Footsteps landed at the other end of the bridge as he finally broke the door down and launched himself at me. “Answer me!” He pinned me to the back wall, his forearm pressed against my chest as his sharp nails scraped against my bicep. His breath came in deep waves over my neck and the sight of how dark his blue eyes had become made me swallow my fear and adjust my hand.
“What are you?” I asked him boldly, slipping my thin blade between us to rest on his sternum. “For you the line between Demon and Berserker is looking pretty thin right now, Alistair.” His rage boiled over and he pressed against me further. Pain broke over my arm as his nails sunk in but I also felt him wince against the knife. “Ah-ah, I wouldn’t.”
“You conniving, little bi-”
He didn’t finish his insult. His weight lifted as Ethan landed his fist on Alistair’s jaw and he rounded, standing in front of me, teeth bared, hunched over and ready to attack. Alistair recovered quickly and readied himself to pounce, only to be thrown again by Ric. Instead of letting him fall, Ric locked his arms around him and dragged him backwards toward the door.
“So this is how it works now?” he snarled in a voice that wasn’t quite his. “She opened her legs for you and now she’s the centre of the Daeus-damned operation. I thought you would have learned after the last time you thought with your-” He cried out as Ric bent his arms inwards, causing one of his shoulders to pop out of place.
“You need to start controlling yourself, Alistair,” Willow snapped. “What happened in your past was a tragedy, something nobody should ever have to face, but today you’re threatening my family as well as your own. Should this happen another time, I will make sure you cannot ever threaten us again.” Something about Willow’s tone didn’t sit well with me. She was loving and fair. Yet to make such a threat to your own family, deserved as it was, just…didn’t sit well.
“And I will welcome it,” Alistair strained before he was dragged away.
The world breathed.
“Is it just me that makes him that way?” I asked after a few moments of silence.
“He used to be like the rest of us, once. But grief can destroy us if we let it. A part of Alistair died alongside his loved ones, a long time ago.” Willow took a steadying breath.
With the excitement gone, all eyes turned to me as I stood with my knife still exposed. “You must have a death wish talking to Alistair like that,” Ethan said, pushing the blade down gently.
“Well I figured it’s been at least a week since someone’s tried to kill me, so I wanted to shake things up a bit, you know,” I said, sheathing my dagger. “I’ve never been one to back away from a fight.”
“We knew that already,” he said. “I had hoped it would be a little bit different when you knew how unstable the person trying to kill you was.”
“If not Alistair it’ll be Stephan. If not Stephan, it’ll be Gabriel. If not Gabriel, it’ll be something else in Vremia. Daeus, even Theron wants to eat me. I’m sure of it.”
“Is it wrong to admire that degree of stubbornness?” Chester asked, stepping over the broken door.
“Yes,” Ethan grumbled. “Thanks for stepping in, by the way.”
Chester smiled, gave him a thumbs-up and turned back to me. “Are you sure you’re Gnathian?”
“I’ve been one all my life so I’m pretty certain.” I shrugged.
“Was your mother into witchcraft?”
“No.”
“…Father a Wood-Elf? I could see some Wood-Elf in there.”
“No.”
“What about your grandmother? It always lies in the blood of the grandmother-”
“Honestly,” I interrupted, “I’m a sad, measly little Gnathian with a very active imagination.”
Daniel made a curious noise from his corner of the room. “That’s hardly fun,” Chester said. He tilted his head, listening to noises I couldn’t hear. He cracked his knuckles and headed for the door. “I’d best go after him. In his state of mind, I wouldn’t put it past him to take on the nearest Berserker camp alone.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.” Willow traced the lines under her eyes.
“I’ll check in again soon to see how things are progressing.” Chester’s eyes flicked to me for a split second before continuing, “as well as updating you on my findings.”
Willow placed her hand on his shoulder. “Until we see each other again, dear friend.”
“Keep your eyes open. Things are changing; you can feel it in the air.” Chester looked at me once more before leaving. And I think you might have a role in it, he seemed to say. He walked outside, pulled himself over the railing, and disappeared into the dense foliage below. Daniel didn’t glance back as he followed after him.
“I’m sorry,” Willow said, her smile fading. “Though Chester has been a trusted friend for so many years I daren’t risk letting him know anything more about you, Ava.”
“I thought he was your ally?” I asked.
“He is, but not to you,” Willow said gravely. “If he believes you’re a threat to our cause he won’t hesitate to put you down or hand you over to the enemy.”
“I just can’t stop making friends here, can I?” I walked over to the chair and flopped into it.
“Little sparrow,” Willow cooed. “They’ll understand in time. For now, we need to keep an eye on these strange occurrences. As I’m sure you’re aware these dreams you’re having aren’t normal, especially when it comes to Gnathians.”
“You’re not considering Chester’s accusations, are you?” Lavender blurted.
“Of course not. For all we know it could be something to do with this new senior being in such close quarters with her.” Willow turned her attention back to me. “This Roan is familiar to you, yes?”
I nodded. “He’s my brother.”
She studied me. “Something is undoubtedly going on in your mind. Don’t worry, we’ll get to the bottom of it.” I didn’t like Willow’s tone.
“You can’t believe she’s been in on it. Do you actually think she knew about her brother’s new status?” Lavender argued.
“I’m just asking you to keep an eye out for anything unusual. I don’t care if it’s a new dream or if she sprouts an extra toe, as long as I hear about it.”
“I am still in the room,” I said, waving from my chair.
“Sorry,” Willow apologised and turned back to the others. “Perhaps keeping an eye on Ava will keep you three out of trouble for once.”
“I doubt it,” Ric smirked. “Trouble seems to follow this one wherever she goes.” He jerked his thumb toward me.
“Unfortunately, I think that’s true,” Willow said. “Sweetheart, our rounds start in an hour. Don’t be late down.”
Willow exited the room without another word. Lavender walked to the broken doorway, staring after her mother before turning back to the rest of us. “I’ve rarely seen Mother this uneasy. She always takes on that frosty tone and rubs her hand across her eyes like this.” She repeated Willow’s actions.
“A lot has happened today. She could have died had Ava not-”