Secret Obsessions

Chapter 2: Company

Gasekan whirled back and looked at Andie.

"You stay here Andie. We can't trust this man."

Andie was busy watching the handsome man as he rode towards them. His thick light brown hair waved down past his ears, where they curled down around his chiseled jawline. Tied around his neck was a bronze medallion, worn and rusty with age. Draped around his broad shoulders was a fitted jacket that showed off the muscles in his arms. His horse was just as stunning, with a brown coat that shimmered gold in the afternoon sun.

The man's piercing green eyes met hers, and held her gaze as he rode closer to her. Andie felt her breath quicken as her stomach fluttered. She broke free from his gaze and looked down at the floor beneath her feet. She could feel her cheeks heating up, and knew she was blushing.

Gasekan stepped towards the gorgeous stranger before he could come any closer. Andie stepped forward, but Gasekan held his arm out in front of her.

"I said stay here, Andie." He said, turning his head slightly to watch her and the handsome man at the same time. She took a deep breath, ready to fight back. Gasekan narrowed his eyes, and she gulped. He looked angry. And...Afraid? How could that be? Gasekan never got scared. She backed away, and his gaze softened. He snapped his fingers and a purple satin cloak appeared over her shoulders.

"Put this on" Gasekan said. She slipped it on, curling her hair around the edges of the cloak. "the hood too." Gasekan said pointedly. Andie was confused and a little annoyed, but she did what he asked. The cloak covered her face in shadows, and she was disappointed the cute stranger wouldn't be able to see her face. She sighed.

The handsome stranger slipped from his horse and strode towards Andie. Gasekan saw his destination and stepped in ahead of him, shaking the man's hand quickly. "Who are you, son?" he asked the man gruffly.

"My name is Ryker Shadowsdale. Wizard in training sir. I was told you could teach me?" Andie's smile slipped off her face as the man started talking to Gasekan and turned his back to her. She sighed angrily and turned towards the house, her temper flaring.

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The stranger turned his head to look at the beautiful girl on the steps, but she was turning towards the house. As she turned the hood of her cloak slipped off, leaving half her face in shadows, while the other half was flooded with the summer noon light. She looked at him, and her eyes flashed....-purple? she slipped into the house and disappeared.

Ryker shook his head. He must have imagined it. The last witch had died years ago, and no ordinary girl could have eyes that flashed. He mist have imagined it. He closed his eyes and refocused on the task at hand. Convincing the old man to mentor him was his biggest goal. he couldn't let a girl distract him. Especially not a stunning, mysterious, vulnerable, obviously lonely girl with shadowy eyes and a beautiful smile....

"Stop it Ryker! Its just a girl. Reel yourself in" He looked at Gasekan, then back at the house. He had a brilliant idea. 

"Sir? I have a question for you..." he began cautiously. When the old man nodded at him to continue, he said, "now that you have agreed to be my mentor....I need a place to stay...."

Gasekan. sighed loudly. "We only have an old creaky cellar....."

"I'll take it!" Ryker almost yelled in excitement. Maybe now he could focus on both mysteries at once.... but the first thing he wanted the old man top teach him was the beautiful girls name. Maybe then he'd start to learn her secret. A part of him was excited for the challenge, but a slightly smaller part of him reminded him to be careful. His heart tugged both ways. He decided it was a good idea to learn things slowly.

"After all," he thought to himself as he hitched his horse to a post and walked inside the house. "I don't want to scare away a beautiful lady like that so quickly!"

He looked towards the roof, and saw the girl peeking at him from the highest window. He made eye contact with her, and her eyes flashed again as she disappeared back into the shadows of the upper room. He chuckled. He hadn't missed the blush rising in her cheeks.

That night as he laid down in the cellar to sleep, he closed his eyes, and in his mind saw her beautiful smile, and her dark curtain of hair shading her face. He sighed and fell into a deep, restful, relaxed sleep.

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Meanwhile, Andie and Gasekan were upstairs getting ready for the night. She was curious about Ryker, but she was afraid to ask.

"Gasekan?" she asked cautiously. "you never told me we were expecting company. I would have set up the guest room for him..."

Gasekan interrupted her. "I didn't know we were expecting anyone. But lets go to sleep. We'll talk more tomorrow. Have a good night and sweet dreams, my dear little raven."

Andie giggled and closed the door to her bedroom. She laid in her bed for a long time remembering every line and angle of Ryker's face. She sighed quietly and nestled into her blankets. She fell asleep with a small smile on her face.