AN: Remember when I was doing so good and uploading frequently? Well, I told myself to slow my roll before I burn out and to save my energy for my busier months. . . . cries in irony. . . .laughs in long term planning.

Blinking open my eyes, I come face to face with Verena. Instinctively my fist sails out and connects with her mouth.

Bad move in more than one way.

Verena screams from the punch and I scream at the pain radiating from my bunched up hand.

"I must admit that I deserve it wolfie, but must you aim for my fangs? They are quite delicate." Verena holds her mouth for a couple of seconds before she's seemingly fine again.

I only the other hand, pun intended, am near tears because my palm is throbbing in agony. Not to mention my now bleeding knuckles that grazed Verena's "delicate" two inch tusks.

Verena notices the wetness in my eyes and mentally equates to the cause of it. She then turns in the bed and brings back a bowl of soaked bandages. Before I can say a word, she wraps both my hands in the linens and props me up on my headboard. I sigh in relief because whatever is in the bandages is doing a fantastic job at numbing my hands.

When done, she places the bowl back where she grabbed it and settles in next to me. Making sure that I have a pillow behind my head and blankets within reach.

"I am here to congratulate your fighting Bex. A scarce few could have gotten to where you did, I'm proud." And proud she did look, with no indicators on her face that she was just hit.

I hate-no... loathe vampire healing.

"Also," She leans in to me and her proximity doesn't make my skin crawl like it should. "the witch we're looking for has a close ear on the student counsel it seems. They knew that all the permanent members were going to be busy last night, what they didn't expect was you to be with me." 

"Busy?" I ask confused. What were they all doing and why is it taking me until now to realize this?

Robert wasn't by Verena's side, even when he promised Marco that he would be.
I should've noticed last night but he's normally silent when we hang out, so it just felt like our regular dealings.

"Robert had to administer Beth's last test. All the permanents went to initiate her because as expected, she passed." Verena sounds proud of Beth and I feel the same thing.

But then I realize- I probably interrupted her congratulations. Crap.

She didn't even throw a fit from my blurry memories, she instead insisted on helping me.

I pushed her away, again.

Daughter of a bitch I'm selfish.

As if she can read my mind, Verena gently starts running her hands through my tangled hair and easily takes half the blame off of my shoulders.

"We'll both have to make it up to her. That loathsome witch deserves a proper celebration."

I wholeheartedly agree.

"Will she forgive us?" I near whisper afraid of the answer.

It's not until this moment that I realize how deeply I respect the all seeing witch. Not only has she proven to be incredibly wise, but now I can't help but be relaxed by the constant good energy she exudes. I've been nothing but distant but she's always been open and nice without fault.

I'd understand if she finally responded the way I'd expect after such shitty treatment.

Verena brings me out of my musings with a light tap on my neck. Somehow we're both now laying down with the fluffy quilt shielding us from the outside world.

"I'm afraid I've failed us." She says softly, so soft that the words stay cocooned in our private space.

I quick my eyebrow in question and she continues.

"The last two incursions have apparently proven my fortitude and the Counsel is starting to take notice. Vampir are not made to withstand our mental walls imploding, yet here I am after a second offense." Verena exhales unnecessary air from her lungs but doesn't seem too upset, more inconvenienced than anything.  

"What I'm alleging to, my dear wolfie, is that I may in fact be the next femme vampir."

I do my best to feel surprised but I don't.

"You fit in too well." I, metaphorically, rip off the band aid.

"It would seem so."

"How do you feel about it, honestly." I whisper softly so I don't burst the peace.

"Feel? What is that? Vampir are told we feel nothing." Verena's voice is gentle but I can feel what she's not saying.

"I know the true semblance of feeling nothing, you are not it." Our eyes lock and I swear I see a lift in her lips but it is gone too soon to confirm.

"Your wolf will be the administer of my final evaluation." Verena gazes at my face passively but I can tell she's really scrutinizing my every feature.

