Arielle walked ahead of him but continued to cast looks over her shoulder at Kaulder. He was frowning at her. There was a heat coming off his body and it was threatening to overtake her. Like he was his own personal summer. It wasn't a bad heat, which worried her. He was the last person she should feel any attraction for...but he was hot and something about the way he looked at her. When he caged her in between his arms, it took everything in her to not notice his muscles. Or how he smelled. Or way his eyes had a slight sparkle to them.

She was a bundle of nerves. For one, her friends were going to be pissed that she was bring The Witch Hunter to Chloe's bar. She couldn't blame them but what choice did she have. Chloe had everything she needed to make a memory spell. And after what he had done for her as a child, she couldn't tell Kaulder no.

They reached the secret entrance to the bar and she stopped. She could hear the laughing and the talking and knew everything was in full spring. It was a packed house as far as she could tell. She turned around and faced Kaulder, who looked at her with his eye brows popped. Arielle took a deep breath.

" I'm bring you here to help you." She said. He nodded.

" I know." He said.

" So you can't go all, Witch Hunter, on everyone." Arielle said. Kaulder put his hands in his pockets and gave her a small smirk.

" All Witch Hunter?" He repeated.

" Yeah, you can't go arresting people. Chloe runs a clean place. A good place. She does everything by the books and there are no humans there. I'm letting you into a secret, safe place for people of my kind." She said seriously. Kaulder's smile dropped and he nodded.

" I understand." He said.

She nodded but still looked unsure. Arielle took a deep breath and gave him her back. She put her hand on the door but dropped it quickly and spun to face him again. Kaulder gave her a questioning look but didnt say anything. He let her sort out her mind.

"Maybe I should go in first. Let Chloe know first." Arielle said.

" how about this. You go. I'll wait a minute then go in. You don't have to tell anyone. It will look like I followed you." Kaulder said. " then you can tell your friends on their own time. "

" Yeah, I guess that could work." She looked away from him and seemed...almost shy. " that's really nice of you." She said. She turned around and disappeared into the building, leaving him with a smile again.

Arielle's stomach was a mess. She didnt want her friends mad at her. They didn't know she felt like she had to repay him. They didn't know her history. Arielle swallowed her nerves as she quicken her pace to the bar.

" Hey. Your usual?" Chloe asked with a smile. Arielle sat down and placed both hands on the counter.

" yeah. Thanks."

She licked her lips and took a deep breath, ready to spill it when a gasp went put. Chloe's eyes went over Arielle's head and widen. Arielle briefly closed her eyes. She knew he was here. He had walked in.

"Shit." Chloe whispered. " He's here."

" Chloe..." Arielle said.

" turn around." Chloe said before she hurried around the counter. Arielle sighed and turned.

Kaulder was walking down the stairs, one hand on the railing. He had a smirk and was taking the scene in. That night he was wearing black pants, a long sleeve black button down shirt, open a few buttons and a black jacket. He was letting his ring side across the railing as he walked. Arielle held her breath...why did he have to look so good...

All too quickly people started leaving out the back door, beside the bar. Chloe looked around and tried to get everyone to stay but no one wanted to be in the presence of the Witch Hunter. Arielle turned in her bar stool and looked at her friend, who gave her a helpless look.

" tell me you're not leaving too." Chloe begged.

" I'm not. He's here for me. I'm sorry." Arielle said.

" what do you mean he's here for you?" Chloe snapped.

" She means, I need a memory spell and you have everything she needs to make it for me." Kaulder sat down beside Arielle, linking his hands together on the bar top. Chloe cast her friend a frown. Arielle mouthed how sorry she was. Chloe rolled her eyes and looked at Kaulder again. " don't be mad at her. I really gave her no choice in the matter. Now. What is this going to cost me?"

" five hundred dollars." Chloe snapped. Kaulder looked at Arielle, winked then pushed himself up.

" done." He said as he shrugged off his coat.

" did I say 500, I meant a grand." Chloe countered.

" did you? Done. Where should I be?" Kaulder asked.

" it's better if you lay down." Arielle answered.

Kaulder settled himself in a lounge chair while Arielle began getting the herbs ready. She was behind the bar with Chloe who couldn't stop staring at him. He was looking around, pretending not to be paying attention but he could hear them whispering.

" I have never see him up close like this. He's huge." Chloe whispered.

" Stop staring at him." Arielle hissed. " hand me the cherries."

She held her hand above the bowl she was using and started to whisper with her eyes closed. She pulled down deep inside herself. Warmth began to swim inside her, starting with her stomach then spreading through her whole body before she felt it flow down her hands and out of her fingers. She had to admit, it felt good to use her magic. Like all witches, it was a release of sort. It felt like she had tension build up inside her and it was bursting out.

Kaulder sat up and looked to the girls, the witches. Chloe was standing slightly behind Arielle but was glaring at him. Arielle had her eyes closed and at once, Kaulder felt the crackle of magic in the air. It danced over the skin he had exposed, giving him goosebumps as it always did when magic was sent out around him. It washed over him like a wave.

