CHAPTER 3

Astrid is woken up by a humming bird outside her window. She groans, sitting up. She glanced around the room. What happened yesterday night had shaken her up, and she remembers falling asleep on the car, and that only means Dorian was the one who helped her sleep. Did he scoop her up? She does not even want to know those details. She admires the walking around there's also a bathroom. She walks downstairs, admiring the whole house. No one is there. She's alone in the house. She started to panic if ever Dorian left her here alone and ran away. She sits on the couch, tears threatening to come out. She got startled by a car parking outside and sighed in relief, knowing that he didn't leave her alone here. She quickly wiped her tears. When Dorian walked inside with shopping bags on his hands, Astrid gaped at him.

"What?". He asked.

"You went shopping, and you left me alone in this house." He nodded. He handed her the bags. "You bought me clothes?". She thought her heart might fail. She took them all out, smiling like a kid that just got candy. But her smile turned into a frown. "Something is missing here." He stares at her, waiting to hear what is missing. "Underwears? there are none here." He stiffened, walking to the kitchen and leaving her laughing.

"I hate having guests in my house." He poured himself a drink. He moved to his room, not minding Astrid. His burner phone rang, and he answered it.

"Are you safe?". Asked Ray.

"Yeah. We are safe. Are you at Odyssey?".

"I'm driving there now they called this big meeting all of us are attending it and I'm betting it's about you and how they will hunt for you". He sighed, sitting on the bed.

"They are bringing in the big guys fuck this will be fun". He almost laughed then, but his expression was strained.

"Nothing is fun here Dorian remember there's a lady in your house who needs to be unharmed." He groans as his mind drifts off to Astrid.

"I know, but still it will be fun killing some few fuckers of the organisation".

"You really hate Caspian that much?". He asked.

"I hate that he would even go as far as to killing an innocent woman who did everything to help his daughter, but he knew why she was sick". he said sharply, clenching his fists through a fresh bolt of pain. He felt like punching something as his anger went up. He wanted to kill Caspian with his damn hands.

"What will happen if Caspian were to die?". Dorian blinked he has not thought about that but he did want to kill Caspian.

"Then the whole organisation will be dead everything will be ashes". Ray groaned.

"Can you pull this off man?". He exhale loud.

"I'm Dorian Reed I'm a hitman who have killed every target assigned to me and I won't stop now so, trust me when I say that I will win this battle". He heard Ray raspy breathing.

"I trust you man let me destroy this burner. I feel like today we will be searched. Something is off, so I need to be clean."

"I know you will buy a new one to update me on what happened be safe don't die." They disconnected the call. He did not want to put his friends in danger. He did not make friends. Only Ray and Karl were his friends. Astrid was done in the shower. She quickly got dressed, wondering what Dorian is up to.

"I miss Aileen, but I know she's safe with Jasmine." She told herself, glancing at the mirror before walking to the kitchen. "Let's make breakfast." She gasped. "Oh gosh, I'm used to talking to Aileen." She made breakfast and set it ever since on the table. She admits she likes what is happening here. The only breakfast she'll make was only for her and Aileen or back pancakes or cookies for Jasmine. She did not want to disturb Dorian o whatever he was doing in his ro, so she waited for him to come downstairs. Waiting there for Dorian, who was not coming down, felt like a year to Astrid. She went to his room and knocked. No answer. She knocks again, nothing. She opens the door, and when that happens, Dorian also comes out of the bathroom towel wrapped around his waist. He is dripping wet and drying his hair. She gasped and turned away.

"I am so sorry, I knocked. I wanted to tell you that breakfast is ready, um, so sorry again." She quickly walked out, and he chuckled, smiling at that. When Astrid got downstairs, she exhaled out, not knowing she was holding that much breath. She has never laid an eye to someone who is handsome thinking about Dorian bare chest and had her fantasizing about so many things. Astrid quickly pushed those thoughts away. She heard footsteps coming down and did it even want to picture the man naked. Dorian sat down on the table, grinning at her.

