"Okay, I did mention a bet. But how about we just put in ten pounds each and pick a number of signs that get held up. The winner with the nearest number wins," I said.

"Well, there must be about a hundred and fifty people here," he said.

"Close to two hundred, I think."

"I like it, but I think most people are going to have signs, so my number is hundred and fifty," Mira said handing me her money.

One of Aiden's friends handed over his notes too. "Put me down for twenty, I'm Mike, by the way. I can't see any Warminster people making signs, and there are plenty of us here."

"Hi Mike, hold on, I need a pencil," I groped in my pocket pulling at my pencil and paper and wrote down the names and numbers. "Hannah? What do you think?"

"I'll be middle of the road and say a hundred," Hannah said. "No, make it ninety nine."

I looked up at her grinning face.

"You would say that, just to be difficult, you're going to help me count them all now."

While I wrote down the details a small group had surrounded us. Some faces I recognised from earlier at the coffee shop and some were chatting with Aiden, Mira and Hannah like old friends. They were all pitching in numbers and names. My hand was full of ten pound notes; someone was going to be luckier than a lottery winner tonight.

I filled one sheet of paper and tried to find another in my pockets.

"Here, it's an old receipt but you can write on this," Aiden pulled a scrap from the inside of his jacket.

"Thanks. I hadn't realised I'd be a bookie tonight, and need any." I smiled a grateful smile at him.

"So, what do you think? Have you thought of a number?"

"I'm going to go with ten. I can't see anyone holding anything yet so unless they know origami, I'm guessing low," I chuckled.

"You'll be surprised, put your name down, you might be right."

"So, what are you going to go with?"

"I think, nearly all. Two hundred."

"Really, you're wasting ten pounds."

"Don't be so sure."

I wrote it down anyway. The girls were talking with other people, I felt a little shy. There were no more bets so I put the money inside my jacket, then my hands in the pockets.

"You okay?" Aiden said quietly.

"Yeah," I sighed. "I just don't really know anyone here, that's all."

"Well, you know me."

"Yes, I do."

"And I know you."

"Marginally."

"And my grandfather and your grandmother are friends."

"Do you actually have a point or shall I let you continue?" I said with a bemused grin.

He smiled sweetly. "Well, I saved you from a fire. That must account for something. What I'm trying to say is that I shouldn't be a stranger to you. And that you're amongst friends."

"Well, thank you, Aiden, I feel so reassured," I tried to sound more nonchalant than I let on. The truth was, I was enjoying myself, and his flirting was amusing.

"You know, we have a lot more in common than you think."

"Like what?"

"Well, our families have always been friends, through the years."

"That doesn't mean anything. What else?"

"Um, we're the same height."

"You're grasping now," I laughed.

He chuckled. "Okay, I can't think of anything at the moment but we do share common interests, you might say."

"I'll take your word for it," I said dismissively.

"Maybe you'll let me take you out sometime?"

I waited for a moment; this was all going way too fast. "I'm not getting involved with anyone at the moment. I've just moved here."

"I didn't mean on a date, stupid. I just meant, you know, as friends. I can show you the area. All the nice places, all the local haunts and favourite spots."

"Like where?"

"There's Longleat and the Park, Heavens Gate, Stourhead, Cley Hill, Stonehenge. Do you need me to go on?"

"I don't think I could handle all that travelling on a bike."

"You wouldn't have to. I have a car."

"Oh!" He caught me by surprise. I'd thought we were the same age.

"A nice car too."

"Oh, a nice car! Is it Red?"

"How did you know?"

"Men always buy a red car first. It's a well known fact. Is it really Red?"

"Yeah. So what do you think?"

Before I could answer Mira skipped over to us.

"They're starting!"

Aiden's friends had moved from behind us and were now on the other side of Mira, who was on my right, with Hannah next to me. Aiden was on my left and I was surprised when he didn't join his friends.

"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered.

I stared at him. How had he known what I was thinking? That was uncanny. The car colour had been a fluke but I gazed at him for a moment in amazement.

"What?" he whispered.

"Nothing!" I whispered through my teeth.

The garbled chatter around us quietened down as the man in the beige tunic stood high up on the dais and began by giving thanks to everyone for the tremendous turnout.

