'Yes, I am talking to you.' A girl with one too many chains on her frilly gothic dress spoke. Her youthful tender face and the long curly hair put up in two ponytails, normally, should make quite a discrepancy with her eccentric dress style, but for some reason the overall look did not appear to be out of place at all. 

In fact the girl looked just like a beautiful porcelain doll in the Victorian inspired dress, rather than her appearance invoking a macabre feeling to the onlookers caused by the black clothing and the small silver skull accessories placed strategically on the dress. Even the lips tinged by black lipstick and the spider motif earrings that dangled from her earlobes added to the cuteness.

At her words, Zane had started looking around his sides, assuming the young girl was speaking with somebody else. But as he was the only one in front of the pedestrian cross, it was clear he was the one for whom those words were meant for.

'No need to look around. I was talking to you. Thank you for saving my cat.' The girl said, and approached Zane unhurriedly.

Her raised hands which seemed ready to take the pet away and her decisive words, made Zane realize she was the owner of the black fur ball, so he also extended his arms and gave the small kitten to her.

'You're welcome.' Zane replied to her words of gratitude, ignoring the young man part and her casual speaking. Prolonging the conversation and commenting on her way of address, meant he would delay in returning to Aria. Who knew when his petite wife would wake up and search for his presence?

No sooner was the kitten safely in her owner's hands, when the somber man relieved of the burden of having to further search for the owner of the kitten, turned back towards the street to continue doing his task. The timer on the street pole which showed how much time he had to cross the street had already lighted up and started its countdown. Anyway there were no more words to exchange with the girl.

'Wait. I haven't thanked you properly yet for the kind gesture.' The petite girl that seemed even shorter than Aria called out, while she was petting the small kitten in her arms. Unexpectedly,  although she appeared quite caring to her furry friend, her face did not show at all a worried expression, or at least a relieved one. She did not seem to look at all the part of a pet owner frightened by the possible loss of her pet.

'There's no need to.' Zane looked over his shoulder and denied her returning gesture, as his feet was already a few inches away from touching the pedestrian cross walk.

'Do you know... Aria, your wife, she could use a witch's friendly spell.' 

Zane was not one to just listen to anyone's rambles, and certainly not one to listen to an unknown gothic girl's craziness. But seeing how the girl knew his wife's name, it was not safe to just walk away without knowing the other person's intentions. For people of their bearing to be under someone's eyes... it almost never was for a good reason. Especially considering Aria was not one to make connections with other people, even before her accident.

Was someone investigating his wife and wanted to harm her?

It was unlikely, at least as far as the hurting part was concerned. Nobody would come and make their intention's known, and thus alert Zane of their presence before taking action. This would be a grave mistake considering his power and influence. But then what was their purpose?

'Who are you and what do you want?' Zane asked, turning around to face the girl again.

'I am the neighborhood's bubbly witch, or better known as Clarissa, the leader of all the covens. Nice to meet your acquaintance.' The cheeky witch tilted her head to the side, then raised her nose a bit higher in the air, proud of her status.

Every supernatural creature there was, would sigh in aw at knowing her illustrious identity. There were countless times fairies, sprites, vampires and even werewolves sought her company and help. She was even the best friend of the rulers of the vampires and of the werewolves.

Alright... that might be stretching it a little, as the consort ruler of the vampires was an aloof man who only cared about his queen, and the king of the werewolves only saw her as an eyesore because she liked to hug his queen. But still at least their wives thought of her as their best friend. Thus, with this thought in mind, Clarissa raised even more her nose in the air, feeling superior because of her identity.

She did not bother thinking that Zane was no supernatural creature, so the affect she envisioned of course would not occur. Well, the somber man might have only become awestruck at her derailed mind, if he wasn't so focused on figuring out her purpose.

'I don't think you are aware who you are speaking to. I suggest you drop the act and speak truthful.' Zane frowned and the coldness of his expression went down below freezing.

