Silver Rain

Chapter 35

"Calvin, it's urgent." Felix insisted. He opened his mouth to continue as he glanced at Olivia but instead, all complete thoughts were thrown as he saw her pale body sprawled next to the toilet, eyes half opened. He quickly turned his phone on speaker and tossed it to the ground. "Fuck!"

If he didn't know any better, he'd say she looked half-inebriated.

"Livvy," he urged, he wanted to reach out to her. Find a pulse, hold her, scent her, anything. "C'mon,"

"Felix, what's happening?" From the other end of the line, Calvin's voice was more urgent and it sounded like he was trying to get out of bed.

Felix glanced at the phone, his heart pounding in his chest. "It's Olivia. She's passed out, eyes are half-open, unresponsive. I don't think she's breathing properly. The damn witches took those meds from her."

"Check her pulse, now!" Calvin's tone was commanding, snapping Felix out of his panic for a moment.

Felix growled in frustration and a sensation he hadn't felt in awhile filled his throat. "I can't! Every time I touch her she says it burns her."

Calvin's line event quote before he cursed. "Damnit, Felix! It's the bond,"

"I know," Felix ran a hand through his hair. He has known for a while but never admitted it and it terrified him. It terrified him to see Olivia this way and the risk of losing her.

"Felix, focus!" Calvin's voice cut through the chaos, urgent and demanding. "You need to find a way to stabilize her without physical contact. She's reacting to the bond, which means there's something deeply wrong. Her body is probably reacting to both the lack of medication and the bond's interference."

Felix's heart pounded harder as he tried to think clearly. "What do I do, then? I can't just leave her like this!"

"Listen, Felix," Calvin's voice was steady, an anchor in the storm. "You need to find a way to check her pulse and breathing. Use something to shield your touch. A cloth, anything."

Felix's eyes darted around the room, landing on a towel hanging by the sink. He grabbed it and wrapped it around his hand before gently pressing his fingers to Olivia's neck. He felt a faint, erratic pulse. He could even tell she was burning up through it too.

"It's there but it's faint." He sighed but it didn't ease the panic in his throat.

"I'm coming," A door shut from the receiver and it sounded as if he was running. "I need you to try to get as close to her heart as possible and listen to her breathing,"

Felix took a deep breath and carefully moved the towel to her chest, pressing his ear against it. Her breaths were uneven, each one a painful rasp that sent chills down his spine.

"Calvin, her breathing is bad. It's shallow and irregular. What do I do?" Felix's voice was tight with desperation.

"Stay with her, keep her airway clear," Calvin instructed, his own voice strained. A car started. "Tilt her head back gently, make sure she's getting some air. I'm heading there."

Felix did as Calvin said, tilting Olivia's head back slightly to open her airway. He could feel the heat radiating off her even through the towel. "Livvy, you need to hang on. Just a little longer."

Time seemed to stretch endlessly. Every shallow breath Olivia took felt like an eternity. Felix's mind raced, filled with worst-case scenarios and fear. He kept talking to her, his voice a constant murmur of reassurance and encouragement.

Stay with her, Erebus growled. She needs our contact.

It's not going to help her if it's burning her! Felix argued back.