Chapter 21.
M y dreams were filled with the events of the recent past, repeating over and over. When I woke I saw Gran and my mum sitting beside my hospital bed. An IV was in my arm.
‘She’s awake.’ I heard my mum call out to a nurse hovering nearby.
‘I will get the doctor on duty.’
Mum reached for my hand. It was so nice to see her again. The last time had been just before I moved to my Gran’s. It had felt like forever when I was last at home.
I tried to mumble out the words of what had happened.
‘Shh, sweetheart, just rest for now.’ I heard my mother’s soothing voice.
My eyes were over-sensitive to the bright hospital lighting, the beeping noise from the heart monitor was deafening and the smell of antibacterial spray in the air overwhelming.
Through my squinting eyes, I saw the doctor, he looked really familiar. Then I realised he looked like an older version of Ben.
‘Welcome back, Grace,’ he said, cheerfully.
‘H...’ I tried again, but I was too weak to form what I wanted to say.
‘It’s a good sign that you’re trying to communicate with us but don’t strain yourself. You took a few nasty beatings, especially around your head.’
I must have been looking at him strangely, and no wonder. I was trying to figure out why he looked like Ben. Or was it the other way around?
‘Darling,’ my Grandmother said, with a tone that told me she’d known what I was thinking, ‘The doctor is Ben’s father. He has taken good care of you.’
I managed to form a smile on my face as soon as she mentioned Ben’s name. Then I remembered that he had been badly beaten too. And that he had saved my life.
‘Can I have a few moments alone with Grace?’ The doctor asked my family. They smiled, patted my arm and left the room. I tried to sit up to get a better look at the doctor.
‘Steady now Grace, you’ll be able to move in good time,’ he said.
‘Ben?’ I managed.
‘My son is fine. He has recovered already, just like you will in no time.’
‘What happened?’
‘You’ve been here for two days. You were badly beaten up, from what Ben has told me. You were kidnapped but he found you by tracking down your mobile phone. He said he saved you, but both only just escaped from your captor.’
So, he didn’t know much about his son’s second life as a wolf? Or that I was a spellcaster? Did he never wonder what Ben got up to? Especially as he must have been out all night, watching over me. Sure, he was a doctor and must not have been home a lot, but Ben’s mother? Did she not wonder and worry and speak to his dad about it? Whatever he knew or thought, he was so lovely and charming. I wondered how much Ben had told him about me. And about us.
‘Could you let Ben know I would like to see him. Please?’
‘Of course, I will phone him for you. I’m sure he would be delighted to know you have woken up.’
He shone a small light in my eyes, asking me to look to check my vision. He cleared his throat and then smiled at me.
‘All looks good. I would like to keep you in here for a couple more days. I know the police would like to question you as well, to see if you can remember anything about who kidnapped you. Do you feel up to that?’
I bit my lip. If I told the truth, they would think I made it all up or had hit my head much harder than they thought. I’d be locked up if I said that magic and werewolves truly existed and that one had kidnapped me to try to rape me. The only people I could try tell the truth to would be Natalie and my grandparents. I wondered if Natalie even knew what had happened to me. After everything she’d been through, I felt as if I couldn’t put her through anymore. She’d left for a reason. I needed to speak to Ben to find out what happened with him.
-------------------
Later that day, after some moments of rest between spending time with Gran and Mum, I started to feel more human again.
‘You know, it’s nice seeing you both but please don’t feel like you have to stay here all day.’ It was bad enough my mum had to travel here and miss out on work. I knew she had been worried sick about me moving to my grandparent’s. But I didn’t want her to lose her job.
‘I don’t want to leave you, sweetheart,’ she said, tenderly.
‘Why don’t you both get some fresh air? Go and do something else for a while. You don’t have to stay here and just watch me sleep.’
‘We have planned to go out for dinner,’ Mum told me. ‘Your dad is with your grandfather. Don’t worry, the four of us will be making use of our time whilst we are visiting you.’
She stroked my cheek, and though her touch was light and gentle, it really hurt. I didn’t know how badly I was injured.
‘Do you have a mirror on you?’
My mother fished through her handbag and found one. She held it in front of me with a look of concern on her face. As I moved my head in different directions, I saw the massive bruise on my cheek and a black eye along with a few scratches. Daniel had made me look worse for wear.
‘Guess I’m ready for Halloween then!’
The Doctor popped his head through the door with a polite grin on his face.
‘Erm, sorry to interrupt ladies, but my son is waiting out here to see Grace.’
Mum and Gran looked at each other and then giggled.
‘Of course, we will leave the love birds to have some alone time.’ Laughed my Grandmother as they gathered up their things and made their way to the door.
‘Have a lovely time this evening,’ I called after them.
For a moment I was alone. I took a few deeps breaths. I was feeling anxious about seeing Ben in the state I was in. I looked a right mess and my hair hadn’t been washed for a good few days, strands of it stuck to the side of my face and it felt greasy. As soon as he entered the room, I felt the tears welling in my eyes, it was a struggle trying to fight them back. He looked just as upset as I was when he saw how I looked.
‘I will leave you both to have some privacy.’ Ben’s dad shut the door.
