Just Like Magic

Chapter 20 I Could Leave

Randalyn's POV

When seeing my pile of clothing that has been hanging in the air, by the magic he used to bring it to me. I grab one layer at a time to try to get covered up quickly. I'm embarrassed being naked around anyone, and even though I know we don't have much light to expose me, I'm still embarrassed... I can't help but just pretend I'm alone, as if this didn't just happen.

I'm not embarrassed or regret the moment we just shared, I'm just self-conscious because I can feel his eyes on me, and there is a part of me that wants to know what he thinks of this sight. But there is a part of me that wants him to forget, like he didn't just see every last bit of me when we both know he did.

It's cold out here, so I'm going to use that as my excuse to not stay naked in front of this handsome man. I keep glancing up at him with each layer applied to my frame. But everytime I do, the smile on his face gets bigger, making mine appear automatically. My face feels hot so I'm assuming I'm blushing since it has nothing to do with the weather. "Dont worry about it, I think you're gorgeous." he says to me as I shake my head about ready to object, but he quickly shuts it down. "There is nothing you can say to change my mind.. I think you're stunning, so deal with it." I keep smiling as I stop objecting, just sharing my smile and comforting moment with him.

His smile is warm and welcoming, making me really want to spend every single minute of every single day with him. This feels crazy to me but he has already wedged his way into my heart without even trying.. I don't understand it.. I keep trying to fight it but I can't.

I notice him moving, getting my attention as he backs up and leans against the tree wall. Once he is comfortable, he motions with his hand for me to join him. I go to his side without hesitation as he wraps his arm around my back and pulls me into his chest. My arms automatically wrap around his torso as he leans back, closing his eyes. My head fits perfectly on his chest as my body starts to really relax in his hold, melting into his side. The exhaustion is so strong that I feel his comfort relaxing me so much more, that I feel that I could pass out at any moment. I bet he is just as relaxed as I am and, after that invigorating session, I can only assume that he is as exhausted as I am.

"Are you ok? Especially with everything that just happened?" he asks me while rubbing his hand over my back. I turned my face on his chest, staring up into those green orbs that hold only comfort and happiness in them. I nod at him, as he quickly asks. "Honestly, are you ok?" I nod again before saying, "I couldn't be better.. I can honestly say that this whole day is the best I have ever had, in so many ways." I turn my face away from his smiling one as I feel myself getting slightly sad, knowing that soon enough this amazing day and time with him will have to end.. that is something that we haven't talked about yet and I don't know if we will.

I'm seen as a disease and they need to cut this off before it spreads.. They are negotiating to either be nice or set him up, which means he could get hurt in the process... which is the last thing I want.. but what's supposed to happen when his sister gets out of that place.. They are only holding her to get me out of this world. Cassius acts as if all will be solved once his sister is back at home with his mother, but I know it's not done with.. I don't want to live a life in hiding and I have no idea how this would work if we are just on the run every day.. Not saying I don't want to do this with him, because believe me, if I had a choice of a partner in crime it would be him in a split second.. But he doesn't deserve that life.

I know they will continue to come after me until they have gotten rid of the disease.. and I think that means that he won't get his way and get hurt because it's not as cut and dry as he would like to think it is. I'm going to have to be turned in no matter how much both of us want to fight this.. I'm just scared of what will happen to me.. Will they kill me? Will they send me back? Will they experiment on me? I don't know and I'm terrified to say the least.

"Are you ok?" I ask him as he lets out a deep breath, "Yeah, I'm perfect, I just wish this could last forever." he says to me as I nod and snuggle into his chest more as his grip tightens on me before he says as a whisper to me. "It's going to be ok."As if he knows exactly what I am thinking.. and I want to believe him it's just very hard to do so. I nodded as I let out a deep breath just soaking in this calming moment with his pinewood scent filling my senses and helping me fall asleep almost instantly.

----------Hours Later-----------

I wake up with a stretch and a yawn feeling better than I have in so long. I reach out but feel nothing, my eyes pry open to look around, just to see that I am alone. I sit up quickly, looking all around me, confirming that Cassius was nowhere to be seen. What the hell? He left me here? Was this his whole plan to get me back after leaving him at his mother's house? So what does that mean? He distracted me with the sexiest and probably best moment of my life, just to wear me out and then leave me here so he could get a head start? I can't believe he would do that, even though I kinda did that to him, just a more toned down version of this plan... So maybe it is believable... dammit... karma is such a b*tch.. I guess that's what I get for already doing that to him.

