Chapter 19: ""...not heard unless...""

Because Lillian could not think of how to respond to what Atlus had said, she decided to change the topic. Clearing her throat she said, “I’m almost done healing you.” to Rain.

Rain looked up at Lillian, there was a faint blush on her cheeks, one she could only see in the dark because of her ability to see in some of the lowest of light. One of the perks of being able to shift into another form.

“Thank you for taking care of me.” Rain told her, her voice no longer as weak as it was before. With the healing from Lillian, Rain was finally able to breathe properly again.

Lillian gave Rain a gentle look. “This is something you’ve never had to thank me for.” Her voice soft, “ I have always thought of you as the daughter the Moon Goddess blessed to this mate less Witch.”

Atlus felt shocked, he could sense this female was Centuries old, but going through Dominic’s memories, he was able to confirm that this female never had a mate in all the years he had known her. That’s when Atlus noticed a few other details about this enchanting Witch.

Her hair was white, that detail seemed insignificant at first, but when it was paired with the centuries of age and how much power he could feel from her, it wasn’t such an insignificant detail anymore. Atlus, curious now, dug through all the memories and details Dominic had of Lillian.

As he did, questions that had been formulating were being answered. He found that Lillian was a Witch of the Black Magic Coven, but remained untainted by Black Magic because she didn’t practice or participate in it. Lillian got away with that because she was their Knowledge Keeper.

By being the Knowledge Keeper, Lillian didn’t have to participate in or do any black magic for the Coven. The Knowledge Keepers only job was upkeep and preservation of the Black Magic Coven’s massive library. This had also kept Lillian from becoming a sacrifice to some Black Magic Spell, or a breeder for the Coven.

Lillian finished healing Rain, and Rain felt herself sag in relief. Rain was no longer in so much pain her body shook. Her body felt a little achy, but that was nothing to her, not compared to what she had suffered in all the years she had been alive.

Atlus watched the relieved expression come over his pup’s face, and felt the tension and worry he and his humanoid had been feeling, eased up. “Thank you Lillian.” They said together, their dual voices echoed a little off the rock of their basement cells.

Lillian looked at them, her eyes wide, her expression both curious and surprised. “Well, that’s not a sound I’ve heard before.” Lillian said, her words lilting musically with her accent.

“Only because the only Werewolves you have come into contact with had already been disconnected with their wolves.” They said together again.

Lillian didn’t know why, but she found herself wanting to hear Dominic and his wolf Atlus speak together more. Lillian had no knowledge that Werewolves could do that, and the Scholar in her wanted to know more. Before she could start to ask any questions, the basement door creaked.

Knowing it was most likely someone coming down to look for Rain, she quickly cast a glamor spell over Rain to make it look like she was still hurt. Another spell and all her items returned to her satchel, then she was up and out of Rain’s cell.

Lillian quickly ducked into Dominic’s cell, tucked herself into the darkest corner and cast a high level concealment spell over herself. Rain quickly forced her body to go limp, slowing her breathing and heart rate, once again pretending to still be unconscious.

Atlus retreated back into Dominic, not wanting the change in their eyes visible. Dominic carefully laid himself on the floor, making sure not to rattle or scrape his chains as he moved. Controlling his breathing he slowed his heart rate, acting as if he was asleep.

He could feel the stir in the other wolves and beings in their cells who had been silently observing them as they had all conversed. Again, everyone was careful as they pretended to be asleep, none of them wanting to draw attention from whomever was coming down the stairs.

“It’s so quiet down here, and it feels creepy, like a tomb.” The whispered complaint from Janice echoed off the rock walls of the basement.

The footsteps of Bonnie, Janice and Kelly were somewhat noisy in the still silence of the basement.

“Most likely all the slaves are asleep.” Kelly said flatly.

“Even if the slaves were awake, they know to keep quiet, slaves are not meant to be heard unless told to speak.” Bonnie said, her tone a little haughty.

“Think we’ll find her alive?” Janice asked.

*“They must be talking about us.”* Rain said to Hope.

*“Why would they want to know if we are alive?”* Hope asked, now that her and Rain had been healed, she was no longer curled in on herself.

*“I don’t know, but we might be able to get that answer just from listening to them.”* Rain said.

*“They have to be talking about our pup.”* Atlus said to Dominic.

*“Let’s just hope they’re not here to do anything to her.”* Dominic replied.

Lillian was more than positive they were talking about her Rain, and she silently prayed to the Moon Goddess they didn’t do anything to her. Then she comforted herself with the knowledge that if they did do anything to Rain, she was still here and could heal her again if they did.

“I doubt it, and if she is, she probably won’t live much longer.” Kelly said, her voice still flat.

“We’ll find out in a moment, you two should be hoping she is alive and will keep living. Without her alive to breed, mother will turn us into her breeders instead.” Bonnie said, her tone impatient.

The three Witches reached the bottom of the stairs and walked towards Rain’s cell.

*“Well…now we know why they’re trying to find out if we’re alive.”* Rain said to Hope, sneering internally.

*“If only I could rip their heads from their shoulders.”* Hope snarled in anger.

*“If only that wouldn’t get us killed.”* Rain commented back, her tone sounding mournful.

“Her chest is still moving, so she’s still alive.” Janice commented, sounding optimistic.

“It looks like she could die any moment now.” Kelly said flatly.

“I don’t think so.” Bonnie said quickly, “That bastard mongrel has looked worse and survived.

“Think we should get someone to heal her a little just to make sure?” Janice asked.

“You want one of our medical Witch’s to heal a slave?” Kelly asked in her flat tone of voice.

“They wouldn’t do it even if we ordered them to.” Bonnie said sounding annoyed.

“So what do you want to do?” Janice asked

“We’ll keep checking on her over the next few days.” Bonnie said, “Hopefully she’s improved by then.”

“Why by then?” Janice asked.

“The Ritual to renew the Toxic haze barrier will be soon. The Coven Witches and Warlocks under a Century are not allowed to join. I was hoping to get clearance from our mother for a large group of us to vacation at the Silver Tree Forest Compound during that time.”

“If we have permission to leave, we can capture that Moon Blessed bitch without getting in trouble for deserting the Coven.” Janice said, sounding a little gleeful.

“That’s the plan.” Bonnie said, then she turned around. “Let’s go back to my suite.”

Kelly and Janice turned and followed her up and out of the basement. Rain let out a relieved gust of air as soon as she heard the basement door slam shut, the sound echoing through the basement.

Waving her spell away, Lillian slid down the rock wall of Dominic’s cell till she was sitting on the floor. Her body went momentarily weak as the adrenaline that had been coursing through her left. Dominic sat up and looked at her, before turning to look at Rain, who had also sat up.

Rain was looking towards Lillian, she couldn’t see her very well, because the rock that rose up and lowered unevenly between the cells. Bars were embedded into the uneven rock to keep the cells separated from each other, because at its highest point it was only three feet.

Dominic turned towards Lillian, and now that the threat of discovery was gone, Atlus pushed forward again. Lillian had been looking into Dominic’s gaze and watched it as the color of his eyes changed to that of Atlus again. Lillian found it a thrilling sight, and was ecstatic that she got to witness the change this close.

Perhaps her fascination with what she was witnessing was why Lillian said her next words aloud. “I wish I could watch you shift.” It was said softly, just a whisper, but Doninic being a Werewolf, heard the words clearly.

“We would gladly grant your wish, if we were not so weak at the moment.” Dominic and Atlus said together.

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