Chapter 30

Sara POV

"Help him!" I begged Prita, as I was on my knees pulling Draven's lifeless body to my chest. Oh my god, oh my god... I stare at her pleasingly but she just watches, as though she is watching a show, just waiting for the scene to play out. Cradling him into me I brush his hair from his face, his skin has gone so pale his lips a dusky rose the only colour on his face. His chest isn't moving, it's supposed to move. He was barely breathing. Scrambling, I lay my head on his chest, praying to hear some noise. The faintest sound of his heartbeats reaches my ear. This is not happening, it cannot be happening. "Prita!" I scream, but she just watches.

Pulling him up by his underarms, I struggled to move him. He was so heavy, but I cannot just leave him. "Prita, what do we do now?" Clearly, I was struggling but Prita paid no attention to this. "We must get off this path and seek shelter." She stated so matter of factly. Beads of sweat were already beginning to form on my forehead and we had barely moved. Panic struck, my only focus was moving from this open space before those monsters came back for us. My muscles ached, screaming for oxygen from keeping the same position. I had no choice but to drop my arms, Draven's body slinking to the ground in response. "Are you hurting?" Prita stared at me, her eyes wide with curiosity. Am I hurting? Is she joking? Surely her eyes can see my struggle, "I will manage." was the only response I could muster for her. "That wasn't my question." She stated.

I sucked my teeth, frustrated at her questioning the obvious. "Clearly I am struggling, Prita." I snapped, sounding a little saltier than I had intended. "I have never seen one in such a long time. I didn't believe you existed anymore."

"That's a nice story Prita. Do you think you could help me?" I said, exasperated at her lack of help this far.

"Why do you not change and carry him? It must be easier that way." She sounds so confused that even I have no clue what she means.

"Prita, I have what I'm wearing and he's hugely heavy, I can't carry him." God, she was infuriating. What wasn't she getting? I need help. Do I need to spell it out for her?

"I'm sure your mate would not feel any less if you were to hold him up, Sara."

"Mate? I think you may have gotten your wires crossed Prita...." She says nothing puzzled "...Prita, I'm not a wolf. Do you really think I would be struggling to move him if I had the ability to do it with ease? Not sure if you're watching, but this isn't easy for me. In fact, while we're on the subject I could use some help." It was like a domino had been pushed and the rest just fell down one after another as the rant fell out of me. "So Prita, if you would be so kind, bloody help me." Taken aback her hand clasps her necklace in shock. Oh gosh, I've offended her. I hadn't meant to, it just fell out of me - again. Ready to start moving again, I took Draven's weight and pulled, moving a tiny way. His poor skin is going to be barely there once we arrive - lucky for him being a wolf means he's healing fast. On the other hand, it's stopping him from healing from whatever else happened. His weight began to get lighter and lighter and we moved much more easily. I finally got the hang of it. Or so I thought. Draven was floating a fraction off the ground but enough that the little energy I had left could relax. "Thank you." Prita nodded her acknowledgement and we walked in silence, Draven floating behind us. Gosh, I hope he will be OK. As we walked along the path we had chosen with our bodies battered, our minds drained and our spirits lacking, I thought at least it couldn't get any worse. No sooner had I this thought than the heavens opened and huge raindrops the size of grapes fell on us steadily. It was a sign. This was hopeless, nothing good had happened since I left Domilia. It was a fool's errand to come out here, thinking I could be some sort of hero, some sort of saviour. The people who are helping me are dropping like flies all around me and I can do nothing but allow it to happen as without them I wouldn't survive. The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth like I am using them for my own selfish needs. I think that that is partially true, though I'm not ready to admit it. Maybe I should give up and go it alone. It's true I won't last 5 minutes out here alone, but maybe that's a good thing for all involved - why drag it out and delay the inevitable? The sky darkened, it couldn't possibly be night again so soon, the sun only rose a few hours ago. A deafening blast of thunder bounced off the wall, bursting in my ears as if someone had set off a firework inside them. Lightening followed shortly after, the now darkened sky being lit up with its own fireworks. "We can't stay out here." Prita determined, walking over to the cliff face on her right, placing one hand on the rock and the other on her pendant, muttering ineligible words. Draven's body dropped back to the floor as she did her magic, now focused elsewhere. A lightning bolt hit the rock centimetres from where she stood, cracking the stone and unearthing an entrance into the giant wall that held us trapped within it. She walked straight in, leaving me alone to pull Draven's ridiculously heavy body into the cave. How he was so heavy I couldn't say, there isn't an ounce of fat on him, his body was pure muscle. Suppose that old saying was true, muscle must weigh more than fat, he must be carved from stone.

