Chapter 19: Recovering

"Allegra? Are you okay?" Kain asked, gazing at me with concern as my eyes glazed over with sadness, tears dripping onto my cheeks. "Is there something I can do for you? Do you want me to leave? Or..." he trailed off, unsure what I would want. But to have him leave? Why on earth would I want him to leave? That's just plain ridiculous!! I just got him back...I don't wanna lose him.

I shook my head, wiping at the traitorous tears. "No. I'm fine. Please stay. I'm just...I'm fine, really."

"Does your wounds hurt? I still want to know how the hell she got those," he added, deliberately looking at Micah who nodded and turned to do some more tests.

I shook my head again. "No, I'm fine. It looks worse than it really is, Kain. It doesn't hurt at all, actually." I laid my hand on top of my stomach, gently patting the wounds that were really only a tiny bit sore. It simply feels like I've done way too many sit ups and crunches and my muscles are straining to keep up with me.

He nodded. "I'm glad. Now, I'm not going to force you to remember your dream...but do you remember anything before you fell asleep? Anything at all?"

I thought about it for a moment, uncertain what that feeling was, and how to exactly explain it. "Well, um, yeah. Before I went to bed...um...I don't know how to describe it..."

Kain took a seat, bumping my hip only a little bit, while laying a hand on my shoulder. "Just do your best."

I nodded, smiling and resting my hand on top of his. "Well...before I fell asleep it almost felt like I wasn't breathing. My heart wasn't beating, at least that's how it felt. I might have actually been breathing and what-not. But, it was almost like I was so exhausted that I could've slipped into death."

Kain shuddered, which meant he at least understood what I was talking about. "I see. Why didn't you call for someone?"

I shrugged. "That's the thing. I couldn't move, or speak. I couldn't do anything except lay there and fall into a slumber worthy for death. That probably makes no sense. Sorry." I looked away sheepishly, biting my lip. God, this was so awkward. I'm the only girl in a house full of very attractive boys. I mean, there's Lianna but she always keeps to herself, and doubt she always ends up half naked. Especially in front of someone she's grown up with forever.

Kain was just about to speak when Dante cut him off. "Actually, Allegra, it makes perfect sense. I've heard some cases where witches can get visions exactly like how you described. Though..." His eyes narrowed as he leaned toward me, sniffing the air next to my ear.

"What are you doing?" I asked, confused. Why on earth is he smelling me? I probably smell like nothing but blood and sweat. Very gross. As wrong as it is to think about this right at this moment, I really need to take a shower.

Kain's hand tightened on my shoulder, trying to give me some reassurance. "It's okay, Allegra. He's just...sensing." He smiled at me, making me flash back to when he was alive. Damn. I miss those times. Right now is how we used to be...and I really hope he doesn't--

"Well," Dante started, staring at me with confused, "she appears human. Smells human. But...for just an instant I thought I smelt witch. How is that?" He mumbled something else under his breath, but I couldn't hear what.

Kain and I exchanged glances, then shrugged. Why would he smell witch in my blood? I know that I'm not a witch. If I were I would have went back to save my family, to save Kain. I wouldn't have just sat there alone, sobbing for years and years in my sleep.

Kain and Dante looked at me questioningly. They'd obviously already decided that I'd be the only one to know if I were a witch or not. "Why are you guys looking at me? I don't know why you'd smell witch on me, if that's what you're thinking."

Dante and Kain exchanged glances, then nodded.

>>Time Skip<<

For a long time I was stuck in bed, my wounds refusing to heal quickly. It was almost too hard to just stay seated...my body wanted to move, to do something, but it was physically unable. Micah would have to give me a potion to put me to sleep in order to do anything, and even then I was restless. My dreams would be of nothing except swirling lights and mists, shades of light purple and reds. It wasn't easy to dream, but it was my only escape.

But, now, thanks to Micah's healing serums I was healed, able to move around and do things that I wished...and yet my mind was unsure of what my body wanted. It was almost as if my spirit needed to figure out what happened to me, but didn't know how, or where to start. Research seemed the most reasonable, but until I actually went there to look, I wouldn't know what to search for. I needed to go to a library.


Luckily the mansion I was held kidnapped in had a library, I suppose it would be Micah's, seeing as he's the only one who would take use of it...well, until I came along.

