The birds chirping reminded me of home. Of my parents. As I sat under the shade of an old oak tree, I kept my eyes closed, listening to everything that spoke to me. The sun wasn't fully up yet, the warmth not quite reaching my skin. But, somehow, under this tree, alone in the woods, with the birds singing, I felt...safe. For once, everything I ever questioned and all of the complications in my life faded away with the morning breeze.
A faint crunching sound made me slowly open my eyes, and there stood Simon. Surprised by his visit, I stood up, dusting the dirt off of me while keeping eye contact.
"Simon, what are you doing here?" I stood in place, not having to move since Simon was the one walking. He looked down at his feet until he came face to face with me.
"Simon?" He still wouldn't look at me which worried me. Another noise sounded behind me and I turned in time to see Aiden. His hair shone brightly in the dim sunlight and he too was looking down.
"Aiden?" Never once looking up at me, he stopped the same distance as Simon. Not speaking. Not even acknowledging mine or Simons presence.
I spun around and looked back at Simon, then Aiden, then Simon again. Why were they here with me? I was relaxing. My mind was drifting in my own thoughts. Alone. I was supposed to be alone.
Someone clapping shook me out of my thoughts and rushed me back to the present. I looked all around me, but the clapping wasn't coming from Simon, nor Aiden, and it scared me. Chilled me.
"Bravo Bella." A familiar voice came from somewhere in the trees. Suddenly, my peaceful world can crashing down, the birds not longer chirping. The sun becoming too hot, and the silence was terrifying.
"Who's there?" Feeling silly asking the question, knowing Simon and Aiden were standing at my sides, I closed my eyes.
"I see you've finally managed to realize the obvious. Why is it, Bella, that every time we meet, your...scared?" The silky voice came again. It sounded as if the voice was coming from every direction. Yet, that wasn't possible. He was here. Watching me. I just didn't know where.
"Show yourself." Even to myself, I didn't sound convincing, nor brave at the moment. Confused as to why Aiden wasn't speaking, the same with Simon, I didn't want to be here at the slightest.
"Now, don't be afraid love, I won't hurt you." The voice came again, making me jump towards Aiden. I wanted him to comfort me, to tell me everything was alright. But he just stood there, head down.
"Simon." I violently whispered to him, going to his side. "Simon please answer me." This time, he spoke, not looking up, and I froze in terror. For the voice that came from Simon mouth, wasn't his own. But it was the voice that was so familiar, so...mysterious.
"They can't hear you love, they never truly could. Don't you understand?" The voice came from Simons mouth. He looked like a puppet, only moving when his master pulled the strings.
I swallowed a large lump in my throat, not wanting to show any sign of fright. "I don't know what you're talking about. Or who you are at all." I spat out, attempting to sound independent.
The voice chuckled but this time Simons mouth didn't move. I turned around to look at Aiden but he wasn't moving either.
A whistle in my ear made me jump and turn around, almost losing balance. Nobody. There was nobody there.
"What do you want with me." I managed to choke out. It was quiet for a moment and I waited impatiently for a response.
"I don't want to do anything Bella." The voice became soft, I could hear a new emotion in the voice. It was almost calming and I found myself drawn to it. "I just want you to open your eyes. See the truth." He said, but his voice sounded closer this time. He was near. Deciding it would be best to keep him talking, to distract him, I might make him come out of hiding. Yes. That will work.
"What truth?" Is all my dumb brain could think of at the moment.
"It breaks my...heart, to hear you say that Bella." This time, his voice was in my ear. I could feel his breath on my skin, and as much as I hate to admit it, it sent a strange sensation down my spine. Not daring to turn around, more afraid he would leave than of him, I kept on talking.
"Maybe, if you would stop playing games and just tell me..." I didn't finish my sentence, hoping he was bright enough to get the memo. Shocked when I felt a strong hand grip my chin tightly, painfully, I winced and shut my eyes, begging for the pain to disappear. His grip tightened as he leaned in closer to my ear.
