Days had passed since our encounter and I had spent most of that time locked away in my room. I didn’t see Andreas except for the occasions that I had braved dinner. We didn’t exchange even the littlest pleasantries and I had moved my seat further away from him.

I had started making use of the many libraries he had. Each library, I had come to realize, contained books all related to a common theme. There were a couple dedicated to fiction, another group to nonfiction, and a one I hadn’t figured out yet. I enjoyed the books from the fiction libraries most, though, so I didn’t even try to figure it out.

The romance novels I had always loved reading hadn’t lost their appeal the way I thought they would have. Instead, they still served to give me hope. Perhaps Andreas wasn’t my hero, but some heroines got scorned before they met their true knight that sweeps in at the very last second before he carries them off into the sunset. I kept imagining Andreas’ face on those knights against my better judgment.

I was lying on my bed, having just started to read a new novel, when a knock on the door interrupted me mid-sentence. I quickly finished it and slid off my bed and reluctantly dragged my feet to the door. No one except Andreas and I lived in this manor. Even though I knew who it had to be, I didn’t stop myself from asking “Who is it?”

I could almost hear him roll his eyes. “Dandelion, the princess of Eureka,” he answered. And I couldn’t help but smile. I was still attracted to him. I wouldn’t dare admit I was in love.

I opened the door. He was standing there as handsome and frightening as ever. “What do you want?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

“Pleasant afternoon to you too, sunshine. I gather you are still unhappy with me then,” he stated and I wanted to reply ‘Well, duh’ but managed to keep myself in check the way a proper lady should. I was almost tempted to slam the door in his face, but then remembered that he could just flash himself inside whenever he felt like it. Knocking was probably a way for him to show me a little courtesy.

I sighed. “Do you really expect me to put on a smile after everything? To be happy that you’re standing at my door?” I tried to remain defiant, but something about his presence made my strength falter. 

Andreas didn’t grace me with a response. He pushed past me and walked into the room as if I had just invited him to come inside. “Oh yes, please, come on in,” I remarked, my voice laced with sarcasm.

He didn’t react and sat down on my bed. “I trust you find your accommodations comfortable? I assume so since you are still here. I half-expected you to have packed up and left by now.” Like always, Andreas’ words sounded like they cared, but his tone and expression didn’t seem to agree. It almost sounded like he was putting on and act, saying the words he thought were expected of him.

“If you want me to leave, just say the words and I will. I don’t plan on overstaying my welcome,” I replied in a voice that was attempting to sound harsh, but failed. I didn’t really want him to kick me out. If he did, chances of my survival were slim.

Andreas shook his head and patted the area of the bed right next to him. “That’s not why I came. I simply wanted to see if you’d stay or not before having this conversation.”

Part of me was hoping that he’d finally talk about what happened on my birthday, but another part wasn’t so sure it wanted to be reminded. “What conversation would that be?” I asked, my nerves starting to take over.

He gestured to the empty spot next to him with a stern look. So that was how it was going to be. Resigned, I went over and sat down next to him.

“We should discuss your magic.”

My eyes widened; this was not what I had been expecting. Of all things he wanted to talk about my magic?

“What about it?” I asked, my voice as incredulous as I felt.

“Well, I have been thinking, and I decided that if you decided to stick around despite your hostile feelings toward me, that I should at least teach you how to control that which got you into all of this. Since there is no one else around to teach you, it might as well be me,” he said simply, his thoughts as mysterious as always.

“Why would you want me to be able to use it?”

“I believe that anyone, whether good or bad, that has the gift of magic should know how to use what they’ve been given. And since you have the potential of so much power, it would be a waste to keep you untrained.”

I started shaking my head in disbelief. “Why are you so confusing? I never know what to expect of you,” I said.

He smiled wickedly. “That’s the point. The moment I become predictable, is the moment I become weak. Only those who can surprise people with their motives ever truly thrive. Basic strategy, little witch.”

I took in a deep breath, not exactly sure what to make of his answer. He had an excellent point, that much I would admit. “When do we begin?” I asked.

He nodded, pleased with himself. “Be in the courtyard in ten minutes.” Before I could reply, he was gone.

“I really need to learn how to do that,” I mused.

***

Rain was pouring from the sky when I walked out to meet Andreas in the courtyard. I shivered from the cold. Winter was definitely fast approaching and I wondered how long it would be before it started snowing. He was sitting on the edge of the water fountain, seemingly untouched by the water. A closer look confirmed as much: there was a force-field surrounding him keeping him dry. I, on the other hand, was soaked from barely being outside. He must have known it was raining when he told me where to meet him. My face set itself into a scowl as his smug smile came into view.

“I had almost forgotten how good you look wet,” Andreas remarked, humor filling those dark blue eyes of his. A deep blush settled over me and I quickly looked anywhere but at him. He was back in teasing form? It was so hard to keep up with him.

He got up from his seat and met me in my stride. “If you haven’t already guessed, the first thing you’ll be learning is how to make a force-field. It’s the easiest spell you will ever learn, and usually the first thing parents teach their kids.”

I raised my eyebrows at him. “It’s easier than throwing a dresser across a room? Lighting a candle with your mind and making the flame burn blue? Than shattering glass?”

