FOURTEEN YEARS OLD (13)

"I smell blood on you." Kace's blue eyes darkened a few shades as he inspected her body once again, but he couldn't find anything. 

"No, I am not hurt." Hope was confused as she followed Kace's line of sight to observe her own body. No way in the world would she not know whether she was hurt or not.

"I can smell blood on you." Kace mumbled the same thing absentmindedly. "There is quite a lot of blood."

Hope twirled in Kace's arms as she showed him her back and heard when Kace's breath hitched a little. 

"Why, what happened?" Hope panicked. "Is there something wrong?' 

But then, the voice that answered her was filled with hesitation as it slightly faltered. Kace spoke like someone who was reluctant to answer a difficult question. "Hope, you know… I think… uhm."

"What is it?" Hope snapped and turned around, only to see Kace scratching his head.