Word Count: 1687

~Aven

I'm not sure why, but I can't sleep.

Thoughts of Stace, my family back at home and my father who is apparently still alive haunts me as I toss and turn beneath my heavy blankets. Eventually the rattle of the train wheels against the track and the groan of the wooden carriages drives me to the point of near insanity, so I throw the covers off, dress more appropriately and leave my room.

In the back of my mind, what the stranger mentioned to me today lingers, drawing me down the train to the common areas.

Everything is vacant, the hour so late everyone is sleeping. Tucking my cardigan closer to myself, I wander up to the windows, smiling as I realise what Castiel told me earlier was true.

A brilliant display of colours lights up the sky, a mixture of blues, greens and pink that are so bright they make the night sky a deep violet colour. Each beam of light moves fluidly, weaving between others, dipping behind and above towering mountains.

"Pretty isn't it?"

I jump, looking over my shoulder to see Castiel smiling at me, blue eyes dark with the shadows of the night.

"I thought you were getting off?" I say in a hushed voice. He told me earlier the next stop was his exit, which was hours ago.

"I was," he says with a shrug. "But then I decided to stay on for a little longer."

Something inside me flickers, tapping at a part of me that warns me to be wary. After all, he is a stranger, and there are people wanting me dead. And it does seem strange that he mentioned c coming out to look at the sky at night, claiming he wasn't going to be there, allowing me to feel comfortable coming out of my room, and now he is here.

"Hope no one was waiting for you," I comment uneasily, turning back to the window. As beautiful of the show of colours are, suddenly I can't concentrate on them. But it's not exactly like I can make a run for it.

"I'm a bit of a loner," he admits with a shrug, coming to stand at the window beside me.

"I should get back to my room..." I murmur, glancing around. Even though I know they are sleeping, it's like I can feel Stace and Eryk's eyes on me, ready to lecture me about leaving my room in the middle of the night.

Castiel shakes his head, grinning. "You haven't even seen the best part."

"I shouldn't be out here, alone," I find myself saying. Maybe I shouldn't have admitted that, but there is something tempting about venting when I don't otherwise have a chance to. It's not like Stace wants to hear me complain about his employee.

"You're on a train full of people, you're definitely not alone," he reminds me, holding his arms out. He's trying to be friendly, to put me at ease, and yet I can't quell the part of me that feels like I should be rushing away.

I chew the edge of my lip. "I guess."

"Who are you worried about?" He asks, sounding genuinely confused.

I turn, looking out across the quiet common area. "My mate."

"Ah, you've already found your mate." Castiel inches toward me a little more, looking as if he wants to touch me. I'm suddenly aware of Stace's ability to grab someone and transport them far away, making me wonder if others have the same ability. Castiel doesn't look magical to any degree, but I don't know these lands, or the people who reside in them.

"I should get back to my room," I excuse, stepping back. "Goodnight Castiel."

He frowns, as I back off, turning to rush back to my room. Luckily, he doesn't follow.

***

I stare down at my breakfast, suddenly not hungry.

"You look tired," Stace says from beside me, drinking his coffee. Yawning, I lean back in my chair, recalling how I lay beneath my sheets last night, unable to sleep. Despite locking my door, it felt as though at any moment, Castiel would burst through and kill me.

"Hardly got any sleep," I sigh, spooning scrambled eggs into my mouth despite my better judgment.

Stace frowns. "Everything okay?"

I don't get the chance to respond, as a horrid screeching sound fills the carriage, the train braking suddenly. My hands manage to grip the counter, my chair tilting as I'm nearly forced from my seat. My cup of water even lurches forward, spilling all over me, a few people yelping in fright at the sudden movement.

"What's going on?" I ask frantically. Stace looks over me, making sure I'm not injured before he casts his attention over the rest of the train, as it finally draws to a stop.

"I'm not sure," he mutters distractedly. Everyone else seems to be just as confused as we are, but none move, too frightened something else is going to happen soon. Stace doesn't share there fear, reaching over to grab my hand. "Let's get back to Eryk's room."

