W
hen Ismena knocked on Eline's door, it was around 4 in the morning. Thankfully, she needn't knock for long.
The door swung open and Elaine stood there, looking like she just got out of bed. Her sleep-dazed eyes cleared when she saw who was standing behind the door.
"Ismena?" She called softly.
Ismena entered the house, dropped her bags on her feet, and wrapped her arms around Eline. The cougar female embraced her as well-wrapping her arms around Ismena who has been so cold since she walked out of the Tower.
Feeling a little bit of warmth in Eline's embrace, a sob escaped her throat. And then, another and another.
Thankfully, Eline didn't ask her any questions as she cried her eyes out in her friend's arms. Instead, she held her close, whispering comforting words to her.
Ismena had no idea how long they stood like that, but finally, she pulled back and sniffled softly. Eline was looking at her worriedly, her beautiful face dripping with concern.
"Can I stay here for a while?" Ismena asked, sniffling softly.
"Of course, you can. You never need to ask, Mena." Taking her hand, Eline led her deeper into the familiar sitting room, "You look like death on a roll. Get a good sleep first before we have any kind of conversation."
Ismena admitted that she felt dead on her feet. She was exhausted-physically, mentally, and emotionally. Her heart was hurting to hell and back, and her head is banging greatly. She could barely see clearly through the swell of her eyes.
She allowed Eline to lead her to her old room. When they opened the door, Sandra was sprawled out on the bed, sleeping comfortably. Her best friend looked so tired, even in her sleep. They'd all been through a lot these past few days.
"Oh, I didn't know that's the bedroom she's sleeping in. Let's check the other room." Eline was already taking her to the room in question.
When they opened it, there were clothes and other accessories all over the bed. Eline bit her lips.
"I'll just sleep on the couch." Ismena began.
Over my dead body, Eline thought inwardly. When Alphose dropped off Sandra, he'd briefed her a little about their journey to the human world and the death of her father. Comfortable sleep is the least she can do for her friend right now.
And, what is she doing here instead of the big Tower?
Eline didn't ask. She didn't say anything. Instead, she led Ismena to her own bedroom and opened the door.
"I can take the couch, Eline. I know how much you love your privacy-"
"You don't mind if I sleep beside you, right?" Eline cut in.
"No, I don't." Frankly, she doesn't want to be alone now. If she's alone, she will think. And, she doesn't wanna think now.
"Good. Then, we're sleeping here." Eline kept her bag in the wardrobe and quickly arranged the bed for her friend to get in.
Ismena got in. As Eline pulled the duvet over her and got in beside her, tears were already prickling her tired, hurting eyes again.
"Eline..." She moaned miserably.
Eline took one look at her and moved closer, "Come here, honey."
Ismena covered the distance between them with a slight shift of her body. Eline gathered her in her arms in a comforting, cuddly manner. "Go to sleep, Mena. Tomorrow is another day."
She nodded gratefully, needing this comfort...this warmth so badly. She closed her eyes-tears escaping from them-and tried to sleep.
Eline rocked her like a child, singing a song in wordings Ismena couldn't understand, but knows it's Naturiah's ancient tongue. Slowly, sleep began overpowering the pains and the heartaches. She felt the tension bleed out of her and the fog of sleep became overpowering.
"I wish tomorrow would never come..." Ismena whispered before she fell into a deep sleep.
Eline wasn't a female who cried easily, but tears filled her eyes then. Her cougar can feel the agony rolling off Ismena in waves and it made them restless, helpless.
She'd never felt such intensity of emotion. Whatever it is, she wished, hoped, and prayed that Ismena will get over it.
Thankfully, it didn't take long for her to go back to sleep again.
The next three days were a disaster.
Ismena cried all the time. No matter what Eline did with Sandra to calm her down, to cheer her up, it wasn't working.
Sandra had told her everything that happened in the human world because she'd had no choice in the matter, not when Eline was asking persistently and Ismena was crying all the time. She'd hoped that Eline would be able to help Ismena in any way, but so far, their efforts were not paying off.
When she woke up three days ago and saw Ismena sleeping in Eline's bed, her heart had turned upside down in her chest. She knew that something had gone very wrong between her and the Alpha King.
Ismena didn't confirm it-she did more crying and staring into space than talking-but Sandra doesn't need her to confirm it before she knows it was through.
They've done everything they could to try and help Ismena, but she slipped deeper into depression. They had to force her to eat, go out or do anything.
