There was a sense of unease and also excitement in the classroom that day. Karen’s classmates were whispering about the videos she would not have seen had it not been for Mason. Some were concerned, and others excited.
They should be scared, she thought absentmindedly. This is no laughing matter.
Indeed, weren’t vampires supposed to feed on blood human blood? And what about werewolves, didn’t they turn into beasts each full moon? And don’t get her started on witches. Weren’t they wicked as they came?
Okay, she didn’t think too highly of all three species. One ought to blame the tales she read and the myths for that. She had never met one of them after all not that she knew anyway.
The teacher called for silence for the third time that period, and she snapped out of her thoughts. She looked ahead of her, and only just realized Aiden had skipped school.
A part of her was relieved. She wouldn’t have to ignore him, and act as if every fiber of her being wasn’t calling for his attention. A part of her was puzzled. He had never skipped school. And he didn’t strike her like the kind to do that just for fun.
There was this tiny little bit of her that was sad, that missed him. But she dismissed both the feeling and the thought almost as soon as they came.
That day, on her way back to the motel, as her heart thudded in scared anticipation, for some reason she couldn’t understand, her stalker changed his tactics.
He addressed her these puzzling words, “Fancy seeing you here, dearest Luna.”
Before she had the time to tell him something in response, he began muttering in a language she neither comprehended nor recognized.
She frowned but wasn’t able to move along.
And that was how it happened, how she found herself getting into the car, as if out of her own volition. Her mind no longer had control over her body. She couldn’t stop her hand from reaching for the door knob. She couldn’t stop her legs from getting in. And most importantly, she was unable to utter a single word, never mind shout for help.
Her stalker already no longer seemed human to her. And not knowing what awaited her, she was definitely confused, but also scared beyond words, and her heart tried to beat its way out of her chest.
The unknown was such a frightening notion, and she was sure, whoever had just abducted her, wasn’t in the mood for just a chitchat.
** ** ** ** ** **
Aiden had skipped school that day because he had been on his way back home, scared as he was for his mother’s life, afraid of the war that was brewing.
Blake the Troublemaker had officially declared war on the witches, and had sworn to kill every one of them if his mate were to pass away. A few days remained till the curse that had been inflicted by the damned Carrywell would do its part.
And there was close to nothing one could do to lift it. Fated mate or not, making Maria fall in love with him in a week was a feat not even the great Blake the Troublemaker could pull.
And thus, Aiden was headed to the place he called home, when he received a call from his mother.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She asked right as he picked up.
“Coming to you, mom,” he announced. “The war…”
“There’s still time for that,” she told him softly, trying to sooth him. “Maybe it won’t come to that.”
“But mom…” he protested, feeling all kinds of worried for her.
“There are three days left till the curse comes into effect. You should take the opportunity to come clean to your mate and spend with her as much time as she’ll allow.”
“Mom,” he sighed, half resigned, already tempted by the idea of going to Karen.
“This is your Luna’s order. And your mother’s plea,” she said as she sniffled into the phone. “Go to your mate.”
Obeying his mother’s words, he instructed the bodyguard who was driving to make a U-turn, so that he could go see his beloved Karen. He had been denied her smile for far too long. And he almost had trouble keeping his wolf at bay from the sheer excitement of it all. With the videos becoming so trendy, she might have questions for him… Who knew? But then again, he had made her forget, so it was his loss. Nevertheless, he could barely contain his smile on the way to her.
One could only imagine his sorrow and his fury when he found out that she was missing.
Where was she? And, who dared to take her from him?
The need to spill blood surged within him, and he had trouble thinking straight for a moment there…