by India Kells
Magic swirled and crackled around her, and Sera knew that Hunter felt it too and tensed. The pull was strong, and he must have felt a loss of control when he tried to push her away. Unfortunately for him, the spell kept him firmly in place. Sera followed the contact when he fell onto his knees and swirled her magic one last time before breaking the connection.
The first thing she heard was Hunter gasping for air.
Taking a few steps back, she swayed and trembled, forcing her cells to welcome this new, unknown energy. It was as if she was floating in water and the sensation almost made her choke. The panic finally receded, the energy fusing with her own powers, Sera felt steady again.
“Are you alright, Hunter?”
Finn snickered. “I guess. He made a dash to the toilet. I think you took a little more than he expected. Let me check on him.”
Ian moved too, but Sera called after him. “Please Ian, stay.”
The werewolf hesitated, not saying a word. But at least he didn’t leave.
“I’m going to try to navigate inside her brain, see if there are damages. I don’t know how long it will take as I’ve never done it while being physically blind. Don’t touch me unless you see me sway or become strangely white. If it’s the case, come near my ear and call my name until I come back. But under no circumstance must you touch me, understood?”
Sera feared he wouldn’t answer. But deep down she hoped he would. “Understood.”
Not wasting any time, she sat back on the mattress and took a deep breath before closing her eyes. Inner healing could be tricky as it required the soul to detach temporarily from the body and flow as light or energy. It was kind of a body scan, seeking injuries and illnesses and being able to repair what was wrong.
Detached from her human’s bonds, Sera floated inside Patricia and was pleasantly surprised that her magic guided her in such a way, that she didn’t need to see. It was as if she was directed immediately to the problem area and her powers did the rest. Her body seemed in good shape, nothing really to do. One of her femurs was mending quite nicely, and the tears and bleeding were receding at a good pace. It was what was happening in her head that worried her the most.
As an organ, the brain was like a maze and it would be impossible to check all its parts efficiently without the help of her magic pointing her out the problematic area. Once more, she was surprised how quickly her magic flowed and how it repaired the bruises. Much more than she ever could do. Probably the boost from Hunter.
Even with the careful examination of her magic, the natural ability to heal of shifters had already completed most of the work. So why didn’t she wake up? Sera half-expected a clot, or some serious damage that would have explained the werebear’s comatose state.
She circled and circled again, mindful of her power levels, trying to find a solution, a clue, anything.
“Come on, Patricia. Help me here, show me the way to you.”
And just as she was about to virtually kick herself for talking to someone who couldn’t hear, a flash pierced through her, a flash of light and pain that almost distracted her. For an instant, she feared it was something from outside, happening to her physical body. But the pain lessened and that’s when Sera realized she could see.
The concept had become so foreign to her, it took her a minute to realize that she wasn’t dreaming. And even after several months, the images in her sleep had become hazy, as if her brain didn’t remember what seeing was.
She was in the vast kitchen of Sanctuary at night. A few lights were on, making the expanse of windows glisten, and it was eerily quiet, as if nobody was home. Strange as even in the middle of the night, there were always sounds. Floorboards creaking, whispering, a door opening. And if not from inside, you could always hear the rustling of the wind through the trees or the howling of a wolf outside.
But here? Nothing. It was deafening almost, her ears buzzing, desperately searching for something to hear.
Her eyes lingered on everything she remembered so well, infinitely grateful to see, but also very worried about what was happening to her. It was movement coming from the living room that caught her attention.
“Is anybody home?” Sera followed the shadow now standing in front of the window overlooking the night. Patricia!
The werebear had her head pressed against the window pane, despair etched upon her face, her hand against the glass as if desperate to get out.
“Patricia? It’s me, Sera.”
Without turning, the woman shook her head. “No, go away!”
“I’m not going anywhere without you. I’m trying to heal you. People are worried sick.”
Something that she said must have reached her as she turned, hesitating.
“You’re real? You’re not a hallucination?”
Sera shook her head. “No. I’m here for real, wherever that is?”
“And you can see?”
“It seems that here I can.”
Worry colored the werebear’s face. “You shouldn’t have come, it’s a prison here, I can’t get out! And those who appear are not real. They seem to be, but they remain silent or repeat the same things, again and again.”
Sera nodded, looking around again. “You’ve been unconscious since the attack. I’ve healed your body, checked your brain. There is nothing wrong I can see. We need to find a way out.”
“There is none. I can’t get out of the house. I can’t break the windows, I can’t even change into my bear form, it’s driving me crazy!”
“Calm down. There must be a way. You’re not dead yet so there has to be a way.”
Patricia’s shoulders slumped as she let herself fall on the sofa. “There is none. I’m trapped.”
Sera sat beside her and took her hands. She’s never been close to the werebear, but she was damned if she couldn’t find a solution.
“Think, sometimes, our mind keeps us trapped in usual patterns or situations. Being closed off is safe. You’ve been here for a while, is there anything unusual you’ve seen? Or heard?”
Patricia shook her head. “The same faces, people, furniture. I’ve checked every single inch of this place, trying to find a way out.”
