The longing spell

Emma spent most of the evening sleeping and listening to Avery's recollection of her life as Anna. Although she didn't mention anything about the situation that brought Anna to the hospital bed, it was still crucial information.

Anna... that was her new identity. Just Anna and no surname.

According to Avery, Anna was the adopted child of Avery's nanny, Camelia. Everything about her biological parents was unknown since she was an abandoned child that was lucky enough to be found by someone kind as Camelia.

Camelia would often bring Anna to her workplace which was the Gunnar's household - one of the elite families in Country Y. There, she befriended Avery, the one and only daughter of the Gunnar's couple. Since then, they became best friends.

However, six years ago everything changed for Anna after her only guardian met an accident that took her life. She was left alone without anyone to rely on until the Gunnar invited her to stay with them. At first, Anna was reluctant however due to Avery's persuasion she finally agreed.

Living with the Gunnars was actually beneficial for Anna as being with Avery and her family had helped her cope with the sudden death of Camelia. Moreover, they treated her like their own family.

"Avery," Emma called.

"Yes?" Avery looked at her. Her gaze softened every time it met Anna's eyes.

"Tell me about the accident," she said.

When she saw Avery hesitate, she probed.

"You do know that I deserve to know the truth?" Emma touched the top of Avery's hand. "Maybe, it'll help me recall some of my memories," she added.

Avery exhaled. "You're right," she muttered while looking at Anna who was smiling at her. It was a smile that she wasn't used to. It felt like an obligatory smile, one without emotions attached to it.

The Anna she knew was full of positive emotions. Her eyes, her expressions, her gestures... They were the vassals of her happy hormones. Her voice was rejuvenating to hear.

Yet, the one on the bed, smiling at her felt more like a stranger. Her voice oftentimes was cold and indifferent. Perhaps the change in personality was all due to her loss of memory. Once she regained the pieces that were missing, her old cheerful self would return. Surely that would be the case...

Avery took another deep breath before she began her narration.

"Five days ago, we were invited to the opening of Sunset Resort. It's located at the Chamrose city," Avery said. Her face was sullen.

"We went there a day earlier because we wanted to see the sunset," she laughed as if it was a silly decision to make.

"It was worth it. The sunset was really beautiful but-" Avery paused as she clutched her hands. Emma watched the struggle on her face and gently touched her hand in response, comforting her.

'Thanks,' Avery mouthed as she took a deep breath.

"There were people watching the sunset as well. Yet, who would've known that someone was evil enough to push me off the cliff? And you...you actually tried to save me," Avery's hands wrapped around her face as she tried to contain the tears that were about to fall.

Emma exhaled at the smell of conspiracy. She furrowed her eyebrows, "Who is it?" she asked. Her voice sounded colder than usual. Somehow it calmed Avery who then looked back at her while shaking her head.

"A team is investigating on the matter right now. Anna, I..." Avery explained. She wanted to ask for forgiveness, but the lump in her throat made it difficult for her to speak.

Emma noticed a pair of warm hands were now holding hers. She looked up and saw the guilt in Avery's eyes.

"It wasn't your fault," she said.

"But-"

"Enough," Emma intercepted as she gave her a smile as reassurance.

"Don't blame yourself. I am still alive and that is all that matters. But, how did you find me here?" she asked.

Avery coughed as she pursed her lips. Seeing this Emma couldn't help but associate her with a child who was caught doing something bad.

"I, well I..." Avery couldn't finish her sentence. She urgently wiped her tears away while trying to avoid Anna's penetrating gaze. What she did to locate her here was something Anna would disapprove of. To her, that method was only done by criminals.

"What?" Emma asked. She suddenly becomes curious.

"I investigated the CCTV within the range of Sunset Resort but found nothing. So, I assumed that if you're being saved by someone, then you must be in one of the nearby hospitals. So, I entered the systems of all the hospitals within the area and... Anna?" Avery was taken aback when she realized that Anna was giving her the look of incredulity.

"What are you trying to say?" Emma asked. Avery blinked in response. She wondered if Anna's intelligence was sealed as well considering her lack of knowledge on the topic.

"Erm, I've learned a skill called hacking. It is actually useful," she said. "I used my skill to check the recent patients' data in the hospital information system. Thankfully, your ID card was with you when they found you so... here I am," Avery spoke in a hushed voice followed by a cunning smile afterward. She was actually proud of her skill.

