Just Like Magic

Chapter 18 The Letter

Randalyn's POV

I watch Cassius kiss my hand gently heating up my body in so many ways as my chest feels compressed from the nervousness and anxiety of what is happening.

I have never had a man act like this around me but in my defense, my father never gave any person the chance to get close to me to even get to that point. But that also applies to the fact that I don't know what to do in these instances and feel like a child even though the feelings that are building up inside of me prove that I am not... I am 25... and obviously not as old as him since he looks years older than me... but that doesn't mean I can't be a good partner does it? I am inexperienced but I have love in my heart and hopefully, that's what matters.

I see him step closer as he continues to hold my hand between his. Even after kissing it, he is still holding it as he rubs his thumbs over my skin making chills run through every last inch of me out of straight nervousness.

"Randy." He says softly as we are instantly interrupted by his mother. "Cass!" He groans out as he yells back. "I'm a little busy mom." he yells back in response as she instantly retorts. "I know you are... but you need to come here.. now." She demands as he huffs but keeps hold of my hand as he turns around and walks us back to the little cottage.

He opens then holds the door for me to enter, so I do and he comes in right after me. We walk into the main room where she is sitting by the fire and staring at a letter in her hands. "Is everything alright?" Cassius asks as his mother looks at us, with worry showing through instantly.

"I got a letter... from the ministry... but more annoyingly, your father... they know you're helping her and they demand you bring her in," she says to us as Cassius gets mad at that. "That's not happening." He says this with so much protectiveness in his words that it makes my heart swoon.

"Well, it might have to." He scoffs loudly at that comment as he spats back. "Now why would he ever think I would do that?" his mother looks guilty as she hands the letter over to Cassius. He swipes it away and starts to read it as his mother says out loud why he should do this.

"They have Winnie and are offering her as a trade." She states to us making my mouth drop open. "Buts that's good that your father has her right? So nothing bad would happen to her then." I say as Cassius and Finley look incredibly sad and shaking their heads.

"There is a reason that I am divorced from that man... He doesn't think about anyone but himself." this automatically makes me sad that Winnie is stuck with a man that won't help her either. I know how that is and know how much that damages you.

But this makes me think about what this will mean for my future. I have to go in so we can save his family from torment from this ministry that does include his father. But with that thought, my heart hurts, as if someone just stomped on it. Of course, how ironic... I finally find a man that wants me, that's a great guy, just to not have that opportunity anymore by it being taken away almost instantly. There is no way he is choosing me over his sister.. even his mother is giving me up without hesitation and I understand why... it just sucks.

"Well, I won't give her up." He says to his mother about me, which doesn't just shock me but his mother as well. She opens her mouth to respond but Cassius doesn't give her the chance to say anything. "I won't give her up but I will get Winnie." He says to her as she scoffs loudly."How do you plan on doing that?"

He shrugs his shoulders at that question before saying. "Well the Ministry is on the other side of this forest so I'll make my way over there, starting tomorrow morning but since it will take a while to get there it will be starting to get dark when I get there... Do ill just wait until it's completely dark and break in at some point to try to make sure I'm not seen. I'll be stealthy because I'll be by myself and I'll get to her then get her out.. it will be fine.. but you have to take care of Randy for me." He demands from his mother. She sends a glare at me, looking livid and no one would blame her for those feelings.. her daughter is on the line because of me... I'm mad about it I can't imagine how mad she must be at this thought.

"Ok but if you're not back within a couple of days with your sister I will handle this myself." She demands from him, just implying that if he gets stuck that she will be giving me up for the sake of her children and once again I can't get mad at that threat. it's completely understandable. I know I would probably do the same if I had some kids too.

But this is making me furious that they are deciding all of this for me as if I'm not even here or have an opinion of my own.. but it's my life and I will be the one who decides what to do with it.

"Excuse me?" I say as they both look my way with a tinge of surprise on their features so I continue being stern showing there is no wiggle room in my words. "That's not going to happen." I quickly turn around to walk away as I head outside to leave... I won't let his sister, him, nor his mother get hurt for me. They don't know it yet... but they will get it figured out soon enough.

