Xiran understood Rivan’s apprehensions when it came down to her. But his heart only belonged to her now and there was no way he could let her go. They both had suffered enough at the hands of his family.

"Rivan she is mine, and I need to protect her. You didn’t see the state of anguish and suffering she was in, I did. And weren’t you the one who told me to fight for her love and now you want me to give up because she is lost? Who will guide her if not me?" Xiran sighed for his heart was burdened, he wanted to be with Aselia.

"I know Xiri, but I don’t like the fact that she keeps hurting you. Look what she has done to you. She broke your trust, she kidnapped you, she even destroyed your hair man," Rivan was getting exasperated. He knew Xiran wouldn’t be able to handle a broken heart. Xiran was too soft when it came to women.

"I have faith in her, and I want to leave all that in the past so that we can move on and be together someday. Try it in your heart to get along with her." Xiran yearned for a smooth relationship between the two people he loved the most in the world, his best friend and the elven girl his heart had chosen.

"I will try," Rivan nodded at him with pursed lips as he poured some red wine into a wine glass and handed it to Xiran.

"How is the situation back home?" Xiran asked taking a sip.

"I contained it, no one knows you are missing. I ran comprehensive checks as well and I don’t think we have hunters in the city anymore but one can never know. We need to take this issue with Amonidus in our next meeting," Rivan clicked his tongue in annoyance, he was starting to hate the hunters even more.

"I know, I will run a deep analysis of everything and see what extra measures we can take to keep our city a hunter-free zone," except for Aselia, he thought the last part in his head.

"Yes, let’s hold a meeting on it. Also, I got your phone fixed. I think she broke it so we won’t be able to track you," Xiran’s face glowed like a bulb at this revelation. He had so much important data on the phone, especially her pictures.

Rivan took out Xiran’s phone from his pocket and handed it to his friend. Who quickly examined it and found it to be in one piece. Xiran turned it on and asked:

"Rivan I need Aselia’s number. I know you spoke to her. She will be worried sick, I will inform her I am safe."

"You realize that’s not her real name. It’s an alias they gave her when she was shifted from one orphanage to the other," Rivan informed him.

"I know, but she will always be Aselia to me. Number Rivan, don’t make me wait," Xiran was getting impatient, he wanted to make sure they hadn’t hurt her.

Rivan sighed and took out his cell phone to exchange her number with him. Xiran quickly dialed it but the number was switched off. He tried several times but same result. He scowled at the screen and grunted in frustration before leaving her a text and putting away his phone.

Only 10 seconds lapsed and he took out his phone again and sent her another text and then another. Rivan was biting his lip to refrain himself from laughing out loud.

"Calm down, she might be engaged in giving explanations of her actions. She will get back to you when she will be free," Rivan took a small sip from his glass.

"I knew this was a bad idea to leave her there, what if something is to happen to her? Rivan I am very uncertain about this. I should have taken Yurian’s number," Xiran got up and began to pace the small space in the jet. Worries entangled his thoughts and she was in all of them.

"She has captured your heart like no one else, I have never seen you so restless before. Who would have thought a girl could fool you like that? Elves are peaceful species, no one could reckon that they could become hunters too. I guess that fact fooled us," Rivan tried to divert his friend’s attention from the phone.

"Yes, and she is a good one. Her speed is exceptional and her kill count, phew. She has a very high kill count. She is ruthless when it comes down to our kind but she only hunts those who kill innocent people."

Xiran informed his friend but then his thoughts went back to the phone and he began to type again. While Rivan watched him intently from a relaxed posture and sipped his wine. Rivan knew Aselia was trouble but Xiran still couldn’t see that.

Soon they landed in Fritez City and were off to Xiran’s place. It was almost noon and the city was thumping with the energy and vitality of the numerous creatures that dwelled here. Horns honking, vendors selling their commodities, children returning home from school, and people enjoying their lunch breaks.

"Was there any trouble with the law in my absence?" Xiran inquired from Rivan as they sped away in his black sports car.

"Few skirmishes, nothing which I couldn’t handle though. You need not worry, everything is the way you had left it," Rivan filled him in making Xiran nod.

Reaching the underground parking lot Rivan took his leave as he had a business meeting in the evening with the promise he will visit him the next day to further discuss their plans involving hunters.

Xiran and Carios went inside. "Anything you need Sire?" Carios asked humbly.

"Send Frila to Aselia’s room," with that command he took sturdy steps on his infinite legs and made his way to her room.

Opening the door he entered her room and it was almost the same as he had seen it last time. Her very faint scent still lingered in the room and he took a deep breath to take it all in.

Her art supplies lay on one side of the room and there was a canvas on the easel. She had been painting the open sea, turquoise blue waves were crashing against the beach and yet it was incomplete. She had left everything incomplete, including him.

He watched her painting with turbulent eyes when the door had a slight knock on it. "Come in," he ordered without glancing at the door. His hand in his pants pocket.

"Señor, I m so glad to see you back," Frila exclaimed with a slight bow. Her face depicted her happiness.

"Likewise Frila, how have you been?" He turned to focus on the girl.

"Very worried about you and Aselia," She answered keeping her eyes low.

"I am alright, Aselia won’t be here for a while. I don’t want this room to be touched. Nothing should move from here. Make sure it remains as it is. Lock it and only you and I will have keys to it. Is that clear?" Xiran instructed.

"Understood Señor, I will make sure of it. Anything more?" Frila asked further.

"I need blood to drink. Bring it here and I need a lot of it," Xiran glided over and settled down on the bed, in Aselia’s spot.

"On it," Frila left and Xiran lay down on the bed to feel closer to the woman who had scorched his soul, battered his heart, tarnished his hair and bruised his body, and yet he couldn’t stop loving her.

One tear from her eyes and his cold heart still thawed. The quivering of her lips was enough to bring him to his knees and now he knew she loved him too. There was nothing that could stop him from possessing her now.

He took out his phone to see if she had texted him back but there had been no response from her. He called her again but Aselia’s phone was still switched off. This annoyed him, why wasn’t she turning it on? What had they done to her? A thousand scenarios crossed his mind and he fisted the sheets of the bed and let out an angry groan.

Xiran clicked on the gallery and opened her picture sitting on the beach. He stared at Aselia’s long flowing hair and it hurt him to think how she had destroyed them. He could remember their touch on his skin, the way they brushed along his face and chest.

Lost in her thoughts, sleep took him and he spent the next two days in constant anguish. Frequently visiting her room whenever he was free from countless meetings he attended with Rivan and the high hierarchy of Druhias to discuss how to handle Phantom and Hunters.

Three days had passed and it was very late at night. He had spent most of the day trying to contact the headquarter of the hunters but all communication from their side was down. He was drinking wine, trying to keep his mind off her.

When the phone chimed and he received a text which read:

[Xiran....]