Hope

Chapter twenty

Nicholas' POV.

“Kathryn!” I call after her. I'm surprised at the intensity of my concern towards her. The nagging guilt that is creeping it's way to my chest is devoured by worry- for now. I know it won't last long. Sooner or later the recognition that my mother killed her parents will eat away at my chest.

My thoughts are interrupted when I hear Marguerite's scream and my feet are already running towards the sound before I realize what I'm doing.

Kathryn lies on the floor, blood tickling down her nose. Everyone else- Melissa, Marguerite, Peter- is staring at her limp body, shock clear on their pale faces.

I push my feet forward and crouch beside her, taking her body into my arms. It is then I notice the smear of blood on the bottom stair.

I immediately rake my brain and I begin to bark orders. “Melissa, follow me upstairs with water, antiseptic and a cloth. Peter, call Magnolia. Marg, call the Healer.” I turn around to see their pale faces turned towards me, still as statues. “What are you waiting for? Go!” And they do.

I run up the stairs and throw open her door. I place her on the bed carefully, afraid that if I'm too rash- which I usually am- I'll make matters worse.

Melissa comes rushing in with the first aid kit and a bucket of water. I take it from her, dipping the cloth in the warm water. I carefully wipe the gaping wound on Kathryn's forehead and I realize how deep it is.

“She's going to need stitches,” I say.

Peter comes in followed by Magnolia and Jeff. I quickly step away, as far as possible from Jeff but as close as I can be to Kathryn.

“What happened?” Jeff demands, looking panicked.

“She fell, we think,” Melissa replies.

“She just fell and nearly cracked open her skull?” Jeff growls.

I suddenly become defensive. “She's careless, you of all people should know that. If you don't I'm really judging your parental skills.” I realize that I'm not just angry because he's being overprotective- which I shouldn't even be angry about- but also because my mom chose him over me.

Jeff stares at me, color rushing to his cheeks. He takes a deep breath, throws me one last look and turns his attention to Kathryn.

“What exactly happened, Nicholas?” Magnolia demands.

“She was shocked after I-” I stop. Does Jeff know that he was married to my mother?

“After you what? We don't have all day, Nicholas.”

“After I told her that Sophia is my mother.” Silence envelopes the room. Jeff freezes where he was, his hand on Kathryn's cheek. Melissa looks confused- I don't think she knows who Sophia is. Peter looks pale- he seems informed and that scares me a little. Marguerite, who just walked in- drops the phone she was holding. Magnolia looks indifferent- she knew.

“And what happened after that?” Magnolia says, frustrated. I see Jeff's lips moving, but I don't hear what he says. But I catch “She had a son?”

I turn my attention back to Magnolia. “She started acting weird, saying I should get away from her and... she looked terrified.” I whisper the last word. I notice that I feel hurt that Kathryn was afraid of me and that my blood is turning cold with worry- where the hell is that Healer?- and that there's another feeling in my chest that I can't decipher. “Marg, did you call the Healer?”

“No,” she says and I almost throw the chair behind me at her.

“Why not?” I say between clenched teeth.

“I ordered her not to,” Magnolia says.

“Why?” I'm growling now.

“I'm sure it's not that serious.” I grip the chair, aiming at another target.

“Not that serious?” It's Jeff's turn to growl now. “She has a gaping wound on her head!”

“Goodness!” Magnolia exclaims. “Brother, it has been a long day for you and we still have matters to discuss. I'll send someone to look at her but for now let us leave her to rest.”

“No,” Jeff and I say together. He looks annoyed. At Magnolia or at me, I don't know-probably both.

“Jeffery, I have no time for your stubbornness. Kathryn will be fine. Now please, follow me.” Her icy voice almost sends chills running down my spine. Jeff holds her gaze for a long moment before he gives one curt nod and follows her out the room. I loosen my grip on the chair.

I hear Melissa sigh. “Well, that was something,” she says.

“Yeah. Nick, are you coming?” Marguerite asks.

I shake my head. “No, I'm staying.”

An emotion passes through her face but she quickly composes herself before I decide whether or not I care enough to decipher it. “Oh,” she says and walks out, silently closing the door.

-

Magnolia decided to call the Healer after a couple of hours and Kathryn hasn't regained consciousness. He stitched her wound and injected something for her fever. I didn't leave her room once. Jeff came in occasionally and pretended I wasn't there. I have a feeling he would've stayed if Magnolia wasn't here to bark orders.

Why am I here? Why can't I leave and go to a bar and drink my thoughts away with Rob and forget about this whole thing and only remember when I need something from her? The answer is obvious and it's time I stop ignoring it; because I care. And I'm afraid of it. My biggest fear isn't gigantic Prasinis animals or powerful Prasinis witches. No, it's showing emotion. Kathryn and I are similar that way- we believe that if we show emotion than we are vulnerable and as I stare at her right now at her most vulnerable state I notice that there's nothing to be afraid of.

Then why am I standing up right now and walking away? Why am I feeling that, as I'm about to exit this door, I am leaving a piece of me behind?

“Nick?” Kathryn's weak voice reaches me as I turn the handle.

I turn around and attempt a smile.

She frowns for a moment before scrunching up her nose in discomfort. “Ow,” she says, touching her forehead and wincing.

I am already rushing to her aid. “Hey, leave it,” I say, slowly drawing her hand away from her head.

She looks at me and frowns again. “You were about to leave,” she says. When I don't say anything she sighs.

I let go of her hand and straighten up. I don't know what to say to her so I just start stepping back.

She reaches out her hand. “No. Stay,” she says. “Please.”

How can I say no? As she moves to make space for me on the bed I realize that I've been hers since the first time I saw her. And as I lay next to her on this huge bed, I realize this is the first night that she's mine.