"Here, twirl like this. Just enjoy the process, my sunshine," Nath smiled as Elliana started to focus more on ice skating than her pain.
Now that he looked at Elliana’s efforts, and how she was trying her best to move onto the ice like him, he could understand why she developed such beautiful memories with Sebastian.
He was the first one to teach her how to dance salsa. He touched her intimately and gently, taking her to different heights and making her learn something she was interested in.
Sebastian was patient with her, and even after so many mistakes, he never lost his cool with her. She was bound to fall for his ways and care. Anyone with a sane mind and working heart would.
As much as he hated Sebastian because he was taking his rightful place, Nath knew that Sebastian in a way saved her from her demons and that shrewd family that Arizona had to force Elliana into.
"Am I doing good?" Elliana finally looked up into his eyes before her eyes widened when she lost her footing and was about to slip when Nathaniel quickly held her waist.
Looking into her soft wide eyes, he hummed, wishing for the day when he won’t have to think about his boundaries as a friend before holding her close.
"You are doing great. At least those bruises on your knees will keep you busy and your mind away from your previous thoughts," Nath said, and Elliana looked down at her bruised knees before smiling softly.
"They will," she looked up before holding his hand in hers.
"Can I demand something from you, Nathaniel?" She asked with a smile, her eyes looking at him with a hope that he couldn’t deny and fell in love with all over again
"What is it?"
"I know this chakra control is all bullshit. What I have inside me is real magic. I can feel it in my bones. And even if it’s chakra control, can you teach me real magic? Like how you appear anywhere when you want. Can you teach me that? Most importantly, hide my scent even more," Elliana asked, and Nath’s eyes narrowed.
He knew this wasn’t going anywhere good.
He should’ve known about it when Elliana looked at him with hope. She wasn’t the type of girl who would ask for normal gifts and favors.
"You are hungry, right? Shall we eat something?" He asked.
"Here?"
"Here," Nath clicked his fingers, and the dining table for two appeared on the grass with all of Elliana’s favorite dishes, making her blink in amazement.
"This too. I want to learn this too," Elliana looked at him with wide eyes, and Nath chuckled at her dry attempt to make things light for herself.
"Come," Nathaniel held her hand as they slid towards the table.
"You will teach me, right?" Elliana asked again.
Rather than answering her, Nathaniel placed the food on her plate.
"Why are you not replying?" Elliana pulled the plate towards herself, looking at him hopefully.
"I will never teach you anything that will land you in any danger,"
"Danger? What kind of danger are you talking about? Are you saying this because you think I will create a problem?" Elliana looked at him, the shine in her eyes dimming.
Nathaniel clenched his hand around the fork.
This was harder than he had thought about.
Why was saying no to her so hard? No. He can’t give in to her wishes just like that.
"Thank you, Nathaniel," Elliana said after a long time when Nath didn’t say anything, and he placed his fork down, looking at her interestingly.
"What for?"
"For holding me. I was drenched in rainwater, but you didn’t even care about that. You walked to me and held me, without thinking about my dirty state," Elliana smiled sadly.
"Thank you for being there for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend than you. You stayed with me, and did so much for my healthy state of mind," Elliana held his hand.
Nathaniel looked at her hand before grabbing it, massaging her palm with his thumb softly.
"It’s nothing. I didn’t even care about when you were drenched in blood, then what is some water?" Nathaniel said with love dripping his words, remembering the time when he held her in his hand for the first time.
To keep her alive, Arizona had exchanged her life with the devil and bathed her in human blood. She was barely 10 minutes old at that time. Everything was done so quickly, yet he can never forget that moment.
That was the first time he held her in his arms. She was dripping blood, but without caring about that, he kissed her forehead.
Despite her state, she was the prettiest girl he had laid his eyes on.
He was also a child at that time, but he knew right then and there that he wanted this girl to be his. That this girl would be the one who would make him lay his life on the line if it came to her safety.
"Hmm? What do you mean? Drenched in blood?" Elliana asked him confused, and Nathaniel realized his slip-up.
"Have you forgotten? That time when you were running behind the rabbit when you were young? You had fallen and scratched both of your knees and elbows. You bled quite a lot that day," Nath quickly covered, and Elliana smiled.
"Yes. How can I forget that? Those were some good memories I have with you," Elliana smiled before she took a deep breath and tried again.
"Please, Nathaniel. Teach me," Elliana looked at him with a pout again.
Nathaniel gritted his teeth.
Why was this girl not letting go of that matter today?
"I promise I won’t misuse anything you teach me," Elliana probed.
"Okay. I’ll teach you," Nathaniel started.
"You will? Thank -"
"But you need to tell me why you want to learn about that technique. I want the truth, my sunshine," Nathaniel said before he looked at her observantly.
"I... I..."
"You are having a problem telling the truth? Let me help you with that. You want to learn teleportation so that you can go anywhere anytime you want. Because you want to make the vampire poison in hiding, no?" Nathaniel asked, shocking Elliana.
"H-how do you know?" Elliana widened her eyes.
"I know everything about you, Elliana. I can see everything happening to you, around you or you are doing whenever I want. We have that kind of connection," Nath smiled, and Elliana widened her eyes even more, her hands fleeing to her chest as she covered it.
Nath narrowed his eyes before widening them when he realized what she was thinking.
"I would never! You stupid!" Nathaniel’s neck turned red, his heartbeat increasing, and Elliana looked at him before laughing.
"You- look at your face. I know you never will," Elliana said, and Nathaniel smiled.
Finally, she laughed. He looked at the sky that was calling down now. The rain slowed down, making him sigh.
His work here was over.
As much as he wanted to stay, he needed to go back and interrogate Gertrude too.
In the Himalayan castle, the witches looked at each other as they noticed the scene in front of them, feeling sad.
"Where is Gertrude? Let’s get this over with. It looks like Arizona has calmed too," Nath walked inside the throne room, his gaze falling on the witches who were still sad.
"What happened?" He asked.
"Nothing," they said in unison.
"It can’t be nothing if you guys are standing like you just witnessed a heartbreaking thing. Elliana is fine. So what is it?" Nathaniel asked.
"It’s just that, Sebastian isn’t a bad guy. He is having it hard too. Maybe he truly cares about our princess? He wants to stay away from our Elliana because he wants to protect her from himself," Kadakali said, and Nathaniel’s eyes turned dark.
"Why were you guys watching him in the first place? Do you have too much time on your hands these days?" Nathaniel asked as he looked into the crystal globe where Sebastian was still growling over what happened earlier.
He was hurt too. Anyone could see it, but Nathaniel didn’t want to admit it.
"As you said, our Elliana. She is ours. She belongs here. Stop thinking about other species and think about what you guys are going to say to Gertrude’s clan for their witch’s absence," Nath said before he placed his hand on the crystal ball and removed the scene.
"I’ll be in the interrogation room," Nath walked away, a little fear of losing Elliana clawing at his heart again and again.
Author’s Note- Dedicated to Amanda_upton for her support (Golden ticket bonus Chapter). Thank you to all the readers who are giving my story their precious time.
Love you all.
P.S. - You make my day with your comments, Amanda.