A/N -
Just to let you know in this chapter both Romania and Bulgaria will have magic powers. This also will take place in the Middle Ages.
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Alex PoV:

"I'm not a witch, I swear!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

I'm not evil! The people of my village continued to insult me even as I stood defenselessly tied to a wooden poll. They placed logs around me and set them on fire. I didn't want to die this way! I don't want to be burned at the stake! They were all my fellow citizens, some were even my friends and relatives but they all turned on me. I started to cry as I thought about this. The fire was now lit. I could feel its heat against my ankles. I cried out for help but of course no one wanted to help the "witch".

     I had been an average teenage citizen of my village. I had lived here all my life. I lived alone, my parents had died a few years ago from disease. I still had friends and cousins though. All my life I have been told that magic users were evil witches yet I had never known I possessed magic myself. Was I evil? I began to doubt myself.

     I thought back on my life. Was this the classic "I saw my life flash before my eyes" something people say when they are close to death? Sure I have had some enemies, people who bullied me, I had wished for karma to take care of them, but as far as wanting them hurt or dead. That had never crossed my mind. In fact, I was in this whole predicament because I had tried to save someone.

     It was only a few hours ago. It was a stormy night, though now in the dawn of a new day the storm had cleared, I had heard a barking dog and went outside of the warm comfort of my home to see what was the matter. The fire now burned my ankles, I let out a defining yell in pain. My memories continued rushing through my head. Once outside I heard a child's scream. That's why the dog had been barking. One of my neighbors dogs was left chained outside and was a witness, as I was, to what was happening. A young girl was running and yelling for help, it was the middle of the night and her voice was hoarse and muffled by the storm so no one was there to help. A middle aged man ran after her chasing her with a knife. He was not far behind and I could see the girl was getting tired. He would catch her soon if I didn't do something to help. Fire now worked its way up my legs. I could see fresh crimson blood gleaming on the girls neck and arms.

This infuriated me, how could people be so mean to the innocent. I tried to run and help though I had no idea what I would do. Something though kept me stuck to the ground. Vines, they broke through the rock roads and had twisted around my legs and kept me in place. I panicked yet something inside me told me exactly what to do. I tried to keep calm, I slowed my breathing and imagined a way to help the girl. Soon a large crack and flash of blinding light broke the silence. Lightning had struck a tree and caused it to fall onto the man who was chasing the girl. He must have died instantly. My senses felt more acute, I heard the knife hit the ground with a dull click. The girl lay stunned on the ground from the lightning but she was alive and safe. "What was that!" people shouted as the crowded onto the road.

Great now they wake up, I thought sarcastically. A group rushed over to the girl and helped her and a few others rushed over to the tree and found the man, dead. One person, a young boy, remained in the middle of it all, he observed everyone till finally the kid pointed at me and yelled,"witch."

The vine was still wrapped around me but was loose enough now for me to slip out of. I tried to run, but only a few steps latter and I was pinned to the ground by a rather gruff looking tall man. The fire now kissed my torsos, I continued my tortured cry. He grabbed my head and forced my eyes open. "My God, he is a witch, he has the glowing eyes to prove it," the man stated as he hulled me to my feet and held me up for all to see.

I had heard the rumors that a magic users eye's glow after casting a spell. I was carried to the jail and thrown in a cell and chained. My trial was to be in the morning. I spent the rest of the night crying and listening to the rain's pitter patter agains my window. Even nature cried with me.

     My mind released me out of my nightmarish memories of the night before and placed me in the even more horrid present. I was a living inferno. The pain hurt so much, I would welcome death when he came to take me. Anything to break me from the prison that was the pain. Suddenly, the pain eased slightly, the fire had instantly and miraculously died down to nothing more than that of a single log in a campfire. "Relax, I'll get you out of here," I heard a voice from behind me say.

     I felt the chains around me break and suddenly a pair of strong arms lifted me and held me bridal style. The mob began to run at us shouting things like, "another witch?"

     Was this new comer really another witch? With a wave of his hand a wall of fire appeared between us and the villagers. I guess that answered my question. He jumped off the stage. It was common in my village to burn witches in full view of the public. In a way it was a morbid form of entertainment.

     I allowed myself a good look at him while he ran towards the forest, somehow I doubted I would see my town again. He looked to be about my age. He had light brown hair and a pale complexion. He had a cute little fang the poked out over his lip and a small hat that he wore sideways on his head. He wore a long red coat and plain black pants and boots. Of course his eyes glowed a beautiful crimson color. He was indeed quite handsome. With this I felt the darkness consume me, I felt safe though and trusted this stranger somehow. 