"Dammit all. Why can't I find what I'm looking for?" I was positioned in front the fourth library case, the one against the eastern wall. The section was labeled "Witch's Tale" and for some reason I was drawn toward it. I wasn't sure if it was because Dante had mentioned that word before, or if my spirit was actually drawn toward it.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" A warm, soft breath swirled around my ear as I registered the voice. It should have made me jump with surprise, but my senses had been heightened ever since I had that dream. My entire body was wired as if I'd drunk gallons and gallons of energy drinks and the starkest coffee. Nothing surprised me anymore, and nothing would until I figured this all out.

I smiled as I turned toward Micah, who was gazing at me with this sort of appreciative appeal. "Oh, hey, Micah. I didn't hear you come in."

"Did I frighten you?" he wondered, his eyes glazing over with a sort of worried sense, along with amusement. Did he suppose that he could show off his manly--non-nerdy--side by scaring me? Or is that just the stark humor a fallen angel would come by?

I shook my head. "No. Just sort of surprised me." A lie, of course. As ashamed I would've felt before for lying to an angel, I was all too aware that this man was not an angel, but just as lovely.

My heart heaved with a sense of belonging. Was this what I was longing to know? The exact purpose of how he fell from heaven? Or was my mind playing tricks on me? Why would it all activate the second that I have the vision/dream?

As I stared into his beautiful gold eyes, I realized that it wasn't the reason, but something I desperately wanted to know. That I had to know before going on with anything else...the problem is that I couldn't demand that he tell me. Asking would work definitely.

"Hey, Micah?" I asked.

"Yeah?" He trailed a hand up to my face, grazing my cheeks down to my neck, before resting on my shoulder. "What is it, Allegra?"

"Can I ask you something?" I ignored the way he was touching me. He was probably just checking for a fever or something. Who knows except for him?

He smiled wider, happily. "Sure, anything. I'd do anything for you, Allegra. You know that."

I smiled, appreciatively. "Thanks. Um, if you don't mind me asking, can you maybe tell me how you became a fallen angel?"

He tensed, his smile faltering. His expression suddenly became troubled. He tried to keep it cool, but I could tell that he was having trouble even thinking about it.

After a strange moment of silence, I smiled, grabbing his hand. "That's okay. You don't have to tell me. I was just sort of curious."

He shrugged, giving me this apologetic look. "Sorry, Allegra. It's just not something I can talk much about."

I intertwined my fingers through his, lifting up on my toes to kiss his cheek, and watched as his face turned bright red. "That's okay. Really. But, in that case, I think I would like your help."

>>Another Time Skip<<

"Allegra! Allegra! Alllllegra!" two identical voices bellowed as they trampled into my room. They plopped themselves on the desk that Micah made magically appear in my room. That's where I sat, looking over a couple books that Micah had helped me find in the library.

"Are you feeling better?" Ari asked, leaning in so that he was only inches from my face. "I mean, I know it's been awhile since then, but Dante and Kain told me that we should stay away fro awhile."

I nodded. "So, that's why you guys left?"

Ash shrugged. "Well, it was that, and mom sent for us. We had a loooong celebration to attend. Father was demanding we come. There were many beautiful women there." He smiled at me, then turned his head so as to pretend that he didn't care if I reacted or not.

And I didn't. "Celebration? That lasted two weeks?"

Ari nodded. "Yeah! Our sister married the neighboring nation and so Father wanted us to mingle with the other Princesses. It was a big thing. We partied the whole time, no sleep at all! I'm pretty tired now, though." He leaned his forehead against mine, eyes closing, his breath coming out in a sort of tiresome relief. "And the whole time I was so worried about you."

"I was worried, too, you know. I was just having too much fun with all the beautiful women to think about it. God, they were all so fun. Who did I have the most fun with Emiline? Zara? Or was it Jackolyn? Hmm." Ash was still being completely "oblivious" of me being here. I knew what he was trying to do, though. I knew.

Ari chuckled. "Ignore him, love. He's being an ass. Just tell me. What did Micah say? When I saw you there with all that blood coming off of you...I almost died." He trailed his hands from my shoulder to my waist. "My soul almost shattered."

"Maybe Darby? Dacy? No...it was Marcia! No...it wasn't her. She was the least fun. Come to think of it, they weren't all that much fun," Ash continued on.

I smiled at Ari, though completely dramatic, he was probably the only one who wasn't playing--

Spoke too soon, I thought as I felt Ari's hand moving further down my body to my butt. Once there, he stroked it.

"Damn, perverts! Leave Allegra alone! Don't you see she's busy?" Dante busted into the room then, flying toward us so face, and snatching the two boys by the scruff of their necks so hard I could actually hear the blood underneath about to burst. "We told you that you were to leave her alone until she approached you guys! She's hurt, you know!"

