Chapter 7. Trying to Remember

Dr. Stewart came by to thank Talia for agreeing to help him. He took several viles of blood as samples to carry out various tests on. The doctor said he'd be back to ask a few questions once he had finished his rounds. 

Talia was nervous but her parents gave her encouragement. Brodie had to leave but promised to be back in time if she wanted him to be. She did. She really did. 

She had never needed or wanted a friend but now Talia didn't want him to go. When she thought about Brodie,  there were little flutterings in her stomach. It was strange and new but somehow comforting at the same time. 

Talia passed the time catching up with a school assignment for English. Writers block kicked in. Normally she would go for a run to clear her mind but this wasn't an option just now so she settled for a shower instead. 

She had just finished changing into a hoodie and shorts when Brodie came back with two cups of coffee and a selection of pastries. 

"How are you feeling? Did the doc stick you good. Honestly sometimes I think they are more vampire than wolf!", he shuddered slightly. The big bad wolf was scared of needles. 

"I'm good I guess. I really want to go for a run, I think it would calm my nerves a bit. Do you know what Dr. Stewart wants to ask me?", Talia sipped her coffee and picked at the snack in front of her. 

Brodie shrugged, he wasn't sure what information the doctor wanted. He had gone home and told his father what had been happened. Hudson had instructed him to stay close for the time being. That wasn't a problem, the problem now was being apart from her. 

In the short time he had been away from her, he had felt that part of him was missing. He wanted to get back to her as soon as he could. That's why he'd brought back a selection of pastries, he didn't want to waste time choosing.

"Once you get out of here we could go for a run together? I know the forest pretty well.", Brodie had been thinking out loud.

"Really? You'd take me there? I've only ever been allowed on the borders. I'd love to explore deeper.", Talia seemed happy at this suggestion which made Brodie's heart soar.

They carried on talking about general things, getting to know one another when Dr. Stewart made his appearance in the doorway followed by Violet and Lachlan.

"Right, everyone have a seat. Talia,lets get started. How old were you when you were adopted into the Bloodrose Pack?", he was sat with a notepad and pen poised to take notes.

"I was four, I think. I had just had my birthday. I remember being given a stuffed wolf toy. I carried it around everywhere with me.", when Talia was found she was clutching a dirty looking white wolf toy with shimmering silvery thread woven through the fur. It had bright blue eyes.

" OK good. Now can you tell me what you remember about your biological parents or pack? Anything at all.", he wanted to ease her into unearthing some possibly upsetting memories.

Talia had a quick glance at her parents before closing her eyes to think back.

"There was a woman that I vaguely remember, sometimes I dream about her. I have the feeling that she was my mother. She was really pretty, her eyes were the same shape as mine but not the same colour. Her eyes were golden, they were warm when she looked at me.", Talia's eyes remained closed, a weak smile traced across her lips and a tear escaped and ran down her cheek.

A large, warm hand enveloped her own tiny hand offering support. There was a faint shock of electricity when they connected.

She continued, "The woman called me her angel. She used to sing to me at night.", without realising it, Talia started humming a tune. It was beautiful.

Talia opened her eyes again, everyone was completely silent as they were watching her. Violet had tears freely running down her face. Lachlans face was red as if he was trying to hold his breath and Brodie, Brodie's eyes were filled with wonder, attraction and something else, sympathy maybe.

Dr. Stewart hadn't expected to become emotional. This little girls voice was enchanting. "Do you want to continue Talia?", he asked gently. She merely nodded in return.

Once again, her eyes closed to focus on her past. "My-my father perhaps, was a big man. He reminds me of the vikings I've seen in books. His hair was almost the same colour as mine, it was long and he had a beard. It had a plait down the middle with a silver bead holding it. He smiled alot when with me or my mother. His laugh was like thunder. Dad and him are similar, that's maybe why I felt so comfortable with him from the beginning."

Lachlan was touched by her words. He squeezed her shoulder. Her hand was still occupied in Brodie's.

"Can you tell us about the time leading up to you being alone? Do you remember anything that happened?". This was the question she was most fearful of but it was probably the most important one.

