Heart desired

//chapter 6//

6.

As soon as I got off, I met Daniel.

He was waiting for me at the bus stop, carrying both of our backpacks. I kind of felt guilty for him. I hopped my way towards him. He saw me and got up, giving me my bag. "This is heavy."

I took it. "I put some rocks to strengthen my back muscles."

He rolled his eyes. "No kidding. So where were you?"

I saw an old women eyeing us up and down, scowling. Seriously, some mortal old women need to mind their own business. Some of them were precious, but this type of them seemed to have spent their whole life hating on someone else. I took Daniel's arm just to make her feel more grumpy and uncomfortable. She scowled more and went inside. I smiled, satisfied. Daniel looked at me, rolling his eyes. "Leave the poor lady alone."

"She needs to mind her own business." I said, shrugging. "I showed Penelope and her friends some illusion. And then-"

"Wait. You used magic? But you said you was not going to." He looked at me like he didn't know me at all.

"Yep, I did. I wasn't going to, but just fighting with them verbally didn't do me any good so I used some magic." I lied like it was the most normal thing in the world, shrugging. He looked like he didn't believe me at all, but what proof does he have? I wasn't worried at all.

"What about the traces? I didn't feel any."

"I covered them up. It's hard to do so when it's my own magic, but Cecily taught me a way." I said. Cecily was my friend from Warren. Daniel knew how much she meant to me and how much I was devastated after her death, so I knew that he wouldn't push me after mentioning her.

As I guessed, he dipped his head in acknowledgement but didn't ask anything. I continued. "Then, I felt someone watching me from somewhere. Since I was using magic anyways, I used sensoring and found him on the stairs. I sent a tracking butterfly and started to follow him."

"What?!" He looked into my eyes, anger boiling in his eyes. "You followed him? Do you have any idea just how dangerous that is? And you texted me saying you were SAFE!"

"I know, I know." I said, taking out the key and opening the front door. We went inside, closing the door as we went. "Anyways, I lost him after I chased him for two or three blocks, so I came back. I had to cover my tracks all the way so it took me twice as time to get here."

Daniel looked at me, stil furious. "And it would have killed you to take me with you, or at least tell me what you were doing." He paced around. "I am really, honestly glad you are safe and sound, but it doesn't mean you should go and follow every dangerous being out there."

"Thank you for your concern." I said. "I know you are mad, but I really am capable of taking care of myself."

Daniel looked up at the ceiling. "Okay, since it's just this once, I will let it go. And we will move in three days, so pack your things."

I nodded. I didn't like keeping Daniel in the dark. But he was here because he helped me before. He could not see his family or friends because of irrational decision I made in the past. If he was inside Rawen, he would have become a trainee knight by now. I ruined his perfectly fine future.This time, if my actions were to take me down, I've decided to do that alone.

And there is also the promise I made to Savin.

"I'm going to take a shower." I said, heading to my room.

"Okay, go ahead." He sat on a chair and turned the tv on.

-

It was past midnight when I felt chills behind my back. Someone was watching me.

I was doing my homework after packing two thirds of my stuff. Even if doing homework was absolutely unnecessary since we were moving out in three days, I didn't want to go to school empty handed even for a day.

Call me any name you want. It wasn't easy growing up as the only heir to the throne of Rawen. I had my own trauma.

I turned slowly. It was jist like yesterday. Street lights flickering, wind blowing. The powerful yet familiar aura could be sensed. I stared out in to the darkness. What was Savin doing here at this time?

Just like yesterday, there was a piece of paper on my floor within seconds. But unlike yesterday, Savin didn't go away after giving me the paper. He was waiting for a reply.

I picked up my dagger. His aura felt kind of hostile. I picked up his message from the floor, and my blood went cold.

Where did you go this afternoon?

"Daniel." I called out. No answer came. "Daniel." I called out again, this time a little louder.

"Yeah?" He asked from his room.

A shadowy figure appeared outside of my window and put his finger to his mouth, gesturing me to be silence. I swallowed.

Then he pointed to the paper in my hands. It was clear what his intentions were. He wanted an answer.

I slowly retreated to my table and teared off a piece of paper. Then I wrote my reply and placed it on the floor, the same place he put his massage on.

Daniel came to the room, rubbing his eyes. He must had been sleeping, judging from his bed hair and wrinkled clothes. In a split second, the paper on the floor was gone, and so was the figure outside. "Nasha? Why did you call? I swear to god if it is because-"

I grabbed Daniel's hand. "Someone is following us. We have to get out. Right now."

He was fully awake in the next second.

"How much time do we have?"

"Less than five minutes. Grab weapons and emergency packs. And some money." I said, putting on some fighting gears designed in Rawen. Daniel was doing the same. His pack and weapons were already on places.

I grabbed everything I want and we were out from the house in seconds.

"Care to explain what happened?" Daniel asked as we ran towards the main road. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, a loud bang and a shock wave pushed me off the ground.

I hit the floor hard. It took me a couple of seconds to grasp where I was. As soon as I could move, I sat up. "Daniel?"

"Here." He said in a small voice. I looked in his direction, but he was looking at somewhere else. I followed his gaze and swore.

Where our apartment was a few seconds ago was now a roaring fire. Everything was burning. Neighbours were coming out of the rooms, half dressed and screaming. Fire alarms were ringing everywhere.

And on the top of the building, our stalker stood, unfazed by the flames. And he was looking directly at us.

"Let's get out of here." Daniel said, standing up but wobbling a bit. I couldn't blame him. I was the same.

"Where to go?" I asked, running like I never did before. Our little friend was close behind us, which I could sense from his aura. I somehow sped up.

"I don't know!" Daniel screamed. "To Rawen's borders?"

"Too far!" I yelled back. That would take at least forty five minutes from a vehicle. Running there would take forever. Then I remembered something. "I know a place!"

"Where?!" he asked.

I yelled. "To the school!"