Chapter 3 - Black Seed
1083 Words
~IVORY~
"Who did this to you?" Jemima asked frustratingly for the umpteenth time.
"Do not bother yourself, I'm used to it" I said as I smiled weakly while feeling pain in my bruised cheek.
"This isn't the first time this has been happening, right?" She asked, furrowing her brows, to which I only gave a nod before I said "it's what I get for being an omega anyways".
"I wish you wished me in on this earlier. I would have those crazy clowns in the bush where they belong, but you wouldn't even speak up in the first place" she said as she palmed my face with a wet towel.
"Your temperature is high , how would you be fine before the ceremony tomorrow?. More importantly, when will you be able to fully recover from it? She asked worriedly.
"I guess that's my fate, huh" I said as I chuckled lightly at others to diffuse the moment.
"Err, I just remembered I didn't finish my herbs the last time I was sick, let me get some for you" she said as she left my room for hers.
It wasn't long after she left when she heard a knock on my door.
"Come in" I weakly said as the door opened and Lucas came in.
"Oh, look who we have here" I said, trying to make a joke, seeing his sad demeanor.
"I don't even know where to start from Ivory, but I'm really sorry this happened to you. Lina has always been obsessed with me, even when my first mate was alive", he said.
"Did you ever try reporting her to the council?" I asked him.
"No" he answered.
"Why?" I questioned.
"I always thought of it as a joke, a mere obsession" he answered.
"Well, it's not a mere obsession as you can see, she even went as far as bruising my face" I said.
"I'm sorry you went through that and I will be..." He said before, then got interrupted by an angry Jemima who just walked in without knocking.
"And what are you doing here?! " Jemima screeched at him.
"Please calm down, this isn't intentional", Lucas said as he tried pacifying her with his demonstrating hands.
"So, it was done by mistake? She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, no, I mean I didn't mean for this to happen", he tried reasoning with her.
"Anyways,what are you here for?" She asked gruffly.
"To apologize and give you my well-wishing gift" he said as he brought out a bottle containing some liquid.
"How can I trust you? I mean how sure can I be that won't add salt to the injury?" Jemima asked.
"I would never want harm to come in her way. Please accept this, it's a serum which heals wounds fast. She'll be up in no time. I know you also want that for her", he said.
"Well, you got me there, let's see what it is" Jemima said as she collected and checked its contents before looking up in surprise at him.
"Is this by any way made from the black seed?" She asked.
"Yes, it is" he answered as her face lit up with excitement.
"Oh my, this is really expensive, I think I like you now" she said as she smiled at him.
"Erm, okay" he replied.
"Don't worry, if she doesn't find her mate tomorrow, I will help your two ships to sail" she said as she giggled.
"Jemima! Stop it, don't give him any hope" I said, as I frowned at her.
"Come on girl, you really don't know what this is, do you ?" She asked as he gently placed it on my nightstand.
"Erm, actually, I didn't bring this because of anything but because she's my friend and I care for her" he said.
"Thank you for this, Lucas, I really appreciate it" I said, giving him a heartfelt appreciation.
"It's nothing for real. I'm glad you accepted it. I guess I'll see you at the ceremony tomorrow. Then, please be good" he said as he exited my room.
"Such a nice man. He looks charming as well" Jemima fawned over him as soon as he left.
"You're unbelievable for real, should I help you tell Jason how you just fawned over him?" I jokingly asked.
"What? I can't hear you" she said as she playfully covered her ears.
Jemima had always been a carefree, happy person, a perfect irony of myself.
She came over to my side on the bed and helped me to sit up, poured the serum into a glass cup and urged me to drink it which I did.
I drank it and it didn't taste as good as Jemima's demeanour, it was the exact opposite.
"How do you feel now?" She asked with concern.
"It feels like my insides are burning up" I replied hastily.
"Sorry, it'll get better" she tried to calm me down.
"Jemima, ple-please leave" I said in a rush.
"What are you talking about?" She asked and immediately came to a realization. She held my hands with hers while chanting "Omega, Omega, it's not time to draw essence, it's just the black seed, you need to heal, just this once".
Today is the first time I felt the curse placed on omegas, the essence curse, it dawned on me that I'm truly an omega.
She let go of me and, suddenly, my wounds began closing and in no time, my skin glowed like a new-born.
"Wow, look at my skin,I look so fine" I excitedly exclaimed, and Jemima looked at my skin satisfactorily.
"That's the work of the black seed, sweetheart, it heals and renews the skin" she explained.
"Jemima" I silently spoke.
"Yes?" She answered.
"What could have happened if you didn't know the chant?" I asked.
"Hmm, let's not think about that now, we need to get you some food. I should sneak off to the kitchen to get something for you" she said as she stood up.
"What will you say if the kitchen head sees you and asks me?" I asked her.
"I'll tell her you're sick, which isn't exactly a lie" she innocently smiled.
"Thanks for your care, Jemima" I said appreciatively, with a smile.
"You're welcome girl, I got to run along now" she said as she left my room.
I relaxed and closed my eyes in hopes that tomorrow would be a good day for me. Little did I know I had a lot coming.
- Writer
