I walked with her towards a dark and ancient appearing mansion, the complete opposite of the one I just left. A large iron bar fence surrounded the large expanse of property. We walked through the tall gates and that's when I made eye contact with the last person I expected to see.

Theo.

He glanced at me before turning around and walking back into the daunting mansion. I had to keep reminding myself that he was just something I imagined in the maze. None of that was real. I did my best to ignore the way my heart dropped in my chest.

We walked into the mansion, the warmth felt refreshing after walking for so long, in the freezing cold. I winced as I felt something get attached to my wrists. I glanced down with wide eyes at the cuffs that had been linked around both of my wrists.

"W-What is this?" I whispered.

"You have made your choice. You belong to us now. If you try to leave this property, this will release electric shocks and help us pinpoint your exact location." She smiled, revealing her sharp pointed teeth.

"You still haven't told me why you need me." I whispered feeling uneasy.

"It is not time for that yet." She laughed, but it sounded dead and humorless.

"Let the girl eat, she doesn't look like she's had a meal in ages." I looked back to see a man walk in. He had dark skin and light brown eyes; his scars had an uncanny resemblance to Theo's. Speaking of Theo, he was nowhere to be found. I was starting to believe I imagined that too.

"Come girl." The man spoke motioning for me to follow behind him, but Miss Dalaris wasn't loosening her grip on my upper arm.

She reluctantly let go when she met my stare but followed close behind. I looked around the large kitchen, the floors were compromised of an intricately patterned brick. The cabinets were a deep almost black wood, and the counter tops appeared to be some sort of dark cement. It was dark but had its own unique sort of beauty to it. I was snapped out of my thoughts of the beautiful kitchen when a plate was dropped in front of me. There was a delicious looking sandwich on it.

I hesitantly lifted it up, cautiously taking a bite. Several people filled the kitchen standing around the counter watching me. I lowered the sandwich back to the plate, swallowing the bite. Suddenly feeling uneasy and anxious at all the focus being held solely on me.

"Everyone out." The man snapped.

"You know that is not possible. We have a deal boy." Miss Dalaris snapped.

"Someone needs to tell me what is going on. Now." I snapped fed up with knowing absolutely nothing.

All of their eyes snapped back to mine and it took a lot of willpower not to shrink back against my chair.

"You fucked us all over by following us here." Miss Dalaris spoke, taking slow steps towards me.

"You were the anchor to Wellis." She spoke. "By coming here, you cut off our way back." Her voice got lower as she got closer.

"You were always an obedient little thing." Her hand reached out grasping one of my long brown strands. "The one time you decided to disobey me." She let out a humorless chuckle, glancing down before meeting my eyes again.

"That vampire." I whispered. "He attacked me, I did what I had to do to survive." Her eyes widened slightly as she took in my words.

"Levius attacked you?" She asked as if she had not heard me.

"I don't know his name, but it was the one who was with you that day in the shop." I frowned recalling the memories.

"He will be dealt with when we get back." She spoke seeming surprisingly sincere.

"How do we get back?" I asked.

"Not you, girl."

"I-I w-what?" I was at a loss for words as I shook my head, I must've heard her wrong. Surely, she doesn't intend to leave me here.

"You will act as the anchor for us here. I think I have found a way around this disaster." She spoke her bone like hands gripping my wrist and pulling me up from the stool. "We will try it during the next blood moon phase." She smiled, revealing her bared fanged teeth, but the smile was anything but reassuring.

I stood there awkwardly, inwardly cringing at the feeling of all their stares on me. "What happened to all of your hands?" I whispered to her. She froze slightly, but I saw it.

"Do not ask that question again." She spoke, her voice growing down to a whisper, as she leaned in towards my ear, her voice laced with nothing but pure malice.

I nodded and looked down at my fingers, picking at the skin on the sides of my freshly picked at nails.

"Come with me." The man spoke reaching his hand out. I hesitantly placed mine in his, allowing him to tug me alongside him.

"I wasn't done speaking with her, shifter." She growled out. Shifter. This man was a shifter. I looked up at him with wide eyes. I have heard stories of those immortals but have never actually seen one in person. He led me down the hallway, away from the ruckus in the kitchen.

