The Scarwoods

Chapter 7

Lavender

Eli placed his wrist over my mouth, letting his blood drip into mine. As the blood fell into my mouth, the taste, sweet, sticky, I wanted more. I grabbed his wrist hard, taking large gulps of his blood. The taste of his blood was all I craved, suddenly. It all went black.

Pain. Pain throughout my entire body. It felt as though I was being ripped apart on the inside. I couldn't move, see, smell. I was still, yet all I felt was complete pain in my body. I could feel every part of myself being ripped, and torn in all directions. I wanted to scream, and cry but nothing could come out. I felt frozen in the vicious cycle of pain.

How long would this pain last? My mind was racing, thoughts on top of thoughts. I was going crazy. I was dead. Slowly, the pain eased, slowly I could feel my toes, and my legs. Cold creeped through my body, I was cold.

"Eli.." I whispered. Eli is here right? He found me. I open my eyes, not knowing where to focus. I saw him, at my side. Why dis I care about Eli. Who was Eli. What happened to me?

"You're awake already?" He wiped tears from his face, as though he is trying to hide it. Why was he crying? Why wouldn't I be awake? Was I dying?

"Did I die?" He wiped a final tear off of his damp face, giving me a small, but weak smile.

"No, well, kind of, but no." I looked at him confused. He grabbed my hand and pulled it to his chest. "Do you feel my heartbeat?" I thought for a moment.

"No." He then placed his hand on my chest.

"Do you feel your own heartbeat?" I paused.

"Maybe?" Can I feel my heartbeat? Maybe slightly. There is something there. He looked at me confused, and ushered his hand towards my chest.

"May I?" I nodded and he leaned in and listened for a moment, before pulling away and looking me in the eyes.

"Amelia! Atticus!" Atticus...that's, his father? I think. "Just give me a moment Lavender. This isn't...this isn't normal." Of course I'm not normal. What part of this is normal?

"Atticus? That's your..." I waited for him to fill in the blanks. I didn't want to assume and find out it was his uncle or brother or some random person.

"Father. Atticus is my father. This was not how you were supposed to meet him, but, you're about to." He sat down beside me, as I saw a man, middle aged, with long dark curly hair, coming running into the room. Amelia just seconds behind him.

"Eli, honey. What's wrong?" Amelia's panicked eyes frantically looking between Eli and I. Circling back to me. "She's awake! Oh heavens! She's awake Atticus!" She pulled Atticus in for a hug. Relief overwhelming her body.

"Hello Lavender. I've heard much about you." Atticus came over, after breaking away from Amelia's tight embrace. His voice was deep, rough, and filled with experience. You could tell that Atticus held power. He walked over cautiously, outreaching his hand.

"Hello Atticus." Hesitantly, I accepted the firm handshake he had offered to me. He smiled.

"Please my dear, if you're comfortable, call me Father, Atticus is of course alright as well. All the children here, usually," he snuck a glance at Eli, "call me father. Even Eli, usually." Eli cocked a sly grin, running his hands through his hair.

"Umm, okay. Am I still allowed to stay here. I'm not sure what's going on." My voice broke slightly. "I've been here for, maybe a week, I've been awake, one of those days, and I've caused so many problems for you all. I'm really sorry." I looked down, a tear fell onto my cheek, my throat burning. Atticus sat on the bed beside me, carefully wiping the tear out off my face, and cupping my face in his hands. His face softened, with care, and concern.