"What wol-Eric? Why?" I show my confusion because I see no reason not too. I can feel the haziness in my brain from the silver, it's hindering my foresight which annoys me.

"Do you not notice the pattern?"

"If I did, I wouldn't be asking V." In my irritation, I steal more of the covers because she obviously doesn't need them.

"It's said the table changes for every new Counsel that way it's always fair...."

"Table? You know what, I don't care anymore." I give her my back as my energy reverts to healing my hands and filtering my blood, instead of keeping me awake.

I hear her chuckle but nothing else is said thankfully.

Sudden pain brings me out of my deep sleep, I can't even move my neck to look at a clock.

The entirety of my body tenses to a point of extreme discomfort making my spine arch and feet curl in. Even the pain of my ruined hands can't bring me out of this spell.

My air conditioning takes this time to kick in because soon I feel the cool air settle onto my tensed muscles, begging them to release. I also notice that I'm just laying in my sleep garments because I've kicked off my quilts.

It takes what feels like forever for my body to un-clench completely. The total relaxation comes with a huge wave of exhaustion alongside a mild headache.

I don't even bother trying to pick up my bed coverings while in such a limp state.

Besides, the cold air feels like a blessing to my overheated skin.

Humans sure can come up with such ingenious inventions when they're not being stupid. . . .

~

The next morning I wake up to the same thing.

Verena in my face, except this time I don't swing.

"Get up."

The words don't register, let alone my bleary eyes barely focus on her serious face before I'm pulled off the bed.

I hear the shower turning on and my mind doesn't click on until I'm under the spray of cold water.

"Ahh!" I scream as tiny needles of ice pierce me.

"Cease yelling wolfie. You know how to bathe." Verena snaps at me from her seated position on the counter.

"It's cold V- no one likes showers in the cold!" My numbed hands turn the knob until the water starts heating and then I adjust to my normal setting.

"We have very little time." Verena warns as she completely ignores me.

Her eyes look a little spaced out, almost like....

"Ahh!" I scream again as I unconsciously move my hands to grab things.

Since the bandages have to be re-bandaged anyway, I finish my shower with them on only so that my raw flesh doesn't sting from the soaps. Moving gingerly, I pick up my usual items and get to work.

Lucky for me, Verena waits until I'm out of the shower before she drags a dress over my head and nearly drags me out of my room.

"I need underwear woman! And shoes. And a brush." I have to tear my arm out of her grip.

"Time wastes." She hisses at me.

"And?"

She says nothing back.

After I'm fully ready, Verena holds tightly onto the back of my neck and zooms across the schools campus.

It takes my organs a few seconds to settle before I realize we're in the Student Counsel room.

Where everyone's screaming at one another.

A younger and dumber version of me would've yelled and tried to take over the situation. The present version knows it's better for me to know what's going on by simply listening.

No one notices me until I sit in my seat in between Eric and the male shape shifter, Elliot.

It's almost like a pulse goes through the room, and then I notice that everyone was here expect me.

"Why don't we ask her?" Verena allows her teeth to say what she doesn't. Someone's pissed this vampire off , open violence often suffixes after anger is displayed.

"Are you okay?" Beth asks sweetly from the other side of Eric. Her concern clearly voiced.

I analyze the witch before speaking. There's a new power within her.

Her aura also seems settled. Content.

I try to focus on her person but it's almost like she's blurred to me. Magic covers her body which starts to give me a headache the longer I concentrate. My eyes swim so I look away quickly trying to gather my words.

"Um, congratulations. I'm sorry, I had no idea- ahhh!" For the millionth time today, I scream.

I can feel something probing my hands from their resting position away from the sight of everyone.

"They're well, thank you." I voice breathlessly. Every nerve feels like they're on fire but I keep my face neutral. I just need to get this meeting over with and I can numb them in my room. I'll even take a pill or something because my headache is only building due to the weakened blood flow to my brain.

"Liar." I hear her mumble before it feels like my hands are grabbed from me and placed directly in front of me, parallel to the table.

