(Imagine her hair just above her shoulders)

A new day began and I had sneaked into the hospital using my magic to see Lydia, though she was still out, I just didn't want to leave her. I owed it to myself and to her that once she wakes, I'm the first person she sees. I had entered the hospital room with Lydia in, my eyes casting to her as she slept soundly. Though she was be in pain for a few days due to the wound but I would be beside her the whole time... I sit on the chair next to the bed, crossing one leg over the other as my gaze was just on her. Her breathing steady and calm, she was a cute sleeper. I smiled softly to myself as I relax back into the chair. Within minutes, the door opens as I swiftly turn around to see Parrish, staring at me, his eyebrow raised in question. 

"What are you doing here?" He had asked curiously.

"I wanted to be the first person she sees when she wakes up. Just so she knows I care," I had replied to Parrish, my eyes flicked back to Lydia and back to Parrish. I held a sheepish smile as it kind of sounds dumb when I said it out loud. "I know it's sounds stupid," I went on waving my hand at him.

"No," he quickly shot back, coming a bit forward, as my eyes glance into his. "No, I think its sweet. That you're here, it means you're loyal and you care," Parrish offers me his God darn cute smile he does. But it fades as I see the cogs turning in his head. "But how did you get in here? No one besides family can come in?" He had asked me, a smirk grew on my face.

"I have my ways deputy," I replied smugly at him as he smiles wider than before. "Anyway, what are you doing here?" I went on, coming closer to him.

"I'm here to gather eyewitness testimony," Parrish states to me as I give him a nod. As this was the main reason he was here, but he also cared about Lydia. But I could tell that something else was playing on his mind. "I want to ask you something?" Parrish spoke after a moment silence, as I see him mess with his fingers as he was acting nervous around me. He was cute to watch. "Can you find out what I am by using your magic?" Parrish asks me, making me look into his beautiful eyes. But the question he asked was a good point, I could go through his mind, maybe find something deep within his subconscious.

"I could but spells like that are complex and tricky," I state to him as he would take my word for it. "There are minor ones that breech your mind, but if you really wanna know what's going on upstairs then more complex spells would be needed. And they're dangerous," I explained to Parrish as he looks kind of gormless at me for a moment.

"Ok. Can you do one of the small ones? To see if you can get anything?" He had asked as he was kind of desperate to know what type of supernatural being he was. He was giving me a pleading look and how could I say no to that face...

"Fine," I huff at him as he was grateful. "The spell I have in mind will only allow me to see pieces. So don't be expecting anything," I told him the truth as it was better like that. I took a few steps closer and my eyes went up slightly as he was taller than me. I extended my arms out and placed my hands at the side of his head. "Relax your mind, open it to me," I had told him. Parrish closes his eyes and began to relax, I see his define muscles begin to loosen. I took a few deep breaths through my nostrils and began to focus...

Suddenly, I had been pulled into a vortex of darkness, just for a brief moment. Just then, my eyes shot open to see I was standing in the woods in Beacon Hills. Then it changed to another part of the woods, like I was being teleported through it. Then the image changed to another part of the woods, until I came to a halt at the Nemeton, in a big clearing. There were dead bodies, like tons piled against the roots, going all the way round. It was like I had stepped into the graveyard but the bodies wasn't buried. I look into the distance to see Parrish carrying another body. Suddenly, the roots of the Nemeton began to burn. I quickly cast my gaze around to see the fire was spreading. My eyes landed back onto the Nemeton, but Parrish was now sat on it and the body in front of him. He sits crossed legged, flames emitting off of his body like he was burning but the flames were under his control. His head down in his hands, but I had no idea what he was doing. I blinked and suddenly I was standing in front of him, on the top of the Nemeton. I began to crouch down and look at him, but his hands on his head had left as he looks up. His glowing orange eyes met me. They were like pools of fire, they were oddly soothing and magnificent to stare at. I extended my hand out slowly to his cheek as he looks at me intently but it wasn't a dark look, it was more of a mesmerised look.

"Parrish?" I questioned carefully, but he didn't say anything as my hand had finally touched his cheek and it was hot... A feeling washed over me when I made contact with him, it was like my stomach had butterflies and my heart fluttered with heat and so did my body... But his face began to inch forward, and I was doing the same, I had no control. We were going to kiss and by the looks of his glowing ember eyes. It was meaningful...