"It smells good in here. Can you dish it now?" She nodded and dished up for him and sat down. They dig in without any words being exchanged. She cleaned the table when they were both done. "I want to teach you how to shoot." She froze hearing that.

"What?". She breathed.

"You need to protect yourself. Astrid, your magic won't work sometimes, so you need to be trained on how to shoot a gun." His voice was rather commanding. She blinked at him.

"I....I....I don't know what if I can't shoot a gun?". He huffs, shaking his head.

"You will know how to shoot if you let me train you." She sighed.

"Fine, but don't be strict about it." She followed him outside, and they started training. At first, her hands were shaking, touching a real gun, but she eventually got used to it. They trained all day without stopping, and she felt like she was going to die. When they were done, they moved inside, but the glass of moth wings in her room popped open she gasped, running to the room. "Oh my beautiful moth wings, what is happening now? Let's see." She locked the door and took her spell book out, and placed the moth glass down. She litctwo white candles and started chanting words. Dorian was standing outside of her room because he wanted to know why she ran off like that. He listened to the chants and grunts she made, then decided it was not a good thing to eavesdrop on someone, so he went to his to take a shower. He couldn't believe they trained all day, and it was almost dark now. She was a fast learner and really took good shots.

Astrid sat down on the mat, exhausted after doing that. Being a sorcerer is not a child's game. She closed the glass and put it back carefully. Slowly getting up, she went to take a long bath after the long shooting she did. The sounds she made when her body soaked on water were satisfying. She always pours a little potion on he bath tub, which her water will turn purple. Dorian was closing the gate and locked the doors when suddenly his burner phone vibrated again. He glanced at it, and he did not recognise the number he picked it up and listened.

"Do you know how much your head cost?". Asked Ray on the call, making Dorian laugh a little.

"I don't know you tell me."

"Yours is 80 million dollars while Astrid is 96 million dollars why the fuck does she costs so much than you?".He swore under his breath. So my money just to take them out. A lot of people in the organisation will be jumping at that opportunity. He will have a lot of people targeting him now with that kind of money he can't blame them. But they need to be skilled enough to reach him and if they do he will take them out as many as they are. Astrid is worth so much that everyone will be hunting for here more than him. With that money she needs to hide and not show her face outside because he is betting her face is all over the town.

"Her life is in danger more than mine". He said sharply, clenching his fists through a fresh bolt of pain. He wanted to protect her with everything he got.

"Then hand me over to your organisation. I want answers this doesn't make sense Dorian". She screamed standing in the hallway. He did not even hear her walk in. He turned watching her in horror.

"Fuck man did she just suggest you take her to the organisation alright I'm hanging up this is between you and her". He disconnects.

"Why are you risking your life for me Dorian? I've asked this before, but you chose it to answer me, so I'm asking again why are you doing all of this?". Her voice was sharp and cracking at the same time. He did not know what to say to her.

"Astrid.....calm down I'm not good with words, so just calm down". Damn he was really not good with words Astrid thought. She sat down staring at him. The tension was so intense she felt like the room was getting hot. She started touching her chest as if something was happening to her. He froze watching that but slowly took few steps towards her. "What is it?" he said, stopping abruptly. "What's wrong?". She gasped blinking punching her chest. He acted fast and touched her and the pain went away. She coughed pushing him away he went to pour water for her. She guilps it down. "Do you need another one?". She shook her head sitting down.

"I'm not alone". She said sighing as if something big had dawned on her. He gaze at her puzzled.

"You not alone in what? What's going on?". He asked desperate to know the answer.

"Someone is casting a spell on me". Steadily, she met his eyes. He laughed bitterly feeling his blood pressure spike. This was her first time seeing her him like this.

