"Ow." I hit the ground with a startle. My wrist twisted painfully beneath me, and I hastily yanked it up to my chest, cradling it.My heart skipped a beat as a strong hand latched onto my arm, pulling me up effortlessly. I was startled and turned my gaze towards the stranger who had just helped me up. He stood almost a foot taller than me. When I lifted my head and looked up, I was met with a bright, friendly smile from a stranger who appeared to be around the same age as me. Although I wouldn't call him handsome, he had a certain charm that reminded me of the cute Korean idols I adored. His plush lips and warm eyes crinkled at the corners as he flashed me another grin and extended his hand towards me. His dark hair was short, but several strands fell around his chin. It framed his slender features and stood out against his pale skin. He was dressed simply in a blue button-up shirt that was rolled up to his mid-forearm.I shrunk a bit looking at him. I'd felt underdressed before, but that was nothing compared to what I felt now."Thanks," I said carefully, glancing up at the stranger. His blue eyes watched me curiously."Watch where you're walking." He said amusingly. I paused for a moment, staring at him. Despite never actually seeing his face before in this castle,"Are you okay?" He asked in a soft tone. I nodded in response."You're Kristen, right?" He asked politely."Yes," I replied, looking at his adorable face. His attire and posture gave him the appearance of a royal. He clasped his hand behind him as his eyebrows rose."So you're the famous witch?" He asked, which made me take a step back and made me look at him warily."I am sorry; I didn't mean to scare you." He said, raising his hand in a surrender gesture."Well, I'm not sure about the witch part," I said hesitantly."Peter Malfroy," he said, extending his hand for me to take. I reached out hesitantly, shaking it. His hand was too cold."It's nice to meet you, Kristen." He was beaming at me. He looked excited to meet me."Are you related to William?" I asked him, looking at the solidarity of their green eyes, but his eyes had a shade of blue."Not exactly." He replied softly, which made me feel at ease. I sighed in relief and gave him a genuine smile. I wondered briefly which race he belonged to. Maybe an angel?"Can I walk with you?" He asked curiously. I nodded yes.For some reason, he looked harmless, and I felt comfortable with him after our little conversation. We continued down the hall to my room."So, what brings you here?" I asked to initiate the conversation as we walked."Uh. "My mother had some meetings with the King, so I tagged along." He said looking ahead of the path."So, how is your awakening process going on?" "Is there any progress?" He asked curiously."How do you know about it?" I inquired, my brow furrowed in confusion."Well, I am a witch myself, so I can tell by looking at you." He said and shrugged."What? "So you're not a vampire?" I was a bit surprised."Hell, no." He laughed."That's cool. because I still have no idea how this awakening works. "I am still figuring it out." I clutched the witchcraft book tightly to my chest."There is no specific process, Kristen. It just happens; everyone has their own trigger point. You just have to figure out yours. For me, it was an accident." He said with a tight smile."An accident?" I encouraged him to tell me more."Yes, when I was in high school, we had a bonfire party." It was in the forest, on a particularly windy day when the forest caught fire and began to burn everything. Many people got injured; I tried to save as many as I could and luckily the fire didn't harm me. I realized that fire was my element, and my mother's element was earth and water. She tamed the fire, preventing death. "That was my trigger." He finished flatly.I looked at him with my mouth wide open. I haven't heard anything about people controlling nature. It was amazing. He looked at me and laughed. He placed a finger on my chin and closed my mouth. I smiled in embarrassment.Within a second, his posture straightened, a dark look gleaming in his eyes. I followed his gaze to see the King walking our way from afar with a woman."Well, I wish I could speak more, but I shouldn't for now." He said this while looking in their direction."I have more questions," I said urgently."Just call my name in your head. I will know." He spoke in a hushed voice. What does that mean? I wondered.The king and the woman emerged in front of us." Love." The king addressed me instead of by my name, which was unsettling in my stomach, and the way he looks at me also seems a bit odd. I quickly brushed it off."Hello." I met his gaze and swallowed down my fear of him."This is Linda, one of the most powerful witches in the land." The king gestured to a woman standing beside him."Hello dear." The woman smiled, looking at me warmly. Her eyes lingered on my hand for a moment longer before she glanced back at me."Linda will take you under her wing, and teach you the ways of magic, Love." The king spoke, looking at me."Teach me?" I asked quickly. A surge of excitement washed through me as I looked at her."You're not alone in this, my dear." "Let me help you." Her full lips drew back over a brilliant white smile. She looked at the book in my hand curiously. I cracked a thin smile.Her eyes were as beautiful as Peter's, with brown hair that flowed down her waist, and her face looked no more than