Training at Madforest

I dragged Aunt Anna to my room discreetly after our breakfast. She stared at me innocently, as if nothing strange had occurred during our conversation earlier

"Why can't Jensen remember what happened to our mommy?"

Her smiles vanished, and her expression became solemn. But before she could answer I heard the engine of a car from the outside, a sign that Faira and Clark were back. I looked out the window but I frowned when I realized that Stefan was not there and only my two cousins got out of the car.

Something wasn't right, I thought as I looked at Aunt Anna.

“Did something happen while I’m asleep?”

Before responding, she hesitated for a moment and took a deep breath.

“I ordered the vampire to compel your brother to forget what happened to your mom.”

My jaw dropped in her statement.

"Why?", I asked breathing heavily.

"Because you are going to another country and you will continue living a normal life there. Meanwhile, we will take care of it ----"

"How could we live a normal life while our mom is missing !!!"

I couldn't contain myself from raising my voice because I felt betrayed. I can’t believe that they have already decided things for us without even consulting us first.

"This is for the best Celine"

I’m so disappointed at the same time I feel enraged because they keep hiding the truth from me.

“I don’t think it is for you to decide that because this isn’t just about my mom, this is also about me!”

I want to know who I am and it's frustrating to be alone in the dark because everybody keeps on hiding things from me.

"Celine listens, this is more dangerous than you think. You and Jensen don't deserve to be dragged into this world. You deserve to live a normal life and that is what I am giving you"

I saw the hurt in my Aunt Anna’s but I’m hurting too besides they can’t hide everything forever.

“But I am not normal! And I think I deserve to know the truth.”

-----

It's been 2 days since I last saw Stefan. Ever since Aunt Anna arrived, I never got to see even his shadow, I asked Faira about what happened to Stefan but she knows nothing too. I’m worried about him and at the same time guilty because I know how the witches hate vampires. They’ve been very vocal about their feelings towards Stefan since day one and I don’t think he deserves all the hate because all he did was save me.

We also returned to our house for Jensen’s sake. For days we’ve been thinking about whether to send Jensen to the states or not because he is not one of us, he’s normal so, in the end, we came up with the decision to send him away. He will be staying with a witch that will protect him while he is there. Aunt Anna also asked for the coven’s help regarding my mother’s case. Meanwhile, Clark and Faira are teaching me self-defense to protect myself in case something happened.

I got out of the car and glanced at the surrounding.

“We’re going to train here?”

I asked Clark with hesitation while he was already entering Madforest.

“Yep”

I don’t feel quite good in this place since this is where I met the hunter and even though it's sunny, it still feels creepy here.

I was surprised to see Herone Alegre and Chase waiting for us. I approached them and Herone smiled at me while Chase just nodded.

“So, they’ll be the one teaching you”

Heron said while they are all looking at me making me uncomfortable.

"Because he just makes things fly away because he's a witch," Herone mocked my cousin but Clark just smiled at him.

"Herone here is a werewolf "

My eyes widen at his remark.

"For the record, I'm not just any werewolf; I'm the son of our pack's Alpha."

He said proudly while I merely nodded because I had no idea what he was talking about.

"They call the group of werewolves a pack and the Alpha is considered as their leader”

Clark explained, maybe because he noticed that I’m too lost in this conversation.

“While Chase here is one of the best hunters in the Institution”

Clark put his arm on Chase’s shoulder while introducing him meanwhile Chase remained completely expressionless. I believe I heard it when we went to Dominic's club and he claimed that the Institution is also looking for Jaspher; does he know anything about it?

"Don’t get the wrong idea, I'm just helping you because Clark told me that you can see the hunter's mark and that makes you a possible hunter"

Chase said in a serious tone and I politely nodded. He has a point considering the fact that I am not a witch, the closest thing is a hunter well unless I’m something more.

“Dude why do you look so serious!”

Herone teased Chase while shaking his shoulder and laughing at him at the same time.

"So, let’s start?"

Herone clapped his hand and winked at me.

Herone was the first one to teach me and I must say, he is quite skilled. I didn't anticipate him to be like this, especially because he appeared to be a cheerful go lucky type of guy, but this time it's different since he's serious and not fooling around.

"Celine focus!"

Herone yelled at me as he hit my stomach with a stick. It's impossible to concentrate when Chase is staring at you the entire time, as if he's watching my every move.