Was this girl only a person with a mental ailment, someone who had probably seen him exit Aria's hospital room, and just followed him out playing tricks on his mind? Or was she truly a danger?

'Tch, tch, tch... Stop it with that look, you look so much like those guys right now that I feel goosebumps. Alright, alright... don't frown even more. Really if looks could kill in the literal way, I think I would have died a thousand times already. It's no wonder it will be difficult for you to get your sincere heart across. Even your peanuts will cry at the sight of you when they will be born.' Clarissa sighed, then hmphed upset. 

Why were the women she thought she could possibly befriend surrounded by these kind of aloof cold men? If there was one bad point for her friends, it was the poor choice in men. Her cute werewolf pup was much better than these cold statues, Clarissa thought.

'Peanuts...' Zane murmured, then became even more alerted of Clarissa. 

The young girl, who could hardly pass as an eighteen year old, appeared harmless on her own, but the one behind her was surely someone extraordinary. To even know the nicknames of the children.

'Clarissa, you are making the matter worse. Stop rambling, you are not good at it anyway. Just cast your spell.' The black kitten in her arms spoke with a sharp tone, after smacking the witch with her small paw. 

'Ouch... why did you hit me?' The witch called out angry, looking wronged to the small offender who she had kept tenderly in her arms.

'You are not making any sense. Of course no right minded human would believe your words. Especially not a logical man like the one in front of us.' 

'That's because you did not let me set up a stand and buy an orb to create the right mood. How could a witch attract anyone in telling them their future without an adequate prop?'

'I am sure that normal looking clothing would make you many times more believable than those... Forget it, just cast the spell and let's go.' The kitten sighed, and moved her head from side to side in disapproval.

Clarissa wanted to argue more with Ebony, what did her clothes had to do with anything? But seeing as Zane was completely lost, perhaps wondering what to do, and thinking about some courses of action, she knew inside her mind that her familiar was right. Though she wouldn't openly tell Ebony this.

Well, it was true that no human would ever think about magic and supernatural creatures as real. This was the natural law under which they were placed, to avoid creating chaos and the disruptions of the thin border between the two worlds.

'You, what game are you playing?' Asked the man who could not believe the kitten had spoken just now. Did the woman have a recording on her body and was playing a trick on his mind?

'Te prohibere motus.' Clarissa spoke in the ancient language. The archaic currently not spoken language was the most affective for casting her small quick spells. And at this moment she really needed one, as Zane took a step in her direction. The  cold man was clearly not a patient person at all, the deadly expression and the cold air which seemed to surround his entire visage were clear evidence he would make her talk, one way or another.

This was exactly what Zane had wanted to do, but the words Clarissa had spoken stopped him from taking another step in her direction, or even move for that matter.

Satisfied she could now tell her words uninterrupted, Clarissa finally revealed her real intention.

'There are always consequences for assuming an identity that is not your own. 

There are always tribulations one must pass, to call this life their own.

For the heart of a child that has never known love and true affection,

Only a thin thread connects her to a body who also hardly experienced a kind attention.

Heed my words and let them serve as a guideline for the future, ignore them and watch her be lost forever, trapped between dimensions.

The fate of the one who crossed the worlds is such  that one could never tell.

When helplessness takes over, what is left instead of a soul is only an empty shell.

Heart is true, but unacknowledged will cause the hopeless girl no place left to dwell.

Her fears, her doubts, her lonely heart, her lost thirst for life are only yours to quell.

Time is short and fickle, but in time of need will still do its best to help.

The time between two days, the twelve o'clock of night sound's bell.

That will be the time of the timely breaking of this forgetfulness spell.'

Clarissa spoke clearly with an eloquence she previously lacked. It was a serious matter, there were after all three fated pairings destined, if fate took its rightful course. Or a sad death and a brim loneliness for five individuals, in another unfortunate future.