I walk out of the building and down the stairs to leave the property. "Randy," Cassius says to me from behind, causing my head to shake but my feet don't stop in stride. "Randy this is what's going to happen." I stop mid-step at his demand from me. He says this as if I don't have a say in what I do in my life when I know for a fact that I do... So I won't let anyone else control my life. I'm going to do what I want when I want.

To make sure he knows this, I spin around on my heels and face him while pushing my finger into his chest. This action shocks him completely. "This is my life and I will decide what to do with it. So if I don't think it's right then I'm not going to go with it.. So I'm going to tell you, this is what's going to happen.. I'm going to help your sister.. by turning myself in.. and you're going to get your sister home safe and sound." I declare to him.

"You are not. I won't let you put your life on the line for me and my family!" He yells at me as I yell right back. "Why not you guys already did it for me so why can't I repay the favor?!" I get mad thinking about all they have done for me and got nothing good in return... They would have been so much better off not knowing me.

"Well that's thoughtful but you can't... it defeats the purpose of us doing it in the first place for you!" He explain yells this at me as I turn around walking away with him stomping right behind me. I keep walking until I realize I'm not going anywhere. I look around realizing I am float-walking not going anywhere but my feet are moving as if I am walking but inches above the ground.

I stop walking, crossing my arms across my chest. He walks around and in front of me. "That's not fair." I spat at him pointing at my feet while trying to be mad at him.. But I can eek the smirk peering through my pinched lips. He smirks at me for a second letting me down slowly until my feet are touching the ground. I decide to stay in place so we can talk since he won't allow me to walk away from him heated... Which is sweet in a way but I'm scared and don't know how to deal with these feelings. I look up to see Cassius smirking before reaching over to touch my hand gently, then softly saying, "I needed you to listen to me." I shake my head still trying to play mad at him but I think he can tell this so I tear my gaze from his as I quickly retort. "No, I need you to listen to me. I am turning myself in."

"Why won't you let me protect you?!" He asks sounding completely irritated with my decisions. "I don't want anything to happen to you and your family... You're all so nice and have helped me out too much. I don't want anything else to happen to you! Why won't you let me protect you and your family?!" I yell at him as huffs out. "Because that's not what I want!" He says as I yell back at him. "Then tell me what you want?!"

"You! Is that too much to ask?!" my mouth opens then shuts as I think about that... He does partly deserve to have some say because we have a connection and I know we had decided to try this together. but that was before this peace of information came into the light.

I reach over and touch his cheek as I softly say. "I just don't want you to get hurt." He leans into my touch as he looks up at me and he says. "Is it so wrong to want the same for you? besides, it is my life and I can do what I want with it and if that's helping you in any way I can... then so be it .. that's my choice." I grunt out hating that comment from him because he is right.. I'm demanding he lets me do what I want and here he is doing the same thing.. If I expect him to do it for me then I need to do it for him. I nod at him as he hugs me but this isn't over I can already tell.. I kniw I can't let him put himself in danger so I'll figure out a way around it.

He wraps his arms around my shoulders leading me back into the cottage as we spend the rest of the night in an awkward silence with no one knowing what to say to one another. That is until I start to yawn getting really tired after everything. Cassius leads me to the back room to get some sleep. He gets everything pulled down so I can snuggle in as he lays on the chair beside me before taking my hand into his as he gently caresses his thumb over it.

I stare over at him for a little bit until I get the nerve to ask. "Please don't do this... I'll go turn myself in and get her out.. it will be easy.. but I don't want your sister nor you to get hurt. especially because of me." He just shakes his head not even considering it. "No, I can help you both... I promise it will be fine.. but I'm leaving in the morning and you're staying here until I can get back with my sister... then we will go be together." He declares as he lays his head back not giving me a chance to even be able to object.

He closes his eyes as I stare at him for a moment, he peaks through one eye lid at me as he winks then brings my hand to his lips, kissing it again. Making it so hard to be mad at him.

