Chapter 5

Ulrick appeared by my left, beside Orion. He was now dressed in a white shirt and black pants. That ugly dark cloak was still draped over his shoulders.

"I'll start the fire" another person said. Sounded like a girl. It should be that blue girl.

"I'll help you cook" offered Ulrick and he left. I wanted to sit up to see if I was right but Orion placed his hand on my chest and pushed me back gently. The skin to skin contact had my pulse suddenly racing. The feeling of his calloused palm on my smooth skin was incredible and it had my body tingling. I oddly wanted more and for some strange reason, it felt familiar again.

"No moving too. Your head's still healing" he said.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Holy shit Alexa you would not believe what happened!" Chief Garrison said, his dark eyes twinkling with excitement.

"She needs to rest. We'll tell her everything when she eats some-

"It was amazing!" the Chief continued, cutting Orion off. "This guy over here -he gestured at Orion- is like some superman and a fucking ninja at the same time! You should have seen the way he slayed those shape shifters and protected you from some kind of lightening ball. He's also still healing by the way. Oh my God. I've never seen anything like that. One of them wanted to escape. He created some kind of round blue ball which Meave said is a portal then jumped through it. Orion carried you and went after him with Maeve and Ulrick. I didn't want to go at first because everything was happening so fast and I was so confused but then I couldn't let them leave with you so I went with them too. Turns out they're the good guys and they're also trying to find the missing people".

He paused to breathe.

"And Meave used water to heal your head injury. It was incredible I tell you. If I didn't witness it myself, I would say it's totally impossible and crazy but shit, they blew my mind! Oh and the shape shifter that nearly got away is tied to that tree" he pointed to his left and I wanted to see what a shape shifter is but Orion pushed me back down again.

"He's unconscious" he added

I felt frustrated that I wasn't allowed to move and I was also surprised that Chief Garrison could talk so much. He looked so happy that I was beginning to think I was dreaming again.

"You scared me there kid. I thought I lost you" he said, the excitement slowly dying as he fixed me a sad stare. Something in me felt guilty for assuming the Chief is heartless.

"I'm okay Chief. I think it'll take more than that to bring me down" I said, flashing him a smile. He chuckled. "Yeah. You are your mother's daughter and she's the strongest person I know. We'll find her Alexa. I promise".

I nodded and he did too. I guess this is the beginning of a new relationship between I and the Chief.

"Okay" Orion said, clearing his throat to get our attention. For me, he didn't need to. I was completely aware that he was beside me. I could smell his sandalwood scent which was pretty calming.

"When you've had some food, we'll introduce ourselves to you and explain everything calmly- " he said, emphasizing on the last word as he fixed the Chief a glare.

"Then we'll decide on the next step to take".

His beautiful eyes returned to me but they were much softer now and I think, I'm getting lost in them. Shit.

Lord help me.

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Food was ready and the scent had me drooling. In my head actually. There's no way I'd let Orion see me do that in real life. The big guy never left my side and since my T-shirt was splattered with blood and vomit, he made me wear his spare shirt which was triple an average person's size and reached down to my knees. I had to admit that it felt nice and his natural scent coupled with sandalwood had me recalling my dream. It was like I was really there, in bed, kissing him. How is that possible?

I found myself staring at his lips, wondering if they would feel the same way they did in my dream. Wondering what it would feel like to be in his arms.

"Alexa" Maeve called, pulling me back to reality. She handed me a plate piled with chicken and some kind of pinkish sauce.

I sat up properly, collected the plate and thanked her. She just smiled and sat on the short grass next to Ulrick who was next to Chief Garrison. I and Orion were opposite them.

I ate a bite of the chicken and closed my eyes, moaning as the sweet and spicy flavour hit my tongue.

"Nice?" Maeve asked. I nodded enthusiastically causing her to giggle. Orion scoffed.

"Maeve makes the best pheasant and berry sauce" Ulrick said, taking a huge bite.

Huh, and I thought it was chicken.

"So... when will you explain everything to me?" I asked, looking at Orion who had almost cleared his plate.

"There are basically two worlds" he began. Your world and ours. Ours being a world of supernatural creatures".

"Like Vampires and Werewolves?" I asked.

"Yes and don't interrupt me".

I nodded.

"Well we all thought that those are the only worlds that exist but it turns out that there's another world in between" he continued. "The world of the Edax. Soul Eaters. They were sealed by a council of Witches thousands of years ago because they ate human souls but someone broke the seal, setting them free".

Shit! Does this mean my mother's soul has been taken too? Chief Garrison was paler than a corpse. I guess he didn't know.

"Normally, the Edax take the souls and leave the bodies behind which would have made our work easier but it seems that they must have evolved because both souls and bodies have been taken and we have no idea where they are".

"We tried tracking the blood we took from the train" Ulrick chipped in. "But it belonged to a shape shifter which makes us wonder why shape shifters are involved with the Edax".

"That's why we caught that guy" Meave said, pointing at the still unconscious shape shifter that was tied to a tree.

"He'll have to tell us where the missing humans are and why they were taken".

This sounded so unreal but here I am, in a different world, eating pheasant and berry sauce with a bunch of strangers. Wearing the shirt of the most handsome guy I've ever seen and slowly getting attracted to him.

"And why they want you" Orion said, fixing those green orbs on me and felt my throat go dry.

"Maybe they just want to add me to their collection?" I asked, clearing my throat but he shook his head, his black locks moving in the process. Why does everything he does seem so enchanting?

"If they needed another human, they wouldn't have fought me for you. They would have just run away and abducted someone else. That's why you have to stay with us until we make sure you're safe enough to be on your own".

I found myself nodding. Automatically agreeing to stay with them which I normally would not do but I felt drawn to Orion. As if I was meant to be by his side and to be honest, I didn't want to leave. This feeling was thrilling as well as frightening at the same time.

What if everything they're saying are lies and they're the shape shifters?

But something about the way he looked at me, intensely, somewhat possessively made me shake off the negative thoughts.

"Guys, I think our friend there is stirring" Ulrick said, his thin voice breaking the silence.

Orion broke eye contact first, standing up, his sword in his right hand. We all got up and followed him, right to where the shape shifter was tied down. He looked like an ordinary person to me. Beautiful even. With icy blue eyes and a pixie like face with dirty blonde curly hair. He had dried blood sticking to the left side of his face.

Orion pointed the sharp tip of his sword at the shape shifter's face and he snarled in response, baring rows of razor sharp teeth. His eyes met mine, widened in recognition then he lunged for me. The ropes held him back but I was shit scared so I stood behind Orion, his large frame shielding me from the creature's sight.

"Meus Rex" he said, his voice was rough and sinister. "Adjuva nos".

I didn't understand a word he said. Chief Garrison looked as confused as I was but Maeve, Ulrick and Orion tensed. I guess they understand the strange language.

I felt Orion's hand snake into mine, intertwining our fingers then he squeezed. The butterflies in my tummy started to somersault and that tingly feeling returned.

Shit Orion. What are you doing to me?

"Rex?" Maeve asked. "Ovna tu no Rex? Alexandra?"

"De." He snarled. "Meus Rex. Donoek Edax shinai domoro gekai".

"She's not going anywhere" Orion snapped, his hold on me tightening. It wasn't painful though. The gesture warmed my heart and I wondered why he cared.

Suddenly the shape shifter started to screech. It sounded as if he was being tortured. It was deafening and I could feel my body vibrate at the intensity.