As Luke walked up to the house a few hours later, he could sense a heavy sadness looming over it that wasn't there before. He could make out two lumps on the steps.
As he got closer, he could make them out to be Tami and Gela. Tami was uncontrollably crying in his mother's arms. Were they going over lost time? He wondered but as he got closer his heart felt like it had been stabbed. Neither Gela nor Tami looked up as he passed by them.
Entering through the front door, he stopped in his tracks. The air was knock out of his lungs for a brief moment. He could feel the sadness all around him, it was almost debilitating. As he began making his way through the house he noticed that his lungs began to burn. Each breath becoming harsher and harder to inhale.
"What's going on?" he asked when he saw that Diana was sobbing as well. Curled up on the couch with her head buried in Baddy's chest.
"Something happened while you were gone but you have to stay calm. For everyone's sake. Everyone is very upset and there's no sense in making it any worse son." Rick explained putting his hand on Luke's right shoulder. His voice was hoarse. Luke could tell that even Rick was upset. His whole aura, everyone's aura, was darker.
"What happened to Tala? Where is she?!" he demanded, his beast threatening to emerge. Rick could see Luke's eyes change from blue to dark gray, indicating that Lycus was on the surface. Luke felt a small calming hand rest on his back.
"She's in her bed but she's very weak." Diana spoke softly, Luke turned around to face her. Her face was red. Tears were still streaming down her face. She paused, stuck in her own head and scared to continue. The guilt that was inside of her was unbearable but he needed to know what happened. He needed to be ready to say goodbye.
*Flashback*
"Ok guys, settle her in gently." Diana instructed as Baddy, Rick, Rad and Zeev carried Tala to the bathtub.
All of their lungs were burning and the masks they had on were doing nothing for them. They were settling Tala into the tub, which was currently filled with wolfsbane, lavender and green algae. Meant to detox, calm and regenerate.
Soon she was in and all you could see was her beautiful face. Tami's heart dropped when she looked at her daughter. Seeing her the way that she currently was reminded her of all the times she came to check on her.
All the times Tala was too stuck in a book or tinkering on her desk that she had fallen asleep right where she was. Oh how Tami wished that this was one of those times. Where she could just wake her up and she'd giggle her tired embarrassed laugh. Tami's heart ached in ways she never wanted to feel again.
Suddenly Tala's skin began noticeably burning as if she was bathing in acid. Although all werewolves were extremely allergic to wolfsbane, it was only lethal when large amounts are ingested. Processed through the body. When put on skin it only caused a rash, but this, this was melting her flesh.
"We have to stop!" Reika panicked. "We need to get her out before it hurts her anymore!" The smell of burning flesh was violating their nostrils.
"We have to wait so if you can't handle it than go downstairs!" Diana growled with tears in her eyes. ". . . I know it's hard . . ." She whimpered as she moved her gaze from Tala to Reika. "All of it . . . but we agreed on this and we have a job to do. Tala needs us to finish this. We can't back out now!"
"She's right." Tia spoke from the cellphone currently resting on the sink on speaker. "You can't stop until the ritual is done."
With tears in her eyes and her face stern, Reika sat back down next to Tala.
"We need to begin, are you ready?" Tia asked.
"Yes." Diana replied lighting the last of the white candles that were surrounding the tub.
"Each of you hold a hand and repeat after me." Reika and Diana both grabbed one of Tala's hands and grabbed each other's.
"Dux fiat pax vobis in tenebris" Tia chanted.
As they began chanting Tala's body began reacting. Shaking and convulsing like she did before but this time more violently. Splashing water all over the room and on everyone in it. Leaving them all with patches of small rashes.
"Does this mean it's working?" Reika asked. Trying to keep a hold of her hand.
"No! It means her wolf has more control than we thought!" Tami shouted moving from her bystander position in the doorway to her daughter's side.
"We need to get her out now!"
They all went for Tala to pull her out. Her flesh was raw and warm. Her skin felt weak, as if it were about to be torn off at any wrong touch.
"Oh gods!" Reika shrieked, letting go of Tala's hand when a piece of skin under her wrist began to tear.
"Move back!" Rick warned as he pushed into the crowded bathroom.
Putting his right foot in to the tub he reaches and picks Tala up in his arms. Immediately handing her to Zeev who was waiting with a towel. They rushed her to her room.
