A L M I R A

Chapter 37
Almira Davenport

I walked back into the castle, the ground below me fuzzy and blurred. I blinked my eyes quickly, temporarily clearing my vision. Calix, Cole, Alexander, Adam, and a couple warriors all stood in a circle, staring down at whatever was in the floor.

"What are you guys looking at?" I asked, taking a step closer to them. Calix turned to me and frowned, moving aside. There laying in the center of the circle was Ryker, headless. My stomach churned and my heart sat heavily in my chest. "Ryker?"

Calix took a step towards me cautiously. "He died in battle before Cole or Adam could get to him."

I covered my mouth. "Do Raiya and Estelle know?"

Calix didn't answer, he just shook his head 'no'. I frowned.

I sighed and walked over to Ryker, kneeling down beside his body. His eyes were still opened, but glazed over. They had peace and comfort frozen into them, like he was waiting for it. He didn't intend to live, he wanted to die heroically and be with Ashli. I glanced at his wrist and the sun mark was gone, like it never existed.

I stood up and swayed on my feet. Calix was behind me in an instance, holding me up. "Almira?"

I shook my head. "I think we have a slight problem," I mumbled, darkness occasionally surrounding my vision.

"What do you mean? What's wrong?" Calix panicked, looking at me frantically.

I lifted my arm up, revealing the bite mark that was bleeding profusely on my arm. "I mumbled my healing spell and it wouldn't heal. I think Alastor had them lace their teeth with silver or something."

Calix growled and picked me up bridal style, being careful not to hurt my arm any further. "Make sure Ryker's body ends up in a casket, we'll contact Raiya later. Inform Estelle of her brother's passing."

Calix carried me up to our room and threw the cloak off, lifting up my sleeve. He inspected the bite wound, being careful not to touch the blood. "There's something I can give you to heal it, but you're not going to like it."

I looked at him, my eyebrows furrowing. "What is it?"

Calix bit his wrist and blood pooled from the wound he just made. My face dropped. "I have to drink your blood?"

"I know, it's weird. You're not a vampire so it's not easy for you, but it'll help, I promise. The silver will kill you, Almira," Calix explained, moving his bleeding wrist closer.

I hesitated and looked at his wrist before slowly bringing it to my mouth and drinking it. Once I had all I could take, I shoved his wrist away and wiped my mouth, coughing. "Disgusting."

Calix chuckled and pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me securely. "I know, babe."

I smiled into his chest and he set me up, looking at me. He softly planted a kiss onto my lips before standing up. "Get changed and rest. I'll be in here right after I contact Raiya."

I nodded and watched Calix walk away. I stood up and took my time changing before going back into the bed. I wrapped the blankets around me and looked outside the windows, letting my mind wonder. I should probably confess to Calix about my blood and the containers downstairs. He deserves to know.

I waited for Calix to come back into the bedroom. After waiting a bit, he came back in and undressed himself for bed. He slid into the bed and wrapped his arm around me, kissing my forehead.

"Calix?" I questioned, looking up at him.

"Hm?" He asked, his eyes closed.

"I have something to tell you, and I need you to not get mad at me," I said, sitting up.

Calix peeped an eye open, looking at me. "What is it?"

"So a while back, I remembered how my blood helps and enhances all the species out there. And then I was thinking Alastor got a whole bunch of it, and he was super strong for a while. So I practiced a healing spell on myself where I would cut myself deep enough to bleed, bleed into the containers the maids have in your blood supply room, and then heal myself up. That way, you would drink my blood and get stronger," I established, crossing my arms. "I just wanted to be honest with you, which is why I'm telling you."

Calix sat up instantly, looking at me intensely. "You what?"

I didn't say anything. I stared at my hands while I played with my thumbs.

"Almira, why would you do that?" Calix interrogated, grabbing my hands.

I looked back up at him, my eyes meeting a confused but not angry Calix. That was a relief I guess. "I just wanted you to be supernaturally stronger. There was only so much spells and training could do, but my blood is a whole other level."

Calix stared at me. "Don't do the containers anymore."

"But my blood makes you stronger! It can help you, especially right now, during a war! If I can't do the containers, at least take it straight from me," I countered, frowning.

"I can't harm you, are you insane?" Calix snapped, glaring at me. Oh there Mr. Angry is.

"I can heal myself, and you can always make it in a way that's not as painful," I argued, crossing my arms.

Calix shook his head. "No. There isn't a way to make it painless."

