May, 2019

When I walked through the door that evening, my nose was immediately filled by a sweet scent. A scowl adorned my face before I had even kicked my shoes off.

"Why are you here?" I started to growl as I rounded the corner into the kitchen. I was quick to busy myself in the pantry, throwing a couple of blood pills into my mouth in the hopes to quell the mouth-watering desire to sink my teeth into the knowingly poisoned apple.

"Hello to you, too," Erica responded instead of her, causing my eyes to finally fall on the silent figure in the room.

Copper brows pinched together in worry, her green eyes averted as our gazes met, her teeth snagging that bottom lip again, making me want to cross the room and yank it out, demanding she stopped doing that. That she stopped being so her.

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay," Olivia finally mumbled, her voice like acidic music in the air, begging me to step closer, though making my heart throb in painful echoes as the memory of her leaving caught up with my mind.

Emma's words started to ring in my ears as the sides within me—the one that wanted to shake her and scream at her and demand why she wasn't as miserable as me and the other that wanted to forgive her—battled. "Well, you've checked. I'm fine. Now leave," I forced through clenched teeth in the end.

"Lukas!" Erica then scolded, stepping closer to me as shock spread across her face. I didn't need to ask; I knew Ri was upset by how I was treating Olivia. It was quite unlike me.

Though I couldn't help myself. I needed time. I needed space. I needed to process what her being back meant and how I really felt about it.

Stopping Erica short from berating me was Olivia's hand grabbing her arm.

Ri warily watched the red-haired fairy as she rounded her, coming closer to me, eyes hesitantly meeting mine. "Do you think I buy your lie that you're okay? It's clear you're not."

Squaring my shoulders at the small woman who seemed to only be approaching me from a state of concern, I unfairly grumbled back, "Seems you need an eye-check, Olivia, because you're seeing things. I'm fine. Perfect, in fact. Did you think you being here would make me not?"

Her head cocked to the side, eyes narrowing slightly as she took me in, clearly seeing through my ruse. "I never said that I thought I was the problem. It seems like something else is troubling you, based on how you took off when I mentioned Emma."

Before I could think of a retort, this time Erica interjected. "Emma? You know her?"

Olivia glanced the witch's way, confusion once again marring her face—that same look that consumed the fairy when I reacted so brusquely a few hours ago before taking off to see Emma. "Do you all know her?"

Ri scoffed in response. "Know her?" But as she glanced at me and saw my look that could kill, she turned her amusement into a cough before forcing out the blatant lie of, "She's a mutant. We were bound to run into her at some point, so of course we've all met."

But then Olivia turned back on me. "And how do you know her?"

"Same thing," I mumbled. It was now my time to avoid eye contact as her piercing green gaze picked my reactions apart. "We... ran into her one day while fighting Mades, and she immediately joined us in hunting them."

The room fell eerily quiet for a few beats of my heart—and of Erica's wary one, and Olivia's clearly untrusting one—though eventually she whispered, "I see."

I resisted every urge in me to confirm whether she bought the lie. I was trying to tell myself I didn't care what she thought... but evidently I did, otherwise why was I already lying to Olivia about my relationship with Emma?

Was it that I didn't want her to know anything about me anymore because I hated her that much?

Was it the part of me that remembered the start of us—the Olivia who was mine—not wanting to hurt any part of her that might still care about me?

Or was it another part of me that was becoming ever more prominent that I was scared she didn't care? That if I told her I had moved on... she'd be happy for me.

I shook that thought immediately, stuffing it into my 'I don't have time to analyse this feeling' drawer and finally opening my mouth to break the tension that had built in the air since our conversation ran to a dead stop. "Anyway," I said, raising my gaze slightly, but fixating on her forehead rather than meeting her eyes, "I'd appreciate it if, while you're here, we keep our distance. I don't have anything to say to you and definitely don't need your drama again."

Before Erica could scold me some more and before I could see if my words in any way impacted Olivia, I took off out of the room as fast as I could—without seeming like I was running away, even though I totally was—and beelined for my room, tucking myself away. Heading straight for my bed, I pulled out my phone and tried desperately not to listen in as Erica reassured Olivia that I'd 'come around' and 'needed time'. While she was right on the latter... would I come around? Would I ever be able to forgive Olivia for breaking me as much as she did?

Or were there only so many times a person could be broken before they could never be put back together again?

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

Weekly meetings were still a reoccurring thing, starting ever since the first Made turned up in London back in December last year. Us mutants flocked together at the high school every Friday evening to discuss the situation and explore any new strategies. But beyond ways to pin them down, beyond piercing their heart or feeding them Terra Fairy blood, we were all still at a loss. They were spreading faster than any of us could wipe them out, and these meetings ended up turning into airing our grievances and growing frustration rather than any form of plan to win this war.