Then, on the morning of the third day, she finally told them everything that happened in the Tower on that night. She told them in between sobs.
Sandra was crying too, she hated seeing Ismena like this. Her best friend has lost weight, her face has been swollen for the past three days because of how hard she'd been crying and her eyes seem to be developing a permanent shade of red.
The helplessness was killing her and Eline. But her depression, tears, and misery weren't even the worse.
The worse came on the fourth day. Ismena fell sick.
Sandra was the one sleeping beside her, she'd woken up in the morning and extended her hand to pat Ismena awake, but then, she'd thought against it. Ismena had cried until midnight yesterday, she needs more sleep.
Sandra went to the kitchen and began making breakfast. Eline was on night duties, so she wasn't home yet. By the time she was done with breakfast, Eline was back.
They greeted amicably before Eline headed straight to her bedroom to freshen up. Minutes later, she came out freshly showered and took her seat at the old but homey dining table.
"Ismena is still sleeping right?" She asked, worriedly.
"Yes, but I have to wake her for breakfast. If it's up to her, she would wanna skip meals again."
"That's a good idea. Get breakfast served while I wake her up." Eline got up and headed for Ismena's bedroom.
In the bedroom, Eline walked casually towards her and placed her hand on her lower back
"What the...!" She gasped, snatching her hand back. She felt like she just touched a burning fire. Too hot.
"Ismena...?" She called, placing her hand back again, Eline shook her slightly. No response.
She shook her repeatedly while calling out her name but just as she expected-dreaded-Ismena wasn't waking up.
After everything Ismena has been through in the last week and the way she's been taking it all, she shouldn't be surprised that her body broke down. Eline swallowed down the panic that rose to her throat as she hurried out of the bedroom.
"Where is Mena? Is she still sleep-" Sandra began when she saw Eline walk out of the bedroom without Ismena.
But, Eline cut her off, "We need to get Harhan, the medicine man. She has a fever so high, she is burning like a furnace. I'll tell Damien to rush to Harhan's house."
"What!?" Sandra exclaimed, but Eline was already out of the door. She turned and ran to the bedroom. Ismena was still sleeping the same way she'd left her, she still looked so peaceful in sleep.
Looks can be so deceiving, Sandra.
That voice in her head made her panic skyrocket. She was by Ismena's side the next second, shaking her to wake her up. She did it repeatedly, even added force to it.
But, her best friend didn't open her eyes. Ohgodohgodohgod...!
"Calm down, Sandra, it's just fever, it's just fever, she'll be fine, she'll be fine," The recitation wasn't helping her as she paced around the bedroom, waiting for Eline to come back.
It didn't take long at all, and it surprised Sandra.
"Damien has already hurried out to call Harhan, he's going on his shifted form because he realized how important this is. Harhan should be here in the next thirty minutes."
So, they began the wait and it was killing them. They took turns pressing cold water all over Ismena's face while waiting for the medicine man.
When Harhan finally came, they were at their wit's end. They waited patiently while he treated her, with both familiar herbs and unfamiliar ones. Following his instructions, they boiled a liquid herb which he gave her too.
Sandra had no idea how long passed before the old man finally packed his bags and started out of the bedroom. They walked behind him, nobody saying anything until they were out of the room and the door closed behind them.
Then, the old man turned towards Eline, "It's not enough, Eline. The Reinbane herb will help her fever and the Solebane will fight the headache, I gave her Nillih-rose to help her sleep better and Alamanda leaves for energy. All these should be able to help her sickness but..."
"But, it's not what she needs." Eline finished up for him, not looking too surprised but instead, she looks so sad.
"It's not." Harhan agreed, "She needs her mate. She needs the Alpha King. This is not just a simple fever, but a desperate craving of her body for its soulmate. His touch will do so much more than any of these herbs will ever do for her and when combined, she'll be up on her feet within twenty-four hours."
"Thank you, Harhan." Eline breathed out.
"It's no problem at all. I was at the Tower yesterday because the Alpha King needed something for headache too."
"Really?"
The old man nodded, looking sad, "Wasn't just a headache, I could tell. But, you know how stubborn the Alpha King can be, he wouldn't let me do more. I worry for him because it's only a matter of time before his health caves and he breaks down completely.
He looked behind him, at the closed door, "I don't know what's going on between them, but the distance is getting to them. I hope whatever it is, that it gets resolved quickly. This only happens to mated couples but I've come to realize that with the Alpha King and his mate, the compatibility is too high that might be why."