The weather roared outside and a cold draft blew through the dark, cold cave. "At least it's dry." I forced a smile at Prita, who was awfully quiet. Snap! With a click of her fingers and a small fire comes to life in the centre of the cave, naturally, I move close to it to warm up and further from the draft. The light from the newly lit fire shows Prita looking a little pale. "Are you feeling okay Prita?" I'm concerned she may not be doing well and between Draven and Prita, well let's just say it, I'm not sure if I would be of much use if anything happened. "Bloodcasting can be tricky. Dangerous, if the mage is not properly prepared. To be honest with you Sara - I had underestimated the power I would need to call on for this trip." My head bobbed to show I was paying attention but I knew nothing of what she was saying. "Bloodcasting?" I question hoping it doesn't make me seem a fool. "Mhmm, yes. It is a type of power blood mages tap into. You may have heard it called blood magic. It relies on sacrifice, smaller spells can be actioned with a pinprick, a token of such..."

"Oh, like the opening of the archways." It makes more sense when you know why it works.

"You have opened these portals?" Prita stared at me intently.

"I have, a friend showed me how. They're the reason I'm out here, and the reason I need to get back sooner than later." Worry hits me in the chest like a sledgehammer as I'm reminded why I'm here. Poor Edward, I hope he's still holding on. "So you are a wolf," Prita claims. "No. it's complicated..." I've gone through this so many times, why is it all that interesting?

"No? Then tell me what are you? Mage?" Ah, this again - great. I was dreading the interrogation. It's always the same questions "I'm afraid for you. It's a very boring answer. I'm as mundane as one can be, with no special talents. I'm simply a human. A wolf pack took me in. That's it." I spell it out, let's face it, they were the next questions she was going to ask anyway. "Why aren't you there now?" Prita c***s her head as if trying to decipher a puzzle. Looking away from her, I took a second to stare at Draven, why hadn't he woken yet? "I'm afraid that's private, though I can say I intend to return." I smile keeping my tone as neutral as possible. "...And the alpha, how is he?" I narrow my eyes and stand, suddenly I feel trapped in the deepest part of the cave, a cave of her making and the only exit is past her. If I even attempted to leave, it would mean leaving Draven behind. It's not something I could do when he's in the position he's in. It is clear she knows something. Is she digging to see if he is alive? Could she have had something to do with his attack? "Couldn't tell you, I'm not there." A smirk crossed her face, she seemed impressed with me, nodding and leaving the conversation there. She may have stopped talking, but now I have so many more unanswered questions.

It took a while to feel somewhat comfortable again, but Prita moved on from our conversation like it never happened. Laying on the hard stone floor, I watched the flames of the fire dance as though each flame had a personality as it swayed. My eyelids grew heavy as I nodded off, keeping toasty by the warmth of the fire.

