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"But you have to remember something. You don't have any recollections? No flashes of memories?" I asked carefully. "Anything, Emiel!Anything that'll let us help you." + "You, you want to help me?" His different coloured eyes stared at me through a bewildered face. They held fear and hope. + "Yes." I would help him even if it meant going against Erick because he didn't understand the amount of pain Emiel had to suffer. Someday when he would, it just might be too late. 1 I knelt before the prison cell when my body couldn't take standing up anymore. My energy was getting drained slowly while my body transformed into that of a vampire. Kendrick stayed beside me, but I refused to let him help me. I needed to do this on my own. + "Tell me, Emiel," I asked as a thought occurred to me, "If you don't have any recollection of the time when you're possessed, then why did you ask Erick of I was okay? How did you know if I was hurt or in transition?" + Emiel didn't speak for a long time, looking more frightened than I'd ever seen him. When he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. "It's because he tells me... when I'm not possessed anymore. He tells me all the things I did, all the things they made me do." Whoever this person was must've used extreme violence to make him this scared. + I looked at Kendrick and found him looking at me with wide eyes. This must have been more information than Erick could've ever gotten out of Emiel. This person had to be the one who was helping Emiel by providing him vampire backup, and he must be the one helping the Ancient. + I turned back to Emiel. "Who,Emiel? You have to give us a name." + Emiel looked unsure, and who wouldn't be? This person was starting to scare even me. First, possessing him and then rubbing it in that the world knew it was Emiel who did it? I couldn't imagine that amount of helplessness. So I coaxed him until the fear in his eyes died down. + "His na—" + "Alina!" 22 I jerked back from my position as Erick appeared in front of me. I had never seen him teleport before, and the sight was truly magnificent. The surrounding air solidified until it took Erick's shape, but the anger in his eyes made me lower my gaze immediately. I couldn't stand to see the betrayal he felt. Still, I was ready to defend myself and Emiel if need be. But what he told me next crushed any hope I had of trying to make him understand the situation. + "Your grandfather is here to take you to the Cain household for a few days. You are to leave immediately." It was an order. I heard it loud and clear. 2 "But Erick—" + "Do not sympathise with her, Kendrick. She had brought this upon herself." He leaned down to pull me up from the ground with gentle hands. The next thing I knew, I was standing in front of my great grandfather, and Erick was handing me to him. 1 "Take good care of her," Erick said in warning. "I'll send her belongings to your household later tonight." + "Yes, of course. Come on, Alina." Aaron led me towards the front entry of the castle while I looked helplessly behind me at Erick. + Why was he doing this? Just because I spoke to Emiel? Why wouldn't he give up his hatred towards him? But I was too tired and helpless to fight back. The transition was taking a toll on me. + I was escorted to Aaron's car and placed in the passenger's seat of a black sedan. Aaron got into the driver's seat and started the ignition. I looked behind at Erick through the rear window, but his face held no emotions. He just stood there like a statue, watching me drive away. Even the mating bond that now tied me to Erick was silent. + It was as we were driving away that I saw Kendrick run out of the door and head towards Erick. He ran ahead and towards the car as Aaron increased his speed. + "It's him! Alina, it's him!" 8 My eyes widened as I heard Ken shout out the words. Realisation hit me like a bullet, and I turned towardsAaron, who smiled politely at me. The next instant, a pressure injection hit my arm, causing me to gasp at the sharp pain. Then I dozed off into oblivion to Erick's voice in my mind. 38 ALINA!