Awaken

Chapter 17

   Maverick led her down the steps gingerly, holding her steady as she felt herself gain strength with each step they took. As soon as they entered the small parlor turned living den, she could see the eyes of her pack on her and a wave of nausea threatened the moment. She shook her head, convincing herself her people deserved better. Everything that had transpired was directly connected to her, her status, and family. Though the lives of Dianna and Mikael were not her fault, Nova knew she carried some burden. Gathering her shoulders straight, she turned to face the small crowd that had gathered together.

" My friends and my family. From the absolute depths of my heart, I want you to know I am so sorry for the loss we have suffered as a pack. Mikael and Dianna took me in, just as they did many of you.

They loved and supported me through my journey of becoming the woman who stands before you today. Specifically, I owe Mikael the honor of saving my sister Cora from the grips of Prix and the darkness it used to be, and this is a debt I would never be able to pay, not in a million lifetimes. Both Mikael and Dianna died protecting myself, but more importantly, my son.

While I stand here before you, Alpha blood coursing through my veins at this great loss, I vow to you, whomever is responsible for this tragedy to our pack, will pay, and they will pay just as dearly as we all have. Maverick and I have made the decision to take Draven as our own son, to keep the memory of his parents alive, and nurture the parts of both of them that live on in him!"

The small crowd erupted in a series of cheers and chants of her name. Nova smiled, tears pricking at her eyes as she felt Dia stir within her, encouraged by the support of the people they were meant to lead.

Her eyes scanned the crowd, tears and smiles all around matched her own, until she came to rest on a familiar set of golden brown ones. Felix stood, his face somber and Nova felt a pit in her stomach open up.

She tugged on her mate's arm and he leaned down so his ear was next to her mouth.

" Take me to Felix, Mav. I need to see Rosie. She needs me more than anyone else right now." she whispered.

He gave a small nod of his head and finished walking her down the stairway. The crowd of people made room for them, almost instinctively knowing the direction the two were headed in. Felix reached his hands out toward her, and Nova grasped them into her own.

" Felix, I am so sorry. I am so sorry I put her at such risk. I am so grateful to her, to her abilities and to her spirit. She held them back as best she could. Please, let me see her, let me help", Nova urged.

Felix lifted one of her hands to his lips, giving her a gentle kiss. " Of course you can see her, Novalynn. I have never doubted your ability to heal, but I have to be honest, I think you are going to say goodbye. The poison...", his voice began to break as he struggled to speak the words, " the poison has all but consumed her body, her skin is covered in lesions that have burst open, even her hair is falling in chunks. I...I think she's lost her wolf."

Felix began to sob, and Nova's own tears came streaming down her face. This could not be their reality. To lose not only Dianna and Mikael but sweet Rosalie too? Surely Selene would not allow so much pain for her chosen children. She shook her head vehemently, refusing to accept it.

" No, please, Felix, I will try, I must try! Maverick, take me to her now!" she shouted, her vision blurred by the stream rolling down her cheeks.

Maverick motioned his hand towards Dennis, whispering something to him. Nova watched as he took hold of Felix arm, gently ushering the man out of the room. She looked up at her mate, and he lifted her, knowing they would reach the room Rosalie was in faster if he were to carry her.

As soon as they entered, Nova could smell it. The smell of broken and rotting skin. The room had been kept dark, only a spattering of candles lit to allow the healers to see the wounds that needed cleaning. Rosalie lay on the bed, a shell of her normally vibrant self. Her breath was shallow, her chest rising once every so often, sweat pouring from her brow onto a face that was set in pain.

Maverick set her in the chair next to the bed, and Nova immediately reached for her friend's hand, moving gently so as to not disturb the lesions that covered it. Rosalie was cold, and it was like holding an icicle in the first freeze of winter, causing Nova to shiver.

" My dear, sweet Rosalie. It's because of me that you are here. My sister, my best friend. I hope you forgive me for the position I put you in, and I want to say thank you , thank you from every depth that I have for being by my side, no matter the cost. But, I can't let you go, Rosie, so I am coming in, okay?"

A soft hand touched her shoulder, and startled, Nova gave a small jump. When she looked up to see who was standing beside her, Cora's bright blue eyes met her own, pooling with emotion as they do. Nova squeezed her hand.

" Cora, you shouldn't be here , you shouldn't see her like this" Nova whispered.

Cora leaned down, giving her a soft peck on the head. " Nonsense, little sister, this is exactly where I am supposed to be. Rosalie was my Omega at Droake, she helped me in so many ways, and then again at the Battle in the Field, and now you. She is just as much a part of me as you are. Both of you, complete me. I am here to help, even if it's just for you to lean against while you heal her."

" There is no guarantee I can push the wolfsbane..." Nova started.