Making this particular meeting worse than others though was when Emma walked on in. Our eyes locked across the way and we shared a brief smile—though all ambiability was quickly gone when entering the old, towering library doors right on her heel was Olivia.

The air once more filled with that familiar fiery fury that seemed to envelop me whenever she was near.

And as Emma whispered as quietly as she could—though not quiet enough for me to not catch it—"Give him time," my nostrils flared and I turned my head away instantly.

Because lurking behind Olivia's eyes was that apologetic look once more, one that was etched on her face when she glanced at Emma too... as if Emma had told her the truth about what happened between us.

Doing my best to pretend she wasn't there,  I tried to concentrate my attention instead on our issue at hand: the Mades terrorising human life by killing them or growing their army. But the odds were against me as one of the high school's Professors—who had self-appointed himself as the leader of this quest to get rid of the Mades—went on delighted about having two Terra Fairies join our ranks.

Though his joy and the optimism of the others quickly dissipated as Olivia mumbled apologies for not being of help yet after explaining that she still hadn't killed a Made, leaving still Emma our only hope.

"It's only been a few days," Emma said as she pulled the sulky copper-haired fairy aside. "Killing a Made is no easy task on the soul. You'll get there."

"But I came here to help and I've done nothing so far," Olivia mumbled back to her as they sat down at a bench in the back of the library. "We are designed to kill vampires who are ruining the balance or harming humans, and I can't even—"

"Vampires," Emma interrupted. "We are designed to kill vampires. The normal ones with free will who know perfectly well what they are doing and were born vampires. The ones who go overboard with their power and knowingly harm others—like Rüdiger. Which, from what I heard, you had no hesitation to jump at. What we are not designed to do is kill humans who were unwillingly turned into Made Vampires and lack any sense or reason. It makes perfect sense that your conscience is battling within you, knowing they were once human."

"But you said you killed the first Made you saw."

"It's easier for me. I saw a blood-thirsty monster who had just drained a woman dry, and that's all I've ever seen."

"But that's all I've been seeing when we've gone patrolling and find one. They're either hunting a human or us, and—"

"And you went to the lab where they were being designed, Ollie."

Great, I thought. They're on a nickname basis already.

"You've seen the different stages as a human transforms into what we find. Give yourself some slack for not being able to shake that memory from your mind. Besides, there's other ways you can help. We could always do blood extractions and arm the witches, sirens, and shapeshifters with something that will kill them. That will expand our strength if we can have more mutants other than us and the vampires taking them out, considering we are the only ones able to defend ourselves against them."

Olivia heaved a sigh, her attention now fixating on something on her hand, which, knowing her, was probably a fraying cuticle she was now picking at. "There's got to be some other way though. Something other than killing them... They were made. It's a disease... Surely it can be cured?"

Emma shrugged in response. "I suppose if we could actually capture one without it trying to kill us, we could study it. But that mission alone would be difficult."

I tuned out of their conversation, now distracted by the idea they had mentioned: capturing a Made. It's not that we hadn't tried before. We knew studying them to find a cure would be the more humane option. 

But trying to capture a Made and hold them still long enough to get blood has almost seen some of the others get bitten—and while we've learned vampires and Terra fairies are immune, we didn't want to know how it would affect a witch. Because a Made with magic... that would be the final straw that would see the humans become fully aware of the mutants hidden in their midst, only cementing the Dracula theories circulating through the conspiracy theorists and believers. And then we'd definitely have a human-led witch hunt on our hands.

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

June, 2019

When I awoke Saturday, Olivia's suggestion to study the Mades was still circulating in my head as I showered and got ready. I had barely gotten any sleep thanks to the thought, planning ways to capture a Made so that we could harvest its blood and study its makeup.

My final plan would involve a fairy as bait.

They'd lure a Made with their sweet blood into a dead-end alley—one with a sewer or a building that we had access to right nearby.

A few vampires would have to be waiting, ready to capture it.

And just as the Made goes to make its kill of the Fairy and is distracted by its hunt, we all pin it down and drag it down the sewer or into the building where we chain it up and finally get some of its blood for testing.

Though the moment I had concocted the plan and thought of pitching it to Emma, I could already hear her response: "And risk it escaping and killing more humans? Or, worse, hurting someone we know? It's too risky, Lukas."

Which meant I had only one other Fairy I could rope in... and she was the most likely to say yes given her state of desperateness yesterday. My plan had many plot holes, as they always did, but if she was still anything like the Olivia I once knew, she'd hear me out and work on refining the plan, helping me research other ways to stamp out things that could go wrong.

