CHAPTER 15

[Ella's POV]

This time I remembered the dream in every detail, my questions about Gabe grew in number. I decided I had to meet him and confront him, even if it could cost my life. After all, he promised he will protect me. I haven't been using wolfsbane for a couple of days, and I could already see the results; my skin was looking healthier, I felt more energetic, and I think I even felt Elpis moving when I woke up. Maybe this is what gave me more courage. Today I had just one short lecture at 11 am and plenty of time to get on campus. Because of this, I decided to first have a chat with Gabe before heading for my lecture. I sent a casual text to Gabe to ask him to meet me for coffee, and he replied instantly, agreeing. This made me happy, happy because my plan to meet him worked, but to be honest I was also happy to see him. I sprinted my way out of the U1 bus as soon as it reached the station on campus, I didn't even care that it was raining. There he was, on the 1st floor of the JHB building sitting on one of the y-shaped sofa chairs and looking out the window like weighting some heavy thoughts. He smiled when he saw me, my heart stopped for a second seeing his gorgeous smile. And yet this smile looked different from his usual smile, this smile looked even more ravishing. As I stepped into the building a subtle tempting scent made its way towards me. It smelled like fresh snow, pine trees, and watermelon. As I approached Gabe the scent intensified.

"Hi Gabe," I said, my voice seemed to have startled him.

"Ella!" He exclaimed standing up and hugging me tightly. When he touched me, I swear I could feel strange electricity sparking from his touch.

"Gabe," I said and looking up at him, his eyes were dark for a second and then shone with a strange blue tanzanite colour. In that millisecond his face changed, and he no longer looked like Gabe, he looked like someone else. I startled and pulled away from him. "Who are you?" Gabe's expression changed; his face was showing surprise and relief. "Did you really hurt Professor Gabriello Fernandez?" I found myself remembering the strange intense dream from last night.

"Ella?" Gabe called calmly, reducing the distance between us.

"Are you a hunter?" I asked, barely managing to keep my composure. My heart ached to speak the words. I knew as long as I was in such an open place where many eyes could witness if anything happened, I was safe. But my heart didn't feel safe.

"Yes, I am." He replied hanging his head low.

"So, you're here to kill me?" I stated plainly. I felt more disappointed than afraid; I almost gave my heart to a hunter who is set to kill me, how idiotic of me!

"Never. I promised you that I will protect you!" Gabe said, making an attempt to grab my right hand.

"What's your name?" I said, getting away from his reach.

"Remus," Remus, I liked the sound of his name, it sounded ancient and powerful, and attractive in an odd way.

"Ok Remus, show me your true face!" I found myself demanding, at least I deserved to know how my killer truly looks like.

"In public?" He asked in a whisper.

"I don't care!" I snapped back at him.

"Follow me!" He ordered me instead, walking towards the exit.

"Where, to my death?" I cockily asked, I was itching for my death it appears. I know that there is no greater loss than losing my life. I didn't care about my safety anymore. He stiffened and instantly turned to face me; his eyes flashed darkly looking at me. He then grabbed the rose pin badge that was nicely adorning the left side of his blazer's collar and stabbed his finger drawing blood, he then grabbed my hand and did the same.

"Per commutationem nostri sanguinis voveo vitam meam ad tuam defendendam." He muttered under his breath. As soon as he finished saying the strange words a quick current travelled through my body.

"What was that?"

"That was a way of making it impossible for me to hurt you." He explained, I didn't realise I opened my mouth in surprise until he lifted my chin to close it. Hot sparks flowered from his touch, I tried to ignore it shoving all the odd questions down.

"Now, you can feel safe whenever you are in my presence. So, follow me, please!" Remus invited me walking out of the JHB and straight to his Ducati bike. Luckily it stopped raining. I didn't dare sit in front, I sat in the back, trying to hold on to anything else but him. We rode for about 15 minutes, I cycled these roads before, but I wasn't sure where we were now. He dismounted in front of a plain-looking house, just like all the other houses around. He patted his pockets and then took out a bunch of jingling keys.

"Is this your place?" I asked nervously, not that is normal for ppl to have keys to houses that they don't live in.

"Yes," he shortly replied, while unlocking the door.

"After you," he invited me. The house was nicely lighted and decorated in mainly white and grey shades. I liked it, it was so simple and orderly. I almost forgot why he took us to his place until he cleared his throat. "You're ready?" He grinned at me with a cocky smile. I couldn't help but find him even more attractive acting like that. I nodded my head for him to show me his true face. He closed his eyes and a glowing blue light began to surround him until it engulfed him like a fire burning him. After a few seconds, the blue fire began to dim down slowly revealing a different man. His brown hair turned a deep blue-black with beach waves in it, his golden-brown eyes were replaced by summer sky blue eyes, his pale-yellow skin was replaced by a golden tanned skin and his muscles increased in size significantly. I found myself gapping at the new man in front of me. If I found Gabe's version good looking, now he was irresistible.

"Like what you see?" He winked at me; he must have noticed how shamelessly my eyes were eating him up. How could I not? I felt Elpis moving again when he walked out of the burnt circle, I didn't realise appeared on the light beige carpeted floor. I swallowed drily at his remark. And then, I felt a familiar scent that was hunting my dreams for quite a while now; a mixture of spearmint and honey.