Spell for the day:

Muffliato

It is intended to conceal a conversation from any potentially prying ears, and, instead of the eavesdropper being able to hear the conversation that they're trying to spy on, they will just hear a faint buzzing sound instead. 

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**Lili'a POV**

I was wondering what was he going on about.

Who kidnapped her? When did that happen?

"Lili. We need to hurry, I've told the others. They are waiting for us at the outhouse," he says, pulling me behind.

"But I can walk!"

"Yes, you can, but you are going in the opposite direction. We are supposed to go this way," he says, pointing in the opposite direction. 

I do have a poor sense of direction, Ingrid's is better than mine.

Maybe I should learn it from her.

I walk at my own pace, which is significantly slower than Kyle's and it seems to annoy him.

Something that I can use against him, haha!

I was lost in my thoughts and I didn't know when I overtook Kylian. After a few minutes, I feel a pair of sturdy hands on my waist.

"Arrgghhhhh," I scream, when my world suddenly turns upside down.

"Babe, forgive me but we've got to get there today not tomorrow!", he says, chuckling.

"Put me down this instant you, you, you--idiot," I say, hitting his back and kicking him wherever I could.

Yeah, I got to learn a few bad words first.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you a word or two," he says. I could feel his shoulder shaking from all the laughing and if I guessed it right, he probably had his signature smirk on.

"Hmph!" I say, annoyed, and continue flailing my arms and legs.

He holds my legs, making it impossible to move them.

"Let go of me!" I yell, my voice resonating around in the silent forest.

The crickets chirping and the sound of his crunching footsteps added to the eerie atmosphere around. I forgot that it must be evening close to seven by now. No wonder not a single ray of sunlight was visible in here.

My mind recollects, the previous incidents and I get flashes of the guy I saw in the woods when I fell down. Right now being carried by Kylian felt safe.

I stay silent and don't complain about being carried out by him. I watch the forest as we leave it and I feel something dangerous lurks in these forests.

"You all right? You hardly spoke a word in the last 10 minutes. It's not like you to be quiet, what happened?" Kylian questions.

"Yeah. Nothing I'm fine," I say, in a slow whisper.

He put me down just as suddenly as he carried me and I stumble, unable to stay balanced.

"What's it?" he asks, placing his hands on my waist as I hold on tight to his shirt.

"Nothing, my legs probably fell asleep," I say, slowing taking a step towards the outhouse, whose lights which I spot on the other end.

We reach the outhouse soon enough and I see that all of them were waiting for us here.

The soft lights of the outhouse seemed welcoming. We walk in together hand in hand and see them deep in some discussion.

"Ah, look, they are finally here!" Jake says, turning to face us.

He is sitting in between Kevin and Em on the couch, while Ingrid looked to be pacing around the room.

"Lili! Where were you? Kylian told us long back about the text and you show up now?" Iddy questions. She looks annoyed, I better not irk her.

After a question-and-answer session with her, she finally lets me in peace.

"So what text is it and who sent it?" I ask, trying to catch up with the things.

"From an unknown number, telling us that they have Mrs.Potts with them," Em says.

"Here have a look at it," Kyle, says handing his phone.

'Your dear Mrs. Potts is with me.

On the coming eclipse night meet me,in the forest by the lake.
Just you and me, Lili.
Come and you can have your Mrs. Potts back.

P.S. Don't try anything fishy, I won't hesitate to kill her.'

"What the hell, why does this person wants to meet me? And why send it to your phone, when they can send it to mine?"

"I think we all know who it is," Kevin speaks for the first time, sounding serious.

"You mean--"

"The new guy at school. The one we were suspecting!?" Jake answers, turning to look at Kevin, but it comes out like a question.

"But how did he get his number? And if he wants me, why did he send a message to him?"

"Actually, they sent this message to your number, but I diverted your SMS's to my number. I expected him to do something dirty like this, so I did this. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have, but I did it for your safety and it's only for the SMS' s nothing else I swear," Kylian says, now sitting beside me on the armrest of the sofa, with his hands rubbing mine.

"You did what?" I yell, taking my hands away from his.

"I'm sorry, I did it for your safety. Maybe I wasn't thinking right, but I swear I meant well," he says now pacing in front of me to make eye contact and I stubbornly ignore him.

"Lili, be honest, if he'd not have done that, you'd not even tell us this and go straight into the arms of that monster," Iddy says.

Maybe she is right, but doesn't justify him doing this.

"I know it's not right, but I'm sorry. I'll do whatever you say. Just forgive me please," he says, gently touching my cheeks and holding my gaze.

His eyes hold such sincerity in them that I couldn't stay angry with him.

No, Lili. You've got to stay strong.

"Let's discuss that later," I say turning away.

"So what do we do now?" Em asks, turning to break the ice.