I stood, facing them. A sort of twitch emerged by my right eyes because of irritation. "Dante, it's fine. Really. I'm not hurt anymore. You know that." I gathered up the notes and books I was reading and walked past them. "Now, if you don't mind, I'll be outside. Finishing my notes."

Before I left I heard Ash's smart remark. "Well, see what you did Dante? You pissed her off!"

"Me? Ari's the one who was stroking her bottom!" Dante accused.

"Me?! Ash was the one naming off girls who he hooked up with at the party!"

"Me?! Huh! It is my fault! She's jealous! I must go to her and shower her in all my affections!" I heard a loud crash, then an, "Ow, Dante! That hurt!"

All I could do was smile, glad that things were returning to normal each and every day.



>>>Author's Note<<<

Hey, guys! It's me! Well, I am just wondering who you like more in the story so far or if you can send me any ideas at all. I'd really appreciate it. I mean, you guys are lucky I could do this one. I NEED SUGGESTIONS!!

--Love Lots, KatLyn

Chapter 18: Dream?

I couldn't feel my heart beating, and I found that I didn't need to breathe. Where was I? Had I somehow wandered off into another room...one where humanly things are not necessary? That's impossible. I'm in my room. I'm on my bed. I remember...

But when I looked down in order to comfort my own thoughts, I found that I was, in fact, not in my room. I had no idea what room I was in. It was very, very dark but it was also very hot. Blazing hot, even. Humanly impossible for me to handle.

I screamed in pain as I felt a long slash crawl against my abdomen. "Ow! What the hell?!" It felt like my guts were slithering out of my stomach. Another slash against both of my arms, while a metal something clamped down on my left leg.

"Stop it! Stop it! Please! Who are you? Why are you doing this?" I bellowed, wishing for someone to answer. 

"Allegra! Allegra!" Someone was shouting my name...but who? Who could be in this dark, hot room, hurting me, while still hollering my name with panic? Was there more than one person in the room? Or was this all just a...

"Allegra!" 

I sat straight up in the bed, looking around. My eye sight was kind of blurry but the first thing I noticed was that I wasn't in my bedroom. The room looked like a very fancy hospital room. The bed was different, more like a queen Victorian bed. The rooms were black and red, but the machines that monitored my heart beat and other things were the same. What the hell is going on?

"Oh! Good, Allegra, you're awake." It was Micah's voice. Totally and completely his. No doubt about it...but it wasn't the voice screaming my name with panic.

I was breathing very hard, looking from side to side. Had it all been just a dream? That's impossible! I mean...I felt the pain...I felt the clamp and everything. There was no way it could be just a dream.

I looked down at my stomach, pulling the silk blankets back from my ivory body, which I noted was once again in only my bra and underwear. My face reddened fifty different shades of red before covering myself up again. As embarrassing as being half naked in front of Micah was, it was hard not to notice the bandages around my abdomen, or the wrap that was tight around my ankle. "Wh-What happened?" I didn't want to look at Micah, but I had to know the truth.

He sighed. "Sadly, I'm not sure. The twins heard you screaming and went to check up on you, at least that's what they say. And that's when they smelt the blood and saw it seeping through your blanket." He walked further into the room, taking a seat on the bed next to me. "Do you know how it happened?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I had a dream...at least, I think it was a dream, I'm just not sure. But I felt like someone was slashing my sides and my internal organs were dripping out. And then some sort of clamp thing on my ankle...I don't know."

He rubbed his chin. "Interesting...has something like this ever happened before?" He stared at me with these intense eyes that was sure to make anyone tell the truth.

I thought long and hard about it, recalling all of my nearly dangerous dreams. "Well...I'll dreams where I'd fall off my bike and my hands would get all scraped up...and then I'd wake up with my hands all messed up. Or I'd dream that I got scratched by something, and then I'd wake up with the those scratches. You mean, things like that?"

His brows scrunched together, forehead creased. "Kinda. But it's never been something like last night? Where you almost die?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Definitely not. If I had I'd be in a mental ward by now." I curled my knees up to my chest, shaking despite the warm air filtering into the room.

Micah stared at me. "Are you okay?" He inched closer to me, debating whether or not to wrap his arms around me to keep me warm, I'm guessing.

A knock at the door made us both jump away from each other, and as Micah went to answer it, I wrapped the blanket around me tighter.

"Is she better?" two distinct, identical voices said in unison. I couldn't help but smile at the warming concern in their voices.

