Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Nivaan’s POV

Everyone cast weird looks at me as I walked through to the basecamp. Their eyes held something between shock and fear. Anyway, I didn’t have time to dwell on it. So, I shrugged it off and continued walking. Every once in a while, my eyes darted to Emilia’s face; just a strange urge to make sure that she was with me.

After walking for what seemed like a million miles, I finally reached the basecamp. My entire body ached as if it was being beaten from the inside but I didn’t dare to stop. Motioning to the guard at the entrance, I commanded, “Tell Kiara to call the healer quickly.”

His expression turned ghastly and his eyes widened. Instead of fulfilling my command, he ran in the opposite direction. What the f*** was wrong with everyone? Letting out a frustrated grunt, I walked towards Kiara’s tent.

Kiara was busy looking at something when I stepped inside. Sensing my presence, she looked up. Her face instantly contorted with shock and a gasp escaped her lips. I thought she was shocked on seeing Emilia’s unconscious form. But, she rushed to me and looked at me from top to bottom.

Placing her hand against my cheeks, she said in a terrified voice, “What happened to you Nivaan?”

My eyebrows furrowed and I looked at myself reflexively. It was then, I realised that I was still stuck in half shift. So, I looked like a furry, ferocious humanoid wolf rather than a regular one. Damn! So this was the reason everyone was so scared.

I carried Emilia to Kiara’s bed as I said in a nonchalant voice, “I just got stuck in the middle of the shift…” Adjusting her to a comfortable position, I continued, “You must call the healer. Emilia has suffered a lot.”

Kiara nodded in understanding and immediately rushed outside. I tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for Kiara to return. How I wished I had learnt more about medicine like my sister! Then I wouldn’t feel so anxious.

A few minutes later the healer arrived. She asked me to leave but I refused vehemently. For some unknown reason, I didn’t want to be separated; not even for a minute. My feelings were all over the place after seeing her limp form in that stupid formation.

After a detailed assessment, the healer gave her verdict, “There is nothing wrong with Emilia; physically. She is just a bit traumatised. She will be fine after a good rest.”

I opened and closed my lips several times; hesitant to ask the question that had formed at the tip of my tongue. My lips pressed into a thin line as Emilia’s last words flashed in my mind. My fingers inadvertently brushed the hair off her forehead and a strange ache developed in my heart.

“How is the baby?” I blurted out just as the healer was leaving. She turned around and flashed a consoling smile, “Your baby is fine too….”

My hand dropped to her abdomen. My baby…. A sigh escaped my lips. The healer was right. It was my baby no matter how much I denied it…

“I don’t think Emilia can stand being traumatised again,” Kiara said, placing her hand on my shoulder. For a moment I thought she was going to ask me to stay away from her. Heaven knew that I totally deserved the separation.

Gulping the lump in my throat, I looked up at her. She ruffled my hair as she spoke, “I have seen you like this a couple of times but I don’t think it will be a good idea for her to see in this semi-human form when she wakes up.”

I nodded in understanding and followed her to my tent. She took out a syringe of mild wolfsbane. Her fingers trembled slightly and she looked at me, “This is going to hurt.”

“Just get it over with, Kiara,” I snapped impatiently. Emilia was alone in Kiara’s tent. I was finding it difficult to supress the nagging worry growing in my heart.

Sensing Kiara’s reluctance, I took a syringe from her and stabbed myself. A hiss sounded at the same time but it didn’t come from me. Kiara had closed her eyes with a pained hiss. The corners of my lips lifted lightly. My sister couldn’t see me in pain; no matter how minor it was.

A sudden pang of guilt gripped my heart as my mind veered in the forbidden direction. I clenched my left wrist with the fingers of my right hand; the elongated claws pierced through my skin drawing blood. The wolfsbane started showing its effect too. Pain seared through me, tearing at my insides. A scream was at the verge of escaping me but I managed to muffle it.

As the burning sensation waned, my wolf grew weaker and I was able to take my human form again. My feet wobbled lightly but Kiara grabbed my arm. She led me to my bed where my clothes were placed.

The moment, I had finished dressing, Kiara pulled me into a tight hug and burst out sobbing, “Do you have any idea how scared I was?”

“I don’t think I look so hedious in my semi beast form….” A sharp smack instantly landed on my back. “You know I wasn’t talking about that….”

“I know, I know….” I pacified quickly, “I am sorry I was careless.”

Kiara pulled away but her eyes lingered over me, scrutinising every part of my body, “Are you hurt? The video that she sent…”

“I am fine, Kiara… They did torture me but I healed myself.”

Kiara’s lips pressed in a thin line even as a cloud of worry shadowed her expression, “Who were they?”

“She was probably the same witch who kidnapped the other babies. She was after my… I mean Emilia’s baby.”

“Is this about that same crazy ritual?”

“Hmmm…”

“Wait! Did you fucking say witch?” Mark’s stunned voice sounded as he rushed inside. “How did you even manage to get out if you were trapped by a witch?”

I lifted my hand and wiggled my index finger that still bore the black ring, “Even after that battle was over, I never took this ring off.”

Kiara’s face paled at the mention of the battle and she staggered. Mark was standing right behind her and supported her quickly. Kiara pulled away with an annoyed grunt and crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes blazed with anger as she chewed out word by word, “I thought you would never come back here.”

Mark massaged the back of his neck and lowered his gaze, “I was a bit annoyed back then; mostly at my own incapacity…” he looked at Kiara and said in an earnest voice, “I am sorry, Luna.”

Kiara’s eyes darted from him to me; her expressions calmed down and she squared her shoulders, “Let us solve this matter first. Tell us exactly what happened and how in the world did you end up meeting Emilia?”

I explained in detail how Emilia bartered herself for my life; how that witch went back on her words and how I finally rescued her.

“That stupid girl! That stupid, foolish girl! Why did she have to something like this; that too when she is preganant.” Kiara exclaimed, smacking her fist in frustration.

Mark was equally stunned, “I never expected her to do something like this. Didn’t you say that Emilia was a self centered, conceited person? Wasn’t that why you rejected her?”

“Nonsense! How can you even think like that, Mark?” Kiara snapped in a furious voice, “From what I can see, she is one of the most selfless people in the world. She might appear conceited on the surface but she has a good heart.”

Her eyes were literally spewing fire as she glared at Mark, “Don’t you ever try to justify Nivaan’s rejection…” Her voice grew extremely cold, “It is all his fault that he couldn’t get over Valence. If anyone has suffered due to rejection, it is Emilia….”

Kiara threw one hard look at me and stormed out of the room. Her words kept ringing in my ears long after she left. She was right. I never tried to understand Emilia; I never gave her a chance.