Awakening Hope (Book 2 of the Bloodmoon Academy Series)

Chapter 1: Belle

I tried to open my eyes but was greeted by a harsh white light causing me to squeeze them back shut with a small groan. I felt like I had lost a fight with a semi truck. I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder and turned my head away from the light towards the person. 

Opening my eyes once more I stared up into deep sapphire eyes and smiled taking him in. He looked far more rough than I remembered at the end of the maze, but I guess it probably took a toll on him with everything that had just happened. He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his normally bright eyes and a shadow of dark stubble across his sharp jaw.

"Hey babe, how do you feel?" He asked as I blinked a few times trying to get my eyes to focus on the room. Finally, when I was able to fully see through the glare of the fluorescent lights I noticed I was in what looked like a hospital room. Izzy, Ryder, Ben and Bree were all in the room as well looking up at me and they all looked rather exhausted as well.

"I feel like I lost a jousting match with a semi truck," I managed to get out but my voice was rough and raspy. Jake reached out beside him to the table and took a cup from it before bringing it to my lips telling me to take a drink. I happily took a few good drinks reveling in the feeling of the cool water soothing my scratchy throat. Izzy smiled at me before having Ryder bring her over in a wheelchair as Bree and Ben came in closer behind Jake.

"Don't you ever scare us like that again. We all thought we were going to lose you Belle." Izzy said and I saw a tear stream down her face. 

I was seriously confused, what did she mean? We just got back from the last game and I wasn't even hurt bad I just had the map. She was far worse off than me. "What do you mean? We just got out of The Maze." I said looking up at her and she frowned. 

Jake answered, giving me a sympathetic look, "you've been out for almost two weeks now Belle. The map had a type of black magic attached to it and when we were transported back to the manor it took effect poisoning you." I felt my eyes go wide at that... I've been out for almost two weeks?

"You actually died once and they had to resuscitate you then you almost died again before it was all over and they could finally treat you. You still have a bit of the poison running through you, it will take a little while to dissipate completely, but you're awake and that is more than we thought we would have for a while," Izzy said and Jake moved his hand cupping my cheek and running his thumb across it. I looked into Jake's eyes seeing the pain mixed with pure relief in them before trying to sit up. I wanted to be closer to him. I wanted him to see I was really okay because it hurt too much to see him hurting like that.

I was extremely weak, I was barely able to bring my hand up to cup his and when I tried to sit up my muscles shook with the attempt and I barely got a few inches up. Jake placed his arm behind my back helping me before he moved to where he was sitting on the edge of the bed with me and I was more than happy to lean into him. Laying my head on his shoulder I wrapped my arms around his waist and I could feel the breath of relief he let out.

"I'm okay now I promise," I whispered to him. I knew he needed to hear that and I really was. Other than being weak I wasn't in too much pain it was more just a dull ache now across my whole body but it was mostly just annoying rather than really painful now compared to when I had just woken up. Being this close to him helped too making it mostly go away. I slowly brought my hand up cupping his jaw before leaning in and pressing my lips to his in a slow lingering kiss fully reinforcing that I was really okay.

"You two make this look like a freaking hallmark movie its ridiculous you're not allowed to be this cute it's unfair to the rest of us normal people here." Izzy said with a giggle and my sass came back full force as I flipped her off, but she laughed at me.