The click and thud of the library door opening behind me didn't even have me flinching as I just stood there and stared at the ghost standing out in the balcony.

"Olivia!"

Gasping, I turned around.

Romanov.

The rush I felt as I thundered into his arms, next, was something that I would cherish forever. Instantly, his arms came around me as he frowned, looking around the room.

"What were you doing here? I've been looking for you for hours!"

"I— Ro— I—" I couldn't speak, my throat seemed like it was glued together, my mind kept going blank, my mouth kept opening and closing like a fish. Frustrated I turned around again, my eyes widening as I watched the same balcony that had occupied the century old ghost — now empty.

Cold dread swept down my back.

"Olivia! Why were you screaming?"

Desperate, I turned towards Romanov and hid my face against his chest, grasping at his long sleeved grey shirt, trying to breathe against the fright as his arms tightened around me. His pure male cologne wafted into my nostrils, calming my soul and I stayed there.

"I— t—take me to my room. Quickly. Please!" My gaze snapped to Romanov's and his curious ones widened. Steeling over with silent anger as he suddenly bent down, he immediately scooped me up and turning towards the door, Romanov ran.

Corridors and stairs passed with a blur around me, and a few exhales later,
Romanov slowed, my eyes quickly adjusted to the new speed.

A glance ahead and I blinked at the man standing by Romanov's room's closed door. A very alarmed looking Orik quickly pulled the large doors open just as Romanov speeded into his room.

I cringed as my laptop and the large book bounced against my chest when Romanov dropped me on the bed. The loud drumming of my heart felt as if a cardiac arrest was well on its way, and by the look on Romanov's face, I had a lot of explaining to do.

I gulped, putting the books down on the bed as I turned away, unable to look at Romanov in that moment. I didn't want to see the look of guilt he would have. I knew — he would have.

"I saw her."

It was a low mumble, almost as if I hadn't even said it, but the sharp intake of Romanov's breath cut all my hopes short of him missing it. He had heard.

"She was there... out on the balcony," I continued, this time turning towards Romanov slowly, lifting my eyes to meet his black pools. To my surprise, not a sign of guilt shadowed his expression. Instead, he seemed furious.

A vein popped out on his neck and my gaze snapped to it immediately, a dozen more veins following after.

My eyes widened as his facial features quickly began morphing into his true self. His whole self. His ears peaking up, as his jaw tightened and narrowed. His nose morphing half way into a muzzle.

"Olivia, did she hurt you?" Romanov bit out each word slowly, as if it was difficult for him to talk. I blinked as I watched him stand in front of me looking like it took him great effort to even just stand there.

"No," I shook my head, trying to smile at his half beast form. His shoulder length black hair that looked like it had been finger combed back, strangely made him look even more lethal. I almost shuddered.

"Lies!" The beast in front of me suddenly snarled into my face and I moved back, his sudden close proximity catching me by surprise.

"I'm not lying," I spoke out quietly, taking in a low, slow voice as I looked at the creature in front of me. A creature I had always imagined to only be in movies, or books.

The sound of a quick catching of breath broke me out of my thought and I refocused on Romanov to see my open palm a whisper away from his jagged cheek.

Startled at my own actions, my eyes moved to Romanov's golden ones, before slowly dragging across his face, and then back to my palm.

I closed the distance between my palm and his skin. Yes. This seemed better.

Inhaling a shaky thread of breath, I felt the rough skin under my touch. Romanov let out a low growl against my palm, and my eyes widened as I felt the vibration of the growl against my hand.

"Come here," He grumbled, his beast's baritone deeper — gruffer — more rough, and I slowly moved up, sliding my arms around his broad hard shoulders, inhaling the new earthy sort of scent he suddenly carried. I felt as Romanov's arms came around my back and I smiled as we just stayed there, in each other's arms, hugging each other. Keeping each other close.

It felt strange. I was wrapped around a being that hardly looked human, except I felt completely at ease. Despite his appearance, this beast, was still very human to me. 

~^~
How many minutes passed wasn't something I kept track of, before a sure knock on the door sounded around the room and I felt Romanov's arm slip away. His half beast self-turned to face the door and I settled myself back on the bed, making myself comfortable despite the raging chaos in my mind.

