Witchery

Chapter 2

The first thing I notice when I wake up, is voices drifting to me, mixed with fainted, beeping noises. I don’t recognize any of the voices, and I gasp, thinking that another visitor has come to see the warlock. I instantly realize I made a huge mistake when gasping. Now he knows I am awake. But then again, usually, he would have made me absolutely soundless if he had visitors, wouldn’t he?  

The next sensation that overwhelms me is the fact that I am lying on a bed that feels comfortable, I even have a duvet over me and pillows under my neck. I am not sure I dare open my eyes, but I know the people in the room with me noticed my small gasp because of their conversation instantly dying. I can feel someone moving closer to me. I slowly open my eyes, shaking. 

I am in a very bright, white room, and I slowly recognize hospital equipment around me, one of them surely showing my pulse, making small beeping noises. My bed is the only one in use in the room, although I can see that more beds are standing empty around me. There’s also a door directly across from me, and a door to my far left. To my right, there is a small bedside table with flowers on it and standing next to it is a woman with brown curly hair, pulled halfway up under her nurse’s hat. She is wearing a white coat and skirt, and she has gentle, brown eyes. Her smile instantly makes me calm down even though I feel the confusion and fear trying to take control over my body. Somewhat behind her, by the large, open window, where the sun is scarcely shining in from, is a rather tall and slim-looking guy standing in a perfectly tight looking suit. He is keeping his distance, taking out his phone as soon as my eyes open.

Slowly, the events from the apartment comes back to me. That guy with the shiny, emerald eyes. Did he… free me? I realize I still haven’t moved an inch, maybe I am still chained to the bed? I make an attempt and instantly regret it due to the pain in my back and arms. But I don’t hear the sound of rattling chains. 

“Oh no, just relax, dear, your back is really badly hurt, and your strength will take some time to recover” The nurse says, smiling but putting a firm hand on my shoulder, to have me lay still. She then moves the hand to my forehead, undoubtedly checking my temperature. 

“It is still too high, but it is getting better” She mumbles to herself. 

I try to escape her touch, but soon realizing that she is right, I don’t have the strength. My heart starts pumping faster, and I notice the beeping sounds start following the rhythm. The woman notices my reaction, and carefully takes a few steps back. 

“My name is Charlot Benzon, and I am a nurse at the general hospital, where you are also hospitalized right now” She tells me, sending me yet another bright smile. When I don’t answer her, still looking at her with big, fearful eyes, she adds “A city patrol found you in a very bad condition in a warehouse in the outskirts of the city and immediately brought you here.” 

Flashes in my mind of a city with tall buildings and lively streets. A warehouse in the secluded night. But as much as I try to focus on those memories, they just don’t seem to stay in my mind. I feel the fear creeping back inside, when I remember waking up, chained to the wall in the living room. Who was that guy coming through the door? The vivid sensation I had, before passing out, comes rushing back when I picture his green eyes before me. 

I bite my lip, scared that I will be punished for speaking. Or worse, scared that I won’t be able to utter a word. 

“Are you… not able to talk, my dear? We won’t hurt you; we are here to help you and protect you.” The woman has a frown upon her brows but keeps her smile. 

I fight myself for a moment, so many questions starting to swarm inside my head. If she really isn’t going to hurt me, what’s the harm in asking what I am doing here? I guess I have nothing to lose. However, I don’t know which of my questions to ask the first. My confusion is total for a second. Who are those people? What am I doing here? How did I get here? What is going on? Am I just dreaming this up? But I never had the strength to imagining other people than the Warlock before, and this feels so real. My mind finally settles on a question, the one burning the most on my tongue. 

“Who found me?” I ask in a trembling voice. This time it is the man by the window who answers, understanding my question. He takes down his phone, walking a bit closer while taking his hand absentmindedly through his dirty-blonde hair. 

“We were on a patrol under the leadership of Adriel White, the Alpha of our pack. He normally doesn’t go on patrol himself, but this night he had been receiving information about illegal activity concerning dark magic. He decided to go see for himself, bringing me as well. I am his Beta, Lucas Eliasson.” He hesitates for a second, then adds “Adriel was the one who found you first, chained to the wall.” Answering my unspoken question. Even though the mere thought of that dark apartment chills me to my core, I can’t help but smile a bit, hearing his name. Adriel. But I have other concerns. The words “Alpha”, “Pack”, “Patrol”, and “Beta”, although not having a direct meaning to me, rings a bell somewhere in the back of my memories. A shadow looking like a wolf comes creeping into my mind, and my eyes widen in shock. 