Adding to my chances of convincing her was her current vulnerability to my hostility. Going along with this would put us on speaking terms, and she might be more inclined to say yes if it meant any chance of us rekindling our friendship.

So as I stepped out of the house that warm June morning, the air muggy and threatening of another hotspell on the way, I took off with haste towards the siren's house. If this plan were to work at all, it would have to happen quickly and quietly. Under no circumstance could anyone—specifically Emma or Erica—hear of it before Olivia and I had a chance to flesh it out... or before Olivia became hooked on helping me like she did last time with my uncle. Even that plan to wipe him out was an impossible mission. But together, we achieved it, despite the odds... and despite the losses.

Though it was that thought that had my hopeful step slowing down.

How much has Olivia changed since she left? I began to wonder. How much has losing Ben impeded her trust in me?

Then, rushing right back in, was the memories.

"There's no getting over what my actions have done," Olivia's past words rang in my ear.

But this is different, I argued back at the thought. Time has passed, and so many lives are at stake... Besides, this time we won't have our emotions getting in the way of our judgement. No one will get hurt if we really, thoroughly plan it.

With that in my mind and my conviction strong again, I continued marching through the suburb, dodging every thought that tried to sway me from the path towards the Siren's house, almost chanting, If we plan this right, no one will get hurt. We can do better this time. We took out my uncle for crying out loud... surely we can stop these Mades. It's either keep killing the turned humans or find a cure, and surely Olivia will try whatever to avoid more death on her hands.

I pushed open the front door to the pink and tasselled house, my pitch now repeating in my head as I tried to remember its order and how to phrase it right so that she'd agree.

Determined to get it out without any more distractions, I headed right past Faye and Serena who tried to greet me on my way in, instead walking right for the basement.

I was so fixated on reaching her that their words echoing behind me only hit as I swung open Olivia's door.

"She's not here," caught up with me as my eyes swept the room. It was still decorated to reflect her style and tastes. Her suitcase still sat wedged in the corner. Some of her clothes hung in the open-wardrobe.

But it was overly neat and absent of the fairy in question.

Pivoting on my heel, I took the stairs two at a time, this time heading straight towards the sirens. "Is she out again with Emma?" I questioned immediately.

Faye's face fell into an unamused expression, clearly not liking my lack of civilities these days. But ever since her and Ri broke up, my ability to offer Faye any politeness was long gone.

"I'm getting really tired of you barging in here and demanding things," Faye gave me back, crossing her arms over her chest as her eyes narrowed further.

Meanwhile, Serena's eyes had blown wide, clearly not echoing our lack of cordiality but not wanting to cross Faye.

"And I'm getting really tired of how you treat people," I countered.

"How I treat people? My gosh, Lukas... have you somehow formed that vampire stereotype where you can no longer see your own reflection in the mirror? Or is your ego just too big for that head of yours?"

"My ego?" I rebutted. "Don't even try to call me a hypocrite when you destroyed Erica because you didn't want to make it work with her and you hid the fact that Olivia was back from the both of us for over two weeks. If anyone here is—"

"I was protecting Olivia, thank you very much."

"Protecting?" I repeated. "From being with her friends again?"

Faye scoffed in response. "So you call this," her hand waved between us then around us, as if it explained anything, "Being her friend?" Seeming to realise her gesture wasn't clear enough, she went on with, "Being the biggest dick possible and like she was your uncle reincarnated is being her friend? I feel so sorry for anyone who is your friend, Lukas."

"I meant Erica, not me. Haven't you hurt her enough?"

The siren's facade faltered momentarily. But once she collected herself, she said, "I didn't mean to hurt Ri by not telling her. But I knew if I did, you would find out."

"I deserved to at least know."

"Did you? Because I still wish you didn't. At least Ollie would feel less guilty about having returned, rather than convincing herself she was messing everything up again."

"Well, the truth of the matter is, if she hadn't come back, Emma probably wouldn't have broken up with me. And I can't sugarcoat that."

"If your relationship depended on a person not being nearby, then I guarantee you that the ghosts of your past would eventually break your relationship anyway. Ollie being here only accelerated that if she really was the determining factor of why Emma left you. But, to be honest, I don't blame her. You're an absolutely, entitled tosser!"

"Okay, okay!" Serena finally cut us off. "Enough with you two bickering. You're both jerks in your own way, alright? But rather than going back and forth and saying terrible things to each other..." The blonde-haired mermaid turned to me. "Why are you looking for her, Lukas?"

"I need to speak to her."

"Why?" Faye cut Serena off before she could speak again. "So you can insult her some more? Make her feel more worthless? Make her—"

"Would you just stop already?" Serena barked, anger washing over the normally timid girl. Her brows had pinched together, all friendliness depleting from her face. "He will sooner be gone if you stop bickering."

