Merida
I chew desperately at my bottom lip and pace Mia's room from wall to wall. My eyes glance over at Mia covered to the chest in the blanket before refocusing on an object. The bedpost takes my attention for a moment before my eyes slip back to her. Anxiety and uncertainty skip around in my head forcing a growl from Melody.
Is she too cold?
Is she too hot?
Is she in pain?
Since our bond isn't complete, I have no way of knowing. It's aggravating not knowing anything.
Mia lays still yet breathing hooked to similar tubes and wires that Kristen was previously attached to. The only indicator of her life is the slow rise and fall of her chest.
It's been this way for three days now. But it makes no sense. Her injuries healed faster than Kristen and she has no markings on her body, yet she's been in a coma for days now.
I run my fingers through my hair, tugging at the strands. Three days and no sign of when she's likely to wake up. Three days and no sign of that damn witch either.
The whole pack's been on alert since Mia was attacked. Father's furious, as am I, at the fact that the sorceress attacked right on pack grounds and a mere few yards away from where we were. As it stands, Father's taking direct action and now the pack's preparing for war.
I would be as well. If Melody didn't keep me trapped in here while we waited for Mia for wake up.
A small tap on the door sent me on high alert. "Knock, knock." Kristen said in an annoyingly chipper voice. She'd healed well in the time that Mia's been unconscious. A testament that should relieve me but the reminder of Mia only seems to make the frustration worse.
The only bandages she has on are the ones that cover her legs, despite her walking just fine. I knew they were there to hide the markings that don't seem to be fading. The same ones that are imprinted on my leg now and that I found on the ground that day.
Wait-- when did I find those markings on the ground?
She tried to take a step into the room, distracting me from the thought and soliciting a well deserved growl from Melody. Kristen raised her hands in the air and took a quick step back. But even though she did, neither Melody nor I were satisfied.
"You're supposed to say 'Who's there'." she joked.
"And you're supposed to fuck off and be on bed rest." I snapped.
"Whoa, there Missy," she whistled. Annoyance joined the party in my head. Everything she did annoyed me. Well, everything anyone did annoyed me while my mate was unconscious. "I'm just paying it forward. She looked after me and I want to look after her."
"No one," I growled, Melody coming to the forefront. "but me, is looking after my mate."
"Geez, I wish I could have a protective mate like that." She said as sorrow lurked behind her eyes. "But seriously, the pack's already on edge and the Luna is getting worried. When's the last time you've slept?"
The desire to put my fist through a wall overcame us with her bombardment. Leashing Melody quickly, I admitted to myself that she's right. I've been so worked up that I've barely slept, and every time I do, the nights just seemed filled with strange dreams.
As strange as my missing memories.
I nodded, acknowledging the need. "I'll be in the next room, but only for a few hours."
"Got it."
"No one comes in until I get back." Melody adds as I exit the side door into the adjoining room.
She smiles. "Got it."
I force Melody down as I close the door behind me and walk to the bed without concern for my outfit. A small nap. That's all this is. Then I'll go back to Mia's room.
I'm out the moment I lay my head on the pillow.
My nostrils burn from the invading smell of scorching herbs. There are too many scents for me to distinguish. The smell blends together with the taste of bark and soil.
"Merida." A woman's voice calls to me.
I feel my head turn towards the stern yet soothing voice. Everything feels jumbled and airy, like a hazy mist is shrouding vision. Yet, despite it, I push myself to focus on the woman. Out of everything that is blocked out in the room, her form becomes the clearest.
Her graying brown hair is tied into a braid that hangs at her side accompanying the long black cloak she wore over her white dress. She looked young yet old at the same time. A combination that was otherwise impossible in anyone but a sorceress. Her purple eyes pierced through me searching for something I knew I couldn't give her. As for what that was, I didn't know.
"Merida," She called to me again, her voice bolder this time. "Are you with me?"
So many questions fill my head. Where am I? Who are you? Why am I here? But all that comes out of me is a simple response. "Yes."
"Good. Now as I was saying, your mother was an excellent witch. The best of her kind. There was a gift within her that was supposed to have been passed down to her first born. But after the incident," Her voice grew wary and sad. "It was transferred to you after your brother died."
I suddenly found myself unable to move. Or do anything. It felt as if something kept me bound. That's when I recognized the stench of sulfur.
"I was going to stay away. I promised your mother that. But when you shifted, when we discovered the prophecy that followed you. I knew I had to do something. I couldn't let Darkness take you."
I struggled against the hold to no avail but the binds had only seemed to grow tighter.
"I came back here for you. You'll be as great as your mother was, you'll see. On the night of the full moon, I'll come for you. I'll save you, Merida."
She paused for a moment to take a sip of the liquid inside the cup in front of her. It was only when the cup touched her lips that I'd noticed it was there.
"I'm going to send you back now. But remember I'll come for you." She said as a wave of purple flames grew over me. I flinched at the pain that never came and soon fell into a pitch black sleep.
"Merida."
I rose from the bed in jerky movements as a voice I recognized called my name. For a moment, the voices of this stranger and the one from my dream seemed to blend together before I was finally able to distinguish the two.
I know this stranger. I thought to myself. I know..
"Merida, " Kristen's voice called to me. "Wake up, Mia's up."
My body went on alert as I slowly processed the information.
"Mia's awake." She said again.
Tears welled in my eyes as I bolted out the room.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
