Affairs of the Heart

***Ella*** "Four...three...two...ONE!" the crowd chants. A loud cheer erupts around us, confetti cannons fire over the occupants of this vast state room, showering them in black and gold confetti. Austin grabs me, his face alight with joy as he pulls me close, delivering a heart-searing kiss, adding a romantic flourish as he dips me to the floor. "Happy New Year, Mrs Landry," he says with a radiant grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief and affection. As he pulls me back up to standing, he kisses me once more, firmly, nipping my lip every so slightly in a typically flirtatious way. I smile back at him, forever under his spell, but this moment of happiness is suddenly cut short by a sudden, sharp jolt of fear. My smile fades as the fear gets stronger, wave after wave of it, hitting my heart and mind repeatedly until I am clutching at my chest. "Ella?" Austin asks in alarm, now feeling my extreme worry and concern. "Aus, something is very wrong," I gasp, feeling more fear and dread rushing through me, "I think it's the kids!" Austin immediately pulls out his phone and taps it twice, his expression concerned as he waits...soon shaking his head, his brow knitted with worry. "Sod that, I am not waiting for a phone!" I declare wildly as I start to make my way to the large doors that lead to the foyer of Valmir's Austrian residence. I politely push myself through the thick crowd of people. "Whoa, are you already leaving?" I hear Serena say, being one of the people I'd just pushed past. "I think something bad has happened at home, I can feel it," I tell her desperately, turning my back on her and continuing toward the doorway of the state room. Austin is finally at my side as we stride through the palace’s foyer and towards the large front doors. Austin opens a door for me and we exit the palace into the snowy mountainscape once again. "What is it that you’re feeling?" Austin asks urgently as we hastily run the path towards a centuries old wisteria tree. "Fear, a hefty amount of it, something-" I begin to say, before pain shoots through me now too. Austin stops and holds onto me, as tears escape my eyes. "They're so scared, Aus, and someone is hurt...badly!" I exclaim, panic threatening to take over me completely. He nods frantically, picking me up into his strong arms and running full pelt in the direction of the tree. He stretches out his hand as we approach it, still clutching me in his arms as I feel the fear dissipate, only pain remaining. His palm connects with the trunk and he holds it there, shortly making sounds of disbelief and confusion. "Aus?" I ask, as he lowers his hand briefly before he tries again. He growls under his breath, putting me down before he tries once again. Perhaps he is too distracted by the problem at hand? I put my palm to the trunk myself, yearning deep in my heart to go back home to see my beautiful children. But, nothing happens. "No, no, no, no, NO!" I exclaim in absolute despair, praying it isn't so. I step back from the tree and immediately try to view its energy flow, expecting an intricate map to appear in front of my eyes...but, there is nothing. "Els, you gotta tell me that this tree, which is far older than many of the others, including the one at home, isn't broken!” Austin exclaims desperately. I turn to him, my expression grave, unable to say the words. "F*CK!" he bellows loudly, punching the tree trunk so hard that his fist disappears half a foot into the trunk. His phone starts to ring in his pocket and he immediately takes it out, answering it rapidly. "WILL?" he asks, his eyes wild as he listens to Will speak on the other end. I fiddle anxiously with the moon charm on my necklace, hoping this is all somehow a misunderstanding… "...oh...oh god...okay, they're okay?....Ophelia?...oh no...no no NO! Where was Joshua?........WHAT DO THEY MEAN HE WASN'T THERE?" Austin roars fiercely, his green eyes blazing in an anger I have never seen from him before. He listens, his free hand holding his face anxiously before he hangs up. He pauses for a moment, looking the most bereft I have ever seen him. "Aus?" I ask quietly. His eyes meet mine, glistening with tears, a sight I am not used to from him. "Rogues. They somehow cut the power, some creep entered the house, wanting to 'send a message'…to me. Front entrance was surrounded, Ophelia got the girls out back. Fern and Olive managed to get to Dalston, with Sage following a minute or two behind. She said Ophelia had pleaded for them to let Sage go, and they did...because all they wanted was Ophelia. She is there, entirely on her own," Austin recounts with a dejected sigh. "Joshua?" Austin growls loudly. "He bloody well went out. He found a loophole, and he went out to Cornwall, probably to meet up with a girl," Austin explains, his nostrils flaring angrily. "Whatever, we need to try the tree again," I say desperately, trying once more. "Els...Will tried...he can't get there either," Austin says quietly, tapping a few times on his phone as he stares intently at it for several long moments. He shakes his head and growls loudly again. "I can't get through to ANY of the pack. It's like nothing there works. Calls aren’t connecting." “What about the other trees? Perhaps ours is just defective as it's newer?" Austin taps a few more times and sighs in