Ben sat on the nearest chair by my bedside. To begin with I couldn’t look him straight in the eyes, I was too ashamed of my how I looked.
‘Grace, look at me please.’
I shook my head and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer, they fell and fell down my puffy cheeks.
‘Please don’t cry, I’m not great at emotions as it is.’ He gently wiped the tears away from my face, and their salt and his touch stung my wounded cheeks.
‘I’m sorry, I just feel so ashamed of myself.’
‘You’ve nothing to be ashamed of, Grace. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I have seen you practically naked.’
My shocked eyes were immediately on him now, with that revelation.
‘I’m exaggerating, but it wasn’t far off. One evening when I was watching over you, you accidentally kept your curtains open and I saw you in your underwear.’
‘Oh, how embarrassing. If I had known I was being watched, I would have made sure my curtains were closed!’
‘I’m sorry. And don’t worry, I had a glance but then looked away,’ He giggled a little. Then his expression changed to a serious look. He had bought a little get-well-soon teddy for me in a shape of a white wolf and he placed it into my lap on the bed.
‘Aw, thank you, he is so cute!’ I was so touched. ‘I guess I can always keep a part of you with me.’
‘I’m glad you like it, but there is something I need to tell you Grace.’
I froze for a moment as he sounded quite cold compared to how he’d been speaking to me.
‘I’m sorry to say this but I need to keep away from you.’
‘What?’ The tears started falling again. ‘Why are you saying this?’
‘I can’t let you get into any more danger. I’m worried I may lose control of myself getting closer to you. I don’t want to hurt you.’
My heart broke into a thousand pieces.
; ‘Daniel is still out there, and I need to go after him.’
‘What do you mean he is still out there? I thought you destroyed him?’
‘I almost did, but I couldn’t kill him. It’s not in my nature to kill someone. Especially when that someone is one of my kind. I can only protect you but I can’t kill unless I really have to.’
‘Please don’t leave me.’
‘I’m going to spend the evening with you, but then it has to be goodbye.’
‘I don’t care about what you do with me, I know you won’t hurt me. I know you care about me just as much as I care about you.’
‘It is because I care, that I have to stay away.’
He touched my cheek and began to heal away all the bruising across my face, I was too stunned to move knowing that after that night, I would never see him again.
‘I do love you Grace.’
He kissed me softly. It was so lovely to feel his lips on mine again. But not long after the kiss, my body was craving sleep. I wasn’t sure if this was part of Ben’s healing powers or if I just needed the rest. But the next time I opened my eyes, it was the early hours of the next day and Ben had gone. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him. But I was glad that I’d got to see him one last time, even though it broke my heart that he left me whilst I was asleep. I wondered if I ever would see him again.
Chapter 22.
G race! Grace!’
Her voice sounded so faint in the distance. I had only known Miss Hogg for about four months, but without her help and guidance, I would not have achieved all that I had. She’d sacrificed every Saturday throughout November to help me catch up on the college work I had missed and guide me through my routine so that it was ready for this moment.
I could heard the music of the dance before mine begin. My palms began to sweat and my heart beat faster.
‘Grace! Grace!’
Her voice sounded much louder now as I began to come to my senses. I still was not ready for this. I gazed down at myself and noticed how skinny my legs and arms had become. The bandage at the base of my neck where I had been bitten began to itch and then I shivered as I recalled what had caused my horrific injuries, although Ben had mostly healed me, this bite mark was taking much longer to recover.
Daniel, the black wolf had almost killed me just to try and take my purity from me.
Why did I have to be from a blood line of spellcasters?
He had destroyed both of my precious red coats. I had only just barely escaped from Daniel. If it hadn’t been for Ben, I would not be alive.
My protector.
The boy I loved.
My white wolf.
I wished he could have been there, sitting out in the crowd. But he has chosen to run away, in the hope that it would keep me safe from him. And, of course, to find Daniel and make sure that he never returned.
‘Grace? Grace, are you ready?’ hissed Miss Hogg
I snapped out of my thoughts, again. The scars on my legs looked too visible for me. How could I let the audience see me in this way?
‘Grace, are you ok?’ She asked me, concerned.
I shook my head and I could not fight back the tears anymore. A mixture of nerves and missing Ben got the better of me. Miss Hogg placed her hands on my shoulders, they were soft and warm, and she looked at me straight into my eyes.
‘Yes, you can do this. I believe in you. I know it has been really tough for you but you’re a fighter.’
Those soft fingertips of hers wiped away my tears. I gazed into her face and saw that caring smile. I was grateful to have such a lovely dance tutor like her. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be standing here now about to perform. So I had to do it for her. I took a deep breath and clenched my sweaty palms.
‘Ok. I am ready. Let’s do this.’
Miss Hogg hugged me tightly, then I heard the rest of the dancers cheering me to go on. They all knew I nearly died but they did not know why. And they never would. A warm, fuzzy feeling hit my tummy and my fast-beating heart began to slow. It was wonderful to have support from my classmates.
‘I will go and introduce you,’ Whispered Miss Hogg.