Emma grinned and then replied in a similar hushed manner. "That seems illegal but thank you," she said inviting laughter from Avery.

From the story, Emma had developed a good portfolio of Avery. She seemed kind and someone who was willing to go to any length to help the people she cared about.

Unexpectedly, Anna was such a person as well.

Now that the matter regarding the accident was cleared up, Emma was left with one questioning mark. When the real Anna fell off the cliff, for sure she was still alive, so why was she able to reincarnate into her body?

Was it because heaven had decided that the real Anna's fate was death? Therefore her reincarnation was granted as Anna?

That could be the logic.

Emma sighed as she closed her eyes. The entire matter was confusing. Still, she solemnly vowed, 'Thank you. I'll live well. From this moment onwards, I, Emma D Callisto will be known as Anna,'

The moment she made her vow, a voice - one that tugged her heart entered her ear.

"Babe, thank heaven! Why did you leave without telling your parents? Do you know how worried I am when they told me that you're missing?"

Anna abruptly opened her eyes and saw a man had just entered the room. His sudden appearance sent her heart to a tremulous sensation. It wasn't fear but anticipation... However, at times it was also a vague feeling. The only thing she was sure of was that her reaction seemed forced and unnatural.

"Miss Anna, it's good knowing that you're safe," the man gave her a side glance as he walked towards Avery. He pulled her up and took her into his embrace.

Avery seemed to tense up at the sudden pull. However, she returned the hug to a courtesy one before pushing him away. Unknowingly, she glanced at Anna with an apologetic look.

"Dominic, why are you here?" her voice that was sweet to Anna was now engulfed in coldness.

The man named Dominic sighed as he took a few steps back, allowing Anna who felt the sudden eagerness to look at him witnessed his handsome features.

Anna felt her chest throbbing even more as if this man was a man she had a deep connection with. However, there was a sinister hint to it.

"I'm sorry for that," he apologized, referring to the hug earlier. "Your parents told me that you're here so I come to check on you guys," Dominic explained. His face was one that was asking for understanding.

"I see, but I believe there's no need for that," Avery seemed to be on guard when talking to him. Anna could see that she was trying so hard to contain the rage which was evident in her brown eyes.

"Avery, you're my fiance, you must know that it is only right for me to worry about you," Dominic sounded helpless. He looked at Avery with the hope that she would understand his intention.

Watching all of these, something unexpected happened to Anna. Her cheek felt cold. She touched it with her hands and noticed that she was crying. She immediately looked away to avoid being noticed. Inside, her inner self was screaming at the sudden incident.

What the hell happened to her? Why was her body reacting so intensely towards that man?

Anna was scared at how strong her jealousy was towards Avery when the man hugged her. It was strange and simply not right because she had no idea who that man was!

Sighing inside, Anna assessed the situation. She knew that it was impossible for the original soul to influence her to react in such a way. Moreover, the moment she took over the body, her innate bloodline would cleanse the body from unwanted disturbance such as the lingering will of the dead.

So how? Unless...

Anna swallowed.

Unless a powerful bloodline was present in this world! If that was so, there was a possibility for the original Anna to be associated with them.

Anna peeked at Dominic who was trying to coax Avery to open up to him. However, since her bloodline power was now scarce, she couldn't tell what powerful bloodline the man possessed.

Heaven, this world will be the death of me! Anna closed her eyes as she strategized inside her head while trying to ignore the sudden obsession she had towards the man.

Then...

"Avery, I'm thirsty," Anna tugged on Avery's shirt. The other looked at her with concern. She checked the water bottle on the bedside table and realized that it was empty. So, after giving Dominic a stern look she left the room.

The moment Avery left, Anna stared at the man as if she was trying to see beyond the mask he was wearing.

When the man noticed her gaze, a smirk emerged on his face.

"I see that you didn't lose your memory," he said so sarcastically. "Your face shows that you're longing for me to hold you. Why? Did the hug earlier trigger something? Were you jealous?" he walked closer. A finger tilting Anna's chin.

Anna felt her body reacted to the touch. However, it felt forced and induced.

"Who are you, and what did you do to my body?" Anna's cold voice echoed in the room, startling the man who was now frowning.

