Cara could not understand what Ashton meant, but she shrugged it off and knocks on the door without thinking twice.
"Knock, knock,"
The door swung open.
"Boss? It is really you." Uncle Thomas was sweating profusely when he realized his mistake. He moved to give way for Ashton and Cara.
"It's okay, uncle. We just came here to pick up some of Cara's important stuff." Ashton placed his hands inside his pocket while looking around Thomas's humble abode. It was a compact unit with one toilet and bath, and two bedrooms. The kitchen, dining, and living room is a combined area that would only fit around five people at a time. However, it feels a little cramped for the three men inside now, for they are all tall and well built.
Ashton nodded at Cara, giving her a cue to move and get her stuff as he talks to Uncle Thomas. Cara agreed and readily walked to her room, which was just behind Ashton. Theo tried to follow her, but Ashton barred his hand in the doorway.
"Kindly wait for her when she's done. I hope you understand. I don't like my woman to be alone inside her room with another man." Ashton said without blinking as he fiercely stared at Theo.
"This is ridiculous! Cara is like my sister. Besides, this is my home. How dare you stop me?" Theo shouted at Ashton.
Ashton laughed mirthlessly. "I know a love struck man when I see one. You don't have to hide it, you are not siblings. However; she is my woman now. You better back off." Ashton crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, technically this place is mine."
Theo clenched his fists, ready to land it on Ashton's face.
Uncle Thomas tapped his shoulder to calm him down. "Son, what Mr. Crafter said is true. He owns this building, this home is an incentive for the years that I've worked in the company."
"I don't care, Dad. I still won't allow Cara to go with this man." Theo faced his dad with a look of disgust. He felt like he is selling Cara to his boss.
"I'm sorry, Theo. But the decision is not up to us, it's Cara's life she is the only one that should decide." Uncle Thomas put back some senses to Theo.
Cara came out of her room, curious about the discussion between the three men.  Theo definitely looked defeated while Uncle Thomas was quite neutral.
"Are you okay, Theo?" Cara touched his sad face.
That scene made Ashton cringe. It is the first time he saw woman showing affection to a man in this proximity.
"No! How can I be okay? You are going to marry a man you barely know!" Theo is still furious at Cara's decision.
"You know, how much I like him, Theo." Cara said in a low voice, trying to hide what she said from Ashton.
"That's just an infatuation, Cara. You really should think this over." Theo insisted.
"Okay, I promise to think it over." Cara said and walked slowly towards Ashton.
"Hey, you don't have to go with him, until you think it over." Theo grabbed Cara's hand.
Ashton took a deep breath before facing Theo. "You can't stop us, we belong together. We are bound together in ways your mind can never comprehend." He mocked Theo.
"But, Cara!" Theo pulled her closer to her. She landed on his chest. Cara blushed instantly.
She gathered herself and distanced from Theo. "Ashton and I already decided, it is best for us to live together."
"Why not wait until you get married?" Theo is still begging for Cara to change her mind.
"Bro, you better get yourself a girlfriend and stop bothering my woman." Ashton tugged Cara's hand and carried her bag for her.
Theo raised both his hand to surrender when he saw Cara willingly went off with Ashton.
"Sir, as I've told you on the phone earlier; I will explain everything today." Ashton looked straight into Uncle Thomas's eyes. "Cara and I shared a night together and now, I think I want to marry her."
Cara does not know how to react to what had just happened. It was the worse explanation anyone could hear. "Botch titles from different songs? Is this guy serious?" Cara mumbled after hearing Ashton.
They left the house almost right after that, Ashton was quiet until they reached his car.
He exhaled heavily as soon as he sat on the driver's seat. "Boy, that was close!" He exclaimed with an enormous smile on his face.
Cara knew it was all for show, but somehow it felt nice to be in between those two men. It is as if they liked her for real.
"Hey, Babe. Don't go near those two again." Ashton said.
"I can't do that, they are the only family I have left." Cara answered back with conviction.
"Well, Love it seems like you don't know your family well." Ashton sneered at her.
"What do you mean? I have been living with them since I was a kid! How can I not know them?" Cara confronted Ashton.
He shrugged his shoulders before answering. "To be fair, you did not know about yourself until last night. So… I really can't blame you not knowing that; one, that Theo likes you and two, they are both witch hunters,"
"What?" His revelation stunned Cara.