Micah smiled, nodding tiredly. "Yes. She's getting there. She's awake if you want to see her." Micah opened the door wider, revealing two, disheveled Ari and Ash standing their with eager, yet concerned faces.

And then I was swarmed. They plopped down on the bed on either side of me, wrapping their arms around me. "Oh, Allegra! We're so glad you're okay! When we saw you we almost had a heart attack!"

I smiled, hugging them back. "I'm okay. Really. I'm a strong trooper."

They laughed. "Yeah, we know." They each kissed my cheek as they pulled away, then glanced side ways at Micah. "So, Micah...what happened to her?"

He shrugged. "Honestly...I'm not sure. I mean, it couldn't be connected to her dream...or could it? Hmm..."

It was silent a moment while we all stared at Micah, confused. He was blabbering on about what my "illness" (as he liked to call it) could be but none of it made any sense to me. Or the twins, obviously.

"Wait. Wait. Wait. Micah, we don't know what you're talking about. We don't understand any of your angel science slash math crap. You're the only one. So why don't you dumb it up for Ash here," Ari laughed, nudging his brother with amusement.

"Watch it, bro. I did rate higher than you did on our science and math scores at school, you know," Ash tease, smiling.

As I watched this all...I just grew sadder. This was how my brother and I had been at one point, teasing each other. But now that he was gone...

It was hard to watch any further without tears falling from my eyes.

"Allegra? What's the matter?" Micah asked while the twins stared at me with concern. Micah admitted that he hated seeing me cry last night, but seeing them like that, it was just so hard to keep the flood back any further.

"It's about your family, isn't it, Allegra?" Kain guessed, coming into the room. His eyes quickly flickered from face to face, registering Ash and Ari's hands on my hips.

I nodded sadly. "Yeah, Kain. It is."

Ash and Ari looked from Kain to me, confused. "Do you guys know each other?" They asked in unison.

Kain and I smiled at each other. "Yes. We've known each other for a long time."

"Since before I was dead, that is," Kain added.  He walked further into the room, leaning up against the bed. "What's the damage?" He was speaking to Micah, but his eyes stayed locked with mine.

Micah cleared his throat. "Well, um...it's probably best if you see for yourself." Micah clenched his teeth, unsure how I would react to this.

My eyes widened, clutching the blanket around myself tighter. "No."

Kain looked at me strangely. "Why not, Allegra?"

My face reddened, again, fifty shades of red. "Um, well, I'm not--"

Micah sighed. "She's only in her under garments." I was probably making him frustrated with all of the hesitating and beating around the bush.

Ash and Ari's attention snapped to the blanket. "Ooh! Well, c'mon, Allegra, let's see the damage." They had a mischievous smile on their faces, tugging on the blanket that covered me up.

My face began even redder, continuing to keep the blanket up around my chest. "That's unnecessary." I looked to Kain, noting the slight redness to his cheeks.

Kain's eyes wouldn't meet mine. "You don't have to show me...just--"

Too late. Ash and Ari succeeded in pulling the blanket off of me, exposing me in only a small bra and underwear. I was so embarrassed. I never wanted Kain to see me like...this.

"Well, isn't that just sexy!" Ash chortled, laying his hand on my injured stomach, while Ari ran his hand from my shoulder to the edge of my underwear. "Beautiful," he agreed.

Kain's face had become even redder. "Okay, guys, stop. Let her be."

Ash and Ari stuck their lips out, pouting. "But--"

"He said let her be!" Dante burst into the room then, grabbing Ash and Ari by their night shirts. "You two little pervs need to learn how to respect women. If they say that they don't want to reveal themselves, then don't!" He kicked them out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

I swallowed, gathering the blanket up around me once again. "Ummm...thanks...Dante."

He smirked, but didn't say anything.

Kain, cheeks still red, cleared his throat. "Okay, so, what happened? Why did she suddenly get those scratches?"

Micah shrugged. "I dunno. I mean, it's almost impossible to know without researching her history further...and I can't do that without the king's permission. God, this is frustrating."

"Well, what do you think it could be?" Dante asked, worried. Which surprised me. Because the last time I checked...he didn't care.

Micah shrugged. "Well...it could have been that she was having a vision. Maybe something bad is going to happen to her in the future..."

I remembered the pain that I felt in my dream...and I knew that I wouldn't be able to bear it if I had to go through it again. I'd rather die than feel that torturing pain another time. Suddenly, I began to retch, keeled over the bedside.

"Allegra!" they all said at the same time.

"Are you okay?" Kain asked, brushing a strand of hair aside.

I shook my head, swallowing. "No...I don't want to die."

