AKIRA'S POV
The pounding of my head woke me up from unconsciousness but it was the pain in my shoulders that jerked me up. The pain was like needles that had been dipped in alcohol had been jammed through my skin. I winced– trying so hard to contain my sobs– as I tried to study my surroundings.
I was on a bed, it was small and I was covered with a soft quilt. I looked around, my pounding head was trying so hard to figure out where I was. The room was scanty, with only a bed, a wardrobe planted next to the wall and a mirror dresser in the corner of the room. The room was really small.
I struggled to stand up and once I did, I made my way to the small window in the room and peeked outside. I couldn't contain my shock once I saw what was outside and a gasp escaped.
It was so green outside, the small compound was filled with plants and beds of flowers. It almost looked like a fairytale with the way the sun was shining down on them. The owner seemed like they were really obsessed with plants and flowers.
"Oh, you're awake." A calm voice announced behind me.
I gasped and turned around, the force of everything made my shoulders ache the more. Shoulders that, I now noticed, were wrapped with a cloth.
There stood a woman. She was old, older than my Nana, but very beautiful, with shiny white hair cut into a bob and a simple white flowery gown. She looked nice and she was looking at me calmly, with no smile whatsoever but her eyes screamed kindness. While I, on the other hand, was freaking out.
What the fuck was I doing here?
And how did she find me?
Was she the one who took me after I fainted next to the rogues that I fought?
Everything started crashing down on me and my head began to spin as I remembered everything that happened the last time. How I fought off the rogues with extraordinary powers before drifting into unconsciousness.
Why was running away from Ares turning into such an impossible task to complete?
"Oh, dear!" She rushed towards me, a frown etched on her face. "You're thinking too much, you need some rest." She slowly helped me to the bed and placed some pillows behind my head.
"How did you get in?" I demanded. The last time I checked the old door was jammed shut when I woke up and I didn't hear it creak before she came in. "I didn't see you when I woke up."
She only smiled. "My name is Elizabeth and this is my little home." She introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you, Elizabeth." I knew I was being rude but I needed to know what was happening. "You still haven't answered my question, Elizabeth."
She gave me a soft smile and grabbed a small cup from the drawer beside us. She placed it on my tightly-shut lips. "Take this. It'll help you calm the headache."
"I'm not drinking this until you tell me how you got in here and how you brought me here."
Again, I knew it was wrong of me to act so rudely since she practically saved my life but after everything that happened with the rogues I couldn't help but be paranoid.
"I was searching for some herbs when I saw you unconscious."
I breathed in. "That doesn't answer my question."
I wanted to know how she was able to pick me up all by herself from that spot to her house.
What if she was a werewolf?
Another part of me– the sensible part– asked.
"I teleported us down here."
I paused and stared at her, waiting, waiting for her to giggle and shout, "Gotcha!" Before telling me the truth but she didn't. She didn't even crack any of her soft smiles, she only nudged the glass cup to my lips again.
"You're joking," I said dryly. "So, you're telling me that you saw me and we suddenly disappeared and reappeared in your house."
Elizabeth nodded. "Yes. It's the same way I got here that made you not hear me come in."
I blew out a shaky breath and shook my head. "I don't want to believe you, but the fact that I fought off three rogues like a fucking witch before slipping into unconsciousness has me questioning my sanity."
Elizabeth cracked a smile, her bright green eyes felt like they were staring deep into my soul. "That's because you're a witch, Akira."
It was my turn to crack a smile and that smile turned into a full-blown laughing fit. "I'm not," I argued with her after calming myself down.
Me? A witch?
I went into another laughing fit.
There was no way.
But then, what could explain what happened with the rogues...?
"I'm glad you find your new situation amusing," Elizabeth responded. "I found mine amusing too when I first found out what I was."
"I don't believe you." I shook my head. "I don't believe anything you're saying."
She nodded as if she understood. "I knew you would say that,"
She then proceeded to place her hands– her incredibly soft hands– on my injured shoulders before closing her eyes. I winced but after some seconds, just when the pain was at its worst, it dissipated, like fog off some terrible lake.
"H-How, how did you do that?" I gasped, tentatively rolling both shoulders, I gasped louder when it didn't hurt. "Who are you?"
Her hands left my shoulder and she grinned. "I've been meaning to do that ever since I saw you," she sighed, "the thrill that comes with it can be worth it most times."
"And I told you already. I'm a witch, just like you, dear." She said, a response to my question.
"There's no way..." I trailed off. "How?"
"You should believe it. You fought off three rogues before I got to you. That's incredibly strong of you as a beginner."
I looked at her. "What do you mean when you say before you got to me?"
She looked at me sheepishly, like someone who just got caught doing something bad. "I wasn't just walking by when I saw you, I'm gifted enough to sense a new witch."
