HARPER'S POV
Total darkness. I couldn't see anything, not even my own hands. All I knew was that I lay on the floor with so many leaves and something smelt gross, like rotten eggs and fresh leaves at the same time. Am I dead? I don't want to die yet. From a distance, I heard the hoot of an owl. Slowly, my eyes got used to the dark and I could see huge trees all around me. A proof I was in a forest. I heard another hoot and tried to follow the sound. For what seemed like forever, I engaged in an aimless hike until I finally reached a part where the moon showed itself.
I sat on a fallen tree as I thought of my mission. Find Jo, give her this portion, take two drops and the others would do the rest. I put the small bottle that had the portion into the pocket of my cargo trousers and took a deep breath. Finding Jo shouldn't be too difficult, right?
I heard some noise from a distance as though people were fighting so I took cover behind a tree as the noise approached me, louder as each second passed by.
"She belongs to us, let her go" A female voice said, loud and clear.
"No she doesn't. She was created by our master"
"Just the body, don't flatter him"
"That's a lie from the pit of hell. She can only breathe because He breathed life into her. She belongs to Him, every limb, and every part of her. " Another voice said. This voice was sweet and clear not like the previous one that sounded like tires screeching.
"Lies. She's ours" The female voice said sounding fiercer than before. I began hearing screams so I peeped a bit and watched the scene play in front of my very eyes.
There were people in white garments and very powerful looking wings. A part of me told me they were angels. The angels weren't much, about twenty of them. Their opponents however were much more. Maybe 75 and they didn't look as charming or powerful as the angels. They were all dressed in black trousers, shirts and boots. No jewelry. Nothing. I tried to search for Jo and I finally found her on the floor a few feet away. She sat on the floor, trembling from the cold and her lips were chapped. She was dressed in a white garment that had black handprints.
I turned back and looked at them. They were currently fighting and the angels were effortlessly winning. They didn't even leave where they were, just flaps of their wings and a collective singing. With careful steps, I headed towards Jo's direction. I was an arm's length away when a vine wrapped itself round my legs. I hissed and began removing it, not wanting to waste the first chance I got. After a minute or two, I looked up and saw they were still fighting. There was still time.
I scurried towards Jo and knelt beside her.
"Hey. I'm Harper" Jo remained quiet and kept observing me. "I was sent to rescue you"
"By who" Jo replied in a hoarse whisper.
"Lilith and some other witches." Her eyes beamed in realization but went back to an emotionless face.
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"I really don't know. I'm not a bad person so I expected you to believe me."
"Well, I don't" I turned towards them and saw they were already coming towards us.
"Be fast, there's no time"
"But how do I know you're not lying,"
"I don't know, okay? But you have a best friend called Jude. Her boyfriend is Alan, Lilith and Lucerne are your aunts and Ryker is your-"
"Don't bother. I don't believe you, not because of this but because my soul is at peace with yours." I heaved a sigh of relief, whatever that meant didn't concern me. Let's just get this over with.
"Did they give you anything?"
I reached into my pocket and gave her the portion. "Take five drops and I'd take two."
"Then what?"
"I don't know. I'm just following orders."
Jo rolled her eyes and took five drops. She passed the other portion to me and just as I was about to take the second drop, a powerful wind snatched the bottle from my hands. I tried so hard to look for it but goodness knows where it went.
"I can't find it anywhere"
"Try to, the portal is opening." I checked as hard as I could all to no avail.
"Give me your hand, I'd pull you with me." Jo said extending her left hand to me.
"Not so fast" I heard a soft voice say.
"Please let me go" I cried to the angel as I watched the portal close.
"No. don't go back to that life." The angel begun as he wiped my tears. "My master would take care of you and give you a fulfilled life"
"But, I don't know any other person. I'm just an orphan."
"My master would give you a new life and a new family"
"But-" I was interrupted when I saw a ball of fire coming towards us. The angel snapped his fingers and the fire ball changed direction as it hit the bald guy instead.
"Give me your hand." He said. Although, I wasn't so sure about this, I gave him and he put my small palm in his. "It would be fine, okay?"
"Okay" I said in a whisper.
JUNO'S POV
I could hear a few mumbles and hushed whispers but I was in too much pain to open my eyes let alone move my body. After a lot of will power, I managed to lift my heavy eye lids but everything seemed blurry. The whispers grew even louder, and I managed to recognize the voices of Ryker, Jude and Alan. I tried to speak but only a faint croak could be heard. With a lot of effort, I raised my hand up and Ryker grasped it planting a soft kiss on it as relief washed his face. I gave him a tight lipped smile.
"She's conscious" He told the other two but his eyes never left me as though he was scared this was all a dream and I could disappear or drop dead any minute. I politely checked him out and I couldn't help the smile that plastered on my face. He was clad in a black tank top that revealed his muscular arms and hugged his body. On each wrist, were two black beaded bracelets and his usual silver necklace hung lazily round his neck.
"Here" Jude said as she extended a glass of water to me. I tried to sit up and that's when I realized I was on a metal platform.
"It hurts" I mumbled pulling myself up.
"Sorry" Jude replied. She mumble something under her breath and the water turned light blue. "Drink it. It should help the pain" I nodded and took it in one go. I handed the cup back to Jude.
"thanks for whatever was in that cup but I feel like most of the pain is from whatever I am laying on."
"Sorry about that. Lemme prepare a room for you." Alan said and left the room.
"How long?"
"Just a week"
"It seemed like months to me" Ryker mumbled
Jude took a seat beside me and patted my hair. "Everyone was so scared and unhappy. This guy was by your side every second. I wonder how he ate" Jude ended with a dry chuckle. I turned to Ryker
"Thank you and I'm sorry" I said. I stared straight ahead as I thought of how my absence had affected everyone.