Her brow creased with concentration. "My parents whispered together more when they thought I wasn't around. They're faces were serious. My dad didn't laugh or smile as much. My mother looked older, still pretty but drained. When we used to go out for walks, they used to let me explore. I used to bring them back a nice looking leaf or a captured bug to show them. Later we didn't go out as much. They didn't let me wander off. I thought it was because I was bad and this was their way of punishing me."

Talia paused. She understood better now than back then as a small child. Her parents weren't punishing her, they were protecting her.

She had moved from sitting on the bed to lying down. It was like she had gone into a hypnotic trance.

"My mother was stroking my hair, singing to me as she did most nights. I don't know how long I'd been asleep or what time of night it was but I had woken up after having a nightmare. I got out of bed and went to their room to find them. I heard them talking when I was outside their door."

Somewhere inside her, Talia wasn't sure that she wanted to continue, these memories had been buried deep. It was like she was not of control of herself now. Taking a breath, she carried on. 

" They said they had to hide me or take me somewhere new. I wasn't safe. There was someone... Someone bad... Who wanted me. My parents said that I wasn't normal. That I was going to grow up to be strong and that I could be used by this person to cause pain and misery to their enemies. That's why they wanted me.", Talia brow was furrowed to the point her head was starting to hurt. 

"My parents wanted more time with me to train me but time had run out. He was coming.", Talia started shaking. 

"WAKE UP ALI!", Violet was frightened and wanted her daughter to regain consciousness.

"Don't! Don't try and bring her out before she's ready. We can't be sure what it will do to her.", Dr. Stewart reasoned with Violet. 

Brodie was holding her hand even tighter than before. Her tremors could be felt up to his shoulder. He decided to try and mind link with her. He had no idea if it would work. 

Talia had been transported in her mind to her reoccurring dream. She was back in the dark room again. Somehow it felt more ominous than before. 

She was up against the damp, stone wall again. "What do you want?", this is the first time she had tried interacting with the shadowy creature. 

The glowing eyes moved as if the whole head had tilted to one side. What was it thinking? Talia tried again. "Who are you?! Answer me dammit!" 

She felt a surge of strength from within her. She could faintly hear a soothing voice in her head. 'Talia... Talia it's Brodie. I'm here angel. Are you OK? Please be OK.'

'Brodie! I'm fine, I think. I'm in a dark room. There's someone here with me. I think it's him. I need to find out. Stay with me please.', Talia's confidence was boosted knowing that he was with her even if it was just in her mind. 

'I'll be here. If it gets to much for you I'll wake you up OK?', Brodie was worried. He needed to be connected to her. 

Back in the hospital room Brodie held Talia's hand and quickly told the others what she was seeing and that he would stay linked to her. They nodded with grim looks on their faces. 

Talia continued to squint into darkness. "Are you too cowardly to answer me? Tell me what you want!" 

There was a long silence before a voice sounded from the shadows, "You child. I want you. You are destined for great things. You belong with me."

"I think you are mistaken. I'm just an ordinary wolf who wants to find her mate. I want to live an uncomplicated life. There is no greatness within me." Talia's words were strong.

"What you want is of little consequence. I will make you mine. I have found a way to hide your mates identity. So even if you manage to evade me you will never have that happiness.", she could hear the malicious smile in his voice. 

Brodie was growling in fury through the mind link. "It seems that you're efforts have been wasted because I will never be with you... NEVER!!", Talia screamed the last word. 

The shadowy figure roared in fury. He was coming closer to her. 'Brodie! Wake me up NOW!', she shouted in her mind. The glowing eyes were almost upon her. The fear was rising. She could smell his breath, feel each exhale on her face. 'Wake up, wake up wake up.', she was willing herself.

Just as she felt something brush against her arm, she was back in the warm, light hospital room. She was still lying on the bed, covered in sweat and panting. 

Brodie was still holding her hand. Everyone's faces were etched with worry. She was so thirsty. "Can I get some water please?", her voice was rough, she felt weak. 

After a long drink her throat felt less like sandpaper. Lachlan was standing behind Violet holding her shoulders. 

He broke the silence, "Ali what happened? Where were you?". How to explain what the shadow wolf told her....