ABBY

Chapter 7

Abby looks down at the food in front of her. Her stomach growls as she hears the door close. Joseph is a very strict doctor. Since her poisoning incident about a week ago, he's on her like a hawk. Taking small bites from the bread, she savors every bit of flavor.

Recalling the night of her brush with death , a shiver runs down her spine. Meeting a merchant in a place like Castelena at night is like a suicide mission on its own. Samuel and Joseph insisted that the two of them accompany her to the meeting place. Not that they don't trust the bodyguards, but they feel more at ease when the two of them go. They are by far the best in her crew when it comes to fighting.

They met at one of the local inns. The merchant stayed in one of the rooms and it was convenient. There was nothing suspicious when she entered the small dining area, but the hair at the back of her neck raised when the waiter placed the plate of food in front of her. She's being watched.

Not wanting to raise any alarm, they continued the meeting. When it came to dessert, she let her guard down. The poison was hidden in the sweetness of the delectable ice cream and berry dessert. As soon as she realized when it had happened, Joseph and Samuel had already taken care of the culprit. An assassin acting to be a waiter, hired by the Blood Snakes, an old enemy of her father's.

By the time the two guardians arrived at her side, Abby was vomiting blood and feeling the life drain from her. Joseph gave her a concoction to stabilize the poison, but it took quite a bit out of her. For a good five days, she was in and out of consciousness. Only hearing the conversations around her as mere whispers.

The merchant was in a state of panic, but Samuel reassured him and closed the deal while Joseph tended to her. As soon as her strength is back, they will set sail to Windy Acres to deliver the goods. It's been almost ten years. How will things have changed? Will the twins still be there? Lawrence crosses her mind's eye. The ten year boy with green eyes and jet black hair. What will he look like now?

Will they even remember her?

A knock at the door gets her attention. Maybe it's Jo checking if she's done eating. Opening the door, she stumbles but a pair of strong hands catch her by the shoulders. Christopher Berger from the g*n deck stands before her. The smell of oil makes Abby's stomach turn. Abby swallows hard to keep the rising contents down.

Meeting the ashen faced captain, Christopher goes into a state of panic. "Blimey! Cap'n you feeling okay!" His panicked voice echoes across the deck. With lightning speed, Abby has her hand over the buff man's mouth as she pulls him into her cabin. It's already enough that she has a Warlock as a concerned doctor and a Lycan as a worried guard. Now she has a panicked werewolf too.

Totally confused, Chris comes to a standstill in the middle of the spacious cabin. Turning back to his captain, he looks at her. Her complexion is deathly pale and her eyes rimmed with dark circles, sunken almost. She's lost weight as well. He knew something happened, but Joseph and Samuel were vague when explaining. He didn't realize the severity of the situation until now. No wonder they only gave bits of what truly happened. "Cap'n, please sit down. You're not looking too good." He says, guiding her to a chair and catching a glimpse of the now empty food tray.

"Can I help you, Chris?" Abby asks while trying to calm her breathing. Remembering why he came, Chris looks down at the petite woman in front of him. She looks tired and vulnerable, yet she rules this ship with an iron fist. He's been part of the Dragon's Destiny crew for twenty years and by far, this is the happiest he's ever been.

Clearing his throat, he opens his mouth to speak when Abby falls into a coughing fit. Pulling her hand away, it's red with blood. "Cap'n!" Chris doesn't stand around. He runs to the door and yells across the deck to call Joseph Stern. Looking back, Abby slumps over and is about to hit the floor, but Chris catches her just in the nick of time. Picking her up, she's as light as a feather. Walking over to the bed, he lays her down just as the door bursts open and Joseph and Samuel run in.

"What happened?" Joseph asks as he makes his way over to the bed. Chris explained and Jo examines Abby. Taking her temperature and checking her vitals. "This is serious. We need to get her to a proper healer or doctor at least. Castelena does not have either." Joseph states with a deep frown on his forehead. The warlock is out of options. "How long till we arrive in Windy Acres?" Chris asks, looking from the Lycan to the Warlock. Samuel thinks a bit. "About a week. Why?" He asks.

"Have you honestly forgotten, Mate?" Chris asks him while staring him down. "Forgotten what, Chris? This is not the time for cross examination." Samuel whines. Grinning, Chris turns to look at Samuel. "Dr. Hugh is now in Windy Acres, right. He should be able to help her. He is the best in the business."

Realization crosses Samuel's face. Dr. Hugh, one of the most prominent names in Lycan history. He himself had the honor in meeting the doctor just before they had to leave for Windy Acres. "Jo, will you be able to stabilize her?" He asks the now confused warlock. Nodding, Joseph looks at Abby once again. Her color is fading fast. They have to do something or they'll lose her.

"Good. Chris, get the ship ready. We leave at dawn." Samuel says as he walks out the door, leaving a concerned Joseph and a super excited Christopher behind. It's time to get back to his roots. Being a wandering Lycan is not unheard of but he still has family. The General and his son are close relatives. It's time to pay them a visit. It's been too long.

Abby is also family and at the moment, she's in trouble and Dr. Hugh will be able to help her. How could he forget about his roots? When he was in trouble, she didn't think twice in helping him even if she was in mortal danger back then.

He was not on his best behavior back then. Being a wanderer like he was, you tend to lose yourself. Shifting between wolf and human form became complicated and he chose to stay in wolf form for longer periods. Allowing his wolf to consume him.  He had a run-in with hunters and was badly injured.

Abby came across him while he was laying in a ditch beside the road. Even though he could've torn her to pieces, she didn't hesitate to help him. For the weeks that followed, she tended to his wound, fed him and made sure he was safe and hidden from harm. His wolf backed down and he shifted back one evening while she was out.

Walking into the small room, Abby was met by a huge man standing in the middle, butt n***d. "Well, I am glad you came around. If you don't mind, there is a blanket on the bed." She says, looking up at him with sky blue eyes. Grunting, he grabbed the blanket and covered himself.  Sitting down on the bed, he looked down at his bare chest. It's covered in scars and a bandage is visible going over his shoulder  and covering his back. The silver arrow was removed with surgical precision.

It's time to repay her.