Soul bound

Convince myself I hate you

I'm going back to therapy

Cause I loved you then, and I love you now

And I don't know how

Guess it's hard to know when nobody else comes around

If I'm getting over you

Or just pretending to

Be alright, convince myself I hate you

Male Fantasy- Billie Eilish

Aron sat at the table, music playing softly in one earbud as she practiced stitching, using fake skin from a kit. The mansion was particularly quiet, especially after her date. She hadn't even seen Sam since the embarrassing encounter the night before. She tried not to think of that, focusing on the stitches and medical textbooks in front of her. She had her hair in two braids, wearing jean shorts and a large hoodie.

All of the stress mixed with the forced break had put her behind on studying. It was a much-needed break, but it couldn't have come at a worst time. Dealing with the incubi would have been a lot easier if she wasn't ever there.

She thought about just leaving, driving somewhere far away until her break was over. Maybe go to Florida and spend time with her siblings. If only it was cheaper, not to mention leaving her home unattended to a group of people, let alone demons that she didn't trust, was an awful idea.

She continued practicing, nonstop for hours. That was until a cramp shot through her hand, making her drop the suture. She cringed from the pain, waiting for it to subside when Erik walked in. She really, really didn't want to talk to him about Sam or the situation at all. She didn't want to think about it at all.

Erik raised an eyebrow at the kit and walked over to the table, offering Aron a soft smile. "Is your hand alright, Princess?"

Aron bit her tongue; he was being nice. There was no need to chastise him for the pet name. It never bothered her before, though she always disagreed. She was definitely not a princess. "Yeah, it's fine. Just a cramp," she said dryly.

Erik hesitantly sat by her, holding his hands out for hers. "Perhaps a massage would help?"

She pursed her lips, debating. She eventually sighed and nodded, earning a bigger smile from him. When she placed her hand in his, he suddenly jerked back with a quick yelp of pain. She felt her magic zap him, like an electric shock.

Aron gasped, her eyes widening in guilt. "Shit! Sorry, I'm still working on controlling...that." Her magic initially manifested in self-defense, starting out completely against her will. It tended to only shock those she didn't trust, but she'd learned to control it. She couldn't treat patients if she was constantly shocking them. Being anxious from the boys and suppressed emotions must have been making her energy and body go into full defense mode. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry!"

"No, it's quite alright, Princess," he said, his voice slightly wavering as he recovered from the painful jolt. "A little shock is nothing to get upset over."

She frowned slightly as she watched him. "I've been getting better at controlling it, I guess the stress from...everything is just aggravating it."

"It's alright," he reassured her again. "I understand the last few days have been particularly hard for you. And for that, I apologize."

Aron got quiet for a moment before shrugging. "It's fine," she said, her tone uninterested.

He held his hands out for hers again. "Would you like to try again?"