Before our lips had even met, I was jolted back out to the real world as I stumbled a bit back, but Parrish had caught me in his hands. "What happened? What did you see?" Parrish asks quickly as I blink a few times. But as I look into his eyes, all I could see was the burning orange in them, though I know they weren't glowing...

"I saw you, on a tree stump. A body in front of you and bodies around you as the surroundings were on fire," I replied back to him as his eyes widen in shock slightly, as his hands lowered from my shoulders and back to his sides.

"That's my dream," he states, his tone shocked, but I frowned at him as I had no idea what dream he was on about. "While you were away, Lydia and I were testing something. But as we were testing I drifted away, I thought about this dream. I've had it here and there for about six months. Lydia had all ready told me about the Nemeton," Parrish filled me in on the missing parts that I didn't all ready know.

"Whatever you are, it's getting stronger," I replied to Parrish, my mind blown as I have no idea what he is and nor am I getting close too it. But my mind replayed the moment on the Nemeton as Parrish and I nearly kissed... It was so strange, but yet I wouldn't mind it. I had a strange connection to Parrish whatever it was, it was strong. I could feel it within his mind and deep down he felt it too... "I'm gonna get some coffee. You want one?" I went off topic as I needed to a distraction. Parrish shakes his head at me, knowing that he doesn't want one...

I left the room behind, but I turn back for a moment as Parrish grabs a chair and places at the end of Lydia's bed as he was going to put the TV on which was on the wall. Parrish wasn't a bad person, he doesn't have darkness within him...

But maybe it wasn't Parrish who held the darkness within. But the creature he is...

....................................

I had gotten a cup of coffee from the hospital, I made my way back to Lydia's room. I approached the door, as I hear the TV within, but it was fighting movie. I grab hold of the door handle and push it open and closed it behind me as I feel Parrish's eyes on me.

"How is she?" I ask Parrish, my heading nodding to Lydia who was still asleep.

"She's fine," he replies softly. I took a few steps forward as my gaze had turned to the TV then flicked back to Parrish, but I held a smug look on my face.

"Kung Fu? Really?" I had went on, my voice serious but held a joking tone too it.

"It's just the thing that's on," he replies to me, before taking his gaze back to the TV mounted on the wall. I chuckle to myself as I take a sip from my coffee cup. Suddenly, I could hear movement from the bed, making me turn to look at Lydia who was looking up at us.

"What are you both doing here?" She asks, her voice low as she just woken.

"Officially, I'm here to gather eyewitness testimony," Parrish began his gaze on Lydia.

"And I'm here to check up on you," I stated as I stood to the side of Parrish who was sat. I give her a soft warm smile as she gave one back, approaching it.

"Unofficially, I'm trying to find something to watch. But the only thing that comes in is this kung fu movie," Parrish states taking his gaze from Lydia to the TV. A moment later, he turns his gaze back to Lydia. "You like kung fu movies?" Parrish asks Lydia, who's eyes just stare at him.

"Do you know how to do that?" Lydia asks, thought it was a strange question to ask.

"I know a little jujitsu... In the army, they taught us CQC, Close Quarters Combat," Parrish states giving us a little information into his army days.

"Can you teach me?" Lydia had asked, making me frown at her, I opened my mouth but quickly shut it as I bit my tongue as I decided against it.

"You want to learn jujitsu? Hand-to-hand?" Parrish raised his eyebrow at her.

"I want to learn how to fight. Can you teach me?" Lydia asks him but she sounds in the mindset of this and no one was going to change her mind.

"Yeah. I can teach you," Parrish replied softly to her, as Lydia's eyes finally met mine as she was waiting for me to say something because she knows I have an opinion on this. 

"If you wanna learn how to fight, I'm not gonna stop you," I began as I held my hands up to her. "But you forget I've lived nearly four-hundred-years, I know how to fight. So, I'l help as well," my gaze flickered between Lydia and Parrish. "It'll be a team effort," I chuckled at them as they smiled at me. I walk forward to the side of the bed, placing the coffee down on the side-table, as I sat on the edge of the bed, facing Lydia, my back to Parrish. "I'm so sorry I couldn't heal you properly. I feel so bad and like I'm the one to blame for you being in here," my voice was weak as I took her hand into mine.

"You're not the one who put me here, Alice," Lydia began her voice soft and caring. "But I'm glad you are here now," she smiles gently at me, as she leans forward and we both embrace one another...

Though Allison was gone, Lydia was my best friend and I couldn't let her die on my watch. Not like Allison...