Hoping for the best, the small witch smiled a little. And with her task at hand now finished, Clarissa snapped her fingers, bringing with it the ending of her spells, and her and Ebony's presence.

Zane could not tell why he obediently listened to Clarissa's words, why he did not feel compelled to keep on trying to move his muscles that did not seem to listen to the commands his brain was giving, to attempt to question the woman more and find out her motives. Each phrase she said felt like it was deeply etched inside his heart, like it was an advice that could one day prevent his heart from breaking into million pieces. So needless to say he could only listen to his instincts and listen to her phrases.

Why would he feel like this for no reason? Wait, feel what? What was he thinking about just now? The somber man pondered, feeling lost. He was waiting to cross the pedestrian walk just a second ago, but he was now looking in the opposite way, towards the sidewalk...

A beeping sound, that signified the timer for safe crossing had restarted itself on the pole, reminded Zane of his original purpose. So paying no more mind to his lost attention, he set his feet on the crosswalk, and headed towards the bakery that could be seen on the other side.

'You always say that you shouldn't disclose the future as it could affect the lives of those who know it. It could make their fate worse by knowing it, rather than mend it. So why did you tell him, albeit cryptically, some clues about it?' Ebony asked, while she took her favorite spot on the hovering broomstick, just at the end of it.

'Yup, I always say that. This was why I also made him forget the words. He will only remember them just at the right time, but whether he figures out their meaning... this will be entirely up to him.' Carissa stated as she was starting up her ipod and arranging the earphones in her ears. How could one drive on the way home without a little upbeat music?

'But wouldn't it have been easier to tell him what he had to do?' Ebony pondered, licking her small paw. Though she had human thoughts, she was after all a kitten, she couldn't beat her cat urges, nor did she wish to.

'If one must tell him frankly, then he might not understand it. Human hearts sometimes would never believe the answers laid before them openly. To search for the answer yourself, and use the hard lesson learnt to find it when conveying its meaning to your loved one, well this would be more affective. 

Alright, now that this is off my chest, let's head home. The pup has vacation starting today, and I want to be pampered.' Clarissa happily talked then snapped her fingers, setting the broomstick on the right direction towards the coven. The time spent with her werewolf mate was already short, she had to make the most of it whenever she could. She especially loved his big wolf form that she could cuddle and tightly hug for an afternoon nap.

'Umm... I think it's the other way.' Ebony put a small paw on Clarissa's hand and gestured with the other one in the opposite direction.

'... I knew that. I just wanted to go to the supermarket.' She immediately reacted flustered, though she quickly turned the broomstick to where Ebony had pointed at.

'Yeah. Sure.' The small kitten agreed, and like always did not argue with Clarissa.

But inside her mind she still pondered where the earlier eloquence and cleverness had gone to.

In Aria's hospital room, several hours later

'W-what?' Aria stuttered her question. She was so baffled by Zane's request that she wasn't able to form more than one word, and even that word was awkwardly spoken.

'I said to lift up your dress.' Zane calmly and patiently informed her.

'W-why?' She tried another question. Also consisting of one word, even shorter than the previous one, as her heart rate kept rapidly raising higher.

'Because the doctor said you haven't been taking care of the skin on your belly, when she checked the state of the twins earlier.' Zane explained further.

'S-so?' His explanation only served to decrease even more the letters she used to form her question.

'So I need to apply the cream she prescribed on your skin, otherwise the stretch marks would multiply.' He reasoned logically, as he took the cream he had prepared on the nightstand and sat on her bedside.

'I...' Aria started to say a bit hoarsely, as she clutched the ends of the blanket he was about to remove.

Really, this man... Just when she relaxed a bit after waking up, eating the pastries he had brought, which as a side note was the reason she had woken up, he just had to think of another embarrassing thing to do. Why was she such  a gluttonous person? Even sleep could not keep her appetite at bay.

