I am the Light - His last Redemption (Book 2)

Chapter 4 - Six Feet Under

I can feel River getting heavier as I make my way to the clinic. He’s falling asleep, but he’s holding on to me as if his life depends on it. I can’t even blame him. I wouldn’t have left him if I didn’t have to. But he knows I would do anything to make sure he’s safe. One day I know he will do the same for me.

The streets are filled with people. There have only been a few occasions when I’ve witnessed the village so alive. It’s during a full moon and our monthly celebrations in honor of the goddess. It’s the time of the month my powers are the strongest. Water and wind are bound to the phases of the moon and the fuller it gets, the stronger our powers become.

Fire and earth are at their strongest during the solar noon. A couple of hours every day. You may think it’s unfair, but it’s not. Everything has its reasons. The Goddess made it so and I don’t see any reason to question her. She gave me my powers and my magic saved not only my life today, but also saved the lives of many members of my community today.

I feel River exhale loudly, his chest rising and falling heavily. With a grateful smile, I run my fingers through his thick, black locks.

I don’t know what I would do without him. I may not remember his father, but the fact that I have him gives me a little peace of mind. It may not make much sense. I probably should be scared of the lack of memory, but I'm not. I'm just annoyed and curious about where I am from. Who I was before I came to the coven.

“Are you here to help?” A woman asks, glancing at my sleeping son. She works in the clinic, and she looks like she’s about to pass out. We never really get serious injuries around here. A cold is probably about the worst that happened in the last couple of months.

“Yes,” I nod, “Callie send me. She said there was a medic with the Hunters. I’m supposed to see if he needs help.”

“Help? He needs all the help he can get. This is a nightmare. Truly a nightmare!” she looks like she’s about to burst into tears. “He’s inside. You cannot miss him,” she adds with a heavy sigh and mutters something about needing a calming smoke as I pass her.

There are about ten people in here. Makeshift beds have been brought in for Hunters, witches, and warlocks. Some are covered in cuts and bruises. I spot a few badly broken bones, but despite that, they all seem relatively okay.

I finally spot a healer that seems busy wrapping bandages around a man's arm. His injuries look bad. Deep cuts that won't stop bleeding.

I probably shouldn’t have brought River here. Good thing he’s fast asleep, so he doesn’t have to see this. I carefully put him down on a chair. He stirs a little but rolls up into a ball, sucking on his thumb as he snoozes on.

With a gentle smile, I caress his cheek before I get to work. The man bleeding on the table seems to be in desperate need of help.

“Here,” I say and dip my hands into a wooden bowl, filled with water. It stings a little, as it’s spiked with different healing herbs. “Let me help.”

„Are you a healer?“ he asks, with a worried expression.

„I have the gift of healing,” I tell him with a nod. Besides being able to control an element, some witches are blessed with extra gifts that come in all sorts of variations. I was lucky to have healing powers. In times like this, they come in handy.

“Thank God, he needs it. He’s losing too much blood and I don't know how to stop it.”

“It’s okay. Can you lift him just a little?” the healer does as I place my hand on his bruised chest. There is a deep cut on his stomach as well. In my opinion, that's the most severe and threatening injury, so I start there.

I let the herbal water spread over his skin, soothing every muscle until the water softly sizzles around his wounds. He stirs, and his eyes fly open, from the pain this is causing him. Sadly my healing doesn’t prevent the patient from feeling the pain. There is nothing I can do to soothe him or make him feel more comfortable.

“Hold him still!” I order as he tries to get rid of the burning waters.

“I know it hurts, but I’m trying to help you! Please stay calm!” I tell him, and his eyes meet mine. He looks confused and disoriented.

“Oh my God, is he okay?” Willa comes up next to me.

“Not really,” I hiss. The thing with healing powers is, that the greater the injuries the more exhausting it is for the witch. It’s draining all the energy out of me. “Try to calm him down,” I tell her and she immediately does.

“Mika!” he groans.

“Is that your girlfriend? Is she here with you?” Willa asks him, but his eyes roll back into his head and he passes out.

“What a shame,” Willa sighs, “he’s hot. And he saved my life.”

I can’t help but chuckle at that. My eyes wander up to his face. There is something familiar about him, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. And yes, he’s very handsome.

