4. Sybil Meet Aries

First thing Sybil was aware of was smell. Like fresh rain and she really liked it. Her brain wasn’t waking up for her to really be completely aware of things yet. Just that where she was, was warm. That smell was stronger and she was laying on something soft. There were voices, one in particular seemed strong and confident, gave orders. She felt the chills in her body again, and sluggish. A few times she thought something was pressed to her mouth. She was made to drink, she was moved somewhere or to something too. But never lucid that she could actually recall doing anything.

                It happened rather suddenly in her opinion, she woke up and sat straight up. She felt confused, her head spun. Sybil didn’t know what kind of room this was. How’d she get here? She remembered being carried, her bag where was her bag? She twisted around leaning forward like she might get up, she almost fainted. Man she was weak and tired, her body felt achy.

                “You shouldn’t move so much, and your bag is over there.” She jumped at the voice. Sybil didn’t realize someone else was in the room. Also she reached up to touch her forehead. The wound that had been there felt like it closed already. Just a little tender, interesting. Someone helped her more than just picking her up out in the woods. Clearly they tended to her wounds.

                “How long….” She let her sentence trail off looking at the person in the room with her. She felt her heart beat faster. She was pretty sure fear was in there too. He was watching her rather intently with incredibly dark eyes. His hair was a multitude of color, from nearly black to almost blonde streaks. Tall and definitely well muscled, she knew he had to be one of the guardians. She could feel his presence in the room. A commanding one and she tried not to panic. Was she in trouble? Probably, she broke the rules they had set. Damn it she’d been so close.

                “You have been here nearly five days. You had a fever and your body clearly needed to shut down with how hard you obviously pushed it.” He sounded like he was chastising her. Her brain skipped the fact that she was sick, she did feel clammy and her nose was stuffy but that mattered little.

                “Five days!” She nearly shouted and tossed the covers back. Sybil tried to leap out of the bed for her bag. She had to go, five days! Oh no, what if her father developed a nose bleed? Who else had died? She was late and this her fault. She should have packed more energy.

                “Stop.” He said it rather fiercely. He moved faster than she was able to really see. A good thing because she would have collapsed to the floor. As it was her head spun and she might have spaced for a second. She didn’t really remember him moving her back into bed and putting the covers over her. He must have because she blinked and was sitting in the bed again covered. She realized then that he was the reason for the fresh rain smell and she pulled some into her lungs. For some reason it was really appealing. It stuck with her, and pulled at something in her body. She promptly ignored it.

                “I have to get back you don’t understand.” She said glancing about the room and seeing a door. It was a rather large room. It looked like the walls were stone, yet there were modern furnishings and windows as well. The bed was large and warm, but she couldn’t stay here. She shifted like she might get up and he shocked her a bit by taking hold of her chin and making her look at him.

                “I understand more than you think Ms. Sybil Temes.” She was shocked he knew her name. She was also unnerved with him so close. She felt like he took up her entire space. Sybil realized there was some kind of draw to him. It was hard to put her finger on just what it was. He was a hulking figure and made her feel small. She actually scooted more toward the center of the bed and away from him. Lightly pushing his wrist so he’d let go of her chin. He did but she thought she saw an odd smile.

                “You have been here nearly five days, but back where you are from it has only been three. Definitely less than four.” He told her and she relaxed. She didn’t realize how differently time moved this side of the portal. That made her feel a little better.

                “Then you know why I have to go, why I came here. She looked at her pack and moved like she was going to try and get up again.” She jumped slightly when he took a hold of her arm. It wasn’t mean, but it was pretty clear he was telling her to stop what she was doing. She looked at it and then at him. His eyes were dark again kind of dangerously stormy and she swallowed.

                “Please let go.”

                “Then stay put. You aren’t leaving.” His tone was very final. Someone who was used to being obeyed. “Not yet, you are still sick and you have things to answer for. I spoke with Kal and Meric. Also with Ferso who you obviously used a rather strong gas deterrent on.” She blushed. It was just some purple haze, it wasn’t deadly or anything. It got her through the portal. Sybil felt bad but she would do it again. How’d they know for sure it was her? Then again they did this kind of thing for a living. Figuring out who was responsible for what, with barely anything to go on. She probably left a scent that they knew.

                “I have family that is sick. I didn’t hurt anyone and was willing to take the risk.” She picked at the blanket and didn’t look at him. “I have a right to help the people I love. If I died doing it that was only one person. I left what I knew back home for others.”

