The tranquility surrounding Willow and me was suddenly interrupted by an unexpected voice calling out, "Eden!" Its resonance cut through the stillness, prompting an immediate shift in our attention.

“Where are you?”

As Alice's voice reached my ears, a shiver of unease ran down my spine. I could not risk her discovering Willow with me. Allowing her to find us together would only serve to confirm her assumptions. Was Xavier and Finn with her? I pondered. I could not afford to give Finn, especially, any ammunition. After all, in my world, misconceptions could be as costly as the finest silk.

Before she could even fathom the situation, I effortless swept Willow off her feet, leaving her breathless and astonished. As I moved in the opposite direction of Alice’s voice, Willow’s hands clung to my attire, her body a portrait of tense surprise. Despite the unexpected turn of events, the sensation of her weight in my arms was utterly delightful.

A gust of wind burst; it left in its wake the delicate fragrance of Willow, enveloping me in a wave of sudden pleasure. A rare sensation indeed. I came to a halt, then gently placed Willow on her feet. She stood still, eyes closed.

“It is all right, lass. You can open your eyes now," I spoke with a reassuring tone. Willow remained still, hesitant to comply. "If you are feeling dizzy, take my hand," I continued.

Her stillness persisted as I moved closer, looking to close the small distance between us. Just as I was on the verge of touching her, Willow erupted into a fit of hysterical laughter, stopping me in my tracks.

“Will I ever hear the joke?" I asked, worried at her reaction. The anticipation lingered in the air as I awaited her response.

She directed her gaze toward me, and I found myself disliking my own inability to avert my eyes. Her beauty was so pronounced that I struggled to endure it.

"I was thinking— what if you had hit a tree while running?" She spoke after calming down.

I found myself thinking, "Silly human," and could not help but roll my eyes.

“I am glad you can find humour in most situations,” I said.

Willow adjusted her knapsack and spoke, "I am sorry that you aren't able to.”

I exhaled sharply and averted my gaze from her anguished face. Without further discourse, I proceeded to turn away from Willow.

“Will I see you again?”

Her question brought me to a halt. In that moment, time seemed to stand still. I could not react, nor answer, as her words hung in the air, laden with expectation. Slowly, I turned to meet her gaze, finding myself ensnared by the intensity of her eyes.

She smiled and went on, “Let us be friends.”

“I admire your openness, but I don’t need friends,” I responded dryly.

“Everyone needs a friend. It is good to have a variety of them too, especially ones in the supernatural world.”

I nearly laugh. “We cannot be friends, lass.”

“Why can't we?" she asked with genuine interest, her curiosity palpable in the air.

“This interaction should not be happening. It is forbidden for us to talk like this,” I informed. “Furthermore, befriending a vampire poses risks, both in terms of personal safety and your friends' perception. Aren’t you afraid your reputation gets ruling?”

Upon hearing Alice's voice, I instinctively turned in her direction, and I could feel Willow's gaze fixed upon me.

“She insists on finding you,” Willow said, but I paid no mind to her suddenly odd tone of voice.

“I need to go,” I announced urgently.

“Eden…” Anticipating her next words, I held my breath as she spoke, "I have a hut. It is where I am heading right now," she gestured toward its direction. "Perhaps tomorrow night you could pop-in."

“You should keep out of Greenland at nights, and if you don’t, at least take necessary safety precautions,” I advised.

Willow nodded, and I hesitated for a moment. She puzzled me. Everything about her was like a rare gem hidden in plain sight. Her enigmatic nature intrigued me, leaving me eager to uncover the depths of her character.

“I trust you will come tomorrow,” Willow’s delicate voice reached my ears.

“Offering trust to the hand of a stranger.”

She modestly lowered her face, her cheeks suffused with a telltale blush. Her sincerity was unmistakable; indeed, one could not feign such a genuine display of emotion.

“You are not a stranger.” Her voice faded as the space between us grew. 

“I am not promising to honour this,” I said honestly.

“The choice is yours. Either way, I am confident that our paths will cross once more," she declared with a fervent gaze that momentarily stole my attention.

“What makes you so sure that we well meet again?”

“Eden, I thought you had to leave,” Willow abruptly responded.

I resisted the urge to smile. Goodness gracious, this young lass truly affected me. I briefly shifted my gaze in her direction, and upon meeting her eyes, she appeared visibly disheartened, her expression marked by a subtle frown.

Without another word, I took off in the direction of Alice’s voice. Like a candle being blown out, I was gone. As I ran, I found myself smiling and in awe of Willow. And, I had to admit, it was nice to talk to someone who did not know the real me. Since everything in my life changed, I had alternated between spending time alone to fending off questions as whether I am feeling all right. As if it was remotely possible for me to ever feel all right. But Willow exuded a certain grace and poise that made me feel as though she could understand the depth of my emotions.