He scrutinized her face. "Heh, so you really lose your memory? But the desire in your eyes...It seems that the longing spell is still working. How terrible..." he trailed the last word with a cold smile on his face.

Anna's entire body shivered at the touch. It was an involuntary reaction that she despised. However, knowing that he actually put a longing spell on her body... her soul was burning with anger!

Longing Spell!

How dare someone put such a low-level spell on her! Such humiliation! Anna gritted her teeth in anger. As a pureblood of the D Callisto's bloodline, her prowess was mighty. Such a spell could do nothing to her.

Alas, that was all in the past. Right now her power was null. Besides, the previous Anna was simply human, therefore the effect of the longing spell would be dire.

Still, a longing spell... Anna couldn't accept that she was currently under the binding of such a ridiculous spell.

Longing spell was an ancient spell under the category of slavery spell. It would make a person obey everything the caster wanted them to do. However, there was a condition, the person in which the spell was put on must trust the caster... In other words, the original Anna must have loved Dominic. If she didn't, among all the slavery spells, Dominic wouldn't choose the longing spell which required both love and trust.

Anna felt that her life was suddenly entangled in an unprecedented mess. A mess that she would avoid if she had the chance.

"You actually dare to daydream in front of me!"

Anna felt a hand was holding her chin tightly to the point that she started to feel pain. She realized that she was still under Dominic's mercy.

She looked up and acted out a painful expression. Tears fell down her cheeks like a broken dam. "L-let me go. P-please," she pleaded.

Right now she was weak. She could only use that as a disguise to make possible enemies like Dominic to drop their guard around her. Let him think that she was the original Anna, easily manipulated because of her feeling towards him.

Dominic sneered as he let go of Anna's chin only to change hand. "Since you managed to evade death, I'll give you another chance. By the end of this month, I want Avery to agree to the wedding. If you succeeded, I might ease the longing in your heart, but if you fail..." laughter that sounded so eerie entered Anna's ear.

Anna held Dominic's hand as she looked at him with endless longing. "Anything for you..." she said dramatically, and the man laughed mockingly.

At that time, the door was opened by someone. Entered was Avery who was staring at them with a frown on her face.

"Dominic, what did you do to her?!" she asked as she pushed him away from the bed.

"I didn't do anything," the man showed a sad expression as if he had been judged wrongly. When Avery wasn't looking, a terrifying glint was directed at Anna.

"My blanket fell off. He took it for me," Anna made an excuse and noticed that the man's expression was no longer threatening. She snickered inside.

"Really? He didn't take advantage of you?" Avery asked. She checked Anna's body like a doctor checking for injuries.

"Babe, who do you think I am?" Dominic sighed from behind. Avery looked at him with an unsatisfied look.

"You should go," she said, almost commanding. When Dominic tried to touch her, she stepped back, creating a safe distance between them.

"I'll come again tomorrow when your parents are here," he said and left the room after he stole a hug from Avery. The young lady protested but seeing him gone, a sigh left her lips. She then turned to Anna with a faint smile on her face.

"Here," she held out her hand which was holding a bottle of mineral water. Anna took it and thanked her. She wanted to say more but Avery suddenly screamed.

"Oh, it's almost six! Dinner should be served soon. I have ordered good food from a famous restaurant. Don't worry, the hospital gave us permission," she continued to talk, "I've made sure to order your favorite food,"

"Avery-"

"Ermm, do you want me to wash your body? Dr. Cain said that it should be-"

"Avery!" Anna interrupted. She could see that Avery was trying to divert her attention. Like she was afraid she would ask her about something. Was it Dominic? The probability was high.

Nevertheless, if she didn't want her to talk about him, by all means, she welcomed it. Besides, as someone who couldn't remember many things, to ignore Dominic's existence was an easy thing to do.

"Calm down. What's wrong with you?" Emma let out a small laugh.

Avery stared at her as if trying to understand her reaction. "Aren't you curious about Dominic?" she asked while biting her lower lips. She seemed anxious.

Anna shook her head. "No, why should I?" she replied, shrugging her shoulder. However, a second later, her eyebrows were furrowed as she comes to a realization. Her gaze was fixed at the woman next to her.

"Do you love him?" she asked.

"No. Hell no!!" Avery objected. However, to Anna, Avery's undetermined denial proved otherwise. She internally inhaled.

What chaos is this? She thought as she foresaw a very troublesome conflict in the future.