Vlad's PoV:

     I smiled looking down at the man I carried in my arms. He must have passed out. We weren't far from my home in the forest and I would take care of him there.

     I seen what he could do, I had watched him the night before, and for sure he was an earth wizard. This wasn't normal for me, a fire wizard myself, earth wizards were my peoples enemies. I slowed my pace to a jog. Years ago, ages before I was here, there was a great war between wizards of the elements. Element wizards were the most powerful of wizards though there were many other wizards with a wide range of different powers. Earth wizards were the victors of the war and reigned for ages. They cast the other element wizards out of society but they had overlooked another group that could challenge their rule, humans. Normal citizens began to take political root and soon the power of wizards were broken. All wizards were turned into outcasts for humans to keep their political power, they called us "witches" and deemed us to be worthless and only worthy of death. Fire wizards believe if they had the power then humans never would have got in the way in the first place. This was the story told to all fire wizards. Through years of "witch" hunting many of us were killed and for safety we segregated ourselves and now lived far apart in the most remote of areas. What had compelled me to save this earth wizard? It could be his looks, he was certainly cute. Maybe it was his heart, I had never known any wizard, more or less and earth wizard, to be compassionate enough to save a human and put themselves in harms way while doing so. Maybe it was a mix of both. Regardless his life was in my hands and I was determined to protect him. I couldn't stand to see him chained there on that stake I simply couldn't take it. His screams and pleads for help, the way he contorted his body as the flames bit at him. I simply had to help him, it would have killed me not to.

     Once at my home, I lay him down on my bed. I found a rag and dipped it in some cold water and placed it on his forehead. I checked his breathing and found it to be fairly normal. I dressed his wounds with ointment, water, and sterile gulls. He would have trouble walking for awhile and I would have to make sure his wounds were clean to avoid bacteria and diseases. I found some clean clothes and dressed him. I blushed as I did this. I sat in the room with him.

     A few hours later he woke up. He looked worried at first but then he seen me and seemed to calm down slightly. He blushed as he seen that he was wearing new clothes. "Thanks," he murmured," but where are we?"

     "Were in an abandoned church I replied, its not perfect but it's secluded where nobody comes around so I made it my home," I smiled at him.

     "Thanks for saving me back there," he smiled at me, "by the way, my name's Alex."

"I'm Vlad," I walked over to him and sat down beside him, "I need to talk to you."

I explained the complicated history of wizardry to him and I even told him why it was so hard for me to save him. I didn't tell him why it was so hard not to save him. I did blush at the thought.

"I bet your hungry," it was almost dark now and he hadn't eaten anything all day.

"Maybe a little," he stated.

With that I took him into my arms and carried him downstairs to the dining room. I had prepared dinner for us while he was asleep. He picked at his dinner but he really hadn't eaten much, I wasn't much of a nurse but I was worried for him. After dinner I took him back up to his room and he nearly immediately fell back asleep. I stoked the fire in the fireplace and set another log on it. It was the warmest room in my home so I grabbed a few more blankets and made a pallet for myself next to the fire and I too fell asleep.

I awoke to a blood curdling scream. "Vlad, help," Alex screamed.

I groaned but quickly threw my covers off myself and rushed over to where Alex lay in bed. The fire only cast a dim light so I lit a small fire in my hand using my magic. Of course it didn't hurt me. The whole room looked like a small jungle. Saplings grew out of the furniture and walls as did flowers and vines. The vines wound themselves around Alex and in fact seemed to be growing from him. I put out my fire. He whimpered as I gently caressed a vine with my fingers. "Can you feel my touch?" I asked him.

"Yes," he whined.

I had never seen anything like this. He had no practice yet his magic was amazingly powerful yet out of his control. "What do you want me to do?" I questioned.

"Anything, just get them off of me," he pleaded.

I nodded and ran to grab a pair of garden sheers. I brought it back to him, I placed the sheers over one of the vines that was growing from his arm. I looked at Alex for his approval. He nodded and with this I snapped the sheers together and successfully cut the vine from him. This wasn't without a whimper of pain from my new friend. "You okay?" I asked though it seemed like a stupid question.

Alex politely nodded, "please continue."

I did and with each click of the sheers Alex whimpered and began to cry. I couldn't imagine the pain. Eventually, all the vines were gone. "What caused this?" I asked setting the sheers down.

"I think I had a nightmare," Alex stated, it was still dark out, "will you sleep with me tonight."

"I am, I'm just sleeping over there," I pointed to my pallet next to the fire.

