A few weeks later, Aralyn opened her door to reveal unexpected guests.
Noah. And the twins. The last time Noah had seen her was the night of the glowing marks. The memory still lingered in his mind.
"What's happening, Scarf? Talk to me," he had urged that night, helping her sit back down on the couch.
"I… I don't know," she had whispered.
With a shaky breath, she removed the scarf around her neck. The marks pulsed with a bluish glow, beating slowly in rhythm with her heart.
"Something is talking…"
That was all she had managed to say. By then, the rain had slowed down.
"You should get going, Noah, before the pouring continues," Aralyn said, standing and walking toward the door. Noah followed her quietly.
"I hope you don't spread anything about this," she said, meeting his eyes.
Noah blinked, momentarily distracted. He made a mental note of how striking her hazel-brown eyes looked against her dark blonde hair.
"I… uh… what?"
Aralyn frowned, clearly annoyed.
"You said whatever this thing is," she gestured toward her glowing neck, "is none of your business. I assume you'll keep your lips sealed."
The glow beneath her skin was strangely mesmerizing. Noah tilted his head slightly. His boyish grin appeared. "What's in it for me?"
Aralyn looked genuinely offended. Noah immediately raised both hands, laughing.
"Alright, alright! I'm zipped."
He stepped outside, then pointed back at her. "No need to walk me out. I'll be fine. Thanks for letting me stay, Scarf." The door closed.
"Hey, Scarf." Noah grinned again. That boyish grin of his sent strange, drumming sensations down her spine. But not as strange as the fact that the twins were there too. All he knew was that when he was walking past the Ashwood home, the twins had suddenly hopped into his path, asking where he was going.
"We will join you," Lucas had said, Calliope standing close behind him. "To see her."
That alone had stunned him enough to let them come along. He chose not to ask how in the heavens they knew who he wanted to see.
"What're you doing here?" Aralyn asked coldly, but her eyes softened when they landed on the twins. Calliope shyly waved before quickly stepping closer behind Lucas.
"Based on what I hear from the town's gossip, you rarely join them for any activities. Is that about right, Scarf?" Noah asked, casually leaning on the doorframe, a brow raised in question.
Aralyn stayed quiet for a moment before nodding toward the twins. "What are they doing here?"
Lucas straightened himself, answering in a low voice. "We need to tell you something, miss."
"It's important," Calliope chimed in.
Aralyn considered closing the door right then, but the twins had never mocked her the way the others did. Her hand slipped behind the door, fingers brushing the back of her neck. Good thing she wore a turtleneck today.
Aralyn opened the door wider. "Come in."
Noah looked offended. "Oho, the minute they ask, you let them in? Just like that?" He purposely narrowed his eyes at her neck, making Aralyn exhale before gesturing for him to come inside.
She pointed to the couch, letting them sit. Aralyn took the single club chair facing them, arms crossed.
"I don't usually engage in the town's activities. I find them troublesome," she said, holding Noah's gaze.
"Harsh words," he crooned, leaning back with his arms stretched behind him, one leg crossed over the other. "I was gonna ask if–"
"No."
"What no? You didn't even know what I was gonna ask!"
"Still no," Aralyn replied, her eyes calm.
"Gee, Scarf. Come on. What could possibly be troublesome if you join? The Full Tree Festival is only three days away, and I'm sure a lot of people would be happy to see you there," he assured.
He watched as she rolled her eyes.
"I highly doubt that," she said before turning her attention back to the twins. "What is so important that you had to come all the way here?"
Lucas glanced at his sister for a moment before warily looking at Noah.
Aralyn noticed and waved a dismissive hand toward him.
"Don't worry about him," she said flatly. "He's the least person you should worry about. What's going on?"
"They need your help," he started. "If you don't help them, everything will become salty."
Noah blinked in confusion. He straightened in his seat.
"Who needs her help? What's becoming salty?"
Aralyn's breath hitched. She looked away for a moment.
What is happening?
Could this be connected to the voice in her head weeks ago? She had heard it a few times after Noah left. The voice was melodic, alluring, but sorrowful. Aralyn had thought about using a mirror to find out, but that would be too dangerous.
"They need you, Miss Odea," Lucas said firmly this time. "They said you're the only one who can help them."
"Hello? What is happening here? Anyone mind telling me what's going on?" Noah waved his hands. "Scarf?"
Aralyn's attention shifted to him. Her gaze hardened.
"Swear to me–swear to them–that everything you hear in this house stays in this house," she said suddenly, leaning closer. The sharpness in her tone made Noah swallow. "You already know about me," she added quietly.
Noah looked between her and the twins. The strange bond between them confused him. How could an outsider like Aralyn–someone the townsfolk often whispered about–be close to the Ashwood twins?
This whole conversation about salt and needing Scarf's help was twisting his brain.
"Cross your heart," Lucas said.
Noah scoffed. "Why would I–"
"Just do it, Noah," Aralyn pressed. When she used his name, something in him shifted. Before he realized it, his fingers had already crossed over his chest.
