Chapter Seven

Questions and New Friends

"I can't see your star.
I can't see your star.
Though I patiently waited, bedside, for the death of today.
I can't see your star.
The mechanical lights of Lisbon frightened it away."

Evanscence "Your Star"

She was so beautiful. He smiled down at her brightly, his chest tight with emotion. He had never wanted to be with someone as badly as he has her. She grinned back up at him, gripping his biceps and inviting him. Sam studied her brilliant hair – short, with wild pink and blue streaks throughout the chestnut. Her eyes were the most vivid brown, wide and beautiful.

Lauren was smart, funny and a little silly. But it was that shining sparkle that caught his eye so long ago. So many hunters were carrying heavy enough baggage that they couldn't even bring themselves to smile anymore. But there was always a glow around her, and she sucked him in from the moment she snapped her gum in his face, her own angry and irritated at him. He had laughed back then, caught in the surprise. And now she was his, finally. Almost.

The hunters had met Lauren shortly after brining Bella back home with them. She had been working at a small new age store, her nose buried in some medieval research books, her neck adorned with geeky jewelry and her legs crossed in her chair, wearing vivid print leggings and boots. Sam would never forget the sight of her. Her hair had been longer back then, tangled and resembling a bird nest, with some orange splashed throughout it. Lauren had had no problem putting Sam in his place when he voiced his opinion about a common anime she had playing on the telly behind her. He knew he was going to fall in love with her, then.

And now, he leaned down to kiss her, taste her again. It had been so long, with both of them fighting the pull, before they finally fell into each other the past evening. They had spent the entire night fucking and laughing, not a single worry flitting in. His lips were hovering just above hers when the shrill cry of his phone broke between them.

"That's Bella's tone!" Lauren pushed him aside before he could react, and grabbed for the cell off the nightstand. "Bells?!"

Sam sighed, running a hand over his face. Fuck.

I rub my fingers on my forehead, pressing and sighing. "No Sam, I am a few miles from him now. There is something about his kind of magic that interferes with our technology. But he had some spells up back at his house. I read about them – I just don't have access to the books here. The spell was in place earlier…it seems to have dissipated when Sev was put under the potion."

I am pacing out in the woods, daybreak sending dazzling sparkles through the branches and glittering light on the ground around me. The air was cool and still, puffs of fog leaving my mouth as I spoke into my phone.

"I didn't want to leave him, so don't yell at me!" if there was one thing Sam was passionate about, other than stabbing the big bads, was helping someone that needed it. And he is scolding me through the phone for leaving Severus alone. "I gave him a few more drops of his calming potion before I left, and I am still in a hurry, so please, do what research you can. I will come back out here and call you guys in a few hours, okay?"

I had filled Sam and Lauren in. Truthfully, minus how intense my emotions towards Sev were. But they needed the rundown if they were going to help me. Both agreed to keep it quiet from Dean and Castiel and go scope out Snape's home. If whoever had run us off was gone, perhaps I could take Sev back and help him there. If not, hopefully Sam could gain access to the books and help me that way. Either way, I was grasping. And not just for Severus. I could feel the occasional twitch of pain back in my throat, and I was starting to realize our bond was becoming more physical in nature. If Severus died, so would I.

"Okay well, just stay calm. We will go check it out." Sam said, promising. I do not need to hear him warn me to stay safe. Sam knew the place would be warded, but he was also more well-versed in lore than the rest of us. I was optimistic that he could find a way in.

"Oh! Have you guys heard anything at all from Rowena yet?" I was hoping not, but also well aware that if we didn't break the bond, I would be unable to save either of us if I did not keep Severus drugged up.

"She's working on it too. You know how she is… only at her own time." Sam scoffs. I picture his broad shoulders shrugging, with his shaggy hair bouncing.

"Alright. Check in later?" We said out short goodbyes and hung up. I stare at my phone for awhile before stuffing it into my jacket pocket and hugging myself against the chill tightly. I always seem to get myself into the most bizarre situations. I shake my head, as if it will clear my thoughts, and start the trek back to the tent.

But my brain doesn't stop, all the way back. The wheels turn and I mentally try to flip through all the books I devoured back at Severus', but nothing jumps out of memory at me. Finally, I am crawling up the hill right before the valley where we are pitched. I stand and look down at our little camp. Something tugs at my heartstings, and I breathe deeply. I am so fucked, here. Something told me my feelings would not be severed when we cut the spellwork from between us.

I walk down the incline and into the tent cautiously. I am relieved to see Sev still laying back against the mound of pillows, the blankets and furs covering all but his bare shoulders. Seeing his sculpted collarbone peeking out sends sensations down my spine, and I stifle a groan. Now is definitely not the time.

Into the kitchen, I walk while removing my boots. I need to go through the potions again. And fix up some food. Idily, I wonder how I feed Sev while he is out like this. And how the fuck does he pee? Or maybe he doesn't do these things at all while under the potion? Somehow, that magic would make sense.

I brew some tea for myself, using some herbs I found in the kitchen. The rich musk of peppermint and clove fills the air around me, reminding me of how Severus smells. I dig around until I find a bottle labeled Firewhiskey and plop a chunk in my tea, for good measure. I lean back against the counter, staring off in the direction of the bedroom. The door is cracked, and I can just make out the foot of the bed where Sev is soundly resting.

My mind wanders, and memories of being pregnant with Rene come back to me. Edward, yelling in my face, making me angry inside, but not able to do anything about it. Having no control. His ruby eyes glowing hot, angry at the demon inside of me, something about the baby. Losing control, the lack of control, scares me. But I have control here, and for the first time, real emotions. And if I am honest, fear. I am afraid of this emotion between myself and the stranger in the other room. I cannot let something happen to him. I realize that he is mine to protect. Mine.

