Running away of course is a cowardly thing to do and I’ve always hated it when people do that in movies, especially when you can easily beat up the chaser. But now I know how those cowards really feel and I’m not dealing with just an ordinary psychopath or evil bad doer. I’m dealing with an ice man being controlled not to mention created by a winter spirit. A no flesh thing that won’t bleed if you cut it or choke to death if you try to strangle it. It won’t even bruise because it’s an inanimate object. However I’m still not running. I’ve dodged blows to the face and if I’m at a distance from him-it he shoots sharp shards of ice at me.

~ Fight back if you want to live. ~

“Drake!” I called out.

~ Typical ~ The mouth less ice man sneered. I took this chance to create my own snow spheres by waving my hand then clenching my fist. When I threw it he saw it coming but didn’t move. He laughed instead. I wish Drake was here. I need him. I hate to be dependent but I can’t fight a spirit on my own especially when we both claim the same power that only one of us knows how to use. Me not being that someone. At least I would have a chance if Drake was here because he can melt every shard and bit of snow the winter spirit threw at me. I thought long and hard about him since now there is clearly no hope for me. But still I’m trying since I keep ducking, sustaining what’s left of my life a little longer. I will miss you Drake.

~ Come on Ali. ~ He mocked. I bet he knows how much that nickname angers me. But fear is still the only feeling controlling me now. ~ Fight... ~ Before I let him finish I let sharp shards of ice no bigger then a flea seep out for my fingers until it coated my hands and I tried swinging my fist into his frozen face. Shockingly although it kills my hand it has effect and has broken parts of his face off. Not wanting risk anything I didn’t hesitate to start backing away recoating the ice on my hands. Suddenly I felt a sudden urgency. It’s strange it’s almost like it’s not my own feeling.

The ice man crumpled but not in the way I want. He flew around in little broken bits of ice and I watched him like a hawk ready for anything, not really, my legs are weak and shaking. Then it hit me again, the urgent emotion, the scary feeling of me in danger. I am in danger why would I wonder if I’m in danger if I already am practically ready to die. The distraction made me lose focus for only second and I was thrown far off into a tree then landed onto its awkwardly shaped roots. I cried out in pain and then I felt a sudden worry about my safety again. These aren’t my feelings it’s like I’m reading someone else’s emotions. I can feel the bond to someone, someone who strongly cares for me and is worried sick about me.

It’s Drake, I know it’s Drake. He’s out here looking for me. Maybe because he can feel my emotions he realised I was-am in danger but how is it that I can feel his? I let my fear pour out to him and the feeling of him panicking; praying he gets to me on time warmed my heart and gave me hope. The hope he could feel as well and he got determined through this new made bond. I have to fight back better and properly just until Drake gets here so I stole a little of his determination to help myself. The ice still coated on my hands but I don’t want to have to keep getting close to him to make a blow. I stood up and waved my hand over the ground clawing my fingers to make the snow rise and ordered it to strike hard whenever the iceman renewed.

Far across from me he reformed and the snow I controlled rose up like a snake and easily sliced off one of his arms.

~ Finally you’re doing well. ~

~ You’ve tortured her enough now stop it. ~ One of the other brothers yelled as the iceman stared at me blankly. Inside of me a flip of a switch turned off and I grew more cold and angry as I stared at the lifeless face. Finally the weight of the air lifted off me as I tensely relaxed closing my hands into a fist. Drake’s concerning emotion for my sudden violent feeling I just ignored.

~ Her powers are finally coming out. I want to see what she’s capable of before I... ~ I crouched onto the ground swivelled my leg at his knees to knock him down.

Time slowed down as I jumped creating a sharp ice blade ready to plunge down into his chest.

“Alicia!” I froze glancing to the right and saw Drake with a panic filled expression, his hair dishevelled and his panting giving away his exhaustion. He stared shocked between the ice man and me then at my ice blade. But before I do anything I was knocked back tumbling into the snow. “Alicia!”

“I’m fine.” I snapped staring up at the ice man.

“I leave you for a couple of hours.” Drake yelled. The iceman exploded into a million pieces floating with the sudden calm morning. “And find you in the woods with this thing.”

“Not the time to complain Drake.” I don’t trust the wind to give up just like that. I backed up towards Drake and our backsides leaned onto each other as we searched around for the iceman.

“What was that?” He whispered.

~ This isn’t over. ~

Neva wanted this she doesn’t care what happens to me if she did she wouldn’t have let this happen. No she would never have let him harm me!

Fear sunk back into me and my hand instinctively grabbed onto Drake’s hand shaking and starting to softly whimper. Drake pulled me along to run away with him but with normal speed for my sake.

“Drake how did you know I was out here?”

“I saw you through the window while I was talking to your dad. Why did you just run off like that?”

“I don’t know just get me away from here.”

