Althena Book 2

60. Company

Katen talks to me 1st period about horses and her accident. We decide to use my tutor in her study hall to help us. It's the only way we're going to get anything done.

The girls' club meeting is awkward. I think the girls are mad at me but trying not to show it. Lila understood, but I think she's the only one. We talk about the zoo overnight trip coming up and eat cookies.

Fay gives me a dirty look. "Are you going to the zoo overnight?"

"I would like to." I stare at my cookie. Maybe I shouldn't even try.

Kayote pats my hand. "The rules are the same as always. If someone needs to go home for any reason, I only need to call their guardian. We've had girls go home for a number of reasons. We're not going to make them feel bad." Then she goes over to pack the cookies.

Under her breath, Fay says, "Yea, when we were 5."

Ami laughs and nods.

Lila jumps up and shoves the table into them. "So sorry. I tripped."

Saray bursts out laughing. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking. My shoe was caught on the chair."

Kayote comes back over. "As long as you're ok. Tonight's meeting is over. I'll see everyone next Wednesday. I found an interesting craft we can work on for Queens day."

My hand shoots up. "What's Queen's day?"

Lila rubs her face. "It's a relaxing day for women basically."

Kayote nods. "It's a holiday in Darkburn. You are honored. Your photos will be shared. You can make an announcement about things you're working on in the community. Or past things you've done. Former Queen Mary may make an announcement or join in a walk in a city garden. It's a relaxing day. And yes, a lot of men try to make their mate feel like a queen on that day. Flowers and spas will fill up."

Haddy puts an eyebrow up. "We could do another interview... in a garden."

Kayote smiles. "That's not a bad idea. But this holiday isn't about the past. It's about love. You could talk about your love of Darkburn. Ideas you have to make it better. I know you worked with a charity before. You could share that experience. You can also show people what you find relaxing and what you love. But that's up to you."

"I'll talk to the boys. When is it?"

"Next Wednesday."

"Maybe we could do an interview this weekend, so it can be aired on Wednesday?"

Haddy nods. "I'm free all day Sunday. Text me and let me know what they think."

The girls leave and Lila and I sit at the table with my boys. "I want to do another interview with Haddy on Sunday. It can be aired on Queen's Day."

Mike looks around. "What the hell is Queen's day?"

"Sorry." Drogon swallows. "I forgot you people are new here. It's a holiday celebrating love. Girls do girly things and get spoiled while they relax. Since Thena is the actual queen, she can do something to show people what she loves. How she relaxes. How she spreads love. Stuff like that."

I smile at them. "It's my day."

Cyrus smiles at me. "What are you going to talk about?"

"I have an idea for a toy charity. People could get presents for their kids that way. All the needs of children are taken care of by charities that already exist. But toys are nice. Some people can't afford presents for their kids. I also worked with Zenity before. I could talk about that. We could do the interview on my boat. I could show them how I relax with the sea bob and scuba diving."

Drogon nods. "I like it. We could do clips of you doing fun things to relax. I have a video of you with the dolphin we could add in. We could get you walking around in a garden smelling flowers too."

"I'm not really a garden person, Drogon."

Lila shakes her head. "She's really not."

He nods. "But flowers are a big part of the holiday. It would be nice for you to include them. We'll need a few more clips anyway."

Lila nearly chokes. "Take off the scuba gear and smell the coral, woman. It's for the holiday."

I crack up laughing.

Conner nods. "She could get drunk and shoot at the boat."

Drogon shakes his head. "We'll figure it out."

"I need to get home. Thank you for dinner." Lila walks out the door. "YOU HAVE COMPANY."

"Oh shit." Cyrus runs out after her. He brings Katen and her parents in after a minute.

"I forgot you were coming. Did you have dinner yet?"

Her dad smiles from the doorway and holds her by her shoulders. "Yes. We ate. Thank you, ma'am. My daughter was saying you may know a healer who could help her?"

Cyrus leads the conversation. "Have a seat. Can you tell us what happened?"

He goes into a long-winded speech to say she fell off a horse and got brain damage.

"This was 3 years ago?"

"2 and a half."

"We do know of a trauma healer. But with the damage already healed, we're not sure if it would help."

"To try is all we can ask for. We can pay."

"No money will switch hands. I just want you to understand, we don't know if she can heal old trauma. I don't want you to get your hopes up. Have you paid other healers to try?"

"No. I met a healer in the hospital one day. I told him the story and he tried. He could do nothing to help. I've located another, but he won't try."

Katen sits by me. "He heals people who have lost limbs. I still have my head. The first one heals unborn babies. I've already been born."

"She was such a smart girl." Her dad wipes his eyes.

"She still is." Her mom smiles at her. "My smart beautiful girl."

Mike sits up. "Did the healer from the hospital say anything when he tried to help her? Any hints for us? Any, anything?"

"He said the magic wouldn't go in."

"Thena says the magic goes in. I didn't feel anything though."

"He's already tried?" Her dad tilts his head.

"She did for a minute. But she said there were too many people around." Katen steals my crackers.

Her dad nods. "When did you meet this healer?"

Katen smiles, then her face falls into a frown. "Oh no. I'm not supposed to tell."

I laugh and rub her back. "It's ok. I don't want anyone else to know. Your parents are fine to know."

"Oh good." She goes back to eating crackers.

Her dad shakes his head and looks at his mate. She shrugs her shoulders.

Cyrus rubs his face. "Thena is a trauma healer. But we want to keep that a secret. She will try to heal Katen, but it's a long shot. You have to understand that."

Her dad starts sobbing. Then her mom hugs him. "We understand. We'll do anything for an attempt."

Mike nods. "And if this doesn't do anything, we'll keep her in mind when we meet other healers."

Then her mom starts crying too. They hold each other and try to pull it together.

"And you can't say anything about Thena."

"We agree." I think that's all they can get out collectively.

I put my hand on Katen's head and push magic in.

2 minutes later, I'm still doing the same thing.

"Do you feel anything, baby?" Her mom tries to step towards us and her dad holds her back.

She shakes her head. Then her head twitches.

It honestly felt like I knocked a stack of kids blocks down in her head. "Hell, even I felt that. You ok?"

"Yea." She goes back to the crackers.

Conner yawns, so I pull my hand off her. "We need trees. I can't see the line or know how much magic I'm using."

"Let's go to the backyard."

"It's all grass, Conner. That circle will explode in every direction." Drogon stands up. "Helicopter time."

"I GET TO RIDE IN A HELICOPTER?" Katen jumps up.

"Yes."

She knocks her dad out of the way running outside.

Mike nods. "Some things are more important than others."

Her dad chuckles through tears and runs after her.

We fly to a park that has a lot of trees. Then I get her to lay down in the middle. I kneel above her head and put my hands on it. I let the magic flow in. It's doing something. I know she can feel it now. The circle appears, and the boys keep her parents back.

Then she starts to shake. I push faster. I don't know what the hell is happening. Blood explodes out of her ears. She looks at me and blood drips out of her eyes like tears. This isn't right. Then she starts shaking violently.

Cyrus yells, "DO NOT STOP."

I push as hard as I can until everything turns black. I faceplant the ground like always.