[ Hark! Hear this tale that is fated to be tragic. A silent war, no mere human knows about. Will it end happy or tragic? For all I know there would be magic... ]

The occasional gasps were the only sound that could be heard in the silent living room. It's one AM and everyone was asleep; except one girl who was lively reading

" Damn you! Don't go in! " She muttered. Pause.

She gasps again." The hell's wrong with you ?! " She fumes. Annelise continued to read. Her freckles gleam slightly due to the light emitted from her tablet. She smiles, her dimples are barely visible.

On the other hand, seated on the couch, a dark figure intently watches her silently. How he got there, nobody knows. She stretches herself, adjusts herself at her favourite reading spot next to the fire place. That's when she saw him. " What the... " ' a dark figure is seated on my favorite couch ?! ' she thought staring blankly at the intruder

' WAIT!! How did he get in. I swear I locked all the damn doors ' Annelise tried to make sense of everything. " What if I didn't use the door? " The figure said. His voice was a perfect mixture of tenor and baritone; not too deep, not too high. Just perfect. She turned up the brightness level on her tablet and....

Gasp!!

' How can an intruder be so handsome?! Get yourself together Lizzy. He is still an intruder ' He smirked. He opened his mouth to speak but instead winces in pain. That's when she noticed that he was severely injured. Annelise went to the kitchen to get the first aid kit. His eyes widen in surprise when he saw come back with the first aid tools. She also got a basin of ice cold water and a soft piece of cloth.

Unlike the other girl he met, well more like he appeared out of nowhere, who immediately started to scream like a banshee and jumped like a kangaroo on fire. This girl seemed calm; even though her thoughts were racing. She squatted in front of him, her hand hesitated to touch the cold water, but she did it; wrung it while muttering to herself, "Don't know why I'm doing this... ". " Ah! F!dge, the water is so cold. "

He just smiled and thought to himself, ' She's cute when she complains. '. She stood up, " Umm, o-open your s-shirt, s-so that I c-can w-wipe your wound. " her voice was shaky but she tried to compose herself. That's when she noticed that he wasn't wearing normal clothes; he was wearing..... an armor?!

He opened the straps and removed the breast plate then the silver tunic to reveal his abs. Annelise almost gasped again, ' Say what?! ' She spotted the wound and worked on it, trying to restrain herself from touching his packs. He laid on his back making himself comfy, as she gently wiped his wound. Her touch felt awkward yet relaxing. A sense of energy flow filled her surrounding. A deafening silence filled the living room as he tried to piece two and two together. ' It can't be....' he thought.

"What's your name?" he asked. "Annelise, what about you?" "Darius." his voice was gruff.

Silence

"Pretty name." He muttered. Her ears turned bright red. The silence was so loud, it kept ringing in her red ears. She glanced at his face only to find him staring at her. " What!? " She blurted. "Nothing." he said dismissively. Annelise became uneasy. The loose bun on her head gave away making her ash pink hair fall all over her face blocking her vision, She stumbled backward while trying to tie her hair. Darius, on the other hand watched her while biting back a laugh. Annelise finally gave up and let her hair cascade down her back. Her face was red with embarrassment. She looked down and continued to clean the wound while hiding her embarrassed face. 'That was so embarrassing 'She thought. 'Just when I thought I look cute in a loose bun '

" You still look pretty." Darius said. And he was right. Her eyes widen in horror. " id you just read my thoughts !? "" No, just a lucky guess." Annelise raised her brow in suspicion,, but she let it slide. She turned on the lamp and examined the wound. It seemed fully healed except the purple spot around it that acted as evidence of the injury. "You weren't even that injured." she muttered. Annelise took a bandage and wrapped it around his torso. "There, am done whoa....."

In the blink of an eye, she was pinned on the couch with him over her.

" Do me a favor and remove this bandage." his tone was low but not in a menacing way. " O-okay." Annelise unwrapped the bandage, her hand sometimes brushing on his skin"T-there, am done" she said. "Good. Now close your eyes. " His tone was gentle yet instructive. Annelise closed her eyes. A hand gently held her wrist and her palm was placed onto something warm and hard. She felt her energy drain slightly. What the heck is he doing? She thought. The hand that was hold her wrist finally let go of her. "You can open your eyes now." Annelise opened her eyes drowsily; she felt weak and exhausted. Her vision was slightly blurred but she still saw him looming over her.

" Would you mind getting off me." She said angrily. " Oh, sorry." Darius straightened and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. Annelise tried to stand but she felt dizzy. " Are okay? " He took a step forward to help her up. " I'm good, just sleepy. " She faked a yawn. Of course, I ain't okay you idiot. She thought

She finally stood up. Took one step, then another. But her knees gave away on the third step and she stumbled. Annelise was about to fall but Darius caught her by the waist. Next thing she knew, she was seated on his laps. What the heck is happening to me? This is all his fault. She gave Darius a bombastic side eye. " Don't worry, you'll be okay." He said. As if. She rolled her eyes

she's feisty. Darius thought. " I've got to go before……" they heard foot steps approaching. " Oh no!!" The light switch got flipped on.....

Annelise: Busted......

Darius: …………