Gabriel’s POV
I liked Annie. I could see she was scared of me, but she was still brave enough to stand up for her friend.
I heard Nick trying to suppress his laughter. It was the first honest reaction out of him since we came here. He was too tense, and I couldn’t figure it out. I would have to talk to him after.
I didn’t like the creepy comment, though. I knew she was right. It was a little bit creepy. But I pushed it aside and smiled at her.
“I couldn’t agree more with Annie,” I told her. “I really want to get to the bottom of this, because I know there is something more here.”
I turned to Aria and my heart warmed when my eyes met hers. It freaks me out, but I kind of love the feeling.
“I need to know everything about you,” I told her slowly. “Who are you and why were you looking for my grandma?”
She took a sip of her beer, put it on the table and sighed.
“I am nobody,” She started talking. “I lived in a small village about an hour away with my grandma. It was burned to the ground a couple of days ago. I am the only survivor. I came here the day I bumped into you.”
“I heard about that,” Nick said. “It was Redwallow village, right?”
She nodded. “Yes. The inquisitors burned everything and killed everyone.”
I saw tears in her eyes and my heart clenched painfully. I wanted to kill the bastards who hurt her.
“I am sorry,” I said.
Nick reached and touched her arm. He flexed his muscles when his arm touched hers. It was weird. It made me uncomfortable.
“Why were you looking for my grandma?” I asked, changing the subject.
She looked at Annie like she was unsure what to do next.
“Show it to him, Aria,” she told her. “He might help you.”
I looked between them confused. What are they talking about?
Aria sighed and got off the sofa.
“Where are you going?” I asked, suddenly nervous she would run away.
“To my room to get the letter my grandma left me,” she said and walked away.
Annie leaned back on her sofa and sighed, “Promise me you won’t hurt her.”
“I promise, Annie,” I said. “I can’t hurt her.”
She nodded and got up. “Do you guys want another beer?”
Nick and I both nodded and she went to the kitchen.
“What the hell is wrong with you Nick?” I took this opportunity to ask him. “You have been on edge since we got here.”
“I don’t know man. My wolf is acting weird. I tried to ask him what’s wrong, but he doesn’t know,” he told me, running his fingers through his hair.
I wanted to ask him another question when I heard Aria enter the living room. She was holding her grandma’s letter and she sat back on the sofa.
“Can I really trust you?” she asked me.
“Yes. I am not going to hurt you, Aria. I think we are more than just two strangers and I want to figure that out.”
She nodded and handed me the letter. I opened it and held it so Nick could read it as well.
Nick looked at me when we finished. We were both confused. I didn’t even notice Annie coming back. Two cold beers were in front of us, and she was back on her sofa sipping her beer.
“What prophecy?” I managed to ask Aria.
“I wish I knew,” she sighed.
What really piqued my interest was this part about Aria being the key to stopping this whole inquisition thing. It was similar to what Claudia had said to me before dying. Maybe that’s why I felt this pull to her. Maybe we were meant to stop this thing together.
“I really think my grandma was wrong,” Aria said. “I am not strong, and I don’t have any unique magical powers. I can’t be the one who will stop this. I am nothing and nobody.”
My heart clenched at her words, and I felt anger coming. “Don’t say that.”
“I think you are wrong, Aria,” Nick jumped in. “There is something big here that we don’t know about, and we have to find out what it is.”
“Maybe…,” she said quietly.
“Did your grandma ever talk about Claudia before?” Nick asked her.
“No, never,” she sighed looking up at him. “I found out about her while reading this letter.”
“Where did you find it? Were there any more items there?” I asked, sipping my beer.
“It was under the floorboards in our living room. My grandma made it a little safe there and put some important stuff inside in case anything happened. The letter was inside along with some pictures, documents, my clothes and this medallion I can’t open,” she said, reaching under her shirt and pulling out a silver, circle-shaped medallion.
The floorboards. I never checked under the floorboards in my home. Maybe Claudia had the same idea as Aria’s grandmother.
“Why can’t you open the medallion?” Nick’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“I don’t know,” she answered, putting it back under her shirt, “she said it will open when the time is right. It’s under a spell. I’ve tried figuring out which one but it’s too strong for me,” she shrugged.
“Can I try?” I asked, holding out my hand.
She looked at me for a moment thinking about it before handing it to me. It was warm from the constant contact with her skin. It smelled like her. It made me warm inside.
I put my hand above it, absorbing its energy. I felt it buzzing and an electric shock hit my hand. I removed my arm in a reflex. What was that? I looked up at Aria, confusion written all over my face.
“Yeah, it happened to me too when I tried to figure it out,” Aria muttered.
I looked back at the medallion. Someone really powerful put a spell on it. But who?
Aria’s POV
I watched Gabriel and Nick trying to figure out my medallion. They were discussing who could have put a spell on it, but I was too tired to pay attention.