I nod, following him as we weave through carriages, rushing past frantic people. Just before we make it to the private suites, I catch a glance of something out the window that makes me draw to a stop.

Outside in the snow, Eryk is on his knees, head bowed, with a gun to his head.

Stace see's the scene at the exact same time I did. "Senna..."

The name is familiar, and so is the woman holding the gun. She was doing the exact same thing to my mother all that time ago, and now she is looking intent on ending Eryk's life. Stace and I don't even have to exchange any words as we rushing down the carriage and to an exit, jumping outside into the snow.

The harshness of the environment hits me immediately, the bite of the mountain wind on my bare arms making me wince. However, no feeling is comparable to the fear within me from seeing Eryk with a gun to his head.

"I wouldn't come any closer," Senna warns, raising her brows at us as we approach. "Not unless you want Eryk to die."

Stace and I draw to a stop, ankle deep in snow. I can feel the eyes from passengers still on the train, wondering why a man is on the verge of death. Eryk doesn't so much as look at us, eyes trained on the snow, clearly contemplated the best way to get out of this situation.

"This isn't a good idea and you know it," Stace exclaims calmly.

A few others are scattered about, all with weapons. Next to Senna, Castiel stands, arms crossed over his chest, gaze unreadable. A whole fresh wave of anger rushes through me. I should have listened to my instincts last night.

"Aven, you're not looking so well," Senna says sardonically, looking over me as if I'm a piece of meat. "Maybe it would be better if you came with us."

I ignore her, knowing I'm not going anywhere with these people. "Should have known you had other intentions."

"We don't want to cause you any harm. We just want to protect you, which we can do better than Stace," he explains, sounding earnest, like he actually believes what he is saying. I sense Stace tensing next to me, holding himself back from killing Castiel right now for the sake of Eryk.

"Stace is my mate..." I say slowly. It's unlikely anyone can protect me better than him.

Senna shakes her head at me. "That doesn't mean anything."

"Let Eryk go, Senna," Stace demands, taking a cautious step forward. Senna presses the tip of the gun closer against Eryk's head, making him wince. "And don't even speak to Aven again."

"Come on Aven... Let's go," Senna encourages.

I open my mouth to tell her she's insane if she thinks I'm going anywhere with her, but I'm interrupted as someone approaches from behind me, grabbing a hold of me.

Their arm wraps around my neck, yanking me back. I yelp, clawing at their arm, looking hopelessly at Stace who is forced to stand where he is, knowing if he moves, Eryk will be killed, and then I'll likely be killed before he has a chance to get us out of there.

They are going to take me away somewhere, and being that I know nothing about this place, I'm going to be in danger of never finding my way back to him.

Anger overtakes me, as I continue to struggle, feet dragged through the snow, glaring at Senna and Castiel and all the people standing behind them, working with them.

I want them all dead. I don't care who they are or what they want with me, I want them dead.

All of a sudden, they burst into flames.

I'm not sure exactly who is taken by the inferno, as the force of the sudden heat has my eyes squeezing shut, the person once holding me now letting me fall into the snow. Gasping, I crawl away frantically, frightened the flames will engulf me, however, when I look back, they are isolated to the group of people in the back.

The horror of seeing people on fire, writhing as they roll around in the snow in an attempt to put the flames out as my stomach seizing, tempting me to throw up straight at my feet.

Through my shock, I barely register Stace calling out my name, rushing toward me. The flames haven't touched him, or Eryk, who approaches behind him.

They are all okay.

Because I wanted them to be. Because I'm the one who caused the fire.

The look in Stace's eyes tells me he knows exactly what happened, exactly where that came from, as he reaches for me. The moment his skin touches mine, the world around us begins to dissolve.

💚••💚

If you guys want to read more of KISSING DANGER you can find it 10 chapters ahead on Radish (:

❄️••❄️

NOW ON RADISH AND WATTPAD

~Midika 💜🐼