A moving form appeared from the kitchen. Ian. Heart skipping, Sera tried her best not to react, but seeing him, the last person she had ever seen before becoming blind, touched her to the core. She missed seeing his face, his intense caramel eyes, his tousled dark hair. Her fingers itched to touch him again.
Patricia followed her gaze and shrugged. “Shadow Ian stands there and looks around for a while before disappearing again. He’s one of those who don’t speak. If you stay long enough, you’ll see the others too.”
Sera shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hand. She didn’t know how long her powers would keep her here. “Patricia, think again, is there anything strange or out of the ordinary here? That may be the key to finding your way out. It’s important. It’s a way for your brain to help you.”
Defeated, she sighed. “Nothing, I swear. Everything and everyone are the same. It’s maddening, even more than that damn running water.”
Sera’s breath hitched. “What running water?”
“I don’t know. It started and I can’t pinpoint where it comes from. Sometimes I get close before it shuts off, other times, I only hear it for an instant.”
Before Sera could take in that information, white flashes of light started blinding her. In a rush, she reached for Patricia’s hand. “That’s your way out, Patricia, find where the water comes from.” Patricia gaped but Sera didn’t hear a sound. It was as if someone was pulling her backward hard.
Breathless, it was shocking to reintegrate into her body. Her head hurt, and someone was yelling at her. Ian.
“Sera, god dammit! Come back! Quick!”
Blinking her unseeing eyes, Sera tried to catch her breath, to answer him. Finally, she lifted her head.
“Finally! We need to get out of here, quick. The first floor is on fire!”
Wh
at? Disoriented, Sera didn’t know exactly where she was in the room or how to get out. Panic started to set it.
“I can’t leave Patricia!”
“We’re not leaving anyone behind. Hunter and Finn are checking for a safe exit. Thank god the storm is out, but there’s a lot of snow.”
Smoke filled her nose, making her throat itchy. When she tried to push the smoke away, her powers felt unsteady and she cursed under her breath.
“If you’re cursing now, we’re all doomed.”
Sera didn’t know if it was a joke, but she had too much trouble keeping her wits together to laugh at it.
Someone came running toward them, and as Ian didn’t tense beside her, it was a friend.
“Impossible to get down using the front stairs. The fire escape is the only way out.” Finn seemed barely out of breath. Hunter arrived behind him, coughing.
“We'd better get moving. I called the fire department and they’re only minutes away. I would rather not explain why there’s a live bear in my apartment.”
Finn touched her elbow. “Is it safe to move her?”
Sera nodded. “Yes, she’s as stable as she will ever be. Physically I mean.”
Without another word, Finn moved past her to the bed. She barely heard a sound as he lifted the enormous animal in his arms and exited. The perk of vampire super strength she supposed.
“And I’m taking the human with me. He’ll be useful to open windows and doors.”
Hunter grunted something she didn’t hear and followed him. Sera was about to follow the sound of the two men, when Ian swept her off her feet and carried her in his arms.
“Don’t worry, I’m only doing it for practicality purposes. You don’t have to worry about your virtue with me anymore.”
What could she say to that? It was what she wanted, wasn’t it? So why did his detached voice send a cold chill through her spine.
As they reached the living room, a loud boom shook the building. Finn cursed from a distance, and she heard Hunter yell something, but a second detonation made her eardrums ring so loud, she lost his words. Ian’s chest rumbled as if he was speaking, but she couldn’t make out his words either. It was the sudden cold that made her realize that they had reached the fire escape. The ringing in her head dimmed enough she could hear the wind.
“Where are the guys and Patricia?”
Instead of answering, Ian moved her carefully, so she clung to his back like a monkey. “He jumped, which scared the shit out of the human cop. The snow is thick enough to cushion the fall. It will help as there is a drop of at least ten feet at the end of the staircase.”
“A drop?” Her voice sounded more frightened than incredulous.
“Let me worry about that. I’m strong enough to take care of it and make sure you don’t hurt yourself. At least trust me on that.”
He shifted, and Sera realized that he was hanging onto the last rung by his hands. Out of fright, she circled his hips with her legs and almost choked him to death.
“Easy, Sera, I still need to breathe.”
Loosening her grip took everything she got.
“Good. Now, we’re gonna fall. Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
And before she could yell at him to stop, she was dropping. She gripped the muscled body of the werewolf with all she had, both out of fright and trust.
When they landed, Sera felt her entire body enveloped into a snowy cocoon. There had been no shock and it surprised her to no end. Ian moved, and more snow covered her.
“Are you alright, Sera?”
“Yeah, no harm done.” Except that she started to shiver. There had been no time for boots or coats. Shifters could resist more extreme temperatures, but not her.
“Okay, good. Let me get my footing and I’ll pull you out.”
Clasping her hands against her chest, she prayed for him to be quick. As she waited, snow rustled nearby, and something slithered near her ankle.
At first, she thought it was her imagination, but when something grabbed her foot and pulled her under, she screamed.