I keep looking around as I grab my things to shove into my backpack with a huff. The fire is put out but a tiny stream of smoke still makes it way out of the pile. I huff out again thinking about that fire and how all this got started.. it was literally the best time of my life.. so I guess it's something for me to hold onto... but I'll still be mad at him for leaving me here... I thought we were going to do this together. I really looked forward to this next day of us spending every moment together until I had to get to the Ministry.

I grab my taser to put it away, until I decide to keep it on me for my trip, just in case I run into anyone else out here by myself... and if I to have the chance to catch up with Cassius, I might just need that taser to 'accidentally' attack him with it again for leaving me here. I would like to say I'm not surprised but I really am.. I thought he was different and meant it when he said he planned to do this with me and take care of me.. but I'm used to being lied to by people, so I guess I'll just put that entry into my book of lies and move on.

I do understand his urgency to get his sister back and safe... So he can move as quickly as he wants and maybe I'll show up right after he gets her, to turn myself in and secure their safety... whatever I need to do to help these people that have helped me lots already. I flip my backpack over my shoulder, to start my trek by myself. I peak out from the wall of trees and see nothing. I sneak out, looking at the ground to possibly follow his footprints to lead me out of here. I notice that they only make it about 20 feet out before the footprints are smeared all over.. I keep looking at the evidence of his travels before I notice his wand on the ground. I squat down and look at the wand until I blink a couple of times, realizing that it has blood on it. My mouth drops open. He was attacked. I stood straight up and looked around to try to find something else.. There are other footprints, but smaller than his.. They are leading away from here. So I put his wand into my backpack as I slowly make my way across the land just following whoever footprints these are.

I'm getting freaked out the further I go, just hoping that Cassius is ok. Once I get close enough, I can hear men laughing and yelling in the distance between us. I squat down behind some trees as I finally see some men walking around and looking at the ground. I think they are following tracks, and since that's the area I passed by yesterday, I know that some will lead them straight to me, so I have to hide until I can find Cassius.

I sneak through the trees and hiding behind bushes as I peek over and around, before moving onto the next tree. I keep my eyes out for all the different men, hoping to see Cassius, but nothing is coming into view. I can still only hear them. I keep sneaking closer and closer to the noise as the yelling gets so loud, as if they are standing right next to me. "He says the girl is not out here so we should just move on."one man says to the other. I can't see who is talking, but the other man quickly responds. "He is saying that to protect her, that's all.. we have to get the information out of him one way or another."

I suck in a sharp breath, hating the idea that they might be talking about Cassius, but that is not confirmed yet.. but either way, these men sound dangerous and that's not good for anyone involved. I peek over to see the men shake their heads as they turn around and walk beyond this bush I am hiding behind. I let out a deep breath as I slowly wedge myself into this bush behind me, not trying to make too much noise, just hoping it will be enough to cover me at all angles. I get into there, with some actual room around me to move, surprisingly enough. I keep ducking down noticing men walking past, but none of them seem to even notice me. I can see bugs around me and as much as I want to freak out with every creepy crawly that comes my way, I need to stay hidden.

I look around in here as best as I can with it still being so dark. I notice a small hole on the side, so I hold my eye close to it to peak out as if I'm looking through a telescope. I look around, seeing that there are at least 10 men, but they are all walking around and I know I can hear men behind me so probably more than that. Most are laughing as they surround something on the ground. I can't tell what it is but I can see there is something there. "We need something substantial to go off of or this won't end." One man in that group states this as I hear from within the circle of men. "If your waiting for me to give her up, then we will be here for all eternity or until you kill me.. so you might as well leave now." I hear from the all too familiar voice.

Once they back up, I feel as if I have been punched in the gut. It's Cassius on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. He is bloody and barely able to sit up on his own because of all the beating these men have given him. My heart drops into my stomach as I feel my eyes welling up. "You can't protect her." One man says to him as Cassius scoffs at that. "Yes I can." The man snaps as the others just kick, hit and beat him to the point that he is lying on the ground not moving. I shake my head, wanting to just run out there and give myself up for him. I can't believe I thought he left me behind when he is here still defending me on his last limb.

The man grabs him by his shirt and pulls him onto his knees. "Come on man, you can't give up now, we're not done yet.. stay awake." This man asking all the questions, waves his wand as the vines from the tree behind them, wraps around Cassius bringing him up and to the tree to sit straight up and face them. "Ok come on man.. were trying to be nice but if you're not going to work with us then we will just have to get a mean." The man says to him again slapping his cheek as Cassius pulls his bloodied face away from his touch.