"She's not breathing!" Diana screamed after they got her on the bed. "I can't find a heartbeat!" Diana began shaking, her sobs becoming even more uncontrollable. "What do we do? Tala?!"
"Here, let me check her out." Tami said calmly as she took over for Diana. Doing everything she could to remain calm for all of her daughters.
"It's all our fault! What have we done?" Reika sobbed falling to her knees.
"Reika?" Diana reaches out to comfort her baby sister but Reika pushes her arms away and within seconds she was to her feet and running out the door.
"Let her go, she needs space right now." Gela warned, stopping Diana.
"But she's not safe out there in the dark by herself!" Diana wasn't about to lose another sister.
"Permission to follow Reika for protection duty." Blaidd offered.
"Permission granted."
*End Of Flashback*
"Tala's . . . gone?" Luke sounded broken. His chest began to tighten and he felt the walls closing in around him.
"I found a faint, shallow heartbeat." Tami started as she walked into the living room where everyone currently was. "but it doesn't look good for her. . .I give her a few days before she succumbs to her afflictions." Tami began crying again. "I'm sorry." She said, she had to walk back outside. She didn't like anyone seeing her so vulnerable.
"No! I don't accept that! What have you done? Why did you do this?!" Luke growled after Tami. He watched as Gela squeezed her tightly in a hug and glared back at her son.
"She had nothing to do with it. It was all my fault and I take full accountability." Diana said glumly. Luke was filled with so much sorrow and anger he didn't know which would prevail.
Diana watched in horror as Luke angrily marched up to her. Baddy tried to position himself in between the two but Luke effortlessly pushed him aside. With arms extended, Diana waited for pain but was surprised to be in the comforting embrace of Luke's arms.
"I know you'd never do anything to hurt Tala . . . neither would Tamika." He said looking to Tami who was ready to pounce on him if he was going to hurt Diana. "I know that whatever happened, happened out of your love for her." Luke tried to calm the now sobbing Diana. "I just . . . . wish none of this had to happen at all."
Deep in the woods, Reika could feel a presence coming from behind her as she sat staring at the small lake in front of her. The moon was almost full and it gleamed over the water.
"I know you're there." Reika shouted after skipping another stone across the tiny lake in front of her.
"Oh my goddess!" She shrieked before turning around in an effort to cover her exposed body. She had expected Diana or her mom. Not the completely shocked Blaidd who was currently the same bright red color that she was.
She had just transformed back into her human form and hadn't thought anyone but her family could find this place.
"I thought you knew I was here?!" Blaidd mocked, shouting over his shoulder. He was currently standing with his hands over his eyes and his back turned to her. He was doing everything he could do to get the very womanly images of Reika out of his mind. Damn why does she have to be so breath taking. Shit! he cursed at himself. He needs to stop thinking this way!
"I thought you were Diana." Reika admitted.
"It's okay." Blaidd laughed. "Here, take this." He took off his shirt and threw it to her. Making sure not to open his eyes as he tosses it midway onto the dock.
"Thank you." Reika said as she grabbed it and shimmied into it. "It's safe to turn around now." Her embarrassment was thick in her voice. "It's a tad short but it will work until I get to the house." She turned just slightly causing Blaidd's mind to soar into dark territory again.
"Of course. I've left my clothes while in a moment of passion a few times myself" he chuckled.
Reika watched his muscles tighten as he laughed. Making her feel a yearning in her body she had never felt before.
Blaidd could sense her arousal easily and his need became real. He watched her coyly bit her lip as her eyes moved from his bare chest to his lips. Looking away when she noticed him staring. Her cheeks becoming flushed and Blaidd becoming more aroused.
"We should get you back home, I know the others will be worried." Blaidd told her walking away from the dock. It took every bit of will power he had to turn and walk away right then.
"Wait." She said softly walking up to him. She bite her lip before speaking "Why did you kiss me?" She asked when she got close to him.
He looked at her. He wanted to say so many things to her. How he wished things were different, how he wished he could do it again and again.
"I shouldn't have done that . . . I'm sorry Reika." he moved thin black braids out of her magnificent green eyes.
"We can't ever do that again." He wouldn't let his desire ruin his friendship with her. He took one long last look before turning to walk away.
