*Tobias's POV*

Heartbreak, noun, meaning overwhelming sadness. I guess that's what I'm feeling now.

Heartbreak.

I feel like someone punched a hole in my heart. Then ripped it out and stomped on it. Every time I close my I see Ava. I see her eyes rimmed with tears at my outburst. If that isn't heartbroken, then I don't know what is.

The walk to the temple felt like an eternity. I had taken a path on the outskirts of Hawthorn past Ava's house, hoping to get a glimpse at her. But she wasn't there.

This caused my heart to break more. I need to end this pain. After training, I'm going to go find her.

No, stay away from her.

Shut up subconscious. 

My feet dragged across the damp grass as I crossed the field to get to the temple. The dew drops dampening the bottom of my paints.

Halin screeched, spreading his large wings and soaring up souring up into the sky.

Covering my eyes with my hand I looked up at him. He and Lily were flying together snapping at each other. Not in a violent manner but more of a playful thing.

" Morning sourbell!" Naomi yelled in my ear causing me to jump back.

Clutching her sides a loud laugh escaped her lips.

" Shut the fuck up!" I bellowed at her only making her laugh louder.

" I...gave....you.....such.....a.... fright." She struggled to string the sentence together as the laughter took control of her body.

" Whatever." I flipped her off.

Her eyes turned to glass as tears began to trickle down her face. She groaned in pain clutching her stomach.

" Calm down before you hurt yourself."

" Aww is little Tobias worried about me." She giggled as she tried to pinch my cheeks.

" No, I just think it would be very embarrassing if you died of laughter."

" Yeah, it would be. So how are you?"

" Why do you care." I snapped.

" Well, Mr. Bipolar you looked like a zombie walking up here." She rolled her eyes putting her hands on her slim hips.

" Just didn't get much sleep." I shrugged.

That wasn't really a lie. I did spend most of the night awake. Every time I closed my eyes I would see Ava and the pain I caused her. After the fourth time, I tried to go back to sleep I gave up and stayed awake.

" Well try and keep up in class or I might just beat you." She smirked.

A chuckle erupted from deep in my throat.

" I might be half asleep but I will still be bringing my A-game and you can count on it."

" Good." She smiled.

We silently walked through the hallways to the arena where Veronica was impatiently waiting for us. Her cold eyes halted at us as we walked over to her.

" Let's go you're late." She hissed leading us out of the arena.

" But we're on time." I whisper to Naomi.

" But when we get to the room we will have wasted time of the lesson." She explains.

" Seriously." I scoff.

" What can I say that's how my mom's brain works." She shrugged.

" Today we will be going over the spells we have learned so far. Go sit somewhere and I'll give you guys some space." She instructed.

For the next hour, Naomi and I went over all the spells we have learned at least four times each.

Because of my lack of sleep, I did struggle to keep up a few times which resulted in Veronica tapping the back of my hand with a ruler and Naomi laughing at me.

By the end of the lesson, the back of both my hands was blood red from the slaps.

" Need some help with that?" Naomi snickered.

" Fuck off." I growled while healing my hand with a simple healing spell.

" Whatever, you better hurry. Don't think Lizzie would like you to be late."

Turning on my heels I rushed over to Lizzie's classroom. Thankfully I reached it just in time.

Cleo shook her head at my near lateness. I slipped into my seat while taking out my notebook and turning to the next blank page. The cool leather binding the book made small goosebumps form on my hand.

" Today we will learn which spells will require blood. Make your heading and then we may get started," we quickly scribbled the heading," the first spell is worshipping spell. This isn't as much as a spell more of a ritual. The next spell is.....Tobias are you paying attention!"

Oh, crap!

" Yes."

" Doesn't look like it. Stop daydreaming and get writing." She commanded, droplets of spit flying into my face.

" Yes, mam." I sighed.

Turns out there aren't many spells that require blood. There are actually only three: worshipping, summoning, and necromancy spells.

" Did you seriously nearly fall asleep in Lizzie's class." Cleo smirked resting her hands on her hips.

" Why don't you mind your own fucking business!" I yelled.

" Asshole." She whispered as she wandered off.

I rushed to Peggy's room.

When I entered I was shocked to see an actual thumb bone and a syringe laying in front of my beanbag.

" Today I will teach you how to remove the marrow which contains the magic out of the thumb. Take a seat and we can get started. "

The door let out a slight creek as I pushed it shut.

I took my seat and examined the contents before me. The bone looks like she has had it for a while. I can tell because my mam being a bone witch has worked with bones in front of me many times.

The syringe is the same type my man has. The needle was about eight centimeters long, the point glistening is the small amount of sun entering the room. The handle has a branching pattern carved in it.

" First things first is to make sure your needle is nice and sharp. Once you have done that you will gently hold the bone on the sides and insert the needle into the open end in the center. Once the needle is secure you just gently pull out until all the marrow is out. It's a very simple process. Take the bone and the needle I have provided for you and extract the marrow."

I did as she instructed and extracted the marrow and she was indeed correct, it is a very simple process. Since I mastered that very quickly she let me practice removing the bone from the hand again.

On my way to Nathan's class, I tried to wake myself up more. The last thing I need is to fall asleep while Nathan and I are fighting. I can't have him complain to me again.

As I reached the door I heard giggling. I leaned against the door and listened to the giggles and Nathan laughing while whispering sweet things to Martha.

The hole in my heart tearing itself bigger at the sound of their happiness.

The sound of my fist hitting the door made the giggling stop.

" Come in!" Nathan called.

I opened the door and slowly stepped in.

Nathan had his arms around Martha's waist, she had her head on his shoulder smiling fondly at him.

