CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 32
Aine's POV

“Aine, you need to rest, and I will take care of the body. Can you stop for a minute so we can talk? I'm extremely worried about you.” I ignored Raven’s pleadings as I continued to light the candles set in a circle on the floor. "You were spitting fire a few minutes ago, Aine. You need to rest and figure out that you suddenly have fire in your palm." I rolled my eyes at his drama. "You don't have to lie for me to go rest, I will rest when I want to."

"Aine, I am not lying. You were spewing fire at Lenny, and he chose to run away because you are powerful." He said, looking at me wth a serious look. I sighed and turned to what I was doing. "I can't remember anything, Raven. So maybe stop talking about it." 

“I need to summon my mother so she can help me with Elara; she’s not dead. My mother has been around for years; she has seen things like this.” I said as I sat down and closed my eyes, focusing on finding my mother. "Help you how? She's dead. She's right there, cold and dead."

"How could you say that? That's a very insensitive thing to say. I know she's gon, but I can't let her go without trying to get her back." I said my mind and heart refused to let her go. I refuse to let go of what we've built for so long, and she decides to die that early? No way. 

"People who die are meant to stay dead, Aine," I ignored him, pinching my nose in stress. I so wish Raven could just have my back sometimes without questioning my ability. 

“If you knew how to call your mother, why haven’t you done it before? Aine, I’m worried you are losing your mind.” He pressed. I snapped my eyes open immediately he said that, his words shredded through me, sharp and cruel only because they were true. I turned to look at him as he was standing against the door, looking at me. 

“If you don’t leave this room in three seconds, that's when I will lose my mind. I don’t need someone to be second-guessing me when I am trying my best here.” I turned around and focused on what I was doing. I heard his shoes shuffle away within a second.

I stood before the circle, my hands trembling as I lit the final candle. The flame danced, casting shadows on the walls as I began to chant. "Mater mea, adsum vocem meam. In tenebris, te quaero..." The ancient language rolled off my tongue, but my heart was thumping against my chest like a drum.

The air seemed to thicken, the shadows twisting into shapes I couldn't quite see. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I called out to her, my voice barely above a whisper. "Mariah, I'm here. Please, come to me."

The words hung in the air, echoing back to me like a whispered promise. I held my breath, waiting for a sign, but the only response was the soft crackle of the flames.

“Did you just summon me with?” She asked, startling me, smiling proudly, but I didn’t even have the energy to smile and be proud of my achievements. “I need your help with something,” I said and stood up from the floor, taking her to Elara’s body in the hallway. 

The pack members and the elders were all standing outside, whispering to one another. Raven did a good thing and ordered them in his alpha voice to leave. “She’s dead. Why do you need help with a dead body?” I glared at her blatant voice.

“Show some emotion, you know this girl was my friend. I can’t let her go; something in me tells me she’s not dead, her soul is wandering around here.” I said, looking at her with a pleading look. 

She looked at me and back at Elara’s lifeless body and sighed. “Does she have parents or family?” I shook my head. Elara came here when her pack was attacked, and all her pack was destroyed. She was only a pup; that’s how she survived, and Raven’s father helped her.

“This is a dangerous thing to do, Aine. She may not come back as the same person that you knew.” Mom said, looking at me as if she was waiting for me to give her the go-ahead.

“Mom, she’s the only true friend I have ever had in my life. Please go ahead, I don’t see myself surviving this miserable life without her.” My mother nodded and kneeled, taking Elara’s hand in hers. 

I followed and watched closely. “The only thing I have to do is breathe some life into her, and if she hasn’t crossed, we might get her back.” I nodded, wishing she would just speed things up and stop talking.

My mother closed her eyes and took Elara’s cold hands into hers. For a few seconds, nothing happened until a small light slowly brightened in my mother’s hand, and it quickly stopped. I looked at her, confused whether it worked or not. 

She opened her eyes and stared at Elara. I jumped back when Elara suddenly coughed and instantly jerked up. I laughed and hugged, happy to have her back. “Thank you, Mom.” 

“Who are you and why are you hugging me?” I froze as she pushed me away and looked at me with an irritated look on her face. I looked at Mom in confusion, who was also looking at Elara. “Mom… what’s wrong with her?”

“What am I doing here?” Elara pressed, getting up and looking around nervously. Raven walked in through the door, immediately walking into the hallway that we were in. “Alpha, who are these people?” 

“Wow,” I said out loud in disbelief. I did all of that so she would remember me. Did I mean that little to her? “Mom, what the fuck?”

“Don’t ‘what the fuck me’ I told you she wouldn’t come back as she is.” My mom’s voice rose in frustration at me. “Why are you shouting? I’m the one she doesn’t remember?”

“Why are you being disrespectful?” My mom pressed, and I rolled my eyes, annoyed that she was not being helpful. “Elara, I’m your friend Aine. You were dead, and my mom helped bring you back.” I said softly as I walked towards her. She remained standing, looking at me with a cautious look.

“Stay where you are.” She said. “Elara, please.” I pressed, coming closer to her. She shook her head, looking at me with a stern expression that immediately disappeared when I took another step forward.

She shook her head one last time and hit the wall, falling, shaking vigorously. I stared at her, confused and shocked. She stopped as fast as she started, and her body stilled. I looked at her, too afraid to even hear her pulse.

“Well, that went well,” Raven said awkwardly. I glared at him and kneeled to see if she was still breathing. My mother was now standing against the wall with her hands in her jacket, seemingly uninterested in the whole situation. "Mom, can you act like you care for a minute? Like for one second?" I asked, annoyed, and she sighed, looking at me with a tired look. 

"Aine, I told you what would happen. I don't know what you expect me to do, check her pulse."

“She’s still breathing,” I said as I sat on the floor, tired and worn out.