The wind blew harder that evening. The forest no longer felt comforting. The leaves rustled with a sinister sound, and even the fire seemed to crackle with suspicion.
Bella sat cross-legged, watching Aletha from across the camp. She hadn't come near the fire in two days. She barely ate, spoke even less, and looked at Caden like he was a stranger.
Zetch sat down quietly beside her.
"Still watching her?" he whispered.
Bella slowly nodded.
"Don't you think it's strange? This isn't just a fight. She's acting like she's afraid of Caden… or worse."
Zetch narrowed his eyes, his expression dark.
"She slapped him. And that look in her eyes… it was like she didn't recognize him anymore."
He paused, remembering something.
"Did you see her eyes? Just for a second. They changed. That wasn't anger… it was something else."
Bella wrapped her arms around herself.
"You think she's… possessed?"
Zetch turned toward her. His silence said enough.
"I know it sounds crazy," Bella continued. "But remember what we saw during the fight with Krull. And Aletha… she's acting a bit like him. Not exactly, but like she's holding something back, like..."
"She's fighting it," Zetch said grimly. "You can see it. She's trying to stay herself. But something is eating at her."
"And what if that… 'something' tells her to hurt Caden? Or maybe one of us?" Bella whispered.
They both looked toward their friend, sitting near the fire, eyes lost in thought. He hadn't seen the worst yet.
Zetch stood up.
"We need to watch her more closely. Quietly. And if it gets dangerous..."
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
Bella lowered her eyes, her throat tight with worry.
"You think she could really… hurt him?"
Zetch didn't answer right away.
"Not her."
He paused.
"But what she's becoming… yes."