Five Sparks To Light My Fire

Chapter 7

I lay under the warm sunlight beside the window on a soft armchair. Voices occasionally seeped through the door of the guest room that was present in the VIP wards.

They were talking about me. I pretended to be oblivious to their deep gazes as they urged me to rest before hurriedly locking themselves away. Of course, they were distracted enough to not realize that the pills I swallowed were yet to have an effect on me.

I nonchalantly gave up on eavesdropping, well aware of their cluelessness. It matched my own.

If a mortal could become supernatural at the snap of a finger or a close brush with death, our world would be crawling with the worst of them.

Specks of colored light cut through my blank daze, and I blinked at the swift pair of hummingbirds outside. They combated over the stalk of a beautifully frail flower, relentlessly chasing each other above tall trees. I gazed at the retarded movement of their action in my eyes, at every flap of their wings in sluggish motion.

How did I recieve such an impossible blessing?

Creatures of the Hidden Domain were unfairly gifted. Sharper senses, robust bodies, healthy immunities and special abilities. Ever since I was dragged into their world, I experienced wonders that could be read in Richelle Mead novels and Disney movies. Shape shifters, witches, seers; their world was limitless.

The most fascinating creatures were the mutants. They were born when different species interlaced with each other to create offspring who wielded the powers of both races. The more they mingled, the more gifted were their children. As the genes multiplied, they became fiercer and more powerful.

But as far as the information I had assimilated from the Knight's archives declared, no mortal blood could ever wield the magic and sorcery of the Earth.

That probably meant I knew lesser about my roots than I had initially assumed.

Battling the pounding headache, I stumbled towards the guest room. Just as I reached out to the door, I tripped over my own feet and smacked my forehead against the wall.

Fuck my life.

For the third time within twenty-four hours, I scared the crap out of my friends. The door was slammed open and Hannah screamed into my ears, yelling something about an impaired brain.

I groaned painfully at the racket around me. Feeling a sudden rise in my chest, I teared with mortification as I twisted to the side and puked my guts out.

Yeah, it was horrible. I'm pretty sure I collapsed onto my own vomit, but the room went dark just then.

Third Person's POV

The sleeping beauty was in a coma again. Nathan smirked quietly at the thought of Rose's shame as he replayed the security footage on his phone.

"Let her settle into her senses for a while," Keith said with no room for debate. "Rose needs to rest for a week after this... transition."

"No shit," Aaron Anderson unbuttoned his collar. His silky brown locks swirled around his shoulders, the texture not unlike melted chocolate to match his soft brown eyes. His hard jawline donned a trim beard, catching the fervent gazes of all six nurses in the vicinity.

"Glad you could make it," Easton rolled his eyes and tossed a designer lighter at his childhood confidant. "Outside."

"You underestimate my common sense," Aaron grumbled, pocketing the heavy object and eyeing the notice that forbade smoking.

Despite his nonchalant attitude, Aaron's right leg tapped anxiously against the couch. His brown eyes were clouded, analyzing the current situation and the risks posed.

His gaze darted to a tall figure with soft silvery hair standing beside Rose, holding her hands with a troubled expression.

"She is suffering," Daya, murmured, her silver locks framing her pale face like a halo. "Lots of secrets that I cannot see."

An uncomfortable silence pervaded the atmosphere. Everyone shifted uneasily.

"Dad, did you know that Rose was shifter borne?" Hannah broke the ice. "You were insistent on training a mortal apprentice because you knew she was of shifter blood?"

"No," Keith smiled resignedly. "I was not aware of her bloodline."

"Then how could she have hidden among us as a mortal?" Cassandra twirled a red curl thoughtfully. "Even if she used a spell, for so many years..."

"It must be a transition," Easton rubbed his chin. "Either that, or she had dormant genes. Which doesn't happen unless..."

"Both her parents are non-mortals of different species," Nathan finished.

Another contemplative silence ensued.

"She never told me," Hannah whispered.

"She did not know," Keith declared firmly. "The files stated that her mother died at childbirth and her father was an absent alcoholic who only showed up when she recieved her paycheck during her underaged years."

"Oh no," Cassandra winced. "The poor girl."

If only you knew the entire story. Keith refrained from revealing more details, intensely aware of a promise he had made to the pale girl lying on the bed. Her fate is meant to take a huge dive.

They spent another hour in varying degrees of silence before Rose showed signs of wakening.

"Hey," Nathan rushed to her side and grabbed her hand. "How do you feel?"

"Like I died," groaned Rose. "What happened?"

"This time around, it was a concussion."

Cassandra tapped her pulse as she frowned. A few seconds later, her expression eased and she smiled tentatively. "All clear. Welcome back, sweetheart."

Rose squinted at the crowd gathered at her side. "How long was I out?" Her trembling fingers reached for the glass handed to her.

"Two days, three hours," said Hannah. "Do you remember anything?"

"Not really." Rose emptied the glass within seconds and held it out for more. "I was soaking in the bathtub. I dozed off and... I had a long dream before I woke up. And then I remember crashing again when I tried to walk to the door."

"That's good," encouraged Cassandra. "Anything else that you want to add, dear?"

A brief flash of hesitation crosses Rose's eyes before she gave a tight smile. "I will tell you if I recall any more details."

"Alright, mom, let's give her a bit of privacy." Nathan gently eased his parents towards the door. "We'll call you if anything untoward takes place."

"The lot of you aren't included within the lack of privacy, I suppose?" Keith quipped dryly.

"Nope!" Aaron grinned. "See you later, Mr and Mrs K!"

Daya shut the door behind her. Easton pulled the bolts before Nathan, Aaron and Hannah turned to face Rose with determined gazes.

Rose felt the start of a migraine at the web of lies she would have to build. With a sigh, she prepared for the inevitable.

Here we go again.

In the midst of the banter that followed, everyone failed to notice small patches of blood on the cloth below Rose's thigh.