The Impact

Harlyn

Everyone is quiet, and Volkaros seems extremely sickened by what is happening. I need to know, though. It’s not something I’ve ever heard of before.

“What is it?” I look between Samuel and Volkaros.

“Dragufic is a drug. It torments your mind and pulls up moments of intense guilt, regret and such. The mind is focused on those moments and replays it, over and over, slowly driving them crazy,” Samuel explains.

“So we wake him,” I say, and I wait, but his head shakes.

“There’s no counter drug there’s nothing you can do to stop it. He needs to,” Samuel explains.

“What do you mean he needs to? How can he? Don’t you have a doctor on here or something?” I can’t see them travelling without a doctor, or I hope not.

“There’s no doctor with us. We weren’t meant to cause fights. We were meant to just get you and leave. Plus, anything a doctor could heal a wolf can heal quicker,” Samuel explains.

“There needs to be something, Samuel,” I argue.

“I don’t know enough about it Harlyn, we will be back within an hour. I will get a message sent but there’s nothing anyone can do from what I know of it,” Samuel explains.

My head shakes. He has to be wrong. How can Stefan be the only one who can stop it? I look at Volkaros.

“Magic won’t help. It’s a drug in his system. I also don’t know much of it either, I’m not a werewolf so it’s not something I would need to learn,” he explains.

So, we wait? Do they want me just to sit around and wait?

I do, there’s not much I can do when we’re surrounded by water, well, I don’t sit. I pace. Over and over, constantly wondering what this thing is.

If I get all the information, maybe it can help us find an answer. I don’t believe that nothing can be done about it. I’m too busy pacing and thinking of a plan to realise we arrive. My first indication that we have is when I see the former king and queen walk through.

I go to follow but stop and flinch back when I see my father rush through behind them. He doesn’t even notice me. His eyes are fixed on the room where Stefan is.

Moving, I step towards it and watch as my Father looks at Stefan’s arm. He moves and tightens something around it.

“Could be it something else?” The queen looks towards my father as he inspects his arm.

“No, based on the wound, how it’s spreading, him not waking, it’s Dragufic,” my Father speaks.

“A timeline?” the Queen asks.

“The restriction on his arm will slow it, typically three days. That, however, is on normal werewolves, lycans I can’t comment on. Again, the restriction will slow it, so maybe four or five days. It also changes based on how it happened, how quickly the effects took hold.” My father’s words seem to leave everyone with more questions.

He doesn’t look well, however. His face is withdrawn, and the large marks under his eyes show he’s not slept for a while. The way he holds his body is also different from how I remember it. He’s not the strong, powerful Earl I remember; his shoulders are slouched.

“How do you wake him?” I now ask, unable to avoid the question. Everyone turns to stare at me. My father’s eyes widen before they drop to the floor.

“Nothing can, except for him. He needs to forgive himself for whatever is holding him hostage. The longer it lasts, the more it spreads, making it harder,” my father explains.

My head shakes. There has to be something.

“When and how did it happen?” The former king looks towards me and Samuel.

“I wasn’t there, I don’t believe, Your Grace,” Samuel speaks, so now they look at me.

“After Samuel left, there was talking. We went to leave, and Wayne moved; Stefan grabbed him and stopped him, threatening if he tried to attack him again, he wouldn’t get a chance. Wayne said he had other plans we didn’t know of,” I explain. They are still looking at me, waiting.

“I didn’t see anything. Stefan kept me behind him. I didn’t see if anything happened,” I explain, and wonder if maybe it is my fault. Had I not been behind Stefan, maybe I would have seen or noticed something.

“If he didn’t say anything, then it can’t have been painful enough for him to notice. There must be a reason this was done.” The former king looks between us.

“He plans to attack while the King is immobilised,” my father says and quickly stands. The former king steps in his way.

“Samuel will deal with that,” the former king says, and my father looks at him in shock. “Samuel is well equipped to prepare for any attacks, but you’re not exactly stable right now. I thank you for coming to confirm Stefan’s condition, but you’re not battle-ready,” the King says.

They can’t just continue like nothing can be done. “Surely there is a way to wake him?” I ask.

“Even if he was woken in time, he wouldn’t be able to help with any attacks,” the former King explains.

“I don’t care about the attacks, but you’re acting like nothing can be done and accepting that what? In three or four days, if he’s not woken up, he dies? Is that it?”

Something must be able to be done to stop this.

“The drug hasn’t been around for centuries. It’s written in old stories. People tried to find cures and failed, and only the person drugged can fight it off. I am not just standing here and accepting he will die. I just know there is no way around this,” the former King explains.

“There is possibly a way,” the Queen says and looks at me. “You’re his mate, and you now have a wolf.” The queen smiles at me.

“No,” My father shouts and stands. “Your Grace, I will not let you risk my daughter on the off chance it works,” he stares at her in shock. Why is he defending me?