Episode 2 part 3
◇Stay ?◇

▪︎Author▪︎

The next morning when Saul woke up, he felt an emptiness in his bed. He looked to the side and didn't find Verena lying with him. She wasn't in the room.

He huffed in frustration and started to get ready. Cursing himself for saying yesterday that he loved her. He hadn't regretted it, but he was afraid he'd scared her. He should have waited longer. Or gone more slowly.

He shook his head trying to forget about that subject for now.  Promising to talk to her when he got back.

A few hours later, Saul was with some soldiers on his way to The Burned One. Still with the bad feeling. But at the same time calm knowing that Verena was well protected at school.

He was leading the way when he saw a hooded figure passing between the trees. When he went down to try to get a better look, the figure ran through the forest and into the distance. He decided to get back in the car wanting to get this over with. But a growl made him stop and his heart race.  He heard the growl again along with the creature's footsteps running through the woods. He looked around fearing the worst. And thanked again that Verena wasn't there with him.

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Verena didn't sleep in her room last night. She didn't even close her eyes.

Saul's words echoing over and over in her head. She tried to train to distract herself and let her frustrations out on the punching bag. She took a shower in her old room, which was now empty, hoping the water would calm her down. Nothing worked.

The day dawned and she didn't have the heart to go back and talk to him before he left. She sat on a bench at the training ground. All the students were inside the school so she took the opportunity to be alone in the silence.

She thought of various ways to explain and apologize. Then her mind was invaded by whispers. Whispers she thought she would never hear again.

One voice was louder than the others. It was a feminine voice, delicate and warm. So familiar she felt the name on the tip of her tongue. But she just couldn't remember. Her powers seemed out of control. She felt that any moment they would burn her from the inside out. At the same time she felt her mind trying to stay outside her own body. As if something was pulling her away from it. Unable to control it she expanded her powers causing her to feel more than one emotion and hear more than one voice inside her head. With the pain she put her hands on her head and dropped to her knees on the floor letting out a groan of pain. The grass around her began to burn. Her eyes glowing red and gold.  Flashes of a life she didn't know flashed before her eyes.  And for some reason she missed it immensely. But she didn't know of whom or what.

Then everything stopped. She felt in control of her body and her powers again. Breathing a sigh of relief she sat back down on the bench and extinguished the small flames she had created. But her moment of relief didn't last long as an unease feeling hit her like a punch in the stomach.  Something bad was happening.

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▪︎Verena▪︎

I keep punching the bag hard, not caring that I'm without gloves. I try to focus on the rhythm and the pain in my knuckles, preventing my mind from creating scenes of what could be happening outside the barrier.

I hear my name being called urgently. I turn to see Beatrix running desperately towards me.

"Viperine needs help" stopped panting "She's in a lot of pain"

..............................

I open the door to see Viperine on Beatrix's bed, writhing and grunting in pain.

"What happened ?" I kneel beside her. I hold her hand letting her squeeze mine. Touching her forehead I feel that she has a fever.

"Something...something caught..Anakin" her breath hitched and her grip tightened.

"Go to the herb room and bring a brown box that is on the second shelf" I turn to Beatrix seeing her nod quickly "And go slowly so you don't alarm anyone" She nods again before leaving.

"I warned you not to let him loose" I scold closing my eyes and taking a deep breath to concentrate.

I lift my free hand, feeling a hot, viscous tingle. I use her connection to Anakin to bring him to me.

I open my eyes when I feel him curled up in my hand.

Viperine took a deep breath returning to normal. She smiled in relief seeing that I was holding her snake. She reaches for it but I pull my hand away.

"If I see him around, or if I know someone saw him loose around the school, I'll send someone to pick him up and you won't see him for a while" I threaten looking deep into her eyes "Are we understood?" she agreed, swallowing hard.

I hand over Anakin before I place my hand on her forehead.

"What are you doing?" she asked confused

"Making sure you're okay" From her grimace, she was surprised by the answer "When Beatrix comes back, make some tea with the herb. It will help you" I smile at her sitting on the bed.  This time, my smile was genuine.

We sat in silence waiting for Beatrix to return. A few minutes later the door is suddenly opened. She was panting again.