His features are soft, almost boyish when he’s passed out. But his eyes tell a different story. He has seen it all. Felt loss and pain. He has the eyes of a soldier and the heart of a hero. How I know this, I can’t quite explain. It’s just a feeling I have about him.

“Thank you for healing him,” Willa says, “he saved me. Pushed me out of the way and got hurt in the process.” That’s what I am talking about. The heart of a hero.

“He will be okay! You’ll get your chance to tell him how grateful you are.”

“I sure as hell will. And find out who this Mika person is.”

I laugh and shake my hands a little. Shake off the tingle and burn from healing him. I feel a bit dizzy as well. My legs are dangerously close to giving out.

“You should sit down for a minute,” she says with a worried look on her face. I nod slowly and head to the chair my baby is currently sleeping in. I pick him up and let him settle in my lap.

He cuddles into me and I bury my face in his black hair, inhaling his calming scent. It reminds me of almond mixed with something wintery, like cinnamon.

“What happened?” a stranger says. His voice sounds strained and on edge. He’s probably a friend and worried about the Hunter.

I listen to Willa filling him in on the details and how her savior got injured.

“He said a name earlier,” she continues, “Mika. Is that someone we should be looking for?”

“No,” he sighs and pain fills his voice. They must have lost her. I wish I had the energy to feel sorry for them.

“Will you get me when he wakes up?” the stranger asks.

“Of course. Thank you for your help. Did you know that there’s been a time when witches and wolves didn’t get along?”

“That was before my time, but yes, I am aware. But I can assure you that I am no threat. I’m here to help.”

“I know. It’s just strange how things change, isn’t it? How enemies turn into friends?”

“If I have learned one thing in life, it’s that nothing ever is as it seems. Family can betray you, friends can be cruel, and enemies can turn into friends. I have seen it all.”

“I’m sorry you had to witness all that...,” she makes a meaningful pause.

“Logan. My name is Logan!”

“Nice to meet you, Logan,” Willa says and I can hear the smile in her voice. “I’m Willa.”

“I should see who else might need my help,” he says and I can hear footsteps moving in my direction.

“Miss? Are you hurt? Is your baby alright? I can help.”

I take a slow, steady breath before I slowly lift my head to look at the stranger. A wolf. A medic. He’s the one Callie sent me to find. I should aid him, but I am too tired to move a single muscle.

I watch as his eyes go wide in shock. He almost stumbles backward when he sees me. Not a very pleasant reaction, but okay, I guess I don’t look my best tonight. I almost got killed by two Rougarous tonight and I watched a man die. I’m entitled to look like s**t.

“This is impossible!” he gasps, “it’s… You are dead! I buried you! We all did!”

His eyes drop to the boy in my arms and back up to meet mine. Logan, at least that is what I assume his name is, looks like he’s seeing a ghost.

“I… I’m sorry, but I guess you’re confusing me with someone else.”

But he shakes his head violently.

“She doesn’t remember!” Willa says from over by the bed. “Do you know her? Are you River's father?”

“River?” he looks at my son again, but I know he’s not his father. Yet, something tells me that I can trust this stranger. “No, I am not his father, but I think that you already know this.”

I nod very slowly, “but... but I know you?!” I say hesitantly and a small smile breaks through his shocked expression. “Why... why did you say I died?”

“Because you did,” he says, “there’s a grave and all. Your body is supposed to be in a casket six feet under. You don’t remember how you got here?”

I shake my head, just as River stirs in my arms, looking up at me with tired eyes. “I wanno go home, mommy,” he yawns, taking in his surroundings. His eyes then land on the man opposite us.

“Holy mother of Gods, he looks... how is this possible?” he says shaking his head in disbelief.

“Who?” I ask and sit a little straighter, “who does he look like?”

“His father!” Logan says with an awe-struck expression. That’s not the answer I wanted. I wanted a name. I want it all. I want the whole story. If only I wasn’t this tired. I’m having trouble staying awake as it is.

“Hats your name?” River asks, without hesitation. He’s never been very shy and his cute boldness always makes me smile.

“I’m Logan,” he answers, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, little Prince,” he says with a bow of his head. Prince? Is it an endearment? It doesn’t sound like one. So many questions and still no answers.

“River,” my son says, “I’m not Pinc. This my mommy!” he says and points to me with his little fingers.

“Logan?” I ask with a serious tone, “what happened to me? Please, I need to know. I need to know everything!”