                “What you did was boarder line selfish and selfless. Seeing you are the only known person that can make the cure. If I hadn’t found you, you’d have died. You are clearly gifted. This illness has never been beaten before. You are still not well and this is our home that you so brazenly came into rather than wait for a proper allowance or invitation.” Definitely being reprimanded now. She just kept picking at the covers refusing to look at it.

“You also harvested a very rare plant that we thought extinct. That is theft, and endangering life.” She actually flinched a bit as he spoke. He never raised his voice but there was a whip to it.  

                “I’m sorry. I healed the plant and I didn’t harvest it, it let me. It shed the flowers for me. Nothing was cut or harmed.” He was silent for a moment seeming to think. She dared a glanced at him and he was studying her. Sybil wasn’t sure she liked how he was looking at her, it made her uncomfortable.

                “Did it now?” She nodded and obviously this man was in charge in some way. The others had told him about her, and he had found her. Saved her really.

                “Thank you, for saving me.” She picked at the blanket again. She figured she was already in hot water. Why not just say what she needed to?

“But I do need to make more of the cure. I have enough now. I’ll answer for what I need to, but let me go back to make it.” He tipped his head and was silent. She could see a wildness there, his eyes looked darker. Though he didn’t seem upset. Sybil felt like swallowing. Did he have to stand so close to the bed? He was really starting to unnerve her a bit.

                “You are welcome and very lucky I found you.” He crossed his arms, and she was only half looking at him. Enough to see the muscles bunch in his arm and chest. Geeze he was built and could probably snap her in half like a twig. It was clearly a requirement of their race to look so.

                “You are still ill, and there is more to this than you know. If you want to be let go to help you and yours then you will help us in return. You can make what you need here and we will take it to your people at the hospital.” He told her and his tone was very final. He was not negotiating. He was telling her.

                “But I don’t have what I need here. Do you have people here that do what I do?”

                “We have natural remedies, and we also store different minerals and natural substances. However if you give a list we will have it brought to you. You said you wrote it down. I will have someone retrieve it for you and bring it here.” He told her and she swallowed.

                “Am I a prisoner then?”

                “Not exactly, but you are not well and if a Xolotl figures out you are the one that can cure their illness they will hunt you down and kill you slowly and painfully. They are demon like. Feed off a person’s life force, bring them to the edge to make it easier. Tell me Ms. Temes, someone like you, with magic in your blood. How much do you think it will take to finally kill you?”

                “I don’t know.” She figured more than normal. “It would be easier if I could go home. I have everything set up.” She told him and just looking at him she had a feeling she wasn’t going to get her way. So she would play nice and if she had to she would get out of here on her own.

                “A good while, more than a normal human. If you must go there, then you will have to wait a couple more days. You are not well to travel.” Her anger rose but she didn’t respond.

“You will stay here, do you understand?” He said it clearly wanting to hear her response. She just gave a nod.

                “Verbally so I know you heard me.” Wasn’t he demanding?

                “Yes.” But that didn’t mean she was going to do that. She had to get back, a few days wasn’t acceptable and she needed her ingredients. She didn’t trust others to properly pack and store them. As soon as he left she was getting out of here.

                “Do you have a name?” She asked picking at the blankets again and he looked her over. A very vibrant spirit she had.

                “Aries.” She really had no idea how lucky she was that he found her. She’d have died out there. He’d caught her scent on the wind. Just a bit of blood to it. He’d been passing through fast back to their holdings. It was clear she’d been there a short while. Maybe a couple hours and she was rather delirious. What struck him though was her scent and the second he laid eyes on her he knew what she was.

                “Is there any way I can go sooner than a few days Aries?” She was soft spoken and clearly not one that was born to fight outright. Though her will was clearly iron. The woman had transverse the terrain in record time for a human from what he could tell and nearly made it back. She was unique and exactly why she caught his eye and held it.

                “Do you really think you can stand up right now?” Aries asked her. She obviously had a stubborn streak. Her aqua color gaze met his for a moment and then looked away. Her hair cascaded around her in a loose mass that reached passed her shoulders. Had a wave to it with spirals. She was a damn good looking woman, and clearly lacking common sense in this. Evidently she was fiercely loyal, and had family that was ill. It wasn’t that he was trying to be an asshole, but she was in extreme danger. They were sure the Xolotl were aware someone was stopping there progress of collecting energy.

