Joan stood at the hiding behind a tree, she held her hand over her face so the sound of her breathing would not be heard. Alex stretches his hand, a glowing sword appears. He holds it ready to strike.
Joan stood shaking her eyes were watery which made her green eyes glow.
A soft wind passes,
He turned then saw no one,
"Did you see who it was?" Ariel asked
"There is nobody here." He said looking around "Lets go." He said then turned back to leave.
The group left together, passing right in front of Joan but no one saw her.
She removed her hand from her mouth, looked around so shocked about what happened.
"Like what you say?" A voice said.
Joan turned around to see who it was.
A man, probably in his mid-40's , his hair, messy and his complexion honey tone. He walks over to Joan.
"Hi Joan." He said.
Joan stared at him so surprised. "Who are you and how did you know my name?" She said maintaining the eye contact.
"You see, that is why I like you Miss Joan. " He said then took two steps forward, Joan takes three backward.
"Bold, courageous." He added.
"Who are you?" She asked again.
"I am Serf. A magician. Nice to meet you." He said smiling. " You are heartbroken because your bestfriend has magic and she did not tell you?"
"I am not heart broken, and why am I even speaking with you?" Joan replied then began to walk away.
"I need you." He said then everything went black.
Meanwhile, at Gabrielle's house, in the evening. Ariel, Alex and Gabrielle are seated on the floor holding hands and blindfolds on. Gabrielle removes hers breathing heavily.
"That is just the beginning and you are already tired?" Ariel scolded.
"Ariel." Alex called out in a very low note.
Ariel then sits on top of the kitchen counter swinging her legs lazily while Alex leaned against the wall with his arms folded while Gabrielle sat on the floor tired, sweat covered her forehead while strands of her hair stuck slightly against her skin.
"I still don't understand," Gabrielle said weakly. "Why can't humans and magic just coexist?"
Ariel looked at her quietly before answering.
"At the beginning of time, magic was hidden from mankind for a reason," she said calmly. "Magic itself is not evil. But once it enters a corrupt mind… it becomes dangerous."
Alex nodded slightly. "And the one you wont want to mess with...." He said, gave a dramatic pause then continued. "Dark Magic."
"I know you have heard stories about Dark magic." Ariel added.
"It still doesn't matter." Gabrielle defended.
"Humans fight over money," he added. "Imagine what they would do for power."
Gabrielle stayed quiet.
Ariel jumped down from the counter and walked closer.
"Your mother tried to protect both worlds," she continued. "That is why she sealed your powers."
Gabrielle frowned.
"So thats why didn't I know any of this till now?"
"Yhh, Queen Neta hid it from you completely," Ariel replied.
"And now?"
Ariel and Alex exchanged brief glances.
"No body knows how to work it out but when the time..."
"Is right?" Gabrielle cuts in. "Right? You say some bad guys are coming after me, my mother is the Queen of the magical realm. So many stories that they sound like lies." Gabrielle said then stood up.
"I am not having this conversation now. I am going to bed" She added then walked away.
"She has a wish power?" Alex asked.
"Well, yes she does but I told her she doesn't. Don't tell her the truth." Ariel said then followed Gabrielle.
****
However, at the Yungie mansion, now at the third hour of the night
Eadlin walked downstairs wearing a loose black shirt and grey sweatpants. From his look, he seems exhausted.
One of the maids bowed immediately as he passed.
"Good evening sir."
Eadlin nodded absentmindedly.
His eyes searched the sitting room until he finally spotted Erica seated elegantly on one of the cream couches with a glass of wine in her hand. Even at night she still looked perfect.
"Drinking when pregnant" Eadlin said as he walked over to her.
"It is safe." She replied raising the wine so he can see.
"Where's Ashley?" Eadlin asked immediately.
"She left earlier."
"And the woman?"
A small pause.
"She's resting."
Eadlin folded his arms then asked; "So she's still here."
"Yes." He stared at Erica carefully.
"I want to see her," he said.
Erica smiled softly, the kind that tells you she is not interested in bending.
"Ashley is handling everything, Eadlin."
"That's not what I asked."
Her smile remained. "The doctors said she needs rest."
Eadlin scoffed quietly.
"Funny."
Erica tilted her head slightly.
"What is?"
"You suddenly care so much about people resting."
For a second, the smile on her face almost disappeared but she maintained it.
