Eli slowly opened his eyes, his vision hazy and clouded by the soft smoke that drifted through the room. The air smelled faintly of herbs, warm and soothing.
For a moment, he wasn't sure where he was. His body felt heavy, but the sharp pain he had been carrying was now replaced by a sense of deep comfort.
The first thing he saw was the soft face of Mikhaela. Her long black hair fell loosely over her shoulders, its gentle fragrance filling the air around him.
Eli blinked a few times, trying to clear the fog from his mind and his eyes. He wasn't fully awake yet, and for a brief moment, he wondered if he had returned to heaven.
'Am I in heaven again?' he thought, his heart beating slower as he gazed at her. In his still-clouded mind, the peaceful expression on her face, the softness in her eyes—it all made her look like an angel. Her gentle presence felt too good, too pure for this world.
He stared at her, unsure if he should speak or stay silent, afraid that saying anything would break this quiet, sacred moment. His body felt too weak, his throat dry and his head felt heavy.
Mikhaela, noticing his eyes on her, gave him a small, reassuring smile. She didn't say anything, just watched over him with a quiet care. Eli felt himself relax, even more, soothed by her calm.
His eyelids grew heavier again, and no matter how much he tried to stay awake, the weight of sleep pulled him back. 'Maybe I'm in heaven again,' he thought, letting his eyes close, the peaceful feeling wrapping around him like a warm blanket.
'She's an angel', he told himself, as his mind drifted off, surrendering to the comforting darkness. The last thing he saw before sleep took over was Mikhaela's soft, gentle face, a vision of peace.
—---
Meanwhile, Mikhaela found herself lingering, her gaze tracing the strong lines of his jaw, his calm but rugged features, even in sleep. Stop it, she chided herself, pulling back.
She stood and decided to prepare a meal, hoping it would give him strength once he fully woke up. She gathered what ingredients she could find and began cooking a simple meal, making sure it would be easy for Eli to eat in his condition.
As she moved about, stirring the pot, her eyes kept darting towards him. 'He's different,' she thought, glancing at his sleeping form. 'There's something about him…'
Once the food was ready, Mikhaela set it aside and went over to check on Eli's wounds. She carefully began unwrapping the herbs she had used to bind his injuries. As she worked, she couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and curiosity. 'He seems stronger than he looks,' she thought.
As she leaned closer, she caught a faint scent of him—faint traces of sweat mixed with something more, something that made her heart skip.
Carefully peeling back the last of the wraps, Mikhaela gasped. The wounds were gone. 'How is this possible?' She brushed her fingers lightly over his skin, where deep cuts had once been. Now, nothing remained but smooth, unbroken skin.
Her breath caught as she watched one final wound, barely visible now, slowly knit itself together right in front of her eyes. Mikhaela sat frozen, her hands trembling slightly.
'What am I seeing?' she wondered, her heart racing. 'No one heals this fast... except…'
She paused, watching in disbelief as the last wound disappeared completely.
Mikhaela's admiration quickly turned into worry. 'This isn't normal,' she thought, her heart beating faster. The way Eli's wounds healed right in front of her eyes—it didn't seem right. Her mind filled with concern. 'Could he be a monster? Maybe a Nightwalker or even a Lycan?' The idea made her worry.
Stepping back, feeling nervous. 'What if he's dangerous?' The thought wouldn't leave her. Mikhaela decided she couldn't take any chances, not with someone who might not be human.
She grabbed the thickest rope she had. Her hands shook a little as she knelt next to Eli. Carefully, she tied the rope around his wrists, looping it multiple times to make sure he couldn't escape.
After tying him up tightly, she stepped back to look at him, her heart heavy with worry. 'I can't risk it until I know what he really is.'
After a while, Eli slowly began to wake up. His head felt heavy, but what shocked him most was the sensation of his wrists secured to each side of the wooden bed where he lay. Confused, he strained against the ropes, trying to move his hands but finding them firmly anchored in place. As he turned his head to the side, he caught sight of Mikhaela sitting beside him with a knife in hand. Her expression was serious, and her eyes studied him closely.
Eli managed a small smile despite the situation. "Can you please untie me?" he asked in a calm voice, trying to seem friendly.
But Mikhaela didn't smile back. Her grip on the knife tightened, and her expression remained serious. She looked him straight in the eyes. "What kind of creature are you?" she asked, her voice firm and steady.
Eli took a deep breath and said, "Well, I'm like you. Just a human." He paused for a moment, a sarcastic grin forming on his face. "Except if you're not."
Mikhaela narrowed her eyes, not amused. Eli could see the doubt in her expression. "Can you please just untie me? I really need to go somewhere," he pleaded, recalling his conversation with the princess and the favor she wanted from him.
Mikhaela stood up, arching an eyebrow as she walked towards the closed window. "Let's see if what you say is true, human," she replied, glancing back at him.
With that, she opened the window. Bright sunlight flooded the room, and Eli instinctively turned his face to the other side away from the blinding rays of the sun.
"Ah!" he shouted, as if the light hurt him. But then, a burst of laughter escaped his lips, teasing her. "What do you think I am? A vampire? Oh, I mean, a nightwalker?" still giggling.
Mikhaela's frustration grew, her expression turning to annoyance as she tried to keep her composure.
"It's not over yet. Tonight, during the full moon, we'll find out if you're not a Lycan," Mikhaela said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Eli sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I really have to leave now. If you want, I can come back later and you can witness for yourself under the full moon if I transform into a Lycan."
Mikhaela crossed her arms, still unconvinced. "You think I'll just let you go that easily?"
Eli took a deep breath. "I need to speak with the princess. It's important, especially with the threat of a Lycan attack on the palace on the last night of the full moon."
Mikhaela's interest piqued at this. She leaned in closer, curiosity replacing some of her doubt.
After a moment of silence, Mikhaela studied Eli's face carefully. "If you're not a Lycan, then what are you, really?" she asked. Her eyes narrowed as she recalled the rapid healing of his wounds, something far from normal for any human.
Eli paused, sensing the weight of her question. He needed to be careful with his words, aware of the unease in her gaze.
"I'm..." he replied slowly, seemingly compelled to confess in the tone of his voice.