I keep thinking about everything that was said tonight and none of it is helping me relax... I want to have this future with Cassius but not at the sake of his sister or mother's happiness.. he could get hurt so badly trying to attempt this and I won't allow him to do this... So without saying it out loud I know what I need to do... I need to go and get her out myself.. before he has a chance to wake up. So I know he will be safe. I lay there for a little while staring at him. Ge us handsome even when sleeping, I feel like I coukd stare at him all the time. I keep staring for a long time, until I can hear him lightly snoring. I smirk to myself hearing the little squeak of his snore that's pretty adorable to say the least.

His hand loosens around mine so I'm able to slowly pull my hand out of his. I slowly sit up until I'm able to slip off of the bed. I walk right next to him until I bend down and lightly kiss his cheek before I tip-toe out of the room making sure he doesn't wake up. So I keep tiptoeing through the house until I get to the front door where my boots, jacket and bag are. I slip all of them on, one after the other as I hear from behind me. "You leaving my boy?" I turn around quickly to see Finley staring at me from the rocking chair by the fire. I figured she was asleep by now.

"I don't want any of them to get hurt for me so I'm turning myself in to help them," I explain to her as she nods at me and says. "You know, I don't hate you... no matter how I might have come off... I know I have been protective over my son and the creatures here but I can see that you're a good person and I wish you all the best.. and well... I'm telling you right now... I do respect your courage to make this sacrifice for everyone but yourself. It's selfless and shows how strong you are.. which is probably stronger than anyone I know... but I have to admit to you I won't stop my son from coming after you.. he is relentless and won't stop until he helps you, especially when he figures out you're gone... so he will come for you and Winnie and I won't stop him but I will try to stall him to help you out as much as I can.. just keep going north and after a while, you will see the edge of the tree line... there should be a town that way... but you have to go to the other end of town to get to the ministry. It's a huge building that looks like this." She says using her wand to display an image of a huge building that looks as if it was carved straight into a mountain by how tall and steep it is. I nod at her as she flicks her wrist again. This time a little bag flies over to me as I slowly grab it. I open it to see good and water in it. She smiles at me as she says softly. "Good luck and I wish you the best.. I really do.. and thank you." I nod taking the little bag to put into my backpack.

"Stay safe," I say to her as she nods and quickly states. "You too... I hope to see you again someday." I send her a small smile as I leave out the front door and walking through the empty-looking property since most creatures are asleep.. the only thing I can see out and about are the mooncalfs just frolicking around the pasture in the moonlight giving me one last smile before starting this hard mission.

Once I get out of the sanctuary I can feel a wave of a loneliness chill hitting me straight to the bone as I turn around to look at the sanctuary one last time... But no... The sad part about this is that I can't see anything anymore.. It's back to looking like the same dark endless forest as when I had first come here.

The cloak on this property works very well knowing what's behind it and how lucky I am to have experienced it for myself. I couldn't be happier about that idea. I got to see all of those awesome creatures in real life and got to have some fun with Cassius. Now thinking about it. it might have been the best day in my entire life so I don't regret one second of it. I just wish it would've lasted longer that's all. But I knew it wasn't going to last.

I let out a deep breath as I start my trek out of this forest for the first thing, then on to the sister. I huff out turning back around to leave. I trek through the thick trees and bushes, keeping an extra paranoid eye on everything around me. Anything that moves or makes a sound I make sure I'm pinpointing it's frame with my gaze. Or depending on what it is I just sneak past, keeping a close eye on the path.

A couple of times I have heard men passing me by or a small creature getting food as I sneak through everything trying to make sure I'm not seen.

Luckily my eyes have adjusted to the dark so this is getting easier the longer I just have myself to depend on. Plus the fact that the forest sounds are becoming repetitive so I'm figuring out what makes what sound and if it's bad or not.. and most are not bad just different.

This isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. This is the first time I have had confidence in myself and my newfound skills... This seems to be helping me learn so much about myself and I get to do something that I want to do for the person I like.. I feel almost heroic... and I'm happy that I at least I get to experience some things along the way before I turn myself in. That's living life to my fullest, while I can, and I don't regret one bit of it.