They all stared at me, confused. "What do you mean? You're not going to die," Dante said, stubbornly.

"M-m-my dream...I was being tortured. It was worse than what I suspect Hell would be. I don't want to feel that pain again."

"Who was torturing? Do you know?" Micah begged, wishing to protect me from any sort of danger.

I thought about it for a moment, closing my eyes to recall. "I don't know. He was wearing a steel mask, that's all I remember."

They sighed. "We won't let anything bad happen to you. I promise. We won't let you feel that pain again."

But as much as I wanted to believe them, I had a foreboding feeling. It was the same feeling that I had after Kain died and my parents promised nothing like that would ever happen again...to me anyways. But it did.

They died.

Chapter 17: Twin Nekos

"So, you see, we're Nekos," Ash said. He was up real close to my face, along with Ari. It seemed like Ash was trying to charm me somehow. His eyes were dimmed with an adorable half smile playing on his lips. His eye were directed at my lips, while Ari's was intensely looking into my eyes.

I was confused. "What's a Neko?" I had never heard the word before in my life...well then again...I wasn't allowed to know about a lot of things. My parents were very overbearing.

"Wha-?!" everyone said at the same time--except for Jaun--gaping at me.

I shrugged. "I don't know what a Neko is...I barely know what a vampire and werewolf are." I looked to Aiden and Jaun apologetically.

"What world do you come from?!" Ari said, still completely confused.

"Um...Earth? How many worlds are there?" I wondered, realizing that there could farewell be a million worlds that I've never known about.

Ash debated this, counting on his fingers. "Only seven."

My eyes widened. "Really?" I leaned closer to them, intent on hearing more about the different dimensions.

He nodded. "We've visited all of them--except Earth--and they aren't any different than this one. This one just gathers all the magical creatures who want to broaden their horizons...we even have a few humans. Though, they're nowhere near as beautiful as you." He leaned even closer to me, gazing at my lips once again.

I blushed slightly. "Then you obviously haven't seen any real humans."

He shrugged. "What does that matter? You're still the most beautiful one that I've yet to meet." He pinned me against the sofa, getting even closer to me.

Ari came up next to us, getting up real close to me. "Ash is right. You are the most beautiful." He pressed his lips against my bare shoulder, trailing little butterfly kisses up to my neck.

Ash smirked as he noticed me holding back a small moan. He pressed his lips against the other side of my neck, sucking and licking.

I wanted it to stop. I didn't want to get this close to these "Nekos." I mean, I don't even know them! Why aren't the others doing something about it?! Jaun has to feel something!! And Aiden kissed me on the roof! Why isn't he getting mad?!

"ASH! ARI!" The voice penetrated the room as Ash and Ari pulled back with a smirk.

"What? We were just having a little fun." They waved their hands in front of them, chuckling.

I sat there, flushed, as Jaun and Aiden flew forward to pin the twins against the wall. Micah came to me, examining me.

"Are you okay, Allegra?" He hovered above me, as Ash had just done. It was different, though. He didn't lean into me to steal a kiss. He simply caressed my cheeks as a doctor would do, turning my head back and forth to check.

"I'm fine, Micah. They were just...just kissing me..." I beginning to slightly shiver, and it confused me as to why I was. It's not like I haven't been kissed like that. Not by Jaun, obviously. But Masters had tried to take advantage of me plenty of times, and Sage had come just in time to stop it from going too far. Hey, that's what happens when you get drunk.

Micah sighed. "Allegra...you don't understand. They may only be Neko's, but their family comes from a long line of lustful sirens. Just the slightest brush of their lips they can mark you so that you fall in love with them." He sighed again. "And, obviously, they tried."

I looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

He brushed my neck with his thumb, and showed a red gel wiggling. It looked like jello, but it wasn't. "This is the stuff they use to force girls to fall in love with them. They may not mean to, but when it's gel like this they did. If this had gotten into your ear, or sunk into your skin, you would've been head over heels in love with both of them."

I gasped a little, staring at the twins. I couldn't believe it. "But...OW--" I grabbed the back of my neck. It felt like something had bitten me. What the hell?

"Yes!" Ash and Ari said at the same time. "We win the game!"

Micah's eyes were wide, examining the back of my neck. "Dammit!" He yelled, slamming his fist on the sofa.

"What is it?" I asked, touching the bite mark. There were two little holes on the tip of my spine bone.

"The gel sank into your skin...soon you'll be with them." He pushed away from the couch, leaning against the wall, back to me. "I was so close, too...."

