Shadows

Chapter Four - Minerva's Point of View

Swirling shapes and variations of shadow are all I can make out as I try to pull myself from the darkness that has wrapped me in its grip. I give up and let the darkness consume me.

I feel extreme thirst as if I had forgotten to drink for days. My mouth is desert dry, and I just want a sip of water. I find water and take a drink, but the darkness over takes me again.

This cycle continues for an undetermined amount of time. I am only conscious enough to find something to soothe the desert dryness of my mouth and throat. Darkness is my friend.

I hear voices, but the words only add to the swirling darkness around me. I feel warmth flood through me and recognize it as healing magic. I let the darkness win again. A slight pain runs through one of my fingers. I crack an eye, but the scene makes no sense so I go back to sleep.

I hear a voice calling to me in the darkness. It seems familiar, but I could not explain why. I see another's shadow slide through the darkness. I cry out in surprise as the shadow touches my body. I am suddenly wrapped in strong arms of shadow with a deep voice whispering soft encouraging words as I slip into darkness.

The room I am in is bathed in soft daylight, and is filled with beeping things. I shift my eyes around the room as I feel someone sliding something around my arm. It was suddenly tightening to the point of pain. The pressure suddenly released and the something was removed from my arm. A thermometer was slipped under my tongue, and the nurse wrote something on her pad of paper. I shifted to get comfortable as the nurse left the room.

I look on the table beside me and see the remote. I turn on the TV and find something to watch. I am able to find reruns of a cartoon and I let it play for a while. The nurse comes back in and seems genuinely surprised that I am awake and drinking water.

"Good Morning. How are you feeling?" she asked.

"I don't know," I respond, "I am hungry and extremely thirsty."

"Well sweetie, I am not surprised your thirsty and hungry. You've been out for nearly three weeks."

I stiffen at her words. "I've been out for three weeks? What day is it?"

The nurse gives me the current date, and I go sheet white. The nurse suddenly comes over to check my vitals again. Everything checks out, but I am still sheet white. I lost three weeks?

I think back to what I last remember. Jonathan on my porch with a gun. Bob suggesting I go to mom's house. Following mom in the house then pulling her into the corner. The world going grey then black.

"How's my mom?" I ask tentatively.

"Who's your mom sweetie?" the nurse replies softly.

"Evelyn Brightlight." I tell her.

"Your mom is fine sweetie. She's in a room elsewhere in the hospital." The nurse tells me and I relax.

I know if mom is in another part of the hospital she's healing. So why did it take so long for me to wake up? I ponder the question as I find something else to watch. I find a show about haunted places and find it very interesting.

The healer on my case comes in and checks me over after introducing himself. "Well, Ms. Nightshade, if your still improving in the morning I will move you into the rehabilitation hospital. I will be by to check on you tomorrow morning."

"Thank you Healer Shadowdancer." I reply as I reach for my drink. I need to get rid of the dry mouth.

"I would like to put you on a soft food diet for the next few days. You've been out for a few weeks, and this is just for your benefit to let your stomach adjust to having food again."

"I understand, Sir. Thank you for the assistance. I am really thirsty though."

"I understand. Would you like something more than water?"

"Ice and apple juice please?" I ask.

"Sure. I will send a nurse in alright? See you in the morning."

"Thanks again Healer Shadowdancer." I say as I wave.

The nurse brings me some apple juice and ice. I enjoy the cold drink and the soft foods brought to me. A few hours later I am still tired, but I have been napping here and there as shows get dull. Darkness is falling outside, and I am again uncomfortable. Hospital beds are not the most comfortable things.

I settle back to watch another show and eat my dinner when a person comes into my room. I had noticed that there was another person in my room, but I didn't think anything about it. The person that comes in has me choking on my soup. It's the same person I ran into at the bookstore.

I don't know why, but the man makes my heart pound. I lean back as he sits down in the chair. He looks at me with relief in his eyes. "Welcome back, Minerva. How are you feeling tonight?" he asked.

"I am feeling better. You know my name, but I don't know who you are. May I have a name to remember you by?" I reply.

The man gives me a soft smile as he chuckles. "I apologize. My name is Gregori Blackstone." he told me.

His chuckle sends butterflies through my stomach. I could lose myself in his smile and laugh. "Mr. Blackstone you were at the bookstore. I ran into you with my new book."

"Yes. I think you were lost in the idea of reading your new book. I was shocked when I found out you were in the hospital."

"You were? Why?" I ask confused.

