It was a peculiar feeling. Being kissed by Damien—being close enough to feel his breath against me. To be able to smell the aftershave on him.

I'd been kissed before - once on a dare when I was young. The second time on a very short-lived relationship when I first started college that didn't lead anywhere.

But it was never like this. I was frozen in his arms, afraid to move. Too startled to move.

I knew what was happening as soon as he kissed me. The scenery changed around us and it'd stopped raining.

He was teleporting us.

I had immediately shut my eyes knowing what would happen if I kept them open.

Eventually, the world stopped and he loosened his grip.

I pulled away slowly not breaking eye contact though his own eyes were still closed. "What was that for?"

His eyes opened slowly. His voice was soft, whispering as well. "I had to transfer some magic to you. It was the only way to get you to the Underworld safely."

"The Underworld?!" My eyes widened, panic was in my voice and I couldn't hide it.

He shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine. He placed his hand on my cheek. "That doesn't matter right now. Are you all right?"

I watched as his concerned eyes scan mine.

I tried to focus and answer his question even though I had a million questions of my own.

Was I alive? Yes.

Was I hurt? Physically, no.

But I'd just seen a man cut down Mia where she stood and moments later, she died in my arms.

I shook my head. "I'm fine but Mia - "

He nodded and pressed his forehead against mine. His voice was soft. "Please, please stay here. You are safe here." His voice almost broke. "Don't leave this room. Promise me."

I nodded against him, gripping the wrist of his hand on mine.

I wanted to be strong. I knew I needed to be.

I wanted to draw my strength from him. I wanted to keep myself together. I didn't want to fall apart. "I promise," I whispered.

Instantly, he was gone making me stumble forward, no longer being able to hold my own weight against him.

I looked around the room I was in. I quickly realized it was a bedroom.

But it wasn't any room like I'd seen before. It was grandiose. The ceiling was very high with ebony walls holding it up. The strangest part about the room was the way it was lit. It was as if there were lights in the ebony walls. It was beautiful, like blue starlight twinking within.

I approached and touched the wall, mesmerized at how the lights moved within the wall like they were small fireflies attracted to heat. I pressed my hand against the wall and pulled it back. My handprint stayed on the wall for seconds then dispersed.

"Amazing," I murmured.

It was just enough light for me to see around where I was walking but not enough to see everything in the room.

There was a four post bed at one end of the room with a fireplace on the opposite side. There were couches in front of the fire with a large rug and table. Next to me, there was a dresser with a large mirror standing next to it. As I walked to the dresser and looked at the objects on it I realized it was Damien's room.

There was a small polaroid on the dresser from when we were children. I smiled for the camera, as he reached for it - our first picture together.

I laughed. I couldn't believe he kept it after so many years.

Looking around, I felt so small in the room. And cold. I wrapped my arms around me, feeling the biting chill of the stone room.

I made my way to the couch closest to the fire, grabbing a blanket from it. I couldn't very well sit on it since I was so wet, it'd take days to get it out of the fine fabric. I wrapped it around my shoulders and sat on the hard cold floor in front of the fire, trying to dry my rain-soaked clothes and hair.

I rubbed my hands together close to the fire and thought of Mia.

Poor Mia. She hadn't done anything wrong - even when she was uncharacteristically yelling at me. She was just a poor bystander caught in a fight.

I hugged myself against the cold. I thought back to the man - the way his cool, white eyes stared at me.

His hand was outstretched out towards me, beckoning me, calling me Alteaza.

What did he want with me?

I choked back the sobs. There was no mistaking it. That's what Mia was. A bystander.

And I was the reason she was dead.

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For the first time in months, the sun shining through the windows was what woke me. The light filled up the room making it bright even through my closed lids. I stretched in the comfortable bed and grabbed the pillow under my head, steadying back into my slumber, not ready for the day.

It was the most comfortable bed and pillow I'd ever been on, it was like I was on a cloud. Like nothing I'd ever felt. My heart dropped - why did this feel so strange?

My eyes snapped open and I sat up on the bed. I looked around and found my glasses nearby, placing them on my nose.

I knew where I was - it was Damien's room from the night before. Except I wasn't where I thought I would be. The last thing I remembered was being on the floor in front of the fire too afraid to get anything on the upholstery wet and dirty.

Somehow I'd been moved to the four post bed with a blanket placed on top.

The room was much grander than I first thought. In the daylight the furniture was richer, more beautiful - they looked like antiques. There were curtains that covered large double doors that led to what looked like a balcony. The doors themselves looked to be much larger than anything I'd ever seen.

My eyes immediately set on Damien who sat on one of the couches with a book in his hands. He'd changed - no longer wearing the same torn clothes as the night before.

"I didn't know you could sleep so much, Em." He didn't look up from his book. "I was beginning to worry."

Disoriented, I held my head in my hands. "How long was I asleep?"

He closed the book in his hands and set it down. "Twelve hours, more or less. You looked like you needed rest."

Damien wasn't lying. It was the best sleep I'd had in what felt like months.

After a silent moment, I started speaking out loud, needing confirmation that I hadn't, in fact, dreamt everything. "We were at the club."

Damien nodded and made his way over to me.

I frowned, remembering. "Mia and I, we were fighting - we went outside."

Damien sat on the bed near me, the soft mattress sinking under him. "Then what happened?"

I furrowed my brow. "There was a man - he showed up. He was saying something to me, trying to get me to go to him."

I looked to Damien, his mauve eyes compassionate.

My hand flew to my mouth. "He killed Mia."

Solemnly he nodded. "Yes."

After a moment I continued. "She died in my arms. Damien, she was so scared."

He suddenly reached forward and pulled me into a tight hug. I didn't know how much I needed it until I felt his weight against me. It felt good to have my friend back.

"You saved me," I whispered. I immediately pulled back. "You kissed me."

Damien didn't seem perturbed. "Yes, I did. I had to. I transferred magic to you. Safe passage to the Underworld, remember?"

I nodded and drew my hand through my hair. My nails didn't make it very far, getting stuck in the matt of hairspray and semi-wet hair. I looked at my hand, "Ew."

Damien chuckled and pointed to a door behind me. "There's the bathroom, there's a duffel bag in there, take a shower, get dressed and we'll talk about everything."

I frowned, not believing his words. "Everything?"

He nodded. "Yes, everything."