Panic struck deep as soon as I found myself pushing past the veil of unconsciousness.

It felt like a second — after blinking away the haze— when I found myself jumping out of bed and bolting towards my bedroom door.

I knew for a fact that someone had caught me before I had fainted, I knew there was a heavy chance it could be him.

The tiny butterflies in my chest fluttered as I silently whispered Beasty's actual name in my head. The stairs came into my view and I pushed harder to get downstairs.

The burning ache from my whole body seemed strangely dull while my joints continued to scream in protest as I rushed down.

My sudden fever was at its peak, but in this moment, I didn't care. I didn't know what I was running for, I didn't exactly know where I was running to actually.

Common sense could tell that whoever had caught me could be long gone now. The urgency I felt in my chest however, demanded I keep running.

"Olivia! I'm so happy you're up! No wait! Stop please! You're sick!"

I shook my head as I rushed past aunt Prue and flung open the front door.

I just needed to see. Once.

Heavy beads off rain poured down outside as a chilly breeze hit me flat against my face. But my eyes stayed on the car that was now in our driveway.

A relieved smile slipped onto my features. He was still here.

"Oh! The nice guy who came to drop you! Yes, he was just about to leave actually," Prue spoke up from behind and I felt myself turn frantic once again.

Suddenly, the car turned on and panic blazing in my chest I rushed out into the pouring rain, pushing past every sane thought.

"Olivia!"

I didn't respond.

I knew I was shivering, each drop hitting my skin felt like a needle prick. By the time I reached the car I had cursed out a million profanities.

This was crazy.

Pushing aside the wayward hair away from my face I rapped on the car's door with my knuckles.

Instantly the man sitting inside turned and I felt my eyes widen.

My gaze swept his features with an almost whimsical feeling in my chest. From his sharp angled jaws, to his sleeked back hair, his thin aristocratic nose, straight jaw — everything pulled me in. His dark piercing eyes however warned me off.

I blinked, my attention once again on the man inside the car.

His blazing dark eyes widened, and I gulped when he turned off the ignition and frustratingly reached out to open the door.

He was furious. I could just feel it.

Awkwardly I moved back as soon as he flung the door open and got out, his suit jacket in his hand.

"What are you doing outside? Are you stupid!?"

I was. I was stupid.

But in that moment, I was also too stubborn to admit it, so I took a step forward, my hands folded in front of me.

"Is this really who you are? A coward? Why do you even show up when you just have to run away again?!" I rushed out vehemently, flinging a hand in the air.

The man's dark eyes blazed in the rain and he took a step forward, his jaw tightening.

"Get inside the house," Rome bit out, exaggerating each word as he took another step closer.

The rain fell down harder, and we stood under it, baring its fury as a distant sound of thunder struck through the air.

I tilted my head up, we were now chest to chest. He glared down at me.

"So, you're not going to answer me? I deserve an answer you know," I grit back the fury I was feeling deep in my gut. I felt like smacking his face against the car until you spilled out everything I wanted to hear — because of this frustration.

Why is he even trying to hide?

The man stared at me, frustrated, for a second — before he covered my head with his jacket. I blinked. A loud heaviness landed on my chest and I felt everything tingle.

Task done, he took a step back, his fists clenched on his sides.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about, Olivia. We met earlier in the evening because we bumped into each other, we introduced ourselves, and you collapsed. I think you just need some sleep." He mumbled apologetically, and for a second, I almost believed him.

Then the second passed and I took another step forward, my chest pressed into his. I couldn't help but shudder at the warmth he was radiating.

"You save my life. You bite my neck — give me a mark that probably won't ever fade. You call me. Then tell me that's goodbye. You call me again. Then cut the line. I finally start to think that I won't hear from you again and you show up right in front of me — you confess. Then minutes later you want to pretend you don't know me at all. Who do you think you are? Make up your mind. Either you admit the truth — or this time don't come back."

Rome's eyes blazed golden as he leaned down until our noses touched, "What should I admit to, when there is nothing to admit."

I stiffened, and my body ached in protest, biting my lip I tried my best to stop the pained groan from slipping out.

I was giving up. Suddenly my fever was winning, and I didn't care why he was lying, why he was being so mean. Suddenly just knowing that he didn't want to acknowledge me or the mark or saving my life made me just want to turn around and leave.

So, I did.

"Fine," I mumbled behind me as I began walking towards the front door.