Not letting go of her shoulder, Cora held up her free hand, cutting Nova's words short. " I will not hear you tell me you are not capable of anything. I have seen you move mountains before you had Dia, always helping Father. You can do this, Novalynn. I believe in you. Rosie believes in you" she finished.

A fresh round of tears threatened her as she simply nodded her head at her twin. Taking a sharp breath in, she placed both of her hands on Rosalie's arm. " Okay Rosie, here I come".

Her eyes closed, she began to picture the poison, gnarly and dark liquid that wrapped itself around the veins that made up Rosalie's body. She envisioned herself pushing it backward, urging it out of the bloodstream that gave life. Her efforts didn't work, and the liquid became thicker.

Nova shifted in her chair, squinting her eyes tighter. She had to find the entry point of the poison itself. Urging her light out further, she began to scan over Rosalie's body. The number of burst wounds made it difficult to find where the vampires first attacked the other woman. She tilted her head, eyes moving past the shoulder and down the rib cage. Her light hovered over Rosalie's stomach and down her left leg.

A slight pulsing from the gathering of blisters and a deepening smell of infection made Nova feel like she had found the entrance point, and she poured herself into it. Sure enough, a blob of wolfsbane hovered against Rosalie's veins, branching itself out in multiple directions. The thick black liquid poured from it like a fast growing vine. She felt herself smile, all she needed to do was blast through the knob of poison and Rosalie should be okay.

Focusing all of her power on the point in question, Nova threw her light at it, shocked as it bounced back, a slight burning sensation with it, rejecting the force of her healing abilities. Furrowing her brow, she thrust the light at it again, satisfied to see a small piece dissipate. She didn't care how long it took, she would chip the blob away until it was gone.

A sudden force of power came racing through her and a second white light came racing next to her own. It was Cora. Cora had somehow managed to connect the two of them, their powers. Curious as she was about how her twin had managed this new trick, Nova knew there was no time to be wasted. Cora's light stood in front of her own as Nova pummeled into the blob.

She could see the tendrils of poison lashing out, trying to encase the light, but Cora's stood steady, bouncing it back and keeping it from spreading her own. She watched as the blob became smaller and smaller, its many branches receding until finally it became nothing but a speck, Rosalie's blood flowing bright red and normal. With one final shove, she burst her energy through the length of her friend's weakened body, casting any remnant of the wolfsbane out.

Her eyes fluttered open and Nova quickly glanced up at Cora. Her twin smiled down at her, her beautiful blue eyes wide and the pool within them deep as black, white and blue swirled. Nova smiled back, watching as the onyx against her sister's chest dimmed down in light.

" Thank you sister, I don't know what you just did, but without you , I wouldn't have been able to heal our girl here" Nova said softly.

Cora let out a little laugh. " It's hard to explain, but I looked at your hand that was on her arm and I watched blisters rise up and I simply got mad that something was beating up my kid sister. I imagined putting you in a bubble shield and the next thing I knew, my light found yours" she replied.

" It's a good thing you two got your s**t together, I was screaming inside for someone to come get me" a raspy voice spoke up.

Nova's eyes widened as she turned her head in Rosalie's direction. Her friend smiled weakly at her as she leaned in to give her a small hug.

" Rosie! I am so sorry, I am so happy, I am so many things right now!" Nova exclaimed.

Behind her Cora clapped her hands in relief. " Maverick, Ronan! Quickly, bring Felix" she shouted.

Nova struggled to contain her laughter as all three men came barreling in the room at the same time. Worried looks crossed all of their faces.

" What is it? Cora are you okay? Is it the baby?" Ronan boomed.

Cora giggled. " No you daft man! It's Rosalie! Nova's done, she brought her back to us" she said proudly.

Maverick picked her up from the chair he had sat her in, setting her back down on his lap. Nova sighed, leaning her head against his chest. " We did this, Cora. I needed you, and you were there" she replied with a smile.

" Rosie? My little sleeping flame. I was so worried you were leaving me", Felix said, his voice quiet.

" Felix, I could never leave you, or our children. Come here, I need you next to me. Joan is still sleeping, perhaps you and Luca can stir her awake", Rosalie replied softly.

Raising her eyebrows at her sister, Nova c****d her head in their direction. " Let's give them some time, huh? Besides, I am starving and mostly I want to see my son" she stated.

" Sons" Maverick said into her hair.

She smiled, a small pang of sadness that would always be with her ringing in her heart. " Yes, my sons".

They stood, Nova sneaking one last look at Felix and Rosalie, their heads resting gently together. All was perhaps not lost. There was still hope, and if what had just transpired was anything, it was proof that they were stronger as a group than apart.

She shut the door quietly behind her, taking Maverick's outstretched hand. They all needed some time to process what had happened, and Draven deserved all of their time and attention as a family. They would have their redemption, but first healing needed to come.