Bridging Destinies

Chapter 61: Threads of Restoration

It was an immense relief mingled with joy to see my son again, despite the circumstances that led him here. As his energy grew nearer to my location I became happy at the idea of seeing him again and my worries somewhat faded, ensconced in a thin cushion of delight. Before Jungkook had come into the room to inform us of their arrival, I had already known my people were here, and I had known my son's displeasure. I was already aware of it, to some extent, but it became poignant the closer he came. I had informed Namjoon they were here just as Jungkook had arrived at the door.

When Jaron finally came into the room, his faint smile and the emotions and thoughts that came from him, confirmed to me his love, his worry and some of his anger. He blamed Namjoon for my wounds and was not happy with the man. I knew that it was Namjoon's fear and desire to protect me that had caused him to interfere during the knife fight. He had meant well, but his lesser knowledge of fighting had hindered my own effectiveness. Jaron knew this and was not happy with him. His patience was thin, and though he understood it, he did not condone it.

I knew this was the cause of Jaron's earlier rudeness, which I was well aware of, despite not having directly witnessed it, and had gently reprimanded him for it, to which he had stubbornly pursed his lips and disagreed with me. 'My stubborn child.' I had thought fondly and being that he was as gifted as any of our kind, Jaron had picked up on my thought, lowered his head in mild supplication, then stood to speak with Daniel so that the room would be cleared. As Daniel had informed the group they would need to leave, I had watched an apparently defeated Namjoon leave, his friends in his wake. I wanted to reassure him, but I had already done as much as I could, and I was weary.

Jaron leaned down, folding my shirt up around my breasts and meticulously removed the bandages from the slashes at my side and front. He examined them, then lightly set his palm against my stomach, losing focus in his eyes as he sensed the metallic poisoning of my blood. As he did this, Daniel maneuvered to stand in front of the door, then locked it and walked to the other side of the bed, waiting for Jaron to finish examining the damage in detail.

The two males stood at the end of the examination, in tandem, facing away from me, at each side of the bed and raised their arms, calling in the Light. As their hands seemed to grasp it, the filaments of Light gathered at their fingers, cupping into their palms, then interlaced into a scant shield that covered the walls, floor and ceiling of the room. As the Light set into its fabric, the shield they wove coalesced into a thick barrier, settling as both a conduit and a protection.

Once this shield was in place, with the intention that it would not fade or falter, both males turned their attention to me, drawing in more Light than previously. The intensity of the Light increased and with it all details in the room grew more acute, so that my senses became honed to an unfathomable sharpness. I could scent each individual molecule on the air and surfaces of the room, my skin could feel every draft of warmth or coolness as if keenly hungry to be caressed by its temperature, my vision could see every detail down to the smallest tear or scratch, and my hearing was attuned to the smallest expedition of insects hiding in the crevices of the room. The potency of emotions increased as well, and I felt my eyes tearing up and spilling over. As I wept silently, they continued their work to gather the Light and send it into my body.

Daniel acted as a buttress to Jaron's work, feeding him Light as he channeled it. Jaron caught the Light and used it to build upon his own, sending it into the lacerations. As he did so, his mind worked intricately with the cells around the wounds to suffuse them with Light and his intention, slowly weaving the muscles and skin back together, healing the deep scratches on my liver and sealing both injuries so well that only a redness remained around where the stitches lay supine, almost embedded in my skin, but beginning to slough off of it like so many tiny, soft fibrous worms. Being made of natural materials, the stitches would eventually absorb into my body and would not need to be removed.

I was not aware of how long the session took, as I became lost to the work, my essence wafting into the Light as if I was swimming in it, but I knew that the mental work would tax my son's mind and he would need to rest afterwards. I also knew it would take more work at a later time to completely clear the poison from my body, though the Light was already working its gift upon my blood, as well as my flesh.

I had closed my eyes during the effusion of Light and prolonged the effect of temporary closure in the aftermath of it, my vision so awash in Light, that I could see, but only faintly, as the Light temporarily drowned out any image I might envision. I felt movement and heard the soft swish of cloth, the softness of it kissing my eyelids and cheeks and gently progressing into the curve of my neck as Daniel wiped the tears from my skin. I opened my eyes and smiled sleepily in his direction, thanking him with a soft word in our language. I could faintly see his smile and nod, as my vision began to clear, and he used the same cloth to wipe his own face, which had tears lingering along his cheeks.

Daniel tossed the cloth to the bedside table, as Jaron sat on the bed near me taking my hand, effectively arresting my attention from Daniel to him. His expression spoke to his exhaustion, his own face wetly salted. Jaron wiped his face clean with one hand as he continued to hold mine with the other. He briefly turned from me, gazing at the other male with a nod of acknowledgement as Daniel left the room, then returned his attention to me. He spoke into my mind with a soft touch, proposing, 'You should rest mother. When Mahr'sine returns, and I have also rested, we will work upon your blood as well.'

I agreed with him but tugged at my son's hand, "Rest with me, then." I encouraged speaking out loud in our native tongue. Jaron glanced at the closed door and acquiesced without a fight then followed my movements, settling into the bed with me. He pulled the covers over both of us and cuddled against me as if he was once again a child.

While we rarely slept, we could become tired. Mental and emotional exhaustion were just as palpable to us as to any other being made of flesh. I knew my son needed the rest as much as I did and was grateful that he had followed my suggestion. I smiled gently as he wrapped his arms around me and loosely followed his example. I allowed my mind to drift into the moment, knowing that Daniel had gone to speak with the others in the house and succumbed to the rest I needed. Jaron breathed softly beside me, descending into his own repose. In this moment, peace was all we needed as we yielded to its gentle sway.