Grabbing his hand before he could, she stopped him in his tracks. Her touch wasn't that of a mate but it still set his soul on fire. "That doesn't answer my question. . . I see the way you look at me." She told him.
"Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that and it wont happen again. No matter how I look at you . . . We just can't." Blaidd said as he tried to walk off again but she wouldn't let him. She kept a firm hold of his hand.
"Reika plea." He tried to say but before he could do anything Reika had her arms wrapped around his neck and her lips on his.
He just wanted to give in. Melt into each others arms but he couldn't. It took everything he had to force himself away from her kiss. "I can't Reika . . . We can't. . . I'm so sorry."
"Why?" She asked him frustrated, she didn't try to keep him there when he turned away from her. He walked away in silence. She followed slowly behind. "Because why Blaidd!?" She demanded.
"My age? I'm a little over a month away from my eighteenth birthday so that would be a bullshit reason when you barley just turned twenty." She was becoming more and more agitated. She was so tired of being treated like a child when she was always helping to take care of everyone else.
"Eighteen or not, you're still a child!" he snapped, stopping and turning to her. He towered over by a good foot and a half.
"And you're not?" She mockingly laughed. The sky was starting to darken as a storm was rolling in.
"No. I've seen an entire world while you've been here. . . on this farm."
"Oh so that's it! Because I'm a nobody farm girl? That's why you don't want me?" Tears were threatening to escape as her voice broke.
"No. . . Reika, gods no." His expression lightened up. "Don't ever think that you're not good enough. Because you're amazing. You're so amazing but. . ."
"But what." She said cutting him off when he took to long to continue."
"But I'm not your mate."
"So? Why does it matter and how do you know you're not? We can't even find our mates until after we're eighteen anyway . . . maybe it turns out we are."
"I want you to know that I wish, with all that I have, for that to come true. Your mate will be the luckiest man in this world." His hand was gently stroking her cheek. "I'll happily be the first person to tell him so. But we both know that mates stay with descendants, with packs. My mate will be from the pack I was born into, not the one I was raised in." There was a deep sadness in his voice. There weren't many survivors left from his pack. Although he always left hope for it, he knew that there was a good chance his destined mate didn't make it. He could never deprive Reika of her chance at what he knew was waiting for her. She deserves all the happiness in the world.
A little while later . . .
"Finally guys!" Baddy said with relief. "Everyone's already overly stressed out and we were about to come looking for you two." Baddy could see Reika and Blaidd's duel outlined forms finally emerging from the woods.
A bad storm was just about to hit and the last thing they needed was to be out searching for them. He opened up an umbrella as he walked out towards them. They were probably already soaked. It had been lightly raining for a little while now but it was a nice gesture either way. By the time he realized what was going on it was too late, and he was surrounded by five rouges. Snarling and ready to attack.
A tall man in a suit approached them.
"Where's Tamika?" The man asked Baddy. He seemed to be their leader. When he didn't answer the man nodded and one of the rogues took it as a cue to grab Baddy while another punched him in the gut.
"I don't really like repeating myself. Where is she?" He asked again.
"Did you try looking at, go fuck your self way and get lost corner." Diana Growled in the doorway but a sixth rogue got the drop on her.
"Diana!" Baddy shouted.
"Well isn't this sweet." The leader walked over towards Diana. "Here's how we'll do this. You tell us now, where Tamika and her daughter are, and you can have your little girly friend here." The rogue leader laughed maniacally while playing with a strand of Diana's hair.
"Don't tell him anything!" Diana demanded before being slapped across the face by him.
"Don't you hurt her!" Baddy growled.
"Then where's Tamika!" He demanded impatiently.
"Ugh." Was the only sound the man holding Diana could make as Tami ripped out his heart. The leader stepped back in shock.
"I'm right here assholes!" She growled after the man collapsed.
"Get her!" The leader ordered while he retreated back towards the woods where he had come from.
Tami dodged back inside and led them into the kitchen. Where Zeev, Rick and Rad were waiting. Coming out of their hiding spots to trap the rogues in the room. Cornering them until more rogues appeared from the living room.
"What's . . . Going on?" Tala called into the darkness. Her head was pounding as she tried to open her eyes. "Reika? Diana?" she tried to call out, but her throat was so raw she couldn't utter more than a quiet squeak.