'You cannot do it yourself. You mustn't exert any strength right now. Besides you cannot reach everywhere with those short hands of yours.' Zane argued, while his hand was engaged in a slight pulling fight with Aria's.

'My hands are not short, I can do it myself.' She was shocked at the illogical and absurd reasons, but to keep her calm at this moment was the only way she could overcome her current plight.

'If you could do it, then why haven't you done it lately? She told me you know of this.' He replied, as his arm was gaining the upper hand in the pulling fight.

'I was just a bit careless, because of the move to the apartment. But don't worry, I won't be any more. Please give me the cream.' Aria sincerely stated. And although she asked for the cream, she did not dare remove one of her hands from the stretched blanket to receive it.

'Right, you were careless. Which means you will also be careless now when applying the cream as well. A small part left uncovered by the ointment means another stretch mark. Now then, since you don't want to remove your dress yourself, I will do it for you. Take your hands away.' Zane elaborated with a hoarse deep voice, that although did not seem to hold ulterior motives for his actions, still made the small woman feel just that... an implied meaning that caused her cheeks to be inked by an even redder color. 

The man, seemingly unaware of her inner turmoil, finally managed to pull the blanket from her abdomen while he continued speaking.

'Aria, you are my wife, I can do this much. And also, I will only smear the cream, alright?' Zane sighed, looking to the hands that although had lost the battle for the blanket, were kept firmly on her dress, keeping the hem down.

Hearing his words, her heart shook a bit, as it always did when Zane mentioned her status. She felt both happy and sad at the appellative he used. To be his wife meant she was the children's mother which should have made her absolutely happy. Yet hearing wife from his lips... was he referring to his wife for all these years?

Knowing there was only her inside Aria Black's body, only her to live her life and take over her identity... how would Zane feel about it? She... she was deceiving him.

It was the first time when she thought of this word, deceive. 

They might have truly loved each other before she took over. Even earlier he so carefully explained to her the situation from the office. No, he wasn't explaining to her, he was explaining to Aria Black, his wife... The small woman felt so lost in her thoughts that she did not seem to notice a small feeling that sprouted in her heart, jealousy.

The short moment of inattentiveness on her part, was enough for Zane to think she had agreed to cooperate with him, so without further ado, he placed the blanket just below her belly, then raised her dress above it. A true gentleman, Zane made sure he did not reveal more than there was needed.

Aria only reacted when the slightly cold cream touched her round bump, making her yelp a bit.

'Don't move, if you really don't want me to see more.' Zane spoke hurriedly, showing Aria with a slight move of his chin what he meant.

 The small woman's bump made it difficult for her to see where his attention lay, but stretching her head a little upward, she immediately realized. She hadn't worn any shorts this time around, as opposed to when she was going for the checkups. With the smallest effort, her underwear would come in full view.

Although shocked and embarrassed, Aria still reacted quickly and grabbed the blanket to keep it firmly in place, to make sure no part of her underwear could be seen. Though after this reaction, she did not dare move another muscle, even his arms she did not attempt to remove, feeling herself shackled in place. 

His hands did not linger in a place, they did not rub her bump more than it was necessary... but inexplicably, his slender hands felt as though they were touching her heart, scalding it, rather than the skin on her abdomen. Even her stomach felt invaded by a thousand butterflies, because of their movements.

'Is this a foot?' Zane asked, stopping for a second his hands just as he was about to finish covering Aria's bump with a thin layer of ointment. 

Aria's round belly showed a small deformity just where he was gently putting on the cream, surprising the man so much he had halted from his task, though earlier he had quickened his touch to apply the cream just so Aria did not feel too uncomfortable.

'I-it could be.' Aria replied with a small voice devoid of any strength. It was only normal considering she was abstaining herself from even breathing. She wished for nothing more than for Zane to finish applying the cream at this point.

'Is it a revenge?' Zane pondered, as he kept his hand in place over the spot where the deformity appeared, mesmerized by the constant small hits.

'A revenge?' She asked a bit