12. Some Wounds Don't Heal
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ELTON WAS SHAKING. HIS newly red eyes darted around like a crazed animal. He didn't everything in his power to keep Magnolia from touching him, but he never ran. "Maggie, d-don't touch me," He stammered. "I might hurt you."
Magnolia quickly shook her head. "You can't. You won't," She lit a small blue flame in her hand to show him.
Elton's eyes widened, suddenly entranced by the small fire. "H-How?" He choked out.
"There's no time to explain now," She looked around at the fight that continued around them. "You need to go."
"Go where?" Elton slowly leaned forward.
Once again, Magnolia looked around. Her eyes met Carlisle's and he nodded. "Go to the Cullen's house and wait there until we get back. Under no circumstances do you leave. Okay?" She didn't want to leave him, in fact, she would've been fine upright leaving the fight to stay with him, but she knew that she was needed.
Slowly, Elton nodded. Satisfied, Magnolia stood and extended her hand towards him. Elton stared at it for a few seconds before accepting it and standing up. He was still shaking violently. "Will you be okay?"
Magnolia couldn't help her smile. Even when he was terrified he still cared about her. "Yes, I'm okay. Now go. I'll see you soon." She dropped his hand and as she watched him go, her stomach clenched.
"Magnolia!" Her father called out to her. He ran to her side, looking concerned and scared. "Was that Elton?" She nodded. "Holy shit," He ran a hand down his face. "Poor boy."
"I sent him to the Cullen house. I didn't want him caught in this." She explained.
"Good," Timothy nodded. He sighed shakily. "We should get back out there. They need us."
And so they did. Nodding, Magnolia followed her father back into the fight. She noticed Jacob had returned, so she hoped that Bella was safe. The fight continued as normal and the number of newborns was quickly dropping, but it wasn't over yet. Magnolia was rushing, wanting it to be over as soon as possible — Elton was counting on her. But rushing made her sloppy. Her mother would bark a few warnings at the sudden close calls. "Be careful, sweetheart!"
Magnolia brushed her off. In her opinion, she was doing fine. Newborns dropped left and right, she was unstoppable. Until she wasn't. Cockiness had no place on a battlefield. Arm extended, she moved to shoot a flame but a sudden pain in her arm caused her to yell out. She was flipped over and slammed to the ground. A rabid Newborn stood over her. He moved to tear her arm but she moved just in time, rolling in the damp grass and shooting a flame.
This Newborn, however, was able to dodge the flame. He seemed to have this personal vendetta against the sorceress. He roared and rushed forward, his speed catching her off guard. He grabbed the same arm and twisted it painfully. Magnolia let out a strained yell as she tried to break free. Don't let them get their arms around you. They'll crush you instantly. Jasper's words rang through her head as she struggled.
Jasper's head snapped towards the sound of her pained cries. His eyes widened as he saw the Newborn wrap his arms around Magnolia and he watched in horror as he sunk his teeth into her neck. The Newborn had no clue what she was or what her blood would do to him. Suddenly, his arms dropped and in a beautiful display of blue, burst into flame. Heaving, Magnolia dropped to her knees, finding her strength had gone. Jasper was at her side in an instant. "Magnolia," He gasped. Her eyes had glazed over as she breathed heavily and stared at the dirt. "Magnolia, darlin'," He shook her lightly.
She suddenly felt hot, sweat pooling in small droplets on her forehead. "I'm okay..." She breathed out. She tried to stand but lost her balance. Jasper caught her, concern flooding through him. "I'm fine..." Her voice was quiet and her breathing became short and quick.
"Carlisle!" He called. The head of the coven turned and his face dropped. "What's wrong with her?" Jasper hastily asked as Carlisle crouched next to her.
He softly touched the bite mark on her neck and Magnolia let out a strangled cry. "It burns."
Carlisle rubbed a hand down his face. "Get her off the field. She has venom in her system, her body's rejecting it. I'll help as soon as I can. Stay with her."
Jasper nodded stiffly. He was terrified. Scooping her up effortlessly into his arms, he rushed Magnolia to the tree line and laid her against a thick tree trunk. He could see her eyelids drooping. "Magnolia, honey. Stay awake for me." He said, rubbing her face softly.
"It hurts," She moaned, head lolling back. "Jasper..." She reached a hand out towards him. He grasped it, bringing it close to his chest and holding it there.
"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere," He looked back at the field. The fight was dying down. They would be able to handle the remaining Newborn's on their own. "Carlisle will be here soon. Hold on, my love." His voice shook.
The rest of the battle was a blur for Magnolia as she struggled to stay conscious. The venom was working hard, trying to kill her, to turn her. It kept a viper-like grip on her. Her skin was on fire, yet she was freezing. Her mouth dried and she had the constant urge to vomit that only resulted in dry-heaving. Her eyesight had gone blurry but as she blinked rapidly, she could see now five people squatting in front of her. "Mags, oh my god!"
