Avery's POV
I couldn't breathe. It felt like my body was being deprived of oxygen. Like my organs were crunched up like raisins. My throat was so dry and clouds of smoke wearen't exiting my mouth. Because I wasn't breathing.
The single tear leaving my eye left behind a cold trace that burned my cheek.
"Avery! Babe, you need to breathe!"
"Avery!"
I hear you James. Just tell me how and I will.
Just tell me how. I can't seem to remember.
James? Can you hear me?
Why can't I breathe?
I'm trying.
I really am.
I saw him. I saw his glorious build, I saw the eyes that captivated me from the first time I looked into them. They were filled with so much mischief and happiness, anger and despise. The most beautiful eyes I had ever seen held so many emotions. But now, why do they look so sad?
I wanted to tell him that it was okay. I wanted to let him know that everything would be fine. But I couldn't.
I saw his eyes glaze over. He was mind linking someone. I remember listening to him tell me about his conversation with Natasha. And how I felt so sad for her, for her pain and her loss.
She didn't only lose her mate. She lost him at the hands of her own father.
I really want to sleep. I need to close my eyes James.
White patches were now blurring my vision of the man in front of me. No. No, please, I want to see him. He's sad, I need to be there for him.
I'm going to close my eyes for a while.
" AVERY!"
My eyes snapped open.
" AAAHHHH!" What's happening? Why does it hurt so much?
" Make it stop! Please please make it stop!"
I couldn't end it. The constant screaming in my head. I felt like something was trying to rip my skull open.
" PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!" No, it hurts, it hurts so bad!
" James, hold this." Natasha was here.
I felt two hands on my head and something wet was pressed against my temples.
It was slowing down.
The screaming was getting less. The ripping was getting weaker.
Thank God.
" That's right, sweetheart, just breathe." Natasha whispered sounding out of breath.
A few minutes in and finally all that was left was silence. Oh, what a wonderful silence. I closed my eyes and savored the moment before opening them up and seeing James. He was looking at me with worry. I reached out with my hand and caressed his cheek. Feeling that jolt of electricity again.
His worry eased a little bit. I was glad.
Natasha's hands on my head dropped and I saw her panting behind me.
" Here, sit down." James led her to the bench and she sat down next to me.
" Thank you. So much." I was really grateful. But at the same time exhausted.
" James told me what happened to you. Is it the same thing that is happening to me?"
James and Natasha looked at each other and Natasha looked back at me while James looked down at the ground.
"Yes. I'm afraid it is. When James mind linked Alex he quickly came to me and I knew what needed to be done." She answered truthfully.
" Who do you think is controlling me?" I could see that my question hit a sensitive spot. She grabbed the bench with both her hands, steadying herself. Then released a breath before shaking her head.
" This spell isn't like others, Avery. Not everyone can do it. Only certain powerful wizards can control another person's mind and body. But being powerful isn't the only criteria."
Natasha looked at me with pity and then shook her head. It didn't seem as though she would finish that sentence.
" You must share DNA with the one you're controlling." James finished the sentence and my eyes widened in horror.
Share DNA. But that would mean...
" I'm related to a witch."
" Oh my goodness..." My voice hitched and I mimicked Natasha's hands as I too took a hold of the bench, hoping it would be enough for me to not tumble over. I was panting for air.
They both nodded their heads.
" How did you break it?" I looked over to Natasha, she was smiling sweetly at me.
" When I yelled your name, it somewhat broke the contact between you and whoever is in your head. And I pressed sage dipped in saltrun to your temples to cleanse out the darkness. It's dark magic that's being used to control you, which is how I knew it would work. Only temporarily, however. He will able to reconnect within 24 hours and until then, we need to find a way to set up a barrier in your mind to keep him out."
A barrier. I felt like I was in a bad dream. But I knew that no pinching would wake me up from this.
" How will this barrier work?" I needed to know what I was getting myself into. However much I believed I can trust Natasha, I just couldn't surrender myself to her completely yet.
" It will work as a wall. To keep him out and you in. You will be in full control and depending on how strong he is we will be able to know for how long the wall will work. I will be able to sense that once I'm in your mind."
I nodded my understanding and looked down on the ground.
" Why did that happen earlier?"
" Because James told you the truth. He told you what was happening and whoever was in your head didn't want you to know. What one doesn't know, one can't control. And the pain you felt was him fighting to keep his grip around you." Natasha spoke slowly and carefully so I didn't miss anything and so she didn't alarm me. She was a lovely woman. And having James near was what made me able to handle everything without breaking down.
But right now I feel exhausted. I needed rest. I needed my body and mind to heal from today's events and to organize everything before I got a migraine.
" Thank you for your help, both of you. But I really need to get some rest." They both nodded their heads and I quickly got up from my seat. The moment everything suddenly went black, I realized that I had risen too fast.