The intensive sweating on my neck woke me up. I was in a luxurious room with a chandelier over my head. It was dimly lit and a fire was burning in the fireplace making it really warm. The walls were adorned with paintings and there was a mirror in the room with a golden framework.

I tried to get up thinking this might be heaven and I died. But as I moved a sharp pain hit my back where I was hit and I realised I was still alive. How?

The pain was too much and my eyes blurred for a moment. I blinked multiple times to clear the black spots in front of my eyes and calm down my breathing which was heavy.

The door opened and in walked Mel her footsteps muffled on the maroon plush carpet.

"How dare you do that?" She yelled at me and I sighed at her absurd behaviour.

"I almost died Mel." I reminded her if I was not dead already.

"Yes, how could you? I told you his life his tied to you." So she was worried for her son.

"I actually got this wound saving him," I told her dryly.

That shut her up but she still glared at me.

"Where is he? Is he safe?" I asked feeling nauseous all of a sudden.

Mel's lips formed a grim line and my worry notched higher.

"Answer please, without the dramatics." I snapped at her.

"He saved you." She said and sighed building the suspense and agitation.

"And?"

"And he had to remove your mask to allow you easy breathing." She said a million things in those words.

Which in short meant, he knew Arthur and Alisha are the same.

***

I should have died because this anxiousness of facing Elias was even more painful. I hid in that dull room all day scared to see his reaction.

The sudden knock on my door sent my heart leaping.

My dad walked and I sighed in relief which was momentary since he looked angry. Oh, I forget he did ask me not to do something stupid.

"Gwydion, that guy is a powerful trickster and God of Magic." Words from my dad surprised me.

"What?"

"Matthew or whoever he is, Mel's husband. He is the one attacking you guys." My first thought being, was Kirk also someone bad?

He sent those ninjas and purple smog like things. He was powerful enough to break Mel's protective casting.

"How is Elias?" I asked as this was my main worry right now.

The grave silence followed.

"Is he okay?" I asked with a painfully throbbing building in my head.

Did my wound affect our link somehow?

"DAD!" I yelled to know the answer infuriated at these people for messing with my head.

"He is sent back in time to where he belonged."

"No. No. He ca-can't be gone. This is a joke." I felt my sanity leaving me.

Bearing the pain I got down from the bed my eyes already watering.

Did he hate me that much?

"It was not his choice if that makes you feel any better." My dad the exact words I wanted to hear.

"What happened?" I sniffled.

"You had a fatal wound Alisha which only Matthew could cure and not even Hecate can. Elias made a deal of going back in time which was exactly what Matthew wanted." He wanted Elias away from me.

As long as you are with him he will be fine.

I wanted to be near Elias, I was his bodyguard. How could he leave me behind?

"I want to go to him." I decided.

"You can't. Mel is frantically trying everything to break the barriers now.

But it was sealed because Kirk was on the other end. He was one that came that day to offer a chance to leave Elias.

"Don't worry I will find a way," I said with determination.

"Please don't do anything impulsive." My dad's eyes were pleading.

"Relax, I will just get back what belongs to me." This Matthew dude just messed with the wrong person.

***

Getting back to time, it turned out, was not easy. Mel was unfocused as it and wouldn't stop crying. Hecate in such form seemed harmless and kind of helpless.

"Stop doing this Mel, I am as worried as you are," I yelled at her.

My words made her turn towards me and she glared like I just said a joke.

"I also love him, you know."

Her eyes softened and she sighed still sobbing.

"Tell me what to do so that I could get back to him," I said ready to do anything.

My father, on the other hand, was reluctant about the whole deal. But knowing my stubborn nature he was not refusing it as well.

"Kill Matthew for me." She said and this time I gave her a dry look.

When the Goddess of Magic herself can't, how can I do it?

"A more sensible option please Mel."

She clutched her hair like a mad woman desperate in this situation. And even though I pretended to be calm and cool but I was feeling really nauseous.

"Let's talk to Matthew then?" I proposed an option.

Which by the way is as insane as it sounds.

"He wants to kill Elias, why will he talk to you." Mel snapped at me.

Of course, he wouldn't talk that doesn't mean I could break into his house and snoop around for a way since he also had his doppelganger in the past.

But I did not tell Mel that because she might find the idea stupid and not trust me with it like every other person in my life except Elias who trusted me and I broke that trust.

I left depressed Mel alone and decided to break and enter God of Magic's place.

***

Just for the those who want to learn a stealth entry trick, I recommend needles. For people with good aim, it is amazing. I hid in a safe spot and shot needles on the guards roaming around making the attack all silent so that no one is alerted. Entering was easy since Matthew did not have much security. I guess big that powerful made you over confident.