"I mean will you sleep in bed with me, you keep me calm," Alex said with a blush.

This made since I had heard of opposite elemental wizards affecting the other in different ways though mostly this was ignored as they preferred to hate each other as to help the other. "Sure," I smiled as I gathered my blankets from the other side of the room.

I then crawled into bed with him. I gently caresses the painful sores on his arms made by the sheers. Soon, we both feel asleep.

The next morning I awoke to Alex's beautiful green eyes. I smiled and not even thinking I kissed him. A millisecond later realizing what I had done I pulled back and sat straight up. I jumped out of bed yelling, "I'm sorry," and then I ran out of the room.

Crap, what have I done!? Alex may never like me now! Wait, does this mean I have a crush on him? My emotions are much too complicated and confusing! I decided that I would take a walk outside. I grabbed a jacket and made my way downstairs. Maybe this would help to clear my head. Upon opening the door I was greeted with a winter wonderland. A thick blanket of snow covered the ground and caused tree branches to hang lower than normal. I took a step forward and heard that satisfying crunch of the snow under my boot. I felt better already. I continued walking for sometime admiring the nature around me. Why did it make me think of Alex? I couldn't get him out of my head and yet I felt better than when I had left the house. Alex was a kind and forgiving guy. He might not like-like me but we could most probably still be friends at least. I was lost in my train of thought when suddenly I was awoken from my trance like state by a small bullet that came flying past my head! That was close. I turned around ready to fight. A group of men, that I recognized from Alex's village, stood firm with rifles pointing at me. I quickly made a wall of fire with a motion of my hand and I ran as fast as I could away from them. The snow slowed my pace and I soon began to run out of energy. Another bullet just missed my head. I made a quick turn around a tree and down a path in hopes of getting out of their rang if only for a little while. I knew this part of the forest well yet the snow seemed to make everything look much different and it was difficult to tell one path from another. I continued to run and every once in awhile I would form a fire wall or shoot a ball of fire at them. I took paths that led away from my home. If that passed by any structures they would send a group to check it for life. Alex would be totally defenseless if they found him, he couldn't walk with his injuries and he didn't know how to use his magic either. Perhaps they caught on to my plan I heard one man order to another, "go back the way we came and check for anything suspicious, I want to find that other witch."

     What should I do now!? A giant abandoned church was hard to miss. I had to get back there and help Alex. It would take lots of energy, something I couldn't afford to waste but if I managed to help Alex it would be worth it. I stoped where I was and turned to face my on coming threat. A bullet penetrated my shoulder and I grimaced, this was all I allowed myself. I made a giant ball of fire and let them get a little closer. I shot, not waiting to see the results, I turned, lastly I created a large fire wall to mask my escape, than I ran as fast as I possibly could. Alex, he was on my mind again, I had to help him, he needed me. Once I got there the door was open.

     I rushed inside and ascended the steps. I opened the door to Alex's room. He was okay, for now, he smiled as he seen me. "Vlad, I lo..." I cut him off mid sentence.

     "Alex, no time for that, were in danger and we need to get out right away," I tucked blankets around him and grabbed my first aid kit, these were necessities, I winced as I grabbed him carrying him in my arms, "people from you village are inside the house right now."

     Alex looked worried but then he seen my bullet wound. He gasped,"Don't worry about me, I'm fine," I assured him.

     "Oh, do worry, be very worried," a voice from behind me said, I turned around trying to shield Alex.

     "Ah, now we have both of you," the other village man laughed.

     Their guns were pointed right at us. I couldn't possibly try to use magic against them now if I so much as moved a muscle they would open fire and kill both of us. I felt something wrap around my waist. It traveled up to my wound and tightly wrapped around it stoping the bleeding. I glanced down to see it was a small green vine. Then the men too became wrapped up in a vine. It forces them to drop their weapons and disabled them completely leaving us free to make our escape. At this I ran out of the room, made a quick decent of the stairs, and exited my home. "Wow, you really saved us back there, Alex, thanks," I stated.

     Alex had wasted no time in helping me with my bullet wound. The vine had gently eased the bullet out and now Alex worked at sterilizing and wrapping it. I nodded in response. As soon as Alex was done he did his best to sit up in my arms and he kissed me. His warm lips pressed against mine, when reality sat in I pressed mine back and held him tightly. His vines wrapped around the both of us as if holding us together. We both pulled away gasping for air. The kiss lasted a few minutes yet it seemed too short of a time. We were both blushing as we stared in to each other's eyes and admitted our love for each other. We had each other. Together we would each get well and teach each other. Nobody could stand between us.