An Unwavering Promise--Completed

Chapter Twenty

Eleanor’s POV

Everything hurt. I supposed it was to be expected, but I definitely didn’t enjoy it. From the beeping to my left, I knew that I was in a hospital. I had no recollection of how I ended up here. I also had no clue who survived the explosion. My explosion. I had caused it. The seriousness of the situation was beginning to dawn on me, and I shuddered at the thought of how much damage I caused, and how many potential people I may have killed.

I remembered the feeling of the darkness bubbling over in me and letting it take over. I thought I was going to die, but then I woke up again. I tried to help as many people get out as possible, not even realizing how many floors I’d fallen down. Then, the ceiling was collapsing, and now I was in the hospital.

Blinking my eyes open, I realized that I was alone in the room. For whatever reason, it hurt. It wasn’t that I needed the validation from others in order to feel loved and important, but a small part of me had hoped that someone would be here for me. Another part of me feared that the reason why no one was here was because they weren’t even alive to be here for me. Doing my best to shut down the negative thoughts, I looked over at the window and realized it was dark. The logical part of my brain told me that visitors weren’t allowed past a certain timeframe, and that had to be the reason for the absences.

Pushing past the pain, I sat up in the bed and tried to wiggle the stiffness out of my joints. I had tons of cuts and bruises covering my arms, and I winced as I felt a tinge of pain coming from my abdomen. My head was bandaged, and I had similar wraps covering other various parts of my body.

Rae? Please tell me that you’re at least here with me.

As if I could go anywhere else.

I smiled to myself and felt relief wash over me. I really did feel better knowing that my wolf was still present and with me. Every since the scare with the Goblin Juice, I felt the need to double check that Rae was still with me.

What do we do about the darkness?

Well, considering the damage you wreaked–

Damage I wreaked? This is a team effort here…

I’ve never tapped into it. I know better than to play around with forces beyond our control. Nicholas introduced the darkness to us, which should be the first warning sign. Then, Nathan mentioned it and talked about how wonderful it was, which should be the second warning sign. And now this, you blew up an entire building! In the middle of a main city! This is definitely the third and last warning sign we need in order to know that we shouldn’t touch it. No matter what grand promises we’ve made, you need to learn how to control it and stay away from it at all costs. This really doesn’t seem like something you should just play around with.

Yes, I’m aware…

I’m sensing hesitency. Why is the hesitency?!

I just don’t think it’s that simple.

You sound so dumb right now. How is it not simple to stay away from the bad darkness?

It could be useful. I mean, look, it got me out of that situation with Dominic. That could have ended really poorly; however, the explosion let me escape.

And could have you kill you. Or others you love, like Alex. And, probably did kill innocent people attending the party.

I doubt anyone there was innocent. They were buying people!

Doesn’t make it right.

You’re so black and white, Rae. Can’t you see how grey this is becoming? We both agree that I should work on this and control it better. I don’t want to blow up any other buildings. Yet, at the same time, it was useful. Maybe with some training, I can learn how to help others with it. Instead of just shutting it down due to it being bad, maybe I could find out how it’s helpful to us.

Some things are better left untouched. We don’t know the side affects of using such power. Also, if Nathan’s demeanor is any indication, how is that not enough to convince you? Sometimes, El, I swear, I don’t understand you. I can’t believe you’re even entertaining this idea.

I stayed silent. Rae had never been so against anything before, and she had never been this blunt to me either. I understood the logic and wisdom in her words to simply leave the darkness alone, but Nathan’s words kept replaying in my mind. This was a tool, something that could aid me and possibly come in handy down the line. If I chose to ignore a power like this, I couldn’t help but think that I’d be losing out on something.

I hear you, Rae. I really do.

There’s a ‘but’ coming though, isn’t there?

Yes, there is. Even though I see the merit in your concern, I can’t ignore a powerful weapon like this. However, I don’t want to lose myself or you to it. When the time comes where I reach the point of no return, I will give you the final say and keep me from falling over the edge. How does that sound?

Stupid. But, I’ll have to take what I can get. You promise to listen to me?

Only if you promise not to say ‘no’ too early.

I felt Rae grumble, annoyed that I had figured out her plan so easily.

Okay. You won’t go over the edge because I won’t let you, and you’ll be safe while playing with this darkness. Deal.

My nerves softened, and I felt much better. Although I knew doing this would be dangerous, I couldn’t let it go. I also knew that I needed to speak with Nathan more about it. He seemed like the only other person who understood what it was I was about to experience. I couldn’t say I was super thrilled with the idea; however, I saw the need for it. My thoughts then drifted to Alexander. I hadn’t seen him since before the building collapsed. I knew I was still upset with him over the events leading up to us joining that party. I also missed him, though. Swallowing the pride that had built up, ever so slightly, in me, I reached out through the mindlink to him.

“Alex?” I asked the void tentatively. “Please tell me you’re alive and that I didn’t kill you in the explosion.”

“Eleanor, my love,” he responded after a few excruciating heartbeats. “It’s so good to hear your voice. I’m so sorry I’m not there, but I’ll be on my way as soon as I can.”

I attempted to keep his words from hurting, but I failed miserably. I couldn’t help but feel as though I wasn’t a priority. I didn’t want it to affect me, but I knew it did.

“Wh–what are you doing that’s keeping you?” I questioned, hating the uncertainty in my tone.

Moments of complete silence passed by, and with each second, my fear grew.

“Um, okay… Well…” Alexander stammered. “I know you may not like it, but I’m working with Brit on a project. Now, before you explode, uh, I want you to hear me out. I lied to you a lot. But as soon as I come back, I’ll tell you everything. Brit and I were never married. She is my partner. Now, I know I’m asking a ton from you to keep trusting me; however, I promise to tell you everything and lay it all out on the table for you. Nothing will be left unsaid, and any question you have for me will be answered honestly.”

I reeled from his words and had to grip the bed rails to keep myself in check. My head was spinning, and I fought against both a deep sadness and a raging anger for control. There was one question that I couldn’t get rid of, though.

I asked quietly, “ Why couldn’t you just trust me from the beginning?”

“I should have, and I’m an i***t for doing so in the first place. I kept putting expectations on you to tell me everything and trust me, and yet, I didn’t reciprocate. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if that’s what it takes, Eleanor. When I thought I lost you,” he paused.

I could feel the emotion welling up from his side of the bond. This, at least, told me that he was close enough to the hospital for me to sense him. I hadn’t been able to do so since I found him missing at Brit’s house.

“When I thought I lost you,” he tried again, “I swore to be a better mate. There is nothing more important than you, Eleanor, and I swear to remember that for the rest of my life.”

“Okay, so what are you doing right now, then?” I countered immediately.

A part of me was struggling to believe his words. He had a way of convincing me without putting forth the effort to show that he meant what he said. I needed to see the proof, or in this case, hear the proof. By him telling me truthfully what he was doing, then he would be showing me that he did want to trust me fully and put me first.

“I’m…I’m planning a way to kill Dominic,” he struggled to say.