CHAPTER 15: THE PUSH AND THE PULL

The next morning, Ann woke up and noticed the black cat was already gone. She climbed out of bed and began preparing for the day. Wearing a long green dress, she clipped her wavy brown hair at the back of her head and went downstairs.

By the time the clock struck twelve-thirty, Ann had decided to leave for the forest. As she picked up her brown waist bag, her mother’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Ann, where are you going?" Althea asked sharply. Without waiting for a reply, she continued, "You sneaked out the other day to the library, but you’re not going anywhere today. If the patrolling Officers catch you roaming around, they won’t spare you! You know how serious things are right now!"

"Don’t worry, Mumma. I won’t get caught—I’ll be careful," Ann reassured her. "And this is something urgent. If it could wait, I wouldn’t break a direct order from the Board."

"Everything can wait, Ann. You’re not stepping out of this house until the curfew is lifted," Althea said firmly, leaving no room for discussion.

Ann was about to protest when her father’s calm voice intervened.

"Althea, dear, let her go. If she’s willing to risk the curfew, it must be really important."

Turning to Ann, Edmond added in a gentler tone, "Go, but be careful. Don’t let them catch you."

Ann gave her father a grateful nod and, casting an apologetic glance at her mother, slipped out of the house.

Reaching the edge of the restricted forest, Ann made her way to the spot where the Dark Witch had died. The only sound was the crunch of dry leaves beneath her boots. She glanced around, hoping to spot the red-eyed man.

"Maybe he hasn’t arrived yet," she murmured and leaned against a tree, settling on the forest ground to wait.

An hour passed.

Then another.

Growing restless, Ann finally stood and wandered toward the Waspa River—the place where the forest met its end.

Upon reaching the riverbank, she stopped in her tracks. The scenery unfolded like a painting: water cascading from the distant valley, mist-capped green mountains standing tall, birds gliding in the sky like they had finally reached home.

The fresh air danced across her skin, brushing strands of her hair into the wind’s rhythm. She closed her eyes, raised her arms slightly, and let the breeze swirl into her lungs—as if trying to absorb the beauty into her soul. A small smile tugged at her lips. For a brief moment, she forgot why she had come to the forest at all.

Vincenzo had arrived a few minutes earlier. When he didn’t find the girl at their agreed meeting point, he tracked her scent toward the river—and there she was. Captivated. Unaware.

Silently, he approached and stood in front of her. He couldn’t stop his eyes from scanning her face. A few strands of hair hovered over her cheeks, her lips parted slightly in a serene smile. Her closed eyes seemed to have already captured the landscape, holding it somewhere deep within her.

Sensing a shift in the air, Ann opened her eyes—and gasped.

He was standing right there.

She took two quick steps back. "When did you get here?" she asked breathlessly. Then, without waiting for an answer, she added sheepishly, "I came two hours ago and waited... but you didn’t show up, so I wandered over to the river."

"That much I gathered," Vincenzo said, amusement flickering in his voice. "You’re prancing around like a free bird—as if you haven’t just discovered you’re the possessor of the most powerful book in existence."

Ann’s smile faded. She pressed her lips together and replied quietly, "I just wanted to live a little—to capture a few peaceful moments before life throws more chaos my way."

Vincenzo said nothing, but extended a hand, offering her a book.

She frowned. "What’s this?"

"This will help you learn basic spell language. It’s a beginner’s guide—to prepare you for understanding the real Book of Spells." When Ann reached to take it, he didn’t let go.

She looked up, puzzled.

"Finish it within a week," he said finally. "Then I’ll give you the next one." And only then did he release his grip.

Assuming their business was done, Ann bowed slightly and turned to leave.

But he caught her wrist.

Startled, she looked over her shoulder. "What?"

Tilting his head, Vincenzo said, "Who told you we were finished?" Without waiting for a reply, he ordered, "Get in the river."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

Seeing the expression on his face, she scrambled to explain. "I can’t—I don’t know how to swim!"

Still holding her hand, Vincenzo began walking toward the river. Ann dug her heels into the ground. "Please! I mean it—I don’t know how to swim! And I’m terrified of deep water!"

But before she could protest further, Vincenzo snatched the book from her hands and shoved her into the river.

Water engulfed her.

She surfaced for a second—gasping, thrashing—before being pulled under again. Panic clawed at her throat as her limbs flailed uselessly. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think.

Is this it? Is this how I die—drowned by a mad vampire in a cursed forest? She thought of her family. Her sister’s giggle. Her father’s warm hand on her shoulder. I don’t want to die. Not like this.

But just as her strength began to give way, a firm arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her upward.

She coughed, sputtered, and blinked the water from her eyes. It was Vincenzo—chest-deep in the river, holding her steady.

Placing her hands on his shoulders for support, she glared at him. "Are you trying to kill me or what?! I told you—I can’t swim!"

He didn’t answer. Instead, he shifted his grip, placing one arm beneath her knees and lifting her effortlessly into his arms.

Once they reached the shore, he let her down—but kept a firm hold on her waist.

Startled by the sudden intimacy, her cheeks flushed under his intense gaze. "I really can’t swim," she murmured again, her voice barely audible.

"Hm," was all he said, still studying her.

Why do you look so familiar? he wondered silently, eyes scanning her face as if trying to unearth a memory.

Uncomfortable, Ann tried to pull away, but his hand tightened slightly—urging her to stay still.

Then, almost reluctantly, he let go.

His eyes briefly dropped to the way her soaked green dress clung to her form. A drop of water slid from her chin, down her neck, disappearing beneath the neckline of her dress.

Ann shivered. Whether from cold or his gaze, she couldn’t say.

Turning away, she hugged herself tightly. "Why did you push me?" she asked, voice trembling.

"Original Witches can walk on water," Vincenzo replied. "I suspected you might be one. I had to test it."

She stared at the horizon in disbelief. "You pushed me into the river to test a theory?"

Shaking her head, Ann closed her eyes and muttered, "This vampire is crazier than I thought." When she opened her eyes, she found him right before her, glaring—apparently, he’d heard her. She realized a second too late—vampires have sharp hearing.

She smiled awkwardly.

Vincenzo retrieved the book from the ground and handed it to her.

Shivering, Ann clutched it tightly. "It’s been over three hours since I left the house. I need to go."

She bowed slightly. "Goodbye, Mr. Enzo. I’ll meet you here in a week. Thank you for the book."

When she vanished beneath the river, his body had moved before his mind caught up. And now, watching her retreat, dripping and shivering but alive, he felt something unfamiliar coil inside his chest. You’re not just a girl with a book, he thought. You’re a storm—and I don’t know yet if you’ll drown or pull everyone to shore.