There really is nothing like waking up feeling refreshed. You've had enough sleep, your heart isn't broken and it's your first day off in a while.

I leaned back against the backboard of my bed watching Halin try and catch the toy rat I was controlling. Quite, deep laughs tickled my throat as he continuously missed the rat.

" Do you want it bud?"

" Yes, master!"

"Okay, here you go." I laughed tossing the toy to him.

With a cry of delight, he picked the toy up, took it to his cage, and began to drip it to shreds. Strands of wool fell to the floor making a river of colour against the brown floorboards.

" So what are we going to do today master?"

" Nothing Halin that's what a day off is all about." I groaned.

Sinking into my pillows I found myself humming the tune Ava was singing last night.

Sadly as it always is my peace was rudely interrupted by the deafening sound of my mam stomping up the stairs.

"She doesn't sound happy master." Halin squawked, shying back into his cage.

" Don't worry Halin she isn't mad. That's how she always walks up the stairs." I rolled my eyes.

" Really?"

" Yup, one day you'll be a master at telling the difference like me." I smirked.

My bedroom door swung open bashing into my drawer. The ear-bleeding sound made Halin shriek like a banshee and flap his wings making his steel cage shake.

My mam stood in her normal evil glory. A brown sack and a piece of paper trapped in her steel vice hand.

" Go to the market." She demanded.

" Good morning to you too."

" Don't be like that with me. Get dressed and go to the market." She growled slamming the bag and paper on my drawer. With one last glare, she stormed out, slamming the door shut behind her.

" So much for a day off." I mumbled," you alright there Halin?"

" Yes, master I'm alright. Just had a little fright."

" Yeah, because e screaming like a banshee is a little fright." I laughed.

" Are you sure she wasn't mad?"

" Trust me Halin, that wasn't anger. That's just how she normally asks me to do things." I scoffed.

With my clothes in my hands, I went to the bathroom and stepped into the warm shower. The steam erupting from the water clouded the bathroom. My tense, sore muscles from yesterday's training instantly relaxed as the warm water beat down on me.

As I washed my body and hair I once again found myself humming. As I sang images of Ava flashed before me. Her hair, her beautiful eyes, her voice. I barely know anything about her but if she told me to jump off a cliff I would.

Once I was cleaned and dressed I set off to the market.

The air was sharp with cold, slicing me as I walked. Not even my jacket could shield me from the cold if the approaching winter.

The grass-lined with orange and red leaves, crunching under my boots.

" I thought the point of a day off was to do nothing master."

" Well, clearly my mam doesn't understand that. But don't worry bud, I'll just get the stuff and then we can go home and do nothing but chill."

" Great, cause flying is exhausting."

I laughed.

As always the near sight of me caused people to scatter. Looks of terror edged on their faces.

" Puny mortals," I whispered under my breath.

" What do we have to get first master?"

I pulled the list from my pocket, the paper crackling as unfolded it.

" Milk."

" Third store on the right."

" What would I do without you bud." I smirked.

As I made my way to the store more people scattered.

The owner of the store began to shake as I stepped closer to the counter. By the time I got to the counter he looked like he could faint.

" What....can...I...get...you?" He asked with a shaky voice.

His skin turned a ghostly white as he continued to shake. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

" Two cartons of milk." I demanded.

Without uttering a word he quickly handed me the milk. When I handed him the coins and walked away he sighed in relief.

Every store I went to people ran away and the owners like the first man would tremble in fear.

After a dreadful half n hour of shopping, I had collected everything on the list. The light empty sack now hung full over my shoulder.

" Anything else master?"

" Nope, that's everything."

" Now we can go chill?"

" Yes, Halin we can go chill." I chuckled.

As relieved as I was that I could go relax, I was also saddened that I haven't seen Ava.

As I tried to leave three familiar faces walked up to me, father Lanik, Ava's dad and, Gareth. Each of them has the same expression edged on their faces, they are angry that I am here. Gareth and his dad carry no weapons with them, but Ava's dad is brandishing his newly sharpened axe in his right hand.

" Good morning gentlemen." I smirked at them placing my sack on the floor. I have a feeling this will turn into it a fight and I need to be ready.

" Get out." Ava's dad growled pointing his axe towards me.

" Wow, you get straight to the point." I chuckled.

" Master, if I were you I wouldn't mess with the man holding an axe."

" Don't worry Halin I'll be alright. Besides how tough can this mortal be anyway." I sneered.

" Oh, you little." He hissed preparing to swing the axe only to be stopped by Father Lanik.

" Greg, violence is not the answer."

" Yeah, Greg you should listen to the old man. After all, he knows so much with his bible verses and speaking to God or whatever the fuck you guys do."

" Don't disrespect my father like that. And don't talk about our heavenly father when you clearly know nothing about him." Gareth spat.

" I do know that he obviously doesn't protect you from danger or evil."

" That's a lie." Gareth hissed.

I chuckled as I transformed myself into an old man and Halin into a dog. People around me gasped and Gareth's eyes widened in horror.

" Toby. " He stuttered.

" Thank you again for the help the other day. I can see your father taught you well." I chuckled extending my wrinkled hand towards him.

Greg with a look of disgust swiped my hand away.

" Well, now that's no way to treat an old man." I shook my head changing myself back.

" Get out of our village witch." He hissed.

" Halin let's go," I commanded.

