Strings of Fate

111- Recognition and re-evaluation When we finish eating, Aaron, Darrien and Bellamy clean up. Megan and | try to help but the guys refuse and insist that we sit and relax.

“You cooked, we clean.” Bellamy insists. Well, far be it fromto argue if a handsgroup of guys wants to clean up while we sit and chill. Still, by the tthey finish, I'm getting antsy. | want to hear what Aaron found out. Megan and Darrien have no idea what the meeting is for so Bellamy gives them a quick explanation. They seem a little confused at my extrinterest, but neither of them question my desire to help, which | appreciate. It suddenly occurs tothat Aaron, AARON is going to give a report. A verbal report. He is going to TELL us what happened? That's insane. Surely he will have to speak more than a single sentence now! My plans are ruined when he pulls out a neatly folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket and hands it to me. | smooth it out to find... he TYPED out his report. | whirl to face him.

“You're doing this on purpose now aren't you?” | demand. Megan laughs.

“Why would he do that?” She blurts out.

Aaron keeps his expression blank.

“Exactly, why Miss Gale?” He says in a monotone. | roll my eyes and glare at him. After a second his blank expression breaks when his mouth twitches into a tiny half smile. | knew it. Bellamy seems amused as does Darrien. They all watchexpectantly.

“Ugh fine.” | read out the report that Aaron gave me.

“The hwas blocked off with police tape as expected. | could not determine the species of the attackers but | was able to determine the stype of magical trace that was found after the vandalism at Miss Gale’s hsuggesting the stype of magic was used to disguise it. There were signs of a struggle and it is also worth noting that the couple who were killed and the child did not give off human scents as the papers suggested but something else instead. At least one of the parents was a Witch, the other and the something different. Not Lare something common as | have not cacross the scent before. | could not find any other evidence that would be useful to us.” | finish reading and drop the paper on the table. They have the smagic as the people who attacked my home? | glance at Bellamy, his 1/4 111- Recognition and re-evaluation expression is beyond dark. He is thinking something through and | decide to ask a few questions before he freaks out too much.

“If you didn’t recognise the scent, is it possible that someone else will? | don’t know if being aware of her species will help us find the girl but it might be useful to be aware of her capabilities. We still don’t know why she was taken after all.” Aaron gives a nod.

“Yes it’s possible.” He pulls out another item from his jacket pocket. A small plastic ziplock bag. Inside is a scrap of fabric.

“From her pillow case.” he explains. | smile my approval.

“Thanks. Maybe someone will recognise it.” He passes it around to everyone else in the room but they all shake their heads no, they don’t know it. | sigh. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

“Does... does that mean there’s nothing we can do to help?” | ask quietly. Everyone at the table falls quiet and the silence hurts. Bellamy reaches out and grabs my hand.

“We'll think of something, this is important to you.” | appreciate his effort to comfort although he’s squeezing my hand a little tight so | know he’s not thrilled right now.

“You alright?” | ask. He gives a short nod.

“Fine. Just re-evaluating your safety measures.” My brow furrows.

me, “What do you mean? | already moved in here, took toff work and agreed not to go anywhere alone. What else could you possibly want?” | ask, a little horrified. He stares atand clutches my hand in both of his.

“How are you not more worried about this? He told us that the smagical traces we found at your house was found at the scene of a double homicide and kidnapping!” His voice is measured, | can see that he is actively trying to stay in control but the more he speaks the louder his voice is getting.

“There are tons of potential explanations for that though. It’s probably not the sperson, it’s not even the stype of crime! They probably just purchased from the sstore or used the sreference to do the spell. | agree we should be cautious, but let's not jump to 2/4 111- Recognition and re-evaluation.

conclusions just yet.” | try to reason. The look Bellamy givestellshe isn’t buying my explanation. To be honest, I'm not sure | do either. If it was just the spell | would understand, but my weird dreams haveon edge. Something is up, | just have no idea what. He releases me, drags a hand through his damp hair and lets out an exasperated sigh.

gates to “Regardless, we need to be more careful. No more unnecessary outings, and if I'm not hthen Darrien or Aaron should be here. It’s not likely that anyone could get past the gat our land but who knows what spells they have access to.” He decides. | sigh. | get the feeling there's going to be sdebate over what counts as a necessary outing. But how mad can | be when there is someone out to get me? Would | rather he didn’t care at all? “I also need you to tellright away if you have any more of those dreams. Wakeup if you need to, okay? | don’t know if they mean anything or if it's just because you're anxious about all the but since you're concerned | don’t want to ignore it, just in case.” he states firmly. | give a small smile, grateful that he’s not dismissing my weird dreams.

“Aaron, Darrien, You guys work out a schedule to make sure one or both of you are here when. I'm not home.

Nights should be fine but | still have to go out during the day occasionally. You're both welcto make yourselves comfortable here in between times or take meals here. Does anyone have any further questions?” He confirms.

“Yeah, | do. | need to go get smore of my stuff if I'm going to be here for a while. Are you free to taketoday or should | go with Aaron?” | ask. Bellamy shakes his head.

“Make a list, Aaron can go for you. You don’t need to leave for something like that.” He orders. | cross my arms over my chest.

my “No. That doesn’t work for me. No offence Aaron, but | don’t need sguy going through drawers looking for my stuff. I'm not comfortable with YOU going through all my drawers, so why would | be okay with someone else doing it?” | point out. Bellamy looks torn between. understanding and being stubborn. | can tell that he wants to givewhat | want, but the overprotective part of him wants to lockin this house and not letleave until he knows the danger is taken care of. | make eye contact with him and hold it.