As if he snapped out of some sort of daze, the expression in
Seth’s eyes changed. Without any hesitation at all, he shoved me back, wincing
as my fangs left his neck. I stumbled back, confused for a few seconds as to
why the blood was no longer being supplied, but when my mind caught up with me,
betrayal clenched its cold fist around my heart again.

“Seth...what are you doing?” 
try as I may, I couldn’t keep the sadness from my voice

He winced at my words.

“I....I can’t, Aralynne. My Master will be furious. This
wasn’t part of the mission.” He said, slipping back into a monotonous tone. I
saw his hands clench and tremble.

My expression softened.

“Seth... you don’t have to go back to him....we can...” I
had no idea what I was truly trying to say.

“We can go back to the old days. Things were so much simpler
back then...” I spoke the words before I could think them over.

Seth turned his face away from mine, his eyes closing
briefly and his teeth clenching. He looked as if he was in great pain.

Surprisingly, I was overcome with the terrible urge to hug
him- to comfort him as I tried to comfort Cara earlier tonight.

So I decided to step forward.

Without warning, I saw a silver dagger coming my way, aimed
directly at my heart. I dodged it, but was too late- it hit my shoulder. I
yelped in pain and anger as I ripped it from my body, throwing it down on the
ground, instinctively covering my wound with my hand.

“Seth! Why...?” It was hard to form such a familiar question. I’ve asked it one
too many times before...

“Goodbye, Aralynne.” He replied, turning his back on me as
he did before, and walked away.

The pain in my shoulder was incredible. I pulled out the
dagger in time, but parts of the flesh where it had been had already blackened.

There was no choice: I had to call the Circle. I’ll need
help treating the wound, and they were the only ones who knew how to help.

With a great struggle, I reached for my phone (I guess it
was a good thing that I always kept it with me), and dialled Zayden’s number.
Yes, Delphine was the one with the actual medical skills, but I was not in the
mood to explain my situation to her right now, she would just freak out.

Zayden did too, but he soon realized that the speech can
wait until later.

Within no real time at all, Zayden was at my side, picking
me up and taking me to safety. I closed my eyes and rested my head against his
warm chest. As I did earlier today, I felt safe. I knew he would take care of
me.

A few moments passed and I found myself in a bed with a few
familiar faces around me- including Cara’s.

I tried to blame my confusion on the injury, but Zayden
quickly explained.

“Your place was closer. Delphine is on her way.”

“Aralynne, what the hell happened?” Cara asked. I shrugged,
clearly not in the mood to explain.

“Oh, come on now, you are my protector, we shouldn’t keep
secrets from each other, especially if it involves one of us hurting...” at
this comment, I raised my eyebrow at her, and she sank guiltily back into the
chair.

I was a fool. An idiot. An idiot driven by thirst. I
shouldn’t have given in; I shouldn’t have fallen for his obvious trap.

Why did I do it? Was there still some part of me that
believes he can still change? I winced at my own answer. Yes. I still think
that there is some part of him that might care, even if he tried to prove that
it is impossible.

Like Alice
in Wonderland, I believe in six impossible things before breakfast.

What happened there tonight had to mean something to him.
I’m almost sure of it. I saw the expression of pain when he got up, a pain that
had nothing to do with the physical.

No. I have to snap out of this trance. I have to accept that
nothing can ever happen. It is just the way things are now. Thinking of him
like that will only make me sad, and usually people don’t do anything when they
are sad. But when they are angry, they bring about a change. 

This must have been planned from the start. He wanted to
catch me off guard, and then move in for the kill.

Delphine arrived shortly after, and as I expected, I was
scolded at. I was reminded, once more, that I should put the mission first.
Zayden kept caressing my hand while our partner spoke, his warm hands on my
skin obviously trying to distract me, and Cara was standing behind Delphine and
imitating her tirade, pulling dramatic faces as she did.

I smiled at the kid. Sure, she can be annoying, but at least
I know she’s always honest. She’s loyal. I won’t let him hurt her. I didn’t
think I have the ‘protector gene’, but I guess it’s finally starting to kick
in.

After I was all fixed up, Delphine and Cara left my side,
leaving me alone with Zayden.

The silence was pretty awkward. There were questions he
didn’t want to ask, and things I didn’t want to tell him either.

“Aralynne...” when he finally spoke, his voice was soft, but
the question still lingered in it.

“Zayden, I have no real idea why I did it, so asking me is pointless. I guess I was just
overcome with thirst.”

“No, I think it was more than that,” he replied, taking my
hand once more.

“I think you figured that, if both of you experience that
moment again, that things would go back to the way they were. You obviously
miss him.” His voice broke on the last sentence. He found the idea hard to
comprehend.

It was my turn to squeeze his hand gently.

“Zayden...I’m sorry...” To be honest, I didn’t know why I
felt the need to apologise.

He looked me straight in the eyes, his windows to the soul
boring deep into mine...

“I know it was....before my time. I guess I will never
really understand what happened between you but....I know you can do so much
better than him. I mean, just look at how he hurt you! You deserve someone who
will love you and cherish you and always be there for you no matter what. You
need someone who is capable of making you smile...”

The more he spoke, the more passionate his speech became.
Words spilled from his mouth as if they have been suppressed for far too long
within his heart, until the dam broke and let them run out his lips.

He let out a sigh before he finally spoke again.

“You need....me.”