Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Chapter 22

AUTHOR

POV

Tessa felt her jaw clench at Elder William’s words – it seemed more of a threat than an order. Hesitantly, she glanced worriedly at the sleeping patients, a knot forming in her stomach at the thought of leaving them alone without guidance. The majority were in a coma and some were simply in a deep slumber, the only person who had shown signs of recovery was the man who had spoken about Will earlier, he had woken up a couple of times over the days and she didn’t want to leave them all without any protection.

It felt wrong but the weight of the Elder’s presence, the icy glint in his eyes left her with little choice.

“Fine.” She said through gritted teeth “but it better be worth it”.

Elder William gave a curt nod, his weathered face showing no emotion as he turned and walked out of the med bay while Tessa followed closely behind with a sigh of resignation.

Elder William’s study was by far in contrast to the white walls of the med bay. The study was dimly lit by flickering candles with dusty scrolls and artifacts by the table. He gestured towards a wooden chair, its warm leather invitingly soft. Tessa sat cautiously feeling out of place with the ancient things in his study.

“Medic Tessa, it’s what everyone calls you now” He began, his voice devoid of any emotion. “Don’t mistake my lack of warmth for indifference, I don’t like you”

Such a beautiful sentence to open his speech. The bluntness of his words had caught her off her guard and a flicker of anger ignited in her eyes but she quelled it quickly.

“I’m glad it’s mutual, Elder William” She retorted, her voice laced with indifference.

He leaned forward from where he was standing in front of her, his gaze sharp.

“Looking at things, I think we have a common enemy which is why I wanted to speak to you. I trust you won’t let anyone. know of this conversation” He said in a low tone.

Tessa’s brow furrowed. “Who? Who do you think is our common enemy?”

Tessa found the situation mildly amusing

He straightened up and looked away.

“Will and I’re not on good terms with Giselle either,” he said spitting out their names like a bitter pill. “There’s more to them than meets the eye. Every other Elder is swayed by Giselle’s sweet tongue but not me, I couldn’t find anyone to voice my suspicions to except you”.

Tessa frowned deeply.

“Why are you voicing it out to me then?” She retorted.

He tilted his neck and gave her a dead serious look.

“Everyone in the pack house knows you’re not on good terms with Giselle, everyone knows of the squabbles not to mention the slap. Rumors travel fast, Tessa” He said.

Tessa scoffed and adjusted to her seat.

“I know you don’t want to trust me but I do need your help if this pack will not crumble,” He said.

Tessa scoffed again internally. Trust wasn’t a word she wanted to associate with Elder William, he had been among the first to fuel the flames of suspicion against her that led to her banishment years ago.

“And why should I believe you?” She asked, her voice laced with distrust.

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15:23 Tue, Apr 16 G

Chapter 22

He blew out a deep breath-

“I’m not trying to win your trust, I’ve been here for more than 80 years, and I don’t want to see the pack crumble.” He said frustrated.

Tessa looked on with lazy eyes.

“And why should this be my business? Why should I care for the pack that’s not even mine?”

Elder William’s mood changed at her words and his eyes blazed fire.

“Because your arrival here is going to cause a lot of things so you have to help me if you want to survive the heat of what’s coming. He said angrily.

Tessa shrunk away instinctively.

“What do you mean by I’m the cause?” She asked a bit nervous.

He rubbed his bald head.

“I don’t know it’s it’s a hunch but something will happen Tessa and it’s all gonna lead to you, you’re not safe even if you leave the pack, you’ll never be safe. It’ll find you until you’re ready to do something about it.” He said.

A shiver ran down Tessa’s spine, the Elder’s words mirrored the gnawing suspicion inside her.

“Don’t worry, Elder William She finally said standing up. “I can handle myself, I’m sure you’re not really worried about my well-being but thanks for the heads up. If I need any help, I’ll let you know”

Elder William studied her for a few seconds, his gaze unreadable. Finally, he released a curt nod signalling the end of the conversation. Tessa curtsied and left quietly closing the door gently behind her.

It was a weird conversation that had left her with more questions than answers. She walked back to the med bay deep in thought, there were no sentries in the hallway because Tessa had ordered that everyone keep away from the med bay except

Cia.

Tessa knew that the children were still in the dining as no one would be in the med bay but as she reached out her hand to push open the door, the door was opened by someone inside and she came head-on with him.

-Will?” She said looking at Will who looked nervous.

He looked back into the med bay and then back at her.

“Yes, Tessa?” He said..

Tessa felt anger implode in her.

“What are you doing here?!!!. I made it clear that you are not to come to the med bay for anything at all” She yelled angrily

at him.

Will closed the door behind him and straightened his stance,

“You left them unattended, I was simply….” He said in defense.

“No! I don’t care for your excuse, don’t you get it?! It’s not your job anymore, you couldn’t do it so I’m doing it. I will allow a few apprentices into the med bay but not you! Leave now” She said breathing heavily.

Will eyes be dark with seething rage?

“Understood,” he said simply before hurrying away.

