Fourteen

It's been a while I've been reunited with my brother again, and life was almost perfect. I hung with either Loki or June when I wasn't with Roan. When I was with Roan, he always looked out for me but let me do things. Never was he far away.

But a month later, I begin to find myself being in the middle of the woods, someone shaking me, and having no idea how I got there. It's beginning to scare me because every time it happens, I get farther and farther away. Roan has everyone watching me, but every time, I end up disappearing.

One time this happened, I had been with Loki lounging around when I suddenly told him I needed privacy, and headed into the forest. But I never stopped. I continued walking for hours until I saw a large shelter. My mind hadn't responded, but my body did. It began to tremble and I tried to stop myself, I tried to back away, but nothing happened. So, I walked forward.

A growl sounded from behind me, then a black wolf was in my path. I blinked, tried to go around, but the wolf didn't let me pass. "Zahra!"

Turning, I see a familiar face. I force my mind to remember who it is but only gain pain from it. "I need to go," I say and turn back to my destination. The wolf growled.

Hands turned me around and hazel eyes bore into mine. "Zahra, I'm Roan. Do you remember?"

Blinking furiously, I struggle against the pull. My fingers grab his shirt and I crumple into him. "Roan!"

"I'm here," he whispers. "You're okay."

"I can't stop!" He lifts me up into his arms and starts to carry me, the wolf behind us. "Please, make it stop!"

He doesn't answer and I cry into his shirt until I fall asleep.

I woke up much later to a headache and my stomach roiling. Moaning, I sit up, but a hand stops me. "Hold on. Let me get something for you to help," I hear someone say.

I wait then something is pressed to my lips. I tip my head back and drink, tasting a hint of medicine, but getting down the stew. I can see I'm almost done when my stomach flips over and I gag. "No more!" I beg.

The food moves away and I lean over the side of the bed and let what I ate out. Hands hold my hair back. "Let it go. Just let it go."

I eventually have nothing left to bring up. Sitting up, I begin to shiver. "Why am I feeling like this?"

Roan wipes my mouth gently. "I think it's a reaction to what happened earlier. Your body doesn't like what Lucas is doing to you and is trying to be rid of him."

I had learned about Lucas when my disappearing started, and so knew he had something to do with this. But I couldn't believe it was happening. "I'm scared, Roan."

"I know. Do you feel yourself begin to go quiet and start walking?" I shake my head. "Do you get any pain before hand?" I shake my head again. He sighs. "I'm sorry, Zahra. I'm trying."

I wrap my arms around him and curl up on his lap. "Just don't let me forget."

"Why do you keep saying that?" he asks softly.

"I can't forget again." I look up at him with desperate eyes. "I can't lose my family. If I forget, I will kill. If I forget, I will never remember. I can't forget."

"Hey," he whispers. "I won't let you forget. I will never let you forget, okay?"

"I forget when it happens. I forget when I kill." I shake my head and start to pull my hair. "I can't! It hurts! It hurts too much!"

"Zahra!" Roan grabs my wrists and pulls them away from my scalp. I look up at him with pleading eyes. "I'm here," he whispers. "Until this stops, I won't let you leave my sight. I'll keep you here and you won't forget."

"Please?"

He nods. "Yes, Zahra." Roan holds me for a long time that night as I shake in his arms. He lets me cry, lets me murmur words he doesn't understand, but doesn't let go. Even when he says it's time to sleep, he holds me there in bed. He holds me tight with my head against his chest, my hands curled in his shirt. He holds me, and eventually, I fall asleep.

I wake the next morning, still in Roan's arms, curled up against him. I blink at the bright sunlight and yawn, feeling somewhat better and safer than I had the previous night. Shifting, I make myself more comfortable and close my eyes, but then feel him move. My eyes open again and I see he's awake, but that he's crying. I reach up and wipe his tears away. "Why are you crying?"

He looks at me. "Because I love you." Roan smooths my hair and kisses my head. "You're my sister, Zahra. I also don't want you to forget."

With those words in my head, we eat then walk around, me holding his hand tightly so I don't lose him and vise versa. There were a few times when I hadn't realized I had been letting go of him and he squeezed my hand. I snapped my head in his direction and squeeze harder than before, willing myself to not forget, to not disappear again.

Around midday, the man with blue eyes came up to talk to Roan and I stared at him. He still scared me, but he was playful. I liked when he smiled. I liked when he didn't look so tired and sad.

"Zahra?"

I turn to my brother. "What?"

"Did you hear me?" he asked. I shook my head. He raised a brow and said, "Aspen wants to talk to you. Do you think you can talk to him for a minute?"

"Where?"

"Right here," Aspen says. "It's just a couple questions and Roan can listen."

I nod. "Okay."

Aspen comes forward and looks deeply into my eyes. "Can you tell me who the last person you were supposed to kill was?"

I think hard. I think long. But end up shaking my head. "I don't know."

He nods. "Can you remember what powers you have besides fire?"

This question felt like something I should know. I held up my hand and stared at it for a long time. "It was something. I...I remember something exciting." I look up at him. "But I can't remember what."

Aspen smiles. "That's alright. You don't have to remember right now. I just have one more question."

Something catches my ear and I turn my head. At the entrance to the village was a man with electric blue eyes, and he was staring right at me. I squeeze Roan's hand hard. "Zahra?" I hear, but feel myself begin to move.

"Zahra!" Aspen snaps and jumps in front of me. "Where are you going?"

I open my mouth, but choke on my words. I try to tell him to help me, but only manage a squeak instead.

"Zahra, look at me." It takes all my strength to listen to that voice. Hazel eyes meet mine and I let out a whimper. "Say my name, Zahra."

A blinding pain makes me scream and I fall to my knees. I feel a pull towards the unknown man and obey.

The man with hazel eyes steps into my path. "Zahra, what is going on? What's wrong?"

"Roan, get away!"

Roan...

"Roan!" I gasp.

He grabs my shoulders and locks eyes with mine. "Good. Keep saying that, Zahra. Keep saying my name."

"Roan," I breathe and feel the pull lessen. "Roan." The pain fades and the man's face turns confused. "Roan." He shakes his head, backing away, glaring at me. A sharp quick pain hits me before he is gone and I'm breathless. I fall to my knees, only to have arms catch me. With my final breath, I say it one more time. "Roan."

"Zahra?"

I turn my head to the sound and moan.

"Zahra, can you hear me?"

Wearily, I open my eyes and see my brother. "How long have I been asleep?"

He smiled. "A few hours. How are you feeling?"

Sitting up slowly, I put a hand to my stomach. It doesn't hurt, but I remember the stabbing pain and thought I had opened up my wound, even though it was completely healed. "I am just really confused," I say honestly. "I remember talking to someone then got distracted. But then I remember saying your name and passing out."

"What got you distracted?" he asked.

I shake my head. "It's impossible."

Roan leans forward so he can take a closer look. "Hey, just tell me. It will help us if it happens again."

I look fearfully at him. "I saw a man with blue eyes. Not the handsome one, but the one who looks evil. He was waiting at the entrance of the village and...and...i don't know. He was there though!"

Roan rubs his face and pulls me towards him. "Oh Zahra. It was Lucas. He's trying to regain control."

I nod. "I felt it. But something happened...I think something I said, and he went away. Roan, he didn't look happy. He glared at me and I felt a sharp pain. It hurt."

"Relax now. You're still with me. I still have you safe."

"Will you stay? I don't want to sleep alone," I say and bury my face in his shirt.

"Sleep. I will stay."