Neva whispered. ~ Alicia. ~ Her voice became muffled as Drake lifted me and sped me home.

~ (O) ~

Drake shut my bedroom windows as I sat on the bed shaking and crying. Drake didn’t say anything he only sat beside me and hugged me so I flooded his T-shirt with my tears.

He spoke softly. “It’s OK.” No it’s not.

“You’re safe.” Am I?

“You don’t have to explain now Alicia but tell me something so I know what to do.” I gazed over his shoulder to stare out at Neva in the window. Her face just little bits of floating snow as she frowned sadly at me. I whimpered at the sight of her and felt Drake squeeze me gently and rub circles on my back. Her frown deepened and she turned away with a shameful expression. Of course now I see it she doesn’t want me dead she can’t. She can’t have lost all the care for me after everything we’ve been through it doesn’t make sense. She can’t be as treacherous as the brutish wind said. No something must be happening; he did that for a reason. I see it now. But there’s no way I’m going to let this be easy for her. Whatever point had to be made I didn’t need to break my bones for it.

“You can’t do anything Drake. Neither can I.”

“Stop talking like that and tell me what’s happening.” He stressed.

I hesitated. I can trust him I know him well enough to tell him about my life since he knows more about it than I do. “They’re winter spirits and they’re my family.” I explained the dreams I’ve had, I explained Neva how she’s looked after me all my life and how she broke the windows in his living room checking on me because she was worried... Drake just sat there being attentive and listening without any hint of shock. He held me close to him and I rambled on and on even about the unimportant things. When I explained the iceman how they tried to get rid of me because they don’t care for me anymore he pulled away and his feelings changed to angry confusion.

“They wanted to kill you.” He said disbelieving. “Them? Or he?”

I replied. “He, it must have been him which is ironic since he apparently liked me when we first met. But I don’t know what to think because she left me to be dealt with by him. She left me to die.”

He said in doubt. “I don’t think so Alicia from what you said there must be some reason.”

“What reason can there be to nearly kill me?”

“I don’t know.” He said hushing me then stared at my door. “And I’m not saying what happened was right but I know well enough that ‘family’ don’t just randomly hate each other.” Sebastian flew into mind because that’s who he must be thinking about.

“Since when have you been all wise and almighty?”

“Since I finally found a girl worth protecting.”

“You’re going to protect me from winter spirits.” I uneasily replied.

“They may or may not attack again and I truly believe she your aunt protector- what’s her name?”

“I can’t say.” I admitted not wanting to betray her even though she hurt me.

He sighed. “She’s looking out for you otherwise she wouldn’t have wasted all those years and fretted over you last night when all that happened. But then again I could be wrong.”

“You wrong? That’s possible?” I mocked.

“Unfortunately so.”

“Are you just saying this to save your own ass?”

“Hey if she shuts up the mutt I’m happy being her nephew-in law.”

“You think I should trust her...?” I noticed sparkling snowflake patterns on my window. I stood up and walked over to it noticing her floating outside like a reflection or a ghost. This is her way of apologising? Pretty snow pictures on my window. “She’s lied to me throughout my life and only now is everything coming out. What if...”

Drake placed his hand on my back and Neva dispersed. “What if I stay for the day? Help you feel safe.” I turned around to face him.

“You would do that? Even though I may not even be in danger?” I questioned unbelievably.

He placed his hands on my hips. “I think we’ve proven that you’re not safe on your own.” He said humorously. I groaned because obviously it’s true, this week I have managed to get myself in so much trouble. I must hold a world record or something I bet even gangsters or mafias get longer breaks before they’re attacked. Then again they’re not dealing with the supernatural.

“That reminds me... what do my parents think happened to me?”

“They were out for the night so when they came back they assumed you had left while they were out.”

“Are you serious? They didn’t notice their daughter being captured by a vampire out in daylight?” I exclaimed furious.

“It’s better this way.”

“Still why did they not check up on me my mother is all about protection?”

“Don’t worry about that Ali.”

“How many times do I have to tell you don’t call me Ali!?” He kissed me to shut me up. I felt his desire and his love pour out to me warming me up. I pulled back smiling. “How are you doing that?”

“What?”

“We can feel each others feelings now. Not just you feeling mine but I can send you my emotions to. Does that usually happen?” When I say that I mean does this usually with all your girlfriends or do I happen to be that special someone?

His answer pleased me. “Never.” He played with the ends of my hair as he let me read his feelings: his love his passion and his awe for me. I feel special that I’m the only one that can read him.

“How has this happened?”

“We’re meant to connect.” He shrugged smiling.

“This is our bond.” I pecked his lips and felt him wipe away the tears on my face.

“You don’t know how bad I want to shove this in the mutt’s face right now.”

“Don’t think about him while kissing me.” I whined playfully. But I glanced back out through the window.