"So, you are telling me that someone put there is casting a spell on you right?". She nodded. "Cast it back then aren't you a sorcerer?". She wanted to laugh but her chest was still in pain.

"Can you pour me some milk please". He got her some milk and watched her drink it. "I think our enemy is smart for this . I mean Caspian has gotten a witch involved". He looked at her, and in an instant his frustration gave way to concern. He was breathing heavily. "And you need to calm down getting angry won't help that witch is fighting with me which means I can fight back".

"Won't you get hurt?". His voice gave him away.

"I don't know what I'm up against this is why I need to go back to my house there are few items I need".

"What?". he breathed. He started pacing up and down in disbelief."Most definitely not you are not going back there what if someone is watching your house and you feel into a trap?". He rub his hands together.

"I don't have a choice Dorian m I need to do this, so it's either you are going with me or I'm going alone". He swore under his breath.

"Fine. Let's go now it's already at night, so I will be safe if we don't get seen together". She nodded and walked upstairs getting her bag and going out m They are got inside and drove off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They arrived at Astrid house unharmed. Dorian said he would keep watching for anything that is suspicious. Astrid went inside and started packing her clothes and carefully took all her glasses which includes Bat Blood, Swamp Moss, Owl Pellets, Foe of Frog, Cat Claws, Pumpkin Seeds, Squid Ink and lastly Spider Legs. She placed them carefully inside the bag and slowly walked out of her room, locking it. Her luggage was heavy as she carried it down the staircase. When she was near the door, Dorian went to help her.

"I didn't know you were planning on taking everything with you." She chuckled.

"Well, I don't own any underwear at your house, so I had to take everything I own here." She winks walking inside the car. He groans loud because that comment caught him off guard.

"Jesus. I'm doomed. " He mumbled, putting the luggage in the back. He got inside and quickly drove out. He kept checking for any car that would follow them, but lucky for them, there was none. She took out the bottle that had the spider legs. "What the fuck is that?". He almost shrieked.

"These are spider legs now that I've got everything I wanted I will need an empty room for my practice". He kept his eyes on the room not wanting to see anything that was in those bottles.

"You can take any empty room. I don't have a problem with that". She smiled staring at the bottle.

"I need to a cat". He coughed clearly shocked by her outburst.

"Am I a rescue? why are you telling me that? what happened to Allele?". She laughed loud.

"Aileen not Allele I miss her, but she's safe with Jasmine and I know Jasmine has always wanted to have a cat". He nodded.

"Look Astrid get whatever you need to get, but as long as you are safe because if anyone from the organisation gets their hands on you, you're dead". He felt a sharp pain after saying but chose to ignore it.

"I'll be careful. I'll buy a cellphone with the money I saved and don't worry I'll use a different profile I just need to see if I can buy a cat online". He nodded. They finally arrived at his house. He parked inside the garage and they both walked out and got inside. "I'll make supper I'm super hungry". He shook his head walking to the cold room that was filled with guns, rifles, two knives, SIG, snipers and his mask. Astrid busy cooking up a storm while he admired his guns.

His burner rang he picked it up.

"Ray."

"They have burned down Astrid house man. Did you hear about that?." said Ray on the call. Dorian was stunned to hear about this. They just came back from Astrid's house. How true is this?.

"I was there not so long ago. How the hell did that happen?." He asked, frustrated.

"What? Man, what do you mean you were there?." He sighs.

"We went to collect some of Astrid's stuff, and it was perfectly fine by then."

"Well, it's not perfectly fine now it's totally ruined." He deeply sighed.

"They are making me angry right now. I need to do something. I need to send them a message."

"Jesus. I don't want to know what you will do, but be careful, well, what am I saying anyway? You're always careful." They disconnected. He took his knives, two rifles, and his mask, then quickly walked out, taking the keys. He did not even inform Astrid about where he was going. He got on his bike and drove out. Astrid heard the bike she went to the window and saw everything.

"Where are you going, Dorian?". She asked herself.

