Witches are hated.

"Kelly," Brie called softly,

"What? You don't believe me?" It wasn't far-fetched! it wasn't crazy! Even if he didn't, she needed to know why her body was found there!

"Let's say I do: what can you do?"

"Don't tell me that!"

"Kelly!" Brie never yelled. "The Clines own all of New Grephar. Do you know what happened to the reporter who asked that question?"

What happened to the reporter?

"No one knows. He dropped from the face of the planet. The news said nothing about it. You can't mess with the Clines!" Brie ran her hand through her hair, "NG is only the tip of their influence.

"Look," Brie held her hand, "let it go, okay? Don't accept his offer, just let it go. He'll find someone else,"

Let it go? Could she do that? Just to save herself...

Car tires screeched into the outside cafeteria. People rushed out of the way as a black mercedes made its way to their table.

Brie and Kelly got up. What the heck? When the driver got out, Kelly flinched. Shit. Damian. She'd been avoiding him since her magic incident.

"Get in," he said.

"You're causing a scene," Kelly said, ignoring Brie's questioning glance.

"Do you know how to pick a call?" He shut the door with a bang.

"I'm sorry, I've been busy,"

Brie shocked Kelly when she stepped between them, holding Kelly hand "these are campus grounds, you can't do this here,"

Damian stared her down, "I've had a bad day. Get out of my face,"

Brie hated confrontation, her hands were shaking; how could she blame her? Damian was big guy and he was pissed.

"It's okay, Brie," they were gathering attention. Brie turned to her, worry filling her eyes.

Kelly smiled, "it's okay, honestly."

She frowned, "I don't hear from you in two hours and I'm calling the cops,"

"Deal,"

Kelly got in and Damian followed. He was dreadfully silent. Was she crazy following him? Maybe. Damian was strange, he was violent yet calm, was he bipolar? He was intrusive, yet stepped back when necessary; like when she visited her mother's grave.

Right now, he had an air of serenity. His hand rested on the wheel and the other fisted his chin.

"What happened to your hand?"

"Had an accident,"

He raised a white brow at her before turning an intersection. "What sort of accident?"

"Fell down the stairs?" Why did he look like he was judging her? What was she supposed to say, I killed it with magic?!

"It smells dead, and it reeks of magic," he said, reversing into a parking spot.

"What?" What did he say?

Kelly got out after him. "What do mean magic?" He picked her like she weighed nothing and placed her on the roof of the car.

As he got on, glowing rings of white surrounded his gold pupils. Kelly stared in awe.

"What are you?" He asked. She finally understood what he meant the first day they met. Was this why he stuck to her like glue?

"You don't know what I am?" she asked

He adjusted his black turtleneck. "I know you're a magic caster," he said.

"Magic is reeling off you in waves. I'm shocked you haven't attracted more trouble,"

"Magic caster, huh?" Kelly sighed, "my aunt calls me a destroyer," she shrugged. "I'm guessing I'm some sort of witch though,"

"Magic caused that?" Damian gestured.

"Yeah. I got it while training,"

"That's some training,"

Kelly hummed, it was nice having someone to talk to, "something about nature's stream, and I tried to use the magic, and, well..."

"You can feel nature's stream?" Damian's brows furrowed. She nodded.

"Then you're no destroyer," his eyes burned with intensity.

Really? "My powers are dangerous, I..can't control them. Destroyer or not, magic..kinda sucks," Kelly flopped on the roof,

"What are you?" She asked, "Warlock?"

Damian chuckled, "No. The world is vast, with endless lists of creatures; I am a whisperer."

"Whisperer?"

"Whisperer, Beast tamer; call it what you will." Damian dropped down with her,

His eyes burned like stars up close. They were beautiful.

"I'm glad I found you" Damian said.

What?

He turned to face the sky, "any other beast and you'd be dead,"

"What?"

"Witches are hated."

The words struck deep. Witches were hated. What did that mean for her?

"It means stay low or you'll be hunted, just like the others," he warned.

"You don't hate witches?" Kelly asked,

He turned to her, "I do, very much. I've killed a few myself,"

Kelly frowned, why would he say that? She got up.

"It's like you said; if I wanted you dead, I wouldn't wait this long," he said.

"There's something different about you, Kelly. You don't feel unnatural" a quiet sigh escaped his lips, "you feel right, somehow,"

"You've killed witches,"

"I won't kill your aunt either. You can relax," he said.

"I'm going home,"

Damian gripped her wrist, "lie down, Kelly" for the first time, threat lurked behind those burning eyes.