(Amaia)

With difficulty, we pacify Alnitak and calm him down enough that he can return to the Infirmary after taking a bath.

"I will come to you in an hour." I give him a soft kiss on the cheek before he leaves with Min.

Turning towards Rigel, I hug him. "Thanks for calming his heart and understanding him."

Rigel’s shadows hover over my head and shoulders as if saying goodbye for now.

"He is my younger brother. I understand how difficult it is to lose your mother."

I can’t help but gush over how he hasn’t lost his humanity after what he has been through.

With that, Rigel turns towards Saiph and instructs. "Take care of her in my absence." His eyes slightly narrow at his twin but an amusing smile creeps up on his ruby-hued lips.

"Seems like a part of my shadow wishes to remain by your side." My eyes follow Rigel’s line of sight and I observe a tiny black smoky figure sitting on Saiph’s right shoulder, trying to crawl under his uniform.

Saiph amusedly nods. "Seems like it. Just how a lock of Alnilam’s hair chose Amaia. A part of your shadow has chosen to stay with me."

"Fascinating," I cannot help but smile seeing this interaction and that tiny smoky figure dancing on Saiph’s shoulder like an overexcited child.

"It feels the connection with Saiph," Alnilam says, moving closer to me.

With a nod, I request, turning to my silver-haired mate. "Be careful."

"We will be." Alnilam’s hair hugs me one last time, before retreating and hiding under his bandana.

"Get her the potion from TJ," Alnilam tells Saiph.

"I will." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Eeewww! Why don’t you guys have to drink it?" I make disgusting faces which makes the three of them laugh.

Their combined laughter is beautiful and addictive. One day, I hope we can all sit together in the open and laugh as much as we want.

"Our collective apologies for that." Rigel ruffles my hair with his long fingers.

With final goodbyes, both of them leave. Saiph helps me dress up and we head for my room with a heavy heart. Their collective scents still cling to me like the last remnants of the sunlight right before the cold wintery evening begins. I don’t want to wash it away.

A dread weaves into my heart and my worries amplify.

"Amaia! What is it?" Saiph asks, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"I worry for them."

"Don’t, they know how to take care of themselves." Closing the door to my room, he helps me undress and leads me towards the shower.

"I know but it’s natural. I can’t control this feeling."

"I understand. Let me help you wash," he offers but I shake my head.

"No, let me take a bath on my own today and then I would like to go to Min and Ali."

With a nod, he gives me privacy. "I will also take a bath and return." He closes the bathroom door behind him and I hear the click on my room’s door.

Opening the shower, I take time to rub myself clean and brush my teeth. I feel fresh but at the same time, their calming scents are gone, leaving a void behind.

I ponder over everything.

My heart goes restless as I slowly put on my clothes. Jeans and a hoodie. My comfort dress.

Wrapping my hair in the towel, I leave my bathroom and come to stand in front of the vanity, slowly drying my hair.

The door is opened and Saiph walks in. He must be bringing me that horrible potion. His hair is slightly damp and he holds the glass vial with blue liquid. He is fully suited up in his uniform with his scythe at the back and hands clad in glovelets.

His eyes have this intensity to them, dark and cold.

"Here!" He extends the bottle towards me and I accept.

"Haha, so yummy." I pull out the cork with an ironic smile and place it on my lips, tilting it inside my mouth.

The liquid hits my tongue and throat and I wait for the familiar horrid taste. It doesn’t come, this is bland, kind of tasteless.

I remove the bottle from my lips and turn towards Saiph, extending the empty bottle towards him.

"The taste was different. Are you sure this was the correct potion?" I ask, confused.

Saiph doesn’t answer, just accepts the bottle from me which I find strange.

Suddenly, my head feels dizzy, my vision doubles and then triples. Saiph remains standing, watching me with vacant eyes.

I try to steady myself but my feet won’t remain stable. My head spins so violently that I tumble towards the ground.

Saiph’s huge arms catch me before I hit the floor.

A guilt flashes across his face which I capture before my eyes close along with an apology.

"Forgive me, Amaia."

’He drugged me but why?’ This is the last thought which comes to my mind before I faint in his arms from the betrayal.

The heavy throbbing of my heart wakes me up. My eyelids seem to have iron bearings hanging from them. I force them open and slowly focus them.

Where am I???

What happened???

The questions erupt in my drug-induced brain. I am on a cold floor. Slowly I lift my head so the world can become clear.

Chains rattle as I drag my hand and feet. I have been bound by thick black metal chains and my right hand is chained to the floor, I can’t move it.

My body aches, every muscle, every nerve as if I had been doing strenuous exercises. Even dragging my arm hurts.

That dread I had felt while separating from my mates, I now understand.

I am in a room, her secret room. Frantically, my head turns, my heartbeat spikes.

The black marble table with the globe. The shelves with glass bottles, the window. Everything reveals the worst that she has me kidnapped through Saiph.

But, how?

I broke the curse on him, burnt his voodoo doll.

And then her haunting voice comes and she gracefully walks forward in an evening ruby gown. A stylish black gemstone is embedded on the bodice. A thin black chain which seems to rapidly move along her neck, decorates it.

She comes to stand above me. Her violet eyes, which Alnilam has inherited from her, are terrifying and brutally cold today.

"I thought it was time we properly met and had a conversation. Apologies for the poor choice of seating for you but creatures like you belong on the floor."