After what seemed like an eternity of training, we took a break. I feel exhausted so to be energized. I drink the juice that Aunt Anna brought me. We talked for a while before deciding to go for a walk in the woods while Clark stayed to look out for our things.

"Can you really see our runes?"

I turned to Chase who is walking behind us while his hands are on his pocket.

“Yes”

I answered even though I can still see doubt in his eyes. While walking I can’t help but compare these two, because Herone is troublesome, he can’t keep his mouth shut and he can’t stop from moving while Chase is the composed one.

He suddenly stopped walking so we turn our gaze at him. He removed his jacket revealing his gray shirt that is perfect fit for his body but he didn’t stop there, he also removed his shirt that made my jaw dropped. Why is he stripping in front of us?

“Woah, Dude what are you doing?”

He has a good body but what caught my attention are the tattoos all over his body. Our uniform is perfect to hide his tattoos since we are wearing blazers.

"Prove to me that you are telling the truth and touch my runes"

He walked closer to me, even Herone can’t do anything. I took a deep breath and moved my fingertips softly over his runes. I placed my palm on his chest and gazed at him; he looked surprised for a brief moment before returning to his composed self.

We were all silent as I touch his runes and when I already felt embarrassed, I stopped and took a step back while looking down because I can feel the heat in my face.

“So, you really can see it”

I heard him say but I just turn my back at him.

“Can we go back now?”

I said and didn’t wait for their reply, I head back first and I heard them follow me while Herone was asking Chase about his runes and why can’t he see it.

It was awkward when we came back but, good thing Herone didn’t tell Clark about what happened. We practiced for the last time before we head home.

“Tomorrow, Chase will be the one training you so be ready”

I coughed in surprise.

“You okay?”

Clark handed me his handkerchief and I pretended to wipe my mouth. Great, after I touch his runes, I don’t think I can even look at him anymore.

“You hungry? Do you want to eat first?”

“Sure”, feeling down I answered my cousin while looking at the window.

It’s already past 6 in the evening and we’ve been in the forest for almost 5 hours. The training is exhausting especially for a beginner like me and they didn’t even take it slow.

We found a restaurant in the middle of the road. We went inside and I didn’t expect to see a lot of customers since there are no houses nearby.

When we found a sit, I headed for the comfort first which is located outside the restaurant. Its already dark outside so I used the flashlight of my phone to look for the way. I was about to go inside when someone run outside the comfort room. I was planning to leave to but the door was left open making me see a body lying down on the floor inside the comfort room. I was torn between leaving or helping but I decided to stay when I saw blood on the floor.

“Are you okay?”

I’m about to kneel to check the body but I halted when I heard a voice from the cubicle.

I know that voice.

"Stefan?"

The door opened and there I saw him. I covered my mouth in shock when I saw that he was stabbed with wood. He was so weak when he removed the injection on his neck as well as the wood on his back.

"Stefan!"

I moved closer to him to support him but he shoved me away.

“Don’t come near me”

I’m worried because he looked pale.

"Let me help you"

But he keeps on shoving me away. I do want to see Stefan again but not in this kind of situation.

"You should bite her now Stefan. What's stopping you to do that?"

I turned to the guy who just entered the comfort room.

"Shut up, Jonas. Leave her alone"

My eyes widen upon realizing who the guy is. Jonas, the guy we are looking for!

"Do you want me to help you?"

Jonas glanced at me like he was about to come near me but Stefan stopped him.

"Don’t you dare."

Jonas quickly stabbed him with a knife in his leg and pushed him away.

"Jonas!!"

Stefan groaned but Jonas just smirked. In a blink of an eye, Jonas was now in front of me, using the broken glass he made a big cut in my hand then he pushed me towards Stefan.

"What the hell did you inject on me?"

"Enjoy your meal", then Jonas escaped.

“Stefan?”

I tried to hold him but he keeps on avoiding me.

“Didn’t I tell you to leave?!”

He shouted and I was startled to see him mad.

“You should have left when you had the chance because right now I don’t have control over my body”

He said breathing heavily while looking at me weakly.

“Stefan what are you doing?”

This time he approached me and his stares makes me nervous.

“Stefan it's me, Celine! Please look at me”

I begged but his attention was on my hand that is currently dripping blood.

"I can't...."

"Stefan, Nooooo!!"

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