                “I can try, you could help me verses ordering me around.” Aries gauged her, he kept minimal contact with her. Just the small touches were enough to put his body in alert mode. She was human, so she would have absolutely no fucking clue about his kind. They didn’t share about themselves, but if he helped her up, she was going to be more against him, and he wasn’t human. The animalistic side was a driving force and sitting in that bed right now was his mate. So she had no idea what she was asking. She was sick, and needed to heal not be mauled by him, and he was no saint. You know how long he’d been going with nothing, finding solace in no one? Just hollow encounters? She was lucky she was so sick when he found her. His need to protect kicked in instead of his need to mate.

                “I could, if I didn’t think a strong wind would blow you over. To make it back into the caves I’d probably end up having to carry you. How will you prepare your cure if you waste all your energy getting there rather than having it brought to you?” He asked her. His mind definitely went to what she felt like carrying her. He’d done it in both forms and she fit easily against him. That wasn’t a shock, she should. She cleared her throat.

                “I don’t suppose there is someone else I could talk to. Someone above you, who might let me go help my people and family.” He narrowed his gaze at her. She wasn’t looking at him again picking at the blanket. A nervous habit and he definitely noted that he made her nervous almost fearful. She spoke very quietly, if he didn’t have such sensitive ears he had a feeling he’d have missed half of what she said. He’d have been angrier at the comment if it wasn’t clear she worried for the sick. Namely her father because they knew about her now.

                “No there’s not. I am Prime and since you so blatantly trespassed here you fall under my authority. As much as you think I’m being heartless I’m not. Not exactly, there is a war here Ms. Temes and keeping you alive and healthy means a lot more people will be saved with what you can do. What you do takes energy which you don’t have. If you aren’t going to take care of yourself then someone else will have too.” He told her and glanced toward the door, he could hear someone coming.

                “Sybil is fine.” She commented and glanced at him. “If I have to stay can you have someone show me where I could start on the cure? It really can’t wait, people are dying.” Tenacious she was.

                “I will have someone show you. And we will talk later. There are a great many things to talk about with you Sybil.” He liked saying her name, he was glad that she told him so. She didn’t know it yet, but he wasn’t going away. He wasn’t easily deterred. She was human for the most part, and ill. Otherwise he’d have already done something. It was how they were, both male and female. Though they were very low on numbers now. Their enemy coming at them in greater numbers to try and out do them. Their world was a complicated mess right now. To be honest he felt relief looking at her. It was hard to keep going when you thought there wasn’t anything for you.

                “I said I’d answer for what I need to. Just please let me make the cure first.” There was a knock on the door and it opened. A servant was there, a middle aged man who smiled and was rather chipper all the time. He liked the rest in this place were happy to serve their kind as he was lower in rank. They were treated very well, wanted for not. They might be servants but they weren’t slaves and they were loyal. Aries made sure his people were all on the same page.

                “Excuse me Sire but I came with food for the young lady, I see that she is awake, good the meal won’t go to waste.” Aries just gave him a nod. “Gerial is down in the west room waiting for you. He just came in from the east caves.”

                “Thank you Morris, if you have the time please show Ms. Temes where she can work on her cure. But only if she is well enough to stand on her own.” Morris nodded.

                “Absolutely, such a relief. Does your cure offer immunity too?” Morris looked hopeful and Sybil didn’t know.

                “I haven’t tried it on a healthy person yet, just the infected.” She blushed slightly.

                “There will be time for that later. She has the more pressing issue of curing the inflicted right now.” Morris gave a nod and Aries moved toward the door. Morris was lean and in shape, but next to Aries he looked thin and almost frail in Sybil’s opinion. Plus her gaze tracked Aries some and she wasn’t sure why. Just felt drawn but she wasn’t blatant about it.

                “You will stay here, we will bring you what you need and the cure will be taken immediately to your hospital. To your family first before the rest.” She gave a nod and he left the room. He’d rather stay there and make sure she did heal. Instincts that were hard to fight and old as time. He never thought his mate would show, kind of given up hope. The second he looked at her he knew, and the moment her rose like sent shot up his nose his body reacted. She might not be a fighter first, but he had a feeling she was going to be damn difficult.

                ‘Morris make sure to watch her. She is one that gets ideas in her head.’ He told Morris telepathically, and just to him.

                ‘Of course, I believe all woman are that way sir.’ That actually made him smile as he went down to meet Gerial hoping the news was good. Sybil better do what he said. His nearly growled having a feeling his mate was going to test his patience in all ways.