He watched Arielle open her eyes and smile down at her work. She used a syringe to pull up the potion before she stuck the needle into the cherry and interjected it. He knew better than to take a potion from a witch he didn't know but something told him he could trust her. Something told him to believe she wouldn't hurt him. He couldn't die but he could he be hurt. He'd heal but he'd feel the pain. Maybe it was arrogance, a belief that no one would come against him, he wasn't sure why he was completely trusting her.

" Okay, " Arielle said as she walked around the bar with the cherry on the plate. " Everything you see has already happen. You can not stop anything or change it. You can't interact with the people you will see. There is nothing you can do here. These are your memories so again, it has already happen. But in the event something happens that completely stresses you out, you can be hurt and even die...well I guess you won't die." She said as she sat down beside him. Kaulder smirked.

" No, I won't but thank you for the warning." He said, taking the plate from her.

" Eat that, sit down and close your eyes. It will feel like you are falling asleep but it will be like a light sleep, dozing. Do you want a safe word?" She asked.

" What do I need that for?" Kaulder asked.

" Well if it seems like you are freaking, I'll say the safe word to you and it will pull you out of the memory right away." Arielle said.

" Alright. How about...witch hunter." He said. Arielle couldn't help but smile.

" Clever." Kaulder returned her smile.

" I thought so. I know usually you give the one liners but I thought it was my turn." He said.

" So we are taking turns. Thanks for letting me know. Now eat this."

Arielle stood up and walked back to her friend. Kaulder cheered them back then tossed the cherry into his mouth. He laid back and closed his eyes. Arielle stood back behind the bar, beside her friend. She could feel Chloe staring at her but won't meet her friend's eyes. Chloe leaned down to whisper to her.

" Were you just flirting?" She hissed.

" Don't be stupid." Arielle said, rolling her eyes.

NRNRNR

The first thing he saw was his wife, on their wedding day. She was in her best dress, flowers weaved through her long hair. She was smiling up at him. Kaulder felt his breath stop. How had he forgot how beautiful she had looked on that day. They were married by the stream with their village around them. It was one of the happiest days of his human life.

The next one showed him then standing by the stream again. He was supposed to be fishing that day and she had come down to bring him from berries and milk. He watched himself sink to his knees. He placed his hands on her belly and leaned in to kiss her.

Next he was carrying his daughter on his shoulders. She was clutching his hand in her tiny hands, giggling and call him name. His wife was just ahead. She had a basket linked around her arm and had been collecting herbs and flowers. It had been a great day, and also the day before the plague had hit his village.

Now he was in the Queen's hive. There was fire all around him and to his surprise, he could feel the heat. Kaulder frowned. Arielle had mentioned he'd feel pain but hadn't said anything about feeling hot or cold. Maybe it was all the same, just a feeling. Maybe it didn't have to be pain, anything that might touch his skin.

He watched the Queen curse him. He watched himself plunge his sword deep into her body. And that was when everything he had forgot came back to him. A strange glowing light spread out of her body, down his sword and up his arm. It spread so fast he didn't have time to react. His veins felt like they were lighting up and he watched his body fall back and spasm in what looked like pain.

Sweat broke out along his brow, making Kaulder frown again. Was he supposed to sweat?

" Kaudler!" He looked around but didn't see anything. He sank to his knees and turned his attention back to his body. " Kaulder, please!" He heard from behind him. He turned in time to see one of the Queen's servants running towards him. His arm shot out at once and he latched onto it's neck. As he began to squeeze it grabbed at his arm, crawling at him. " Witch...Hunter..." It gasped out.

All at once, Kaulder was thrust back into the present. His eyes widen as he inhaled loudly. Confusion set in at once. Where the hell was he, what was he doing, why was he so hot. A slap against his arm, grabbed at his attention again. He looked to see he was strangling Arielle and there was fire everywhere. Kaulder let go of her quickly. She grabbed at her throat and gasped for air. She started coughing hard.

" No bar, no memory potions for you!" He heard. He looked to the bar to see a man was blowing fire from his hands. " You need to the leave the past where it belongs." Kaulder pulled his arm and found one of his wrists was chained to the floor.

" He hurt Chloe!" Arielle was crying as more fire spread around them.

Kaulder looked at her, trying to shake off the confusion he was feeling. He looked at his hand and begin to pull. He grabbed the chain with his other hand and pulled until he felt his hand begin to break, the bones crushing. He grunted as the pain pushed the confusion completely away. His mind was cleared as he stood, the bones knitted together, fixing and mending themselves at once. And that was when he saw Chloe. Her head was in Arielle's lap and there was blood everywhere...He stood up and whipped around to the man.

" You stay in the present." The man was saying as he spread more and more fire around them. Kaulder twitched his shoulders and started forward. " Things are left best in the past!" Anger flowed freely through Kaulder and the fight started as once.

Kaulder's fist made contact with the man's stomach and then his chin. The man flew back but to Kaudler's surprise, he just smiled. He swiped his hand across his mouth and started to laugh. Kaudler moved to him again. He pulled his fist back and sent it flowing, only to be meant with an

invisible shield. The man stood up, grinning then turned and fled the burning building.

