Author's note: Welcome back, my darling readers! Okay, so the previous chapter I tried something different - hopefully it went well - and this time around we are going to delve into something much needed! Continue reading to find out more ;)

I don't own Hansel and Gretel.

Chapter 47

Honesty

Before I could reply to Aliana, Gretel walked into the room. My eyes moved from my aunt to my fellow witch hunter and Aliana seemed to disappear in that same moment. My gaze returned to the spot on the bed where she had been sitting and I felt momentary confusion, but it was short lived because full attention was given to Gretel. She sat down in the chair that I often found Hansel sitting in and leaned forward.

"How are you feeling?" she asked me. I attempted to swallow before giving her my response.

"Pretty drained." she nodded once I'd given her my reply and looked down at her hands. Something told me that she could relate to how I was feeling. "What about you?" she looked up at me with a look of surprise. I couldn't really blame her for that reaction. I don't think I've ever really offered any sort of reciprocation in regards to this type of thing. She recovered quickly from her surprise and sat back with a sigh.

"I don't really know how I'm feeling." she said. Perhaps she felt too overwhelmed with different emotions to really place a predominant feeling.

"Do you…" I paused, knowing that more surprise was in order, "do you want to talk about it?" her eyes searched my face and eventually she leaned forward again, resting her forearms on her thighs.

"Hansel and I have been through a lot, but we've never stopped moving. We take every challenge, every witch, as they come… but this whole thing with Keira is different. A witch didn't do that to her, to you. That was something else; something difficult to take as it comes." that's definitely something I could empathize with. William is a different kind of enemy and we all know it. I looked up at the ceiling, while something came to mind.

"When I was with Aliana, something we happened to speak about was my death and my miraculous revival. She made a joke about vampires." my gaze turned to Gretel. "I think that's what William is."

"A vampire?" she repeated, looking at me with quizzical eyebrows. "I've heard a few stories about them. They have a weakness for garlic, wood and sunlight. Their skin is pale and their bodies are cold because they are not really alive. William does not fit any of those descriptions."

"I understand that, but think about the similarities. He drained Keira of her blood, moves faster than the eye can see and is stronger than any living creature." I sighed, looking up at the ceiling again. "There is so much that people don't know about witches and there are so many rumours and made up stories about them. Maybe it's the same with vampires."

"The biggest difference between witches and vampires is that there are very few people who actually believe in vampires. They're classified as a myth." she stated. She and I were both silent for a while before she spoke again. "Although I suppose it wouldn't be the strangest thing, considering everything we've seen so far."

"Have you ever come across anyone that has spoken about experiences with vampires?" I asked.

"Not really." she replied with a frown. "Though we've been looking for everything witch-related up until now, so it's highly possible that we could've missed something." I nodded, acknowledging the truth behind that. I actually felt like such an idiot because I have always been so focused on hunting witches that I never even considered the possibility of a different threat. Dealing with William really opened my eyes to how naive I've been. I'd been berating Ben for being so ignorant and unobservant, holding myself above everyone else, when I was no better.

"Gretel," I started, feeling nervous and guilty. "I owe you an apology." she remained silent, allowing me to continue with my apology. I wasn't entirely sure how to go about with this kind of thing, but I knew that it was necessary. "You and the others have actually done so much for me and I haven't shown an ounce of gratitude. I have barely shown kindness. I have been conceited and I've begun to really realize that…" my voice was a faint whisper, influenced by the pain in my throat and the emotions that I felt. "When I died, I saw my parents. I spoke to them. They urged me to stop taking you guys for granted, but I barely listened.

"Meeting you and Hansel has changed my life and I've been so consumed by myself, my pain and my hatred, that I didn't even see it. I have no excuse for the way that I have been treating all of you. I just want you to know that I'm truly sorry." she sat back and looked at me with her head slightly tilted.

"You're right." she said. "You have no excuse for treating us the way you have." she paused, straightening her head. "I understand it, though. Hansel and I were a lot like at a stage. We became so bitter, thinking our parents abandoned us. We became so consumed with it all that we almost lost each other in the process. That's why we promised to leave it behind us, to never speak of our parents again." I wonder how they felt after finding out why their father took them away from home, after finding out that they were killed.

"I know that you've been alone for most of it and that you've only had yourself to rely on," she continued. "But that's not the way it has to be anymore. You have me, Ben and Edward. You have Hansel." I could tell by the way she singled him out like that she knew about us. "Rose, family looks out for each other, no matter what."

"You… consider me as family?" I asked softly. She gave me a gentle smile.

"You're stuck with us, I'm afraid." she said, and I felt a smile spread across my lips.

"I have no problem with that."

Author's note: I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I will be back soon with the next one :D