"My name is Julian." He spoke interlocking his elbow with mine causing me to elicit a wince unintentionally. He froze and separated us quicker than I could blink. Before I could protest, he rolled my sleeve up past my elbow, before cursing under his breath. "What the fuck happened? Why wouldn't you tell anyone you were injured." I just looked up at him with wide eyes, unsure of what to say or do.

"She has a habit of that." I froze at the sound of his voice. Refusing to turn and meet his stare that I felt burning holes into my back.

"I'm fine." I grumbled out, attempting to pull my sleeve down, only to be stopped when a firm grip wrapped itself around my wrist, sending tingles shooting up to my shoulder and wriggling its way into my chest.

"She was attacked by an Ilsose and his creation." He muttered, as Julian was turning my arm rather harshly to thoroughly examine the burn.

"Wait-- you sent that after me?!" I spun around so fast I'm surprised I didn't get whiplash.

"I didn't fucking send anything after you. He is too much of an idiot to deal with. If I were to send something after you, you wouldn't be fucking standing here right now." He growled out, his silver eyes darker than I have ever seen them.

I just glared at him, fighting the urge to stick out my tongue. Now is not the time.

"Get her healed." He told Julian before turning around. I watched with wide eyes as I stared at his disappearing form.

"Don't piss him off, he doesn't like this either." I glanced up at Julian who was looking at me with a sad smile that didn't quite meet his eyes.

I just gave him a small nod and continued walking with him.

"What is really happening?" I asked him, raising a skeptical brow.

"That is not my place to say." He spoke looking.

"I deserve to know!" I threw my hands up frustrated with this whole situation. Why couldn't I know anything when clearly this all revolves around me. I deserve to know the risks.

"Enough." He growled out. His eyes shifting between their light brown shade and a deep orange.

His grip on my arm tightened further as he pulled me through the snow-covered front yard. We reached a small structure in the back. It was made out of the same dark stone bricks as the mansion but appeared to be the size of one room. He placed his palm on the door, magic seemed to swirl through it, illuminating intricate details throughout. It reminded me of the balcony at the Ayers'. He motioned for me to walk through it, I hesitated slightly, glancing back at the house to see if Theo was anywhere to be seen. He wasn't.

He gave me a slight nudge through the doors. He raised his hands, and I jumped nearly crashing into him, when flames lit every candle in this small space. I looked up at him in shock. I thought he was a shifter.

"What?" He asked, but a knowing smirk graced his lips.

"You have elemental powers." I breathed. "But you're a shifter." I was trying to convince myself that I wasn't losing my mind. But at this point I'm not so sure.

I pulled myself out of my thoughts to take it in the room. There were cobwebs on all the furniture, there was one singular chandelier hanging from the arched ceilings. Despite having all the lighting now, it still felt too dark.

"This is where you will be staying." He coughed clearing his throat. I could clean this up, at least I wouldn't be near anyone. I just nodded my head and walked around the space a little more, taking in every detail.

"No complaints? Nothing?" He asked seemingly surprised. I glanced up at him raising a brow.

"Why would I complain about this?" I had more things to worry about than a couple of cobwebs.

"I--Never mind." He shook his head. "Remember you are not a prisoner here; you are free to leave this dump." He spoke seeming sincere.

I just nodded and turned my back to him. I walked over to the couch picking up one of the deep green pillows. I shook it, instantly regretting that choice the second dust and know knows what else, blew up into my face. I dropped it immediately and sighed. I walked over to a cabinet in the corner of the room hoping to find some sort of rag or towel that I could use. There was one, tinged with yellow but that was it. I sighed and left it there. It was already cold in here and I wanted to have a blanket, maybe I could just shake all these out, outside.

I grabbed onto the two black pillows and gently opened the door. I dropped them onto the fluffy powder, before going back in and doing the same thing with the cushions. I blew a loose hair out of my face as I shook out each pillow, watching as the dirty cloud formed, before settling back onto the snow.

I hurried back inside and put everything back in its place.

I took in the rest of the small space, noting that there was a small hatch built into the side. I cautiously opened it to see a small washing room.