Her body felt like it was on fire, her lungs burned with every breath she took. She felt so disoriented and out of place. She could hear strange sounds coming from downstairs that she couldn't make out. The storm was in full swing as the thunder roared and rain pounded the rooftop like thousands of tiny hammers. It was hard to hear anything over it.
She tried to get herself to her feet, to find someone, anyone. Falling down on her first attempt she tried again. After the pressure of pushing down caused her wrist extreme pain she looked under the bandage. What the hades is that?! She asked herself after seeing a huge gash on her wrist. Leaning against the nightstand for a moment she closed her eyes. What the hell is going on? She tried to think of the last thing she remembered. The greenhouse . . . Did Gela attack me? . . . No, someone stopped her. . . Tala's head began pounding harder as she tried to remember. I need to find someone. Get up! She demanded herself. Soon she was to her feet. Her legs felt like jello and most of her body parts were tingling from being asleep.
As she began walking downstairs, she could hear the war cries and growls coming from the kitchen. What was going on? Tala thought again. Was this another nightmare? Was she just dreaming? She felt like she was dreaming. Her head was clouded and her body felt funny. She might have bought that story if it weren't for the sudden pain of a wolfs jaw clamping down on Tala's calf. Jolting her out of her thoughts and causing her to fall to the ground. The pain was a clear indication that she was definitely not dreaming. Desperate to get it to let go, she kicked the wolf with her other leg until it freed her.
Wolfs again? Why is it always wolves. She thought to herself panicking. Looking closer at them as she tried to get away she noticed, these wolves were different. Something about them was dark and terrifying.
A voice screamed in her head. 'Get out of there!' When another one attacked her and pinned her to the floor she's was too weak to fight it off. With all the strength she could muster she was able to push the wolf off and barley escaped the beasts snapping teeth. Stumbling into the kitchen which was filled with wolves fighting each other. Again, she felt another sharp pain but this time to her side and again on her arm. She was being attacked by more of them and they were taking her down. She wasn't strong enough to fight back. Hearing a loud growl Tala turns and watches as the wolves around her are being torn off of her by bigger wolves. A couple looked like the ones from her dreams.
Before her eyes she watched as the wolfs transformed into Diana, Rick and Tami.
"Tala?!" Tami cried "Oh, by the goddess, no." Sorrow was ripping at her soul. Tala had already been through so much, she can't take any more. "Luke get her upstairs and protect her with your life." Tala watched as a gigantic white wolf transformed into Luke.
His piercing blue eyes never leaving hers. He picked her up gently, carrying her in his arms.
"It'll be okay, I've got you." He whispered to her.
She watched as the others transformed back into wolves. Something in her told her not to be scared. She watched the wolves fighting in the distance as Luke carried her up the stairs. Diana and Rick who were back in their wolf forms ensured their safe passage.
Her head was spinning, mind racing. So many questions but the pain coursing through her body clouded everything. She nestled in to Luke's chest trying to forget about it. Luke carried her back to her room trying to be as gentle and quick as possible. Trying to block out her vision of the others while they were fending off the rogues. He could feel her fear. All he wanted to do was make it all go away.
Even in intense pain she snuggled against him. No matter what she thinks she'd seen, she felt so safe in his arms. She was asleep by the time he settled her to bed. The pain was too much to bare and caused her to pass out. As soon as he was no longer close, she fell into darkness and night terrors again.
Luke was bandaging up Tala with the help of Diana.
"What's that?" He asked when she began mixing a cream.
"Ribwort and Yarrow to stop the bleeding. Birch Bark and Wormwood to heal the wounds faster. Juniper for the pain. Oak bark, Bird Cherry, Aloe, Chamomile and dried onions to help cleanse and keep swelling down." She explained as she finished mixing it all together with some honey and was ready to apply it.
The others had finally taken down the last of the rogues and were currently cleaning up. They had taken out eleven members, leaving one of them to be detained in the cellar. Their leader had gotten away. Which meant they would return. They needed answers now. Everyone's emotions were already high and now almost explosive.
"Why do you want my daughter?!" Tami shouted at the rogue who was locked in a cell. "What the fuck do you want with her!" She tried to hit him but Rick caught her hand. Falling into him, he held her as she cried in his arms.