I know these chapters have been really short, and this one is no exception. Longer ones will be coming, I promise.



Blaise - Thanks for the compliment, and I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. I'm hoping to have it finished in the next few days. Keep your fingers crossed, but don't hold your breath.





Chapter 20



Aria sat in the kitchen of the Smith house, putting the finishing touches on the tea she was brewing. She stared at the clock on the wall, noting that the sun would be setting soon. She shook her head, worried. The team was sent out over three days before, and still not a word. Nicholas and Diana had already missed their flight home.

She looked at the swinging door as her twin entered the room. Meeting her sister's darkened blue eyes, already knowing the answer to her question. "Any better?"

Natasha shook her head solemnly. "He's only getting worse. The chills are horrible, and he can't even tell we're here."

Aria handed the warm mug in her hand to her sister. "Is anybody left?"

"Caleb and Erin are sitting with him." Natasha sat down at the counter. "Elizabeth had to leave. She couldn't stop crying."

Aria was about to comment, but a dark feeling went through her mind. A cold chill ran up her spine, causing a low yelp to escape her throat. She turned quickly to see that Natasha had felt the same thing. Tears were filling the other girls eyes.

A scream rang through the house. The sisters were on their feet, running. They entered the living room to see Erin cradling Aidan's shaking body in her arms, tears spilling onto her cheeks.

Erin looked at them, exasperation taking over her face. "What are we going to do? Something's happening to them! I can feel it!"

Everyone jumped when the phone rang, except for Aidan, who was still in his own world. Aria grabbed the cordless quickly, pushing the talk button. "Hello?"

The girl on the other end of the phone sounded like she had been crying. "This is Cassie Blake, Diana's sister. What's going on? Something bad has happened, something's wrong. Where's Nick and Diana? Their flight came in two hours ago and they weren't there!"

Unsure of how to say what was on her mind, Aria began to speak. "Cassie, my name is Aria Torchia. They went out with a group from our coven to meet a group of lost witches about two days ago. We haven't heard from them since. We know something's wrong, we just can't figure out what."

The girl in America was sobbing. "Diana's hurt. I know it."

Tears were coming to Aria's eyes. "Cassie, we're trying our best to figure out what to do. We're going to find Nick and Diana."

As if in response to hearing the name, Aidan screamed again. "Diana!"

Erin cried harder, pulling him close, rocking his body back and forth. She was whispering to him lightly. "It's okay, Aidan. Everything's going to be okay."

"What was that?" Cassie sounded shocked.

"That was Aidan," Aria sighed. She didn't know how to explain. "Whenever something is happening to someone close to him, he falls ill."

"He's Diana's soulmate, isn't he?" A new clarity came through the girl's voice.

Aria was nodding, knowing Cassie couldn't see her. "Yes, he's her soulmate."

Without warning, a new scream rang through the room, or so she thought. Aria looked around to see everyone looking around, including Aidan. The scream was feminine, from someone that wasn't with them, in the room.

"Did you hear that?" she asked quickly into the phone.

"That was Diana," Cassie replied. "It sounded like she was right next to me."

Aidan was lifting himself up on his own. It seemed he had broken through his illness. He looked around the group. "They're in trouble. I'm not going to just sit around this time. I will not lose another person that I love."

Aria had an idea. "Cassie, we need your coven."