Chapter 55

" Katrienair, what are you doing out this late?" he questioned when he reached me.

" I should ask you the same." Then I remembered someone was missing. Luna, I left her with Raleigh. She was asleep anyway but I feel kind of incomplete without her.

" it's too risky for a lady to be out this late. You don't even have your badge on. How are you going to be recognized that you aren't an ordinary citizen."

" Never thought of that"

"Where are you going?"

"No where." I said. " just wanted to stroll. I mean study the map. And you?"

" same." he was examining my face. " are you sure you're okay?"

Do I look like I'm not? This guy...

" Of course I am. Do I look like I'm not?"

He shook his head and mounted his horse. " We should ride together. I won't allow you go out there alone and without a badge"

I hesitated. Why must we always be together? I've tried all I could to avoid this man but time keeps bringing us together.

"you know I can handle anything that might come my way. Don't bother to ride with me. You can go. I'll be fine. " I saddled my horse, ready to climb when an idea popped up in my head. He was talking but I was thinking and so wasn't listening. Then suddenly I felt lifted— he carried me and placed me on the horse so fast that I didn't breathe.

"what the hell was that?" I growled

" oh I thought you were having issues climbing yourself."

"you are crazy"

He placed his palm on my forehead and I shoved it off immediately.

" Are you sure you're okay? " he asked. "you're hot."

"none of your business." I hissed. "don't ride with me "

"you can't stop me, let's move."

I began to move and he followed. After a while he asked. "where does this path lead to?"

" the sacred house. I found it among the maps. " I paused. The long ride was already taking its toll on me.

" you might not be able to enter it. Demons can't. The house of safety for rogue witches who luckily never got killed."

"i never heard of that." he snorted.

" you don't read much, do you?"

" besides, it's ancient and the demons were not able to destroy it. We had to forget it." he paused. " can't wait..."

"you won't go in" I interrupted. Just then my horse stopped and collapsed. I fell hard on the ground, hit my head on a rock. My world spun. We might be immortals but we still feel pain. There was a deep cut on my forearm. My world moved and I knew I was being carried. Julian laid me on his lap where he sat on the ground. Then I knew his chest was bare. He had only khaki jacket on— my wild thoughts, not my fault. He was treating my wound which he could have just leave to close up itself.

" Joel." I gasped in pain. " Joel stop. That hurts so bad. Allow it close up itself." Despite all our powers, we feel pain but that can't be the cause of our death. My mind was in a world of its own as he stopped and stared into me, I had to use all I had in me to fight my feelings.

" what was that?"

" Rose slipped off, seems like she's been bitten by some creepers."

" oh...is she okay?"

" won't be able to ride for now." I tried to get up but he held me down.

" What?!" I gasped.

" Stay, savour the moment. " he grinned. " it's not everytime...I'll have the chance."

" You're crazy." I jumped up, and elbowed his nose.

" you fell like an idiot." he complained.

" you pervert!" I cursed, picked up the map and helped Rose up. Her wound had closed up but she was too weak to stand on her own. There's no way I can energize an animal, it would take the whole of mine.

" don't do it" Julian warning as if reading my thoughts.

" maybe we should go back" he added. "to the castle."

" No!" I objected. " I can't go back."

" Then you ride with me. " he grinned.

I don't have a choice, whether or not I return to the castle.

" do I have a choice?" I joined him on his horse, staying behind him.

***

When we got to the sacred house, a stone cottage, ancient and

magnificent.

I left Julian on his horse and walked into the building. It

look like an ancient medieval church.

I saw , shinning at a corner, green light from a stone, hung above the ceiling, just like mine.

At first I thought it was a mirage, the whole building looks like one, but when I touched I felt it's connection. It's real. There's really a sacred house somewhere in this world, who would have thought? I knelt on front of a cross and pray.

" Dear Lord, thanks for everything. I might be in hell right now, so forgive my trespasses. Let your will be done. I know I owe you a lot, I'm gonna pay when the time comes. " I paused, wanting to bring my confused life onto the prayer but I could not. "Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me, I promise but I ask one thing. Bring back to me, my comforter." I need him now more than ever.

" Amen." I stood up and walked out. Julian was at the door, worry written all over his face.

I dragged him away from the door before talking. " What's wrong with you? You could get burnt for Christ's sake."

"You spent too much time in there. Wanted to be sure you're safe."

"you worry too much Mister. A warrior died by his fear. You disappoint me sometimes." I wanted to annoy him but his was glaring from his look that he had other things to think about.

"We'd better get going." The sun was out already.

"After you. " I was determined to right behind him this time too.

***

When we got to the castle, I was glad Julian went straight to his chamber, more glad when I discovered Raleigh had left. But I got shocked when I saw Emiliar on my bed. What now? She wasn't there when I needed her anyway.

"Hei Emi, what are you doing here?"

She chuckled. "Do you also work at night? Where did you go so early in the morning?"

"Huh..." I swallowed. " just got out to wash my face, I lingered there a bit."

"you sent for me didn't you?" she smiled.

" So you heard?!" I snarled. " And you're just coming!"

She laughed."i was so deep asleep. To lazy to get up. By the way, you can deal with anything yourself anyway."

"Oh really" I wish I could hate her right now.

" you sounded distressed then. What happened?" she asked.

"Nothing"

"are you sure?"

" 'course. You answered late anyway." I needed to change the darn topic.

" you're sure huh?" she paused. "why then was Raleigh in your room last night?"

Huh...big trouble...