"Is she seriously apologizing?" Jude asked with a scrunched nose while Ryker shook his head. I felt a tiny smack on my forehead and turned to Jude
"Ouch" I said my lips forming a pout
"None of this is your fault okay?"
"Exactly" I heard Ryker say. He squeezed my hand and whispered. "You're back now, and that's all that matters."
Alan walked in, his baggy tee looking rough. "She'd return to her room in the infirmary. Everyone is there"
"Okay" Jude said walking towards Alan. She handed him the glass cup and left. Of course, she was going to leave me with him. I thought with an eye roll.
"How should I carry you?" Ryker said standing up.
"Carry? I can walk" He snickered and helped me down the platform. Just as I was about to take my first step, my knees buckled and I collapsed onto Ryker's body. It was as though he expected me to fall, he didn't even stagger.
"I can walk" Ryker mimicked me and before I could process anything, I was swept off the ground. Both my hands were on his chest and I found myself staring at this masterpiece that had me in his arms. He kicked open the door and let me out. We walked through several busy hallways and I could feel stares and hear a couple of hushed whispers. I buried my face in his chest.
"Please drop me now" I begged my face burning red from embarrassment. He let out a deep chuckle and I found myself smiling too.
"Gosh, I missed you" Ryker whispered but loud enough for me to hear him. "Don't ever scare me like that again
"Okay daddy" I said with an eye roll but he stopped walking for a brief second and only then did I realize what I'd just said.
"Can this day get any worse?"
"It's actually a great day for me." Ryker said as he raised one leg up to support me and opened the door with a hand.
"You could have just told me to open it. I'm not disabled"
"Qualsiasi cosa per il mio tesoro" he replied with a genuine smile. I had no idea what language he spoke in or what he meant but I knew he sounded attractive.
"Are you by any chance thinking about me ciccia?"
"Don't flatter yourself" I said with an eye roll. He chuckled and walked into the inner room where Jude, Alan, Lilith, Lucerne and some other people where. He dropped me on the bed and stretched his hands a bit.
"Thanks" I said as I adjusted my position on the bed. Lucerne walked up to me and gave me a tight suffocating hug. "Oh dear, we were so worried. Are you okay?" I hugged her back and hummed in affirmation. Eventually, she pulled away and Lilith ruffled my already messed up hair.
"You good?" Before I could reply, she shook her head, "Bed rest for three days"
"I'd need some fresh air"
"We'd open the window"
"Chill" Lucerne said. "We'd let you out for four hours on weekdays and five on weekends."
"Technically, five for the next two days and four on Monday" Jude said
"Fair enough" Lilith replied and I nodded. My eyes went to the three other ladies that stood in a corner of the room making small talk. I guess Lilith saw me and introduced them.
"This" She pointed to a lady with chest nut skin and long locs. Her chocolate orbs shone and I could bet her smile was worth a million. "Is Aiofe. She is one of the witch that helped to revive you."
"Hey" Aiofe said with a small wave
"Hi" I replied.
"This gorgeous lady is Jadis" Lucerne said as she pointed to a woman with pale skin. She had thick red hair and well defined curls although it had a few grey and black streaks. Her orbs were grey and they somehow brought more depth to her oval face. She was dressed in a black fitted long sleeve with a round neck black ripped jeans and black ankle boots.
"Hey Jo"
"Hey" I repeated with a small wave unsure of what to say. Lilith extended a hand to the last lady and introduced her as Viatrix. Cool name. She was a brunette with waist long hair that had great volume. She had a plump physique and a beautiful pair of mismatched eyes. She was clad in a long black pencil gown and what I assumed to be a boot. I gave her a tight lipped smile and she returned it with a firm nod.
"Both Jadis and Viatrix are one of the reasons why you're awake and we honestly owe them."
"Thank you" I said
"It's fine" "Don't mention" They replied in unison.
My eyes threatened to shut but I had to force it open as I'd slept for a week.
"It's alright. You can sleep" I heard Aiofe's voice. "The liquid Jude gave you has a sedative." I nodded and tossed a smile but I wasn't going to fall asleep with all these prying eyes watching me.
"Don't worry, we'd leave as soon as Iaso collects your blood sample." As if on cue, a lady walked in with a tray of gloves and some other stuff. The whole process was quick. She collected my blood, gave me an injection on my arm and that was it.
"Please let her rest. You can stay with her for the next five minutes. One person can stay here till 5:30pm while the other person would stay overnight." Iaso said as she left the room. I sunk deeper into the bed and covered myself with the blanket.
Just like Iaso instructed, they left the room five minutes after leaving just Jude and Ryker. We sat in a comfortable silence until I broke it
"Where's Anne?"
"Sorry?" Jude said
"Annabelle, our friend. She hasn't given me a hug yet or said anything silly" I was met by silence so I turned to Ryker with a cocked brow. "Aren't you gonna say something"
"I don't want to talk about it." He mumbled. What's wrong with the both of them? Why are they being so shallow and vague about all of this?
"Explain in three words" I said to Jude. Anytime something happened and we couldn't tell each other because it was complicated, we used three words to. Jude let out a sigh and Ryker turned his head away.
"She is dead" Jude mumbled under her breath but loud for me to hear.
"What did you say?" I asked but I heard her clear enough
"I don't want to talk about this"
"Don't I deserve to know how at least?"
"I said I don't want to talk about this" Jude repeated, venom dripping from each word.
"She's also my friend too, you can't keep hiding it from me" I said. I knew I was pushing her but don't blame me. If you were trapped with a bunch of people that claimed to be your ancestors in a forest with all sort of animals and you come back hearing your friend who's just like a sister died, you'd probably do worse.
"Fuck it. As if all of this is not your fault" Jude replied as she walked out, the door closing with a loud bang.