✧

Mia sits up from her bed in a loud gasp. Her chest heaves uncontrollably, cold sweat drips down her forehead, and every part of her is trembling with the force of an earthquake. She glances beside her, hoping to find the safety of Edward's presence, but instead finds the solitude and darkness as her companion.

There's no one but her in this void and it's making every fiber of her fill with a terrible sense of foreboding. Her sudden nerves aren't getting any better when hearing a grandfather clock chiming from downstairs.

She takes a deep breath and slides over the edge of her bed. Her feet dangle for mere moments in deliberation, deciding if leaving the confines of her bedroom would be the most proper. Staying would be reasonable, but the need to know what's happening keeps gnawing at her like pricking needles.

The floorboards creak with every step that she becomes afraid they might break at any second. She swallows harshly and ignores the ominous feeling haunting her like a poltergeist. The halls are vacant and extremely dim due to the only light available being a small candle, allowing her shadow to loom over her shoulders like a bandit.

Cautiously, Mia places her hand against the wooden railing and reluctantly walks down. The chiming gets louder and its speed gets increasingly faster. The candlelight starts flickering until coming to an abrupt stop, leaving her in the pitch darkness with only the piercing chimes as her partner.

She wishes to have obtained her wand as lumos would surely become her savior at this moment. Any source of illumination would be better than standing in this obscurity where anything or anyone can attack her. Even if she's certain this is a dream, it doesn't change how much more petrifying it would make this.

Out of nowhere, the chiming comes to an abrupt stop. An ominous silence is left behind, allowing her pounding heartbeat to fill her eardrums and echo throughout her body. Her nails start digging deep into her palm as she tries breathing quieter and much steadier, afraid the smallest sound could end in her demise.

Mia moves closer to the clock, but instead of finding numbers and minute hands, there's a strange figure in the shape of a colossal skull. It's the same one that's haunted her for years, the one she has nightmares of obtaining, the one that aches her when fearing it would become a part of her. It's the mark of the end of times, the end of her life, and that enough makes her take a few steps back.

"Mia."

An unfamiliar voice sends goosebumps trailing down her skin. She freezes in her tracks as something about that voice makes her feel like the world is about to end, like the universe has come to its destruction, and like the moon has floated to another dimension.

Hesitantly, Mia turns to the face the person this voice belongs to. She knows better than to hide like a coward and despite everything telling her that running away would be better, she chooses to take a stand and face the figure.

Standing in front of her is him. The person she never thought she'd see again and it might sound strange, but he looks different from the last time she saw him. In her previous dream, he had been wearing a refined black suit and now, his clothing has been replaced by a prisoner's jumpsuit. His hair is a dark mess, disheveled and filled with knots, but his eyes are a completely different story. Their blue color is piercing and burning her with every second that goes by.

Her father, Dimitri Grey, stands with his head slightly tilted as he observes her with an ominous smile. The dark mark dances along his forearm like it's been awakened and its shape appears to be rising with every minute. He stares at her like he's considering his next move, wondering what would happen if he takes a step closer.

Mia clenches her jaw and tightens her fists as something is telling her this isn't a dream. This is something more and based on his worn down appearance, his presence must be his actual appearance on what he looks like now.

"What do you want?"

Dimitri forms a low chuckle as his lifeless eyes stare into her soul, "Is that how you talk to your father after all this time?"

She remains neutral despite the storm gathering inside, "I asked you a question. What are you doing here?"

He takes a step closer, expecting her to move back, but he's surprised when she stays in place appearing like he's nothing but a stranger, "I'm here for you. A girl needs her father."

"Not if he's you," she tries controlling her racing heart, but despite not wanting to be afraid of the monster standing before her, she's back to being that frightened little girl listening to the stories of one of the most dangerous wizards. "Answer me. What are you doing here?"

Dimitri doesn't move a muscle. He remains standing with a nonchalant expression that becomes replaced by a terrifying smile. It's enough to make her nerves burn at his penetrating stare, enough to make her soul feel like it's been locked in the gates of hell, and for the first time, she feels hopeless. She feels like no matter what she does to escape her destiny, as long as he's in her life, she would never have a moment of peace.

His voice is low and strident, "You're just like I dreamed you'd be."

