Even though Adam couldn’t see her in the darkness of the alley, he could hear her whispered words as they shot straight through him. He could hear the disapproval in her voice and it made him sigh. It really shouldn’t bother him he told himself, yet it still did. Not to mention he did not really want to leave. With another mumbled apology he took off after Jay and took her hand as they walked down the street. Adam didn’t dare risk looking back as he disappeared into the crowd of people with his fingers intertwined with a raven-haired beauty.

[color=gray]“Why does Elena want to see me?”[/color] Adam finally asked as him and Jay entered the edge of the forest that surrounded the coven’s compound.

[color=orange]“She has an assignment. She wants you to prove your loyalty to the coven.”[/color] Jay said as she pulled her hand from his. Her dark eyes glanced over at him for a long moment before she stopped walking. [color=orange]“What were you doing standing in the middle of the city anyway?”[/color] She asked as she put her hands on her hips.

[color=gray]“Trying to figure out how I screwed up so royally and how I can fix it.”[/color] Adam said stopping a little ahead of his girlfriend and turning back to her.

[color=gray]“Well Elena has a way for you to start atoning for your stupidity.”[/color] Jay stared walking again. 

The rest of the trip was silent. Even in the halls on the way to Elena, the coven members remained quiet. Many stopped talking when Adam came within ear shot and others flat out refused to look at him. [color=gray]“What the hell?”[/color] Adam mumbled to himself as he followed Jay through the unnaturally quiet hallways. After what seemed like a long walk of shame, Jay opened the door to her mom’s office and pushed Adam into the room. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving him alone with Elena. Her back was to him as she swiped a paint brush across a canvas with expert precision.

[color=purple]“Have you thought about your mistake, Adam?”[/color] She asked without looking back.

[color=gray]“Yes ma’am.”[/color] Adam said as he bowed his head a little bit.

[color=purple]“I expect more from my greatest warrior. I want to see you become the leader of this coven with Jacqueline, but I will end your relationship with her if I think you have become unsuitable. You must prove your worth.”[/color]

[color=gray]“Of course, Elena. Whatever you ask, I will do.”[/color] Adam said with a hand over his heart.

[color=purple]“It is time we announce our presence and our intention. If you want to continue to see my daughter, and to keep your place as a future leader of this coven, you must kill a member of the weaker coven.”[/color] Elena put her brush down and turned to look at Adam. [color=purple]“You must kill the one that beat you to gain my forgiveness. Once this is done, we will start planning your wedding.”[/color]

Adam looked up with wide eyes. Kill Ciara? He couldn’t kill Ciara! There was no way he could pull this off. Adam looked over at the wall and focused on his breathing to keep Elena from making him tell the truth. She couldn’t know about Ciara!

[color=purple]“Adam? Is there a problem?”[/color] Elena stood up. Adam looked back at her and bowed with a hand resting on his heart.

[color=gray]“It will be done!”[/color] Adam turned and walked out of the room, his head spinning with the possibilities. Possibilities of what could happen to Ciara if he had kill her or someone close to her or what could happen to him if he didn’t kill her.

--

Later that night, Adam laid awake on his back with his hands behind his head with a sheet draped across his bare waist leaving his chest exposed to the cool air of the room. A naked Jay was curled up against his side, one leg draped across his under the covers, her head resting on his chest, and her arm resting on his stomach. While she was fast asleep, Adam had been lying awake unable to sleep. He had to prove his commitment to Elena, but he couldn’t hurt Ciara. He could kill another member of her coven, it wasn’t like anyone knew who had beaten him. But killing a coven member would piss off Ciara. Adam paused. Since when did he care if Ciara was mad? Adam groaned and closed his eyes. An image of Ciara flickered into his view as clear as if she stood in the room with him. She called out his name and asked if he was awake so vividly. Was he hallucinating? 

Adam opened his eyes and sat up just a little, trying not to disturb his sleeping girlfriend. [color=gray]“Ciara?”[/color] He whispered to the dark room though there wasn’t anyone else in the room.

[color=orange]“Adam?”[/color] Jay mumbled as her eyes flickered open.

[color=gray]“It is nothing. Go back to sleep.”[/color] Adam said kissing the girl’s lips before she settled back down on his chest. Adam looked around the room once more before relaxing again and closing his eyes. As soon as he did, Ciara appeared again.

[color=gray]“The hell?”[/color] He whispered as he opened his eyes again. Why was he hallucinating?