The sound of voices in a strange language echoed from far away, leaving her immediately tense. Even so she avoided making any movements that might call the guard’s attention, who standing outside her prison cell, looked suspiciously towards the stairs where the voices were coming from.

Slowly moving her head, Selena tried her best to gather her surroundings, and her heart jumped urgently when the commotion outside started to grow closer.

She quickly confirmed that it was useless to expect John’s help, no matter the case. The man was still crouching at a corner, his head buried between his knees. He too had noticed the growing agitation but his only reaction had been to squeeze his knees even harder and repeatedly rock himself back and forth in a nervous tic.

Taking a deep breath she fought to push her growing fear back, her stomach burning as if she’d swallowed acid. Yielding before her growing terror wouldn’t achieve anything. She had to remain calm and try to think things through. Sure she’d never be able to successfully fight off her capturers. And so the only thing she could do was to remain really quiet, observing in silence, waiting for the chance that would allow her to escape that place.

Someone’s terrified screams startled her, and among the shadows that surrounded her she thought she saw a body roll down the stairs. The guard standing outside took a step closer to see what had happened and immediately backed away, obviously scared, although he maintained his serious, threatening expression in place. And then the dim light was suddenly swallowed by darkness.

Selena heard the man shout in what she thought were curses and threats, since he too spoke in that unintelligible language, and the fear that consumed her made her cover her ears. The world around her was a world of pure darkness, empty and scary, and even though she was covering her ears she could still clearly hear the sound of bones breaking as the threatening voice became a shrieking scream of pain, before everything was silent again.

The sound of screeching metal and of something heavy falling made her cringe. In her terrified mind she knew she’d just heard the barred door being torn from its hinges. And so she waited, drowning in fear, for the sound of footsteps that would certainly follow, but there was nothing.

Maybe if she uncovered her ears, she’d be able to hear something… But the fear that had taken control over her wouldn’t allow her to move. And so she just closed her eyes, trying to keep her breathing as silent as possible. Maybe they wouldn’t see her, in all that darkness. After all, who’d ever be able to see in a world that had apparently ceased to exist? Maybe if she could stay very still … Maybe they would just leave! And then she’d be finally free. If only she could disappear for brief moments …

The hand that touched her arm immediately shattered any self-control she’d been able to hold on to. The scream that left her lips was like the breaking of the ice that, up till then, had kept her at the surface, and her mind quickly dove into a furious madness. Even though she knew it was in vain, her arms and legs kicked and punched everywhere, fighting off the hands that kept trying to grab her. No matter what, she’d never be at the mercy of one of those things again! She knew her good luck from before wouldn’t greet her a second time, and that she’d probably never escape that place alive!

The hand that wrapped itself around her arm pulled her hard, hurting her, making her scream but, even then, she wouldn’t stop fighting.

“Selena!”

The voice that echoed around her immediately pierced through her despair and only then did she noticed that the dim light had returned, that the world around her had shapes and colors again, and that warm tears streamed down her face.

Still confused and gasping for air, her eyes fell on the man leaning over her, and he slowly released her, as if he were afraid do frighten her again.

“Aaran ...” Her own voice sounded like a hoarse broken whisper and suddenly there was nothing more real, more concrete in the entire world than him, standing right there. “Aaran!” She hugged him with all her strength, burying her face in his shoulder amongst his soft, sweet scented hair, and tried as hard as she could to fight off the tears burning in her eyes. Don’t leave me here!

Aaran just stood there, unable to move, so tense that he didn’t even dare to breathe. No matter how hard he tried to empty his mind he couldn’t help feeling the way she shook, the warmth of her body, or how her small hands desperately squeezed his coat. He knew he had to push her away as soon as possible! But, on the other hand, he wanted to be able to lightly touch her, so he could somehow reassure her, transmit her some measure of comfort and safety. Her heart was beating like crazy and the shadow of anger at who’d dared scare her like that flooded his mind, sinking his perception even more. Her scent, so close to him, made him dizzy for an instant … It was warm and soft and fresh, and it was mixed with the aggressive, vibrant smell of fear. But it wasn’t only that. There was also the sweet, acre smell of blood …

That one single word took over his thoughts, startling him, as if someone had shouted it in his ears, waking him from his daze. He immediately forced himself to go deeper, to hide himself in the darkness that inhabited him, and the ice that surrounded him brought him back to a safe distance between himself and the world around him. He couldn’t allow himself to lose control again, much less in that kind of situation. Too much depended on his ability to act with a clear mind.

