25.- Blind

TW: tiny bit of swearing, and panic attack

This was all unfair. Ambrosia didn't even know what she had done, yet everyone was mad at her. Bela had nearly yelled at her when she had taken her away from the living room but maintained a low voice so Lupita wouldn't hear. She talked about how Ambrosia now had to take responsibility for the werewolf. She didn't say much else about why since she didn't know much herself. But she was mad. Really mad. And when Gulterio came he didn't seem pleased either but he seemed a bit more understanding than Bela.

Ambrosia now sat in silence at the table while eating breakfast. She didn't really need to eat, but it was comforting in a way that she still could. Bela and Gulterio were sat in front of her waiting for her to finish. Once she did, they all sat in silence.

"We need to talk about this," Bela said her eyes fixated on Ambrosia. "What you did was awful."

"I didn't know what I was doing!" Ambrosia shouted, defending herself. "I couldn't control myself. One second I was watching everything unfold and in the next, I was surrounded by magic." Bela was nodding her head while she spoke and Gulterio was sitting in silence while his arms were crossed over his chest.

"I know honey, but you did what you did, and you need to take responsibility for it," Bela said in a soft tone. Gulterio turned his head to his wife and cocked an eyebrow. "What?" Bela questioned when she saw his look.

"She doesn't know what she did," he began and unfolded his arms. "Why should she be punished for it?"

"Do you even know what she did?" Bela questioned with a stern look. "She collared the girl. And this has happened to the poor thing twice." Bela was dangerously calm, but slowly losing her cool.

"That doesn't mean that she needs to take responsibility for the wolf. What will the people say when they find out? She is trying her best to stay out of trouble, not get into more," Gulterio said, also calm. Ambrosia didn't understand how they did it. "She just turned, she doesn't need all of this. Not to mention we will all get in trouble when someone finds out about this."

They were all silent. Ambrosia could feel her weak heartbeat as she sat in silence and listened. The two adults were staring at each other, their eyebrows drawn together. Ambrosia felt uncomfortable in her seat as the atmosphere in the room turned sour.

"Why don't we just reverse it?" Ambrosia said. It was a question she had been pondering for a long time. The two adults turned to her and she shrunk in her seat. "Like... I just take off the collar and we reverse whatever curse or spell I used?"

Bela shook her head and gave Ambrosia a sad look. "Sadly it doesn't work like that," she began and looked at Gulterio who also nodded. "Binding a werewolf was something vampires did in ancient times. It was meant to be unbreakable. And it is. Only a few people know how to reverse it and even then it isn't completely accurate. How she got out of her first one I am not sure. But you should ask. Bring your friends with you, they might know something. Especially MJ."

Ambrosia didn't answer but started to take out her phone to call her friends. She wasn't even able to press the first digits when the door slowly opened and in stepped MJ and Rowan.

"Sorry," MJ said with a small smile as they walked over to the table after taking off their shoes. She walked up to Ambrosia and hugged her from behind. "We were walking by after you didn't call us to say you came home safely after everything. I guess we know why now." Ambrosia cringed and covered her face with her hands.

"Did you bring the mutt here?" Rowan asked and was promptly hit over the head by MJ. He could have caught her hand, but he didn't.

"She brought the girl home, yes," Bela said as she stood up and opened the fridge. "There will be no such language in my house Rowan." She gave him a stern look before handing him a pouch of blood and handing a small milk carton to MJ.

"Yes ma'am," he said and took the blood. "Was it her?" he asked and looked over at Ambrosia.

"Yes," Ambrosia answered with a nod. She knew Rowan didn't like her. But he didn't like any werewolves so she wasn't too special.

"We can go visit her now if you want," MJ suggested as she sipped on her milk while sitting on the floor. Fluffy had come up to her and had started to demand cuddles from the witch which MJ gladly provided. "Do you know where she stays? I hope you made sure she is safe since it is a new moon and all that."

"She was picked up last night by an elderly man," Gulterio said. "He seemed like quite the kind fellow," he added when MJ's head piqued up from the table.

"Good," MJ said and leaned her head against Ambrosia's legs. "We need to find her. I'm interested in how she got out of a collar if what you say is true."

"Me too MJ," Bela said in a somber tone. "Me too."

* * *

"Are we sure it's here?" Rowan said as he looked around the street they were on and then back at the small bakery. "This is where the mutt is staying?"

"First," MJ began and whacked him hard in the head, causing him to double over. It was fun to see the girl slightly jump to reach the guy's head. "Second, yes. This is the address Bela gave us and I trust that woman with my 6 younger and 3 older siblings lives. And my own."

