Chapter 3 Chapter 003

ELORA’S POV

"Did you know dragons kill witches?" My eyes widened. For a second, I forgot how to breathe. I slowly turned my head toward the stranger, certain I had heard him wrong.

"What?" His gaze remained fixed on me.

"Dragons," he repeated, "they kill witches." Something cold slipped down my spine; my heart pounded against my ribs. He knows I am a witch, but how could he possibly know? Stupid me. I guess it's the spell I cast on his foot. How could I be stupid? I had spent years hiding what I was, years of making sure no one discovered the truth about me. At the foster home, I had learned very quickly that being different was dangerous, especially when different meant being a witch, I had never told anyone, not shown anyone, not a single person, and yet, just a few minutes of meeting this stranger, I had somehow revealed my identity to him, he was smart enough to figure it out. My fingers curled into my palms.

"I'm not a witch," I defended, his lips twisted, then to my surprise, he smiled, not a cruel smile, but an amused one, that made him look more handsome and that tiny movement made something strange flutter inside my chest, I immediately shut my eyes and shook my head, no, I was not going to stand here admiring the smile of a stranger, who had practically knocked me into the dirt and then tried to run away. "You are the one who ran away without apologizing," I said, changing the subject, I didn't want him to see how he was affecting me. His brows drew together, and he stared at me.

"Still worried about that?"

"Yes," I replied without blinking, he stared at me for several seconds, then his amusement returned.

"You trapped my foot to the ground, revealed your identity to a complete stranger, and you are still worried about getting an apology?"  I scratched the back of my neck, when he put it that way, he made me realize just how ridiculous and stupid I sounded, I opened my mouth ready to defend myself, but before I could say anything, the amusement vanished from his face completely, his face turned pale, my stomach twisted

"What is it?" He didn't answer, instead, his eyes move past me, toward the dark street of the slum, I followed his gaze, nothing immediately caught my attention, the street was nearly empty, a few crooked building stood on either side, their broken window covered with scraps of cloth, a weak lantern flickered somewhere in the distance, barely illuminating the muddy road, I knew this part of the kingdom well, too well to know the activities going on here, at this hours. Workers passed through here after dark, people who couldn't afford to live anywhere else, crimes happened here every night. Slaves often ran through these streets when they were desperate enough to risk punishment from their masters, but there was something different about the way the stranger was looking at the street, he had fear in his eyes, real fear. His entire body had become rigid. "What is wrong?" I whispered. He didn't respond. "Who are you running from?" His jaw tightened; slowly, his eyes returned to me. This time, there was no amusement in them, no irritation just desperation.

"You need to leave." I frown.

"Leave?"

"Now!" His voice was cold, dangerously cold, I swallowed.

"Why?" Before he could answer, I heard heavy footsteps approaching. They were coming from somewhere beyond the darkness. The stranger's eyes widened; he suddenly grabbed my wrist. "What are you doing?"

"Quiet." his grip tightened. I stared at his hand around my wrist, shivers running down my spine. I felt electrocuted; his touch felt good on my skin.

"What is happening?"

"You don't want to know." His voice had become colder.

"I want to."

"Keep quiet, you little witch." The way he said ‘little witch’ got me frozen.

"Stop calling me a little witch, because I am not one." He didn't answer. Another heavy footstep echoed across the street, closer. My pulse quickened. The stranger looked over my shoulder; his breathing became heavier, his eyes locked onto something behind me.

"Don't turn around." My body went rigid.

"What?" He didn't respond again, and he didn't give me time to argue. He pulled me toward himself. I collided with his chest, my cheek pressed against the warmth of his coat. Every thought inside my head disappeared. He wrapped one arm around me, keeping my body against his.

"Whatever you hear," he whispered beside my ear, "don't turn around." My heart began pounding violently, not only because of whatever was behind me but because I could feel his heartbeat beneath my cheek, it was fast, powerful, and alive, I swallowed 

"But your foot..." I glanced down; his boot was still firmly trapped against the ground. He followed my gaze, then, unexpectedly, he smirked.

"Forget about it for now." My eyes bulged. Is he been serious? We need to run if there is danger and now his foot is trapped to the ground.

