Fated | The Heir of the She-Wolf

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

[Valerio]

Her dark hair was falling loosely in contrast with the white pillow. Her face was calm and peaceful and I wondered what she was dreaming about.

I realized I knew nothing about her and despite this fact, I was quick to come to the conclusion I wanted nothing to do with her. Was that a mistake? Should have I tried to get to know her, at least a little bit?

All I had done ever since she came to the Tower a little over a month ago was observe her from a distance and I had seen nothing disappointing – she was serious and focused during her trainings, was kind to everyone in the Tower and had quickly become Vanessa’s friend, providing the friendship, comfort and company my sister was missing deeply before that.

I exhaled and having made the decision I was going to do my best to get to know Eleanor better, I focused on one single thing – saving her now so that I could fulfil my promise later.

I held the ring in my hand and started performing the spell Eleanor herself had tried but this time the ring was present along with three of the elements.

As soon as the first lyrics of the spell came to life, my chest started hurting and tightening. The magic was strong and I could feel it draining every bit of power from my mind and body. How had Eleanor done it just less than twenty-four hours ago? She must really be a strong sorcerer to be able to handle magic with such forces.

Despite the pain I continued with the spell and a few seconds later, I felt the power of the elements coming to life around me. Even though my eyes were closed, I sensed that the darkness inside Eleanor was swirling and trying to resist the forces pulling it out, creating strain and pressure which only got stronger.

I opened my eyes and froze in terror as I observed the long black worms penetrating Eleanor’s skin once again but this time from the inside out. They started trembling in the air releasing a high-pitched noise as if they were screaming in rebellion. I could not afford to interrupt the spell so I gathered all the strength I had left and continued with the incantation. Just like yesterday, it seemed like everything was happening on double speed, like an old video being played on a fast-forward recorder. The darkness, which had exited Eleanor’s body and formed a single entity of evilness in the air between us now started splitting into four equal parts.

The first strand of darkness was pulled towards the candle that had come to life. The flame absorbed the twitching parasite and as it did, it grew before my eyes, exploding in a three feet fire that put itself down with a hiss a moment later.

The second piece started crawling towards the glass of water Clara had brought in the room as the rain had stopped some hours earlier. The water in the glass started warming up and boiling, angry bubbles forming at the top of the surface. The black worm was pulled into the water and the glass shattered in a million pieces, leaving nothing in its place.

The third piece was swirled in the air by an invisible breeze which created a paralyzing coldness around me before disappearing.

There was only one strand of pitch black evilness left and it was drawn to the ring lying in my palm. The ring rose in the air and as it merged with the darkness, it started melting down. The stone shattered to pieces and turned to nothing but dust. Drops of pure gold played in the air and danced around, hugging the blackness and taking it in.

When every last bit had left Eleanor’s body and was dissolved into oblivion, I ended the spell and crashed on the bed next to her, completely drained.

“Wake her up. We have to know if she is okay.”, I said with a husky voice.

I looked up to Clara and she walked in to the bed. I could see she wanted to check if I was alright, but I shook my head and pointed her to Eleanor. Clara placed her hand on Eleanor’s forehead and removed the spell that had put her to a peaceful sleep.

“What is happening, why is she not waking up?”, I asked frantically as a minute passed and Eleanor was still not moving.

In that moment, as if she heard me, Eleanor opened her eyes. She blinked quickly several times before adjusting her eyes and looked at me. She didn’t say anything for a few long seconds before she turned her head to research the room and everyone who was in it.

“Austin…”, she whispered and I felt frustration forming inside me as I heard her call for Austin and completely ignore me even though I was right in front of her.

“I’m here. How are you feeling?”, Austin asked and came to her from the other side of the bed.

“Austin… I found her. I found my she-wolf.”, Eleanor said and took his hand. “I-I don’t know where I went but she was there and she accepted me. She… she…”, Eleanor was speaking so quickly she could not find the words for everything she wanted to say.

“Eleanor.”, I called her and she turned to me, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

This is when I noticed the yellow rings surrounding her pupils and merging with the green which was the color of her irises. Her face was glowing and the yellow made her gaze even brighter than it was before. My breathing stopped as I realized just how taken aback I was in that moment, staring at her and not believing she could look even more beautiful than she already did.

“Yes?”, Eleanor asked me with confusion in her eyes as I had not uttered a single word.

“Nothing. I’m just glad you are fine.”, I said as disappointment crept up in me at the fact that Eleanor did not seem even the slightest bit emotional towards me. “I will leave you now, Lorenzo and I have something to take care of. Clara, can you join us for a second? And then you can also leave and take some rest.”

“I’m happy to see you awake, Eleanor.”, Clara said and smiled warmly at Eleanor who responded with the same. “After you, Valerio.”

I stood up and without saying another word, left Eleanor and Austin behind.