Chapter 18: ""Why...named Rain?""

Lillian felt like she practically flew down the stairs into the basement with how fast she was moving. Her heart was filled with anxiety over what condition she would find Rain in. Lillian’s eyes were stinging with suppressed tears.

Once Lillian was down the stairs she didn’t stop till she was standing in front of Rain’s cell. Rain turned her head to look up at Lillian, this was about all the movement she could manage at the moment, with all the damage to her body.

Lillian’s eyes met Rain’s open ones and put a hand over her heart. “Thank the Moon Goddess you’re alive sweet girl.” she said, her voice filled with tears.

Rain gave Lillian a faint smile, trying to reassure her with it. However, judging by the expression she could see on Lillian’s face, she was failing miserably. Rain’s breath was only coming out in pants, as it was difficult for her to breathe. Her ribs felt so painful, like all of them had been broken.

Before Rain got a chance to say anything, a stern look came off Lillian's face, her eyes glittered with tears, making it look like her white and gray colored eyes were glowing.

“Don’t you dare tell me you're fine and will live.” Lillian’s voice broke while she was saying this.

Lillian’s braid was a little loose this time, a sign of her obvious distress as she used magic to braid it. The braid was draped forward over one shoulder instead of trailing down her back like usual.

Today her form fitting floor length long sleeved velvet dress and cloak, were a deep emerald green. The flowing embroidered protection knots outlining the trim of both the dress and cloak were a shiny gold.

Lillian's satchel was present again, slung across her body over one shoulder. This kept it from sliding off as she had rushed to the cells to check on Rain.

Rain didn’t have the energy to hide just how badly she was hurt from Lillian, so she just sighed and said, “I really could use some of your healing.”

Lillian’s tears nearly spilled over hearing how breathless and pain filled Rain’s words were. “Okay sweet girl, I’ll make it better.”

With that, Lillian opened the door, and Dominic, having sat up when Lillian came into view, remained a silent observer.

*“This female…she worries over our pup.”* Atlus said, his deep voice gravelly.

*“She has always cared for Rain…from the moment I first saw her, she was always kind and nurturing towards Rain.”* Dominic told his wolf.

*“Why is our pup named Rain?”* Atlus asked.

Dominic paused, he wasn’t the one who had given Rain her name, and had never asked why she was given that name. *“I don’t know the answer to that question.”*

Atlus, wanting to know the answer pushed forward, not enough for them to shift into wolf or lycan form, just enough to change the eyes and voice of Dominic.

Dominic’s eyes were now glowing inner rings of dark amber surrounded by outer rings of molten gold. His voice now changed to the deep gravelly growl of Atlus.

*“Female”* Atlus said, calling out to Lillian, who was now inside Rain’s cell, kneeling next to her.

Lillian was taking all the necessary items she needed to heal Rain out of her satchel. Hearing the unfamiliar gravelly voice coming from the next cell, she looked up, and gasped in surprise.

Rain hearing this sound out of Lillian turned and looked at her father. Dominic had never addressed Lillian as just ‘female’. Both Lillian and Rain’s eyes were wide with surprise as they both looked into the changed eyes in Dominic’s face.

“Dominic?” Lillian queried uncertainty in a soft voice.

“Father?” Rain’s query coming out breathless and weak sounding.

*“They have never met you, you’ll have to introduce yourself to them.”* Dominic told his wolf.

Atlus gave Dominic’s words a mental nod of acknowledgement. “I am Atlus, Dominic’s wolf.” He said aloud to his pup and Lillian.

Lillian visibly relaxed with those words, Rain looked at him curiously. “Atlas?” she called out.

Not liking how weak and in pain his pup sounded, Atlus said. “Don’t talk my little pup, rest, ask your questions when you're stronger.”

Even though Atlus's voice was deep and growly, it still managed to convey warmth and care to Rain. Letting Rain know that her father’s wolf cared for her as well. Hope whimpered internally, the whine coming out of Rain’s throat.