"Enter."

The door creaked open confidently, revealing a half a dozen worth of people outside the door. Looking panicked, all of them quickly marched into the room. The most panicked, and leading the group, however, was Aunt Meryl.

Instantly she found me, making her way towards me before quickly slipping her hand around my shoulder. I noticed as Romanov stiffened when Aunt Meryl's hand touched my skin. But, he didn't look back.

Looking forward at the men and women standing in front of him, he nodded towards the seats in the far-left side of the room. Agreeing, the small crowd made their way towards the seats. Aunt Meryl and I on the other hand watched silently.

"I need two guards with my mate, Olivia, when I am not there. I want the best of your guards, Lyam." Romanov talked to the tallest of the men, Romanov's height only beating this man by two inches. The short red hair on the man's head flamed in the lightning of the room. My gaze ran over the dozens of tattoos littered all across his hands when I noticed his fist clench and looked up, straight into his eyes. His green eyes blazed at me. My breath hitching in my throat, I looked away. 

The rest of the meeting amongst the warriors and Aunt Meryl, who joined in soon after, settled uneasily with me. The constant feeling of having the Berlin pack's Alpha's eyes on me left a sour sense of his dislike in my mind. Alpha Lyam did not like me.

I suppose it was something I should have seen coming. Not everybody could like me just because I was their King's soulmate, and everybody was entitled to their own opinion. The piercing gaze of Alpha Lyam's gaze stuck at me again for the tenth time, but this time, unlike the couple of others, I looked up at him.

My eyes met his gaze and I watched as his entire eyes pooled black. Shocked, I jumped back. The heat in my cheeks next making a silent curse slip from between my lips, when I noticed a whisper of a smirk on the man's lips.

My gaze snapped to Romanov's back almost a little desperately, as I tried to never look back at the devil of the werewolf alpha again, when almost as if feeling my gaze, Romanov turned around and began making his way towards me. His half beast mode still on.

"That will be all. Thank you all for coming." Romanov said loudly behind him as he kept walking towards me. I smiled slowly at the worried looking Dominic and, despite myself, made a face at a smirking Grayson. Avoiding all of the other people entirely.

I didn't know what was expected of me, or I was supposed to behave with these people.

Trying to avoid everyone's attention, my eyes quickly made a glance towards Romanov again when a girl in the group caught my eye. Her expectant soft gaze stayed on mine, and I couldn't help but smile with gratefulness. They were risking their lives just to protect mine. I owed these people. Instantly the girl's eyes brightened, and her lips curled up in a bright smile before she quickly bowed and hurried out of the room.

I was still afraid to look at the rest of the people though, who knew how many of them would glare like Alpha Lyam did.

"I won't anything happen to you, Livia." Romanov murmured against me as he scooped me up in his arms and settled back onto the bed, straddling him, just as the door closed behind all the other people.

Aunt Meryl slowly began making her way towards us, settling herself on the edge of the bed once she reached the structure.

"I don't think he likes me. Berlin's Alpha."

"Nonsense! He's volunteered to guard you! He just doesn't like women." Aunt Meryl chuckled lightly, waving her hand in front of her.

Noticing the look on my face she quickly sobered, shaking her hands in front of her face in an almost panicked manner, "Oh no no, it's not what you think. Lyam is not gay."

"I'm not appreciating this conversation,"

Both Aunt Meryl and I stilled. The warning in Romanov's quiet statement instructing us not to continue.

Strangely, I felt Romanov's arms loosen around me. Looking up into his eyes my eyes widened as I found him looking down at me with his golden orbs, his brows furrowed in his usual expression. Anger.

Sighing, I found myself snuggling closer to him until his arms tightened around me again.

"I'm fine, Rome. Much better right now." I whispered against him, cringing when I heard Aunt Meryl's breath hitch in her throat. Looking back, I watched Aunt Meryl look towards the door and stand, her pink face refusing to look at us.

"Well all right then, I suppose I must be off now. Goodnight, dearies," she called back in her cheerful manner. Stopping short at the door she hesitated for a minute before she continued, "Roman dear, you might want to control your walls, it's al—"

"I'm working on it," Romanov quickly cut in, and I frowned, trying to make sense of what the aunt and nephew were talking about.