annoyance at what he's reading. "Uh...Els this tree is Old, and...I think...they're all down, according to social media. It's like the power in them just...went out. We are STUCK here," Austin tells me sadly, pulling me into him and enveloping me in a comforting hug. "THIS IS RIDICULOUS! They've worked for twenty-five years!" I exclaim, sadness and fear building in my heart as I consider our eldest daughter, "so...what? What do we do? Now we are stuck in fu*king Austria. Josh is in Cornwall, Will is in the Lake District...our pack can't be contacted. Are THEY even okay? Who the hell can help Ophelia?" Austin looks and feels as lost as I feel right now. "F**K THIS!" I declare, pulling off my heels and throwing them away into the darkness, "I'm flying. Getting a real flight might be quicker but I am not dithering around with an airport. I can’t!" Austin nods, feeling apprehensive about this. I hadn’t ever flown that far, before. "We need to make sure she's safe, Els. It’s Ophelia!" he says, his voice thick, and the most afraid I have ever seen him. I nod wholeheartedly, and with a quick roll of my shoulders, my wings emerge, and I take off into the dark sky. ... ***Ares*** "OPHELIA!" I immediately shout, as soon as it is evident I am in an entirely new place. It is raining heavily here and it is very dark, but luckily, I am vampire; I can see extraordinarily well in the dark. The blue morpho flies on up a slope, and as soon as I take a step forwards, a scent hits my nose abruptly. I clap a hand across my mouth as my fangs immediately appear, called to the surface by the raw and intense smell of spilled blood. Ophelia's blood. Lots of it. A sickening feeling of apprehensive dread courses through me as I wage an internal battle; could I even trust myself to go to her? I stumble forwards toward the blue glow, because the overwhelming urge that the scent has dredged to the surface, is apparently already too distracting for me to function. But, I needed to focus. I needed to help her. A few steps more, and my blood turns to ice, as there, up ahead, a crumpled figure lies motionless. The blue morpho butterfly is hanging in the air above, and I know without a shred of doubt, that it is Ophelia. I sprint toward her, driven by both overwhelming concern and the strange sensation in my chest. As I drop to my knees beside her, my hand slips in a slick pool of blood at her side. I lift my palm, now smeared with red, and I stare at it in abject horror. Scarcely wanting to move a muscle as I breathe deeply, in and out, several times, acknowledging what it is, acknowledging what my body wants me to do...and accepting what I simply am... The rain washes the blood from my palm and down my bare arm as I continue to stare at it. I drag my trembling hand across the soaked grass, desperate to quell the burning hunger that gnaws at the edges of my control, threatening to overwhelm my urgent need to help Ophelia. I put my hands on her, and I can feel that she is breathing, at the very least, shallow, but there. Sadness fills me, as I cannot feel any emotion coming from her and her aura is so dull. She is evidently very weak, soaked to the bone and freezing cold. "...Will..." I think I hear her say quietly, so weakly, drawing my focus back to the gravity of her situation. I crawl around to the other side of her, avoiding the large pool of blood, and panic spreads through me as I now see it; a large, bleeding wound on her flank. I scan the length of her quickly. The shredded remains of her clothing suggest wounds covering her arms and legs, the unmistakable signs of an animal attack. I have no idea if the threat is still lurking nearby or if it could return, but I know I need to move her fast. I kneel beside her and gently lift her face. Her eyes flutter open for a brief moment before closing again, her head rolling limply toward the ground. "Ophelia!" I exclaim, fear hitting me as I cradle her face in my hands. Her face is so cold, and as I pick her head and shoulders up a little to cradle her against me, she feels so lifeless. I take several deep breaths. In through my nose, out through my mouth, trying to focus myself more; but this only worsens the burning hunger that I am feeling. But, like at the Ball, I just needed to embrace it, to accept that I am what I am, that I could be stronger than my instincts if I truly wanted to be. I look back at her expressionless face, and my fear for her only increases. Fear. I'd left my phone in my bedroom, and evidently there was no one else here aside from Ophelia. I needed to get her somewhere safe. I slide my arms around her, picking her up and easily getting to my feet with her. I stride quickly over to the tree that I had come through and I try to get back home. But, nothing happens. My hand remains firmly against the solid bark of the tree. I try several more times, and still, nothing. I notice a large gouge in the trunk, and I wonder if the tree has become defective as a result. I step back from the tree and try to view the tree's energy like I could on the one back home. Except, there is nothing to see. It is just a normal tree, now, so I need to think of something else. "Don't worry, Ophelia," I mutter softly, though sadness fills my voice. I turn in the rain-soaked grass and hurry toward the house, holding her close against me. The house