“I am sorry, did I scare you?” Lucas asks concerned. 

“No, I just…” I stumble over the words, not knowing how to explain myself. “I just can’t really remember anything before that apartment. I... I don’t really know what “pack” and “Alpha” means. All I can think about are... are wolfs” Hoping I don’t sound too stupid talking about wolfs, I look down, embarrassed. 

“Oh...” Says Lucas, surprised. “Well don’t worry too much about it right now. It is more important for us to know your name, and where you come from, and maybe your age?” 

I think for a second. Somehow, I am pretty sure my age is 22. But my name is slipping away from me like an eel in cold water. Confused over the fact that I can remember my age but not my name, I take a second to answer. 

“I am 22 years old… I think. And well… I…” My eyes start filling with salty water and I can’t keep the tears back. Both Lucas and Charlot look surprised and, sending each other a look, realizing at the same time, that I can’t remember my own name. 

“Oh, don’t you worry for a second, my dear, I am sure it’ll come back to you in just a matter of time.” She reassuringly tells me. “Until then, why don’t you lay down and relax. Lucas has told Mr. White that you are awake, and he’ll be here as soon as possible.” 

A smile instinctively spreads across my face, I can’t help myself, already feeling a bit better knowing Adriel will soon be here. Why do I feel so weirdly good about this? I don’t know the man! 

I decide to ask a different question. “For how long was I out?” I whisper, not sure I want to know the answer. But Charlot smiles reassuringly at me and answers, 

“Only three days, don’t worry my dear.” 

I release my breath and relax against the cushions, taking a moment to appreciate how soft they are. I already feel exhausted from all the new impressions and talking so much. I let my eyes close, even though I am still wary of the two people in the room. If I focus just enough, I can almost sense where they are in the room. And maybe escape falling asleep… 

I wake up instantly, realizing that I did indeed close my eyes for too long. But what had me waking up again, was the sound of a door closing. I can feel him, before I even open up my eyes. The guy from the apartment is back. My mate someone tells me in my mind. Someone I am not quite sure is myself. I try to turn my head in his direction, sensing him to my left. The movement, however, is too painful for me, and I let out another small gasp, just when he comes into view.

I can feel the sensation I felt in the apartment when I saw him for the first time, coming back again. The beeping sounds of the machine that measures my pulse starts going faster again. I can’t breathe! But it is in a good way. He stares at me too, totally dumbfounded, and for a few seconds it is like he doesn’t know where to put himself. Should he stay a bit away from me, he doesn’t want to intimidate or frightening me. Or come closer? Please come closer someone inside me whispers and I can only agree with the voice, although I am not entirely sure it is my own voice speaking. As if there is another person inside me…

Adriel is strikingly handsome. He is tall as Lucas, but where Lucas is slim and well put-together, Adriel is broader and only wearing a black t-shirt, that shows off his muscles and a few tattoos and scars. He has dark brown, almost black, long hair, tied back in a bun, a strong jaw, but still round cheeks and a beautifully carved mouth that smiles at me. His skin looks like it has been kissed by the sun. All he is wearing is black, black jeans and leather boots, in his right hand he is holding a black leather jacket, which he quickly disposes off at the same time as he clearly makes up his mind and moves to me. Somehow it looks like he just stepped out of a magazine for sportscars or motorcycles. He sits down on my bedside and looks into my eyes. Those big, shiny, green eyes. His smell is amazing too. Of pine trees, freshly cut grass and a hint of burnt wheels. I can’t help but try to get up to lean closer to him, but his hand, gently on my shoulder, stops me. I shiver under his touch, but it feels energetic, electric. But I find that I don’t want to move away from it.

“Don’t strain yourself” He says in a low, reassuring voice. Tears threatens to roll down my cheeks, even though I am not sure why I would cry. He gently wipes them away and whispers, 

“I’ll take care of you, you don’t have to be afraid anymore” 

It is like the room is empty. There is only him and I left, staring at each other. I feel so reassured by his words, his presence, and every bone in my body start relaxing. It is such a weird sensation. Like I’ve known him my entire life, but I barely just met him. 

“How are you feeling?” He asks me.