I grabbed the dingy yellow stained towel from the cabinet and laid it out on the couch, before looking for a way to start a fire. There was a small fireplace on the wall in front of the couch but no wood. I sighed watching as my breath clouded in front of my face. The temperatures were only going to drop as it got darker, I needed a fire or else I wasn't going to get an ounce of sleep. I need to be able to think clearly. I walked out of the house glancing down around the sides of this place. I walked around it to see a small, rusted axe leaning against the side. I smiled in victory and grabbed ahold of it, not forgetting about my dagger that was still in its holster.

I walked closer to the bordering area, close to the fence. Let's see how close this thing lets me get. I could already feel tingles shooting up my arms, but it was bearable. I was about to step through the gates when my body was set on fire. I cried out before jumping back and taking a deep breath. I could still feel the sting on my skin from the zap. How the hell was I supposed to get wood.

"What part of don't leave the fucking property did you miss."

I spun around and stomped towards the annoying male that stood across from me with his arms crossed around his absurdly muscular chest.

"Trying to run away already? I surely thought you would last at least an hour in there." I glared at him trying to whisk my thoughts away from his perfectly perfect face and voice... Oh gods. I must be dying. Did I catch a fatal illness that is giving me these thoughts from these people?

"Go back, Eleia." He spoke raising a brow at me. I stuck my tongue out at him before pushing past him. I was almost past when his arm shot out so fast, I would've thought I missed it if I didn't feel the tingles erupt throughout my arm.

"What?" I snapped.

"Don't be an idiot." Was all he said. "These people aren't like me; they will kill you if you speak to them the way you do me."

"They need me. That should count for something. I doubt the almighty anchor could be almighty and all dead." He looked at me like I had ten heads before shaking his head and releasing my arm. Is it bad to say I miss the warmth. Yes. Yes, it is, Eleia.

I could hear him curse under his breath as he turned on his heel and walked back towards the mansion. I stormed back towards the small structure, pushing the door open. I listened for the soft click as I closed it, making sure it was locked. I walked inside and sighed. This was going to be a rough night.

——————————————————————

I don't know how much time passed since I spoke with Theo, but the sun was long gone now, and teeth chattering was all I could hear. The burn was hurting like crazy now too. Probably should've reminded someone about that while I had the chance. I rocked by for a few more minutes before I groaned in frustration. I lowered the towel from around my body and pushed myself out the front door. I wrapped my arms around my shivering body as the harsh, cold wind made contact with my skin. I hurried across the large expanse of land and back towards the mansion.

I reached the door and hesitated before pushing the door open. I sighed in relief as warmth swarmed my body. I didn't even realize I had sunk against the door until I heard someone clear their throat. My eyes shot open and met Miss. Dalaris' golden ones.

"What the hell are you doing?" She asked with a raised brow.

"I um I... My arm." I rushed out sticking my arm out to show her. She stared at me dumfounded before snapping her fingers. I screamed out as I was suddenly sitting on the stool stationed in front of the counter.

"You have got to stop doing that." I made sure to inform an already deadly witch. Why, you might ask. Because I am a fucking idiot.

"Talk to me like that again," She paused in front of me, baring her sharp teeth at me, "and I will ensure you never speak again." I let out a laugh. I was laughing so hard I started choking on the air.

"What did you do to the girl?" One of the cloaked people I didn't recognize walked in with curious eyes.

She growled out snapping her fingers and the man was thrown against the wall. "Out!" She roared so loudly, I almost stopped laughing. Almost.

"Is she delirious?" I recognized that voice.

"You did something to her, didn't you." She whirled on Theo storming towards him, she snapped her fingers, but he didn't even budge. That made me laugh even more. Oh gods, my stomach hurts.

"Now, now Zayla." He tsked taking a step closer. Zayla. Is that her name? "She is your pet." He spat his voice sounded foreign to me. "You deal with her." Before spinning on his heel and leaving me sitting her dumfounded.

"Stupid boy." She spat. "But at least your hysterics are over with." Her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at me accusingly.

She snapped her fingers, and I winced as I felt my skin reconnecting.

"Now get out."