looms large and impressive, but it’s the landscape that truly stands out. I understand now why Ophelia always spoke so fondly of her garden back home. With this being Ella Landry’s estate, I can only imagine how breathtaking it must be in full bloom. Finally, my feet hit a patio, and I rush toward what appears to be a wall of glass. My reflection stares back at me as I approach, a sight I never wanted to witness - me, carrying the lifeless form of my friend. Relief flickers briefly; at least this was not my doing. But still, that thought has haunted me more times than I would care to admit. The wall of glass is a huge patio doorway, with part of it already open. I step inside the house, and carefully lay Ophelia down on the large dining table. I turn and slide the doorway shut, locking out the sounds of the heavy rain as it still continues to fall, and stopping the freezing gust of wind entirely. In an enclosed space, now, the scent of her blood is thoroughly distracting, and I spend several minutes with my back against the glass, trying to overcome it. Eventually, I go over to the light switch to turn on the lights...but nothing happens. Why there is no electricity, why the tree doesn't work...it all mystifies me, and it really is not helpful with the situation that Ophelia is in. I immediately go to the kitchen sink and look underneath, knowing that is where Madeleine had put candles in the flat in case of a situation like this. Sure enough, there are candles and, thankfully, a set of matches. I set about lighting them in a line across the breakfast bar, and soon the room is somewhat lit with a dim, warm glow. I can see in the dark, but Ophelia can't, and I need her to know she is safe. "Ares?" Ophelia’s faint whisper reaches me from behind. I rush to her side, my heart pounding, and I look into her face with a desperate relief. She’s awake, and aware enough to know it’s me. "Don't talk, just...stay. PLEASE stay with me! Just...I just need time, and I need help, but nothing is working!" I exclaim rapidly in angst, "I'm going to find towels or a medical kit or...something." I stand back up, wondering where I would even start to look for something like that. We didn't have one at home, because blood was the answer to virtually anything. "Bathroom," Ophelia says simply, her voice a little stronger, now she is out of the wet and cold. I dash off, out of the room and into the pitch-black corridor. I race along it until I finally come to the staircase, located at the very end, by what looks to be the front door to the properly. After charging up the stairs, the fifth door I try finally reveals a large family bathroom. Opening various cabinet doors finally reveals a medical kit, and I hastily grab a stack of fluffy towels before I run back down to where I had left Ophelia. She is whimpering in pain as I enter the room, and I can only guess that the effects of adrenaline must be wearing off. The sound is incredibly hard for me to hear, and it greatly increases my anxiety over her situation; but I really needed to focus. Blood has now started to pool onto the floor below the table, and I need to steel myself against my instincts once again. "Focus, Ares," I mutter to myself, trying to think of the first aid books I had read in our library. I knew that I needed to apply firm pressure to the wound to encourage it to stop. I tear Ophelia's already torn top further to expose the wound entirely. It is quite large in area with gauges from multiple teeth, and it is roughly on the back and side of her lower abdomen. Exactly where I had felt the pain myself before I had entered the other realm. I had to hope it was not unmanageable, but I really wasn't sure. I wish I knew more about cauterising wounds, as perhaps it might be a better option to stop the bleeding. But for now, I fold a smaller towel into a thick square and press it firmly down on the wound. Ophelia lets out a pained wail, and I immediately feel dreadful for causing her yet more pain. "I am so sorry...the last thing I would ever want to do, would be to hurt you, Ophelia. I've got to apply pressure...but you already know this, you always know so much..." I mutter sadly, wondering if talking to her might help to keep her conscious. I think I'd read that once before? "There are just so many things that I have wanted to explain, but none of it really matters right now," I continue, maintaining the pressure on the towel, "but...oh...our garden...in the daylight -Ophelia...my goodness. I wish you could see it...what you created..." She makes a sound of agreement in her throat and I smile down at her. Her eyes are closed, but she doesn't look to be in further distress. After around ten minutes, I gently relieve the pressure and check the wound, feeling relieved to see that the bleeding has stopped. ...For now, at least. I rummage in the medical kit, thankfully finding a large, hydrocolloid dressing that is just big enough for the wound. "It's stopped, thankfully," I tell her as I rip open some sterile wipes, starting to carefully clean around the wound, "although, a lot of this stuff expired four years ago. Not something I'd expect from the CEO of Gaia..." I hear her snort a little, hopefully in amusement at my comment, but I cannot be sure. I spend quite some time cleaning around it, and thankfully it doesn't start