Chapter 25: Deniel’s magic is repelled
(POV: Deniel) With gentle movements I begin to clean her wounds with a damp cloth. Each touch of her delicate body fills me with a mixture of sadness and fear. I know that I have made mistakes, that I have put her in danger, but now I must do everything possible to save her. From the jars, I take some medicinal herbs and begin to prepare an ointment for her wounds. My hands tremble a little, but I concentrate on each step of the process. I mix the ingredients with precision, ensuring that the ointment has healing and analgesic properties. Carefully, I apply the ointment to Lina’s wounds. I way her body tremble slightly in response to the sensation, but she remains unconscious. After tending to her external wounds, I concentrate on her internal ones. With magical powers, I begin to channel healing energy into Lina’s body. I wrap her in a soft, warm aura, concentrating on healing each damaged cell and relieving her pain. After a few minutes, my magic is repelled. I try again, but her body rejects it. Perhaps it must be the babies in her womb. “Damn it!” I shout in frustration and knock everything off the table onto the floor. I watch as all the glass vases shatter and scatter into countless shards on the ground. I take steps back and lean against the wall.
“How?” I ask myself. I slide down the wall and sit on the floor. “Why did you have to be pregnant with that filthy wolf, Lina?” I question, even though I know no one will answer me. “Why, Lina? Tell me why…” I shouldn’t feel this way; it’s absurd, but… I sense betrayed. Even though I never had any kind of relationship with Lina. I know they’ve completed the bond, but I didn’t expect her to get pregnant…
Not that I didn’t expect it; in the tests I conducted on her, there were no indications of pregnancy. I repeatedly hit my head and mutter to myself about how ridiculous I am. “Fool! Fool! Fool! How could I be such an idiot?” I curse as I hit my forehead. I thought I would gain two things from this war. First: the destruction of half the filthy werewolf race, and second: I would have Lina for myself.
For all these years, I never had any interest in any woman. Not even Scarlett, who had been by my side for many years, always helping me with everything. But my heart didn’t flutter. I thought I would never desire another woman, but Lina captivated me… Damn it! How much of a fool am I! Today, I shed something I thought I would never let spill again: tears. I had even forgotten the pain carried by a tear. I sense my hard and cold heart ache. I almost killed Lina today with my thirst for revenge for what those wretched wolves did to me in the past. Curse it! I spent so many years preparing for this day, and for such a trivial reason, I way regret. Lina is lying unconscious on that bed… Lina, I promise that if you wake up, I will give up this revenge and set you free. I get up from the floor and go to the bed where Lina is lying, I kiss her forehead, and leave the laboratory. I need to prepare myself. (POV: Sophie) I’ve made my decision! I will help Nicholas. This part of the forest where we are is where Deniel collects medicinal herbs. I’ve been here several times, helping him with the collection.
With extreme care, I place Nicholas on the ground near the root of a tree. I take a few seconds to catch my breath; Nicholas is quite heavy.
I look around, searching for the herbs with the most potent healing properties. I’m not a doctor, but I’ve learned a few things from Deniel. After searching for long minutes, I manage to find the herb Deniel uses to treat children. The herb is a small flower with delicate blue petals and hidden thorns beneath its leaves. These thorns have a potent venom capable of killing a person in only a few seconds. With great care, I manage to pluck the leaves from the flower without touching the thorns. I place them carefully in my hand; there are five leaves in total. I make my way back to where Nicholas is. I sit beside Nicholas and gentle place two leaves on his forehead and one on his neck. While the others go on his abdomen. A few seconds pass, and Nicholas starts groaning in pain. Within a few minutes, his torn skin heals, leaving no trace of a scar. This feat is due to his powerful self-healing ability combined with the power of the petals. I breathe a sigh of relief; at least his physical wounds are being saved. I look around and see that it’s already getting dark. Lina, are you okay? I mentally question. I’m so worried, but soon I’ll see you; I only need to make sure your beloved is healing. I snap out of my thoughts as I hear Nicholas groaning. I look at him, writhing on the ground; the internal healing process has already begun. “Stay strong, Nicholas!” I think to myself as I observe him. After seeing all his wounds disappear, I carefully remove the petals. Nicholas continues screaming in pain, probably because his before broken bones are now mending and returning to their rightful place. I can’t stay here; I have to go back. I’m sure he’ll be fine.
Taking one last glance, I turn and leave him alone with his healing process. I follow the trail until I reach Deniel’s castle. After what feels like an hour and a half of walking, I arrive at the castle grounds. I open the gate and enter. With cautious steps, I make my way to Lina’s room to see how she’s doing. As I open the door to her room, I’m startled by what I see. Deniel is lying in her bed, hugging Lina’s pillow. I swallow hard and try to close the door again without being seen. “Go keep Lina company; she’s in the laboratory,” he says in a hoarse voice. Damn it! He noticed me… Well, at least now I know where my friend is. “Yes, sir,” I reply. I close the door and make my way to the laboratory. As I enter the room, I see Lina thrashing about. I approach her with short, swift steps to see what’s happening. Her wounds are healing, and I sense more at ease, blessed with the werewolves’ healing power. I wish I could heal myself like that too. Lina is clean and wearing different clothes, with only her before ugly and open wounds remaining. Now her wounds are closing, healing, and soon disappearing, leaving no marks as a reminder on her body. Nicholas is also going through the same process. I hope she can find him again. I step back from the bed and observe from a distance as her body heals. After what feels like an hour with Lina in this state (writhing and her wounds closing), the process ends. She is completely still, as if nothing had happened only seconds ago. I approach the bed again, and as I look at her face, her eyes open so apace that I jump back in surprise. My heart is racing, not only from the shock but also from the joy of seeing Lina awake. She rubs her eyes with the back of her hands and lets out a long groan, as if she had been in a deep sleep for hours. After stretching, Lina sits up on the bed and looks at me. In her eyes, there’s a mixture of confusion and exhaustion. “How do you feel, Lina?” I ask, concerned.
(POV: Lina) I open my eyes and see a figure passing apace above me. I don’t care; maybe it’s because I think I’ve been sleeping for a long time. I way my body fine, but I sense so tired, as if I fought in a war and nearly died. I stretch in bed, feeling my bones crack as they extend. When I gather the courage, I sit up in bed, but as I look ahead, I come face to face with a girl with light brown hair staring at me. “How do you feel, Lina?” she asks. Is she talking to me? We gaze at each other for a few seconds. Yeah, she’s talking to me. So, my name is Lina? She looks familiar, but I can’t remember where I know her from. “Who are you?” I inquire. I notice her face losing some color, becoming even paler than it already is. “Don’t you remember me?” she asks with a trembling voice and wide eyes. “We’ve met before?” I ask, feeling confused. Why can’t I remember her? She seems saddened by my lack of recollection. “Do you remember anything?” she asks. I search my mind, but I find nothing. “No!” I reply, feeling desperation take hold of me. “Where am I? Who are you, and why do you refer to me as Lina?”