Ambrosia stared at the sign while the two argued. "The sweet spot". Definitely didn't seem like the place a bloodthirsty monster would be staying, but then again, Lupita was no bloodthirsty monster. She was just a lost wolf. A lost wolf that had managed to make Ambrosia's life so much more difficult in the past few hours than she had been able to do herself these past years.

"Shall we enter?" MJ asked while walking up and entering the store anyway, even though the sign clearly said closed. Rowan and Ambrosia looked at each other and shrugged. They both knew they couldn't enter. "Hello? Anyone here?!" MJ shouted into the store.

Just as Ambrosia was about to scold her friend from the outside an elderly man walked out from a door in the back.

"May I help you?" he asked in a low voice. He came and stood in the door frame and crossed his arms as he studied them.

"We are looking for Lupita. We know her," MJ said and motioned to the three of them while at the same time motioning for them to stay quiet and let her do the talking. "We also know what happened and wanted to try and figure out how we could help."

The old man studied them for a while, his eyes lingering on Rowan before lingering longer on Ambrosia.

"I can accept you girls coming in, that boy wants to do nothing but harm that girl," he said and jabbed a finger toward Rowan who was scowling back at him.

"I understand that sir," MJ said and turned to her boyfriend. "Let's do as the man says. How about you check out the stores?" Rowan sighed before bending down, kissing her cheek, and disappearing down the street. "I apologize for him sir," MJ said and followed when the man motioned for them to come in. They did and followed him as he led them to a back door.

"I still don't understand why you date him," Ambrosia said as they walked to the door.

"I can fix him. He has a good heart. It's just been severely broken and poisoned over the years," she said and smiled at Ambrosia. "It's something I can't explain. Maybe it's a witch thing." Ambrosia nodded. She didn't fully understand her friend but MJ was smart, if she was unhappy she would leave him. She would do the right thing.

They continued to walk but stopped in their tracks once they entered the back. It was very cozy, with earth colors and a lovely smell and feel to the whole room. There was a kitchen in the back with a door right next to it. In front of that was a lovely dark red couch and the same colored plush chair in front of a coffee table and a TV. But what caught Ambrosia's attention was the girl lying on the sofa, seemingly asleep with a thick blanket pulled over her.

"She is resting," the old man said as he walked up from behind them. "The new moon has really taken a toll on her. She's been like that since I brought her here." He walked over to Lupita and ran his hand gently over her cheek, causing her to stir. "You have visitors," he whispered and motioned to where Ambrosia and MJ were standing. She turned her head and smiled weakly. Ambrosia thought she looked sick with how her eyes were half open, the bangs under her eyes, and how pale she looked.

"Does she have enough energy to speak with us?" MJ asked as she walked up to the sofa and sat down at the table after the old man gave her a nod of approval.

"Yeah," Lupita said and began to sit up with the help of the man. She smiled at him once she was comfortably sitting on the sofa with the blanket on her lap.

"Ambi, come," MJ said and motioned to the spot beside Lupita.

"Do you want to eat anything?" the old man asked them after kissing Lupita's head and messing up her hair. Lupita nodded and the man bent down to hear her and later nodded. "And you?" he asked as he straightened up and turned to the other two girls.

"Sure, whatever you recommend I can have. I've heard that this is quite a good bakery," MJ said with a smile.

"I don't need anything," Ambrosia said and sat down next to Lupita. She tried her best to ignore the way her own body betrayed her by leaning toward the werewolf.

"Copy that," the old man said and went into the kitchen to prepare everything.

"Hey," MJ began and reached out her hand. "I don't know if you remember me, but I was the witch that sprayed you with the wolfsbane. I'm really sorry about that by the way."

"I remember," Lupita said but made no move to take MJ's hand. That was when Ambrosia realized that her eyes were weirdly grayer and cloudier than usual. That, and she was staring straight ahead nearly without blinking.

"Can you see?" Ambrosia asked when Lupita still hadn't taken MJ's hand. She could see Lupita shrink in her seat at the question and her eyes moved down as she closed them. She nodded slowly and Ambrosia saw her shoulders shake.

"Interesting," MJ said quietly and Ambrosia turned her head to her friend.

"What?" she asked, but her friend didn't spare her a glance at she continued to talk.

"Your wolf helps you see?" she asked. Lupita nodded, but her head remained hanging. "Fascinating."

"What is going on?" Ambrosia asked. She didn't understand anything of what was being said.