The rain fell harder and I couldn't help but cringe at the realisation that it didn't hurt me anymore, I was numb.

I closed my eyes at the thought and gasped when I swayed on my feet. Immediately two arms slid under my legs and scooped me up. A tiny yelp left my lips as I quickly grasped onto Rome's shirt, my wide eyes solely on his.

I watched as his jaw tightened as the angry vein popped up in the middle of his forehead and his neck, his lips thinned in a line.

He, however looked straight ahead as he strode forward, into my house and up the stairs. Aunt Prue and Letty stunned, silent audiences.

My room came into view and I watched Rome stunned as he strode in, I in his arms. The lights lit dim around my room as the tiny trinkets and pretty candles glowed in their stands.

The soft scent of frangipani and lemon lingered in the air while each scented candle melted away into the night.

Striding over to my bed, Rome leaned forward and placed me down, his eyes now on mine.

I watched stunned as he brought up his hand and slowly, pushed aside all the hair on my forehead. His fingers caressing my cheeks.

My hand found his on my cheek, and I stilled when his fingers hooked around mine.

"You gave me a choice. I'm sorry."

My eyes widened as I watched Rome lean in, slowly but surely, and just like that, his lips touched mine.

A gust of wind danced into my room and just as soon as the kiss had begun — it was over. My eyes shot open as I felt the first tear slip down my cheek.

The knowledge of my bed being ruined seemed so distant, because I knew I would never see him again.

This was his goodbye.

And the saddest bit was... I still didn't know why.

~^~
Three Weeks Later.

Isn't it strange how we discover ourselves a little bit better each day?

A little pet peeve, a little weakness.

A little characteristic that until yesterday seemed so invisible and now stood in bright spotlight.

The ability to forgive, over and over again without even knowing it. The ability to unconsciously look over faults.

The ability of automatically staying quiet about something that seems so important to us in our heart. The tiniest of habits of putting all of the jars in a straight line. Or making sure we see at someone smile at least once every day.

The sitting down somewhere and finding out just how much you appreciate a particular weather, or the breeze, or a season?

A slow sigh left my lips as I lay on a mat of leaves below me, the swaying branches over me danced slowly in the breeze.

Summer was slowly coming to an end, and then Autumn would bring the school break.

Another leaf broke off and floated down to its doom, a slow smile graced my lips as it fell on my dress.

Weeks had passed by since I had first discovered this spot, in the beginning it had been to hide myself from everyone else, and then I used it to read all the books I had obtained about werewolves.

At the thought of the books, I scoffed. Each and every book had turned out to be a ridiculous notion of what I knew was true.

None explained the golden eyes, none explained the bites. Except that it turned the victim into a werewolf too, and so far, I knew I was perfectly human.

Everything in every book took the path towards the historic dating and events of these said beasts.

Another timid sigh echoed around the air as my mind brought up the one person I had spent ages in the same spot pushing aside.

Rome.

Weeks had passed, and each week proved what I knew to be true, that kiss had been a goodbye. I would never see him again.

"Funny how I always find you here,"

My head shot towards the person who has spoken, and I sighed at the girl who stood at the edge of the curtain of branches.

"Hey Aby."

Abigail grinned as she moved further under the low hanging branches to where I lay and plopped down beside me with a soft thud.

"What's up?"

Despite myself I sent Abigail a stink eye, I found that question slightly ridiculous.

What's up... Did it even make sense?

"The sky."

"Oh God, will you ever stop?" Aby groaned as she shifted further, leaning against the trunk of the willow tree.

I rolled my eyes but didn't answer.

Abigail and I found solace in the silence. It wasn't necessary to talk and be happy when we were such good friends. The silence had an appeal of its own too.

I sighed as I watched the branches of the willow tree above me.

"Liv?"

I turned towards Abigail.

"Hmm,"

Her concerned eyes met mine. "I've been noticing this for a month now, and... I know something is bugging you."

My eyes widened, but I couldn't bring myself to speak, I couldn't fill the void. Luckily Abigail continued to talk.

"There's — there's something I want to—"

"Here you girls are!"

Instantly both Abigail and I's heads snapped towards the voice and I immediately groaned aloud seeing Jay.

"We brought chicken?" River grinned behind him, and I frowned in response.

"No eating under this willow tree." I warned them as both the boys dropped down beside us.