to bleed again. "I'm going to apply a dressing now. But I'm going to put some gauze over the top, first. The dressing feels too thin..." I explain, starting to carefully peel the backing off the dressing. I slowly lay it over the wound and press down on the strong adhesive edges. Once it's on, I breathe a sigh of relief. Now I just need to check everywhere else. "Umm...I do not think I can reasonably spare your dignity for the rest," I tell her, looking down at her face for any sign that she has heard and understood me. She does the smallest of nods, and I take a deep breath in, deciding to start with her legs. The fabric is so tattered, I pull what remains of her jeans off entirely and put them straight into the bin. There are so many deep cuts, which thankfully aren't bleeding that much anymore, but there aren't enough steri-strips to close them all adequately. I ponder my options for a moment, and then, I have a brainwave. My saliva. I wasn't sure if it only worked on wounds created by fangs, but it was worth a shot. I was definitely not going to be licking the wounds, though, that was for sure. I hesitate for a moment, my finger near my mouth. I press forward with it, gathering saliva on my tongue, which I then dip a clean finger into, before tapping it on part of a five-inch-long gash on her thigh. I watch with absolute fascination, as the cut begins to close, but only around where I had placed my saliva. "The good news is that I can help...but, perhaps I shall tell you how, some other time," I tell her dubiously, before I start applying more to the length of the cut. After a minute or two I've successfully sealed it, but it hasn't worked too well on the deepest part of it. My saliva wasn't that magic, after all, but I set about doing the same for perhaps seven to ten more deep cuts across the length of her legs, ignoring the small grazes here and there, and also a few more on her forearms. Thankfully, she must've curled up to protect herself, and her chest is fine. Eventually, after more cleaning and covering a few of the deeper cuts with some adhesive dressings, I make one final trip to the bin before leaning wearily on the worktop. I was very tired, and also rather mentally fatigued. It is only now that I realise; my fangs have receded. I have been around Ophelia and so much of her blood, but I had been focused on something else, something that was far more important. I might rejoice more at this, but I am too tired to care. I am just...thankful. I find a glass from one of the cabinets and fill it with some cold water, which I then go and offer to Ophelia. She manages to take a few small sips, which is better than nothing at all. I have a drink myself, before putting the glass on the side by the sink. "I should move you somewhere more comfortable. The dining table is not ideal," I tell her, before I go off down the corridor, searching for wherever their reception rooms may be. The first door leads to a utility room, but the second I try leads to a large and very comfortable-looking living room. I head back to the kitchen, blowing out all the candles before I scoop her up into my arms and proceed to carry her to their living room. The sofa is thankfully among the biggest I have ever seen. I lay her down on her side, with the dressed flank wound facing up. It is an immensely large sofa, very deep and wide. I briefly look around the room, noting the various photographs and personal effects on display, and my eyes fall on a large woodburner alongside the outer wall. Within ten minutes, I have used the matches from the kitchen to light the burner, hoping it will bring some much welcome heat to the cold room. I had started many bonfires myself in the other realm, so this was not a challenge. The room is soon getting warmer, which I hope will help Ophelia feel more comfortable. I yawn widely, because the warm glow from the fire that is illuminating the room is now having a profoundly soporific effect on me. I look back to Ophelia and my heart sinks. "Oh no..." I mutter, seeing a patch of blood on the top of the large dressing. I knew it wouldn't be a perfect fix, and a small amount of residual bleeding was expected, but I start to worry once again. I sit down on the floor, right by her head, listening to her moderately increased breathing rate. I had no idea what else to do, at this point. There was no obvious medicine, no electricity, no working phone and I had no idea who else lived nearby - nor why a pack house of all places, was completely empty. There was also no way I was leaving her side now. I just hoped that, eventually, her parents would return, even though the trees didn't seem to work anymore. Where were they? Where were her siblings? What or who attacked her? I had too many questions, but thankfully, one singular focus. Ophelia's eyes are closed, and her brow furrowed a little in pain. I just wish that I could help heal her entirely. Faeries were meant to be able to heal, being as physically weak as they were; but Ophelia was just...different. The very least I could do was to make sure that she wasn't alone, and that she wasn't going to get any worse. It is near three o'clock in the morning, according to my watch. I yawn once again, my own adrenaline finally wearing off a little as fatigue starts to truly hit me. I pull off my blood-soaked