"Let's check if he actually has Mrs. Potts. For all we know he could bluff," says Jake.

"How are we even sure it is this guy? I mean, it's not like we caught him red-handed, did we!?" I say.

Maybe he is not the guy we thought he is.

"What do you mean,?" Jake questions, looking at me all everyone's gaze follows.

"Actually she is right, we haven't technically caught him red-handed, for all we know he could be innocent," Ingrid states, but sounds like she didn't like this though.

"Yeah, we agreed to the tale Kylian told us, but we never actually caught him in action did we?" Em asks, looking pointedly at Kylian.

"Okay, I agree that you never caught him, but I think I have an idea why. But before that we need to set a few things straight..." he says, looking at everyone but holding my gaze for a few seconds longer.

"...there is a witch I know who lives in Winston-Salem and we'd have to meet her to clear a few things up," he says, continuing his monologue.

"What things?" I ask, sounding hesitant.

Looks like something bad will happen. He used the same tone when he told me he is a vampire and he kept shaking his leg in the same, repetitive way.

"About you!" he says, whispering and sounding the same way I did-- afraid.

What's wrong with me!?

"What about me!?" I ask, afraid of his answer.

"I have a feeling-- no I know why he wants you, but before that we need to sort a few things out"

"Why does he want me?"

"You will know when we meet that witch," he says, lost in his thoughts.

He is probably thinking about what to do next.

"When are we going to meet her?" Ingrid asks, standing beside me.

I felt protected by the way she draped her hands around me, but something inside me tells she is also afraid.

"I was thinking it'd be better if it was just the two of us, but if you'd like to come along, you can," he says to Ingrid, but I could feel his gaze on me.

"Okay then. I'm in. And you guys keep an eye out from Mrs. Potts and even the unknown guy at our school. Who knows what might happen!?" Ingrid says, in a determined manner.

"We will leave early tomorrow morning. Let's call it a night," Kylian says, and moves a step closer to me.

I try not to look at him but he has his eyes fixed on me; it feels like they are calling out to me. After a series of discussing on who will stay with whom, it is decided that Ingrid, Kyle, and I are to go tomorrow, while Kevin, Em and Jake are to search for Mrs Potts and keep an eye on Iryll-- the new guy at school.

A yawn unconsciously slips out, and everyone around lets around a series of yawns. Maybe it is true that one person yawning can pass on to others.

"Well, we better get going. It's late and my mum will not let me in if I go home after dinner," Kevin says, standing up.

Everyone decides it's late, and they get up. I also get up to go when Kylian holds my hand, not letting go of it. I turn around to see I am the last one and alone here with him.

He slowly leans closer, and I instinctively close my eyes. He grazes his hand on my cheek and sets my hair behind my ear. He gently moves in closer and the air around me gets hotter by the minute. He places a warm kiss on my cheek and moves back. I gradually open my eyes and look up to see him gazing at me. He whispers a soft sorry and holds his ear.

The kiss was so soft, like a rose petal, and his lips felt so hot against my cold cheeks. Or maybe I feel hot with just a touch of his.

"My keys-- oh, I'm --aa-- sorry," someone says in the distance. I try to move back, but my hand is still captured in Kylian's.

I am flushed and could feel my skin tingling. I turn my head away to look who it was and see Jake standing there.

Oh, he doesn't know, right!

"Since how long have you guys been dating?" Jake asks, reading my mind.

"We-- umm- " I sigh and take a huge breath.

"You aren't dating?" he asks taking the words out of my mouth.

"Yeah, but we intend to. Very soon." Kylian says, winking at me. He bends a little, kissing me on my hand and finally lets go of it.

I run away or more like stumble and walk and even jog a little out to my place.

The dark night, with the full moon outside, seems to be the perfect background. The tress lining up behind them and the silent night added to the beauty of the night. I see Ingrid and Kevin flirting with each other, as he had his hand placed on the car beside her locking her in, leaning close towards her, and she has her hand on his chest and they both are laughing.

"They seem to be getting back together, right?" Em says, popping beside me out of nowhere.

"Well yeah! Seems like things are finally settling down." I say, but something within me doesn't agree to this.

Jake finally comes out with his car keys and we follow him to their car.

I see Ingrid's eyes changing colour and they positively glow a little.

"How do your eyes change colour?"

"Perks of being the ringleader," she says, smirking.

"I'd happily be your lion, if it means I get to be with you," he says cheekily, kissing her on her hand.

"Ahem ahem, let's go," Jake says.

Ugh! This guy is ruining every beautiful moment.

I watch their car drive away; there is some unsettling feeling in my stomach. Maybe tomorrow will be a tough one!

A/N

Hey guys, so what do you think of this chapter. Maybe it's a filler chapter, but it is a much-needed one. 

Feedback and suggestions are welcome.

Until the next chapter.

Lots of love,
             ~Vaishnavi.