Chapter 110

Grace, Seth, and three unknown men entered the room, their eyes widening at the sight before them. Anthony was floating on his back in the ice water, his face pale but gradually recovering, while Kathy hovered nearby in her shimmering mermaid form, gently supporting him. Kathy gently rubbed Anthony's cheek, feeling the heat from his fever slowly dissipate as the poison seeped from his wound and mixed into the icy water. Despite sharing the water with him, Kathy remained unaffected by the toxins, her mermaid form protecting her from any harm.

The door swung open once more as Frances and Vanessa hurried in, their faces etched with worry after receiving the urgent news of Anthony's hospitalization. Anthony remained motionless, drifting in a deep unconsciousness that seemed to anchor the room in silence. Kathy closed her eyes, her shimmering tail brushing the icy water, and reached out with her mind, searching for any trace of Anthony or his wolf Max.

Inside the vast, shadowed landscape of Anthony's mind, Kathy found herself standing before a cold, invisible barrier. Beyond it, a young boy sat alone, his head buried in his knees, surrounded by a chill that kept him isolated. Kathy's heart tightened as she recognized the lonely figure—it was Anthony's inner child, the part of himself he had locked away and forgotten for years. She searched for Max's presence, but the wolf's spirit was nowhere to be found, leaving only the quiet sorrow of the boy within.

Kathy pressed her palm softly against the barrier, feeling its cold resistance. Instinctively, she reached for her witch’s magic, but the familiar energy remained frustratingly out of reach—this realm obeyed different rules. Searching her heart, Kathy realized brute force or spells wouldn’t help her here. Instead, she took a slow breath, focusing on the quiet ache of Anthony’s loneliness echoing through the invisible wall.

Letting her own emotions surface, Kathy began to whisper gently to the boy beyond, sharing memories of laughter and warmth, times when Anthony had felt safe and understood. She hoped that by showing her genuine care and vulnerability, she might bridge the distance between them and invite Anthony’s inner child to trust her enough to let her in.

As Kathy’s whispered words lingered in the silent realm between worlds, she sensed a subtle warmth flicker in the lonely boy’s eyes—a sign of hope, fragile but real. Drawing strength from that connection, Kathy gradually let herself return to the present. She reopened her eyes to find her mother and father now in the room with everyone else, concern etched across their faces as they stood among the gathering. Her eyes, still glowing a deep purple from her efforts in Anthony’s mind, swept the room for a heartbeat before she turned her gaze back to Anthony’s floating form. Without hesitation, Kathy swam gracefully toward her parents, her shimmering tail gliding through the icy water, determined to give them reassurance—and perhaps find comfort herself in their presence.

Frances stepped forward, his voice trembling with worry as he asked, “What is going on with Anthony?” The question hung in the air, drawing everyone's attention to the still, pale figure floating in the icy water.

Kathy turned to the group, her voice steady but laced with concern. “The poison that Samuel gave him is causing the fever. Now, as you can see, the poison is slowly seeping out of his wound into the water. The healing has begun, but it's happening much more slowly than I hoped.” She glanced at Anthony, her expression softening. “We need to give him time and keep him stable while his body recovers.”

Kathy swim back to Anthony body to see that all the poison is out of his system, she used the water of the rub to lift his body turn the male nurse so they can put him on the bed. The doctor checks his viral and his heart is beating.

“Doctor, his fever finally break you can take him into a room and get him in some dry clothes. Frances and Vanessa who with the doctor I will be there soon,”

The male nurses push Anthony body of the room into another room so he can get dry and put on some clean clothes as his parents goes behind him.

Only Grace, Seth, and the unknown men remained in the room with Kathy now, the others having followed Anthony and his parents out. Taking a moment to steady herself, Kathy pulled herself out of the water and sat on the edge, her tail shimmering as it shifted out of sight. She drew a deep breath, preparing to address the quiet, anxious group.

“Lady Raine I know you are here, show yourself,”

At Kathy's summons, a shimmer rippled through the air and Lady Raine emerged from the shadows, her presence both commanding and gentle. She moved with quiet grace, settling into the nearest chair as Kathy watched her intently, hopefully mingling with uncertainty in her gaze. Raine's steady eyes met Kathy's, understanding the unspoken plea—unlocking the barrier around Anthony's inner child required more than magic; it needed wisdom and guidance that only someone like Raine could offer.

“I need your help,”

“What kind of help, if I may ask?”

Kathy hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts before speaking. “I entered into Anthony's mind, hoping to search for him or Max, but I couldn’t sense either of them at first. Instead, I saw his inner child hiding behind a barrier—it’s like my powers can’t reach him there. I don’t know how to connect to him, and I’m afraid to push harder in case I hurt him.” Her words lingered in the air, vulnerable and searching, as she looked to Lady Raine for guidance.

“I see, you will need one more person, someone will part of the werewolf and lycan,”

“Come on Raine, I don’t have time for this. Anthony life is on the line here,”

Lady Raine’s gaze grew more solemn as she replied, “Their Moon Goddess is the only person who can give you that little power you need and answer to it.” Her words hung in the air, carrying both weight and hope, as the group exchanged uncertain glances, realizing the gravity of what would be required to reach Anthony’s inner child.

Kathy’s voice trembled with urgency as she asked, “How do I contact her?” The question hung in the air, directed at Lady Raine, whose eyes reflected both the challenge and the possibility of the task ahead. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the wise woman's response.

Lady Raine leaned forward, her tone gentle but firm. “That is a little bit tricky. With your bond with Anthony and also with Max, try to find Max in Anthony’s mind. Since you already rid Anthony’s body of the poison, you should be able to make a connection to Max.” She paused, letting Kathy absorb the advice, her eyes softening in encouragement. “Focus on the memories that tie Anthony and Max together—sometimes the strongest connections come from shared pain or hope. Use those as your guide.”

Kathy clenched her fists in frustration, her voice trembling as she muttered, “This is so stupid. If I was there sooner, none of this would’ve happened. If I never met him, this wouldn’t happen.” Regret and self-blame flickered across her face as she struggled with the weight of her choices, wishing things could have turned out differently but knowing she had to move forward. Suddenly, frustration surged through Kathy, and before she could stop herself, her mermaid tail flicked out in agitation. There was a mighty splash as water sprayed across the room, soaking everything in its path—papers, cushions, and the floor—but thankfully sparing the people seated behind her. The air shimmered with droplets, and an awkward silence settled as Kathy realized the unintended result of her outburst.