Where am I? Inspecting my surroundings it looks like I'm in Domilia but it seems different, colder and empty. I strolled past the homes and businesses I had been to too many times but they were empty - the buildings were covered in damage. With signs of blood everywhere you looked. Something horrible has happened here. Panic encased me, threatening to suffocate me as each breath was struggled. The waning crescent moon was high up in the sky shining down a small amount of light - had I been gone almost a full moon cycle? I could not understand, my mind felt foggy, but I couldn't work out why. In the distance, I spotted Arius. He stood tall and unmoving. I ran towards him as fast as I could, yet I never seemed to move. He always stayed the same distance away. Giving up, I tried to find someone else I knew "Drew!" I shouted repeatedly, calling for him, but he never showed. The town began to spin circles around me, piles of bodies entombing me with faces I knew and others I did not. Demetrius, oh please no, not him. Tears flowed from me as the piles got higher and higher, covering me, and stealing my access to oxygen, and the more I struggled, the more bodies enveloped me. My heart thumped painfully in my chest with sheer panic as I felt a hand grab my shoulder, causing me to spring up with a jolt. "Sara..." She shook my shoulder gently, my breathing erratic as my chest rose and fell, a cold sweat covered me as I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. " Thought you might want to know he was just stirring, not sure what caused the change but he may be waking up.

Draven. I scrambled to his side, across the floor. He was waking up, slowly he opened his eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked me, his voice husky. "Are you serious?" I laughed in disbelief, placing the back of my hand on his forehead, "I'm fine, you scared me though - I don't know what happened. Are you feeling OK?" Draven fell quiet, his brow furrowing was a telltale sign he was thinking about something. He glanced over at Prita and they shared a silent moment - did Draven have feelings for Prita?

It was as if someone had dropped a ton weight on my chest at the thought. I smiled, trying to ignore it. After all, he's not mine, and I am going back to Drew. I'm going to save Edward. Not long after waking, Draven was back to normal in no time, as if nothing had ever happened. "We need food." He stated matter of factly, he threw down his cape giving just a glimpse of his perfect buns, my teeth caught on my lips as I tried to hide my reaction to him, as he shifted darting back outside on the hunt.

"How long would an alpha survive if poisoned with wolfsbane?" I poked a twig into the flames as I spoke. "Most would have been dead the same day. Why do you ask?" Prita stared at me, coaxing me to say more. I shrug my shoulders feeling deflated, my mood has definitely dropped since Draven left, "I have my reasons." Feeling deflated I let out a huge sigh, dropping my head between my knees, desperately trying to find the willpower to keep going. "Edward is alive - for now." She replies dropping a bomb as she walked away to the entrance of the cave. It takes a moment to sink in that she mentioned Edward by name. Staring at her intently, I knew she knew something. "Did Alywn or Arius ask you to help me?" She just smiled, brushing her black hair from her face.

Shivers travelled up my spine, as I felt Draven return. As hard as I try not to look at him the more I want to, goosebumps cover my body as I feel him staring and it takes everything in me not to look at him undressed, praying he puts his cloak on immediately. Both Prita and Draven come over together and sit near the fire. That bugs me. I know it shouldn't, but it does. I can feel my temper building and know I need to move. "Where are you going?" His voice spills into me, "What do you care!" I snap jealously taking myself outside alone. Right now I'd rather face monsters than watch the two of them exchange looks. It's bitterly cold out here still and the rain has died down with just a mist in the air and occasionally a fat drop of water was hitting me from above. It didn't take long for me to decide inside was better than out and head back to where Prita and Draven were cooking some animal he had caught, a squirrel or rabbit perhaps - again I don't ask. I'm living with a don't ask, don't tell motto right now, and for the most part, it worked. I missed Domilia right now and the delicious meals Gwyneth cooked for us all daily, my mouth watered as I remembered the dishes. It hadn't been that long ago since I left and yet it felt like forever. Draven stared at me with so much intensity it set my heart on an unknown rhythm, "We will leave first light tomorrow and find your flower. Prita tells me it is not much further. Rest up and you'll be back to your pack soon." He said the words with as little emotion as he could, but something about the way he was looking at me stung my heart. Smiling was all I could do as he passed me some meat, then fiercely sunk his fangs into his own - why had he partially shifted?