"Don't cry Bella, I won't actually hurt you." He released me with a push and my head jerked forward. Taking this time to turn around, I did, but instantly became furious when he wasn't there. I looked over at Aiden and Simon, hoping they would help me. Still though, they stood there, heads down not speaking.
"Help me!" I screamed at them, but they didn't even flinch. Tears threatened to spill from the rim of my eyes and I wiped at them furiously. "Please." My voice cracked and I felt so alone. There was that word again. Alone. God I was so sick of being alone. I wanted comfort. I wanted someone to give me that. But here I am, all alone.
"If you wouldn't be so, oblivious, maybe you wouldn't be." The voice came again.
"Wouldn't be what." I spat, becoming angry with this whole stupid situation.
"So...alone." He sounded sad but it soon faded when he laughed. "Of course you won't realize the obvious though. I mean, you are Arabella. You're the definition of complicated, aren't you."
"Shut up." I mumbled, shaking my head, glaring in any direction I could.
"Your complicated life with you complicated brother. Of course, you soon realized that he was the innocent one in that situation, didn't you. And you were the one in the wrong." Tears spilled down my face, leaving cold trails. I wiped one away and sniffled.
"Then, there's poor, loving, Simon." I looked over at Simon and more tears fell when I saw his mouth moving. "He was innocent in your little love spell, wasn't he? Poor, poor Simon. All he wanted was your affection Bella. Why didn't you give it to him." The lips mocked me and the hollow stare was almost to much.
"Please." I whispered, begging for him to stop.
"Oh but there's more Arabella!" The voice grew louder and I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Then, last and definitely least," he sounded disgusted for a moment before returning to bitter. "There is your precious Aiden. You're mate. Or so you think. He showed up at the perfect time in the perfect place. Admit it Bella, he's pretty much Simons...replacement. But your wrong. Oh how wrong you are."
Finally opening my eyes, I looked at Aiden and wasn't the least bit surprised when he was "talking".
"You're complicated 'alpha', to go along with your complicated life."
"Shut up!" I screamed, fed up with him. I didn't even know him. He didn't know me and he sure as hell didn't know my life.
Then why does everything seem so real? A voice in my mind said.
"Admit it Bella. Something is off and you know it." I furrowed my brows and was about to question him but he began speaking again. "Haven't you noticed that these two have been here the whole time and haven't bothered to help you? Haven't you noticed that they don't care?" The voice mocked me. "Don't you think, that if they really loved you, you wouldn't be in this mess?"
I knew not to listen to this man, but his words cut deep down and I couldn't deny that. It was true. They have been here, but not once were they actually here for me. The only person here other than me was this voice. And it didn't even want to show its face.
"For once in your life Bella, fallow your heart." I heard the voice come from my right side and looked that way, noticing a glowing pair of green eyes. The same green eyes I had seen in the woods before.
"But that's impossible." I said aloud. Those eyes, I knew those eyes and I have seen his face before. But that face belonged to Aiden. Confusion hit me hard and I gripped my head.
"Think about what he is Bella. I Shadow Shifter. Don't you know what that means? He can look like anyone he wants. He can look like me." And at that moment, the eyes stepped out of the shadows, revealing non other than the man I had seen before. It seemed he still had that strange affect on me. My heart was pumping out of my chest and sweat began to gather between my shoulder blades. I took a deep breath in and stared at him. Trying to memorize him. It wasn't hard, seeming as he had the same features as Aiden. His hair the same white, his skin just as smooth, and the height that made me feel small. Only difference were the eyes. Instead of those light baby blues, they were electric green.
"But how is that possible?"
"How is any of this possible? You being a wolf, Aiden being a Shadow Shifter. Oh and let's not forget the witches and many other things you have no idea about."
His response caught me off guard and I stumbled back. All of this was too much for me. I couldn't handle it.
"What are you." I questioned. It might have sounded stupid, but I needed to know.
"You'll understand out soon enough my love. But for now. You must wake up, it seems you're wanted at the dock." And he disappeared from sight. Suddenly, my world started to spin around me and a defining darkness over came me, making me fall to me knees. I closed my eyes from the pain in my head and waited for everything to stop.