××××××××××

Dorian knew how to get his target. There's a warehouse where other member's of the organization will take their training. He wanted to target one person to send a message to Caspian. He wanted to burn the warehouse but thought about all of those men who would be losing everything. Dorian doesn't like being pissed. He hates betrayal, and here he is betraying the only thing that has bought food to the table just because of love. Is it love? Why did his heart betray him? Will he manage to do all of this? He has never been distracted before. Yes, he had hookups, but nothing serious happened from that he just wanted to release tension if a massion he was assigned on failed. He arrived at the location parking his bike right behind that big tree. He wondered if he would remember this path. It has been a long time since he visited the warehouse. He moved towards the warehouse it was a big mansion. He pulled SIG out of the carryall, and loaded it with a full clip. Gun handed behind his back, he opened the door with his left, but there was no one inside. The bell rang again. Dorian walked inside, careful not to make any sound. The elevators were down the hall to his right. He turned left, and, at the

end of the corridor, went through the door marked Stairs. Turning, he shoved the toe of his boot between the steel door and frame, holding the door open just wide enough for him to see who'd be stepping out of the elevator. At the same time, he listened intently into the stairwell behind him. Dorian hopes the action will come from one or the other, not both at the same. One guy stepped out of the elevator his gasp gave him away as the bullet met his head. Dorian did not waste any time he rushed to carry the dead body out of the warehouse. He heard some noise outside he dragged the body outside and chuckled, seeing 5 men training. The trainer was none other than Boone who never liked him from the beginning. One man sees him and his eye's widened seeing him standing there arms folded while his right foot stomped on the dead body. Boone turned glancing at Dorian. He smiled a little.

"Dorian, ah I see you come burring gifts". Dorian shook his head.

"Just one gift, I thought I should show myself and surprise the agency." He smiled.

"Well, this is a wrong place to surprise them because this is not the headquarters of the agency."

"I didn't come here to hold a conversation with you Boone, your boys seemed scared to see me I better leave before they all collapse." Boone smirked.

"What do you want, Dorian? You just killed one of my men?". Dorian glances down at the dead body.

"I did not enjoy killing him it was too easy. Learn to train your boys hard next time, but back to your question. I need to send a message to the agency they need to back off and leave Astrid alone, or else I'm coming for their heads. I've got nothing to lose." Boone laughed, shaking his head.

"Don't make me laugh Reed you actually do have something to lose, which is that witch that the agency wants. Damn I never thought you'd go down this way, man. A witch? You fell in love with a witch damn that must be hard to even—". He gasped when a knive came in contact with one of his men forehead he fell down. Boone's eyes widened at that action. The rest of the men were scared you could see it on their faces. Dorian shook his head, staring at Boone.

"Her name is Astrid, and she is a sorcerer. I bet you don't even know what that is. I hate people who talk too much Boone. I hate noise, so you just killed your own men because of your loud mouth. Now I will walk out of here unharmed because if you flinch, I'll kill you. Don't ever think about it. I just killed two of your men. Five is nothing to me. You better listen to my words and make certain Caspian receives the message, or else people will die." Boone swallowed hard. He knows Dorian will kill him if he does something stupid. He nodded. "I'm glad we are on the same page damn I just lost my favorite knive". He mumbled, walking away. When he turned the corner, he ran fast, looking behind him. He does not want take any chances with Boone. He is one stubborn man who might try to go after him. He makes it to his bike alive and hops on taking off. His left hand is trembling, and he cussed under his breath. It is back. What will he do now?. He needs to do another killing. This is not enough. He hates what is happening to him. He hates Gomez for doing this to him. He sighed deeply, thinking about Astrid and how he won't see her tonight. He needs to hunt, and he needs to do it fast. If he knew this would happen, then he would have killed Boone and all of his men, but it would not have been enough. Fuck Gomez for making him this way. Even in his grave, he is still tormenting him.