"What was that about?" I mumbled softly as the sound of the door shut close echoed around the now silent room, my fingers fumbling playfully with the front of Romanov's shirt.

"What is that?"

I blinked, looking at Romanov for a minute, he frowned harder as he looked at something behind me, and slowly I found myself tracing his gaze towards the object of his attention.

Gemini by Julius Naightuitem.

"I—I found that hidden behind a row of books in the library today. Your great grandfather wrote it. It's about—about her. It even has her picture."

Romanov looked away, his jaw tight and dark eyes angry. I wasn't sure he even knew or not, but his human self was now completely present.

He sighed, and I followed the path his Adam's apple took.

"I don't care about her face as long as you keep it off our bed."

When the thin strands of sleep whisked us away into the dark land of dreams and wonder, I had no idea, but soon the warm glow of the sun began shining into the room and morning knocked on our windows by the loud chirping of irritatingly naughty birds.

Not the morning person in the slightest, Romanov found solace in the bathroom after I shook him up while I stayed in bed, decidedly planning out on ways of informing him of my sleepover at Jaydin's tonight.

It seemed difficult, after yesterday evening, but I wasn't giving up. After all, he had said I would have protection always.

The hard task of telling Romanov passed and with the solid fact of having him come with me settled, five hours later found me seated in my favourite little restaurant, Abigail and Michael seated in front of me, both Abigail and I however glaring at a very awkward looking Michael.

"What happened to school today?" I demanded in a low tone, trying to keep my tone as causal as possible to the rest of the people in the restaurant.

"Needed the money," Michael mumbled back like a little kid knowing he was in trouble.

"What exactly for, boy?" Abigail shook her head as she watched Michael consciously take a large bite of the burger in front of him.

"Saving for Ma's birthday present this Saturday,"

Both Abi's and I's eyes widened, and we immediately relaxed, leaving the counselling session halfway.

Quickly shaking my head, I smiled, "What are you getting your mum?"

"A new phone. Her phone is outdated but she still got me an iPhone for my birthday last year. I want to get her a new iPhone."

"How much do you still have to collect, kid?" Abigail suddenly asked him curiously, giving me an innocent look when I gave her a repress ding one.

"A hundred and fifty," Michael smiled, looking positive as he said so, taking a bite of his fries while at it. "It's all right though. I have one more day. I'll get it! It's always busier in the weekends."

I smiled, nodding with him. Michael was a good kid. I was sure his mother and sister were both very proud of him.

"Here's your bill," Michael smiled at us an hour later as all three of us finished our meals and settled down for a while.

"My treat," I chuckled as I pulled the card away from Abigail and pulled my wallet. Bringing out a small piece of paper, I quickly scrubbed down a note.

Wait today and tomorrow, but school from next week. Remember your ambition, Michael. You need to fly. -O

Putting the fifty in for the bill, I quickly shoved another hundred and jotted it down as tip when I noticed Michael looking away. Slipping the small written note in there as well. 

"What did you write in the note?" Abigail frowned as we drove towards Mr. Heirnzberg's home, The Chillston Manor.

"I just reminded him of his dreams," I smiled as I took a left, taking in the sudden change in atmosphere after the turn.

"Don't you think you're being a little soft on the kid?" Abi shrugged slowly as she mumbled out the question, turning away to look out of the window.

I shook my head, "I feel a sense of kinship for him, Abi. His ambitious nature reminds me so much of Elizabeth and I want him to succeed like I watched Elizabeth do... well... before she faded."

"Alright, fair enough I guess. He seems like a good kid anyway,"

"When is King Romanov going to come by?" She turned to me again and I shrugged. Abigail's question was one I didn't know the answer to myself.

"He said he'll be there before I get there," I sighed as I looked ahead of me at the road, thick dense trees framing both sides of the wet black road.

"Professor Heirnzberg sure does like to live secluded," Abigail breathed out from beside me as we finally turned left, driving through the large open golden gates, decorated by flowering vines.

The driveway cut through a vast land of beautifully pruned gardens, every structure made to compliment the flowers and trees. I continued to drive, pleasantly surprised as the beauty in the land continued to be highlighted in the most eloquent of manner.

