ce

inside and see if t

k inside, but I'm afraid t

air.” I sighed and perched myself

rd on yourself.” I craned my neck to look at his features. His play

contact and raised my gaze

fidently, but I wasn't sure if it

. I'm starving.” He yanked me out of my trance, bending down and takin

to follow his long strides. We were almost to the

raight into Arzhel's back to hide. I

last time we met, that if he s

n a monotone voice, and one of his hands

ff her arms. Understood?” My heart pounded loudly, and my blood ran cold when he spoke. I had no idea it was him I had bumped in

I was clutching Arzh

ain that something like that does not

t was not his fault. I should b

ce the terrifying man, but Arzhel sto

heard his footfalls descend. Arzhel

ed my head. This is the second time he h

hat rogue man, it always ends up

g earlier?” I shook my hea

ow.” I admitted, but left out the fact

et in his way the next tim

palm flat on my bac

something like burning. My nose led me to the source of the smell,

house o

ned, and pan

re!” I screamed and yanked

bewildered. Isn't he going t

. Seraphina was just roasting.

is ro

he led me directly to the kitchen. My nose crinkled as

out in a rectangular metal box. Above it is a piece of steel with crisscrossed patterns, with a piece of fish

Just as he said that, Seraphina turned her head in our direction. S

dear. I'll just finish t

l that lingers on the fish isn't as strong as it used to be. It sure d

heerful voice exclaimed from

time, Aria,” Ar

, as if on cue, with a tray of m

plopping herself on the chair,

served the last piece of roasted

ing. I have never see

becaus

ter kept the meal lively, but I'm still bothered by the thought

when Aria popped up behind me. I also asked Seraphina about why Quillan hadn’t joined dining with us and

e last plate into the cupboard, wiping my

aming from ear to ear. She looked around first to

s up to s

e in hushed tones, her h

e going to do there?”

y're in bloom this time of year, and I'd like to pick s

ay anything, she grabbed my

dn't get into any tr

learing. A gust of sea breeze greets us as we come to a

rs bloom alongside the

t's a long drop down there with only one false mov

wers aren't far from the

Seraphina come

ke that long

carefully trek across the rocky surface, making sur

icking them up while I

h?” I asked the girl out of the blue, and my mind f

ed briefly before s

ans.” Her response causes m

Aren't yo

nt, debating whether

t parti

moment. What exactly is she talking a

She said, brushing the to

away from the edge. We were panti

rs down and tur

ou talking about?” She looked at me carefully at

re not entire

.” Aria was interrupted by a scruffy-loo

ogue looking man, this man i

ll see a row of rotten teeth in his mouth. He was topless and only wearing heavily s

e man, helplessly hiding me behind her. Which is pointless because I'm still taller than she

ss the border?” Aria

te. She is always the cheery and s

red a human.” The man snickered, ignori

his man is?” I asked her

sight of her. A growl is coming from her throat, and s

snide remarks. Another growl rang ou

ur is matted with what seems to be dried blood and mixed dirt, they have

und in fear, but she still keeps me behind her. She quickly turns

the rocky ground, and a

pped open, and my eyes bulged as the cheerful girl I knew transformed into a golde

uch smaller than

of people