I swung the sack back over my shoulder and slowly walked out of Hawthorn. Everybody was looking at me as I left. Their eyes burning into me as I walked.

As I walked back home I got the undeniable feeling that someone was following me. Every couple of steps I stopped and turned around, trying to see if someone was actually there or if my mind was playing tricks on me. When I reached the meadow just before the valley I heard a loud snap of a foot connecting with a twig.

I placed the sack on the ground and readied myself to face my stalker.

" Show yourself you coward!" I yelled.

A bush beside a tree began to shake as the figure emerged. It was Ava.

" Do you always have to insult people?" She giggled stepping out from the bush.

" Only if they follow me." I shrugged.

" Fair enough. I saw you at the market today."

" Yeah, believe it or not, but we witches and warlocks have to eat as well. Where we're you I didn't see you."

" Were you looking for me?" She asked, her eyes twinkling in the sun.

" No."

" Yeah, you were." She smiled.

" Do you always act like this?"

" Only when people lie to me." She smirked folding her arms.

" Fair enough." I laughed.

" What were you doing near my house last night?" She asked, slowly stepping towards me.

" Something I should've been doing." I hissed at myself.

" Why because I'm a pathetic human and I mean nothing to you." Her eyes flashed with pain at the memory of me screaming at her.

" I'm sorry about that. That was harsh of me." I apologized.

" Oh my God, did the great and evil warlock just apologize to little old me." She chuckled as she dramatically held her hand over her heart.

" Yeah, I am. And my name is Tobias by the way."

" That doesn't sound like an evil name."

" What were you expecting my name to be?" I laughed.

" I don't know, Dr. Evil or Skeletor." She laughed.

" You seriously think my mam would name me Dr. Evil or Skeletor."

" Shut up."

As we laughed the urge to kiss her began to return stronger than ever.

I looked down at her. Her cute button nose wrinkled as she laughed. Her eyes shine brighter than I've ever seen. Her laughter dies down as she looked up at me. A shining smile formed on her beautiful glossy lips when our eyes met.

It took all of my might to not wrap my hands around her waist, pull her close, and press my lips to hers. But as the seconds ticked by I began to lose the fight against myself.

She stepped closer and closer to me until there was no space between us. My breaths became faster as she pressed herself against me. Her lips inched closer to mine. Closer, closer, closer. As they were just about to touch she smiled and smacked my shoulder.

" Tag you're it!" She yelled and started running away.

I stood there motionless.

When she noticed I wasn't moving she stopped and turned around.

" You've never played tag before have you?" She asked.

I shook my head.

" Well, it's a game. To play you need two or more people. One person is the chaser while the other is the runner. The chaser chases the runner. When the chaser catches the runner they tap their shoulder and yell Tag you're it. Then that person becomes the chaser." She explained.

" Why would you play that?"

" Cause it's fun."

" Doesn't sound like fun."

" Come on just try it. It might actually be fun."

" Do it master."

" Don't you start with me." I growled at Halin.

" Sorry master."

" Please," Ava begged.

" Fine." I sighed.

" Great, so you're it." She giggled then started running.

At first, I thought catching her would be easy. But she was surprisingly fast. I couldn't tell you how long we've been playing for. It feels like an eternity.

" Tag you're it!" She yelled.

I did a quick 180 and started running after her.

Finally, I caught up with her. As I grabbed her shoulder I tripped pulling her down into the soft grass with me. She rolled around in it, laughing.

When we stopped she was on top of me. Her legs wrapped around my waist. I softly brushed loose strands of her hair away from her face. As our eyes connected the urge to kiss her came back. And this time I didn't stop myself.

She gasped as I pressed my lips to hers.

After a few seconds, I pulled back. My cheeks burning hot red at what I had just done.

"I'm-"

Before I could get another word in Ava pressed her lips against mine.

Without wasting a second I started to kiss her back. Small moans rumbled in her throat. I wrapped my hands around her waist. Squeezing as she ran her fingers through my hair. I tried to roll us over, but when she saw what I was going to do she pulled back.

Panting she rose to her feet and I followed. Only when we were up I noticed how late it was. The sun was lighting the sky orange and light pink as it set. My mam must be angry. She expected me home hours ago.

" I have to go." She panted.

" Yeah, me too."

" Will I see you again?" She asked.

" Do you want to see me again?" I smirked.

" Yeah."

" Tomorrow night. I'll wait until my mam is asleep then I'll sneak out."

" Works for me. I have to go before my dad sends the whole town looking for me."

" Bye." I smiled.

" Bye."

With one last kiss, she spun around and started running.

" Ava!" I called.

" What?"

" Tag was fun!"

With a giggle and a smile, she spun around and disappeared into the woods.

When I got home I wasn't that surprised to see my mam standing at the door waiting for me.

" Where were you?" She hissed.

" I got distracted."

With a glare, she snatched the bag from my grasp.

" Go to your room I don't want to see you until tomorrow."

With my head hung in shame, I slowly walked up to my room.

As I laid in my bed, my stomach growling begging me for food I thought about what happened today. The market, tag, and that kiss.

" Good night master."

" Goodnight Halin." I yawned.

I blew out the candles and crawled under the covers.

Today was honestly the best day of my life. And for the first time in my life, I am happy. And that's all because of Ava.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Yay, they are finally together!!!!!!!!