"How am I supposed to forget..." Before I could finish, a loud growl interrupted me, I froze, it was deep, dangerous, and much closer than before, my blood turned to ice, the stranger's arm tightened around me, I want to look, every instinct screamed at me to turn around and see what had made that sounds, but I remember his warning, don't turned around, so I remained still, not sure since when I became obedient, but somehow I was obeying this stranger. Another growl rolled through the darkness, it was closer, my fingers gripped his coat, I didn't even realized I was doing that, the stranger looked down at me, for one terrifying second, I found myself staring into those impossible obsidian eyes, and despite the danger surrounding us, a ridiculous thought crossed my mind, I could stared into those eyes forever, they were beautiful, dangerously beautiful, he tapped the bridge of my nose.

"Stop daydreaming." I felt embarrassed that the stranger had caught me staring. I bit my lower lip while I lowered my gaze.

"I wasn't daydreaming."

"You were."

"I wasn't." his lips curled into a lopsided smile. "Stop talking nonsense. Are they gone?" I asked.

"You were staring at me." My brows furrowed; this insolent man was still talking about that. "You were admiring me." I rolled my eyes.

"Stop flattering yourself," I scoffed. "I was trying to figure out what kind of idiot gets himself trapped by a witch to the ground while running away from trouble." His eyebrows lifted.

"You are insulting me while hiding inside my coat."

"I am not hiding."

"You are holding my coat." I immediately released him.

"I was just..."

"Close your eyes," I frowned.

"What?"

"Close them,"

"Why?"

"Because they are..." He paused, "I am telling you to." I frowned. I knew he wanted to say something else, but he stopped himself before he could finish it. His voice carried an authority that made my body react before my brain could argued, I close my eyes, obeying him for the second time, darkness swallowed me,  for a few seconds, I heard nothing then a deafening scream tore through the street, my entire body jerked, I nearly open my eyes but before I could, something crashed in the distance then another scream, a horrible sound followed by hurried footsteps retreating into the darkness, I couldn't breathe

"What happened?" I slowly opened my eyes. The stranger was staring down at me; his expression was unreadable. I tried to step away, but his hand immediately caught my face. His fingers were warm against my cheek.

"Stubborn little witch." I glared at him.

"Stop calling me that." His lips curved.

"Don't tell me you are not a witch."

"I am not "

"I know you are one." I narrowed my eyes.

"How?" His gaze lingered on my face.

"You trapped my foot to the ground without even thinking twice, just for an apology." I looked down; his foot was still trapped to the ground. My stomach twisted.

"I told you, I didn't."

"Keep lying to yourself little witch." I frowned. I know I should be mad,  feel insulted when he keeps referring to me as little witch, but somehow every time he calls me that, my heart fluttered, and the butterfly in my stomach giggled.

"What was that supposed to mean?" I asked. He ignored me, and then I remembered those heavy footsteps. "Those men, are they...." Before I could finish his voice came up.

"Stop worrying about silly things,"

"Silly things?"

"Yes."

"You are the one who was running through the slum like something was trying to kill you, and you think..." His jaw tightened, then he cut me off.

"And you are the one who chased me because I didn't apologize." I crossed my arms.

"You almost knocked me over."

"And you trapped my foot."

"You deserve it," This time, I didn't deny trapping his foot, his lips twitched again, that strange flutter returned to my chest, I hate it, I hated that the stranger could make me feel things I didn't understand, he glanced down at his trapped foot, then back at me.

"Maybe I didn't, but now you had to tell me what I need to do to earn my legs back." My eyebrows rose.

"Your what?"

"My legs." He gestured toward the ground. "You trapped my foot; I am assuming you can release it." I looked at him. I didn't know how to, but I wasn't ready to let him know I couldn't. "Go on." He demanded.

"You are very demanding for someone who refused to apologize." His eyes narrowed.

"And you are very stubborn for someone who doesn't know how to control her own magic."

"I didn't say..." I paused; my eyes went to him. How did he find that out? I shook my head; he can't realize that I don't know how to undo the spell.

"I know you can set me free, just do it."

"Oh!" I parted my lips, then shut them. He still hadn't figured out that I couldn’t do it. He pushed his fingers into his hair, rifling it, then he hissed.

"Fine." his eyes met mine. "What do you want?" I blinked.

"What?"

Tell me what you want; I don't have all day."

"You are bargaining with me?" I asked,

"Do I have a choice? You trapped my feet, and I had no plans to remain here all night," I smirked as a stupid idea bumped into my head. "Stop smiling." his voice dropped; he was getting irritated, but somehow the way he looked at me felt strange. Then he leaned closer; his eyes held mine. "So," his voice was deep, sending an unfamiliar shiver through me. "What do you want?"