"Now where is she?" He just shakes his head, not responding at all to his question, as the man nods at the other men in his group. They punch and kick him many times. All I can see is the blood and dirt flying all over, making my heart tear into a million pieces at that sight.. why won't he just tell them where I am at? Why won't he save himself?

I suck in a sharp breath as I watch them back up and exposing a bloodied face, as Cassius spits out the blood onto the ground. "Come on... tell me where she is... this is easy.. you can just tell us where she is at and we will take her and leave you.. you won't have to worry about a thing ever again. Just wash your hands of this whole situation. It will be like it never happened." He explains to Cassius as he just shakes his head. "I would rather die." he says to them, spitting out more blood as he looks up until our eyes lock. He stiffens then swallows as he stares at me, not making any other movements.

I show him my taser as he quickly shakes his head. I show him my knife and he does the same as the men discuss what to do off to the side. I wipe away my tears as I show him my knives. I can see his jaw clenching as he shakes his head again. I just want to help. I don't know how besides giving myself up. I wipe away more tears, still staring at him as he shakes his head. "You should just go... Don't worry about me." He says looking straight into my eyes as I shake my head, wiping the tears, not wanting to leave him here to be tortured or killed.

This gets the men's attention, "Oh don't you worry man, we will get going soon enough and, I can promise you won't be a worry after we are done with you." The lead man says this as he steps closer to him, just whispering something to him as he shakes his head at him. "She is not like that." He says to him as he laughs at that comment. "She has probably left you high and dry at this point my man, but if she hasn't, I'm hoping that if you won't tell us about her then she will just come to us... and I will make her do whatever I want." he says to him as Cassius just swallows with his eyes not leaving mine as he shakes his head more.

Another man runs up to the main man as he says. "I found their camp but she isn't there, there are two sets of tracks. I assume the bigger ones are his and the smaller are hers. I would assume because the fire is still smoking that she is right around here.. it's so much closer than we thought, right about where we originally found him." He declares as the men hop around in excitement, as if they are on a fox hunt just wanting to be involved in the chase.

The main man grips this informer by the shirt and demands of him. "You stay here with him and you two join him here just in case she shows up. Men, the rest of you scatter around and find her.. whoever comes back with her will get a bonus and specially mentioned to the president." he instructs, as the men quickly scatter out into the woods around.

I lean back just hoping to not be seen, as I hear the men scattering in the woods around. I slowly unzip my bag to reach into it with the tinge of a good idea.. I only have part of it figured out, but part is better than none and I'll just have to wing it from there. So I pulled out my knives and leaving the taser out as well, while grabbing the bear mace because I finally have a reason to use it, before putting my backpack back on. I shove the knives in my pockets as I hold onto the bottle of mace and the taser in each hand.

I look out the little hole to see a couple of the men pacing back and forth in front of Cassius.. But Cass won't stop staring at me. I think he knows what I want to do. I nod at him practically pumping myself jump for this already hard mission. But as he sees me doing this, he starts to vigorously shake his head, over and over again. He is mouthing the words, NO.. over and over again. But I know he wouldn't listen to me and run. I know this from experience that he would go toe to toe with this treat to save my life and believe me, I plan on doing the same for him.

I look around, seeing a couple of rocks, so I quickly grab them, before letting out a deep breath. I have seen this distraction used in movies. I just hope it works for me as well. I throw each rock at the same time, but in opposite directions, so hopefully get a couple of the men guarding Cassius to walk away for a moment. Once the rocks crash to the ground, the men look at each other as one says. "You go check it out over there and I will do the same over here, but you stay with him." They nod understanding the instructions, as two men walk away with one man still standing there keeping guard. I quickly burst through the bush as I instantly get close enough to taser this man. He is groaning out as he collapses to the ground convulsing. I reach into my pocket and pulling out my knife. I flip out the blade as I stand in front of Cassius who looks livid with me.

"I told you no.. I told you to go and leave me.. and what do you do? You risk your life to save mine? Why can't you just do what I ask? Why else do you think I threw myself out there this morning before we were ambushed by them? because I wanted to make sure they didn't get you. He says to me before I cut one vine after the other. "I won't leave you here." He tries to be mad as he sends a glare my way as I playfully respond. "You can't act like your surprised that I am stubborn and doing what I want to." he scoffs at that comment still staring at me, so I wink at him as he sighs.

"Please just go before they come back.. be selfish for once please." He begs as I shake my head. "Whether you like it or not, I like you and I won't leave you." he shakes his head as I finally get through the next vine.. these are thicker than what I originally thought and my knife is not as big or sharp as I had hoped.