I wanted to listen a bit harder but I daren't use my gift in such a close proximity to these people. Aiden was periodically glancing at me as well; I had to be on my best behaviour with him around.

"We have to hold hands and chant now," Mira whispered across to us, her voice full of hilarity.

"Do we have to?" I whispered. "No one will notice if we don't."

"Oh come on, you have to join in," Hannah murmured, grinning at me. "It's tradition."

"It's not my tradition," I retorted. "Whose hand is Mira holding?"

I peered around Hannah.

"She's holding mine. She has really rough hands. Ew," Mike said and laughed in jest.

"I do not!" Mira slapped him on his sleeve, took his hand firmly and grasped Hannah's in the other.

I felt Aiden's warm fingers tickle my palm before he held my hand securely but gently. It was a nice feeling, and his hands were warm against mine which were cold in comparison. His touch stopped my breath for an instant.

I looked at him as if I was seeing him for the first time. He was looking back at me too, his face soft and serene. I turned to Hannah trying to find her hand.

"Don't," he whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"Just trust me. Don't hold her hand."

I sighed, and going with his word grasped Hannah's sleeve in my fingers, she was chatting to someone the other side of Mike and didn't appear to notice.

On the night of the fire I had been almost repelled by Aiden but tonight it was comforting to have him so close to me, shoulder to shoulder. He may have an ulterior motive in befriending me, and I was cautious, but I wanted him here, holding my hand. My thoughts flickered to Morgan, and my trust in him together with his trust in me. Was I betraying him? I wasn't doing anything wrong, was I? My mind muddled into confusion. All I knew at this moment was that I was glad Aiden had chosen to stand by me.

We didn't say anything for a while. The ceremony started, the air was filled with wafting incense from burners that four other men in the arena were waving to and fro into the crowd.

But all I could think about was the hand that was holding mine. I was also fighting a small battle inside with all my strength, to keep my gift down. For some unknown reason I could feel it trying to surge up into my arms. This was new, I usually had strong control over it but it seemed to have its own will.

Aiden's thumb started gently caressing the back of my hand with meaningful strokes. He was looking intently at the view ahead, almost unaware of his actions.

I moved quickly and grasped all his digits in my one hand. He turned and half smiled.

"Stop it," I whispered.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself."

He manoeuvred his hand back to the original position and it remained still. My gift calmed down and I could breathe properly again.

The man in the arena moved up onto the dais and held a huge leather bound book. He started chanting, singing almost, some phrases or words that I didn't know.

"What's he saying," I whispered.

"It's Aramaic. He'll repeat it in Hebrew and then old Spanish."

"Why does he need to do that?"

"Some think that people from another world might understand older languages. They used to try Sumerian but the alphabet isn't complete in our translations. We have no Rosetta Stone in Sumerian, only a rough translation via Greek, which is incorrect."

I gazed in amazement at him. He suddenly looked older somehow, knowledgeable and almost wise.

"How do you know so much about this?"

"They've held these events for years, and I've been to a few. After a while you have to ask questions," he answered with a grin.

He let go of my hand and touched a lock of hair that had come loose from my headband. He gently tucked it behind my ear, his eyes never leaving my face. The gesture had been kind. Soft and sensitive.

"You're beautiful, Rose," he whispered and softly ran his free fingers over my cheek, then reached to hold my hand again.

The ground felt like it was spinning, I was reeling from his words so I looked away.

He thought I was beautiful. Why had he even noticed me? I was nothing to him, just a stupid girl who had got too close to a fire, and he had singled me out from everyone else here.

I felt drawn to him in an indescribable way. It wasn't like this morning with Morgan. Morgan was gorgeous and I felt physically drawn to him like no one I had ever known. Like a love I had never had.

But with Aiden I felt like I belonged. Like we were part of something greater. We shared a bond that no one else could ever hope to understand. As if a thread was joined to us both and nothing could cut it. It wasn't physical, it was much more.

I was so confused now. This new sensation was unexpected. I had to be cautious, and I tried to concentrate on what was happening.

From the dais the man was now chanting in a newer language, and I heard two words that I recognised. A chill shivered down my spine.

"Hago un llamado a ustedes, grandes seres poderosos del cielo Saca de su elegido, Halika Dacome