“Trust me I won’t.” His cold lips sent a burning thrill on my neck and I sighed closing my eyes feeling the moment. But he stopped kissing my neck and hugged me tight as if I’m about to run away. “I can’t stand this anymore.” OK... That has me a little concerned. “I want to stop worrying about you and I want you to call me when you’re in danger. I don’t enjoy the surprises that you have suffered and nearly died because of me.” His voice is full of pain and it’s breaking my heart that I’ve made him feel this way. He feels like he’s being a shitty boyfriend. A guy who can’t protect his own girl. But it’s nothing like that because every time this has happened to me he’s never around to protect me. I guess that doesn’t make him sound any better but the truth is no one would dare harm if they new Drake was close by.

“Drake it’s not your fault.” I can feel him about to protest. “This was bound to happen.”

He pulled back to stare at me angrily. “This? Attacked by my ex? By a psycho hunter? A snowman?” I rolled my eyes at the last one laughing but he is dead serious right now.

“OK so maybe not that but some trouble was bound to happen us being supernatural. Do you not watch movies?” I ran my fingers through his hair trying to soothe him. “Don’t worry so much.”

“Don’t tell me not to worry. Don’t tell me to leave you be and that everything is going to be fine.” He spat.

“I wasn’t going to tell you to leave Drake I’m only trying to be comforting.”

“You’re the one distressed I’m supposed to be comforting you. Besides even if you did tell me to leave there would be no way I would. Everything happens when I’m not around so I will not leave your side.”

“I don’t want you to leave me ever.” I said truthfully. A smile returned on his face, a sweet surprised smile that made my stomach clinch.

“I never will.” He cupped my chin and tilted my head up.

“What were you doing talking to my dad?” I asked suspiciously.

He groaned at me for ruining the moment. “I came over early to check up on you and lucky I did. I think the last thing we need your dad seeing is you jumping out from a window.” He said lightly. But still what would he and my dad talk about? That’s every girlfriend’s suspicion. Or maybe just mine... Drake’s body suddenly tensed and he stepped away from me and walked into my closet.

“What are you...?” Someone knocked on my door. Of course he can hear my parents coming to my room with his super-hearing. “Come in.” My dad stepped inside with a tired expression and his golden hair in a mess from not bothering to comb.

“Morning.” He greeted covering his mouth to yawn. “You’re up early?” I’m still in my clothes from yesterday but don’t expect him to notice being the average male. “Your boyfriend was here awhile ago?”

“Really?” I acted surprised.

“Yeah good boy I’ll admit. He’s not as bad as I expected him to be since he apologised to me for the ‘clubbing ditch.’” I almost forgot about that I mean seriously after everything that’s happened that is the least of my problems. “But then he did again.”

“Pardon?” I laughed.

“We were in the middle of a conversation then suddenly he rushed off.” I slapped my hand to my forehead and laughed. Drake grew embarrassed I can feel him and that made me laugh again. He probably ran out as soon as he saw me leap out the window. “Does he have a sick relative that he has to check up on? Or does he get mini panic attacks?”

“As far as I’m concerned no he just uh...” I have no idea how to answer that. So my dad just nodded understanding.

“Just a misunderstood boy.” He finished for me.

I made a breathy chuckle. “Yeah.”

“How’s Harry? I think maybe you should speak to him.” He said completely surprising me. Drake is shocked to but now he’s just annoyed.

“Oh OK I... I’ll do that.” I said to drop the conversation.

“Good.” He smiled. OK now I see he likes Harry better. Well if he likes him so much he can date him. “You going out?”

“Not a chance.” I said staring warily out the window. He just nodded and left the room leaving my door open. I closed it then stared at Drake who is just standing there like a sexy model. But that still didn’t shake off the awkward tension that has built up. So to break the ice, “who changed me back?” I questioned suspicious.

“What do you mean?” He asked confused but he’s not fooling anyone. His emotions give him away now so I’ll be able to tell when he’s lying.

“Don’t play coy. Who dressed me back into my original clothes?” He put up that godly gorgeous sexy smirk and ran his tongue over one of his fangs.

“Trust me when I say I wanted to. But your wolf wasn’t very lenient. So Scarlet changed you before he took you home.”

“Harry took me home?” More like: you let Harry take me home?

“Against my will yes, when we weren’t looking both you and he were gone.” He said clenching his jaw as I stood there dumbfounded.

“What!?”

“I can still smell him on you.” He gulped.

“You seriously need to learn to take better care of me.” I crossed my arms and glared at him sternly. This only made him laugh and call me cute. “You think I’m cute when I’m mad well I’m just about to get fucking adorable.”

He frowned and looked away. “I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much trouble. I understand if you don’t...” Uh oh I know where this is going...

I threw my arms around his neck and forcefully kissed him but pulled away before he could deepen the kiss. I smiled up at him as he stared down at me lovingly. “Shut up Roman.” I mocked and he groped my butt making me squeal.