Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS. They all belong to Carrie Jones. Based off the book Need by Carrie Jones

I scream. No other sound in the house but my horrified scream. It echoes through the halls. I'm covered in sweat. I can't think straight. All I remember is The Pixie King, my Dad, getting Nick. Torturing him. Sucking all the life out of him, taking his sole. Stealing it. My heart beats faster as all the nightmares details come flying through my brain. Oh my gosh. I'm going to faint. I'm too busy trying to regain some strength when foot steps come pounding up the stairs and a silhouette appears at my door frame. I should be scared but I know that frame. Before I know it, his strong arms are around me and I inhale in his scent. Safe, warm, home.

"Zara..." He whispers soft.

I'm crying. I'm so relieved it wasn't real. Oh, hell, I am so thankful! Nick's cradling me in his arms and his soft like touch, wipes away my tears. Before he can pull away his hand, I grab it and entwine my fingers with his. The moonlight shines through my new thin, white curtains. I look up as the light dances off Nick's hair while a black cloud strolls over the moon.

"What happened" He asks lightly.

We sit in silence for a few seconds and he doesn't pressure me to answer. He knows what happened. He just doesn't know what happened. If that makes sense? I wipe away the rest of my tears and clear my throat but I can feel the tears pricking in my eyes still.

"I... You. He took you and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't save you like I couldn't with my Dad. Nick, it was all so real. I tried to grab you but he took you away. Far from me. I ran but I was too late."

"Zara", He starts to say something but I cut him off. I turn and face him.

"Don't tell me the 'I only need to worry about myself.' lecture. You know how you felt when Ian tried to kiss me?" He nods and I continue. "That's how I would feel if anyone were to take you away."

I am not going to cry I tell myself. I don't want Nick to think of me as a wimp even though I am one. He strokes his thumb on my cheek. I am not going to fall asleep I also tell myself.

"I'm sorry for waking you." I say.

And I really am.

"It's no big deal." He shrugs then continues "I usually never sleep."

"Why?"

"I want to protect. I can't do that when I'm asleep."

"I can handle myself."

"No, you can't."

He looks at me with his deep, gorgeous , brown eyes. He leans and as he gets closer his sent becomes the only thing that I can smell. I'm safe here. His lips gently press against mine and all I can taste is Nick.

I can't move. I can't see. I can't hear anything but faded muffled voices.

"You have to!" Yells a familiar female voice.

"I can't..." A male voice speaks then trails off as he walks out of the room and slams the door.

I manage to at least get out the only one thing. It's hard but it's what I need.

"Nick?"

No one answers. They all continue to talk like I'm not there. I try to open my eye lids but it feels like there is 100 pounds of weight on top of them. I reach out to grab... nothing. Air? No. I know what I want but it's not there. Did he abandon me after he kissed me and a pixie found me? Am I in their layer? I force myself up and I have to hold my eye lids open. Everything is a blur and it takes a while to focus on what's in front of me. God this happens to me all the time, doesn't it? When my eyes come into focus, I brace myself to fight off a pack of wild pixies. Instead, I get Betty, Is and Devyn. They all stare at me wide eye.

"Where's Nick?" I croak out.

"Honey," Betty begins but then they turn around and murmur something and retreat. What the hell is going on? If the pixie's got Nick... Oh the thought of it just makes me woozy and I crash down into a endless dream.

My eyes flutter open to see Nick's face inches above mine. He looks worried and tired.

"I swore it would never happen again." He mutters.

"Nick?" I whisper. Every breath is giving me more pain and it's crushing my longs.

He just stares. Stares into my eyes and he doesn't speak. I know kissing him right now wouldn't be the appropriate thing considering I have no idea what has happened. We just stare into each other's eyes for a long time. I don't bother him to know what has happened or anything because all I need is his company in this moment.

a/n: We will find out more of what happened to Zara in the next chapter and a secret plan that they have planned that leaves Nick in an awful position. Please leave a review and let me know what I can do to make it better.