Lillian hearing the sound, reached out and gently brushed her hair back, trying to sooth and comfort Rain. “Shhh, I’ll take the pain away soon.” she said soothingly.

Atlus watched, both him and his humanoid ached to go to their pup and comfort her themselves. Atlus was glad someone was able to do what he and his humanoid were unable to.

*“Thank you female, for the care you show my pup.”* Atlus said to Lillian.

Lillian looked up at Dominic, and raised an eyebrow partly at him, amusing Atlus. “I know Dominic has told you my name, you may address me as Lillian.” her tone was a little sharp.

Atlus grinned, the grin showed on Dominic’s face. He liked this female, she had a spark that was carefully hidden. It just needed a little poke to ignite it. “I like you female,” at Lillian’s glare he said, “Lillian.”

Lillian didn’t know what it was, but the growl of Atlus did things to her, things she felt she was centuries too old to feel anymore. Uncomfortable, she glared at the wolf staring out at her through Dominic’s eyes.

Rain, silently watching the conversation, was amused by both Lillian and her father’s wolf Atlus. It seemed that Atlus had very quickly gotten on Lillian’s nerves, and Atlus was enjoying Lillian’s annoyance.

With a little huff, Lillan turned back around to start healing Rain. Lifting her wand, a long thin wooden object that was made from a magnolia tree. There were power retention runes carved into the wood. It contained a lot of residual magic.

Paired with charged power crystals and Lillian’s own innate healing abilities, she would be able to repair all the damage Rebecca’s spell had done to Rain's body. The damage done to her spirit was a little harder to heal, but Lillian could repair much of it. This would allow Rain to recover faster.

With a wave and an incantation, Lillian started her healing. Rain watched as Lillian worked on her, enjoying the ritual Lillian had when it came to healing. Watching this ritual had a soothing effect on Rain’s mental state, something about Lillian’s motions and movements would calm her.

Rain opened herself to Lillian’s spell, allowing her magic to flow into her, making the healing faster and more effective than it would have been. It was one of the lessons in the medical healing tomes in the Library.

If a being's internal barriers were too strong, it made healing spells less effective, because a healing spell would lose much of itself trying to get through those barriers.

So in order for a healing spell to be the most effective, you had to drop all your barriers and invite the magic into your body and spirit. Which is why healers using magic preferred their patients conscious and cognizant.

Once the spell started, it didn’t take much concentration to maintain, especially with Rain working with Lillian to allow the spell to do its work. Lillian was all too aware of Atlus’s burning gaze the entire time she worked.

Atlus thought this female was very graceful in her movements. He wondered what kind of wolf she would have had, if she had been born a Werewolf. He could visibly see Rain’s wounds healing under her magic.

“How did Rain receive her name?” Atlus asked Lillian.

Lillian jerked a little, startled by his question. “It was raining the night I was called to assist in the birth of Rain. Rebecca didn’t want to name her when she was born. When I insisted she come up with a name, she looked outside at the pouring rain. Rebecca said to name her that, so that’s what I did. After all, rain is a symbol of cleansing and rebirth. It was my hope that by naming her Rain, she would avoid being tainted by Black Magic.”

Dominic and Rain were both shocked, neither had known that Lillian had attended her birth. “I didn’t know that, I thought the time you came to me with your vision was our first meeting.” Rain said.

“That was the first one you could remember, but not only was I the one who delivered you, I also took care of you for the first two years of your life.” Lillian said, in the soft and gentle tone that never failed to comfort Rain.

“Why only her first two years?” Atlus asked.

Lillian’s expression became troubled, she was silent for a moment. “One day Rebecca came to my quarters, where I took care of Rain. She said she would take over her care from that day on, that Rain was no longer my responsibility. I was completely cut off from any information regarding Rain. It wasn’t until I saw her doing slave work a few years later that I was able to see her again.” Lillian told Atlus.

“Now I understand…you have played the part of mother to my pup, for that I thank you.” Atlus said

Lillian was startled by this wolf’s words once again, and didn’t know how to respond to them.

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