"You should sleep too," she replied calmly.
Eadlin stared at her for a few seconds longer before finally turning away. As he walked upstairs, Erica's eyes followed him quietly filled with rage.
Eadlin walked sluggishly to his room dragging his feet has he moved.
Inside his room, Eadlin shut the door behind him and let out a tired breath.
The room was dimly lit, the security lights outside reflecting faintly against the glass walls.
He removed his wristwatch carelessly and tossed it onto the table, then his shirt followed, then hopped onto the bed.
He stared at the side where Gabrielle had slept the last time. The whole scene replayed in his head. He couldn't help but laugh softly as he hugged one of the pillows tightly.
"I really wish she was here," Eadlin muttered under his breath.
Unable to sleep, he checked the refrigerator in his room, but nothing inside interested him. He then walked over to the small kitchen close to his room, grabbed a one-litre tub of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, then headed back for his room.
On getting to his room, he entered the bathroom to take a shower after placing the ice cream back into the refrigerator.
After a while, he came out, water dripping from his fallen hair. A blue towel rested around his bare chest, though drops of water still traced down his skin.
Humming softly and dancing carelessly, he brought out the ice cream, turned on the television, then jumped onto the bed.
He paused.
His eyes slowly moved toward the bed. The arrangement looked different, before, it had been laid flat.
Now…
It looked like someone was lying there.
The figure suddenly turned slightly.
"Gabrielle…?" he called out softly, staring at her in complete shock.
How was this even possible?
She was wearing different cloth. A dark purple night gown. She laid there comfortably like she owned the place, her eyes shut while her lips pressed together slightly in her sleep.
Eadlin simply stared at her, too astonished to think properly.
At that moment, he had forgotten that he wished for her to be there. All that he care about was that she was there with him.
He stared at her smiling like he was staring at the aurora light, with his dimples were so deep they could sink a heart.
Carefully, he moved closer to her and gently brushed the hair covering her face away.
Then slowly…
He leaned closer, hoping to steal a kiss.
Suddenly,
Gabrielle's eyes snapped open.
She stared directly into his eyes for one second before instinctively kicking him hard off the bed.
"What on earth!!!" Gabrielle said panting as she sits up.
Eadlin struggles to get up. He held his back as he struggles.
"Why am I here?" Gabrielle asked panicking. "You are not going to kill me are you?" She added pleading.
"No." He sits on his bed now.
"I am still trying to figure out how I keep appearing in your room. I can leave if you want." She said nervously.
"Eadlin, honey are you fine." Erica asked from outside.
Eadlin and Gabrielle looked at each other for a while then back at the door.
"Can I come in?"
"No you cant" Eadlin answered immediately. "I am fine, you can go to bed." He added.
"You sure or you want me to sing you a lullaby." Erica continued.
"This wont work." He said calmly to himself, then walked over to the door, opened it ajar then replied Erica with; "Buzz off." He said it in a very low and annoyed tone.
"Sometimes I wonder if there is any need being nice to you." Erica fired back, though keeping her voice low.
"Then stop it." He said then closed the door then walked back to Gabrielle smiling.
"How about, you stay here tonight, then tomorrow we will try to sort out why you keep showing up in my room." Eadlin offered.
Gabrielle raised her eye brow as a sign of, You serious?
"I wont spend the night here, that is ridiculous." She said then stood up to leave, she walks over to the door bare footed.
"You know you cant leave. You will get caught, probably shot and jailed for trespassing." Eadlin warned with a smirk on his face. " I have ice cream, we can just watch a movie together, then, I will sleep on the bed you sleep on the floor." Eadlin offered.
Gabrielle folded her hands and then stared at him.
"You've got to be kidding me." she said.
"What happened?" Eadlin asked so clueless.
"Why should I sleep on the floor and you on the bed."
"Because this is my room."
They kept arguing for like 1 minute and a half.
They paused,
Stared at each other then began to laugh.
"How about we both sleep on the floor." Eadlin offered. Gabrielle nodded.
They watched movie all night eating from the same plate. After that, together, they spread some clothes on the floor close to the balcony.
"The woman at the door? Your mum?"
"Na, step."
"What of your mum?" Gabrielle asked.
"Nobody knows." Eadlin replied sadly.
Before she could reply a faint voice called; "Help me!!"