"You made an impression that night. I was hoping to get to know you better when I found out you were here. Bob asked me to watch over you until the culprit was caught. I agreed to do the job."

"I see. Mr. Blackstone I am surprised that you don't have a girlfriend or wife."

"My last relationship failed miserably. Please call me Gregori."

"I am sorry, Gregori. I don't mean to bring up the past. I have never had anyone want to be with me. I am a Shadow Mage."

"So am I, Minerva. It's hard being alone."

I reach out to touch his hand, and he takes mine in a gentle grip. I feel the coolness of his hand, but I also feel a gentle electric spark run through my hand. I look into the dark brown eyes, and feel myself being pulled into them. I rub my thumb unconsciously over his hand. He smiles and I smile back at him. His eyes seem to be pleading with me, and I do not understand the question in them.

He lifts my hand and gently presses his lips to my palm. I blink in surprise as he smiles more brightly. Electric sparks run through my body, and I blush deeply as I look away. A soft chuckle came from my side, and I feel comfortable with Gregori. He's like a good friend whom I have missed greatly.

I find a show on the TV and we watch it in companionable silence. I take my hand back to take a drink. Soon I feel the pressure of my magic needing release. I have a shadow dance start, and I put myself and Gregori as the dancers.

"You figured it out?" Gregori asks in a whisper.

"Hmm? Figured what out?" I ask watching the dancing figures.

"Why did you put yourself and I as the dancers?" he countered.

"It felt right." I told him as I added more dancers to the wall.

Gregori fell silent as he waved his hand, and an entire scene added to the dancing figures. We watch the dance for a long time, and finally I was exhausted enough to sleep. Gregori waved his hand again and dinosaurs ate all but the original dancers. I look at him with tired eyes, but the dinosaurs had come to eat. I close my eyes and fall asleep.

Morning came and I awoke to find Gregori gone. I yawn and stretch as I try to find a more comfortable position. My back cracks, and I feel marginally better. The shadow dance is gone, but I feel protected. Healer Shadowdancer comes in and I smile at him.

"You seem to be feeling better. May I run a couple of tests?" he asks with a smile.

"Yes, you may run your tests. May I get out of this bed today?" I counter.

He chuckles as he runs his tests. I hear the sound of a magimeter, and I turn my head to see the meter better. I am shocked when it tells Healer Shadowdancer that I have 30% of my total mana, 270.

"You're at 30% of your total. I will see about you getting up later today. I am going to suggest you go to the rehabilitation hospital today as well. Is that going to be alright with you?" Healer Shadowdancer asked.

"That will be fine Healer Shadowdancer. Thank you for all of your help. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Ms. Nightshade. I feel obligated to tell you that you have a good friend who helped you. The nurses will get everything ready for your move. Including all of the gifts that have been accumulating at the nurse's desk. I will see you tomorrow at the rehabilitation hospital."

"See you then Healer Shadowdancer." I say leaning back into the bed again.

A couple of hours later, I have three boxes of stuff on my bed as I am being transferred to the rehabilitation hospital. They lock the bed in the transport vehicle, and after a short time I arrive at my destination. I am taken down a hall and transfered to a new bed after the boxes were set on the table next to me.

I groan as I hear the sound of Worm Talk. I can not understand how anyone can watch that soap opera. I hear my roommate sudden growl at the television "Come on Andrea! Quit lying about cheating with the doctor."

I recognize the voice and feel emotion well up inside of me. The nurse finishes what she's doing as I clinch my teeth about mom' choice of shows. "Can I get you anything Ms. Nightshade?" the nurse asks.

"Some ice and apple juice please." I request.

"I will bring you some alright? Would you like to see your roommate?" she asks.

I nod and she opens the partition between us. "Can I get you anything Ms. Brightlight?"

"May I get some orange juice please?" Mom requests.

"Yes. I will be back in a few minutes." the nurse says as she leaves.

Mom and I look at each other with tears in our eyes. That lasts until I tell her about her show. An old argument resurfaces, and we fall into a familiar pattern. I keep telling her that Soap Operas are stupid, and she keeps telling me that I am far to fascinated with haunted places.

The nurse brings in the requested drinks, and we continue our argument. Eventually the TV is turned to the true crime channel where there is a documentary about gangsters. My Aunt Henrietta, Uncle Henry, Uncle Eddie, and Uncle Jonas all come into the room as mom and I comment on the documentary.

They sit and talk with us for a good while even including me in the conversation. I am pleased when the physical therapy people come in to get me up. I happily sit in the chair, but I realize how weak I truly am. I am going to be here a while, but mom is with me.