I can't believe I was about to say this. "What if we were making out or something and you kissed my neck or whatever and then bit me? I could always tell you when to stop!"

Calix was silent, his eyes looking anywhere and at anything but me.

"Either you take it directly from me or I continue with the containers and you'll never know when you're drinking my blood or somebody else's. Might as well at least control how much of mine you're drinking," I retorted.

Calix took a deep breath. "Fine. There is no winning with you."

"I'm aware."

"It's getting late, get some rest, love," Calix said, reaching out to cup my face in his hand. I leaned into his hand and closed my eyes, relishing the pleasing feeling his touch gives me.

Calix placed a kiss on my forehead before we both laid down. I curled into his chest, Calix's arms wrapping around me. A smile spread across my face before I submerged into a peaceful slumber.

I was shortly awoken, looking around. Calix still had me in his arms, peacefully sleeping. I looked around the room and spotted a particular Goddess sitting in the corner.

"Abelia," I greeted, sitting up.

"Almira, my child," she smiled in return. She stood up and made her way over to me.

"What's this about?" I asked, eying her curiously.

"The sacrifices," Abelia answered, folding her hands together. "I have two of them, and I'm already stronger. There are still three more that I need."

"Don't look at me to solve that. I'm letting nature take its course on how they die. I will not kill my friend or my sister," I snapped, glaring at her. "I've witnessed and experienced so much heartbreak lately."

Abelia scoffed. "Did you think war was just a couple casualties of people you've never met? War effects everybody, Almira, including you. I'm sorry that you're friends are dying, but if you want this war to stop, I need their souls. They're in a good place now, as will your sister and your friend. I'll come to collect the last soul personally, so no need to get upset about that one. All I ask is you bare with me," she pleaded, wrapping her hands around my face.

A familiar calming sensation flooded my body and mind. It was a dirty trick she had. Calming any of my anger or intense emotions. I took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm trying, I really am. But I can't keep quiet about this much longer. Loved ones are dying and I can't comfort anybody by letting them know why. It looks suicidal. Ashli's death looked like she was purposefully trying to end herself. And Ryker? He lost his mate, he didn't want to go to battle and come back alive! He wanted to join Ashli!"

"And he did. They're together again, and they're okay. They know what's going on and what's going to happen. I need you to play your part. You can tell Calix, but no one else must know. I will explain it all when it is due time," Abelia comforted, removing her soft hands from my face.

I nodded, remaining silent for a bit. If I could tell Calix, that eases most of my troubles. "What about Alastor? Wryler is dead, so what does this mean for us?"

Abelia looked down, a sad expression forming on her face. "I'm afraid Wryler's death was part of their plan. Alastor would gain Wryler's energy. He's still a vampire, but he's much stronger now. The blood deal you have going on with Calix, that's a good thing. You're blessed blood will be what keeps him alive during these times."

"How do I tell Calix all of this? There's so much to tell, it'll take forever," I inquired, turning to look at Calix's peaceful body.

"If I may be of some assistance, I can help with that," Abelia offered. I paused and questioned her intentions before slowly nodding.

Abelia snapped her fingers and Calix's eyes began to flutter open. I smiled down at him before he sat up. It took him a minute before he noticed Abelia sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Who the hell are you?" Calix snarled, instinctively pulling me close to him.

Abelia stood up. "I can answer your question among many others if you let me inside of your head."

Calix opened his mouth to argue before I placed my hand on his arm. He looked down at me confused before I smiled. "It's okay. Let her in."

Calix huffed before turning back to Abelia. She walked around the bed towards him, putting her hands on the sides of his head. She closed her eyes and Calix closed his. Moments later Abelia stepped back and Calix gasped for air before looking at me and Abelia.

"I hope that clears some things up for you," Abelia articulated, sitting back down at the edge of the bed.

"You knew?" Calix questioned, turning to me.

I nodded my head. "I did, but I couldn't say anything, and neither can you."

"Why not?" Calix raised an eyebrow, his eyes jumping from me to Abelia.

"I will explain it all in due time. However, that time is not hear. Do mine your tongue and keep quiet about it," Abelia responded, her blue orbs staring into Calix's grey ones.

Calix nodded. "Alright. What about the other sacrifices?"

"They'll die eventually. When, I don't know. I don't control death, I control life and give it. All I can say is to be ready for whatever comes. And know, I am your friend, not your enemy," Abelia acknowledged, standing up. "Rest, you two. You've got a lot ahead of you."

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