" Kaulder, help me!" He spun around to see Arielle was on the floor where he left her, still holding Chloe. He ran to her side and dropped down. He pressed his fingers to her neck but he knew before he did what he'd find. There was too much blood for Chloe to be alive. He looked at Arielle's eyes.

" Let her go, we have to leave!" He yelled over the sound of glass breaking.

" Pick her up!" Arielle yelled back.

" She's already gone! We need to get out of here!" He took a hold of her arm to pull her up but she yanked out of his grasp.

" Don't touch me!"

" Arielle, I'm sorry, we have to go!" Wood beams started to fall around them. He knew what he had to do and she was going to hate him even more than she already did...

Kaulder stood up, bend down and yanked Arielle up. He tossed her over his shoulder, even as she fought against him. She was kicking her legs, screaming and pounding against his back. Kaulder took off running to the back of the bar the same place he had seen the man running too. There had be a back exit to the building.

" Put me down! Chloe!" She was screaming.

Kaulder didn't stop running, not even as the cold outside air hit him. Not even when he heard the sirens. He ran through alleys, keeping his fast pace going until he was sure enough away that the police and firefighters won't find them and that was when he noticed Arielle had gone completely still.

Kaulder slowed his pace down then stopped. He gently set Arielle down and stared down at her face. She was openly sobbing and shaking. Kaulder placed his hands on her arms and started to rub them. It wasn't cold outside but she was shaking from her sobs. She covered her face and he started to put his arms around her to pull her close. He was completely shocked when she cold cocked him in the face. Kaulder stepped back with his eyes wide.

" Chloe died because of you!" She yelled, her face a mask of pain and anger. " She's dead, you dick! Dead! She was my friend and she is dead! You are the worst person I have ever met! She was right! Everything you touch turns to shit! Never talk to me again! I fucking hate you!"

" Arielle..." He said but couldn't finish. She shook her head and hurried away from him. Kaulder sighed and placed his hands on his head. He watched her go because what could he do? She was right. Her friend was dead and it was his fault.

NRNRNR

Arielle sobbed in the shower. She sat on the floor of her shower, her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms locked around them. She stayed in the shower until her scolding hot water turned cold. The ash having washed from her skin completely by then. Her head was pounding and her eyes were burning. She was going to brush her hair, dry off and go to bed.

Chloe didn't have any family. There would be no one to mourn her but Arielle and the other witches who went to the bar. There would be no one to claim her body, if there was even anything left. Arielle stared at herself in the mirror. Chloe was dead. She was Arielle's only friend and even she didn't know much about her...

" It's all my fault." She whispered. She closed her eyes and dropped her head. " I'm so sorry, Chloe." Pain burned her lungs from breathing in the smoke and she was pretty sure heart break. She was used to losing her friends but usually it from old age never had she had a friend murdered in front of her. She had known the second that asshole had swung his cane and connected with her head that her friend was dead but she had had hope.

Arielle was dress in a pair of sweat and a tee shirt a little while later. She had just finished brushing her hair when a noise from her apartment made her frown. She closed her eyes and sighed. She was not in the mood for her cat's games tonight. She wanted to crawl in her bed and sleep for a year. She was getting ready to yell at Sally number 2 when her soft meow caused Arielle's eyes to snap open. The cat was sitting on the back of the toilet.

" What the fuck?" She walked out of the bathroom and into her studio apartment. She looked around but there was nothing...until all the light bulbs became bursting at once. Arielle covered her head and hitched her shoulders as glass shattered around her. " what the fuck!" She yelled. All at once there was silence.

Vines shoot out of the floor to wrap around her legs. Arielle was too stunned to do anything other than look at them. Her mouth dropped open. She was yanked down so fast her head snapped back. She felt like she was plunged down into water but she could breath. Her hair and clothes were floating around her and it was freezing. There was the man from the bar. He was standing in front of her with a frown.

" What the fuck are you?" He asked. He raised his hands up, opened them and pain lanced through Arielle. She squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth together. She couldn't scream, her voice was gone. The pain was spreading through her head and she knew he was looking inside her. He was trying to figure out who she was and if he dug deep enough, he'd find out and then everything would be over.

Two strong hands grabbed her arms, forcing her eyes open.

" Arielle! Grab my arms!" She heard Kaulder yelling above her but couldn't see him. " Grab me!"

" NO!" The man yelled. The pain in her head increased. It took everything in her to grab his arms and once she felt the contact of Kaulder's skin, she felt his muscles tense and then she was yanked up and out of the spell.

They tumbled back, with his back hitting her floor and her landing on top of him. She was panting. Relief was flooding her system as the pain left her at once. She felt herself sag into Kaulder's warmth. She shouldn't. She should push him away but the fear she had been through and his body calming her. Kaudler thrust a hand into her hair.

" I got you, its okay now. I have you." He was muttering as he held her close. " You're safe now. Everything is alright."

But it wasn't and it never would be ever again...The time was here and she couldn't deny it any longer.