The Silk Of The Predator (Book #1 In Series)

Elias

Ally was dying.

As I held her in my arms, I knew it. There was nothing I could do to stop it. I had no idea what was wrong with her, nor did Charlotte. I hated this, feeling utterly and completely useless as the love of my life lay dying in my arms. Tears fell unchecked down my face, and it felt like my heart was cracking in two. I buried my face in her hair, trying to soak up as much of this as I could, trying to enjoy the little time we had left. I felt it went she lost consciousness, and felt a little relieved since I knew that she wasn't feeling the pain anymore. "Te amo con todo mi corazón y mi alma (I love you with all my heart and soul), Ally" I whispered.

"Elias, I have to get her to the infirmary, that's where all my herbs and healing spells are," Charlotte told me. I reluctantly released Ally to Charlotte. The second she was out of my arms, I felt empty. I sagged back against the couch and buried my face in my hands. I wanted to scream, to break things, to get mad, but I didn't have the energy, the will. I let the tears fall. "Elias?" Vik asked uncertain. I looked up at her and saw her kneeling over, and I realized what she wanted. I opened up my arms and she fell into them, and started sobbing. I wrapped her up tight and cried on her shoulder as she sobbed into mine. "She's not going to die, right? She's strong," Vik murmured into my shirt. "The strongest person I've ever known," I told her. She nodded, "She's going to be okay, she has to be,". "Yeah," I said.

Vik lay sleeping in my arms. She had fallen asleep shortly after the tears dried up. Zach had offered to take her and put her in her bed, but I didn't mind. Everyone else had cleared out of the room, Gray to his room with the book, Matt to the infirmary, Zach to his and Vik's room, Linda and Clark to their room, and one of Matt's people was sent down to check on Wade. Matt came in every now and again to give me little reports. The last time he came in, he said it was looking hopeful. Whatever that meant. All I knew was that it made some of the dull aching pain in chest ease a bit.

After awhile, Vik woke up with a start. She was breathing hard and was covered in sweat. I let my arms fall so she could sit up, then put my hands on her arms. "Hey, hey! Vik, what's wrong?" I asked, concerned. She looked around in a panic-stricken way, then visually relaxed. "Vik?" I asked, studying her closely. She closed her eyes and leaned against me, "Sorry, I- uh had a bad dream,". "Seemed like it was more than just a bad dream," I told her, wrapping my arms around. "Want to tell me about it?" I asked softly. She shook her head. She still seemed pretty shaken so I decided to drop it for now. "Well, you can sleep now. I'll fight off any bad dreams that come to mess with you," I told her. She sank even more against me, and buried her face into my shirt. "Thanks, Biased Elias,". "Of course, Icky Vikky," I said. I would usually smile at this, but I couldn't find it in me. "Just sleep," I told her in a gentle voice. And she did, falling asleep nearly as fast as she had woken up.

"Elias," a voice whispered. I opened my eyes and waited a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. First thing that I perceived was the Vik still laid in my arms, second was that Matt was kneeling next to me. He had been the one that had said my name, waking me up. "What's wrong?" I asked quietly, wanting to sit up but not wanting to disturb Vik. Matt held up a finger to his lips, then lifted Vik up from my arms. He laid her out on the couch, then motioned for me to follow him. I did, pausing to stretch, I had been sitting on the floor for a good half of the day and most of the night. We walked quickly down the hall, and to the infirmary. Charlotte was bent over Ally, who was looking more like herself. The color had returned to her cheeks and her lips. She no longer looked as if she were dying. I rushed over, but Charlotte held up a hand to stop me. With her other hand she was sprinkling something over Ally, and she was murmuring words in another language. When she was done she looked over at me. "I really shouldn't be doing this. A full moon's for doing white magic and no moon is for doing black. And there's no moon tonight," she told me. "What about a half moon or a crescent moon?" I asked curiously. "Well, that's something else altogether," she replied. Then she motioned to Ally, "She's stable, and should be waking up soon. Let me know if she starts hurting again,". I nodded, and she and Matt made to leave. "Wait," I said, and looked at Matt, "Can you take Vik up to her and Zach's room?". He nodded, "Of course," and left with Charlotte.