I looked back at the twins, waiting for the affects to begin. The only thing that happened was that my heart gave two stuttering beats, and then I felt normal. Well, except for the fact that my anxiety was acting up yet again. "I...I don't feel any different."

Ash and Ari looked at each other, shrugging. "That happens sometimes. It will come though. After maybe a night of sleep. We'll see in the morning."

"No. We won't. The affects won't start if you're dead!" He began to wrap his hands around Ash's neck.

I ran over there to stop him. "Jaun, don't." I grabbed his arm before he could connect with Ash. I stared at his face intently, running my hand down to his wrist. "Please don't."

He looked at me from the corner of his eye. "I can't just let them get away with what they did. They need to pay."

I sighed. "Jaun...it's not like that was new to me..." I knew this was going to piss him off. So much so that he'd go to Earth and want to beat the shit out of Masters. He won't go now that Ash and Ari just pulled that, so Masters is safe, and so is Ash.

He looked at me full on, confused. "What do you mean? I never..."

I looked down. "No...it wasn't you."

His eyes widened with realization. "Masters." He released his hold on Ash, grabbing me by my shoulders. "When did he do it?! When? Was it during you and me...? God, why didn't you tell me? Dammit, Allegra! When did it happen?"

I sighed. "Jaun. Calm down. Yes...it was during us. The nights after we'd get into a fight and I'd get wasted. Don't worry, he didn't get any further than kissing my neck. Sage would stop him."

He groaned. "How come you didn't tell me? I should've known that, being your boyfriend and all. I mean, why tell me now that we're not together?"

I stared at him. "Jaun...if I'd told you while we were on Earth you'd kill him--"

"Damn right I would!" he interrupted.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. And I wasn't planning on ever telling you. But since you won't leave me now...I know you won't kill him."

He sighed. "I hate how you know me so well, yet we aren't together."

I shrugged. "Whose fault is that?"

He glared at Ash, turning back toward him. "You're right. I can't do anything about Masters, though. But Ash...Ash I can kill!" He lunged for him again, showing me his fangs for the first time.

I gasped and jumped in front of Ash, stopping him. "Jaun, don't!" I yelped.

He stopped just short of sinking his fangs into my neck, his arms on either side of my head. Ash was on the ground behind me, his hands on my hips.

Everyone was silent for awhile, gaping at Jaun and I.

Finally, Jaun spoke, his head still positioned down. "Why...why do you protect him? Is it because you're in love with him?"

I shook my head. "Jaun...I'd protect anyone who you wanted to kill."

"Why, though?" His head snapped up to stare at me, begging for the truth. "Is it because you hate me?"

I shook my head again. "Of course not, Jaun. I just can't see you like that. I can't see you kill someone." He looked away, and was going to say something, but I wasn't done. "I'd never forgive you if you ever killed someone."

He gulped, looked at me with sad eyes, and then disappeared.

"Wha-What just happened?" I asked, confused on why he left.

"It's because you said you'd never forgive him. And, seeing as it is still a full moon, he won't be able to control himself around Ash and Ari. I have to admit, I want to kill them after that." Aiden said, prying himself away from Ari.

I smiled. "I'm glad you're not." Aiden...he was just so sweet. How is it that he's the sweetest, yet he's the one who kissed me before the others? Besides Jaun obviously.

Aiden smiled once more, before frowning and turning away from me.

"Aiden? Are you okay?" I asked, attempting to step closer to him, but he stopped me.

"Don't come any closer, Allegra. Okay? It's just going to make things more complicated."

"What do you mean?" I wondered, wishing that I could hug him. It wasn't easy watching someone so adorably sweet, sad.

Ash stood up, pulling me closer to him as Ari came over on my left, grabbing my hand and kissing it. "You see, Allegra. They're all mad that we got you and they didn't. We won the game." Ash chuckled, "I wonder what Dante's going to do."

That statement confused me, but I shook it off. "You guys keep saying you won the game...but I don't feel any differently. I feel like me."

Ari came closer, nibbling on my ear. "It won't last long. Tomorrow, when you wake up, you'll feel two distinct heart beats and then you'll be captured."

That confused me even more. "Is it like my heart skips a beat?"

Ari nodded, moving to the nook in my neck. "That'd be it."

"Well, then obviously it didn't work on me because I felt those two beats already and I'm still me."

Aiden whipped around to stare at me, while Micah zipped back to face me as well. "What?!" Everyone said, again, at the same time.

I nodded. "I don't have any special feelings for you guys. I mean, I just met you."