Also, his blood is running through her veins. But, Eline didn't say anything. Instead, she thanked him again.
Harhan started walking to the door, "Keep an eye on her, especially in the middle of the night. Make sure she eats well. If her fever resurfaces again, use the herbs I left accordingly."
"I will do that."
He stopped, "What I'm most afraid of is that she might go into a Crave Shock. What if she goes into one?"
Eline scoffed. Now, the old man is just being very, very paranoid. "They ain't even mated yet, Harhan. Even for mated couples, it's very rare. The chances are very very slim."
He huffed, "You're right, I'm just being paranoid. I can't help it. Those two are way too compatible which makes them exhibit qualities only mated pairs should. This sickness just from fighting and being apart from each other is a case study."
"That's not what's happening here, Harhan. Ismena just lost her father and got some really traumatizing information. She has been crying for days and has slipped into depression. It's only normal that she falls sick."
"Yeah, right." The old man doesn't seem to share the same opinion with her and he didn't even bother to hide it.
"Well, let's hope it doesn't happen." Eline let out a deep breath. They saw him out before closing the door softly behind him.
"What's a Crave Shock?" Sandra asked immediately after they were alone again.
"Sometimes, when a mate is very sick and her life partner isn't with her; providing occasional touching or making love to him, his body can go into a Crave Shock. It's very dangerous. Once it starts, it kills the mate within fifteen minutes of no intervention from his mated partner."
"Jesus, what a mindfuck. Just fifteen minutes? It takes more than an hour to get to the Tower!"
"One hour, thirty-seven minutes. Forty-five minutes when you run there in shifted form." Eline confirmed.
"Oh, my God. My best friend will die!"
"Ismena is not gonna go into Crave Shock, Sandra. As I said, it's very rare and it only happens to mated couples who are apart from each other. That was what killed The Alpha King's father after the Queen died."
Sandra's eyes widened, "Really?"
Eline nodded, "His could have been easily prevented, it could have been stopped. All he needed was contact from his children-his wife's genetics are in them. All he needed was their touch but he refused it when he went into Crave Shock. He was so powerful that even in Crave Shock, he was aware of his surroundings and capable of speech. Rumors said the Alpha King tried his best to reach him, but he verbally refused the help. He wanted to join his wife."
"The Alpha King begged and begged, but the late King had made up his mind. The Alpha King had no choice, but to stand there and watch him die."
Sandra shook her head, feeling sick in the pit of her stomach. That's a very horrible thing to happen to a child, being forced to watch your parent die and you're unable to do anything. She might be angry at the Alpha King for hurting her best friend and pushing her away, but she feels really sad for him. He has been through so much.
"Let's hope Mena never goes into it," She concluded, biting her finger nervously.
Eline snorted, "Not possible."
They ate breakfast in silence, before they took breakfast to Ismena. Sandra fed her while Eline wiped her body with cold water.
Ismena's eyes were closed, she was barely aware of her surroundings but thankfully, they were able to get her to eat.
By evening, Sandra was beside herself with worry. "Eline...?"
"Hmm?" They'd just finished administering her evening herbs. Now, they stood at the foot of the bed, watching her restless sleep. Ismena whined, shaking her head repeatedly, before settling back to sleep.
"Shouldn't we at least try to get the Alpha K-"
"I wish we can, Sandra. You don't know how much I wish that." Eline worried her lips, "But, I don't think it's such a good idea. Ismena will not like it at all."
Sandra sighed, knowing Eline was right. She didn't say anything again.
The next two days passed in a haze.
Ismena's fever did not break but with the drugs and care, she was doing better.
Or so they thought.
In the middle of the night, Ismena began convulsing.
Eline and Sandra sprang up from the bed instantly, when they heard the unusual movement. They'd been sleeping beside her to watch over her and even in sleep, they'd been on high alert.
"What is going on!?" Sandra was gonna shout in panic, but her voice came out drowsy.
"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Eline shouted, scampering out of the bed.
The fear, the shock, the panic in Eline's voice froze Sandra on the bed. Wild eyes met Eline.
She has never heard such fear in her friend's voice before.
"What's going on!?" Sandra shrieked, fear clouding her throat. "W-Why is her skin t-turning red...!!?"
"She went into Crave Shock! Ismena went into Crave Shock!!"