Bleeding Hearts

Chapter 4

Aaliyah has some unresolved trauma which definitely shows in this chapter.

*Aaliyah's P.O.V*

My knees were pressed against my chest as I pushed myself farther into the corner. My magic was crackling in the air that was around me, ready to lash out if it felt I was in any danger. It danced across the dark room, providing some light for me to see.

The door creaked as it was opened, the sound reverberating throughout the room. My breath caught in my throat and I closed my eyes. My entire body was tense with anticipation.

"Aaliyah," Miachel's voice was soft, sounding like it was right in front of me. I heard his shoes scuff the floor for a second before there was silence.

I opened my eyes, seeing him sitting right in front of me. I took a ragged breath of air, my chest heaving as I choked on air.

"I saw him, he was in my room," I whispered as I leaned my head back against the wall. My magic surged protectively when Miachel reached out to touch my arm, wrapping the both of us in a shield.

"He's dead Aaliyah," Miachel told me as his thumb rubbed soothing circles into my arm. "What did he want you to do this time?"

"He wanted me to follow him, he said we could be together if I followed him." The words hung heavily in the air, the only other sound being my choked breathing.

"He would want you to live, James loved you far too much to want you to throw away your life," Miachel said. My nails dug into my legs as I tightened my grip, rocking myself back and forth slightly. My head was hitting the concrete wall behind me.

Miachel reached behind me with his free arm, placing his hand between my head and the wall. I leaned my head against his arm with a small whimper.

"Why do I still see him? Am I crazy?" The whispered words seemed to shock Miachel.

"No, no Aaliyah you're not crazy," Miachel reassured me. His words were full of sincerity but I still doubted what he was saying.

"Then why do I still see him? Feel him? Hear him?" I asked.

"Because someone powerful is using mind magic to mess with you," Miachel said simply. "You know that, you said you felt the magic before," he stated.

"What if I just imagined that? To make myself not seem crazy?" I questioned him.

"Because Etol felt it too, you could see that she felt it all those years ago and she's the one that led me to you now," Miachel stated.

"Why isn't my magic powerful enough to keep them away? Every few years it's the same shit," I whispered as he cupped my face. "I'm just so tired of it all Miachel," I murmured as my eyes closed.

"I know babes, I know. Everything will sort itself out, it always does for you," Miachel teased as he chuckled softly. "You should go visit his grave soon, it might help your mind settle down which could prevent the mind magic from messing with it any more," he stated.

"How do you know so much about mind magic?" I asked as my magic started to settle down, slowly retracting back into me.

"I researched it years ago, asked Zero to borrow them from her friends," Miachel said.

"Your wife's awesome," I murmured as I opened my eyes, sighing softly as my magic fully settled down. Right before it fully retracted into me, it brushed against Miachel's arm in thanks.

"I know, that's why I married her," Miachel said. "Now let's get up, I'm far too old to be sitting on this cold ass floor."

"You're not that old," I huffed as I stood up. "Besides, this is a panic room. It's meant for people to survive in, not for them to be comfortable in," I stated.

"Why would anyone want to survive when they can't be comfortable," Miachel muttered as he stood up, dusting his pants off. I laughed as he stumbled and fell against the wall. "Never comforting you again if this is the thanks I get."

"I'm sorry, thank you," I said as I stood on my tippy toes and kissed his cheek. "You're a very good honorary brother," I stated.

"Thanks, I would hope that I'm better than your real brother after what he did," Miachel stated.

"Who knows? You could one day betray me just like he did," I stated as I left the room, my body shivering from the drastic temperature change from the main part of my house and the panic room.

"Don't say that," Miachel called after me as Etol ran to greet me. I lifted her up, running my nails down her spine. I focused on the base of her tail which made her purr before I set her down.

She turned to Miachel, going to him and climbing up him. Her nails ripped at his clothes as she climbed.

"I am so thankful that Zero hasn't found a way to get a pet dragon, I would never know peace," Miachel muttered as he scratched Etol's head. A small smirk appeared on my lips and Miachel looked at me. "No."

"Why not?" I whined as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Because I said so, I do not need you getting her a dragon. Besides I doubt you would find a way to do it legally," Miachel stated plainly.

"Why must I do everything legally? You sound like my family," I huffed.

"Because you could go to jail," Miachel said.

"Only if I get caught," I stated. "Speaking of which, I need your help doing the taxes for the bar. I got a letter about tax evasion," I informed him as I headed up the stairs towards my room.

"Why did you start a business if you didn't know how to run one?" Miachel called after me.

"I know how to run one, I just don't know how to do taxes. That's why I keep you around," I said simply as I turned around to look at him.

"You wound me," Miachel said as he placed his hand over his heart. "Now go get ready, I need to do some gambling tonight," he stated.

"Illegal gambling," I corrected.

"Exactly, which is why we're not telling my wife what I'm doing," Miachel stated.

"Too late," Zero's voice echoed through the room and Miachel looked around frantically before realizing it was coming from his pocket. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, quickly pushing a button.

"I accidentally called her," Miachel muttered. "Now you must hurry up, we need to leave before she gets here," he stated. I laughed as I shook my head, heading up to my room.