thirty years old. I couldn't help but wonder how she could be Peter's mother, as she seemed much too young. But before I could voice my thoughts, she beamed at me, almost as if she could read my mind. I couldn't help but wonder if she had the ability to read minds as well."Hello," I said, extending my hand and smiling at her. She smiled pitifully at me."It's a pleasure to finally meet you." She spoke in a motherly tone, which made me like her in an instant.The king exchanged glances with the three of us and cleared his throat. My back straightened once again, filled with freight."I will leave her to you, then." The king said this and looked at me strangely, which gave me the creeps. It didn't go unnoticed by the others."Peter, walk with me." He said this while walking in the opposite direction. His voice was clipped and cold. Peter remained quiet and followed him.Ms Linda looked at my scared posture and took my hand in hers. "Everything will be alright." She said confidently."Let's go somewhere far from fangs, shall we?" She asked. I nodded and followed her, letting her lead the way down the hall. She walked with grace as if she owned the place and knew the way. I quietly followed her. She led me outside the castle in the bright sunlight and walked to the small garden before taking a seat. I noticed only a few vampires can step out in the daylight, and surprisingly, there were no guards around. I felt at ease as I let out a long breath. She chuckled.I sat opposite her."I heard a lot about you, and I know getting dragged away from your life and living among vampires can be traumatic." She said."It is hard to live cluelessly and believe in fantasies. I am not sure of anything. "I believe I am what everyone claims me to be, but I can't figure out my powers," I answered, looking at her smiling face. I could feel myself relax and trust her."That's why I am here." She said. Her lips curled upward the slightest bit, showing a faint smile."Are you really a witch?" I asked curiously. I started finding it easier to speak now that I knew she wouldn't harm me."Yes.""Let's talk about you; tell me everything; do not leave a single detail." She urged.I looked at her questioningly.She took my hand in hers. "That's the only way I can help you." "I must know more about you and how you ended up here." She said it smoothly."You can trust me; I will stand by your side in all odds." Whichever side you may pick in the future, "I will guide and protect you." She said it sincerely.I felt honesty in her words. I knew deep in my heart that this woman could be trusted. I don't know how, but I just do. It felt like she came straight from heaven to help me. I smiled at her, tears glistening in my eyes."I am from New York; I lived with my aunt Anna and led a normal life with friends and college until one day William appeared," I said as I was reliving the moments."I was met with an accident a few months back; it was pretty bad, and I thought I almost died, but William saved my life. We got along well, and I felt happy for him being in my life. "I thought we would become close friends or something more, but fate had other plans."I took a deep breath and continued, "After a few days, William was nowhere to be found; he left me waiting and wondering." I desperately searched for him, but he was nowhere to be found. In his absence, his friend John became my constant companion, but we never saw eye to eye. "He despised me for some reason."My voice trembled as I recalled the horror that followed. Then, one day, John abducted me along with a witch. They took me to William, who revealed their true identity and intentions. They claimed that I was the key to some prophecy and that I was a witch myself. "At first, I couldn't believe it, but as I listened to their words, a chilling realization dawned upon me."I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "They said that I belonged with them, that it was my destiny." But my heart screamed in protest. I didn't want to believe it, but the more they spoke, the more convinced I became. "The truth of my identity was a heavy burden to bear, and I didn't know where to turn for help."As I finished speaking, I looked at her, hoping for some comfort or advice. The emotions were still raw and fresh, and the confusion felt like it would never go away."I am sorry." She said sympathetically."Have you had any sort of vision or heard any voices in your head?" She asked the only question that I was not ready to reveal yet. I can't even think of it because of her powers. I cannot risk her reading my mind. I stayed quiet.She sighed. "I know we just met and it's hard to trust someone whom you've never met before, but we are put in a situation and we don't have a choice." You know the King wants to awaken your powers desperately, but we must know what powers you possess. "We must find it before they learn about it themselves and decide your fate." She said gently."I am here to protect you." She spoke, but her lips remained motionless. I looked into her wide eyes. She just spoke inside my head. She looked at me knowingly."I'll show you something; try not to look surprised." "You know about vampire hearing; they may not be in your immediate vicinity, but they can clearly hear you." She spoke in my head and covered my palm with both of her hands.I winced and clutched at my temples as a sudden, sharp pain shot through my head. The next moment, a