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“Bring me the Wizard.” Had been Gemini’s orders. Bring the Wizard into the empty lot of Gemini’s new home – an abandoned apartment complex that was rumored to be knocked down soon. Getting the Wizard to come along to the area had been easy. A call for help from a Hunter to a Wizard was like a moth to a flame of light. They lived to help. But the Wizard Gemini wanted was no stranger to Bella, in fact, she knew the Wizard quite well. He had been a friend once, and then at some point a baby sitter when Savannah ordered Bella to stay home.

The cold air and snow fell and hit Bella with a gentle force as she shifted on her feet. Her eyes looking over to the apartment complex before looking around for the Wizard. His name had been Charles, a simple name for a Wizard. It always amazed her that he had such a simple name compared to the others she had met before. And compared to other Wizards, Charles was quite normal. The only thing that made him different from humans was the fact that his eyes would change to colors that no other human could have. Purple, gold, sometimes even a bright indigo color – that one was Bella’s favorite.

It seemed like forever before Bella spotted Charles walking into the empty car lot. A hop to his step as if he was excited to meet up with her. She felt a tinge of guilt, a voice in her head told her to scream for him to run away – that it was a trap. One that he was willingly walking into. She shivered and covered her ears once to block out the voices that roared into her mind before it fell silent. She was breathing heavily. She had no doubt that it was the cause of one of Gemini’s demons. Jess was his name, she believed. He liked to mess with her thoughts, jumbling them up to make no sense and then adding voices that didn’t need to be there. Glaring over her shoulder at the complex, she focused her gaze on Charles who came into full view.

“Bella!” His accent was almost thick, showing he was far from New York. According to what he had told Bella once, his family came from France. His father was a brave Wizard who kept terms on the Wizards in France and the close European countries. When Charles turned eighteen, he left for America where he met Savannah. Any time he spoke of her sister, she knew he had something for Savannah. Something that wasn’t returned, but he didn’t seem to mind. Isabella gave a weak smile as she focused on his arms around her small frame and hugged him fiercely. She breathed in deeply, taking in his pine needle scent. Would this be the last time she spoke to him?

“Why on Earth did you drag me out here, hm?” He rested his hands on her shoulders, she prayed that he didn’t feel her shaking underneath her thick coat, and if he did, would just mistake it from the cold weather. She forced herself to look up at him, giving yet another smile as she took his face into her memory. The crook of his nose that leaned forward, the long scar that shifted on his cheek. Savannah said the scar made him look like he lost a fight with a bear, Isabella believed it made him even more amazing. Her eyes looked over his eyes, feeling her breath catch in her throat. His eyes were her favorite – the bright indigo color. That was it.

She gripped onto his shirt tightly, her eyes wide with fear and weakness. “Char, you have to get out of here, its a trap. They used me to get you to come here —” She gave out a loud squeak as something nasty hit her square in the back. She slumped against him before being ripped away from him. “No!” She cried out, trying to reach for his shirt – something to grip on and keep him close to her. Another Wizard silenced her and gripped her hair back, telling her the things he would do to her since she disobeyed Gemini’s rules. Charles looked at her once, she pleaded with him with her eyes. I’ll be fine, her eyes shined, just go! He nodded, he would alert Savannah and the others, yes, that was what he would do!

As he turned around, his eyes locked with red ones. In an instant, Bella knew all was lost. She turned her head away to avoid the scene that was about to unfold. A cold hand took her chin firmly and made her watch. The horrible Wizard made her watch Gemini ask Charles questions about the other demons and Wizards. Anytime he denied to answer there was a yell and tears were spilled from Bella. The questioning seemed to last forever before he took one last glance at Bella. “Let her go.” He said weakly, a drop of blood was sliding down his face from the wound on his head. His eyes were unfocused for a moment before he locked eyes with Bella. “Let her go and I’ll answer whatever you want.” He finished, looking over at Gemini who was laughing.

“I’m afraid, dear Wizard, I simply cannot do that. You see,” She bended over him and held her hand against his warm cheek. “I need her to finish a job for me. Anything she disobeys to, someone gets hurt… or dies.” She cooed, smiling evilly at him. “And seeing how she disobeyed…” She flashed out a sword from her waist belt and smirked, a glint of fury on her face as anger twisted her features. “You will die in front of her.”

“NO!” Bella broke the spell and cried out as the sword went into Charles body. She screamed as she felt the pain through her own body. Her mind felt like it was on fire and she twisted in the dark Wizard’s grasp. “Mark my words, big sis.” Bella looked at her once to listen closely. “I will kill again. Do not disobey me.” With a nod of her head she ordered everyone to follow her and left Bella alone in the dark and lonely lot with a dead body on her hands.

_{There stood Gemini, with those red eyes that haunted Bella’s dreams. In some sort of habit, Isabella stood in front of her friend. “Back off, Gem.” She hissed through tight lips, Bella could feel herself shaking in fear. She shrugged off the hands that rested on her arms to still her.}

_{“You can’t hurt him.” She could feel the tug of the darkness slip into her veins as she stared hard at Gemini. Gemini lips slowed to a smile as she pulled her gaze away from Isabella and locked on the boy who stood tall behind her.}

_{“She hasn’t spoken of me, has she?” She paused, grinning. “I’m sadden, sister.” Suddenly, there was a yelp behind her. Isabella caught herself before he took her down with him. She rounded on Gemini, frozen in spot. No, she thought. Not him, anyone but him. He was one of the few who didn’t look at her like she was insane or crazy. Or anything that fitted in that category. He liked her for her, not who she showed to be. Her feet seemed frozen to the ground. Isabella swore loudly, smacking her forehead. Wizardry. Why hadn’t she thought of that in the first place.}

_{Ignoring the stare down from Gemini she bended down and tried to pull his gaze away from her sister’s. But nothing she did could pull him away. She tried shouting his name, shaking his shoulders, even whispering nicknames against his ear. But nothing was working. She felt the tears stinging the back of her eyes as he started to grow quiet. Why was he growing quiet? He never grew quiet. He always had something to say or scream about. That’s how he was.}

_{“Look at me, damnnit!” She cried, shaking his shoulders. There was a low chuckle coming from Gemini as Isabella turned to look at her.}

_{“What did you do to him?” She whispered, almost afraid of the answer. There was silence, and then –}

_{“I killed him.” Was Gemini’s response, you could almost feel the glee in the air. “Take note, Bella, I will kill everyone if I need to. You being alone is the number one thing I want. I want you to always feel it. And feel the pain that rockets through your body and soul when I look at you.” Isabella felt the cold metal of a dagger as it slit across and down her arm. She bit back the scream and flung her small body over his, she could feel the tears streaming down her face as she turned to look once at Gemini, who was smiling at her.}

_{“I will kill you myself, Gemini. Whether it’ll be with help or not. I will murder you and throw your ashes across the world. Mark. My. Words.” But Gemini didn’t. She simply smiled almost innocently at her older sister and turned sharply on her hill, humming an eerie tune.}

_{“Remember, Bella, my place, two pm. Come or I send someone for you.” Was her only reply as she left the alleyway. Bella turned away from the entry for the alley and pressed her face against his jacket a sob freely bursting from her lips.}

_{Gemini got what she wanted. Bella finally felt officially and utterly alone.}