Bloodlines

Chapter Four- Safe Haven

  As I entered the door the smell of food hit me like a brick wall. All I had eaten that day was a muffin and some berries, I forgot how hungry I was. 

"Amara!" A voice shirked before a body slammed into mine wrapping me in a hug.  "Oh, how I missed you!" I looked at the girl who had bear-hugged me. 

"I missed you too, Poppy!" I smiled. 

"Okay, well if you don't hug me back, it's going to get awkward."

"I would, but you have my arms pinned down." I laughed. She quickly let go so I could hug her. Poppy didn't grow much over the summer, then again, neither did I. Her brunette hair now reaching her shoulders framing her face perfectly. She gave me another big squeeze before we walked to our designated table. 

"Amara, it is nice to see you again, my Friend." Natty smiled at me from the Gryffindor table, I turned around in my seat to face her. 

"You as well Natty! I've missed my girls." I smiled at her and Poppy.  I have truly missed my girls, we all wrote to each other over the summer, but it didn't hold a candle to seeing them in person again. 

"Oh, Amara, you're back." Lenora sneered. 

"Why wouldn't I?" I raised a brow. 

"Figured you would just disappear after everything." She shrugged. 

"Lenora, if you are jealous of the attention, just say so, or shut it. I honestly do not have the energy for your bullshit this year." I snapped. Ever since my first year, Lenora Everleigh had to be better than me at everything, or she at least tried her best. Claimed she should have been a Ravenclaw because of how hard she worked. She tried so hard that she often messed up on things like potions or was defeated in a duel. If she didn't try so hard to be better, I feel like she'd do great. But she's too busy being a bitch to everyone that it just slaps her in the face. 

Lenora scoffed and played with her food. 

"Someone is feisty this year." Poppy teased.

"After the nonsense of last year, I'm just tired and telling it like it is. I feel like I was just used and used by damn near everyone." I said honestly. "Almost everyone." 

"So, not me?" 

"Oh of course not! Nor Natty!" I reassured her squeezing her hand. 

"What about Sebastian Sallow?" She pressed. My eyes dropped to my plate. 

"I don't know, we had a moment before the fight with Ranrok, after that, he just, stopped. His owls were full of words but somehow still felt empty, then they stopped completely." I played with some broccoli with my fork. 

"Did you ever tell him how you felt about him?" She lowered her voice. 

"No, the time was never right, and I feel like the feeling wasn't mutual. I was a good dueling partner and someone to help him with finding a cure for his sister, once his uncle died, he just shut down. Not that I blame him." I met her eyes; disappointment was written all over my face.

"Well, it's a new year. Maybe things will turn around, I'll always root for you." She gave me a nudge. "Eat up, I wouldn't want you to go to bed hungry." We both ate our dinner while the Headmaster gave his usual beginning-of-the-year speech. 

"Also, Quidditch will start back up this year, since you all complained about it last year." He rolled his eyes, cheers roared throughout the room. I turned towards the Slytherin table looking for David. Once our eyes met he raised his goblet. I raised mine in return, we both wanted to try out this year. Before turning back around, my eyes met another. The familiar brown eyes I looked at all last year, yet, it felt like they belonged to a stranger. I gave a soft smile before turning away. 

We were all dismissed, and I quickly met up with David and Taylor. We greeted each other for a brief moment before heading to our separate common rooms. 

I threw myself on the bed and sighed in exhaustion. Finally, safe sleep once again. 

----

Cold...cold...freezing! My eyes shot open and I sat up. My eyes squinted in the darkness, running my hand along the frozen ground. Snow? How did I get here? I stood up, dusting the snow off my skirt still looking around. Some tracks we lit up by the moonlight, my eyes followed them and a few paces away stood a man. He stepped from the shadows, letting the moonlight catch his beautiful face. 

"Watch for me in the moonlight, for I can no longer walk under the sun's bright face." I repeated, "Father?" The man smiled, his ocean eyes shining brightly. 

"Amara, my sweet girl." He opened his arms to me, I ran slamming my body into his throwing my arms around his torso, burying my face into his chest to hide my tears. He held me tightly and placed several kisses on my head. "Do you know why I have come to you? I'm sure you have many questions."

"Yes, Mother said your thoughts weren't safe, that we weren't safe. What is going on?" I pressed refusing to let him go. 

"I can only reveal so much, Amara. The world is in the throes of a great battle between the two species, it's spilling into nearby villages. Those being turned like your uncle are growing in numbers, too quickly. I had to do what was needed to stop the spread."

"What did you do?" I let go meeting his eyes. 

"What I had to, it's nothing for you to concern yourself with." He kissed my forehead.

"Does everyone think I'm stupid? I have ears you know; I hear all the whispers! You made an army?" I pulled away from him frowning.

"I had to, Amara. The Lycans were getting too close to you and your mother, I did it to stop them. What I did was for the greater good." He got defensive. "If they got to you and your Mother, the vampires would follow and the two of you would have been found. I would not have you killed by Vince or by my Brother." 

"What does Mother know?"

"What your mother knows is trivial, the war is greater than anyone expected. And someone is joining the fight, we don't know who it is. The other monsters of the world are also growing in numbers." He informed. "Ghouls have been found outside cemeteries, Acromantulas taking over nearby hamlets, and I even saw a Mahr take down a small caravan. Something has got them in a tizzy, I know the Ministry of Magic is also concerned. But we all want you out of the fight." 

"Who are your thoughts not safe from." I pressed. 

"The Council, the other Elders. Amara, Natalie is not as much of a threat as Vince is. She is kind to her people. It's Vince I'm concerned about, his hunger for power is too great." He sighed. "Stay at Hogwarts, learn and grow I will be in your dreams, in the moonlight." He pulled me close and kissed my forehead. "Watch for me in the moonlight, for I can no longer walk under the sun's bright face." He repeated. Everything soon faded with his voice. I was once again, alone.