Faye couldn't help but let out an annoyed grunt. But she complied with the Siren's request, crossing her arms once again over her chest and tilting her chin away from me as her teeth gritted together.

"Why do you need to speak to her?" Serena then asked me once she was sure Faye would be silent.

I watched the shark from the corner of my eye, weighing up my words this time before I spoke them in case she snapped again. "I just... do. But I swear it's not to upset her this time. I... want to work with her. Help her with... getting rid of the Mades."

Faye's dagger-like eyes were back on me, evidently hearing there were layers beneath what I was saying. But I was still set on the fact that Olivia had to be the first to hear my plan if it was to succeed.

Serena let out a sigh, nodding as I glanced back at her. "Very well. We will let you see her, but you will have to wait until she's back, which should be on Monday—"

"Back?" I cut her off. "Monday? Where has she gone?"

The girls shared a glance, Faye clearly warning Serena to not say too much. Which was why Serena turned back to me and said, "She's gone to deal with some things over the weekend."

"What things?"

"You don't get to ask that," Faye cut Serena off again.

"Perhaps I don't," I growled back at her before looking to Serena again, wary of how they were holding themselves... like they didn't quite like whatever Olivia was up to. "But given that you two are so reluctant to give me any inkling of what it may be, I can't help but wonder exactly what has you both on edge about the thought of her not being here."

"Who says we're on e—" Faye started to retort.

But then Serena blurted, "She's gone to get her memories back."

"Her... memories?"

Faye whacked Serena on the arm, eyes wide in disbelief that she had caved.

My head cocked slightly as I watched the silent stare off between the two, my gut starting to churn with anxiety. Because... if Olivia wanted her memories back, I was the one to ask. I took them.

Well... most of them.

Which had me asking, "Which memories?"

Faye heaved a sigh, evidently having lost the staring match with Serena where she clearly pleaded for help. It seemed the two were also at odds about Olivia's sudden holiday. Which, if this was going where I thought, I understood.

"The ones your mother took from her," Faye let me know.

I blinked once.

Then twice.

The words slowly sank into my brain, my emotions taking a moment to catch up.

"You mean to say... this location where Olivia has headed off to... is Windeck?" I finally managed to force through gritted teeth, trying to keep my tone as steady as I could.

"She insisted she'd be fine," Serena was quick to prattle in my silence. "Faye and I told her it's not a good idea, but she said Rüdiger is gone and she's been doing some training, so she..."

But whatever other explanation Serena had got lost, her words running out as she shrunk down at the sight of my quickly clenching fists, flaring nostrils, and rapidly narrowing eyes. "Why—and I cannot possibly phrase this more kindly—the fuck would you not chain her up in the basement and alert everyone of that hair-brained idea?"

"She was sure she'd be fine," Serena squeaked. Even Faye had gone silent, evidently feeling swamped with guilt about this one.

"Fine? In the place where these fucking Mades were invented? Where my uncle's followers still live? Where Ben died? Fine?" I took a deep breath, trying to not explode at them or give any reason for them to not cooperate with me further as I delved for information. With closed eyes and a slightly steadier voice, I then forced out, "At least tell me Emma or Erica went with her."

Though, when no response came, my eyes flew open.

Serena's head had dropped to the floor.

Faye's lips had pressed into a tight line.

"You let her go alone?"

"She didn't want us to tell anyone," Faye mumbled.

"You got on your high horse about protecting her from me, but let her wander off into a death trap? The very person who killed the scientists' leader? Are you fucking insane?" I finally snapped.

"I still stand with my decision to not tell you she was b—" Faye began to say.

But I didn't have time for that argument anymore. "When did she leave?" I demanded, cutting her off.

Faye clamped her mouth shut in response, not giving me anything.

"When did she leave?" I growled again, taking a step closer. "And you better fucking tell me if you care about her. Because if she goes there alone... if she gets there before I do, you might not have Olivia anymore."

Faye tried to stand her ground with me, her head tilted upwards, her eyes mirroring my challenging gaze as she kept her mouth clamped shut.

But Serena caved at my words, thankfully. "She left about an hour ago. St. Pancras Station. Her train to Brussels leaves at 11, and then she has a connecting train to Frankfurt at 2, and from there to Windeck at about 6."

"Thank you," I forced out as I glanced at Serena.

Then, before they could say anything further or try to stop me, I took off. As fast as I could, I ran for the station, hoping, praying, that this time I'd make it in time to stop her.

So sorry this is a little late! The fatigue from my first trimester has returned in this third one. 

Let me know in the comments whether you think Lukas will reach her in time.