Marie's body lay motionless on the bed. All that could be heard was the beeping of the machines which were telling the nurse all she needed to know about Marie's condition. The nurse read the screens and scribbled down onto her charts and returned to her seat and sat watching over Marie. Suddenly, Marie's eyes flung open as she started to scream.
"Marie, It is fine...you are okay!" The nurse shouted over the screams as she rushed to Marie's side.
"NO, IT IS BURNING" Marie screamed as she started to pull at the hospital gown she was now wearing.
"What is burning Marie? Tell me"
Marie did not reply but continued to scream in pain and pulled at her hospital gown. The nurse quickly pulled up the gown to see where Marie was scratching.
"DOCTOR" She screamed as she jumped back away from Marie with worry and confusion written all over her face,
The Doctor came running into the room and stopped by the side of the bed. The doctor gasped at the sight of what was happening over the stab wound. Dark marks had begun to engrave themselves into Marie's skin winding out of the stab wound. Marie's skin was splitting and bleeding from where these marks were now settling and her skin was bright red as if on fire.
The Doctor quickly grabbed a syringe of medicine from the side and pushed the needle into the top of Marie's thigh. Seconds later, the screams stopped and Marie's body flopped back down onto the bed.
"Doctor, what the hell is that?" The nurse asked shakily.
"I have only ever seen that once before. This poor girl. I must inform the alpha at once. This could mean trouble for the whole pack."
"Why could it mean trouble? Please, doctor, you must tell me."
"That is the work of vampire venom. This girl is no longer a wolf"
The nurse gasped in shock and stood frozen to the spot staring at the black marks that now covered Maries' side and hip.
"Dont just stand there standing at the poor girl get her dressed and comfortable. She will soon wake again and we must be prepared to explain this to her". The Doctor snapped his orders as he left the room to inform the alpha,
The nurse quickly started to put Marie into her hospital gown and to make her comfortable on the hospital bed. Once again, Marie's body lay motionless on the bed with only the rise and fall of her chest showing she was still in this world. Once finished, the nurse sat down next to the bed and held Marie's hand. Suddenly the door to the room flew open and in strode Lord Francis.
"Lord Francis...Sir you cannot...."
"Please leave the room" Alpha Barrets' voice cut off the nurse before she could finish her sentence.
"Yes Alpha, Of course." The nurse replied promptly, carefully placing Marie's hand down onto the bed and turning to leave. As she did, she bumped into Jacob, who had entered the room behind his father. Neither said a word as Jacob's eyes fixated on Marie's motionless body. The nurse left the room.
"Alpha, Tell me what has happened to the girl?" Lord Francis cast his eyes to Alpha Barret and then Jacob, who stood behind his father. Jacob stepped forward to speak, but his father grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"My friend, there was an attack on the quarters during the party. Luckily, my boy was there to stop it being much worse but i am afraid he was too late to stop all the damage and your young maid was attacked by what the doctor believes to be a vampire."
" A vampire!!" Lord Francis exclaimed "In the pack house, but how I thought Vampires were extinct! The Doctor must be mistaken, Alpha"
"I am afraid i am not mistaken, Lord. The symptoms she has displayed and the marks from the wound are undeniable. I have read about them in my medical journals and seen pictures."
"It is true Francis. Once the Doctor raised this with me, I ordered our warriors to search the ground's and they found a vampire trying to escape our lands. He has been taken to prison awaiting his punishment"
Lord Francis stumbled back in shock and stared at Marie. Tears filled his eyes as he acknowledged for the first time how she resembled her, mother and his wife. They shared the same features and color hear and Lord Francis could not stand the pain he was feeling in his heart. Francis let himself feel this pain for a few seconds before straightening himself and casting those emotions aside.
" Well she is only a maid in my house - I do not think she has any family. What are we to do?
"The rules are clear, Humans can not live in our werewolf pack unless they have a mate and if we feel this human may pose a risk to the pack we can use the punishment of death"
Jacob's eyes flew to his father and he felt rage take hold. Death? Jacob thought to himself . Alpha Barrett had not mentioned this part of the law to him when he came up with this hideous plan. Another scheme of his fathers no doubt,
"Death? Surely you do not feel this maid girl could pose a risk to us Alpha?" Lord Francis questioned.
Jacob stepped forward, determined to step in before his father could take this further.
"She will not be put to death. Of course, she does not pose a risk. Father and I have discussed this and she will be granted her freedom."
A low growl escaped Alpha Barrett's lips and glared a cold stare at Jacob. He knew that Jacob had caught onto his deception and the withholding of information. He knew now was not the time to raise this in front of Lord Francis. He therefore decided to say nothing and allow the girl her freedom.
" Alpha, Thank you for your kindness and mercy to this young girl. As she is my maid, I will ensure she leaves the pack as soon as possible"
" I have to ask Lord Francis, The girl lying in the bed told me her name and I was surprised to find that she shares the same last name as you, yet you say you do not know this girl other than her being a maid in your house." Alpha Barret questioned.
"It is nothing more than mere coincidence that she shares this. As you well know Alpha i lost my beloved wife at childbirth along with my child"
"I do know this is what you say Lord, but i am struggling to accept this as coincidence as the heritage of this pack can be traced back hundreds of years and all names are linked" Alpha Barret questioned again, slowly getting angrier as he believed his friend to be lying to him.