"Bella?" The word came out in a dry wheeze. "You're okay?"
"I'm fine," Bella breathed out. She had never seen anything like what Magnolia was going through — it was frightening. "What happened?" She turned to the rest of the Cullen's.
Magnolia felt hands on her shoulders, the familiar grip of her mother and father calming her slightly. "She was bit," Carlisle explained grimly. "She has venom running through her blood as we speak and it's killing her."
"Our bodies reject it," Ariana added shakily, not taking her eyes off her daughter.
"It hurts," Magnolia moaned out again, leaning into her mother.
"Alice saw that some of the Volturi would be coming, you can't be here," Carlisle said to the sorcerer family. "Jasper. Take her to the house. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Jasper nodded. Whether or not Carlisle told him to, he wouldn't have left Magnolia. "This is gonna hurt, darlin'," He warned her as he moved to scoop her in his arms. As his arms moved around her torso and legs, Magnolia couldn't help the moan as a stinging pain shot through her entire body, but Jasper picked her up with ease.
"Keep her safe," Ariana reached out and touched his bicep. Her eyes were watering as she held back a sob. "We'll be right behind you."
Jasper nodded, eyes softening at the terrified woman. Without another word, he sped off. Magnolia could barely feel them moving, but there was that familiar feeling of nausea when vampires ran. He ran right up to his bedroom, where the bed they had placed specially for her sat. He placed her down delicately. Her eyes stared off at the ceiling as she focused all her energy on staying awake but she could feel herself slipping, and so could Jasper. He could feel all of it — she was weak, and if Carlisle didn't get the venom out of her system, she wouldn't turn, no — she would die.
His head snapped at the sound of footsteps and a familiar scent confused him. "Elton?" The red-headed boy stepped into the room, red eyes staring at Magnolia.
"What...what happened to her?" He rushed forward and reached for her hand. He was startled at how cold she felt.
"She was bit," Jasper answered plainly. He looked down at her with sorrow. "Carlisle needs to get the venom out of her or she'll die."
"Venom?" Elton looked up, his head tilting slightly.
Jasper sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, softly holding her ankle. He too noticed how cold she was. "It's what turns us into vampires. It's how you change," Elton was a vampire. It suddenly hit him and a wave of anger hit him. "Do you know how worried she was about you? She knew this could happen and that's why she warned you not to go! And she was right. This was the last thing she wanted for you."
Elton stared down at Magnolia's hand, unable to look Jasper in the eye. He felt the state of the blond bore through him and he wished he could just disappear. A small gasp left Jasper's mouth. Elton looked up at him, confused. "Elton? You just..." He trailed off.
"I just what?" A disembodied voice answered.
"Turned invisible. I can't even smell you anymore," Even though he was angry, Jasper had to admit it was impressive.
"I what?!" Elton shrieked and suddenly reappeared. He shook his head. "How?"
"Well, some vampires when they turn gain a power of sorts, besides the strength and agility. I, for example, am an empath," Jasper squinted and focused on calming Elton down.
"Woah," The boy said as he felt the tension leave his chest and his shoulders slumped slightly. "Are you doing that?"
"Yes," Jasper nodded. "I can influence the emotions of the people around me as well as feel their emotions."
"That's amazing!" Elton gasped.
Jasper found himself looking back at Magnolia. Her eyes were open but she looked far from awake. "Sometimes. But all powers come with a price."
They fell silent after that. Jasper didn't take his eyes off of Magnolia until Carlisle arrived. They could hear her heartbeat slowing and a chilling truth fell over the group. Ariana clung to Timothy as Carlisle explained there was no way he could remove the venom — it was too late. Jasper couldn't stand it. He ran as far as he could from the coven. Alice took his spot on the edge of the bed and tried her best to look for Magnolia's future but no matter how hard she did, nothing came to her mind. All they could do was say their goodbyes. "Alice?" Magnolia spoke her first word in hours. It was hoarse and ruff but it meant she was alive.
"Yes?" Alice scooted closer and leaned down. She could hear how much she was struggling to breathe.
"I..." She took a large breath. "I think I might turn."
That caught the attention of everyone. "What?" Alice moved back slightly.
"The High Council," She breathed out. "They're vampires...they were pale, old, and their eyes were red." After that visit, she knew it was true. No known sorcerer in history had turned but that made sense — the High Council would want that erased so no others could do what they did.
"Are you sure?" Carlisle stepped forward.
Stiffly, Magnolia shook her head. "Not at all..." Her voice trailed off as the darkness finally took her.
Her heart slowed day by day and everyone waited for it to stop because when it did, it meant life or death for the sorceress. So when it finally stopped, the home held their breath, until, to all of their relief, she gasped.
AUTHORS NOTE
uhhhhhhhhh please don't hate me! So, yes, Magnolia got bit, yes, the High Council are sorcerers/vampires. I know it all seems super weird but TRUST ME I've had this planned before I even started Magic.
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