"Damn Livy, nothing matches the nam—ahhhh...," Abigail's words died away as we rounded in front of a large, dead looking building. The trees surrounding it, brown. Windows barred, an abandoned bicycle in front of the house.

"—I take it back." She breathed, sounded absolutely devastated for some reason.

I gulped as I finally parked the car, turning off the ignition and turning to face Abigail. The manor looked like it could have been a mental institute in the olden age.

"Are you okay?"

Abigail's large wide eyes turned to mine and she shook her head, her hand finding mine. I stilled, they were chilly against my warm ones. "I need to tell you something. I dropped the house I got. Requested for a new one."

I frowned, "What, why?"

"Adam. He's trying to come out, Livy."

Huh?

I frowned harder, "What Adam? The owner? Abi, isn't he supposed to have died centuries ago?"

"No. He was supposed to have been put into his portrait. Stuck there for eternity—until... he found his key out. He's trying to come out!"

My grip tightened on Abigail's and I let out a shaky breath out. I had to believe Abigail, even though at this moment I didn't know what to believe anymore. A couple of months ago the only things I believed in were black and white, and now... I could see all these new things in the shadows. Who knew how much more was hidden between the light and the dark?

"What happened? What did you do afterwards? Did Professor assign someone else the house?"

"I saw him—in the mirror—trying to move his hand in the portrait. Long blonde hair, eyes so blue it's almost silver, the deadliest snarl on his face. He's real, Livy! I went straight to Prof and asked him to change me. Right in time for some other girl to come request to be switched from the alternative method to this," Abigail frowned, as if trying to remember something, "What was her name?... Oh yes! Gardenia!"

"Gardenia. As in the shy, silent Gardenia?"

Abigail nodded, suddenly getting what I was thinking of.

"Oh no..." She gasped out under her breath, her hand coming to her lips.

I shook my head sadly, "Yeah... poor girl. Plus, she's only human."

"Professor Heirnzberg is mental!" Abigail grumbled under her breath before she finally opened the car's door and got out.

I sighed as I followed her, hoping Gardenia was pulling through nicely. I mean, I was sure Professor Heirnzberg wasn't just going to assign a student to her death.

I almost laughed at that, closing the door behind me. Professor Heirnzberg had literally assignment me to my death. Edika wanted blood.

"Hey," a pair of arms slipped around my middle as Romanov placed a small kiss on my shoulder from the behind, resting his chin there as he held me.

"Hey," I smiled dreamily, immediately all thoughts of Edika disappeared and I put my hands over his.

"You two okay?" Jaydin's voice reached us just as I lifted my gaze up to see him walking towards us, his gaze moving from mine to Abigail's, who still stood close to her side of the car's door.

Instead of answering Jaydin, Abigail turned towards Romanov and shook her head. "It's alive."

"What's alive?" Jaydin suddenly demanded, frowning at both Romanov and Abigail.

My gaze flew to Romanov's as his flew to Abigail, she quickly shook her head.

Romanov turned towards Jaydin and smiled, "The fright on your face, mate! Definitely alive!"

Jaydin let out an exhausted laugh before moving forward and surprising both Abigail and I and gave Romanov a playful punch on the arm.

"Shut it and let's get in." Jaydin grumbled before turning around he picked up Abigail's luggage and began moving towards the creepy manor.

Abigail, Romanov, and I looked at each other before we slowly followed. My bag swinging from Romanov's shoulder.

***

"So, what's the legend about this house?" I asked as we all sat around the kitchen island in the middle of the night, a cup of tea each in front of us.

"Nothing really, except for the tiny gossip that it sits on the centre axis of a triquetra making it a portal for all things supernatural," Jaydin rolled his eyes as he took a sip of his tea.

My eyes darted to Abigail's and she looked away, letting her head hang low.

Jaydin however unaware of the tension, continued, "Basically it means this house plays playground to every ghost, demons, werewolf and Dracula out there."

"Wow," I breathed out surprised, unable to utter anything else.

The interior of the house was anything but the old creepy look the exterior had, instead the house spotted a very modern makeover, nothing seemed to be left unturned in progress. Nothing, except the walls. The walls still stood bare, old, with the rugged naked look of the bricks. It seemed strange, having such modern designs against such a backdrop. But after a few minutes the walls became invisible and life went on to being normal.