" This girl is nothing but a maid in my house Alpha, I swear this to you. Annabella, my old head maid, brought this child to my house when she lot younger and asked if she could take her in. I agreed. Maybe she is the one who gave her this name". Lord Francis was now panicking as he knew his friend would not take kindly to the fact he had rejected his own child following the death of the love of his life. Sweat begin to collect on his brow and he shuffled from foot to foot awaiting the next questions.
" I see, Well you were very kind to allow this, my friend. Especially after the trauma you suffered" Alpha Barrett did not fully believe Lord Francis but decided to let it go for now.
Both men stood talking for a few more minutes as Jacob stood at the end of the bed staring at Marie. The pain in his chest burned and every fiber in his body was urging him to reach out and touch Marie's face. Tears filled his eyes and he knew he had to leave.
"Father, I must go back to Elizabeth."
"Yes, of course my son, you go and claim her as yours. The joy you will bring to this pack will be massive."
"Thank you, Father. I shall go now"
Jacob turned his back and reached for the door handle when his ears pricked up to the sound of the heart rate monitor starting to beat faster and then he murmured and from the bed. He turned around and saw Marie lying on the bed with her eyes wide open and fear etched on her features.
" Doctor....She is awake" Jacob said to grab the man's attention.
The conversation in the room stopped instantly as they all turned their attention to Marie.
Marie could not move, she still felt a burning across her skin, although it was less intense than before. Her eyes explored the room and fell upon her father. Tears began to prick at her eyes at the sight of him. She went to open her mouth to speak but quickly closed it again as she realized he was not there as a worried father. The Doctor moved closer to Marie and placed his hand on hers. Jacob grimaced at the touch as he so desperately wanted to be the one offering comfort.
" I understand you must be scared, Marie, but you are safe now and you are going to be okay. but there is something we must tell you"
Jacob could take it no longer. He walked to the side of the bed, perched on the edge and took Marie's other hand in his. The euphoria that filled his heart at her touch, took him by surprise, as he was sure he would feel nothing following the rejection. A small scream of pain filled the room and Marie pulled her hand from Jacobs.
"Please don't" She whispered. " Your touch is hurting me"
Jacobs face dropped and he cast a glance to her other hand which remained in the grasp of the doctor. The earlier euphoria had now been replaced by pain and heartache once more. .
"I am sorry, I just wanted to...." His word drifted off as he could not find the words to explain what it was he wanted to do.
Her eyes moved away and back to the Doctor.
"I was attacked" Marie whispered as tears rolled down her face.
"Yes my dear you were, but thankfully Jacob was able to get help fast enough and bring you here and we were able to save you"
Marie dared not to look at Jacob again, but instead looked from her father and to Alpha Barrett. Her memories were intact and she knew that the only reason Jacob was in her room was because he had come to warn her of the attack. She dropped her head knowing if she were to say anything she would be killed.
"When can i go home?" Marie asked the Doctor with hope in her voice. The doctor did not say anything in return but instead looked over to Alpha Barrett and Lord Francis.
"I am afraid following this attack you will be not be allowed to come home" Lord Francis said in a strained voice as he tried to hide his emotion.
"Why not? I am sorry this has happened but please i have nowhere else to go"
Lord Francis stumbled on his words as he struggled with what to say.
"You will not be going home, because when you were attacked you were attacked by a vampire and the venom of that has killed your wolf" Alpha Barrett said with his Alpha authority.
Marie sat frozen on the bed, in shock at what she had just heard. Tears again fell down her cheeks and her hands began to shake.
"We have agreed to give you your freedom, you will leave the pack and start a life in the human world. You will never return to our pack"
" I have nothing in the human world, Alpha. What will I do? How will I survive?" Marie began asking question after question, not fully understanding what was happening to her.
" I will give you money and find you a place to stay in the human world to ensure you can start your new life" The words left Lord Francis's mouth before he could stop them.
"That is very kind of you, my Lord, but i could not ask that of you" Marie replied, keeping up the pretense that the man offering her this life line was not her father.
"That is not up for negotiation. You will take what I offer. I will leave now and get this ready". Lord Francis turned and left the room.
"When will I be leaving Alpha?"
"When the Doctor feels you have healed enough to be able to leave"
"I would like to request that I leave the moment Lor Francis has secured me a place to stay in the human world. If you would allow"
"You need to heal. Now that you are human, it will be at least 1 month before you will be fit to leave", The doctor informed Marie.
" Doctor, you say that I am now human, but you and I know my wolf never developed as it should. I have never healed as fast as the others. In fact, some would say I have always healed as a human. My senses are not heightened to the same level as the other wolves .I will be fine to leave and continue my healing in the human world."
" I must protest. You need to be here for me to monitor"
"Please Alpha, let me go" Marie looked towards Alpha Barret and pleaded with her eyes,
"If that is what you wish, then that is what will happen" Alpha Barret agreed,
"Father, we must ensure she is well enough before she leaves."
"STOP. She has requested this and i have granted her wish. As soon as Lord Francis has arranged what he has promised, she may leave to start her new life". With that Alpha, Barrett turned and beckoned for Jacob to follow. Jacobs' eyes lingered on Marie until the door closed and blocking her from his view
"Please Marie, you must stay until you are fully healed."
" I am sorry doctor, but I can not stay in this pack any longer. I need to leave. I will seek support from human hospitals should I need anything."
"They will not understand, you will need the care of a werewolf doctor."
"My mind is made up. Now please leave, I wish to sleep."
"I shall leave you to rest but I also made my mind up and I will continue to visit you and offer you medical care until you have healed fully", with that the doctor left as requested,
Marie turned onto her side and let her tears fall freely as she accepted all the pain that came pouring into her body.
"