Chapter 99 THE HEALER
Edeline
"Speak softly. The healer has returned," she said urgently, her voice tinged with panic.
I looked at her with genuine concern. "What’s the matter? She can’t hear us in here, and why would you be scared of her?" I placed a hand on my hip, studying her.
Mirabelle sighed heavily, gripping my hand and guiding me to the back of the cabin, away from the windows. We settled at the small breakfast nook in the corner of her minimally decorated home, and my worry grew with each passing second.
"Listen, Edeline," she said, her tired green eyes locking with mine, pleading for my attention. "That healer... she’s not just any healer. She has the gift of sight too. Even though she gave up scrying to focus on healing, she still retains her gift because she chose to remain single. Last night, Oracle Claire and I were meditating and saw a vision of her. Her story unfolded before us. It's clear she’s a threat, and you need to be cautious because she’s got her sights set on you." Her grip on my hands tightened, and my eyes widened in shock.
"What do you mean?" I asked in a whisper, horrified by the idea of this newcomer and her mysterious abilities.
Mirabelle shook her head. "It’s important to keep your distance from her. From the vision we had, she seems to have a malevolent nature. But she does have a deep affection for Tatiana, almost like a mother’s love."
I stared at her intently, trying to absorb every word she said and store it in my mind along with everything else she’d mentioned. This new information completely changed the stakes.
I was eager to leave as soon as possible and stay alert for any sign of the healer—whoever she was.
"Edeline..." Mirabelle croaked, her voice strained and her eyes clouded with anguish. She gasped, grimacing as she clutched her abdomen tightly.
I jumped up, rushing to her side. She was clearly in a lot of pain.
"Mirabelle! What’s wrong!?" I gently cupped her face in my hands, brushing her hair away from her flushed cheeks. Her eyes seemed distant, as if she was struggling to focus on anything around her.
"Call the doctor. I think I might have been p—" Before she could finish, her words were cut off as she suddenly lost consciousness and began convulsing in her chair.
"Oh my goodness!" I exclaimed in panic, feeling helpless as I watched Mirabelle foam at the mouth and writhe in her seat.
…
Edeline
Everything came to a standstill.
Shh... It’s so silent, you can practically hear your own blood pulsing through your veins. The stillness was deafening.
I was completely stunned. Mirabelle was slumped over the breakfast nook in her cabin. Her last words lingered in the air: “I believe I have been p…”
I stared at her lifeless form, my heart racing. My eyes widened in disbelief, and I felt paralyzed, unable to move. My mouth was slightly open, and I was shaking uncontrollably.
Oh no, I’d forgotten something... Just a casual chat...
The doctor! That’s it!
A surge of adrenaline jolted me into action. I dashed over to Mirabelle’s purse, which was resting on her stylish queen-sized zebra-print bed. With trembling hands, I grabbed her cell phone and fumbled through her contacts, gasping for breath. I found Doc’s number and dialed it with shaky fingers.
I glanced back at Mirabelle. She was unconscious, but at least she was still breathing. The gentle rhythm of her heartbeat was a small relief amidst the chaos.
Now wasn’t the time for hesitation. I needed to act fast.
“Hello?” The voice on the other end finally answered after a moment of suspense.
I paced back and forth, my words spilling out in a frantic rush. “Doctor, please hurry! Mirabelle seems to have been poisoned. She had a seizure, was foaming at the mouth, and then collapsed. We need help right away! Please send someone as soon as possible!” I almost shouted, my panic barely contained.
The doctor seemed to grasp the urgency of the situation, even as I struggled to articulate my fears. He ended the call and headed to his vehicle, medical equipment in tow. He wouldn’t have time to transport her—he had to come here.
I rushed back to Mirabelle, lifting her gently. As I carried her to her bed, I couldn’t ignore the stark contrast between her weight and my smaller frame. Carefully, I laid her down, making sure she was comfortable and flat. Her skin felt almost otherworldly, delicate and pale, though her eyes were tired.
I thought about cleaning the substance from her mouth, but the doctor needed to see everything as it was. I would need to ask him about it.
I clasped Mirabelle’s hand, feeling a wave of concern and dread. Her breathing was steady, which was a small comfort, but her heartbeat was weak. My hands shook uncontrollably as I tried to steady myself.
Just then, the door swung open, and Old Doc rushed in, his balding head and serious demeanor making it clear he meant business. Alpha William and my Dad followed close behind, their faces set in stone-cold expressions.
In moments like these, life and death were no laughing matter.
“Edeline, you need to step back,” Alpha William said firmly, his authority unmistakable. “We need to determine the source of the poison. It could be any of the items here.” His words made my wolf bow my head in submission.
“Edeline,” my Dad’s voice was soft but urgent..
Looking up at him, I felt disoriented, overwhelmed by the painful reality of the situation. Dad, confident and composed, took my hand and gently guided me away from Mirabelle’s motionless form. My mind was a whirlpool of concern and confusion.
"Sweetheart, it's important for you to leave this place. I don’t want anything bad happening to you either," he said, urgency lacing his voice.
Tears blurred my vision as I looked up at him. His tall, solid figure offered a reassuring presence amidst the chaos. "Dad, I really hope she’s alright." My heart was a heavy lump of worry, struggling to stay calm.