The Unified Soul

Aphmau In Pain

The night passed quickly, but for Aphmau, her pain only just began. From the moment that Aaron's fangs touched her skin, the transformation from human to werewolf began and the pain ravaged her body as it changed.

Airis couldn't bare to watch her mother in so much pain, but it was her choice and Airis had to support Aphmau in every way she could.

Aphmau lay in bed writhing in pain but was too overcome with it to move even a muscle. Her bones, her muscles, every part of her hurt if she even moved a centimeter. Airis was even too scared to lie in bed with her mother in case she caused her even more pain.

Aaron just stood at the end of the bed watching with Airis by his side.

"Aph....?" He asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm... doing okay..." Aphmau groaned out.

"Better than when it started or..."

"What do you think?!" Aphmau shouted through her pain-grit teeth.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"I'm hungry."

"I'll get food!" Aaron rushed down the stairs to get food while Airis clenched her fists a her helplessness. She wanted to help her mother, but using her magic now to help take away the pain would be suspicious. It was easier with Aaron because he was almost always unconscious, but with Aphmau.... Airis couldn't take the chance.

And she didn't want to explain that side of her power just yet, and if she could help it, at all.

Aaron came back just as quickly as he left with something to eat.

"I can't eat!" Aphmau shouted, "I'm in so much pain!"

"I'm sorry!"

"No.... I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry, Mama." Airis said softly, "I can't imagine what this feels like."

"It feels like... my whole body is on fire." Aphmau described, "My bones feel like they're breaking and my heart is racing.... I'm hot and cold... and I feel like I wanna die."

"You might wanna try and sleep." Aaron suggested.

"HOW?!"

Aaron looked around and grabbed his phone, "I, uh, don't have my guitar here. But I have the next best thing." He unlocked his phone and played a recording of a soft melody he played on his guitar.

"T... This song..." Aphmau whispered and seemed to calm down a little.

"I recorded this while we were apart." Aaron explained, "I was gonna send it to you, but.... I couldn't. It didn't sound the way I wanted it to." 

"Papa... Look.." Airis said and pointed to her mother, who was barely able to fall asleep thanks to the music.

"She's already asleep." Aaron sighed in relief, "At least she's okay. She's been dealing with this for hours and her emotions are everywhere."

"If she can just sleep through this, then maybe I can--" Airis didn't get to finish as Aphmau sprang up from her sleep in even more pain, but then quickly fell back to sleep as Aaron and Airis came down from their frightened heart attacks.

"Hey, Papa... why don't you make Mama some tea. I'll start using my magic to help with the pain." Airis suggested.

"Are you sure, Airis? I don't want you overexerting yourself." Aaron said.

"I'll be fine, Papa. I'm a Mage. It's what we do. Besides.." The doorbell suddenly rang, "I think we have a guest."

"Was that the doorbell? Urgh! Not now!" Aaron groaned in frustration.