Broken Beginnings

Chapter three

Chapter three- The Wound

After awhile, Xavier tended to the fire as it began to die. I had still not see Ashered and brought it upon myself to go upstairs and try to find him.

I wrapped my coat tightly around me, the air seeping through the house, it was as if there were no walls at all.

I shivered and walked up the creaky steps.

What I found had me halting in my steps.

Ashered was standing on the edge of the roof in my bedroom.

My heart beat quickened and I slowly edged toward him. "Ashered?" I asked softly, my voice shaking.
He looked at me, his shirt was gone, showcasing the wounds of his missing wings.

I fought the urge to look away at the gory ness. It was caked in dried blood and scabbed over. It hadn't been properly cleaned.

His eyes were glazed and all of the pain that I wondered where it went, shone right at me.

"I thought maybe I could see if I could still fly." He said this softly, a man who knew he sounded foolish.

The coat fell off my shoulders as I reached for his hand.
I held it as he let it hang in my grasp. He didn't look at me. "I've failed you, Hope. I couldn't keep you safe. I lost what made me a leader."

I knew he meant his wings.
His hand slid out of mine and he inches closer to the edge.
I gasped at him and climbed on the ledge without a second thought. "No!" I exclaimed.

He still didn't look at me and I stepped onto the icy roof, my socks sliding against it. I let out a yelp as I rushed toward the edge.

Ashered caught me by the waist, grasping onto the side of the house. "Creator above, you could die." He snapped.

I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Don't jump because then you will die." I snapped back.

Ashered looked at me confused before seeing the earth and quickly pulling us both inside.

He pulled my coat back around me and scrambled around the house, pulling out drawers, turning over tables, a full rampage.
"Ash, what's going on?" I asked trying to keep from whimpering.
He threw his hand up producing a small black satchel before using his power and turning it to ash.

"I heard rumors that Melvin and Frost recruited witches and this is proof." Ashered scoffed letting the dust fall between his fingers.
I looked to he door and found we had an audience. In the midst of the ruckus everyone came upstairs.
Ashered slammed his fist against the wall, enraged. "They slipped a spell that uses your darkest fear to destroy you."  Claire said ominously as Xavier covered the window back up.

Gale pressed a finger to her neck and sucked in a breath.
Alaric pulled her closer instinctively. "I think I was targeted too." She whispered.
We all looked at her and she reddened. "I had... thoughts that were not.. right." She stuttered.

"Someone should stay on watch during the night." I declared. "I'll take first watch."
The looks given to me were incredulous. "You're pregnant." Ashered said sternly to which Alaric offered in my place. "I won't sleep much anyways." He said looking at Gale.

I ran a hand through my hair nodded. "Okay we will meet you downstairs in a moment." I sighed.

When everyone left I looked at Ashered. "Let me clean your wound and my dad should have an extra shirt-."

"No." Ashered cut me off curtly.

I pursed my lips at him, annoyed. "Why won't you let me help you?" I snapped.

Ashereds eyes blazed and he gestured to the window. "I nearly killed you."

I took in a deep breath closing my eyes. I walked toward him, ignoring that he tensed. "It wasn't you."
My soulmate looked at me in pain. "You slipped."

"You caught me." I countered.
Ashered placed his cool hand on my cheek. "I don't want to hurt you."

I placed my hand over his. "I know."
He placed his head in the crook of my neck and held me impossibly tight. I did the same taking in his scent. "I'm right here and you are too." I said gently. I tried to calm my own racing heart and I pulled slightly away as I felt him shake. I ran my hand over his cheek. "My love, you are a leader no matter what." I declared.
Ashered nodded. "Thank you, Hope. I- was just so fearful that I could lose you or hurt you."

I smiled softly. "I know that's not all. I know this hurts." I placed my hand on his back gently, out of reach of his wound.
He closed his eyes for a moment. "We will heal together." I cooed.
I sniffed as tears began to exit my eyes. We were both hurting.

We grasped the back of each other's heads and leaned our foreheads together. "Together." Ashered said, placing a kiss atop my forehead.

A half hour later, Ashered laid down on the makeshift mat we shared. His eyes were closed and I saw that Gale was awake.

I slowly climbed over Ashered and sat beside her. Alaric was at the front door, a dutiful guard.

"Hi." I said quietly.

Gale gave me a timid smile in response. "You're angry." I stated.

Gale said nothing.

I puffed out air awkwardly.
The minutes ticked by and I watched the hands move.

"I'm not angry at you." I barely recognized her voice after so long of not hearing it. I stayed silent waiting for her to continue.
"I'm angry at Frost. I was pregnant too, with twins. I didn't know and one survived." I looked at her stomach, now noticing the slightest change.
My eyes widened and I bit my lip to keep from interrupting her.
"Alaric marked me that night. I love him and as it is the werewolf culture I let him mark me when I came too. I was on the verge of death and I didn't have a choice.  I wanted it but it felt forced and I hate Frost for that and I hate that he killed one of my babies. So no I'm not angry at you. I missed you though and I'm glad your here."

Gale was in tears by the time she finished. I lunged at her, pulling her into a deathly tight hug. I sobbed with her, for the baby and the pain, out of rage and happiness. "I swear I will find a way to get him." I snapped. My mind whispered softly- 'for my mother.'
Gale laughed dryly. "We will." She growled and I agreed.

As the night aged, Gale and I wiped our tears and spoke of old times. When she finally fell asleep. I crawled back over to Ashered and planted a kiss on his forehead, running my hands over his head and I wrapped my arms around him, a sense of protectiveness filling me.