Chapter 17: Chapter 17

"I still don't get why he had to come here." Andrew speaks with a high amount of disbelief and suspicion in his voice. It's clear that he doesn't like Nathan at all.

Nathan, who sits beside Shelia apparently hears him and tilts the side of his face to Andrew's direction. "I came because my mate asked me to."

The way he emphasises on 'my mate' is very odd. I can assume that he doesn't trust Andrew too. It also shows on his actions. Every once in a while, I see him looking my way through the corner of his eyes. He is accessing my relationship and closeness with Andrew.

After Nathan told me that Shelia is cursed, I managed to convince him to come with me. Even though he is not sure about it and it's just an assumption, I am still shocked and scared.

With my whole heart, I am hoping that it isn't true, that it is just a lie. A big lie, a joke. Just a joke, yeah.

Since we arrived here, Nathan hasn't let his guard drop. It's not like it was down before.

There's no doubt that he feels protective. I mean, I would too. And that's why, I am been very careful. I don't know his abilities or what he has been up to since a week, I don't like been kept in the dark at all.

Andrew shuts his mouth. I'm sure that he can feel the tension in the air. Everybody can.

"It's expected and necessary that she has enough rest." Nathan speaks with his back to us. "So we should give her some space to actually do that."

He stands to his feet in the next second and walks to me. "Let's go outside. That includes you, Andrew."

His eyes are on me but I can tell that he is focused on the man beside me, Andrew. Why is he acting like this now?

Andrew leads us to somewhere that his siblings can't hear us, outside the house. When we get there, he stops and turns to my mate.

"We won't be heard here so what's going on with her?"

"She has been cursed, I believe that you know that."

"That's impossible. I don't believe you." Andrew argues, not allowing himself to be fazed by Nathan's words. It is definitely a struggle that he is trying to face. He won't accept it.

"I don't care if you believe me or not." Nathan shrugs. "I just know that I am saying the truth, it's your choice to take or leave it. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to go back home. I just came back from a tiring trip and I haven't gotten any proper rest."

Nathan fingers manages to unbutton his two first buttons as he speaks and I look away before I can catch a glimpse of something that I shouldn't see.

"Isabella, let's go." He begins to walk away slowly and I watch his back in confusion. I think he is getting pyscho.

"Remember that I brought you here to figure out how and why she got cursed. I don't believe your assumption, nothing seems to add up to it!"

He stops walking and his back moves as he breathes out. "Why in the world are you so stubborn."

With a small groan and probably an eye roll, he marches back to the spot he stood before. "Fine! I'll explain what I mean."

Andrew and I are quietly waiting for him to continue and I know that what he will say will leave us shocked. I just didn't expect it to be so accurate.

"This isn't like a legend or myth, it's the truth. So listen carefully." He stares at us, blankly and I hold my breath for a second. "Many years ago, there was a goddess, she wasn't entirely fair or nice. She was the opposite. She had a lover, someone that she cared about so much but because of the vast growing evil in her heart, her lover decided to cut all ties with her. She didn't take it likely so she tried to get hm back but to no veil.

Apparently, it reached a time that her anger grew widely and it added fuel to her darkness. As the days past, she created a dark forest."

Nathan pauses, as if he is waiting for something. It is when Andrew cuts in that I know he was expected this.

"Wait, is this the story about the forest on top the hill?" Andrew frowns. "It's all a myth."

I expect Nathan to ignore him or do something else than to roll his eyes. "Believe what you want to but you know that this all started when that little girl walked into that forest. My advice is to take her as far away from here as possible."

"I still don't have any reason to believe you." Andrew grits his teeth but it's already showing that he really does believe him. "For all I know, you could be the one who did that to her."

"That's a very strong accusations, little kid. Watch what you say and who you say things to." Nathan narrows his eyes.

I think it's about time I step into this. I don't want any bloodshed, though it isn't likely to happen, right?

"Who are you calling little kid!"

This argument reminds me of the one Shelia and Andrew had this morning. They are all something else.

"I have no time to trade words with you, kid. My mate and I will be going now."

When Nathan says this, Andrew turns to me in disbelief. Like he is begging me to stay but I know better.

Making Nathan actually allow me to come here considered me pulling a few strings and making some promises. Well, one promise.

I am to go back with him, immediately he says so.

Somehow, I feel like my promise will backfire but k was desperately seeking answers and I leaped before thinking. It's something that I am going to regret someday, I am sure of it.

"Sorry, Andrew but I gotta go." After sending a small smile his way, I follow Nathan who seems pleased. "I'll see you later."

"No, you will not." Nathan whispers under his breath and I ignore him, waving Andrew goodbye as the space between us grows.

"Tell your siblings that I said bye. I'll visit again."

"No, you won't." When I hear Nathan's whisper again, I don't answer him like before. I just drop down my arm and walk beside him, straight ahead and back to his home.

It doesn't take long but when we arrive there, Jasmine is in front of the house with her face filled with glee. I find myself looking into it to see if it is fake or not.

"Hey, Jasmine. When did you come back here?" I frown.

"That's not what matters. I am just glad that you're okay." She smiles, stepping my way. "I just came to check on you and seeing that you're safe is okay for me. Bye."

She hurries off like she doesn't want to be here anymore and it leaves me puzzled. She came here but when we arrive she leaves? It probably has something to do with the man I call my mate.

"Is this your plan?"

Hmm? What's he talking about? The question rings in my head and I decide to ask him.

"What plan?"

He scoffs. His back is turned to me so I can't see his face but I have a feeling that he has a smirk on his face and it has something to do with his question and its answer.

"You wanted to seduce me right?" He tilts his head. "So is this the part two of that plan or just the beginning?"

My eyes widen immediately those words spill out of his lips.