*BEWITCHING*

Aria sighed in relief as she finally collected the final foodstuffs and went back to the tomatoe shop to deal with the woman.

She had decided to leave the worse for the last.

"Back again?." The woman scowled and Aria gripped the basket she had gotten hard.

"This isn't fair. I'm a person just like the rest of you." She tried her best to suppress the pain she was feeling and the woman laughed at her face.

"Person? She said she was a person!." The woman increased the volume of her voice so that the whole market could hear her and they laughed in unison, mocking Aria who shrunk and wished the ground would open up and swallow her.

"And what is so wrong in the fact she said that?." Everyone turned and saw a man who stood beside Aria, his hair black as the night, his eyes a contrasting black colour, his attire enough to tell anyone that he was an elite.

What was an elite doing in this small Townsquare?.

"N-nothing." The woman was vividly shivering and for once, Aria smiled at the woman's plight.

Serves her right.

"Milady." Aria realised that the man was facing her and had offered her his hand and she blinked at it in suprise.

That was the first time that someone had ever called her that. Something apart from witch.

Still in daze she realised that she had kept him waiting and gently placed her hand in his. It felt oddly comfortable.

Everyone couldn't get their eyes off them but one look from him was enough for them to look away.

Aria had never had someone to stand up for her and she didn't know what to say right now.

She didn't know what she felt.

"The lady requested for tomatoes which you haven't still given her." He reminded the saleswoman who quickly packed the tomatoes and she paid for it.

"The people don't seem friendly." He commented as they walked away from that stall.

"Trust me, their in the best behaviour right now." She mummured below her breath and he laughed lightly.

She wondered how he heard her.

"With the scene you just displayed, a new gossip will be in town." She gently tugged her hand out of his and stared ahead as though nothing happened.

"What would that be?." He asked nonetheless. Not offended by her action.

"Local witch bewitchs Elite." She said the most possible caption those people could come up with and he laughed, his laughter sounding sweet in her ears for some reason.

"You truly amaze me." He wiped a tear drop off his eyes and smiled a little.

"Apologies. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Edmond." He bowed a little and Aria was a little touched by how he treated her so well.

So normal.

She tried searching for even a pinch of disgust in his eyes but all she saw was pity and maybe even affection.

"Ariana Fox." She did a small curtsee and he nodded.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful lady." He complimented and she smiled unconsciously.

This was the first time that she had smiled more than twice in a day. And the day wasn't even over yet.

"Why are you following me anyways?." She asked him casually and he shrugged his shoulders.

"I was passing by and decided to check this town out since I have never been here and fortunately, came just when you were talking to that woman." He explained but Aria still didn't feel her question was answered.

Sensing that she wasn't still satisfied, he continued"I came to make sure that you got home safely."

Aria was beyond shocked"Why?."

No one apart from her mother had truly cared for her this way.

"As a friend." He smiled and she pressed her lips into a thin line.

It hadn't been long they met yet he had developed their relationship into friendship.

What next?.

"I'll key onto your words." She stopped walking and he looked around skeptically.

"Are we close to your home?."

"Yes, it's just around the corner. I guess this would be good bye." She smiled sadly and he returned it most handsomely.

"I'll be sure to make sure this wouldn't be our last goodbye, Aria." Aria never knew her name could sound so sweet.

Taking her hand, he placed a light kiss at the back and bowed slightly.

"Good bye Milady."

She was stunned for a second but managed to regain herself and nod at him before turning away and walking into the woods to her home.

'Good bye Edmond.'

***

Aria paced around her room for the umpteenth time, not knowing why the very idea of sleeping sent shivers down her spine.

This had never happened before.

"Just calm down." She coaxed herself and slowly approached the bed, lying down stiffly and staring at the ceiling.

Her mind was ready to sleep but her body was proving to be extremely stubborn.

Fortunately, her body couldn't keep up any longer and her eye lids became heavy as she drifted off to sleep.

"Finally." She heard a masculine voice mumble next to her and like a slap, the events that happened in her dream last night hit her.

"Why did you take so long? I was starting to consider coming out to get you." The man was playing with her hair like last time but this time, she could feel his hot breath faning her skin.

He was too close.

She could feel it.

And what did he mean by come and and get her?

Could he not leave this place?.

"Who are you?." This time, talking wasn't that hard as she asked the burning question.

"You don't need to know my name now sweetheart, all you need to do is be a good girl and obey me." The voice was commanding yet so alluring.

Why did he keep on calling her sweetheart?.

"I would never obey you!." She promised earnestly and she heard him chuckle, her heart shuddered just by the sound.

"You have no choice." His finger was tracing her jaw, it was so light, it almost felt like a feather. She hated that it almost felt good.

He shouldn't touch her.

"Stay away." She didn't know why she whispered but it was evident by her tone that she was scared. Scared of the being she was yet to see. Scared of what might come of this afterwards.

"But your soul belongs to me. Why won't I touch what I own?."