whirlwind of images began to form in my mind, each one more vivid than the last.A woman with chocolate brown hair held a tiny baby in her arms. Despite the similar colour of her eyes to mine, she looked so familiar, like I had seen her somewhere. Before I could take a closer look, the scene shifted to Anne's doorstep. The same woman stood there, holding the baby tightly in her arms. Anne opened the door with a warm smile, and the two women hugged each other as if they were long-lost friends. They both sat down on our sofa, with the baby cradled in the woman's arms.Anne sat opposite her along with my parents, and they started talking, which was not audible to me. The woman took one last look at the baby in her hand, tears flowing from her eyes. She half-heartedly placed the baby in my mother's hand and smiled at me.As they began to talk, I strained to hear what they were saying, but their words were muffled and incomprehensible. However, I could see the sadness etched on the woman's face. She rocked the baby gently, trying to soothe her to sleep, but her eyes were filled with tears that flowed down her cheeks.Suddenly, the woman looked at the baby with a mixture of sadness and hope in her eyes. "You are safe." Kristen. I will make sure you live a normal, happy, mortal life. "Mommy loves you." She said so and placed a kiss on my head. A few of her tears fell on the baby's face as it started crying. I felt a tear slip from my own eyes as I saw everything in the third person.She half-heartedly placed the baby in my mother's hands, and with a small, wistful smile, she turned and walked away.The intense emotions that I felt during those brief moments were overwhelming as if I had been transported to that very scene.Things started to fall into place. The woman was my actual mother, and she looked exactly like me, just a couple of years older. Her features, hair, eyes, body everything resembled mine. She looked like my twin and the baby in her arms was me. My heart made knots, and I choked on my own tears. What I saw next shook me to the core.Linda walked inside the home a moment later. "We should leave now." Looking at my mother, she said. She nodded and took my hand in hers. She closed her eyes and chanted something. When the baby opened her eyes, they were not red anymore; they were brown like mine, and the baby slept calmly in my adopted mother's arms. She smiled at everyone and left the house without turning back.Linda walked inside and made my mom, dad, and Anne sit together. "Forget meeting us. You saw the baby outside your door today; you adopted her." "You will raise the child as your own." She said, and they all nodded their heads. Linda finished her compulsion and walked out, joining my birth mother."Is it done?" My mom asked. Her voice broke into pieces. Linda's eyes welled up as she looked at my mother.Kristen will be safe here. She will be raised like a normal human child. You locked her powers. There is no way for the vampires to locate her. She will not have the same fate as others. She is special, and we will do everything to protect her. "I will be watching over her in the human world." She said and hugged my mom."I trust you, Linda." Please take care of our Kristen and when the time comes, be by her side and show her the truth. She must not fall into the vampire's hands. "The choice she makes will decide her future." She said looking at my home."I will protect her with my life," Linda says sincerely.I was pulled out of the vision. I felt like someone kicked me hard in my chest. The pain was unbearable. I opened my eyes and heaved for air."What was that?" I asked her out loud. A nasty pain made its way to my head. She once again spoke in my head, making the pain worse."That's a memory of mine." "You know what you saw." She spoke softly. I saw her eyes glisten with tears. I believed she was truly powerful, and my heart broke after what I saw. My mother gave me away to protect me. She loved me with all her heart. There was no other proof needed to convince me of what I was. I am a witch, and now I must embrace my identity and find out what happened to my parents and why I was brought here."This is enough for today. "You look exhausted." Linda's voice brought me out of my thoughts. I clutched my head tightly to ease the pain. "I know it must be hard taking this all in, Kristen. "It's just meant to be," she said. I faced her and furrowed my brows."We can try again tomorrow." Get some rest." She said calmly, looking behind me. I followed her gaze and spotted John walking toward us. He took long strides towards me like I was in some kind of danger."Is everything alright?" John asked, surprisingly looking concerned."Yes. "She needs rest," Linda said, smiling at John. He looked at her warily."Let's go," he said, taking my hand in his.I struggled to get up on my feet but managed to stand without falling as I felt light-headed. I took in a few large breaths to stop my hammering heart and throbbing head."You look sick," John said, holding my arm cautiously. When I looked at John, the world slowly faded, and I fell into darkness. I fell into his arms and passed out. The last thing I heard was John's voice calling out with concern, which was distant to my ears.---------------------------Please like and vote for the chapter if you like it. It means a lot to me. I try my best to edit the chapter to make the plots vivid as much as possible.