Chapter Thirteen
Ian dug himself out of the snow that reached almost up to his armpits when Sera’s scream froze the blood in his veins. All he saw was the witch’s blond hair violently disappearing, as if the snow swallowed her. He could hear her scream and some of the snow shifted and sank in her path. Immediately he transformed into his wolf, damn the onlookers and his clothes tearing on his body. At least in that form he could move more easily and with much more speed.
From a distance, he saw Finn looking at him as he put Patricia inside a truck. The vampire shoved the keys at Hunter and sprinted in his direction.
Running unsteadily on the snow, Ian followed the path until it turned around the corner behind a building, and that’s when he saw it; a cloaked figure pulling a rope. Magic was so thick in the air, it made his fur stand on end. That had to be the one dragging Sera under the snow.
Going for the figure, Ian was glad that shifters were highly resistant to magical attacks. The protective wall he crashed through would have killed a lesser creature. Not breaking stride, he snarled and went for the throat.
As he was about to make contact, there was nothing and he tumbled, hitting the side of a car partly hidden by snow. Recovering quickly, Ian got back on his feet and scanned the area. Nothing.
Finn arrived beside him, fangs out and a scary red haze in his eyes. “What was the thing? It vanished as you were about to get to it.”
Ian couldn’t answer and simply shook his head, still scanning the area. And there it was, the shadow form going for the snow bank where Sera was. Ian thought his heart would leap out of his chest in fear when he willed his body to break into a mad dash. The form moved its arms as if weaving a spell, and Ian just tackled it. This time, he hit something. He rolled with the body, but he was pushed away by the unknown force. Ready to retaliate, it was Finn who jumped into action and went for the kill.
Unfortunately, he only came out with an empty cloak.
“Damn!”
Ian and Finn looked around, but the figure seemed to have vanished again... and for good he hoped.
Switching back into his naked human form, Ian started digging the snow where he could still smell Sera. Her scent was faint, so faint he feared it was only his imagination playing a nasty trick on him. Finn fell on his knees by his side and dug, removing impressive amounts of snow and ice.
When he finally saw a few wisps of blond hair, relief set in, until he gently removed the remnants of ice from her face and realized that she was pale as death, and not breathing.
Ian had never in his life felt panic on this scale, making him scream as if his heart had been wrenched from his chest. Finn helped him remove as much snow as possible, but by the look on his face, he knew the vampire couldn’t hear her heartbeat either.
Someone came running in their direction, but Ian didn’t care. His hands cupped Sera’s pale, cold cheeks and he wished with all he had that she would just open her marvelous blue eyes.
“What happened? I saw you fight some sort of ghost!”
Hunter was breathless as he came up beside him, but Ian found it impossible to speak. Instead, Finn got to his feet. “Yeah, some figure pulled Sera under the snow and we tried to stop it. But when we reached her, she was...”
Finn’s voice hitched a little, making Ian whimper.
“Oh, for god’s sake! Get away from her!”
Ian blinked at the human’s harsh words, but when he saw Hunter fall to his knees beside Sera and put his ear to her nose, he didn’t know what was going on.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“CPR, you stupid werewolf. I won’t stare at her like you two idiots when there’s a chance I can get her breathing again! And I can’t hear her heart either! I’m not taking any chance!”
Ian moved to the other side and looked at the human, incredulous. “That’s your magical power to make her breathe again, to bring her back to life?”
&nb
sp; Hunter didn’t answer. The cop moved her head back and seem to listen to her breathe. And then he cursed and placed his hands on her chest and started compressing. The entire process seemed so strange and quite painful to him and Ian looked at Finn who shrugged.
“I’ve seen that in a TV show where humans do that to each other.”
And when he looked back, Hunter’s lips were on Sera’s as he blew air into her lungs. Her chest moved up and down a few times before he returned to pumping. Ian took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, blowing hot air on her frigid fingers.
Time seemed to drag on, and when Hunter returned to blow air inside her mouth, Sera coughed.
Ian simply collapsed by her side, Sera’s hand still in his and dragging air into his lungs as if he hadn’t inhaled himself for several minutes.
At first, her breath was erratic, but soon it slowed, and she finally opened her eyes. Damn, he had been desperate to see that blue again.
“Sera?” Ian couldn’t help but push her damp blond hair away from her face, caressing her frigid skin. “Sera? Do you hear me?”
She blinked repeatedly and squeezed his hand.
“Yeah.” Her voice was hoarse. She brought her free hand to her chest and winced. “What happened?”
Hunter checked her pulse. “You were a goner for several minutes. I tried to resuscitate you and thank god it worked. You scared us, Sera. Very much.”
Finn clapped his hands. “Okay guys, we need to move. The longer we stay here, the more neighbors will wonder what we’re doing, and why one of us is naked in the snow. And Sera is shivering now, so we need to get her warm. Let’s get in the van.”
Ian didn’t wait and gently gathered Sera in his arms. He faintly felt the cold against his skin but didn’t care. She was alive, and he would gladly endure freezing temperatures for the rest of his life if it meant she would remain safe and alive.