AJ looked at Zara and couldn't help but smile. Her dark brown hair that reached just below her ears was a mess and spread around the pillow. Her hair was actually the reason for his pet name for her since it always looked like a mess.

"Morning troll," he said and leaned in to kiss her shoulder.

She smiled but kept her eyes closed.

"I'm still sleeping," she said.
"Really?" He asked as he started running his hand up her thigh.

Her eyes flew opened.

"Not fair," she said and bit her lip.
"Why don't you stop me then?" He asked before kissing her, his hand still moving up until it landed between her legs.

It had been three wild weeks since they met the first time at a bar. He had felt drawn to her right away and he felt like the luckiest man on earth when he woke up next morning with her next to him in his bed. It hadn't been an awkward morning with her as a one night stand usually was. It had felt natural. One morning had turned to another and here they were three weeks later. She still hadn't left and he didn't want her to.

He wasn't even sure if she had anywhere to go. She had a packpack with her that night at the bar. He quickly learned she kept some clothes in it. During the three weeks she had bought some extra clothes and kept it in his apartment. She didn't seem to own anything else and he didn't like to ask. He just allowed her to stay. He felt good when she was around so he didn't care if she was homeless. She could stay.

Come to think about it, he actually didn't know much about her. He knew her name was Zara, he knew that she was 27 years old, he knew her body inside out, and most importantly he knew that she had been his for three weeks now. Everything else would come slowly in time. He was sure of it. He knew she was holding back a lot but he figured she would learn to trust him completely over time and open up. Whatever secrets she might hide in there, he would be able to take. He just had to because he also knew that he didn't want to lose her.

"So," he said as he watched her put on her underwear. "The guys have invited us out for drinks tonight."
"Miniskirt then," she said as she found it in the closet.

He sucked in his breath as he watched her put it on.

"You know just how to tease me," he said.
"Of course. Now, red or green top?" She asked and held up both.
"Definately green," he answered.

Once fully dress she walked over to stand between his legs. His hands went up her legs and stopped under her skirt while he ran his fingers over her ass.

"You know I'm gonna have a boner all night just by watching you like this," he said and squeezed her ass.
"That was the plan," she said and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Can't wait till we get back home so I can tear it from your body and have my way with you," he said.
"Better make that a promise," she said.

If he had known he wouldn't be able to keep that promise, he would have torn her clothes off her right then and there and had his way with her. He would have made her stay at home with him and never left to meet his friends. But none of them had the ability to see into the future so they left his apartment in a cheerful mood.

The hours they spent in the bar went fine. His friends were cool around her and they all had fun. Drinks went down and everyone was laughing and enjoying each other's company.

"I need some air," she said.
"I'll go with you," he said.

They went outside and he took her hand. They walked side by side into an alley close by for a few moments alone. He pulled her close, placed his hands on her hips and kissed her.

"You're driving me crazy, troll," he whispered.

"Zara!" A voice suddenly pulled them back to reality.
AJ took a step to the side and they both looked at the bald man standing in the alley.
"Fuck!" She growled and raised her hand.
"Don't even think about it," he warned.

At the same time two other men walked in to join the first man.

"Not now... please..." She begged.
"You know we have to. Come with us willingly," he said.

She looked at them, knowing she only had little time to make up her mind. She should go with them and then AJ would be safe but she couldn't. Not again. She knew what was waiting for her. All those tests, all that pain. They experimented on her, trying to figure out why she could do what she could and they never got any closer to an answer. She didn't even know why she was born like that. She would give it all up if she could if it meant she would be left alone by these men. She escaped them once. She wasn't about to go back to that place.

She pushed AJ to the side to keep him out of it.

"What the hell?" He asked and took a step towards her again.

She raised her hand in his direction and a wind blew him backwards, making him hit the brick wall.

"Shit!" She hissed.
The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him.

"Zara, stop it," the bald man said.
She turned her attention back to him. She raised her hand again.
"Zara, don't. I'm warning you. You know we'll keep coming and we'll win. Just give up and come with us now," he said.
"Never again," she whispered, more to herself than to them.

AJ's eyes widened as he watched her create what looked like a waterball in her hand out of thin air. How was that even possible? Was he really that drunk that he was starting to see weird things like this?

"Zara!" The man growled.
"Fuck you!" She growled back.

She sent the waterball flying through the air. AJ watched as all three men went down on their backs, clearly struggling with breathing before they finally laid still on the ground. She fell to her knees with a little scream and placed her hands on her head. He got up and walked towards her slowly, not sure if he should be scared of her or not. As he reached her, he crouched down next to her and saw she was bleeding from her nose.

"You're bleeding," he said.
"I know," she said and wiped her nose the the back of her hand. "Fuck, my head hurts."

He looked at the three men lying on the ground.

"What happened?" He asked confused.
"They drowned," she answered.
"How?" He asked.
"I don't have time to explain right now. We need to go before they come looking for them," she answered.
"Who? Talk to me, Zara," he said.
"Not now. Just come with me before they get here," she pleaded as she took his hand, got to her feet and started dragging him out of the alley.