Two Hearts: The Hunt [Slowly Editing]

Chapter Twenty-Nine

A/N- Not at all happy with this chapter. But it's very important-- the majority of it consists of explanations and revelations so make sure you read carefully.

Dedicated to @KeishlaReyes for making me my first ever fan-made banner! :D (on the right)

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Adrianna's POV

"I'll go first," Esme announced, her soft, girly voice puncturing through the heavy silence like a flower petal falling into a placidly still lake.

I looked to my right at her and then shifted my eyes forward, locking gazes with Caleb. His gaze was as unreadable as mine.

We were sitting on his small, circular table, which was nestled in the corner of his kitchen. Esme had walked through Caleb's door after making me swear that I would not ask a single question until after she was done talking. Too stunned to argue, I kept quiet as she then made her way to Caleb's pale (everything was bleach-white), narrow, bright-lighted kitchen and ordered us to sit down. The authority in her voice sounded foreign. I did not know this girl.

The three of us were going to go around the table, each of us confessing something we had lied to the other about throughout our time at Fairview Hills. She claimed this would help "get things out in the open so we could deal with more important matters." I didn't know what could possibly be more important than my killing her for lying to me for weeks and going after her clan of stalker witches, but as I promised I remained quiet.

Even Caleb looked a bit apprehensive. It almost made me want to smirk. This entire time he had seen Esme as no threat at all-as just some innocent little girl who was happy to have him and me as friends. I had my suspicions about her but he had turned a deaf ear to them all. I bit my tongue to keep from telling him, "I told you so."

"Okay," she breathed, as if readying herself. She glanced between the two of us. "The first thing I wanted to say was... thank you."

I blinked. Caleb knitted his brows. Esme smiled, and for the first time since I met her it didn't look overdone. It was a soft curving of the lips, hiding her teeth. I tried to read them. Was she being shy? Or earnest?

"For what?" I asked sharply, narrowing my eyes.

She looked up at me and held my gaze. The corner of her mouth turned up higher in a half-hearted smile.

"For not killing each other," she stated simply. It sounded like she was about to cry. I was even more confused than I had been two seconds ago.

"You'll understand why in a moment," she continued, as if reading my mind. "So... okay. If you two haven't figured it out already, I'm a witch-a wielder of magic via natural forces."

Caleb and I remained silent. I could hardly make out his expression from my peripheral vision, which led to me having to fight with my eyes to keep them glued on Esme as she spoke. They itched to catch a glimpse of his beautiful face, but I knew I couldn't be checking him out like that anymore. It would only hurt more when I had to leave him forever.

"My clan lives here," she added, "in Fairview Hills. There are about thirty of us, and we follow the orders of our leader, called Priestess."

Esme turned to Caleb. "Okay, your turn."

We were going counterclockwise.

Caleb was silent for what seemed like a long time, staring at the surface of the circular walnut table in deep concentration. Finally he lifted his eyes to meet mine and I was caught.