They exchanged glances. "But...just now! With Jaun--"

I shrugged. "I've known Jaun for awhile now...I don't want to see him kill anyone." I pulled away from the twins, and stared at the four of them as if they'd lost it. "I don't really understand this world...but I'm going to bed. That crying earlier has got me beat." Slowly, I walked to my room.

Once in my room, I collapsed on my bed. I was exhausted. So much has happened...and so fast! I was attacked, I had a fight with Jaun, I had a special moment with every single guy in this house, and Jaun tried to kill someone right in front of me. I really need someone normal in this house to keep me sane.

Right before passing out, I felt my heart beat slam once against my chest, which was weird. My anxiety wasn't all that bad to where it felt like that...and am I even breathing? Huh. Oh well...I'll just...fall asleep....

Chapter 16: Confused Mischief

Dante held me closer, squeezing me so tight as if he could absorb my pain and grief. I knew my tears were staining his shirt, but, at that moment, I didn't care. As selfish as it sounds, I didn't care about anything except for the fact that my ex has hurt me. He's hurt me over and over and over. So much pain and so many secrets. How was I supposed to feel but hurt and lost?

Dante was rocking me back and forth, the way you did when you were comforting a crying child who has awakened from a terrible dream. "It's okay, Allegra. Please. Just stop crying. Ssh. Ssh. It's okay."

I looked up at him, gazing at the gorgeous, distant look in his eyes. For some, unknown reason, my face heated up, embarrassment settling in my bones. He was very attractive, but could he really be a demon? He acted nothing of the sort. Shouldn't demons be aggressive devils who want to kill anything and everything in their path? But he-

"What?" he said, finally spotting my gaze upon him. His hair kind of blew in the wind as he looked at me, kind of the way a man's would if they were trying to charm a woman (cuz the wind always seems to work with the man who's trying seduce the innocent woman).

My face heated up further, looking away from him. "Oh...uh, it's-it's nothing. Really."

He smiled light, barely recognizable. "Are you feeling alright? Your face is kind of pink." He lifted his hand and lightly caressed my rosy cheeks.

Which just made made me blush more. "I'm fine. Really. But...um..."

"What is it?" he asked, suddenly curious.

I looked down, watching my hands as I fidgeted. "Well...it's about earlier. After Aiden got punched."

He sighed. "Oh."

I looked up at him. "Why did you run off? I mean, all I wanted was for you to apologize to Aiden. He was the  victim."

He unraveled his arms from my embrace, standing up. He didn't say anything, just let his mind wander as he looked into the distance.

I just sat there, gazing at his dark silhouette. "Dante..."

He probably didn't hear me, because all he did was continue to stare. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "You would never understand." And, with that, he spread his wings and flew, further and further away.

I sat there, contemplating his strange words. What wouldn't I understand? Why he didn't apologize? Well that's just odd. I would so understand if he'd just tell me. Ugh!

I heard a door open, and I looked behind me. Micah was standing there, staring at me from the roof door. "Hey, are you okay?"

I nodded, standing up. "Yeah...I'm fine. Now, anyways."

Micah smiled slightly, walking over to me. He grabbed my hand  and faced me. "Good. It was hard to see you cry."

I smiled. "You're sweet."

He smiled a bit wider. "I try," he teased. Then his face turned serious. "But...about earlier...there had been something we wanted to talk to you about."

I nodded. "Oh! Yeah, Kain told me about that. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" I leaned up towards him a little, earnest.

His face got slightly pink, but he continued on. "Well, we were going to give you the news about Jaun...but he ruined that."

"Yeah, don't remind me," I grumbled.

He ignored me. "But that wasn't the only reason. We also were going to talk to you about some new guest that are coming to stay with us for awhile."

"What about them?"

"Um, well...they're not exactly...normal."

I giggled. "Nothing about Rivara is exactly normal."

He smiled. "That's not what I meant."

I smiled. "Oh. So, what did you mean?"

"I meant that they can be real pains. They flirt with any girl they see and you have to be careful."

My eye brows scrunched. "Are they those flirts who touch girls like perverts?"

He shook his head. "Well, no..."

"Then, why do I need to be careful?"

He smiled patiently, caressing the cheek that Dante had just been touching. "It's because you're the prettiest girl ever in Rivara."

I blushed, looking away.

"Wait..." Micah said, moving my face back toward him.

His gaze bore into mine, making me blush even more. His gorgeous eyes had a twinkle that anyone could fall in love with. "What is it?"