"What, what? On the first one or on the second one?" Ashton chuckled.
"What on both. How did you know?" Cara replied with her eyes widened.
"The first one or the second one?" Ashton was playing with Cara.
"Ashton Crafter! Don't make me use my powers over you!" Cara threatened Ashton.
He chuckled louder, seeing the frustration in Cara's eyes. This is the only way he can get even with her.
"The first one is just male instinct. You know, sniffing out the competition, that's what he was doing with me earlier. But about them being witch hunters, I can smell them. That's why I thought you were in trouble earlier." Ashton explained further.
Cara did not even notice that they are already in Ashton's estate. He parked the car and continued talking.
"They have this funny scent that I can't quite explain. But the most glaring clue is what I see on their faces. The glowing scriptures are written all over their faces." Ashton added.
Cara nodded, trying to take in everything Ashton just said. "Isn't it tragic that they had to take care of the person who they are destined to kill?" Cara said with her voice cracking, tears welled up in her eyes. And then she heard the door shut down. Ashton went down to the car. He did not even bother to comfort her. She wiped her tears and went out of the car too.
Ashton turned around when he heard Cara walking behind him. "Their destiny is not to kill you per se, but the possibility of them doing it is high." Ashton clarified it to Cara.
"Can you tell me more about it?" Cara requested to Ashton.
He nodded. "After dinner,"
They entered the dining hall; it was spacious and beautifully decorated. They prepared a feast for them.
"Why did you prepare too much?" Cara asked while her eyes were glistening with glee, wanting to devour every food that was served.
Ashton sat on his chair and loosened his necktie. "Well, I don't know what food you prefer. So I just asked them to cook whatever."
"Wow, I enjoy eating whatever." Cara blurted out. The servers giggled, hearing her smart answer against Ashton.
"Hey, I just met you" Ashton defended himself.
"And this is crazy." Cara added. "Do you know you have a funny way of using song lyrics when you talk?" Cara mocked Ashton
"Do you expect me spout sweet things from my heart? You must be kidding me, babe." Ashton answered Cara.
She could not help but laugh at Ashton's contradicting words. She's getting quite used to him calling her babe or love. "Okay babe, let's just have this sumptuous meal first."
Cara enjoyed the food and thanked the servers for the yummy meal. It made them smile to feel appreciated in this household.
They both walked towards the outdoor patio. Cara brought a glass of lemonade while Ashton took out a cigarette. Cara instantly frowned, seeing Ashton lighting it up.
"You better stop that nasty habit of yours because I am allergic to smoke." Cara said it without a second thought.
Ashton unwillingly put the light out with a sad look on his face. "I really hate this curse. I can't even decide for myself now." He murmured.
"Oh, sorry, I did not mean it as an order. It was just a warning." Cara sneered at Ashton.
"Then can you take back what you just said?" Ashton was bargaining with her.
"Hmm, No. Unless you want to kill me with my allergy, then go ahead." Cara signaled one on her right hand and a zero on her other hand. She felt victorious for the first time in a long while.
There was an awkward silence between them for a couple of minutes. Cara walked towards the garden. She loves how the radiant glow of the moon lights the garden path. Ashton could do nothing but follow her. He shoved both his hands in his pockets while walking.
"It fascinates you?" Ashton asked Cara.
Cara looked back, surprised by Ashton. She forgot that they should not be too far apart from each other. "I'm sorry?" Cara asked him back.
"The moon," Ashton answered softly.
"Yeah, since I was young. How did you know?" Cara admitted it to Ashton.
"Well, for one, we have a matching tattoo of the moon. Second, I know because I've read the prophecy." He blurted out his knowledge about Cara.
"Hmm, about that prophecy, I haven't given it a thought yet. But tonight I feel like I should name my coven…"
"Circle of the Radiant Moon" Ashton and Cara said it together.
Cara covered her mouth when she heard Ashton say it too.
"You really are the Sakalam. Then I think you are ready to know more about our kind." Ashton declared it like he holds the key to everything that Cara should know.
"Our kind? What do you mean?" Cara wanted clarification.
"I mean, you being a babe, Theo and his father being witch hunters and me being your servant." Ashton said without faltering.
Cara's jaw dropped. "What do you mean? You are my servant?"