The Storm Ahead

twelve

Hey guys, this chapter is kind of short and sadly late, because it's leading up to the next chapter, which is a big deal. Please enjoy and remember to comment and vote!

Caroline's POV

I sat crosslegged in the floor of my mothers bedroom. In front of me was a stack of books, all explaining magic, creatures, and the basics of witchcraft.

This had become my usual place to ponder after Leo and I agreed to part ways for a while. In my attempt to avoid the emotions tied to our break, I started going through things in my moms room. Where I found a false bottom in her trunk. Underneath was a wide arrange of occult items that I couldn't help feel was stereotypical.

As I read through the book explaining the arrival and selection of a witches power, but my thoughts continued to make their way back to Leo. And Aiden.

I flipped my way through the book, trying to find a way to get rid of Beatrice's henchmen.

An annoying ring screamed out from my phone and I grabbed it, expecting the call to be from Aiden.

But when I turned over the phone it had Leo's caller ID.

After our agreement to separate for a while, it shocked me.

Worried that it may be important, I answered.

"Hey Leo, whats going-"

"We need to talk." A deep voice growled from the other side.

A pit grew in my stomach.

"What have you done to him?"

"Not so fast, little witch."

"What do you want?"

"You." He said, and I could nearly imagine blood dripping from his mouth, "Boss wants you, so she gets you. That's the deal. You surrender, and we'll let him go."

"I-"

"You have forty-eight hours to decide."

With a click, he was gone.

"Shit, shit, shit."

I dialed Leo's number, but it quickly went to voicemail.

"Fuck!" I yelled and threw my phone against the wall.

I paced back and forth, shouting every profanity my mind could summon.

You need to think, I grumbled in my mind, you can't leave him to die.

"Aiden," I said to myself, thinking back to the man the other night. The one that attacked me, the one that Aiden took down. If Aiden knows how to fight, maybe he could help. Maybe he could save Leo.

I rushed over to my phone, dreading the screen, only to find it unbroken.

I quickly unlocked it and pulled on my contacts, finding Aiden's as fast as I could.

He answered on the second ring.

"'Ello Caroline," His voice called out.

"Can we meet?"

"What's the matter?"

"Please, it's important, I'll explain in person,"

"Yours or mine?"

"Yours is fine, send me the address, I'll be there in fifteen."

"Will do, Love, be careful." He said and the call ended with a click. I shoved my shoes on and rushed to the car, typing the address into my phones map system. Within fifteen minutes, as predicted, I arrived outside of a small apartment complex. I rushed up the stairs, taking two at a time. After stumbling in the hallway I found his door and knocked insistently on the door. He opened it in seconds. He stepped back, and after a moment of scanning my face he held the door open for me to come in.

I rushed inside and after I turned back to him words began to rush out of my mouth.

"They took Leo, these men, they took Leo. A-and they said if I want him to live I have to take his place there, and I can't let him die-"

"Shh," He said softly, pulling me close to him, "Let me go, maybe I can jail break him,"

"It's too dangerous, Aiden,"

"No, it's not," He said, "Remember the guy in the alley?"

I nodded.

"I've trained for stuff like that. Self defense, martial arts, you know? I'd rather I go, than you go and get hurt. You can never trust guys like this when it comes to keeping their word. They may get you there, and still kill him. If I go, our chances of getting him out, alive, are much higher."

He wiped away the tears that were rolling their way down my cheek.

"But what do I do?"

"You stay here, lock the door, and try to stay calm," He said, "I'll do my best to bring him home for you."

I wrapped my arms snuggly around him. At first his body tensed, and I wondered what was going through my head when I decided to hug him. But then his muscles slightly relaxed, and he pulled me closer.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Don't thank me yet," He whispered back. "I need to go."

I gave him the address the men had sent me and he made his way out of the door, reminding me to lock it behind him. I did as he asked and let myself slide down the door. My body collapsed next to it, and I took deep breaths, trying to remove the pit from my stomach.

I heard soft pitter-patter coming my way, and I nearly screamed when I looked up to meet eyes. The eyes backed up a bit and meowed at me.

Standing in front of me was a grey cat with blue eyes. I cocked my head at it and gave it a weak smile. I held out my hand and the kitty smelled it gently before rubbing against it carefully.

I tried to imagine Aiden with the cat, but it was hard to even entertain the idea. Aiden rushing home to feed his cat, that just doesn't seem right. I looked down at the cats green color, and let out a soft laugh at the name boldly written, Flynn.

"Are you Flynn?" I asked while scratching him behind the ears. He purred and pushed closer to me.

I had nearly forgotten about the stress of everything when my phone dinged and the notifications showed a message from Aiden.

My hand covered my mouth at the sight in front of me. It was a picture of Aiden, bloody and bruised.

It was quickly followed up by a text.

"Times up." It read.