She clapped her hands. My eyebrows jumped, she was full of energy for someone this old. "So tell me, how did it happen? I mean, I already know how it went but how did it feel for you?"
I cleared my throat and pointed to the cup filled with green liquid. "You mentioned that it would cure my headache, why can't you just do what you did with my shoulders instead of giving that to me to drink?"
Elizabeth shrugged while looking at me intently. "I didn't want to scare you at first."
I laughed, relief was flowing through my veins. "The last few days have been scary enough. I think I'm scarred for life."
"Here," She passed me the cup and watched me gulp it down.
It didn't taste bad. It didn't even have any taste. It was just green and slimy.
I cleaned my mouth with the back of my hand before I began. "I don't know how it happened, one minute I was almost raped and the next minute, the rogue above me began screaming and blood was coming out of his eyes and nose and ears..." I shivered at the memory.
"That's an aneurysm spell," Elizabeth stated.
I nodded. "The next rogue was slammed into a tree after I yelled out a word." I frowned, I was trying so hard to remember the word I yelled out.
"You shouted out the word 'Lotus," Elizabeth said after a while.
"Yes," I nodded. "That's exactly what I said. The next rogue was strangled in his wolf form by vines that I think I had something to do with."
"So... Pain infliction, element control and telekinesis. Hmmm, we can work with that."
I frowned. "Work with that? What are 'that' and What do you mean?"
"Those are the powers you were blessed with. And I can start training you on how to control your powers."
"Are they other powers?" I asked.
"Of course." Elizabeth smiled. "There are plenty of other powers a witch can be blessed with, this might just be your new powers. Who knows, by tomorrow you could be blessed with new ones."
I nodded. "So you need to teach me how to control them?"
"Yes. These powers can be extremely dangerous if messed with, leading to the destruction of lives and properties and even the death of the witch themself. Teaching you how to control them is of great importance, for your sake and everyone else."
I blew out another shaky breath. "Okay. Why did I go unconscious after using my powers for the first time?"
It felt extremely weird saying the word 'my powers' but I had to get used to it.
"I think it's because it was the first time you used your powers and you didn't just use one of them. You used the three of them at once, I guess that made you extremely weak."
"Ohhh..."
Elizabeth then gave me a soft motherly smile. "And it was also because you're pregnant."
I paused.
I paused for long seconds, seconds turned into several minutes.
"Pregnant." I blinked rapidly.
"Yes, dear. You're pregnant."
I was pregnant. With Ares's baby growing in me. If Ares got the word that I was pregnant with his child then he would go berserk in his search for me.
I knew there were chances of me getting pregnant. The last few days I had spent with Ares were a total fuck fest and Ares had stopped me from taking them. In his words, we were going to start a family soon and there was absolutely no need for contraceptives and like a damn fool, I stopped taking them, despite knowing I would never be with him.
"Okay," I replied. It wasn't okay, but I had a feeling that everything was going to be okay.
Elizabeth smiled. "You have incredible faith, Akira."
I wanted to ask her how she knew that but I suddenly remembered who I was dealing with.
"Did your grandmother not tell you anything about witches?" Elizabeth asked.
I shook my head. "My Nana only told us tales about werewolves and Lycans but never about witches."
Elizabeth frowned. "Funny. Since she's also a witch like you are."
"My Nana is a witch?"
What was happening?
Was it fuck-with-Akira-day?
Elizabeth nodded. "I'm sure this is also a surprise to you. You should rest, stress isn't good for you and the baby at the moment."
I shook my head. "But I don't want to rest. I need to know more. Do you know my Nana?"
"I don't. I am way older than your grandmother. But I'm sure a few younger witches that I know are familiar with her."
Nana was a witch? "Why didn't she tell me?" I tried so hard to hold it but the first tear dropped.
"I'm sure she was only trying to protect you and your sister." Elizabeth was trying to defend Nana but I knew that wasn't the case.
If Nana was a witch that meant that she knew I was going to be with Ares. Was that why she kept telling me those legendary tales? To prep me? Why then did I feel so betrayed that she left out this little piece of information that could change my life forever?
"I would love to be a lote for a while, please," I whispered to Elizabeth. It was quiet. But she heard it.
"Sleep, I'll wake you up once it's time for dinner," Elizabeth said softly before walking out through the door this time around.
I closed my eyes once I heard the door shut close before the rest of my tears began streaming down my face.
Why did my life have to turn so lonely and sad again?
I rubbed my hands over my flat tummy, I knew I wasn't alone. I had my little bundle of joy with me.
And the realisation hit me.
I was going to be a mother. And I was going to raise my kid without a father.
The tears were coming freely now.
Why was life always so unfair?