The Beast Within

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Ceraun was half risen to his feet by then, he needed to get a better look, he willed so hard that his mother should wake that his head started to hurt from the pressure, his heart constricting.

The healer sat back with a heavy sigh, sweaty wisps from her braided hair fall onto her soft-looking, papery face, faded brown eyes looking straight ahead.

Beneath her, Tes was still unmoving then she took in a deep and harsh breath like she did not wish to keep on living, her eyes flew open, her entire body shaking violently with the act of waking up.

Ceraun jumped to his feet at this, about to rush forward when the healer raised up a hand to stop him, requiring him to be quiet while his mother adjusted to being pulled back to consciousness.

Tes stared straight ahead for a long while, her light brown eyes unblinking then she sat up in a panic, looking around.

"Ceraun?" She called desperately, looking for him, her voice was nonexistent, harsh and gravelly.

Ceraun paid no heed to the healer's earlier instructions, hurrying forward.

"Mother, I'm here." He was quick to reassure her, dropping to his knees by her side.

Tes's sigh of relief was wrenched out of her, she threw herself on him, seeming to not notice the presence of the healer.

The healer was looking impressed, Tes seemed to be recovering faster and better than she had ever hoped for.

Perhaps she would not need to return, she could give Noelani the good news about it now.

Of course, Tes looked ragged and needing nourishment but that was nothing a good meal couldn't fix, her hurt throat would heal in time, although it might take a good while.

The healer was already smiling to herself, proud of her successful work when Tes' next words made her stop in her tracks.

"Where is Elec?" She asked with a frown, sitting upright just slightly, her hands falling away from her son's shoulders even as she looked around in confusion.

Her eyes flickered over the healer a couple of times, seeming to not see her.

Ceraun was astounded, unable to understand what was going on, she did not forget perhaps, did she?

"Father is…" he started to say hesitantly.

Tes' face slowly evolved from confusion to a panicked frenzy.

"I had the strangest dream…" she trailed off, slouching into herself like she wished to protect herself from the slow realization that was being painfully shown on her face.

She did not speak after that, curling into herself, her wild hair falling everywhere as she cradled her head in both of her hands.

Ceraun looked to the healer for directions, as lost as he could possibly be.

He had been so relieved when his mother roused and recognised him, she even almost seemed like she was better, like she could be better.

It would be tremendously difficult but they could, together, find the will to live on.

But that was not to be, he was almost already used to the endless waves of tragic incidents happening after one another or perhaps he was not used to it, he never could be.

The icy pain was all too familiar, certainly but that didn't dull the pain, perhaps he was just going numb.

His gaze swung from the quiet healer who watched his mother, defeat evident in her wide eyes to his mother who was still curled up, her shoulders shaking slightly.

He was cautious of reaching out to touch her again, he had no idea what that would bring about, perhaps she just needed some time to bring herself to terms with what had happened.

He did not blame her, from the look of things, his mother had witnessed his father get killed…

Low whimpers distracted him from his thoughts, making him glance in the direction of where his mother was sitting from him, her bony hands slipped into her hair to pull on the greying strands.

Just as he was about to throw all caution to the wind and reach for her, an ear-splitting wail cut through the room as she started mourning in earnest.

Ceraun shot upright, terrified, the last time she did that, blood dripped down the sides of her mouth, he crawled closer and it was just as he feared.

His mother threw her head back, her hands gripping tightly to her hair as she opened her mouth wide and let out another sound which encompassed pain and suffering of the dire kind.

Thick, dark blood welled in her open mouth and dripped slowly down the sides of her mouth but she did not seem to notice this, nor did she notice Ceraun trying to pull her into a hug to offer what little consolation he could.

His eyes were painfully dry, perhaps his tears ducts were frozen over, just like the blood in his veins and in his pumping heart.

His mother still did not notice his presence, the veins in her neck stood out in stark relief against her pale, thin neck, her eyes tightly shut like she was trying to escape from reality.

Her wails were getting harsher, her throat ripping with each forced sound, if she kept this up, she could severely hurt herself.

Noelani rushed in at this moment, terror on her face as she hurried over to the pallet to assist Ceraun with Tes who was growing increasingly frenzied and flinging herself in her grief.

They struggled for a bit, all of their words falling on deaf ears, perhaps Tes could not even hear them, not with how loud her wails were.

Her bleeding was beginning to go into worrisome territory and Noelani had to ask of the healer to make Tes fall asleep or perhaps knock her unconscious.

The healer was gracious with their request, although they had been the one to ask her to come to help them rouse Tes in the first place.

She agreed to help, choosing to force her under a sleeping spell so she would not hurt herself and those around her.