THE UNFATED

CHAPTER 14: FIRST BLOOD

Mira carefully lay next to Raphael. She examined his wound and set her lips into a thin line. What was happening could not be ignored anymore.

"How long has he been like this?" she asked while peeling off the herbs.

"He was bitten last night," Thalia explained, and she could feel the tension in her voice. Even the silent ones felt tense. She felt their eyes trained on her back, but she had to focus on saving the wolf—if it was not already too late. The edges of the wound were coated with black foam, viciously burning further into the flesh, making the wound deeper and larger.

"I'm going to need some time alone with him," she said. She closed her eyes and gently placed her palm directly on his wound. Obediently, they all turned to exit the room, each silently lost in their thoughts.

"Avoid wandering alone," she instructed, and then added almost in a daze, "Cassandra, stay."

Thalia stared unblinkingly at the unending maze of trees. She was not sure if it was real or just an illusion, but that did not matter. She felt drained, and the only thing keeping her on her feet was sheer stubbornness—she would not let the people who depended on her see her weakening.

Sleep was becoming harder lately. Every time she closed her eyes, images of Mia's playful smile and Uncle Zach's stern face stared at her, almost accusingly. Who was she to be alive when they were dead?

Now, all she could see was Raphael's blood-soaked form, and she was trying her best to hold back tears of frustration but was not sure how much longer she could hold on.

"Everything is going to be alright, Luna."

Kyle's voice sounded calmly just beside her. She was far too gone to even be startled anymore.

"Easy for you to say when you do not feel anything," she said almost accusingly, without looking at him.

They remained standing side by side silently for a very long time, but the silence did not feel awkward. Thalia felt herself calm down with Kyle next to her. He exuded a calm and assured confidence that she desperately wished she also possessed.

"I see them every day—Mia, Uncle Zach, everyone," she whispered carefully and held back a sniff.

She stole a glance at Kyle, and he was just as she had expected. His jaw was set tightly, and he stared at the trees stoically. Noticing he gave, he turned slightly to face her, and Thalia was unable to look away.

His golden eyes stared at her unblinkingly, and for a moment, she thought he would see right into her soul—she felt something deep inside her finally shatter, and without realizing it, she burst into tears.

Kyle did not know who leaned in first, but when Thalia fell into his arms, he wrapped his arms around her waist and let her cry. She always looked so strong around everyone, and even when she lost her family, she had not given herself time to grieve. He admired her for that strength, but seeing her vulnerable and letting him be the one to see her like this stirred something almost scary deep inside him—something he could not define yet.

He held her until she could not cry anymore, and still he did not let her go. He was willing to hold her for as long as she wanted.

They remained in each other's arms until Thalia pulled away. Her eyes were red and her face was puffy, but she felt lighter than before.

"I guess I should go check on Casten," she said, looking everywhere but at him. Without waiting for a reply, she almost broke into a sprint—she wanted to be away from him before she did something foolish again.

As she disappeared, Kyle called her name. She remained paused in her steps but did not dare look back. She did not want to find out what those eyes would compel her into doing this time.

"I feel everything," he said softly.

He continued staring at her until she became an image in his mind. She seemed not to leave that place lately.

"This is the third night. What is taking them so long?" Casten was almost hysterical.

He was thrashing and fighting to escape Kyle's grasp and run to the cottage door.

He had finally lost his patience when they waited for the whole day and the two witches did not emerge from the cottage even after sundown. Unable to placate him anymore, a panicked Bianca had called Thalia and Kyle to help the situation.

Currently, the only thing stopping Casten from barging into the cottage was Kyle's sheer strength. He was far too gone beyond reason.

"At least I should be with him in his last moments," he said weakly. His whole face was a mess of tears, spittle, and snot, but no one was bothered by that.

"Do not say such things, Casten. Raphael is not going to leave you," Bianca said firmly. She did not believe what she was saying, but she knew Casten needed it—and she desperately hoped it was true.

If Raphael stopped breathing, Casten would too, and there was no way she would live without him.

When Cassandra finally opened the door, contrary to their anticipation, everyone froze in place. No one dared to ask or say anything. Cassandra looked haggard and exhausted—her skin looked even paler than before, and she was leaning on the doorframe for support.

"He is out of danger," she said breathlessly—

And Kyle finally released Casten. Too relieved to walk, he just fell to the ground and cried even more.

Bianca knelt beside him and hugged him tightly, tears of relief flowing from her eyes too.

Thalia gave Kyle a meaningful glance, and they entered the cabin while Cornelius remained leaning on a maple tree, lost in thought—so it was indeed possible.

Entering the cottage felt like the first time all over again. The air was thick with the smell of essence, and Kyle could feel the buzzing of magical traces.

His eyes found the only source of light in the corner of the room, and lying on the floor in between intricate symbols was Raphael. He was still in his wolf form, but he was breathing evenly, and his wound had lost the black foam at the edges.

He inwardly smiled, because he really wished no harm on any of them—unless any of them hurt Thalia. Then he was also worried about what he would do next.

"First blood, what did you see?" a very croaked and rusty voice said from behind Kyle.

Confused, he turned and stared at the source of the voice. Dead brown eyes stared back at him unblinkingly, and the hunchback croaked out,

"Someone light the candles."

Kyle continued staring at the strange woman, and it took him a minute to realize it was Mira. Gone were the full breasts and silky hair, replaced by saggy skin and thin grey hair hanging loosely from a bony scalp. Even her red dress looked like it would crumble from one touch.

"Cassandra, the candles!" she shouted, and Kyle thought she would break into two from how much her body shook.

As the candles lit up the whole room, everyone's bewildered eyes were fixated on Mira—but they knew better than to say a word. Still sniffling, Casten quickly regained his composure and rushed to kneel at Raphael's side.

"He should shift back before sunrise," Mira rattled, and added while tapping the floor with her walking stick.

Finally finding what she was looking for, she bent down with a groan and pulled back a piece of wood to expose a dust-covered tome.

"Giving you this information is going to bring trouble, but not telling you will be more dangerous," she said and grunted as she lifted the book toward the center of the room.

"I'm going to tell you about First Blood—and why the Faceless Mother is now awake," Mira said, and everyone unconsciously came closer.

They all knew that this was officially the start of their journey.