My Mate, My Mystery

Frozen

Xena's P.O.V.

I walk through the woods looking at everything, my mind on Anthony and how hard it is to understand him. One minute he is yelling at me, disgusted by my presence, then the next minute I can feel his excitement and his need to be close to me. Then he just walks away, all emotion gone again, just distance left.

I hate the way it makes me feel like I am not enough to hold his interest, makes me feel inadequate. Am I enough for him or do I really just annoy him, Athena cuts into my thoughts with a whimper, she feels the pain in my heart. She too thought he would have come around more by now. "He loves us, he just does not know how to show it, he has been hurt so much in his past that he forgot how to." She says with a vicious growl, I chuckle because I can hear how protective she is and that she wants to kill whoever hurt him so badly, no questions asked.

I continue walking into the woods, fully aware of Anthony's eyes on me, I can feel that he is irritated that I am still not listening to him. I makes me smile, he thinks I am going to surrender easily but he is for a big surprise, I am not some weak she wolf.

Something on the ground catches my eye, it is a bundle of sticks and what looks like bones all woven together by what appears to be hair. It was gross but my curiosity got the best of me, I reached down to pick it up and just as my fingers touched it I hear Anthony scream my name, but it is too late. It only took a single touch of my fingers and I feel the power of the magic go right through my finger and travel over my entire body in the matter of seconds.

I was no longer in control of my own body, it felt like I have become stone, cold, unmoveable stone. I scream to myself to move, to stop myself from falling to the ground, but my own body betrayes me and I feel my body start to fall toward the ground. The only thing I could control was my eyes. Frantically looking around, Athena trying to calm me down, but I was freaking out.

I braced myself to hit the ground, but instead strong arms wrap round me, as Anthony's scent invade my nose. I don't know how he got to me so quickly but he caught me before my head hit the ground. Connor was close behind him as they both lean over me, examining me, trying to figure out what was wrong. Tears stream from me eyes, as I try to speak or move, to tell them I was still conscious.

Anthony scoops me up, his face is stoic, no way to tell what he was feeling. His touch was gentle but possessive, as he holds me close to his chest and runs the whole way back to the castle. He doesn't say anything to me, doesn't show any emotion other than holding me. I am scared and I need to know that he cares whether I live or die, or was I just this annoying person he felt responsibility to but didn't want it.

More tears stream from my eyes as I realize I couldn't feel Athena anymore. I call for her in my mind, I scream for her so loud in my head that it gives me a headache but the scream is met with silence. My own body had become a tomb that I am trapped in, alone and trapped with only my thoughts. I tried to calm myself down and listen to what was going on around me. Anthony had carried me to my room and placed me on the bed. Connor had gone to find the witch who lived with the pack.

I can hear Anthony on the phone trying to explain what happened to someone, but I can not tell who he was talking to. His tone was frustrated as he answered each question he is asked. I heard him say "your going to come here?" confusion in his voice. he finished the conversation with "see you soon". I lay there staring at the ceiling, racking my brain to try to figure out who he was talking to. He seemed nervous and defensive, but who does he know that would care about my well being so much.

My thoughts were interrupted by Connor rushing in with a tiny older woman. The woman looks me up and down with a scowl on her face. She examines me for a while without saying a word. The tension in my body growing with each passing minute. "Say something lady, ANYTHING!" I scream in mind, fully aware noone can hear me.

As if she heard me, she finally spoke, " This is dark dark magic, I can no longer sense her wolf, which means the potion is tied to wolves baine. I can not say if it has killed her wolf or just locked her away." She spits the words out as if the just told everyone I have a simple cold, but those words hit me like a tsunami. Athena may be gone for good, the tears are streaming down my face again. She just quietly watches me for a few minutes then continues. " the spell seems to be a paralyzation spell, entombing her in a body that is frozen. She can hear us but can not speak, her eyes seem to be the only part of her body she is in control of." she says, almost seeming proud of herself with her diagnosis.

Anthony stand behind her completely void of expression. "How do we fix it" he asks through gritted teeth. I can't tell if he is annoyed with me or the witch. Her smug expression disappears as she turns to him, " this magic is too advanced and too dark for me." she squeaks out barely Audible. I see her jump when Anthony's fist goes through the wall and she runs from the room.

Connor puts his hand on Anthony's shoulder, "We will figure this out!" he says softly trying to calm him down. Anthony stomps toward me yelling " This wouldn't have happened if you just listened to me, if you were obedient!" his face a mixture of pain and anger. He turns to Connor "There may be someone who can help us, they are on the way but won't be here til tomorrow. I hope it is not too late, I also can't feel Athena."

He says and for the first time the pain in his voice reaches his eyes as they fill up with tears. Connor and Anthony walk out of the room and leave me to wonder who he was talking about. Who can possibly help? I cry for Athena, begging her to answer me. I pray to the Moon Goddess for help and then continue to cry until I pass out from exhaustion. Is this the end for me? The last thought to runs through my mind before the darkness takes over.