Conjured

Chapter 14 - What else could go wrong?

Author Note - Two Chapters in two days aren't I nice? :) Above picture is how I imagine Emily. Enjoy xo

I wake up gasping in the middle of the night. My chest is sore from where the weights fell against it. Really I should be dead but luckily conjurers are made a bit tougher than the average person. I go to my bathroom and examine the blue and purple bruises that fall just below my collar bone. They're dark and nasty looking. I touch them gingerly and instantly regret it as the pain sparks up again. I put a t-shirt on over my sports bra and head down the corridor to Jacquie's office. She'll probably be asleep but I might be able to sneak some pain meds.

As I'm walking down the corridor I see Blair's door slightly ajar and hear quiet voices inside. My heart goes fast as I listen in excitement hoping to hear Blair. 

"Is that the last of her things?" murmurs a feminine voice.

"Yes I think so. The rest should be fine for when she returns after Christmas. How is she Ellie? How is she really?" Henry's voice questions. "Well she's not in the best shape Henry, the healer did their best and it has helped immensely but she's having trouble with some of her powers, almost like they need to be reactivated" Elizabeth explains.

Listening this I can't help my excitement at the fact Blair will be back soon. Finally someone who knows me inside out and can train me properly will be back! But her powers, she'll be crushed without them.

"They'll be in there somewhere. It's Blair she won't give them up without a fight" Henry laughs. I hear Elizabeth laugh in agreement and decide to carry on down the hall towards Jacquie's office. As I walk in I smell coffee andsuprisingly Jacquie is awake.  She's staring at a crossword with more concentration than I've ever seen on her face before. "Hi Jacquie" I murmur as I walk in. She looks up from behind a pair of horn-rimmed glasses. "Everything okay Willa?" She asks taking a sip of her coffee. "I injured myself during training today. I was wondering if you have any pain medication I could take? I can't sleep" I say furrowing my brow. 

"What happened? Can I take a look dear just to see what I should give you?" She says putting down the coffee and crossword book. I nod and take off my shirt and see her gasp.

"Willa how did you do this to yourself? This isn't a normal training injury" She murmurs in shock studying the bruising. "I was doing weights and the bar fell. Luckily Henry walked in at the right time and managed to pull them off of me" I tell. Jacquie immediately looks pissed and of course this is the moment Henry decides to walk past. 

"HENRY MASSAROTTI GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW!" She yells. 

Henry's eyes widen as he walks in and sees my bruising. "Why did you not bring her to medical immediately after this?" Jacquie says coldly gesturing at my bruising. 

At first he looks upset but I see him cover that expression quickly. "She's old enough and intelligent enough to have brought herself here," He shrugs. Jacquie's eyes start bugging out and I can tell I don't want to be here for this. "You are her mentor Henry. As someone meant to be looking after this young girl you should've brought her here as soon as you knew there was a possibility of injury! If you can't take your duties seriously I'll have to speak to the council" Jacquie threatens. "I don't think that's necessary-" I begin but Henry cuts me off. "Whatever you think is best Jacquie" He says and turns on his heel heading straight out the door.

What the hell?

I chase him out yelling his name till he turns and faces me. His usually friendly face is cold and hard, reminding me of his father. "Henry what the hell is going on? This isn't you" I say shaking my head. He laughs. "Willa you barely know me. Don't presume this isn't me" He spits. "I'm not the only one that's noticed it Henry. Emily and I are both worried about you. I presumed you'd be happier now that Blair's coming back but you're worse!" I say getting upset. I see him flinch at that but then he looks confused. "How do you know she's coming back?" He wonders aloud. "I overheard your conversation with Elizabeth when I was going to get pain medication" I answer. I then realise I've been in front of him in only a sports bra and shorts this whole time and feel my face burning red as I cross my arms over my stomach.

"Although I'm happy Blair is coming back I have a lot going on in my personal life at the moment Willa. I'm sorry for my behaviour but I think Jacquie is right to speak to the council. I'm not an ideal mentor for you. I'm the son of a psychotic murderer" He says and I see him breaking down as he bows his head. "You're not your father Henry. I think you've been a great mentor and I want you to keep helping me" I encourage, placing my hand on his arm softly. He looks up at me with his dark eyes and for a second I think he's changed his mind. Only a second.

"No Willa. I am not ideal. I don't want to be involved in your life anymore. You deserve better and I'm sorry" He says hugging me quickly and jogging down the hall to his room. I'm left cold and alone in the hallway.

I trudge back to Jacquie's office where I see she's pulled out pain medication for me and is back to her crossword. "I'm sorry Willa but I'm obliged to tell the council about Henry's behaviour. You need to be looked after by people who actually care for you" She says sipping her coffee. "Henry does care for me. He's just in a bad place at the moment" I murmur. Jacquie raises an eyebrow. "I'm sorry Willa but if he cares for you as you think, he would've brought you to be cared for by me. Those bruises needed to be iced hours ago. As it's a bit late for that all I can offer is these pills. Take two every four to six hours okay?" She says giving me a small smile. I nod thanking her and walk slowly back to my room.

I've lost Henry. I can feel it already. His father's crimes have taken him to a dark place and it's going to be difficult to get his friendship back, especially after tonight. I take the pills Jacquie gave me and sit in my bed waiting for them to kick in. 

If he cares as much as you think, he would've brought you to be cared for...

Jacquie's words play in my mind as I start to get drowsy. They make me uncertain about what's going on with Henry. Does he care about me? His words tonight suggest he does but the distancing and cold attitude... is he just trying to break it to me nicely that he no longer wants to be friends?

I don't have a lot of friends in the camp, I'm not allowed to really as my powers need to be kept secret. Henry, Emily and Blair are the only close friends I have. One's unwell and another doesn't want to be near me anymore. What else could go wrong?