Blood Floweret

« Chapter Twenty-Two »

She gently knocked on the door of Darren's office. 

Lightly, she was rubbing the sore muscles in her thighs. Her spar with Eli had gotten pretty intense when she got determined to beat him. He rather enjoyed picking on her, especially kicking her feet out from beneath her, and she needed to get him back. One day, she told herself, but for now, she had to nurse her body. A hot bath later would do. 

"Come in!" Darren's voice answered from inside. 

She opened the door, "Hi." 

Darren looked over his computer, "Hey, Valencia, what's up?" 

"You can call me Val," She smiled and took a seat in front of his desk, noting the papers strewn across its surface in a messy manner, "I just wanted to talk." 

"Okay, what about?" Darren's tone was calm and soothing as he gave her his undivided attention. She could definitely see why he was the best healer in the pack, he had the capability to calm anyone from hysteria and bring out the truth from carefully guarded hearts. Especially his alluring presence. She trusted him, from the moment he brought her down from her panic attack.

She took a deep breath, "Okay, so this might sound silly, but hear me out," She paused, watching his expression, and he nodded, so she continued, "I was born with white marks in my skin. They look like lace, delicate and smooth. Nobody could explain what they are or what they mean, and everyone just called me a cursed child, so I don't know anything about them," She recalled what had happened with her mate, "But when Cassius touched them, something happened. They hurt. They've never hurt or done anything in the past. So, I'm a little concerned and I was wondering if you know anything about it?" 

Darren was watching her thoughtfully, "White marks, you say?" 

She nodded. 

"May I see them?" 

She nodded once more and pulled the collar of her shirt down, exposing the marks, "I call it the mark of the moon. I don't know, it's a silly name I thought of because they are white." She explained. 

Darren's eyebrows were furrowed as he leaned forward on his desk, "I'll be honest, Val, I've never seen anything like that. Mind if I get a closer look?" 

"Got right ahead," She stayed seated as he walked around to her side, "Anything you can tell me would help." 

Darren was silent but she felt his eyes roaming her skin that held the mark. Only this time, her skin wasn't burning. In the presence of someone she trusted, someone who only meant good, she wasn't afraid of him turning against her. She knew he never judged, he only ever tried to understand and help with his knowledge as a healer. 

Suddenly, she felt his fingertips gently graze her skin and she sucked in a harsh breath, expecting hot pain to flare up...but nothing happened. She exhaled, wide-eyed, and blurted, "They don't hurt." 

"No?" Darren asked, fingers moving over her skin once more, "How odd." 

"They hurt when Cassius touched them," She said, "It felt like something was living beneath my skin." 

Darren moved back, frowning even more, "That is very weird." 

"So do you know anything about it?" 

He leaned back against his desk, eyes thoughtful, "I wish I could offer something, Val, but I've never seen anything like this in my lifetime. I could do some research and try to turn something up but that's all I've got to offer right now." 

She slouched into the chair, chest deflating, "I wish someone knew something. It's not every day a child is born with a mark like this. It has to mean something."