She stood in front of her house facing the direction of the estate of death with a complex expression on her face, she didn't wish to go back to that estate until the ritual began but maybe people's lives were indeed at stake and her fate was to help them by taking herself to the devil. She crushed the walnut in her hand in frustration, a lot had been happening lately and everything was turning to her, she felt she was going crazy "hey what are you standing out here this late, shouldn't you be on your bed snoring away by this timd" she heard Gabriel's and she turned with a faint smile, "just thinking about the witches stuff, why are you here this late?" she asked as she settled on the bench in front of the tree where the man from verga city had sat and Gabriel sat beside her, "I just finished sorting the house I got and I decided to see you" he said with a grateful smile "oh, that's a good thing, when are you going to pick Margaret?" she asked and Gabriel stiffened but immediately recovered, Hazel noticed it, it was the second time now, when she asked about Fiona he had the same reaction "her treatment isn't complete, I would go and pick her when she is well" Gabriel said and there was silence, Hazel said nothing and instead stared deeply at him like she was trying to get something out of his face and he shifted awkwardly on his sit, "Gabriel is there something you aren't telling me" she asked and he sighed tiredly "can I really hide anything from you?" he muttered "well, Fiona needs money and she wrote me a letter, Margaret also needs more money for her treatment, I have been trying to work for the money but it just isn't enough" he muttered sadly "why didn't you tell me?, I would have gotten you the money, why are you hiding it from me?" Hazel asked with a frown and Gabriel sighed again "well, you have done a lot for us I just..." "I never complained, you should have told me. I would try to get the money tomorrow" Hazel said and Gabriel expression switched to a bright one "I really can't wait, thank you so much Hazel" he cried "anytime" she muttered as she patted his shoulder and Gabriel leaned in on her shoulder, his face twisted in a strange expression, but Hazel didn't notice. Suddenly, a dagger hurtled towards him, and Hazel reacted swiftly, pushing him out of harm's way just in time the dagger embedded itself in the tree trunk, and Hazel's eyes widened as she recognized the weapon "run, Gabriel!" she yelled, her voice urgent, Gabriel hesitated his gaze filled with confusion "I said run" Hazel yelled again and he took off in a sprint but he was no match for the dark figure that emerged from the shadows , Ezra's eyes blazed with a malevolent intensity as he went after Gabriel and pinned him to a tree, his grip tightening around the young man's throat , Hazel raced towards them, her heart pounding in her chest. "Ezra, stop! You'll kill him!" she pleaded, her voice laced with desperation, Ezra's gaze turned to her, his eyes flashing with possessiveness. "He shouldn't have touched what's mine," he growled, his voice low and menacing, Hazel knew she had to act fast, with a swift motion, she drew her small knife and sliced her arm, the blood welling up quickly. "Let him go, or I'll cut myself again," she threatened, her eyes locked on Ezra's, he snarled, but eventually released Gabriel, who collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, Ezra turned to Hazel, his expression darkening as he swept her up in his arms and disappeared leaving Gabriel shaken and confused, he looked around, picked himself up and began to run again. In Ezra's room in the estate of death he threw Hazel to the bed and pinned her under him, his gaze blazing with craze and possessiveness and he rained his hot and wild kisses on her body as he tore her clothes, she gasped trying to push him off but he wasn't going to listen, with one hand he tightly held her right hand which she had sliced, "you are mine and mine alone" he whispered hoarsely as he bit her ear "Gabriel is my friend" she muttered her chest heaving up and down, "you sliced your hand for him" he muttered angrily his gaze more crazed, "he his my best friend moreover he has a fiancee" she said and he paused for a while his expression easing a little but soon he dived in for another intense and wild kissing, he leaned in, his eyes burning with passion and claimed her lips in a fierce kiss she hesitated, her resistance faltering as he deepened the kiss. His hands roamed her body, igniting a fire that threatened to consume her despite her better judgment, she felt herself yielding to his touch, her resolve weakening with each passing moment she knew she should push him away, but her body betrayed her, responding to his caresses with a hunger she found strange, he suddenly peeled off her clothes, and she gasped and held his hand she felt a flutter of uncertainty, her heart racing with fear, "stop" she muttered and he took off her hand "why don't you just lay back and let your body respond" he said as he leaned in closer, her little heart raced with anticipation and fear, she knew she was walking a fine line but her desire overrode her doubt and her body surrendered to his touch she was clad naked beneath him as they embraced the world around them melted away leaving only the two of them, lost in the depths of their passion, his fingers traced the curves of her body, sending shivers down her spine, she felt herself getting lost in his emerald green eyes and drowning in the sea of his desire, "bastard, what are you doing to me" she muttered and bit his chest "what you want" he muttered huskily his hands on her tigh "I don't" she muttered "your body says different from your mouth" he whispered his hand spreading her legs, she closed it back immediately, she felt a surge of panic, her mind racing with doubts and fears this was too much, too fast She wasn't ready "Ezra, stop," she whispered, her voice barely audible but Ezra's eyes were fixed on hers, his gaze burning with intensity he didn't seem to hear her, or maybe he chose to ignore her plea his hands spread her legs again his fingers tracing the curves of her body with a gentleness that belied the passion in his eyes, Hazel's heart raced, her breath catching in her throat she felt trapped, unable to move or speak her mind screamed warnings, but her body seemed to betray her, responding to Ezra's touch with a treacherous weakness, "No, Ezra, please," she whispered again, her voice cracking with desperation just then there was a loud knock on the door and Ezra snapped out, he growled, his gaze fierce like he was going to kill the knocker, "Ezra, please I need your attention" Melvin's voice sounded and Ezra took in a long breath to calm his raging body, he gave Hazel a brief kiss and picked himself up, put on his robe and strolled out.