Those words make her blood boil as if there's one thing she's certain about is not wanting to meet her father's expectations. She wants to be the opposite of him, to be his disappointment, to put him to shame, but his admiring and proud words are making her afraid that she's slowly becoming into him without being aware of it.

"I see my reflection in your eyes."

"I'm nothing like you," Mia argues, her voice becoming louder and more intense. "And I never will be."

Dimitri stands with a stance so high and mighty. Her words inflict shame in him seeing as she's refusing to give in to her true nature – becoming like him. It's burned in her DNA and escaping from written fate would be foolish of her.

"I used to say that to my father, but I soon realized that he was right," he comes closer and she's unable to prevent from taking a step back. "When you feel the power in your hands and see everyone admiring you for it, everything you once believed in vanishes. This mark is your ticket to prosperity, to freedom, to ecstasy. You just have to give in, my daughter."

The sudden feeling of fire on her forearm gathers her attention. She glances down and her heart drops when seeing black ink start spreading like a curse. Through every movement, the blazing sensation continues coursing throughout her body. The ink feels like acid being injected into her blood, slowly but surely, becoming a part of her with no form of escape.

"What are you doing?!" she yells, her knees crashing to the ground in unbearable agony.

Dimitri strides a couple steps closer, considering the girl in front of him. Like a curious spectator, he pauses in front of her to admire the scene unfolding.

Mia tries preventing the mark from expanding, but not with all the spells in the world does the black ink vanish. Surrendering would be a viable option, but accepting her defeat would grant him the satisfaction of witnessing her untimely demise.

"All color will fade to grey," Dimitri kneels down in front of her and delicately raises her chin so she'd look at him. "You will see that very soon, my daughter."

Before getting the chance to say anything, the walls around them come tumbling down like an avalanche. The floor starts parting and despite her attempts at running off, an invisible force keeps her trapped in place. Everything around her begins fading as if a spell had been washing it all away. The only thing keeping her steady is the floor underneath her that starts cracking into a perfect circle.

She tries screaming and moving somewhere safer, but her wishes never see the light of day when the last part of the puzzle comes tumbling down. Her legs and arms flail in an attempt to hold on to anything, but all around her is nothing but complete darkness. Her screams are muffled and nothing but a flash of green hangs at the top – a sign of an impending demise approaching her. She closes her eyes and waits for the end, but instead of the ground slamming her body, the sensation of her bed awakens her in a loud gasp.

Sure enough, Edward is laying beside her with his arm around her. He becomes adorned with concern when noticing her distress and her face having turned as pale as a banshee. "What's wrong, love? Are you okay?"

Mia glances down at her forearm, praying the mark is no longer there. When seeing there's nothing, she takes a breath of relief and runs her hands through her hair. She has had dreams before that felt vivid, but never to this magnitude. This dream felt different and the fact that her father was wearing a prisoner's outfit makes her believe he found some way to contact her.

Could he be warning her that he's coming? Or that her end is about to come?

It can't be. He's locked away in Azkaban and escaping from a highly secured prison is unlikely. Unless you're Sirius Black, once you're sentenced to life, you would never see the light of day.

"I-" she swallows hard, her breaths becoming restless and heavier. "I saw my dad and he- he placed the mark on me."

Edward holds her in a tight embrace. He cradles the back of her head and lands a kiss to her temple, "It was just a nightmare. It's not real, okay? He won't ever hurt you."

His words are slow and reassuring, and usually she would be comforted, but something about this feels off. She can't shake the unease coursing through her system. A terrible tightness is laying on her chest and her shoulders feel like they're carrying the world.

This is the same feeling she gets whenever something terrible is about to happen. This nightmare doesn't feel like a product of her mind, but something that actually happened. Her feeling is never wrong as she's always had the events to prove it. Take the third task and the winter dance as an example. She's always been right and it's terrifying knowing something is bound to happen and she won't be able to prevent it.

"I think he's coming for me," her voice is low and shaky and she's unable to prevent tears from welling up. "And I- I won't be able to escape what's meant for me. I- I can't be like him!"

Her anxiety becomes greater by allowing the storm in her mind to develop into a category five hurricane. Instant dread and trepidation is felt at the fact that one of her attacks is happening again after months of being free from them.

