Untamable Resolve: The Witheridge Witches

Ch. 17 - Awake

I awoke in a pool of my sweat in agonizing anguish. It felt like fire was flowing through my veins as I could feel my body change. My skull felt like it was being bashed in with a crowbar over and over again. I didn't even recognize my own voice as I moaned out in pain. I continued on like this until I felt someone's hard chest push up against me and arms encircle around my body. Now screaming, I fought to get out of his hold, but it was no use. 

I resorted to clutching my head with shaky hands as Lucas cooed, whispering, "I know. Shhh. It's okay."

His attempt at comforting me was followed by silence and him stroking my hair. I couldn't think all I could do was lay there and take it. I just wanted for sleep to retake me, but it wouldn't come, so I burrowed my head deep into his chest in an attempt to disappear sobbing. He gently put his hand to the side of my face and the back of my neck to check my temperature before quickly recoiling it.

I thought it couldn't get any worse, but then the pain started to spread seeping into the rest of my body. I could feel myself morph into something different as I could something I didn't recognize in me turn on for the first time. Dalila had warned me that it would be bad after I cast my first spell but this? With each new area, my screams got louder and louder. Why wouldn't he leave to get help?

 I looked up at Lucas and choked out desperately, "Help me!"

Immediately, I saw his eyes had gone completely white as he looked into the distance before turning back into their normal brown hue. With each waking moment, it only got worse. At this point, my entire body was on fire, and I was certain I was going to die.

 Lucas abruptly got up and said, "I'll be right back. They're here."

He said before closing the door behind him, leaving me alone on the bed.

The pain had fully encompassed me so much, so I was struggling to breathe when suddenly, all of the pain moved to my right arm, traveling into my ring finger. My ears rang as I felt a shift in the air, and immediately all of the pain subsided giving me relief. In a state grogginess and confusion, I sat up and felt the garnet stone on my finger began to radiate heat. I hissed as it burned my flesh and flung it off as it crashed into the ground cracking. As the ring cracked a fascinating mist exploded out of it. As I stared at it the cloud transformed into the shape of a woman - my mother. She began walking towards me and kissed my forehead before giving me a soft hug. Instantly, I began to tear up. I hadn't been hugged like this since we said goodbye when she was forced to leave me. 

She pulled away and took her thumb, wiping a falling tear from my face.

"We don't have much time. I wish I could do more, but this is my last gift to you. I'm sorry it hurt, it's just a part of the process of me transferring my powers to you. I'm so proud of you."

She stepped away from me as I reached for her. Frantically, I yelled, "Mom!"

She mouthed I love you and closed her eyes as she dissipated back into the mist. Within seconds the mist wasted no time as it rammed itself into my body, knocking me back on my pillow. I felt... powerful and overwhelmingly sad.

I heard heavy footsteps in the hallway, making their way to the bedroom as I broke down uncontrollably sobbing. I hadn't cried much for my parents mainly because I didn't want to believe that they were dead. I had hope. With all the discoveries I had made with Dalila yesterday and now with my mother's final farewell today I couldn't handle it anymore. I couldn't be strong. At least not right now. If I thought I couldn't breathe before, I really couldn't now. I was in shock. I wanted my mom or my grandfather just anyone but him.

Lucas came into the room with a doctor behind him, and he instantly knew something was terribly wrong, and it wasn't from the pain.

"Give us a moment."

He instructed the doctor. The doctor nodded, leaving us alone.

"What's wrong, Jo? Talk to me,"

He asked earnestly. I knew I looked unstable, but I didn't care. I wiped the snot from my nose as my voice broke, saying, "I want my mom."

I could see his heart sink as he walked a little closer to the bed.

"No!" I commanded him.

 Continuing, I rhetorically asked him, "Do you want to know why I can't be with her right now?"

I gave him a breathy laugh, "It's because you werewolves killed her."

He shifted uncomfortably as he rubbed his temple before he started walking towards me again and said, "I'm sorry that happened to you."

He was sorry that happened to me? What type of response was that? Hysterically I yelled in frustration, everything I had been holding in burst out of me as I screamed at Lucas, "I don't want you... I DON'T WANT YOU!"

He looked at me, hurt.

"Oh, fuck you! Get out."

I said as I pointed to the door. He just stood there confused as I yelled at him again, saying,

"LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE. I HATE YOU!"

I'm sure I looked deranged but I didn't care. I was hurting and it was his fault. His eyes turned pitch black before he shook his head trying to suppress his wolf. 

Grimacing, he softly replied, "I'm sorry that you're hurting. I'm going to give you space. But please... let the doctor check on you."

And he turned around and left the room quietly closing the door.

After a few moments, the doctor came in and pulled a chair next to the bed and reached out to shake my hand as she introduced herself saying, "I'm Dr. Marissa Neil can I sit down and take your vitals."

I shook my head yes before she sat down and started reaching into her bag grabbing a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope before proceeding to take my vitals. After taking my temperature and oxygen levels, she shakily said, "I lost my mom too."

I sharply inhaled as I bit my lip as it quivered. We looked at each other and mutually understood one another at least in this regard. It was comforting. It looked like she wanted to say something more, but her eyes changed from blue to white as Lucas did earlier, and I knew she was reporting back to him.

"Jo, I know I'm a werewolf but I will always be your doctor first. I'm here for you. I will always help you do what is best for you."

I could tell that she genuinely meant what she had said. As she got up to leave I managed to mutter a thank you. And then was left alone.