He smiled, taking a deep breath. "I just want to try--"

He was cut off by a huge crash coming from down stairs. Our heads snapped toward the door, confused. Aiden was bounding up the stairs, and so Micah took a step back. I wonder why, though?

"Umm, Micah?" he said, hesitant.

Micah sighed. "What is it?" He looked very frazzled.

Aiden sighed. "Our honored guest have arrived...and have already made a mess."

Micah sighed again. "I'll go clean it up and give them a warning. Keep Allegra company until I tell you to come, okay?"

Aiden nodded. "No problem."

Micah smiled at me once more, then exited the roof.

I looked out over the horizon. More boys around...jeez. More testosterone-filled air to breathe. The only decent one around this place is Aiden really. He's such a sweet heart.

"Um...Allegra?" Aiden said, a bit shyly.

I smiled. "Yes, Aiden?" I turned to look at him and was cut off guard by how close he is.

The last thing I saw before it happened was how red his cute face was.

Aiden kissed me, his fingers wrapping around my wrist so that I was caught in the shocked embrace. My eyes were wide as found myself kissing him back. Is this really happening? It can't be...can it? His eyes were closed as he tried to deepen the kiss, and mine were beginning to close, too.

We stayed like that for a long moment, until finally he began to pull away. Pecking me a few times for a last taste. No words were said as we opened our eyes to gaze into one another's. We just stared for awhile.

"Okay, Aiden! You can bring Allegra down!"

Aiden smiled, squeezing our now-entwined hands. "I've been wanting to that for awhile."

"But...Aiden--"

He pressed his fingers to my lips. "Ssh, Allegra. We'll talk about it later. I know you probably didn't want to be kissed by me...but I just wanted to see." Then, without another word, he smiled and began to drag you to meet the new guest.


When we got to the living room, I noticed that Jaun was there, brooding. Brooding in the way that I used to find adorable, staring out the window. My shattered heart still skipped a beat in the memory.

When I entered the living room fully, Jaun looked at me. He smiled slightly to reassure me that he was okay now, but it didn't help my unease. He patted the empty seat next to him, and Aiden made his way over to lead me over there.

I didn't particularly want to sit next to Jaun, but now that I knew what was wrong with him, I had to give him just a bit of forgiveness...even if he had meant what he'd said. I gave him forgiveness...becaus a part of me still loved him.

Aiden was sitting on the other side of me, his thumb massaging my resting hand, while Jaun snaked his arm around my waist. I had thought that Aiden was going to say something, but he didn't. He's a sweet guy, after all.

"So, Allegra...these are our guests. Ash and Ari," Micah said in an introduction.

I looked away from Jaun and up to mysterious look-alike boys.

"Ah, you must be the wonderful Allegra we've heard so much about!" The one on the left said. Their arms were sort of hooked together, giving me the impression that they were very close.

"Say, you are much more beautiful than what was described to us." The one on the right said. He gave Micah a knowing look. "Did you tell us all that so that we would get bored and uninterested? That's not an angelic thing to do, ya know!"

Micah scratched his head nervously. "What did I tell ya, Allegra. Complete flirts."

I smiled. "They're not as bad as you described."

They walked over to Micah, each hooking an arm around his neck. "Aw, were you talking about us? You know how we feel when you do that." They said in unison.

Micah rolled his eyes.

They moved away from Micah and made their way over to me. They both offered their hands in greeting. "I'm Ari." The one on the right said.

"And I'm Ash." The one on the left said.

I smiled, shaking their hands. "It's nice to meet you."

"And you as well," they said, again, in unison.

I smiled wider at them, loving their care free attitude already. But, apparently, Jaun didn't. His hold on my waist tightened, and the twins noticed.

"Jeez, Jaun. What was that about?" Ari said.

He shrugged and played innocent. "What are you talking about?"

"What? Is she your mate or something?" Ash asked, seeing through his innocent game.

Jaun tightened his hold even more, smiling. "In fact, she--"

"He is my ex. Nothing more, nothing less," I said, removing his hand away from my hips.

"Ex, huh?" Ash said.

"Why ex? Jeez, Jaun. What did you do to get rid of her?" Ari continued.

Jaun didn't say anything. He simply looked away, sinking back into his depressed state.

The twins looked from Jaun to me for an explanation. But all I could say was, "It's in the past now. No need to worry about it any longer."

The twins both scratched their heads, causing the green hat they were wearing to fall to the ground, exposing the adorable little brown ears to be shown.

I started in surprise. "Wha--"

The twins looked from the hat to my shocked face. "Oh. They didn't tell you? We're Neko's."