Being a Magicalian

Chapter 14

"Melody, Melody?"

Alice shook Melody's unconscious body trying to wake her, but there was no response. Alice repeated, shaking more desperately. Melody's eyes opened slightly, but quickly shut closed again.

"Come on Mel, wake up." Alice's eyes filled with tears. As she went to wipe them with the back of her hands Melody's bright eyes opened.

"Ouch," Melody grunted, struggling to pick her head up. "What happened?"

"Mel!" Alice leaped with joy and hugged Melody firmly, which consequently squeezed the air out of her lungs.

When Alice finally let go of her, Melody's eyes drifted to the small light that was coming from behind her. A tall dark figure appeared from the shadow. Melody eyes widen with fear. Alice noticed her reaction and she turned around.

"Rowan don't scare her like that," Alice hissed as he came forward, "I don't even know why you are here in the first place," she mumbled the last bit under her breath.

Now it was clear to her what had happened, she had tripped over something and just before she closed her eyes Rowan had found her. What was he even doing there? Melody looked at Alice then back to Rowan. She felt lost for words and hoped someone would explain what was going on.

He ignored her comment and slowly walked over towards Melody. Melody gingerly placed her hand on the bump that was forming just above her eyebrow. She felt like the whole world was spinning around her and desperately wished she could make it stop. When he was just a few inches away from her, he kneeled down and looked at the bruise on Melody's forehead. Melody gave him a concerned look not knowing why he was slowly approaching her. He gently pushed a few of her curls back, trying his best not to cause any more pain.

"Does it hurt?" he asked smoothly, hoping it didn't hurt too much.

Melody had lost the words from out of her throat and it took her a moment to find them, "I'm fine just a little bump." She smiled softly trying to convince him she was fine, but it hurt a lot more than what she was putting on. Still, her attempt was unconvincing.

"I sorry Melody. I tried to warn you about the hole, but I couldn't shift back in time to tell you. His apology sounded painfully sincere. "It's my fault you fell. If I only shifted back when you first saw me." His solicitude touched Melody, sending warmth up her cheeks, but instead of saying thank you she just looked at him.

"I felt something drawing me to the woods. I worried it might be one of you so I shifted to use my powers and stay out of sight. When I saw a bright flash of blue light near the edge, I ran towards the light and found you two. I ran in after you cast that spell using my speed to avoid getting caught by the detection spells."

Anger rose inside Alice knowing that he was secretly watching them, "You were following us?! How could you?! You just got out of the infirmary."

Rowan looked at Alice with care in his eyes, "Yes, I was following you. I was worried you guys would get yourselves killed, you don't know what's in these woods!"

"And I guess you do!" Alice shot back. "I lived in the woods my whole life. I know what I'm doing."

The tone of his voice got deeper, "Then what are you doing?"

Melody looked to Alice who was fuming, her back facing away from them. Alice couldn't help but be mad at him for high-tailing off into the woods after them. He had only just got out of recovery less than twenty-four hours ago, and now he was out here saying that they could have gotten killed! Alice didn't keep that warning in mind now that Rowan was here getting himself into something that she didn't want him in. She puffed out a blow of air and crossed her arms over her chest.