Blackened Feathers

Raziel

Seren woke up wrapped in Omega’s arms. She blinked and winced; her head was pounding. The pressure was like nothing she’d felt before, and she whimpered. The powerful arms that held her tightened and she felt the comforting tingle of Omega’s magic wrapping itself gently around her.

“Welcome back,” he said with a small smile. She snuggled further into him and sighed. “How’s your head feeling?”

She chuckled and groaned.

"Not great,” she croaked out. The lights in the infirmary were bright and they did nothing at all to help her headache. “How long was I out for?”

“Two days,” Omega answered.

“What?!” she squeaked as she tried to sit up. “What happened?”

“You burnt yourself out, we think. Whatever that was that you did? Please don’t ever do it again,” he said with a lopsided grin.

“Did it work, though?”

He nodded yes, and she smiled.

“It was worth it then.”

Omega shook his head and looked like he was about to argue with her when the door to the small room opened. Secondo walked in, accompanied by a young witch. He looked the same as ever and he smiled when he saw she was awake, coming over and taking her hand to place a soft kiss on her knuckles.

“I must thank you mio caro. Although a simple thanks doesn’t seem like enough for what you and Copia did for us. Elen would have been so proud of you.”

Her eyes teared up at the mention of her mother, and Omega must have felt the sadness as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. Secondo reached out and squeezed her shoulder.

“Forgive me, this is Helena,” he gestured to the witch, who stood quietly at his side. She looked about twenty and she had black hair and dramatic eye make-up. Helena smiled at Seren and gave her a shy wave. “She has been a novice for a couple of years now and was going to start her intensive training at the Abbey in the winter, but with circumstances as they are, we brought her apprenticeship forwards. She is talented, and I am sure she will compliment you well.”

“Hi, lovely to meet you,” Seren said, but she winced again as a pain stabbed her in the temple. Secondo frowned and walked over to one of the cupboards on the wall that was filled with potions and medicines. He handed Seren a vial and told her to drink it.

“That should help. You expended a lot of energy, and whatever final push you gave it injured your brain, we think. The potion should make you sleep for a while and help with the healing. Would you be more comfortable recovering in your own rooms?”

She thanked him and nodded.

“I think so. If I’m only going to be sleeping, then I may as well do it in my bed.”

“I’ll take you and stay with you if you like?” Omega offered.

She smiled up at him and nodded. He extracted himself from her and stood up before bending down to pick her up. She always felt so small and delicate when he did that, and she petted his chest as he cradled her to him.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and he kissed her forehead.

As soon as the door to her apartment opened, the fragrant smell of flowers wafted to her nose. Omega chuckled as they entered and she looked around. The room was filled with vases of elaborate flower arrangements and plants.

“I think Terzo went a bit overboard with the flower shopping,” Omega said dryly.

“Wow. Maybe just a bit,” she said as she yawned. The potion was taking effect, and her eyes grew heavy. Omega helped her to the bathroom so that she could use it before she fell asleep again, and then he laid her down on her bed and tucked her in. She felt the mattress dip next to her as he climbed in with her, but then, as soon as she closed her eyes, sleep took her.