The wait was over; the moon was full, and it was time to test Arabella's magic.
"Nina, relax. Even if, by some unfortunate occurrence, this doesn't work, we'll have until midnight." Rogan sat calmly on the sofa, a nature documentary playing quietly on the telly. I, on the other hand, couldn't help but pace back and forth. I didn't know how he could be so calm; this was very possibly, his end, and yet he just sat, calmly watching tv.
"Nina, please, come sit down." He looked me in the eye and tenderly held out a hand. I stopped pacing, took a deep, steadying breath, and gingerly took his hand, allowing him to pull me down beside him. the subtle smell of sandalwood and lavender soothed soothed my singing nerves in a single breath. Even after all this time, he smelt the same, smelt of pine trees, underlaid with sandalwood and lavender. I thought back to the night I thought I'd seen him, by my father's rock, remembered the words he'd said; "I never expected you to be exactly the same, yet in the same breath, you've changed. You and I may be as different as the day from the night, but neither can live without the other." I closed my eyes and curled into him; whether that night had happened or not, those words were true.
As my pounding heart and racing mind slowed, I became aware of his are around my shoulders, and his cheek on my head. My heart fluttered, like wings of a butterfly, in my chest, as I thought, 'This is what true happiness and peace must feel like.'
Suddenly, the arrival of midnight didn't worry me, as though it were any other midnight, as though nothing was riding on it. I felt light and free.
"Rogan?"
"MmmHmm." Rogan didn't move, and purely from the tone of his voice, I could tell he was smiling.
"How are you so calm? Have you no fear?" I couldn't help but smile myself. He chuckled and kissed my head.
"Oh Nina, I'm terrified. I'm just taking every moment as it comes and making the most of it."
I let the sound of his voice wash over me, and as the sound faded, I focused on the thrum of his heart.
Ba-boom... ba-boom...ba-boom.
"Did you really think you could outsmart me? You may have lived for a thousand years, but I have lived a fair few more."
I opened my eyes to find myself in the white, door less, abyss the Huntress abided in. Inwardly, I groaned, outwardly, I attempted to smile. I didn't want to tun around, didn't want to face the woman who had ruined my life for a thousand years.
"It's polite to look someone in the eye when they're talking to you, Nina." But I didn't need to turn around; the Huntress simply teleported from where she had been, to right in front of me. "You're scared." Her icy eyes locked on my own, a wicked grin playing on her lips. "You know that, despite your witch's brew, you know in your heart, he's a wolf; that I know he's a wolf."
Something under my skin began to squirm, almost as though, even here, she was fighting for control.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and imagined I was still curled up with Rogan. I saw myself, with my head on his chest, still listening to his heartbeat.
As I pieced the scene together in my head, I felt her power over me diminish. I didn't have to open my eyes to know Huntress." I opened my eyes and allowed myself to grin at her; she cried out in fury.
"A thousand years! A thousand years, and still you don't know my name! Never even had the decency to ask my name!" Her nostrils flared, and her top lip quivered. "Enjoy your freedom while you have it, Nina. Next time you're here, you'll be sorry."
"No, you will be."
"Nina, darling, wake up." When my eyes fluttered open again, the TV was off, the open log fire roared in the hearth, my puppy, Flower, curled up with Biscuit in front of it, and Rogan, crouched in front of me. A gentle smile rested on his perfect lips. "Sweetheart, it's time."
