, you try to bring it out of you, create a shape. Try to imagine what you want it to be and exert the power to your finger tips. It’s always easier to start that way, you can control it better. Soon, you can control all the elements without lifting a finger....Like Aaron. Show her,’ Scarlet told him.

He smiled and suddenly the entire field sprouted with flowers. Evanna jumped and then grinned. ‘That’s impressive,’ she said. He bowed with great flourish.

‘Now, it’s your turn,’ he said, flashing a dimpled smile.

‘I don’t know if I can do it,’ she confessed. ‘I’m nervous.’

‘There is nothing to be nervous about,’ he said. ‘Here, give me your hands,’ he asked, holding out his own. Scarlet raised an eyebrow, but it went unnoticed by the two.

Evanna hesitantly placed her hands, palms facing up, on his calloused ones. She looked up at him, unsure about what to do next. ‘What now?’

‘Do what you feel like doing,’ he encouraged. ‘It’s inside you. You have to let it free. It’s a part of who you are.’

‘Okay,’ she breathed. Sucking in a deep breath, she focused on the power she felt surging through her, focused of giving it a form. Closing her eyes she tried to imagine fire, like the ball of fire that Scarlet just produced. Suddenly she was back in the burning forest from her dreams. She felt the power within her grow infinitesimally. She heard a distinct shouting and her eyes shot open.

There was fire surrounding her and Aaron, growing larger. ‘Evanna,’ he said calmly. ‘You need to tone it down a bit. Can you do that?’

Her eyes were wide with fear, she was frozen in place. It was supposed to be a small ball of fire. ‘Evanna, Evanna. Are you with me?’ she heard Aaron ask, his thumbs rubbing her knuckles softly. She focused on him, on what he was saying.

‘You need to calm down. Take a deep breath,’ he instructed. She breathed in deeply, letting it go when he asked her to. Calming down a little, she felt the flames grow smaller and smaller, until there was nothing left.

‘What was that?’ she asked, fear and shock clouding her features.

‘That was....’ Scarlet started, looking at Aaron to continue.

‘It was....more expressive than usual, is all,’ he said, smiling lightly, letting go of her hands. ‘I guess you are more powerful that you realised.’

‘I guess...but wasn’t that a little too dangerous?’ she asked.

‘It is,’ Scarlet started, ignoring Aaron’s glare.

‘But we can work on your control,’ he interrupted, reassuring her.

‘How about you try again?’ Scarlet suggested.

‘Are you sure?’ she asked anxiously.

‘It’ll be fine,’ he tells her.

‘Okay....’ she trails off. Holding one palm up, she thought of something less risky, like a brisk wind. Taking a couple of deep breathes to calm herself, she tried to maintain equilibrium between the immense energy within her and her simple requirement of it. She felt the breeze pick up, waiting nervously to turn violent but it never did. It maintained the same briskness, not too harsh, not too light.

Her face lit up, ‘I did it!’ she exclaimed, dropping her hand. The wind immediately stopped. ‘All by myself, too!’

‘That was really good work Evanna,’ Scarlet praised hugging her.

‘You were right. It felt incredible,’ Evanna told Scarlet. She turned to thank Aaron, but he was already walking away.

‘I don’t think he’s okay,’ Scarlet said, standing next to her. Evanna shook her head, ‘I don’t know what to do, Scar.’

‘Well, maybe he’s what you need right now,’ she shrugged.

‘A relationship?’ Evanna asked incredulously.

‘No. Someone who understands you.’