"There. Crossed my heart. Now are you going to tell me what he meant by 'they need your help,' Scarf?"
"Who are they, Lucas?" Aralyn asked.
"The woods," Calliope replied.
Aralyn tilted her head.
Noah looked like a fish out of water.
"I'm sorry–the woods?"
The twins nodded.
Lucas turned back to Aralyn. "They said it was getting too salty. That's all they told us."
"Hold on. Back up for a minute." Noah leaned forward. "You're telling me you can hear the trees talking?" He squinted at them. "Is this some prank for the Full Tree Festival?"
He waited. Fifteen seconds passed. The room only grew quieter and heavier as the twins stared back at him without blinking. Noah took a sharp breath.
"Seriously? You can hear them?"
"Why would we be here?" Lucas asked flatly. "For fun?"
"Scarf, are they for real?"
"Why do you call her Scarf?" Calliope suddenly asked.
Noah pointed at Aralyn's neck.
"She didn't tell me her name! Scarf works perfectly since she always wears one. Or that thing. Turtleneck isn't a good nickname."
Calliope smiled a little, almost like laughing.
Aralyn cleared her throat.
"I will do what I can. Give me time to figure it out."
"Don't take too long. The woods have suffered enough," Lucas said, standing up. "We need to go home now."
Aralyn rose and opened the door, letting the twins walk through. Calliope waved cheerfully.
"Bye, miss Odie!"
She only nodded in acknowledgement, watching the twins make their way home. She felt a presence behind her.
"Huh. Never pegged you to be the soft type around kids," Noah said with that rare smile of his. Aralyn turned around, craning her neck to look up at him. He looked devilishly handsome when he smiled like that at her. It was as if he only gave that smile to her.
Or to other girls who look his way.
Aralyn shook her head and stepped back.
"About that festival–think about it, Scarf. Who knows? It might change your mind about it being troublesome," he quoted her. "Good company like me," he grinned, "should have no problem giving you a good time."
Aralyn only stared at him with a glare. But unexpectedly, he suddenly leaned closer, making her startle. "So which one is it? Odea or Odie?" he asked hopefully.
The woman only closed the door and went back to the single club chair.
"Must be a pretty one if your last name is Odea or Odie," he said, following her inside.
"What is this Full Tree Festival you're talking about?"
"You really don't know? After three years?" he gasped dramatically.
Aralyn only gave him a look that made him soften. He sat back down, looking oddly giddy. He understood–remembered the reason she avoided social life. The mark she bore. The clothes she wore every day to hide it.
"Our Dewhurst ancestors started the tradition long ago–to honor the Sentinel that has guarded this town for centuries," Noah began. Excitement shone through his gray eyes. Aralyn thought she could stop herself from staring into them, but the more he talked, the stronger the pull became.
"Sentinel?"
"Yeah. The large oak tree in the woods. That's Sentinel. Been standing there for centuries. A treaty was made in front of it by the Dewhurst ancestors–to keep Sentinel alive after illegal loggers were caught trying to take it down. They failed."
"A treaty to stop the loggers?" Aralyn muttered. "What makes them think they would stop there?"
Noah sighed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'm not really sure about that part. It's just what my family always told me." His voice lowered. "Well... what my dad always talked about when I wasn't listening." The clear distaste in his tone did not escape her. "Don't know why he'd bring it up every time I said no to his face."
Noah looked distant for a moment. His eyes turned stormy. Aralyn wondered if he had trouble with his father. But he turned back to her with renewed energy.
"So every year since then, to celebrate the pact, they hang lights and lanterns around Sentinel–to honor its 'magic'," he emphasized with his fingers, "and to honor the ancestors for protecting this land."
He watched Aralyn with an unguarded smile. "There'll be food, music, games. It'll be a heck of a festival."
Noah leaned forward slightly. "Come with me, Scarf."
She stayed quiet, contemplating. Then she stood and trudged toward the door. "I'll think about it."
Noah pumped his fist in the air, cheering silently before joining her as she opened it. "That's better than a no. See you soon." He mock-saluted her before walking out, leaving Aralyn with more questions than she was used to guarding.
She slowly walked into the kitchen and brewed herself some tea.
He saw me. Clear as day. Yet he does nothing?
Aralyn was deeply suspicious. Someone like Noah had seen what she truly was, yet he had done nothing drastic. Nothing that showed any particular interest in the mark she carried. Her head tilted as she remembered what the twins had said.
"Salty, huh?" As she stirred her tea, her gaze drifted toward the hallway leading to a room sealed tightly by her charm. She had thought about using it before. But she couldn't.
Things would become dangerous–and all she would do was attract even more trouble. Not now. Not when she had begun to feel something dangerously close to warmth ignite inside her for people like Mrs. Collin, the twins... and Noah.
The man who had somehow managed to slip into the small space in her heart she had once sworn would always remain empty.