Thicker Than Water

Chapter Twenty-Two

Was I dead? It was dark. I couldn't see or feel anything, but after a while I could hear voices all around me, speaking under their breath.

"I owe her everything."

"She did it for the people. She wanted nothing more than to protect them... and you."

"Is she going to be okay?"

"In time."

I was starting to regain feeling in my body. I could feel the lengths of my arms and legs come to life, though I still could not move. I knew I couldn't be dead.

"Amaranth- uh, Mara?"

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Please, call me Apollo. I want to thank you for everything. If you hadn't defied your leader and saved Abigail, I would never been able to have this second chance with her."

"You're welcome. She's my best friend, and she is worth saving."

"Does she remember... you know, being Abigail?"

"No. Not really, at least. I think she's had a few memories surface, but nothing major. The spell I put on her is very strong, and I doubt most of them will return unless I release her from it. I haven't asked her about it yet, and she hasn't expressed any kind of desire for the spell to be broken, either. I think she needs some time to process it all before we even touch that topic."

I tried to move. I had a vague memory of a movie, where a woman was in a coma. She was trying to get her big toe to move. I focused on my fingers and trying to move them. My pinky wiggled. Then after a minute, my ring finger. I willed my whole hand to move.

Ugh, come on, you beautiful bitch!

My hand twitched.

"Bridget!" Mara exclaimed with joy. "I just saw her hand move."

"Bridget?" Apollo's warm, deep voice was inches from my ear. "Sweetheart, can you hear me?"

"Ugh." A groan escaped my lips. Now that feeling was coming back into the rest of my body, I could feel an immense pain in my side. "Yes." I forced my mouth to move.

I heard a sigh of relief come from Apollo, and a happy chuckle from Mara. A door opened, then closed a few moments later. Something cold was happening- my blanket had been pulled back. Hands touched me, and pain flared. I tried to scream, but all that escaped me was a gasp.

"I'm sorry, cara. I need to check your wound." It was Remus. I must have been in the mansion somewhere.

With another shockwave of pain, my eyes snapped open. I was staring up at the ceiling, which I immediately recognized. I was in Apollo's bed. Familiarity and comfort washed over me. Apollo. I turned my head, and there he was. He was still wearing his wedding suit, blood covering his face and clothing.

"You look... like shit." I whispered, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. He laughed, and my heart warmed at the sight of his smile.

"You look beautiful." He grinned. "How are you feeling?"

"I hurt. My side." I tried to look down, but I was too weak. Remus replaced my bandages, pulled my shirt back down into place, and covered me back up with the comforter.

"She's healing, but not as fast as I'd like. She's weak." He spoke to Apollo.

"She needs to feed. The blood you gave her helped, but fresh is best." Apollo waved his hand, and everyone who was in the room left in a moment. He stood, looking at me. "I'll be right back."