acreI patted Clarissa’s head gently and my eyes flicked to the window. I saw her twin poking her head in and I gave her a thumbs up to show that everything was okay.Clarissa smiled and I asked her to rest a bit.It was as if a big weight had been lifted off my chest. She was breathing steadily and a small smile had crept on her lips.She was okay so I was going to be okay.I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding and then got up from the bed. When I walked out, I was subjected to questioning glances.Her family was staring at me with hopeful eyes and I just spoke to nobody in particular.“She is doing fine”I heard them all take a collective gasp of breath as the frown lines on their foreheads disappeared.Clarissa’s mom walked over to me and grabbed my hand.“Thank you so much”She leaned a bit and almost touched her forehead to my hands. I felt a bit awkward and Ia had no idea how to reply.So, I just said, “You all need to rest too. Go home and catch on some sleep”I f
DacreI tried to sleep but it evaded me so I spent a few hours tossing and turning in the bed. Having no idea what to do next, I decided to get up from the bed and take a look around. The family was still in the hospital and I did not think many of them were around. They were all too worried about Clarissa and the guy who had escorted us earlier told us that they would probably stay the night there.The coast was clear.I had the entire house ot myself.Thus, I looked around and saw that there was nobody in the home and even the guards were probably catching on some sleep. It was quiet so I tiptoed my way toward their rooms.My brain wanted to go and check her father’s study but my heart decided to go elsewhere. My feet automatically moved in the direction of her room and I slowly approached it.The doors to their room were just closed from the outside and I only needed to twist the doorknob to get in.A soft breeze of wind splashed in my face when I opened the door. There were two b
DacreI tilted my head as the small stem came towards me, hopping over the wines.“Who are you and how did you see me?”The little guy asked as he tried to untangle himself out of the vines that were all around him.The vines were all large and he was having a hard time jumping through the hoops and not getting caught up in the thick vines.He walked up to me and smiled.“Hi, you are known as?”The little guy asked as he raised his eyebrows and I replied,“Dacre Caldwell.”He looked at me with a shrug and bowed a little.“I am known as the stick”I gave an amused smile, “Obviously, you are”He appeared to be proudly smiling as he waved his hand at me. Then he looked at me with a questioning gaze and asked.“How did you know I was watching over Clarissa?”I chuckled and answered, “Well for starters, I don’t think something as delicate as you would harm her, no offense. Plus, the angle of the window looks over to her bed, not Talia’s.”Stem scratched his small head and replied, “I am mo
DacreThe lone warrior I had fought against also felt like he was quite weak physically. He had too attacked me using just swords and then left me with a warning.Had I seen him here? What did he look like?Several questions were swirling through my head and I had no idea what was right and what was wrong anymore.But then I remembered the task at hand. I had a demon to free. Thus, I only squeezed Talia’s shoulder lightly and said, “You should get some rest. You and your entire family have gone through a lot.”Talia bit her lower lip,“I know, it is just that I am too worked up about the situation. I could not concentrate on anything. Then I remembered you were here”She said as she looked at me with a bit of hope and I patted her head.“You need to get some sleep. When are they going to give Clarissa the permission to return home?”I asked without letting my voice break. I did not want to think that I was affected by her a lot.Talia answered, “Oh about that. The doctors were certai
DacreClarissa went into the room and her parents helped her get in the bed. She looked a bit pale and tired.Talia who had just walked out of her room clapped her hands together and asked,“Oh, my lovely sister is back again! Great, welcome home”She cheered and gave Clarissa a bright smile. Clarissa smiled in return too and then her eyes flicked to me.I slowly stepped into the room as her father turned to look at me.“When you are well rested, please meet me in my office. I would like to have a word with you”I nodded my head. In response, her father placed a hand on my shoulder and tapped it gently.“Thank you”He spoke in a whisper and I gave him a small smile.“She is my… colleague. Of course, I had to help her” I answered making Talia giggle.Alpha Hayden walked out of the room and soon his wife followed suit. The sound of running water indicated that they had departed to their rooms for a nice long bath.Talia looked at me and then at her sister.She fondly caressed her and sa
DacreI drove towards the infirmary and reached its parking in thirty minutes. By now, I had gotten fairly acquainted with the roads of Rochester and those of Jundra. It felt as if this was part of home.I kept wondering about the shadow assassin leader and the assassin who had attacked me before but given me a warning and disappeared into the woods.I was so busy thinking about them that I did not even realize that I had reached the infirmary’s parking.Grendel’s voice rang in my head as she had requested me to free her master. I drummed my fingers on the steering, wondering how I would fulfill her wish yet not let him slide away.It would be a catastrophe to let the monster loose on the innocent werewolves. They did not deserve to be touched by him and get in his claws when they had recently escaped death.Their injuries were still fresh and their scars had not even scabbed.With that in mind, I got out of the car and went inside the infirmary. The doctors were mostly busy as some o
DacreGrendel let out a sigh and she stated, “Those vines holding the door contain blood..blood of his loved ones.Those who he held dear. He is entrapped in the door due to his own blood. To break out of a spell cast by using your own blood…that is nearly impossible.”I furrowed a brow.“But these vines, they seem to have grown wider and bigger. They are even…pulsating”I said as I looked at the vines intently.Grendel’s shoulders sagged further as she replied, “Blood witches and our masters are known to do some evil magic that is forbidden and against the laws of nature. We have to pay the price for that. So, the vines indicate the death of my master’s loved ones…they are fueled by their blood…so the vines are alive in a way yet dead…”I stared at her cluelessly.“What do you even mean? Speak English witch”I spoke as I rubbed my temple.“The vines are a living embodiment of my master’s loved ones. They died but they are still alive in the form of these vines. He would not want to h
DacreI only looked at her with a confused expression as she answered, “Well my master is not the most generous you know. He can become quite demanding at times”I raised an eyebrow at that and she extrapolated,“Well, my master got his followers not always through devotion. Some were forced to follow him and worship him. He is just one of the many beings who want to rule the-”’She started but cut off abruptly.“Grendel”I said in a warning tone and she shook her head and banged her hands on her ears.“Stupid loudmouthed fool”She kept blaming herself which made me ask,“Did he hurt someone you loved?”Her antics stopped as she looked at me with a grief stricken face.“I was naive, I thought power could only be achieved if you are strong. I sent hapless people his way and he used them and then discarded them. Even my little brother was not spared though hI kept praying to my master, kept begging to him to show mercy”This was getting interesting…very interesting.“Oh, then why would