She walked to the stage. Over and over, I told myself, ‘I can do this.’
She signalled me to come onto the stage. There was no going back now, I gave my blonde bun a quick tighten and leapt to centre stage. The bright lights dazzled me for a second until I got my focus. I had a quick look at the audience, then I glanced towards stage left. Miss Hogg was ready to hit the button for my music. She gave me the thumbs up and I gave a slight nod to signal I was ready. The music began to play. It started off slowly, I swayed my arms gracefully in time to the lyrics. The stage lighting faded to different tones of colour, smoothly around me. I straightened my legs and pointed my toes as I slowly pirouetted around the stage. Then the song switched to an upbeat tempo along with my body movements, changing rapidly. From kicks to splits to flips, all of these movements I was doing would not have been possible without the help of Miss Hogg.
I didn’t know that at the back of the room, Ben was standing there, watching over me. This dance was to express my gratitude and love for him. I only spotted him when I had to flip myself to the floor and then gaze up to the audience. In that moment, seeing him, I felt of all the kisses we had exchanged and the power of the moment that he had saved my life. The energy from these memories surged through me and into the routine that I gave to this sell-out crowd. I ended with a back flip, into the splits. I froze in that position and there was a pause. Then the audience erupted with a roaring cheer and a standing ovation. I stood and bowed. I could not believe it. I had done it. The applause and cheering didn’t seem to be coming to an end any time soon.
Then I sensed someone standing right next to me. I turned to see who it was.
‘Ben?’
Was I imagining this?
‘What are you doing here?’
I hadn’t noticed that as the applause had exploded, he’d rushed through the auditorium and leapt onto the stage.
He didn’t even answer me. He just took me into his arms and kissed me. It was so wonderful to feel his embrace, once again. My protector. My lover. Back with me again.
The End
Epilogue
T he soft sound of smooth music filled the air, the glow of his bedside lava lamp, the only light we needed for this perfect moment. Ben’s parents were away on a weekend trip to visit the city of York. My grandparents had also gone away for the weekend to Kielder woods, right on the boarder of Scotland to visit the other spellcasters and guardians. Ben had promised his parents and my grandparents that he would take good care of me.
Today was my seventeenth birthday, so he had arranged something special for me.
The night before, I had told him that I was ready to lose my virginity.
I knew Ben was always the one for me, right from that very first day and our interrupted kiss.
There were pink rose petals scattered on top of his bed. He really had gone to town with trying to make my first time extra special.
‘Are you sure that you want to do this?’ he softly asked.
I gazed into his eyes. I smiled, knowing that beneath my dress I wore beautiful lingerie, bought especially for this occasion.
‘Yes, it is you I choose to be with for the rest of my life.’
He placed his lips onto mine.
We had been together for a couple of months since the winter show. He even came to visit me back at my parent’s house over the Christmas break. I had been reluctant to be with him. Not wanting him to vanish from my life again. It would break my heart. But he had saved my life. And then he’d turned up to watch me perform at the winter show. I decided to forgive him for playing hard to get. He’d realised his feelings of love for me were bigger than any danger he might put me in.
Our passionate kiss moved his lips to my neck, as he stroked his hands through my hair. I pulled his t-shirt over his head to view his firm torso, moving my hands along his
pecs. Unbuttoning my flowered dress, the material dropped over my body. I felt Ben’s eyes locked onto my chest.
‘Is it ok to touch you?’
I nodded at him. He cupped his hands over my bra. His touch felt so good.
I’d been worried I’d have flashbacks to Daniel trying to steal my innocence. But I was at ease with Ben.
This time was the right moment for me.
I removed my bra to reveal my breasts, my nerves almost getting the better of me. I still had not gained back much weight from what I’d endured.
‘Wow Grace, you are just so beautiful.’
Ben held me in his arms and kissed me passionately again, then he gently lowered me onto his bed. As he took off his jeans and boxers, I removed my French knickers. Ben reached for the condom on his bedside table.
I was losing my virginity to the wolf I loved so much. It was so right and now we were bound to be together forever.
I couldn’t wait to tell Natalie all about it.
Grace and Natalie will return in book two, Black Rose. This book will introduce the readers to Stefan.
Black Rose: Girl in the Red Coat Returns
Turn over for a sneak preview of book two.
T here was something different about him. I’d felt it since I first laid my eyes on him.
The first day of transferring to a new college at just sixteen was horrible enough as it was, not knowing anyone. But to then fall for him straight away. The love I had for Dominic just vanished away. How had I been ready to move on so quickly? I was fixated with this new guy and the black rose tattoo on his neck. The only thing that didn’t quite fit with his tall masculine physique were his hands.
On my first encounter with him, I had observed everything about this guy but there was something very different about him that I couldn’t put my finger on. Our eyes met in the reception during my first day as we passed, walking in different directions. I was starting a course on performing arts. I wondered if our paths would cross again. I watched him head towards the direction of art and design. I figured he was maybe a couple of years older than me. He was wearing a baseball cap with a New York Yankees jersey he had stubbly facial hair around his chin. I couldn’t stop thinking about him for the rest of the day…
Girl In The Red Coat Page 11