She shuts her eyes tightly, counting to ten and breathing in and out. Her hand clutches onto her heart like it's her lifeline as her mind continues racing like a runner running a marathon. She tries shielding her muffled cries, but nothing seems to be working. Everything is fading into an undistinguishable mess she's afraid of never escaping. That is until the feeling of Edward's arm getting tighter around her sends an electric current that awakens her from her abysmal pit.

His refreshing touch relieves her like the first sip of cold water on a hot summer day, like the first ray of light after days of thunderstorms, and the first breath of fresh air after swimming under the ocean's depths for too long. His caress revitalizes her and offers a source of alleviation that in a matter of moments, her heart slowly starts rekindling its steady rhythm.

He cups her face and gently turns her to face him. His voice is low and solidifying when he says, "You're not him and you will never be him. The fact that you're afraid just shows you're good."

Mia closes her eyes, their foreheads now pressing against the other. She struggles in believing him even though she wants to, but the fear of becoming like her father keeps nagging at her. This fear has injected itself like a plague. She's felt this terror for the longest that it's impossible believing the opposite. If her mother believes evil runs through her veins, how can't she?

"I don't want to be a monster," she whispers.

Edward places his hand to the side of her head while the other on her cheek. He's filled with disdain at those that helped impose this fear and made it worsen over time, because how can anyone believe she would be capable of the worst? Seeing the unbearable pain this brings her makes him want to set the world on fire and make everyone responsible pay for planting these turmoils.

"And you never will be," he assures her. "I know when someone's heart is full of darkness and yours definitely isn't."

Hearing these words coming from her person creates a blanket of serenity to embrace her. She trusts him and if he believes there's good in her, she might just choose to believe that escaping fate is possible.

"I promise I will do everything I can to keep you safe," he brushes his thumb against her cheek and reaches for her hand. "Nothing will happen to you. I'll make sure of it."

Mia's trembling subsides and despite this feeling wanting to continue piercing her, she dwells on his words in refusal to let it affect her life. She has her morals straight and if the time comes to face her greatest fear, she would welcome death like an old friend as anything would be better than becoming chained to perdition.

She closes her eyes and holds him tighter, refusing to let this nightmare ruin the life she's building. Now that she and Edward are together, she doesn't intend on worrying about the future as the present is all that matters. She knows that as long as he's here, nothing could go wrong.

She trusts him and there isn't anything that he could ever do to change how she feels. Nothing.

__________________

"Prom themes already?" Jessica incredulously asks while staring at the ballot in hand. "We just came back from holiday break and already they want us to think of this?"

Mike gapes at her with widened eyes, "Since when are you complaining about a dance?"

"I say the Monte Carlo theme is the best one," Eric interrupts and hands more ballots to a few bypassers. He brings out his pen and makes his selection, not before turning to the others to make sure they're choosing it as well.

"I'm choosing A Midsummer Night's Dream. We need something romantic," Angela says, which makes the guys groan in complaint. "What? You had the masquerade theme, so let us have this one."

"That is if everyone votes on it," Bella chooses her selection despite having no intentions of attending. After learning two of her friends are a witch and a vampire and that nothing in her world is as dull as she believed, it's safe to say attending another dance is out of the question.

"I'm going with Angela's idea as well," Jessica makes her choice and hands them to Eric, who's in charge of securing the ballots and making sure the votes are properly counted.

Angela smiles at receiving their support and brings her camera out to take a few shots, but the sound of an engine revving in the background catches her attention. With a delighted smile, she brings the lens down at the sight, "Oh, my God."

Edward walks out from his Volvo wearing sunglasses and that charming smile of his. He opens the passenger door, revealing his companion to be Mia. Right away, she notices all the attention being received and how much they're staring at their locked hands.

"Look at them. They're holding hands," Mike stares at the couple in disbelief, but focuses more on Edward with such a grating look. "I really hate that damned Cullen."

Mia was well aware of all the attention they would receive. Before the holiday break, they were just friends and now they're together. It wouldn't be a massive surprise if this had been anyone, but since it's none other than Edward Cullen – the person who never deemed anyone worthy of dating – of course everyone was going to look.

"Everyone keeps staring," she presses her lips into a tight line to refrain from laughing at their astonished spectators.