I can feel the bandages unwrapping from my healing hands and some  skin goes with them. A wolf's ability to quickly rejuvenate has screwed  me here because the wounds needed to be wrapped to avoid more infection  but the fast healing molded some of my flesh the gauze.

Beth swipes her hand to the side, speeding up the  process, and soon they're free.

I refuse to look at my hands though I can feel and smell the fresh blood coming from them.

"Shit." Eric's word has my eyes clouding over but I refuse to let the tears out.

Verena's gaze locks with my own from her seat across from Eric and I do my best to relay her innocence in this.

"That doesn't look 'well' Bex." Will nearly hisses at me in anger.

Before I can retort, I almost swallow my tongue as a paste is applied magically to my palms. The instinct to snatch my hands away is so powerful but magic overrides me.

Like last night, my entire body tenses again and the pain makes my brain foggy. At least the it's getting rid of my headache.

It's not the paste that hurts, it's the moving of something on flesh that's completely raw. The slightest pressure is agony and yet the paste has to adhere properly.

With pressure and sweeping motions.

Even I know this but it doesn't stop my head from tilting to the sky, wordlessly begging the Goddess. For what, I don't know.

I do my best to keep quiet but there's only so much I can take before I scream with my teeth clamped shut.

Beth stays methodical in her wrapping after the gunk is applied to every area of burned skin.

My body stays locked in place several minutes after she finishes.

I breathe heavily through my nose and keep my eyes closed, tears run down my cheeks but I don't blame them.

I want to escape my body too.

"If you want to leave, cutting your interim short, I understand." Rose's voice floats into my ears but it barely processes.

"Okay." I croak out not really understanding.

"No!" Both Verena, Beth, and Eric bellow, shocking me from my tense state.

"You're both selfish, don't you see how much pain she's in? Didn't you hear what she said?" Rose snaps back.

I open my eyes and they lock with an angry Will.

"Leaders get hurt all the time, that gives no excuse." His hail stone packed words hits directly at my chest.

I look to Eric for clarification but he's just as pissed.

"We have a deal Bex, you can't just run." His anger combines with his wolf and I can feel it fully making me notice that my barriers aren't up.

"Run?" I manage to get out.

"Did you even look at her hands? They're ruined!" Elliot growls near ready to attack, in that moment I can see his animal- a shark. Weird.

"We all have injuries, that doesn't mean we can just go home because they hurt." Eric snarls, his wolf ready to tear into some shark meat.

Home? My brain takes a second to remember my pleading while fully loaded up with silver poisoning.
Oh, they're arguing over letting me go or not.

I catch Verena's eyes and give her a grateful look for dragging me out of bed for this. She gives me a slight nod but then completely ignores me.

"I'll stay." I stand up so that everyone's attention fall onto me. "Eric's right, we have a deal and I was raised to always hold up my side of the bargain."

"Is that the only reason you came? The only one keeping you here?" Beth asks. Her voice thinly veiled with vulnerability. There seems to her question but I just don't have the mental to go over it thoroughly.

I want to lie but it'd be worse for me and I can sense that. I sit down since there's no use in standing longer than necessary. The muscles in my body weak from their extended use.

"Yes, otherwise I would've happily thrown the summons in the trash and continued with my life. I'm not the right candidate for this position but Eric made a deal I couldn't refuse." It's freeing to finally tell them all my feelings.

"If she's not-" David starts talking but Will cuts him off.

"How can you even suggest it when we all know that not to be true?" Will's words are hot but like a freezer burn hot.

"Look, I don't feel the connection here like you all do." I sigh shrugging my shoulders, my weak body just ready to lay down somewhere.

This meeting needs to end now that I've made my decision. Nothing else can be said.

"Is it because your wolf isn't present?" Paris, the female undead, asks not unkindly.

Though, everything in me stops all the same at her words.

AN: This quarantine has me doing one thing above all others, reading, and you know what just hit my frontal lobe?  The fact that maybe you guys need an escape just as much as I do. So, I'm going to do my damndest to upload every week or every five days.