Conjured

Chapter 11 - Hospital Beds

Beep... Beep... Beep...

The monotonous noise of the machine has become something I'm very used to. I sit next to Blair's bed looking for any sign of movement in her. Her chest moves slightly as she breathes but that's it. I sigh and pull out a book. Not in the mood for training today I'm spending time with Blair. The book recommended by Emily is not my usual taste. An Australian classic, My Brilliant Career. I decide to go with it for Emily's sake and surprisingly I become quickly immersed in the outback story.

As I sit there with my nose buried in the book filled with beautiful descriptions of Australian countryside, I hear a door open and close and a small gasp. Looking at the door I see someone that looks like a fifty year old version of Blair. Those blue eyes are unmistakeable, she must be Blair's aunt. She rushes to the bedside to look at Blair and her eyes are filled with sadness. "There hasn't been anything bad happen since the fight. We're just waiting for her to wake up" I say trying to make her feel better if I can. A sad smile forms on her face as she looks at me with those startling blue eyes.

"You must be Willa. I'm Blair's Aunt Elizabeth but you can call me Ellie" She says putting out her hand. I shake it with a smile. "Nice to meet you Ellie. Has Jacquie given you any updates?" I question. As Ellie is about to answer me Henry walks in.

"Willa leave Ellie with Blair. Emily managed to set up a meeting about you going home for Christmas but it's in 15 minutes so you need to be quick. Head straight to the meeting room and Emily will meet you there" He instructs. I sigh and nod my head. I really do want to go home for Christmas but i was just getting to chat to Blair's aunt. "It was nice to meet you Ellie. Sorry I have to go now" I say getting up. 

"Willa. Now." Henry says in a strict voice. His tone surprises me, Henry is never stern with me. I raise my eyebrows in question when i walk past him but he shakes his head so I walk out the door towards the meeting room. Out of the corner of my eye I see Henry put an arm around Ellie's shoulder and my heart drops. 

Blair. 

Tears fill my eyes as I walk towards the meeting room thinking only of the worst. Emily waiting outside smiles at me until she sees my face then her eyes fill with concern. "Willa what's wrong?" She murmurs as i get close. I hug her surprising both myself and Emily but she responds hugging me back. "Emily I think Blair's dying" I mumble against her shoulder. Emily pulls away from the hug in shock. "What?! Why would you say that Willa?" She says confusedly. "Henry was being really rude to me forcing me to leave Blair while her aunt was there and they both looked really upset. I know Henry's known Blair for a long time and it just clicked in my mind" I say quickly. 

Emily takes a deep breath before responding to me. "Willa we don't know that Blair is dying. It could just be that Henry has a lot on his mind at the moment. With his father going to prison and Blair in a coma he's in a pretty tough position at the moment. And of course Elizabeth will be upset her niece has been asleep in hospital for over a week" Emily reasons. I nod and try to calm down.

"I'm sorry Emily you're right. I just need to calm down before we go in there" I say sitting down in the hallway. "I'll go get you a glass of water and some tissues. Just wait here" She says speed walking down the hall. I sit there surrounded by my thoughts. I'm more upset about Blair than I thought I would be. It's strange how quickly you get attached to someone in a place like the camp. Blair was like an older sister in the way she mentored me and looked after me. All of a sudden I was facing the possibility I might not have her around anymore.

The meeting is quicker than I anticipated. The same woman who spoke at Henry's fathers trial is there and she seems happy for me to go home for Christmas. "We'll allow you a two week period at home Miss Starr from the 20th of December to the 3rd of January. Our most important rule is that you do not leave the country. If there's any emergencies it'll make it hard for us to help you if you run off to Bali" She laughs. 

"I don't have any plans of travel so that's fine" I smile.

"Is there anything else Lady Follows?" Emily asks sensing something I haven't. 

Lady Follows clears her throat before looking seriously at me. 

"Miss Starr your level of ability is not something we have witnessed in a very long time. The last sorceress was seen walking into battle in 1918 and never returned. Unfortunately since she disappeared many of our problems have grown. The slow war against the Hunters has made a turn in their favour. Conjurers have been going missing across Europe and every sign is pointing towards a growing Hunter population. Although you're still learning how to handle yourself we believe you could help us defeat the Hunters for good Willa. I'm asking on behalf of the Elders of Australasia if after Christmas, you would be willing to help this cause?" She tells. 

All I can do is laugh bitterly at this. 

"Willa?" Emily asks raising her eyebrows.

"Lord Massarotti wasn't wrong" I shrug.

"If it was up to Giuseppe Massarotti you would be shipped to Europe with no choice in the matter Miss Starr. We are giving you the option to say yes or no. You don't need to answer right now. We're happy to wait till after you've spent time at home with your family to decide. However when you return, if Ms Grey is back to a state of good health she will train you for the Hunters and after two weeks we will send a team of you to England. That is where the most Conjurers have gone missing." Lady Follows explains.

"I'll think about it" I answer with a poker face. 

That is enough for Lady Fellows who shakes my hand and tells Emily and I to get back to it.

I rush back to Blair's room to see if Ellie is still there but walk in to see no one. Ellie and Henry have left.

Blair is gone.