t-shirt, because it is still damp. My thin pyjama trousers are dry now, at least. I climb onto the sofa alongside her, mainly so that I can monitor her breathing, but also because I want to be close to her. I hope she doesn't mind. Thankfully, this part of the sofa is rather wide, so there is ample room. "I'm right here," I say quietly to her, "no more running, no more avoiding...and I am so sorry that I did! At the time I was so scared that I was a danger to you. But...I am not afraid of that anymore. I am now far more afraid of losing you." She tilts her chin up toward me, ever so slightly, her eyes still closed, but evidently following the sound of my voice. Her lips are parted as she takes shallow breaths. I am still so worried for her, so I check the top of the dressing again. The patch of blood looks the same. The bleeding looks to have stopped once again. I lay back down, facing her and I study her face, her features looking delicate in the warm light. My mind drifts back to the moment under the gazebo, where she'd looked up at me with such excitement in her eyes, feeling excited, wanting to explore and experience... The kiss we'd shared was truly unexpected. Bringing surprising yet truly wonderful feelings, feelings that I would gladly experience again if I could... On impulse, I tilt my chin down towards her and deliver the lightest of kisses onto her cool, bottom lip. She doesn't react -at first- but a moment later I feel her nose brush mine ever so slightly, as she raises her chin further towards me. I gently kiss her again, soft and a little longer, then continue to slowly peck her lips again and again, until I begin to feel her kiss me back. It is barely perceptible at first, but she is doing it, and my heart swells in response. I reach out for her face to caress it, glad to find that her face feels so much warmer now, than it had some time before. A quiet sigh of contentment soon escapes her, as she is definitely aware of what we are doing, now, and with each kiss between us, her strength appears to be returning. I can feel it; I can feel her presence growing with every touch. I do not know why, but it is. I slide my hand around the back of her head, wanting so much more of her, just like I had in the gazebo, unable to resist deepening our kiss and drawing closer to her on the sofa. My heart is racing with a newfound joy as well as deep relief. The familiar, electric feeling is soon spreading into my fingertips as I hold her, my hands feeling warm and alive. I feel her hand hold me at the back of my own head, kissing me quite firmly once more before she breaks away and leans her forehead against mine. "I think, that there is definitely a magic about you, Ares," she whispers, her breath warm on my face as she speaks, her voice audibly much stronger than it had been before. I utter a quiet, happy chuckle at her comment, feeling joyous at this sudden change in her condition. "Oh, thank goodness you're okay," I breathe with absolute relief, so reassured to see her stunning, sea-green eyes now opening in front of mine, "you were right, once before. Real fear truly is grounded in the affairs of the heart. I have never been so terrified!" "Can you check the cuts? They have just felt...odd. Tingly..." she asks. I sit up and do as she asks, feeling a little confused by her request. I peel back one of the smaller dressings in surprise, revealing smooth, perfect skin underneath. "It has healed, hasn't it?" she asks softly, her voice laced with emotion. I remove the dressing entirely and go back to facing her. "Yes, it has. But I do not know how." "Magic. You," she says with a smile. I chuckle at her, so happy to see her wonderful smile once again. But my amusement is soon followed by a large yawn, fatigue threatening to pull me under. I am shattered. "There is a blanket behind you," she tells me. I lean over and grab it, and look back into her eyes. "Will you...Ares, would you be okay to hold me? I think...I feel it may really help-" "-of course!" I reply perhaps a little too excitedly, wanting nothing more than to embrace her fully, right now. I have no idea how holding her is going to help, but I cover her with the blanket, before I lay down on the sofa in front of her. She immediately snuggles forward into my bare chest, her face against my neck. I adjust her head so it is resting on my bicep, then wrap my other arm around her torso, avoiding the healing wound. It isn't particularly comfortable for me, but I am already enjoying the feeling of this too much to care about my own comfort. As I think about how worried I have been, and how relieved I have since felt, I know I would stay awake all night like this, if I had to. I know I would do that for her. I soon hear a subtle snore from her a few seconds later, and I embrace her tighter against me. I no longer had to worry about what I was going to say to her when I next saw her, and I could apparently be drenched in her blood and not even try a drop. None of my previous worries mattered anymore. All that mattered was that she was safe, and she was miraculously starting to heal. I feel the butterflies again, as I hold her against my chest; aside from the worry I still have for her, this feels just wonderful. I kiss the top of her head and shut my eyes. It isn't too long after, that I too fall asleep in our embrace.