I watched Nick as he tried to figure out a spell, the same thing happening to him. Buzzing and an electric shock through his hand. He was a warlock werewolf hybrid, and he was powerful. Not like Gabriel though. He was probably more warlock than a wolf. I could barely feel his wolf side.
Nick was handsome. His dark blonde hair was short but styled perfectly. He had brown eyes, a sharp jaw and totally kissable lips. He was tall, the same height as Gabriel. Watching his muscles flex as he was moving was doing funny things inside my belly.
Annie saw me eyeing Nick and she smirked at me, raising her eyebrow. I diverted my gaze feeling embarrassed that she caught me.
I never had a boyfriend. There was a guy back in my village that I liked and went on a couple of dates with, but nothing serious ever happened. We went out a couple of times and kissed, but it never went further than that.
I wish I knew what happened to him. He was a good friend. They probably took him when they attacked my village. Or he died in the fire. I couldn’t be sure. When I was searching for survivors, I saw a lot of bodies. I recognized some of them, but some were unrecognizable. Some people were missing, and I figured inquisitors took them to be tortured and murdered. I remember crying and screaming my lungs out when I found some of my friends. But what really broke me was when I found my grandma. I thought I would die right then and there from the pain that consumed me.
I didn’t realize I was crying until Nick grabbed my hand.
“Aria. Are you okay?” he asked, and I could see he was worried.
Gabriel stood up abruptly and came to me.
He kneeled in front of me and I heard a hint of panic in his voice, “What happened? Are you in pain?”
Annie sat up on her sofa eyeing me anxiously. “What’s wrong?”
“Aria?” Gabriel said, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me when I didn’t respond.
His touch was soothing. It felt comforting and I didn’t want him to let go.
“I am fine,” I said quietly. “I just remembered something that upset me. I didn’t realize I was crying. I am sorry.”
Gabriel let out a breath and released me. I felt colder. He sat back on the couch and Nick laughed.
“Well, shit. We really don’t know what to do when a girl cries, man,” he said looking at Gabriel. “We just went into full panic mode.”
I smiled and wiped my tears from my cheek.
“You are even prettier when you smile,” Nick said, looking back at me.
I was shocked and just stared at him.
Annie laughed. “Well, I think it’s time you horny boys go home. My girl and I are tired. We can meet up tomorrow and continue this little investigation,” she said, getting off the sofa.
“Right…,” Gabriel mumbled and handed me my medallion. “We will come back tomorrow. My grandma had a lot of books about magic and supernaturals. I will bring them tomorrow and we could see if there is anything in there about this prophecy.”
“Yeah. That would be great,” I smiled and got up.
Nick and Gabriel walked to the front door, and I went with them. Annie stayed behind to clean up in the living room.
“Bye guys, see you tomorrow,” she yelled after them.
“Bye Annie,” they said at the same time.
They walked out and turned to me. “Goodnight, Aria. See you tomorrow,” Nick said and smiled at me.
“See you, Nick,” I smiled back and he turned to go to his car.
Gabriel just stood there looking at me. I looked at him and felt something warm inside. It was weird.
“Do you feel it?” he asked me quietly.
I took a deep breath and nodded.
He smiled at me and came closer. He wrapped me in a tight hug and a wave of confusing feelings washed over me. I hugged him back tightly. I felt safe.
He let go of me, smiled, and went to Nick’s car.
I turned and went inside the house, closing and locking the door. I leaned against the door and closed my eyes.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Annie standing in front of me, smiling from ear to ear.
“Well, that was an interesting evening. Better than the movie we were watching,” she said.
“Yeah,” I sighed and smiled.
“Did I see Gabriel Richardson hugging you?”
I nodded. “I can’t explain it, Annie. It’s weird. I don’t know him, but there is something there.”
“Well, him being hot as hell helps,” she said laughing.
“Yeah, he is hot. But I don’t think about him like that. It’s not sexual. I don’t know what it is,” I sighed.
“At least I know we won’t be fighting over him then.”
I laughed, “Yeah, definitely no fighting.”
“You can have Nick. I saw you eyeing him,” she winked at me.
“He is hot,” I said, “but, before admitting to anything else, I need sleep.”
“Same, girl. Your wild life is really exhausting,” she said, wrapping her arm around mine and pulling me upstairs to our bedrooms.
“Tell me about it.”
We came in front of her bedroom, and she let go of my arm.
“All kidding aside, something big is happening, girl,” she said, a serious expression on her face. “But don’t worry, A. We will figure it out.”
I hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Annie. I couldn’t do this without you.”
She smiled warmly. “Go to bed. Guys will come back tomorrow, and we will find something. Good night, Aria.”
“Good night, Annie.”
I turned and walked into my bedroom. I quickly took a shower, brushed my teeth and put on my pajamas.
I laid under my covers and let sleep take me away from this mess. At least for a little while.