Jaydin eased out on his back and after a minute or two's strategic planning, he finally landed his head on Abigail's lap.

I watched with a smirk as Abigail sighed before giving in.

Jaydin looked like he could be on seventh heaven.

"You guys excited about the project?" River spoke up as he eased onto his back too, his head resting on my thigh.

The chicken take-outs already lay beside the boys — forgotten.

My palm found his forehead and I smacked him lightly in retribute.

"Worth it," he chuckled, turning his head towards me.

I rolled my eyes.

"Redanward Estate seems like such a scary place guys, some say the last portrait Adam Ohalm had painted of himself, actually has his soul trapped inside it, some say it's actually alive!"

My ears peaked at that, quickly three sets of eyes turned towards Abigail's.

"I thought his name was Gilroy Ohalm," River frowned, clearly confused. I nodded in response, my thoughts matched his exactly.

Abigail however shook her head slowly as she looked from Jaydin to River to me.

"That's what I thought too. Then I saw a picture of his diary in a book about him, the same diary that is said to be hidden somewhere in manor. It had his name on it,"

"Okay, I'm officially freaked out," Jaydin squeaked as he moved closer to Abigail, his head now pressed against her abdomen.

I felt myself shudder too.

"I don't see why you seem so freaked out. Your castle has more dark secrets then hers! Banshee, a crazy killer ghost, a curse. For bloody sake Olli, you better take a gun with you or something. Want me to drop you next week?" Jaydin shuddered as he turned towards me.

I shrugged.

He was right.

Oakenfield Castle or as the locals preferred to call it; Verflucht — really did have a lot to ponder on. Whispers had it that Lord Julius Naightiutem, the first owner of the castle had made the castle for his second wife, Lady Edika. The lord had already a son and daughter by his first wife, a poor unfortunate soul who just happened to be a victim of a raging TB.

It wouldn't have been a shock if Lady Edika hadn't turned out to be the best of step mothers, it was however a big shock when I had found out that she hated her step children to the extent of murder.

It was said to be on a Spring's eve when the young Lady Edika had proposed her views on the children's schooling away from the castle. It had taken a while, but Lord Julius finally gave in, and the children were sent away to a boarding school in London.

Or so the lord thought.

It was believed that Lady Edika was furiously jealous of both the children, for she knew her own children would never bare the title of Heir, Lord Julius already had a son.

Some said she was also mentally unstable.

I didn't know what to believe. But all I knew was that what was said of the rest of the tale was the most chilling part of all.

The children had never left for the boarding school. Instead they were kept locked in the lowest of the dungeon by the Lady. Each day drained by cuts, their blood collected in jars.

Some of the local women who lived around the castle even whispered about the Lady drinking the children's blood to keep herself younger.

The poor daughter died, drained, and brutally tortured, the boy however, by some strange secret that still stood intact to this day — managed to escape.

Lady Edika was sentenced to death by hanging, but before she could be punished she had set herself on fire in her room.

Till date, the still burnt room was said to be closed to everyone.

Death however was only the beginning for Lady Edika, because it was still said that she roamed the castle even today, killing any new bride that happened to marry into the family.

I personally believed that the castle, in her mind, would always be hers, and any other bride that came into the picture... would be ripped out.

However, death was also said to be a beginning for sweet Athia, the daughter of Lord Julius, for it was believed that she returned as well, but as a banshee, wailing in warning for every time the ghost of Lady Edika decided to strike down another bride.

"We'll all drop her,"

I blinked. "Huh?"

River frowned, "I said, we'll all drop you over at Oakenfield, next week?"

Embarrassment rushed into my features and I quickly began looking around like an idiot.

"Oh — Oh! Yes, please! By the way, what did you get, anyway?"

Immediately a suspicious looking River grinned.

"Oh, I got the Black's house. The usual psycho serial killer home,"

Beside us Jaydin scoffed, "It was the best friend, I bet you!"

Abigail however scoffed harder. "It was the mother, that woman was said to be crazy!"

Cringing slightly, I eased up on my back and moved to lean against the trunk of the tree.

River on the other hand quickly found my lap again and moved back into resting his head there.

Suddenly looking curious, he turned towards Jaydin.

"What did you get, anyway?"

I watched as the bright light in Jaydin's eyes frizzled out slowly before he looked as serious as he ever could.

"I got the Chillston Manor. Professor Heirnzberg's home."