Edward moves his hand down to her waist to pull her closer, not bothering to care for anyone other than her. Despite everyone's thoughts being louder than usual, he couldn't care less for them as all that matters is finally getting to be with his person.

"Not that guy," he points out, but changes his statement when receiving his attention. "No wait, he just looked."

She softly laughs, "Looks like we might have set the world on fire."

"Well, it's preparation since I'm going to hell anyway."

"At least we'll be burning together," she jokes, making him turn to her with a bewildered look. "You know, because I'm a witch, so technically that means I'll be going to hell. Well, that was the case according to the Puritans."

"Looks like someone did their history homework."

"You know me. I'm determined to be the smartest person there is," she boastfully says.

Edward smiles and shakes his head, "You're already the smartest person to exist."

"You're just flattering me because we're together," she glances up at him through her eyelashes. "But you're right. I am pretty smart."

Not even halfway to the entrance, they're blocked by their friends with the exception of Mike, who just stands sulking a couple feet back.

"Since when did you two become a thing?" Jessica questions excitedly with the biggest smile on her face. "Tell us everything."

Mia deliberates on what to say as she really doesn't want to discuss something private, "It just... happened. I guess we really got into the holiday spirit."

"I knew there was something between you two," Angela excitedly admits as she takes a picture of them. 

"I called it from the very beginning," Eric boastfully tugs at the collar of his jacket, priding himself for being right in his suspicions.

Bella agrees, "I knew it ever since Halloween. It feels so good to be right."

Each of them (with the exception of Mike) start expressing their joy and pride in being right all this time. However, the bell soon rings, officially putting an end to the conversation.

"Call me later and we'll talk more," Jessica tells her and Mia nods with a smile, relieved no more questioning would be done for the rest of the school day. Well, at least until getting home.

Bella starts heading inside, but stops shortly to glance back at them with a smile, "I'm really happy for you guys. It's about time you went for it."

And just like that, the latter are left behind with nothing but silence and running thoughts.

Mia parts her lips to speak, but the blaring sound of thunder and the skies darkening captivate her attention. It's not anything unusual in this small town, but her heart suddenly starts pounding against her chest and everything feels like it's caving in, almost like the world is turning into a blur but also moving in a relatively hastily way to her.

"What is that?!"

A girl's panicked voice makes the pair follow her line of sight and right when they see what she's pointing at, they come to realize that the feeling had been right.

In the obscure sky, a figure is showcased like a still life painting. When following its curvatures, it becomes recognizable that it's none other than a skull with a serpent slithering from its mouth like a tongue. The figure rises more with every second with a vibrant green illuminating the shadows from below. Its haze is entrancing and equally terrifying; a representation of an inevitable tragedy about to strike.

The mark remains imprinted in the sky like a new cloud. It captivates everyone's attention, making them question how mother nature could have created such a phenomenon, but this wasn't mother nature's action. This was a death eater's mark; the one left behind whenever they attacked or recently murdered someone.

Mia used to value the importance of remaining in ignorance. Closed eyes to the peculiarities of the world and living normally used to be something she desired. Now as she's watching everyone gaze at the sky like it's something remarkable, she realizes ignorance isn't bliss.

It's a curse.

If they knew the true meaning behind this mark, they would be terrified for themselves and their families – not staring like it's a glorious masterpiece.

Mia tries looking away, but her body is left frozen like a sculpture. She's only ever seen this mark in person once and it had been at the Quidditch World Cup. Nothing good came after that, so it's safe to assume the worst is yet to come.

"Is that-"

Flashing red and blue lights come into view, followed by the strident sound of sirens and rushing police cars. About five are speeding in the direction of the town just where the mark is hovering above.

Mia's unsure of what to do, but what she's aware of is that staying would be the worst possible mistake. She needs to obtain answers and the only person who can give them is her mother. If she asks anyone at the station, they're just bound to dismiss what happened like any crime, but Isobel would be honest and give her the proper details.

"We have to go to the station."

Edward doesn't think twice in following her into the car. He's about to take the driver's side, but he's caught off guard when she sits herself in his spot. She extends her hand and gestures for the keys, and knowing it's of no use arguing with her, he hands them to her and heads to the passenger side.