"Silva is hurt. Really hurt"

No. No. No. No. No.

"Call Dawling" I don't wait for an answer and run away.

Arriving at the greenhouse, I almost bump into Sky and Terra. When I finally see Saul it felt like the world around me had stopped. I didn't hear anything. My eyes started to burn and it felt like my heart had been stabbed. My senses kick in when I feel a hand grip my shoulder. I look to the side and see it's Sky. He and Terra looked at me worriedly. I hadn't even noticed Farah pass me by.

"Get out of here" I tell them. I didn't care if my voice came out shaky.

"First, there's something I need to tell you" Terra moved her hands nervously "There was a snake around him. Hurting him. Then I started squeezing the snake with some vines, but it disappeared. With magic"

Anakin.

My blood boils and I squeeze my hand trying to control myself.

When they left, Saul surrendered to weariness and pain. To make him more comfortable, Farah let him lie on her lap. I approach the three of them sitting on the floor in front of Saul. I take a closer look at his cuts, seeing how deep they were.

With his hand that was less injured, he pulled my face so I could look at him.  His face had several scratches and at the root of his hair a large cut. But at least this one wasn't that big.

Ben approached us again, applying more Zambaq to the wounds.

"Its just us, Saul" even though we were alone, Ben didn't dare speak loudly.

"The Burned One was loose before we got there. I saw someone...in the road" Saul said with much effort and difficulty.

"Someone let it loose on purpose?" Farah asked looking at me.

And I know exactly who it was.

Beatrix and Viperine, you'll pay me.

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"You didn't speak a word since the greenhouse" Said Saul.

I continued in silence helping him to take off his clothes. After I finished I went to turn on the shower to see if the temperature was the way he likes it. I pulled him carefully towards the water.

After the bath I put a new bandage on and helped him get dressed. Seeing his injuries and his pain, I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.

"I should have gone with you" my voice came out husky and weak from crying "If I had, no one would have died and you wouldn't be like this"

He widened his eyes and shook his head.

"If you had gone you would have been hurt too" ne tried to dry my face "Or worse, dead. I couldn't bear to lose you"

"And I almost lost you today Saul. And you're all Injured"

"But I'm alive. And I'm here with you"

"This is my fault. I'm sorry"

"How can this be your fault?"

"I should have killed him. If I had, this wouldn't have happened"

I get up and grab my jacket and bag.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to kill that thing" I reply heading towards the door

"Celeste, No!" His voice despite pain came out strong and authoritative, making my body shiver and stop walking "Don't you dare leave this room"

"The faster someone goes after them and kills them, the faster you'll heal"

"We're going to assemble a team tomorrow. But you won't put a finger outside the barrier!"

"What the fuck Saul" I exclaim dropping the bag on the floor turning to him "I'm not going to stay here and see you like this. I refuse to watch the man I love die without doing anything to stop it."

I cover my mouth realizing what I said. His eyes sparkled and a smile began to appear on his face.

"I didn't understand the last part. Could you repeat that?"

I sigh knowing there was no turning back.

"I wish I said yesterday." I avert my eyes not being able to look at him "It's just... I've never said that to anyone I've been with before"

"Really?"  he asked with wide eyes.

"With me it was always just sex. I never got attached to or liked anyone like this. And when they started to involve feelings, I jumped out" I cross my arms shrugging my shoulders "I'm not saying this just because you're hurt. I love you. And that's why I can't see you like this. I can't lose you Saul"

He got up with difficulty and came slowly to me.

"Tomorrow Farah will help us assemble a team. I'll be fine" he hugged my waist giving me a peck"

"You said that yesterday and look how you're now" I raise my eyebrow "And whoever you choose I'm sure as hell I don't know. And if I don't know, I don't trust"

"But trust me. Don't you?"

"You asked me to trust you and look what happened"

"Celeste please" he raised his hands to my face looking deep into my eyes "I won't forgive myself if something happens to you. Please don't leave me. Stay with me?"  he asked caressing my face.

I avert my eyes, biting my bottom lip.  I won't fall for that again.

Not liking my silence, Saul forced me to look at him again.

"Stay?"

........................................

"When the time comes, find me"

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kisses and I hope you like it♡♡♡

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