" I'll see you later." She winked at him pecking his lips one last time then left the room closing the door behind her.

" Did you practice your fighting skills when I was sick?"

" Yes, Naomi offered to spar me."

" And?"

" I won."

" Good that means you took in what I said and used it in a real fight. Now have you ever seen me using acrobatics while fighting?"

" Yes." I nodded taking a seat on the tabletop.

" Good, because that is what I am going to reach you today. But you need to do some stretches first. Get up and stand by the line."

I got off the table and sauntered over to the line.

Nathan and I did several stretches, he said it would loosen me up and make this easier.

" Okay, you are ready. The first move is the flying sidekick. Watch me and then try it yourself."

He positioned a dummy in the center of the room then stood on the other side of the room. Taking a deep breath he ran toward the dummy. At halfway he jumped, twisted in the air, stretched out his leg, and connected with the dummy. The dummy crashed to the dusty ground. Nathan twisted again and fell landing perfectly on his feet.

" Trust me when I say that is the easiest move. Give it a try, just relax, and no negative thoughts."

While he repositioned the dummy I made my way to the other side of the room.

" Whenever you're ready." He shrugged.

Taking a deep breath I imagined myself doing the move. I saw myself fly into the air and land perfectly.

As I exhaled I began to run. 

When I reached the halfway point I jumped and twisted sticking my foot out. I delivered a harsh kick to the dummy's head. Once it hit the ground I went for the landing. Only to my dismay, I landed on my ass.

Halin released a shriek of 'laughter' at my fail and Nathan chuckled.

" That wasn't that bad, and don't worry not everyone sticks the landing the first time. Now back to start position we got lots to do."

By the end of the century-long hour, I was even more tired than I was when I walked in.

My jacket was wrapped around my waist. My shorts and face drenched in sweat. Halin was even flying a distance away from me because I smelled so bad.

When I stuck the landing on the flying side kick Nathan showed me a cartwheel kick.

We even managed to have a quick spar before it was time for me to go. He still won but I put up and I quote," One hell of a fight."

I desperately wanted to get back home as soon as possible but I had to wait for my mam to finish her work or whatever. I found myself in a quiet spot in the area near the entrance huddled into myself.

" Might as well catch up on some sleep." I whispered to myself as my heavy eyelids drooped shut sending me into darkness. 

" Tobias wake the hell up!" A female voice yelled as a fist bashed into my shoulder waking me from my slumber.

I forced my still heavy eyelids open. My eyes squinted getting used to the late afternoon light. The last bits of the sun was setting over the horizon.

How long was I asleep?

I looked up at the person who interrupted my sleep. I was not surprised to discover it is my mam. Her cold eyes glared down at me, her mouth twisted into a scowl, her hands rested firmly on her hips.

" Tell me, son, why did Lizzie and Veronica tell me you were slacking in class? They told me you were falling asleep." She hissed. 

Well, you see mam I hurt my mate and now my dreams and thoughts are haunted by her pain so I didn't get much sleep last night.

" I couldn't get to sleep last night." I sighed.

" Well then, when we get home you can go straight to bed, you're not getting any food tonight. Now let's go."

Not wanting to anger her further I quickly got up and we walked home.

When we passed the village I once again found myself searching for Ava. And once again she wasn't here. When we got home I rushed up to my room and dropped onto my bed. The mattress creaking as it bounced.

There has to be a way to end this heartache. I need to see Ava.

Using spells I learned in familiar class I used Halin as my spy. I made him watch my mam and I waited until she was in a deep slumber.

I held my breath as I quietly descended the stairs, not daring to make a sound. My heart would lurch in my chest at any noise.

Finally, I made it out the door. I broke the spell and Halin flew back to me.

" Where are we going, master?" He asked me when we were out of the valley.

" To Hawthorn."

" Why master?" 

" There is something I need to do. Just keep quiet, the last thing I need is someone hearing us."

Under the cover of the trees and the shadows, I snuck around the village to Ava's house.

From my hiding spot, I could see into the house perfectly. Her father sat in the lounge, sharpening his axe, whistling while he worked. There appeared to be nobody else in the house. Then I heard her.

" Now I've heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the Lord but you don't really care for music do you."

I was a helpless sailor to her siren-like voice. My eyes wander up the side of the house to the direction of the singing and there she was.

She sat by her window looking out into the sky. Singing as she ran a comb through her hair. Her white nightgown shine in the bright light of the candle that was lighting up her room.

She's so beautiful.

Listening to her sing and seeing her smile as she did it healed my heart. Seeing her happy healed me.

Using a rock as a chair I sat and listened to her singing. When she finished the song she started singing it all over again. Normally I don't enjoy this type of music. But it's hard to hate it when an angel is singing it.

A distant rustling in the bush caused me to turn my gaze.

A large rat with black mattered hair and bloodshot eyes was staggering towards me. It was wounded and the sent of its blood made Halin begin to involuntarily shriek. He beat his large wings and attacked the rat causing it to let out a piercing cry.

" Halin shut up." I quietly hissed.

The commotion caused Ava to turn her head in my direction. Her eyes widened as they met mine.

She sat there in silence staring at me. My anger at Halin floated away as I looked into her ocean eyes.

" Ava, are you alright!" Her dad called from downstairs.

Her sudden quietness must have made him concerned.

" Yeah dad, I'm fine!" She called back.

Her father's voice had broken my trance.

" Halin let's go." I commanded.

With his beak covered in blood and head hung in shame, he flew to my shoulder and we ran off.

But before her house was out of sight I turned back, just it get one last glance at her. She was still by the window, silently begging me to come back. I fought against the urge to honor her silent plea and turned back around and started running.