He raised an eyebrow to me in return. “You had an eventful first showing, didn’t you?” I nodded and grimaced. “But, to answer your question, yes. It is easier than all those things. The only reason you were able to do them is because your magic had been suppressed for so long and needed an outlet. Anything under pressure will eventually explode.” His tone, when he was talking about magic, was more animated than ever. All his features lit up. It was really nice to see him like that, and for a moment I was reminded how attracted to him I was. I bit down on my tongue as hard as I could to shake the thought. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice….

“To create a force-field,” he started, “all you have to do is take that energy that is within you and will it out of your body. Imagine it surrounding you like a second skin.” I nodded, but didn’t quite understand how to do that.

I closed my eyes and tried picturing currents of energy traveling up and down my skin. I still felt the rain seep into my clothes. And I was freezing. I wouldn’t be surprised of this little exercise ended with me getting sick. It was the cage incident all over again. No matter how hard I focused, I couldn’t will my magic to do what I wanted it to. I opened my eyes and looked helplessly over to Andreas. Something flashed in his eyes, but he quickly hid whatever it was.

“It’s not as hard as you are making it look,” Andreas said and turned me so my back was facing him. He placed his hands on my shoulders and leaned in closer; the feel of his breath on my neck made me shiver worse than even the frigid air could. “Relax. Let the magic flow through you. Stop seeing it as the enemy. Give in,” he whispered. I was so tempted to just give in, but the memory of what happened the last time I had just given in kept me on edge.

“I can’t.”

Andreas’ lips grazed my skin and for a moment I stopped breathing. “Yes, you can. Believe in yourself, and this will all become easier.”

I stepped out from under his hands and put distance between us. Facing him, I kept my hand up to keep him away. “Don’t come closer,” I warned even though I knew the threat was empty.

He titled his head to the side, his expression thoughtful. “This isn’t going to work if you are going to keep me at arm’s length, Lana. Sometimes you will need me closer to show you how certain spells work. If you are going to keep me at a distance, I can’t teach you the way you need to be taught.”

“You should’ve thought of that before seducing me,” I commented, just an edge of the pain I still felt seeping into my voice.

He rolled his eyes. “You are still not over that? I am sorry if it didn’t mean the same to me as it meant to you. I thought we’ve already had this discussion, but apparently we are still not in agreement.”

“We haven’t had a discussion!” I said, throwing my hands up in the air in exasperation. “You just told me that you choose when we talk about anything, but you never addressed anything!” My anger was boiling over.

His closed his eyes, seeming to gather patience he didn’t have. “Very well, let’s discuss your feelings. Because when someone is threatening your life they are going to stop and ask you what you are feeling before they end you. Of course being sure what all parties are feeling is more important than learning to defend yourself.” The blue in his eyes grew darker almost to a point where it turned a deadly shade of black.

I groaned in frustration. “You know what, I don’t see anyone threatening my life right now. And no matter how bad you say you are, I know that you won’t kill me. You wouldn’t be able to. Because despite what you want me to believe, you actually do have a heart. I’ve seen it and trying to convince me otherwise isn’t going to work. So why keep pretending like nothing matters to you?”

I didn’t even have time to blink before he was standing a breath away, staring down at me. His whole body was tense, like he was trying really hard to stay in control of himself. “Your ignorance is what is going to get you killed. And while you are right that I pose no threat to you at this moment, do not make the mistake that I never will. The minute you get too comfortable is usually the moment that everything gets taken away from you! I’m not pretending nothing matters to me. Just at this moment, nothing does. Not you, not this house, nothing. If you want me to tell you what I feel about that morning. Fine. I feel nothing. It meant absolutely nothing to me. You are just another pretty girl that I desired and had. And now you happen to live in my house, and I’m trying to teach you how to use your magic, but you are making it so damn difficult that I’m not sure I’d be able to accomplish anything with you!” he yelled. He was finally showing some emotion. Something in him must have snapped. I tried to step away, to get away from his fury, but he grabbed my wrists, keeping me in place.

I was trying really hard not to start crying. His words were like thousands of little needles poking into my heart. Everything I didn’t want him to confirm had been confirmed. “Let me go,” I said, my voice soft.

He didn’t acknowledge that he had heard me. “The only way this is ever going to work is if you stop seeing me as some hero that will give you a better life,” he said in a much calmer voice. His breathing was ragged and he seemed on the verge of losing control of himself. “I will be your mentor, nothing more. Accept that, or leave.”

I pulled my wrists from his hands with force. Surprisingly, he let go. “You’re a bastard. And if you want me to hate you, congratulations. You have succeeded. I don’t want anything more from you. All I wanted was for you to admit what I had been suspecting all along. That you push people away as soon as they might mean something to you. You think I didn’t notice that I’m the only other person in the mansion? You may have led me to believe that there was someone in your life you shared your secrets with, but there is no one. And now you won’t even have me. So yes, I will accept your damned ultimatum. From now on I will not even try to be your friend.”

His eyes twitched, but nothing else of his demeanor gave any indication of what he was feeling. He nodded. “Can we get back to making a force-field now?” he said in a tone that gave no indication of the conversation that had just taken place.

I took in a deep breath and tried again. This time trying to expel any feelings I had about Andreas.