"Can I tell her?" MJ asked and carefully placed a hand on Lupita's covered knee. The werewolf nodded and leaned further back into the couch and let out a tired sigh. "Ok," MJ said and turned to Ambrosia. They both leaned forward while placing their elbows on their knees and resting their chin on their hands for a short amount of time before Ambrosia let her hands fall and MJ pointed her pointer fingers at her.

"Most werewolves have a pretty close bond with their wolf, and, sadly, some werewolves (like humans) have a disability in their human form. When they have a close bond with their wolf they can co-share the human form. So in Lupita's case, she's blind, so her wolf gives her sight. In other cases you have Isak. His wolf helps him in class. He has ADHD so when he loses focus his wolf focuses on the class for him and gives him the necessary information, or he redirects him to an activity that can help for the class. However, I have heard they sometimes both zone out. But apparently, his wolf is very interested in school.

"Of course, the werewolves can take advantage of this as well and revoke their help or take complete control of the human body. But you would need to be pretty bad at coexisting. Jack has a bad relationship with his wolf and his wolf often just takes control of his body. It's quite funny actually. But that usually only happens to people with a really good relationship with their wolf, like Isak has. Or it happens to... shifters," she stopped and cautiously looked at Lupita. "And unless you are Jack and next in line to be alpha you usually don't talk about that."

It became silent in the room as MJ looked at Lupita. The werewolf looked uncomfortable but nodded slowly.

"I am," she whispered. "My pack had a few. But I've realized it's pretty rare here and I don't want attention."

"We won't tell," MJ said and touched Lupita's knee again. "Right Ambi?" MJ gave her a pointed look as she said it.

"I won't," she said and made a face at MJ who stuck her tongue out at her.

"We have another question, but the food is here so we can wait," MJ said and gladly took the muffin and cup of tea. "Thank you so much!" she said and sniffed the muffin.

"You are welcome," the old man said and handed Lupita a bowl of cut-up fruits. "Try not to tire her out completely," he said and exited the room.

"Lupita, what is his name?" MJ said as she took a sip of her tea and hummed in content.

"John," she said and carefully held the bowl in her hands. Ambrosia was wondering how she was going to eat when she brought the bowl to her face and began eating directly out of it.

"Ok. Do you want some help?" MJ said as she began to eat her muffin.

"Not really," Lupita said in a muffled voice as her face was still deep in the bowl.

"Are you sure?" MJ asked. She knew something, Ambrosia was sure of it. She had her I-know-something face on, meaning her eyebrows were drawn together and her head was slightly tilted to the side.

"Yes," Lupita said and lowered the bowl, she had pieces of fruit stuck to her chin and cheek. "I usually eat like this on the new moon."

"Ok," MJ said and leaned forward. "Do you mind if I wipe away the fruits on your face?"

Lupita seemed to stiffen slightly at the request but nodded. MJ leaned forward and carefully whipped away the fruits from her face and then took her bowl from her.

"Let Ambrosia help you eat," MJ said and handed the bowl to Ambrosia. "And none of you are allowed to complain," she said when they both opened their mouths. She handed Ambrosia a fork that she didn't understand where she got it from.

Ambrosia didn't complain and began to slowly feed Lupita who was complying and not talking at all during everything and only opened and closed her mouth. To be honest, Ambrosia was confused. Lupita seemed more relaxed when she was feeding her than when she was eating by herself. But at the same time, she seemed scared. Her shoulders were tense and her ears were flicking. Ambrosia had never realized she had pointed ears. And they were quite big too. Lupita's nose was also twitching and scrunching, something which Ambrosia thought was incredibly cute. No. She couldn't think that.

"Ambi!" Ambrosia snapped out of her thoughts by her fork being snatched out of her hand. "Careful!" MJ said while holding the fork and staring daggers at the vampire. "Do you want to take out her eye?" Ambrosia looked around and saw her hand at eye level with Lupita.

"Sorry. I zoned out," she said and lowered her hand then put the bowl on the table.

"It's fine, just try to be careful," MJ said and placed the fork in the bowl. "Now, I really need to talk to you about something," MJ said and turned her full attention to Lupita.

"Yes," Lupita said in a small voice and got more comfortable on the sofa by pulling up her legs and leaning her chin on them.

"Have you... been collared before?" MJ asked and Lupita tensed as soon as the words left her mouth.

"I-I don't... I don't. I don't want to answer," she said and hid her face in her knees.

"I need you to answer this," MJ said and carefully touched her arm. "I want to try and help you. And if we know how you got out of your last one we might get you out of this one." Lupita didn't move from her place but Ambrosia saw her shake, and she was sure MJ felt it.

"Does she have to answer?" Ambrosia asked. As much as she wanted to know so she herself could get out of trouble, seeing the girl this sad and scared made her feel an uncomfortable feeling deep in her chest.