Mia starts the engine and drives out the parking lot at an erratic speed. She detests seeing her classmates staring at the sky like it's something to be admired. Their cameras taking shots of it are tempting her to destroy their devices. This is something that shouldn't be photographed and remembered. It deserves to be casted into oblivion and not given any attention, but of course, their ignorance protects them and that offers her a tinge of comfort.

Inexplicably, she starts thinking of her nightmare and the words her father told her. All color will fade to grey. The agonizing pain of the mark on her forearm is felt again and despite her rationality telling her that this is just a coincidence and in no way a connection, she chooses to believe the worst.

Since death eaters found her, it was only bound for them to wreck mayhem all in means of achieving their goal – capturing her. She tightens her grip on the steering wheel and makes a sharp turn past the winding roads, ignoring Edward asking her to slow down, but it only makes her accelerate even more. She needs to know what's happening and her mother is the only one with the answers.

The drive is suddenly cut short when noticing the road is closed off. Various cops and coroners wander the area, asking the drivers to turn the other way. From the opposite side, she notices a news' van and a few reporters managing to sneak in.

Charlie and Carlisle are seen walking past the scene away from the news outlet. Mia glances at Edward and with just one look, they know what to do. She reverses the car and parks it a little far from the scene. Once the vehicle is out of sight, they hop off and start heading to the scene.

Carlisle takes notice of them and hastily separates from the chief. He peers through his shoulder, making sure Charlie isn't following before addressing them, "Figures you two would come."

She ignores his comment and heads to the point, "What happened?"

He makes sure no one is looking and guides them a couple feet from the scene. His forehead is creasing in concern and he seems hesitant in even mentioning it. "I don't understand how it's possible, but the person who was killed wasn't human," he tells them in a low voice, making Mia furrow her brows in surprise. "He's like us."

Mia glances at Edward, both of them exchanging a look of concern, "A vampire?" She's unsure how this can be possible since vampires are technically dead, but it's the venom that keeps them immortal. "How can that be?"

"My theory is that he's not truly dead, but has only been stunned into unconsciousness," Carlisle looks behind his shoulders in concern and she starts realizing the severity of this. If the vampire were to wake up, there's a chance he might wreck havoc and have himself a feast. With the news reporting this live on television, the existence of vampires would be revealed and make this town much deadlier.

"We need to get them out of there," Edward starts wondering how it would be possible since crimes like these tend to get investigated for a while. If any of them attempt to disrupt the crime scene, they would appear suspicious and make everything worse.

"How exactly? We can't just demand for everyone to leave without a reason," Mia glances at Charlie, wondering if her mother has mentioned anything about their secret or ever will.

"Charlie's trying to get rid of the reporters, but the coroners will be taking the body any time now," Carlisle glances back one last time. "I'll be in charge of the autopsy, so when he wakes up, I'll do everything to restrain him."

"I'll meet you there," Edward tells him, earning a nod from Carlisle before he starts heading back to the scene.

Mia pinches her forearm without realizing as the feeling starts getting more intense. Her heart is racing incredibly fast and her mind keeps telling her to run. If she stays, something is bound to happen, but like a deer caught in headlights, she remains in place and watches the reporters and a few cops leave the scene.

"We should head to the hospital," Edward tries guiding her back to the vehicle, but suddenly hears another person's thoughts emerge. He recognizes the sound of their voice and stops in his tracks.

She notices a shift in him based on the way his grip gets tighter and the alertness in his eyes. His body has tensed and he's staring at the scene the same way he stared at the forest back in Halloween.

"Edward?"

Loud screams fill her eardrums and echo throughout the forest. She abruptly turns in its direction and is met by the sight of that same vampire at the winter dance – James.

His blond hair is unkempt, his eyes are burning red, and his stance has been hunched into a hunting position. A low growl can be heard that becomes worse when the remaining witnesses start backing away.

James looks at each person, but when recognizing Mia and Edward, his last thread of sanity finally snaps. Before anyone gets a chance to prevent the inevitable, the ravenous vampire lunges forward in means to kill.

Author's Note

Hey, y'all!
To get a better picture, Dimitri Grey is played by Cillian Murphy.

Hope you guys liked the chapter!
Don't be a ghost reader! Comment & vote!