Few guards here and there were easy enough to handle and I was inside his mansion within minutes but once inside I know this was not going to be as smooth as entering. As soon as I stepped inside the house black and purple ninjas formed out of nothing and surrounded me.

He had personal protection and I needed help. I had no magic but I did learn deception and escapes through a difficult situation. I used the match sticks I had with me to keep them off but the purple ones were not afraid of fire. I was already injured and my whole body ached as I dodged their attacks and running in every direction.

Throwing obstacles in their paths didn't help. So I kept running throw doors.

The mansion was huge and snooping here was impossible. I had no idea why I was so impulsive and stupid while making decisions.

If Matthew found out I am here I was good as dead. I got many bruises after all the running and dodging from attack and I finally managed to reach a room I have seen before when Elias was kept while Matthew pretended to keep his son in his good care.

"Took you long enough." A voice shocked me and I looked up to find Norman sitting here.

Norman the good brother was here looking not Norman at all. He was still lanky and had those adorable curls but they were dyed black here and he was wearing the black biker jacket and ripped jeans combo and had a formidable glare.

"My father said you will be here sooner than that." He said and got up from the darkness of the corner.

He was the bad boy with allure and he was wishing for dead right now.

"I will let you live you boy if you give me a way to get back in time," I said not sure if this was past Norman or another doppelganger.

"I am Norman, by the way." He introduced himself confirming he was the present time Norman.

"You are Elias' half brother?" I asked.

He nodded and walked closer with a smirk. I realised while the past Norman was sweet and naive kind this one was a player.

"You are one sexy girl." He said eyeing me shamelessly.

"And you should not mess with me," I said and he came closer even more.

He took my hand in his and next thing he got was a throw over my shoulder. His eyes flickered in surprise as he hit the ground and it was my turn to smirk. I got the gun out and aimed at him. If he was Matthew's son he might have some magic in him.

I eyed him carefully just in case.

He groaned and got up not looking angry or anything. I backed off carefully still keeping my gun aimed at him.

"I don't have magic if that is what you wanted to know. Everything went to my brother since he was with the witch mother." He said in a dangerous bitter tone.

"Look, Norman I don't want to hurt you so why don't you let me go my own way." I offered, knowing too well this was not going to be easy.

"I am sorry sexy but dad wanted me to keep you trapped here till he takes care of business and then he gets to kill you." He said in a nonchalant tone.

Fine boy, you asked for it.

I shot a bullet on the inner part of his leg with least damage and he yelped in pain.

"Elias is not the saint you think he is." He cried out and I realised he was talking about his Elias, the gangster one.

"That Elias is dead."

"If you even step outside the security you just met will be waiting outside." He alerted me even though I just shot him.

"Then what should I do?" I asked in a panicked tone.

"Why should I tell, you just shot me?"

I growled in anger at him but the pain on his face made me calm down a bit.

"what is it you want Norman?" I asked walking towards him.

"Huh?" The tone of my question made him frown.

"What is that you really want now?" I asked trying to find a weakness to this boy.

"Escape from this life." He said in a tired tone.

"Fine then let me help you with that if you help me first." I made a deal with the devil.

And something hit my brain when I realised how I came here in the first place. Agnes gave me a scroll of magic that saved a dying Elias and brought us here. It was still in the bag I carried. What if I saved a bullet wounded Norman and get back in time.

"Let's try a theory, Norman?" I said suddenly feeling exhilarated.

"What?" He looked perplexed at my mood swing.

I pulled out the scroll and sat down next to the bleeding Norman and allowed the magic to work nothing happened.

"You know I have seen such scrolls and it only works when a person with magic is around." He said in a dry tone.

Shit, was this for real?

Next thing I know the fate played both against and for me when Matthews walked in.

"God job Norman, you kept her here." He said with no soul in his words.

The scroll needed the magic blood and I had God of Magic standing right in front of me.

"Heal me first before you do anything else." Norman's word came out with stress now.

Matthew shook his head as if Norman was making a childish demand.

He walked closer and I staggered back valuing my life a little bit. Before any of us could sense it Norman pulled out a knife which Matthew never suspected and stabbed him. I got the message and brought the scroll in contact with Matthew who yelped in pain.

And since I was a woman of my word I got hold of Norman's leg and we swished through the time again.

***

My eyes opened and overcoming the feeling of dizziness and puking I looked around to find myself in the Prince's practice arena.

Apparently, the scroll worked its magic and Norman was healed as well.

"What time is this?" He asked as if it was normal for him to do time travel.

"1735."

"Seriously?" His eyes widened as he got up dusting his back with his hands.

The sound of sword clanging got our attention and I ran in that direction my heart beating faster for some reason. As I reached the Prince's quarters where the sound was erupting from I saw a familiar scene. He was fighting off some assassins like the first time we met. But this time he looked unfazed and confident.

And like last time I jumped in to protect him.