Chapter 2

"Wait" the ghost said, appearing in front of her before she left the room. "I need your help" he told her. "I'm sorry but it's not that simple" Mari told him. "No one knows what I can do if anyone were to find out I'd be hanged by the king or burned as a witch by the temple" she told him. "Either way I lose" she added.

"But you are a witch are you not?" He asked her. "I don't know what I am" she replied, before walking around him back to the room her mother and the man were in.

"I just realized I didn't ask your name," Mari said as she placed the items on the table next to her mother who was examining the man's wound. "Marilyn," her mother said, giving her a dark look. "My apologies," Marilyn said. "Damien James" he said as Victoria began to stitch his arm.

"You're the Duke of Crescent, are you not?" Victoria asked. "Indeed, I am doctor" he said as he stared at Marilyn. "It's not often a noble comes by this village, even the baron tends to stay away" Victoria said.

"What can I say I like to explore my territory as a whole" he said as Victoria finished stitching him up.

"Well I've done the best I can as a mere village doctor. I suggest you have your physician check your wound when you return home my lord" Victoria told him. "Marilyn, would you walk his lordship out?" her mother asked. "Of course," Marilyn said. "This way my lord" Mari said with a slight bow.

"Would you mind showing me to an inn?" Damien asked. "Of course my lord" she said as they slowly began to walk. "You can just call me Damien," he told her. "You want me to call you by your name?" She asked him. "Yes," he said simply.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that my lord" she told him. "Why not?" He asked her simply. "Perhaps it's because I know who you are," she told him. "Or what you are," she added, avoiding eye contact.

"Are you surprised?" He asked her. "Scared?" He Questioned. "No," she told him. "If you wished to kill me I have no doubt you would have done it in the woods" she said. "You're a Duke, does that mean the king knows of your secret?" Marilyn asked. "He knows of no such thing" he answered.

"Did someone important to you die recently?" Marilyn asked. Damiens eyes narrowed. "How did you know that?" Damien asked, as they stopped in front of the inn. Marilyn turned to Damien and looked up at him. I know your secret so perhaps it would be best if you knew mine as well" Mari said. "But I beg you not to say a word," she said.

"What is it?" He asked her. "I can see the dead," she told him. "The dead? He Questioned almost as if it was impossible. "You have a ghost attached to you, he's a man with dark hair, a clean face and brown eyes. A noble just as yourself" she told him. "It's impossible," Damien said in disbelief.

"Says the man who can turn into a large black wolf" Marilyn retorted. "You don't smell of a witch," he said. "I don't believe I am a witch," Marilyn said. "Then what are you?" He asked her. "I know not myself, my lord," she said.

Mari let out a sigh. It would be best if I returned, my mother will soon Question where I have gone" mari told him before turning to walk away. "Wait" he said, lightly grabbing her wrist. "Does your mother also know of what you can do?" He asked her. Mari turned to Damien. "You are the only person I have ever told" Mari told him before taking her wrist out of his hand. "If you'll excuse me" Mari said before walking away.

"Why did you tell him?" The ghost asked as Marilyn walked back towards her home. "I don't know" Marilyn replied in almost a whisper. "Is there anything you do know?" He asked, causing Marilyn to stop in her tracks and turn to him. "Speaking of things I don't know, it has now only come to my attention that I know not of your name," Marilyn said, obviously annoyed.

"It's Alexander," he told her. "Well Alexander I believe it's time you returned to lord Damiens side as I return to my mothers" Marilyn told him.

"Marilyn, wait" Damien said running up behind her. Marilyn turned to Damien. "My lord?" Marilyn questioned. "You see him don't you?" Damien asked. "Alexander," he added. Marilyn looked at Alexander for a moment before looking back at Damien. "Yes," she told him. "As well as many more who seem to follow you from a distance" she added as she looked past Damien at the group of ghosts far behind him.

"I think you and I could be of use to each other" Damien said to Marilyn. "What do you mean we could be of use to each other?" Mari asked Damien with a confused look.

"How much do you know about supernatural beings... about our kind?" He asked her. "I'm not... I'm not an Unnatural if that's what you mean. I find saying supernatural to.... loud" Marilyn said. "You're certainly not human," Damien added.

Marilyn let out a deep breath. "What is it you wish from me?" Mari asked. "As the days continue on, the supernatural world or unnatural as you prefer it is becoming restless" he began to explain to her. "It is not just my pack or my people who wish to come out into the world but the witches and vampires as well" he continued. "What are you saying?" Mari asked. "I'm saying that before long my world and the one you know will soon collide and something tells me that you may understand what 2 completely different worlds colliding is like" he said.

"I believe you are the only one who can join the unnatural and the natural world together," he added.

TO BE CONTINUED