Tessa let out a

a breath she didn’t know she was holding and entered the eerily silent med bay.

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15:23 Tue, Apr 16 G

Chapter 22

Relief and unease washed aver Tessa as she checked on the patients who all seemed fine. She went to the back where a wash hand basin was and was rinsing her hands when someone entered the med bay – Gia.

“You’re back,” Tessa said without looking up.

Gia grunted something before coming to meet Tessa in the back

“Yeah, the kids are in the care of the nanny and I’ve instructed the nanny not to let them out of her sight,” Gia said.

Tessa dried her hands, grateful that she wouldn’t be receiving another distraction from the children and they went back to the patients.

“Thank you, Gia. You’re doing an amazing job” She commended

“Thank you, Medic Tessa. I really appreciate the kind words you say” Gia replied.

“From tomorrow, a couple of other medics will be joining us here,” Tessa said.

“Medic will?” Gia asked innocently.

Tessa shook her head.

“No, Medic Will isn’t allowed in the med bay as long as I’m still alive and here” Tessa replied forcing a smile.

That changes things then, there will be more people to help about,” Gia said.

Tessa nodded.

“Yes”

They sat down on two chairs overlooking the mass amount of beds where the patients lay there had to be at least 90 people here and Tessa really hoped they would all survive it.

The issue of the man who had spoken about Will came up to Tessa’s head and Tessa decided to ask Gia about it.

“Gia, come look at this person,” Tessa said, standing up and leading Gia to the man’s bed in his ward. Some of the patients were separated into wards because they were showing signs of recovery so Tessa had put them aside from those still in critical condition

Gia stared long at the man’s face which was squeezed together.

“Do you know who he is?” Tessa asked, peering at Gia

Gia shrugged.

“Of course, he is sentinel Thomas. He was assigned to guard Medic Will’s room”

Tessa felt puzzled-so he was connected to Will but what made him get so scared?

“Did he show any signs of unease in Will’s presence before the plague struck?” Tessa asked curiously.

“He did seem a bit uncomfortable anytime he escorted Medic Will to the med bay, the other medics and I would speak to him about it but he didn’t want to speak about it but sometimes…when he thought no one was looking, I catch him peering at Medic will with a worried and scared expression.

Tessa frowned- had the sentinel perhaps heard something that he was scared would lead to his death? It was the only explanation that fit the puzzle. There was only one way to find out wait for him to recover and question him and Tessa hoped for his quick recovery.

Tessa placed her hands on the sentinel’s burning forehead. That was weird, he wasn’t running a temperature when she had

left.

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15:23 Tue, Apr 16 G&

Chapter 22

“Gia, get me.” She hadn’t completed her statement when a violent tremor began wracking his body, his breathing became ragged with a crimson tinge staining his lips.

“Gia, get me some water!” Tessa barked, her voice urgent. Adrenaline surged through her as she assessed the man’s condition.

Gia rushed forward with a crystal goblet filled to the brim in her hands. Tessa helped the man prop himself up and gently guided the cool water to his parched lips. He drank with desperation, a small flicker of life returning to his eyes.

Tessa was visibly worried. She had never seen anything like it in her years of practicing medicine.

“What’s happening to him?” Gia asked her voice trembling with fear.

Tessa was equally as confused.

“I don’t know, get another medic here now,” Tessa said hurriedly

Gia was about to leave when the man’s coughing fit intensified. Each hacking wheeze brought forth a spurt of blood, staining the white sheets. Panic welled up inside Tessa, threatening to drown her in its icy grip.

“He’s bleeding internally Tessa yelled, her hands flying across the man’s body.

“Why?” Gia equally yelled, scared.

“I don’t know!!” “Tessa screamed back. “Get me Achillia millefolliom, it’s in the cabinet

What the hell is that?!” Gia shouted as she rushed to the cabinet

Tessa rolled the man to his side to avoid him choking on the blood streaming out of his mouth. “For the goddess’s sake! It’s Yarrow!!”

Gia rushed back with the yarrow flower in her hands and Tessa hurriedly collected it with trembling blo ody hands.

She was about to force a piece of the flower into his mouth when he arched his back, and let out a guttural scream ripping through the quiet of the med bay. His eyes bulged in terror, the whites turning a sickly yellow.

Tessa forced the flower into his mouth praying for a miracle. But the miracle never came, his screams trailed off into an unsettling silence. His eyes once filled with a fleeting hope turned vacant and lifeless.

Tessa didn’t breathe for a while, her wide eyes staring into his, searching for even a form of life but she found none.

“No, no!” Tessa screamed crying profusely as she stared at her bl oody hands and then at the lifeless man.

Gia stumbled away from the bed, tears streaming down her face.

“He’s gone,” Gia said, her voice cracking with emotions.

The door to the med bay was flung open and Alpha Adrian and some elders stormed in probably alarmed by the screams that came from the med bay.

“What happened?!” Adrian asked alarmed.

Adrian’s eyes met Tessa’s and there was no need for either of them to talk. It was something they both knew He was dead.

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