"Alright folks, I think I'll call it a night now." Abigail smiled, taking her cup towards the sit before washing it and placing it on the drainer.

"I'll just show you to your room!" Jaydin jumped out of his stool, following her actions as he tried to catch up to her.

I watched the two walking up the stairs with an amused Romanov beside me, his own cup empty and in his hand. Finishing my tea, I turned towards my soulmate and smiled, "Call it a night?"

"Let's," He murmured slowly, his eyes on mine.

A soft smile shadowed on his lips as he tenderly caressed a strand of hair behind my ear and I danced in his loving affections, because suddenly it felt that as long as Romanov was with me. I was going to live. I was going to breathe. 

***

There are many reasons why one suddenly finds oneself awake in the darkest peaks of the darkness, when one can neither call it night nor morning. This time however, I found myself stirring awake because of thirst.

A glance towards my phone and I sighed as I sunk back into bed, Romanov's large arm around me, his nose touching the crook of my neck. Outside, it was raining. Lightning struck the dead night with its bright light first before thunder followed like a loyal companion.

2:33AM

Another sigh left my lips as I shook my head and slowly slipped from under Romanov's arms. Standing up beside the bed, I looked at the sleeping man and smiled softly. Ten minutes and he'd be down to find me, that much I was sure about.

Shaking the thought away I walked out of the bedroom and down the hall towards the kitchen, my mind still on the sleeping Romanov, and the chilled bottle of water waiting for me in the cooler.

Turning to where I'd memorised the kitchen would be, I turned on the lights and walked a little quicker towards the refrigerator.

The refrigerator's golden light flicked on as I pulled the door open and I quickly grabbed and opened the bottle of water in my hand. Happily bringing the bottle to my lips.

"Olliiiviiaaaaaaaaa,"

The bottle dropped to the floor. My eyes suddenly stuck on the white fabric floating from the corner of the kitchen's entrance. As if someone stood hiding behind it, almost coming out.

"Oliiviiiaaaaaaaa,"

The lights went off.

A loud yelp ripped out of my lips, the tears I didn't even know were there began falling down to their demise.

It was here. Death.

Romanov! Where was Romanov!?

Lightning struck outside, and the kitchen illuminated for a second, I whimpered as the figure behind the wall moved out in that second.

Thunder followed, and I moved back, trying to reach for something, anything. Trying to reach for my voice!

"Oliiviiiaaaaaaa," the harsh whisper seemed to echo all around me, dripping with blood and death.

The lightning struck again. White gowned, badly crooked looking Edika moved right in the middle of the doorway.

Thunder boomed again just as another lightning struck somewhere close. The room illuminated again and Edika began to run towards me, her body crooked and dead.

A shrill scream ripped out of my lips and I shut my eyes as I felt the sharp tip of her nails against my neck.

"OLLI!" A booming shout tore through the room as I was suddenly pushed aside.

My head banging against the floor, as I smashed against the floor, a sharp pain shot through the back of my head.

The devilish scream of what could only be Edika echoed around the room before the breaking crunch of bones and a hard thud of a body hit the floor beside me, stabbed into the silence of the kitchen.

I felt my heart stop, my breath hitch in my throat as my whole body froze, chilled over. The scent of the limp body against all too familiar.

No no no no! No!

I didn't even notice as the lights of the kitchen came back on and Romanov rushed towards us. Abigail running elsewhere, as if to check. My head turned towards Jaydin as I lay beside him, as still as he was, I couldn't do anything but cry.

No no no no! No no no no no!

"Fuck! Olivia! Olivia!" Romanov reached for me as his hand touched my waist, trying to scoop me up. But I couldn't bare it. I couldn't hold it in.

Shrugging Romanov away, I grabbed onto Jaydin and cried, his limp dead body just there, on the floor. His neck twisted, broken. The life drained out of his beautiful brown eyes.

"He's dead! Jay's dead, Rome! Dead!"

Looking up desperately, I watched Abigail rushing into the kitchen again as Romanov just stood there frozen watching me with a haunted look in his eyes.

I shook my head again, turning my gaze back to one of my best friends.

"He's dead." I whispered, broken.

And it was all my fault.