"Yes," MJ said, her eyes never leaving the shaking werewolf. "Please. Tell us."

The silence in the room was deafening. None of them moved. Ambrosia could hear Lupita's heart beat faster and faster with each passing second. Her shaking was getting worse and her breathing was getting labored.

"Lupita?" Ambrosia said and touched her shoulder. She calmed down immediately and looked up from her knees. She had tears running down her face and her eyes had a strange red glow to them.

"Bad... bad place," she said, her voice shaking and wavering. "Bad people. Bad vampires."

"Ok," MJ said and her face softened as Lupita tried her best to talk.

"Fighting. Cages. Chains. Arena..." Lupita spaced out and her eyes lost their glow. "Tired." She began to lay back down on the sofa and Ambrosia saw how drained she was from all this.

"You can't tell us anything else?" MJ asked as she helped the werewolf lay down. She tiredly shook her head and almost immediately as her head hit the pillow she passed out. "That wasn't a lot."

"Yeah," Ambrosia said and finally removed her hand from Lupita's shoulder. "But it was something. Not nearly enough though."

"We can find out a lot about this actually," MJ said with a distant voice before she crouched down and carefully pushed back Lupita's sleeves. "Oh," she breathed out and Ambrosia saw a storm form behind her eyes. "Fuckers."

"What?" Ambrosia asked and crouched down beside her. On Lupita's wrist, she could see a faint scar. A very large one. One that stretched over her entire wrist. "Is that...?"

"Yeah," MJ said and pulled the sleeve down again. "If I'm right she has those on her ankles and a pretty bad one around her neck. And..." she leaned into the girl's face and carefully touched her nose and cheek. "Just like I thought... Oh no."

"This is bad," Ambrosia said and stood back up. "Really, really bad."

"You don't say," MJ said and also stood up. "I can't believe these people still exist. I can't believe she went through all that."

"Didn't fighting rings get banned?" Ambrosia asked.

"They did," MJ answered and picked up her dishes along with the bowl Lupita used. "This is way worse than a simple fight ring."

"What could it be then? I can't remember learning any other type of illegal fighting where vampires used werewolves," Ambrosia said and tried to search her memory from her many sleepy history classes as MJ placed the dishes in the sink.

"I don't know. I remember having read something about gladiator-like fights back in the day. But I thought those were abolished hundreds of years ago," MJ said and her eyebrows knit together. "I don't understand."

"Hey, it's fine, don't overthink this," Ambrosia said when she saw her friend start rubbing her eyes. "We will ask her more about this when she feels better. And if she doesn't respond we'll use a memory stone."

"I will not use one of those without someone's consent and you know this," MJ said and looked greatly offended that Ambrosia would ever think that she would do something like that. "I can use it if she doesn't want to talk about it but wants us to know."

"Ok," Ambrosia said and walked back into the living room with MJ trailing behind her. "But what if she doesn't want to tell us? I need to get out of this mess."

"She needs to get out of this mess," MJ said and pointed to the sleeping girl. "I love you Ambi, but you are being extremely selfish right now. You can't think about just yourself anymore. You have bound her to you, and whether you want to accept it or not you two are bound together on a deeper level than a stupid collar."

"No, we are not!" Ambrosia shouted. They had had this argument before. Just after the incident at the football field. "I don't know what you think, but I don't like her. She ruined my life in a few hours. If I'm seen with her at school everything will be ruined. I have tried incredibly hard to fit in these past two years. I didn't ask for any of this shit. And I don't want to take care of a dog!"

"I would like you to leave."

They both turned and saw the old man standing by a staircase that led up to presumably the attic or another story. His arms were crossed and his eyes were hard and glaring at the two girls, but mostly Ambrosia.

"Fine by me," Ambrosia said and started to walk out of the store.

"I'm really sorry sir, truly," MJ said behind her, but Ambrosia didn't turn around and continued to walk outside the store before she sped through the street at vampiric speed. Why did her life need to take so many turns all at the same time? And why would no one take her side?

AN: this is quite a long chapter. I like it. Sorry for taking a while. Hopefully, I'll be able to write more once vacation starts.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and if you see any spelling mistakes it would be lovely if you pointed them out (kindly please).

Hope you are all taking care of yourselves both mentally and physically. Make sure to eat and drink something.

If no one has said it to you yet: I am incredibly proud of you!!

Hope you have a lovely day/night/evening.

Love you all and thank you for reading. Leave a vote or comment, they are very appreciated! ❤💖❤💖❤💖❤💖❤💖