“Selena. You’re bleeding.”

Aaran’s dry, rough voice hit her as if he’d slapped her, startling her and bringing her back to reality. Stupidly enough she couldn’t help feel like she’d just been reprimanded or accused of some inexcusable fault. And, as if those were magical words, she was suddenly very much aware of the pain torturing the palm of her hands, and of the cold, tense body she desperately held on to. And so she released him, her tearful blurry vision falling over her torn, bleeding hands, and then over the blood staining his white coat, leaving her with a heavy weight on her chest. Because it was as if she’d just dirtied something that was supposed to remain immaculate and pure. As if, although she didn’t know why, Aaran had to be protected and kept away from that color … Red … Blood …

Selena lowered her head, unable to stop shaking, and clenched her injured hands, hiding the red color of her blood from his sight.

“I’m sorry …”

The soft hand that landed on her head surprised her, making her cringe reflexively.

“You have nothing to feel sorry about,” he told her, back to his usual gentle tone. “Are you all right, Selena? Can you stand?”

The concern in his voice impelled her to act. Aaran was right! This was no time to sit there, behaving like a pampered child. The situation was too serious, too dangerous! And so she quickly dried her tears, rubbing her cheeks with the sleeves of her coat, and took a deep breath before raising her head.

“I’m fine. I was just scared,” she assured with a smile, and as to prove it, nimbly stood up, firmly hiding the dizzy spell that left her light headed for an instant.

Aaran took a moment to study her. He noticed she kept her hands closed into tight fists, and her fear was as palpable as the hard floor beneath his feet. And yet, behind her fake childish smile, there was another, much more severe and firm expression, that made him give up on any further questions.

“Let’s go, then. We have to get out of here.”

Selena simply nodded and followed him when he turned his back on her, forcing her legs to obey her. Her incredulous gaze fell on the barred door now covering most of the cement floor. So he’d been the one to tear it off, she thought and bumped against his back, since she hadn’t noticed he’d stopped again. Following Aaran’s gaze she immediately understood why.

“That Human …” she heard him whisper, doubtfully, as if trying to identify the bundle that, cowering at a corner, kept sobbing, and the anger that stirred inside her left her burning.

Aaran stopped halfway through the first step he’d given in the man’s direction, when Selena placed herself right in front on him, her normally innocent expression transformed into a mask of anger.

“Selena …” he whispered, quickly trying to read the situation. Besides having never seen her like that, he’d never even thought it possible that she’d hold inside her something as intense and threatening as what now burned in her green eyes. “I just want to help … We have to get out of here as soon as possible …”

“No!”

Aaran was silent again and his gaze fell on the man, still crouching, mumbling unintelligible words, sobbing uninterruptedly.

His mind wondered, searching for a reason for her attitude. Because, even if she’d finally realized he was not Human, she clearly didn’t fear him. And so it wasn’t as if she was trying to protect that Human from him. And if not that, then …

The shadow of the anger that consumed him floated dangerously back to the surface again.

“This man …”

“John!” she cut him off, breaking his threatening tone. “His name is John Donovan!”

“What did he do to you?” he demanded, raising his voice, but Selena refused to be intimidated by his scary expression.

“I just don’t want to take him with us!” she openly declared and Aaran seemed taken aback with her straightforwardness, that surprisingly enough, allowed him to regain control over his own emotions. Because Selena had already decided what she wanted. And because he didn’t have to look for justice in her stead … she’d already condemned him.

“You want to leave him …?” he heard himself ask. Not that he doubted her words or the strength of her gaze. Only because … that was Selena, right? The same child that had crawled on her hands and knees all over Alexis’ living room chasing a small pup. The same one that had had fun braiding his hair … Where was the child …? Although the face starring straight at him was obviously young and clearly the same, the intensity that inhabited her was frighteningly unshakable. A sigh left his lips as he realize she wasn’t about to repeat herself. And so he just turned his back on her and started walking towards the stairs. “Let’s go. Let’s not waste any more time.”

Selena just stood there for an instant, completely perplexed. She’d expected to be asked for an explanation. She’d expected to have to argue with him. Above all, she’d expected him to reprimand her, maybe even condemn her attitude. But Aaran had simply turned his back on John as if he didn’t even exist, as if he hadn’t noticed his presence in the first place. Her wish had been granted just like that, without a single question, and somehow that perception kind of warmed her inside, diluting the anger that had consumed her just instants ago.

Imitating him, she followed him without even looking back and couldn’t help breathing in relief when she finally gave the first step out of that dark cell.