A small breeze finds its way into the tent and lifts my hair around my neck, and it carries a scent with it. Alarm bells ring in my head, and I reach for my magic, branching it out, searching the campsite. I sense nothing, only the smell carried by the wind. Someone was searching here for us. Someone that smelled like wet dog, feeling frustrated and antsy. We are not safe here. But how do I move us? "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" I hiss at myself, spinning around, looking for an answer. I know Severus has safe guards all around us, but if the guards on the house failed, these wouldn't last long, either.

My eyes are scanning everything in sight, and they land on something I am sure I have looked at many times and just didn't see. Severus's santa bag. I toss my mug into the sink and rush over to the little table housing it, picking it up between my hands and looking inside. At first, all I see is blackness, but then slowly, I see more. There is an entire room in this bag! And it does not look just like any room…. Grey walls, black trim…. A snake painting on a wall between two iron bookshelves. This looks like a room in Severus' house! Is that possible?! I laugh at myself. What isn't possible, anymore? So this is how Snape had access to things after we left. It is some portal right back to the house.

I lick my lips and hesitate before reaching into the bag. Forcing all my focus on what I need, and letting magic flow from my fingertips, I concentrate, squeezing my eyes shut. I recoil as something hard hits my palm, but I wrap my fingers around it and pull. With a slight resistance, I pull a book out of the bag and clutch it to my chest. Yes!

I dash into the bedroom, still holding the book and bag. I need to check on him one more time before I delve into reading, knowing that when I do, I consume myself with the words and completely lose myself. I peer down at him. His chest rises and falls in a smooth rhythm, his lips parted slightly. Able to really look at him, I note the lines in the corners of his eyes. There is a rush of stubble appearing on his jawline, black speckled with white and grey. He is so handsome that it clenches my chest, and I have to remind myself to breathe. I poke at the magic gently, seeking him. He is content right now, but I sense the panic boiling just beyond.

"I am going to help you, Sev." I whisper, and lean over, brushing hair away from his forehead.

I spent the next few days studying any books I could get to come to me through the bag. I was not able to get everything I wanted, but the room seemed to provide most of what I needed. I was thankful that Severus kept his potions so well stocked, and I was able to continue keeping him under the potions while I worked on answers and solutions. I even practiced using my wand and some spells I found in a few books.

I had spoken to Sam and Bella, but only briefly. They were at the house, but everything appeared empty when they went inside. They camped just on the border, watching. Someone was watching them watch the house, Sam said. I tried to save my cell battery and we agreed to check back in two days' time.

Whatever was looking for us out in the woods here was getting closer. But I sensed caution, and no immediate danger. I almost wondered if it didn't intend harm at all, but was seeking us for other reasons. The wet dog smell was almost familiar to me… it reminded me of back home, in Washington. I had not gone back since the boys killed the vamps and saved me.

Severus did not appear worse for wear, but was not really improving, either. The only notable change was on his neck. Blushing red marks scattered across his skin, with some black smudge underneath the surface, like ink spilled beneath the skin. The marks looked like bites to me, but I didn't know what to do with that information, yet. I only knew that whatever had happened to this man was haunting him, and I was going to save him. Anytime I was late on his potion dose, I was seized with pain again, and his screams would start. Delivering the potion while clutching my neck in fear and death was not enjoyable, by any means. But we powered through.

Now, I am sitting just outside the flap of the tent, listening to the trees, sending my magic scattering out of me, reaching out into the woods beyond the clearing. The ground underneath me was completely moss covered, and green was the world around us. I could barely see grey sky peeking out beyond the trees. The late morning is still, no sounds rustling the trees. I keep my ears trained, eyes focused. I know I was growing increasingly paranoid, but something was shifting outside the area, and I would be stupid to think we were unseen. I stay here awhile, before backing into the tent and continuing on with my reading.

Finally, something sparks my eye. A chapter in the potions book I am buried in about snake venom antidotes. This, this was it!

The most noticeable symptom of snakebite is a black fluid just beneath the skin's surface layer, appearing much like ink blot, the black with seep and ooze under the skin for long periods of time, before extending and finding its way to the victims heart.

And then a recipe for an antidote was below. I checked off ingredients excitedly, until I came to the last one. Moonberry. I did not have that on my supply list I had written out going through the cupboards here. I tried extracting some from the santa bag, but none came to my hand. I swore. Okay, okay. I will just have to hunt for some.

I dug around my book pile until I found what I was looking for Plants and Their Magickal Properties. I flipped around until I found it. Moonberry. A sketch showed a bell-like flower with three berries dangling from its opening, some small vines twisted and hanging down with them.

Moonberry is a rare plant, but found in abundance in the forests of Scotland, beneath the Elder trees, they thrive in the wet moss, living off the bark from the trees. The flower bell is a dull green, but the berries are a vibrant teal. Be sure to harvest only the berries, for attempting to cut the stalk of the flower generally results in loss of limb, as the Moonberry flower has teeth hidden inside, and though ep flower is generous and shares, it will not tolerate being uprooted or stepped on.

I grin a true smile for the first time in days and slam the book shut, excitedly gathering things to take with me on a hike. Obviously Severus did not bring us here by accident. He knew he would be needing this. I send positive vibes up into the air, and quickly kiss Severus on the forehead before heading out of the tent.

My excitement is short-lived, because I hear a deep growl behind me. I freeze, turning slowly and reaching into my jacket for my gun. Severus would never know.

I come face to face with the biggest wolf I have ever seen. He is absolutely huge, with long, brown fur and glowing golden eyes. His teeth are bared, his muzzle drawn back. The long fangs are dripping with saliva, and my pulse quickens. Holy. Shit. I gasp as he moves too quickly for me to react. I brace for impact, but it never comes. Instead, I feel the brush of the wolf as he dives passed me.

I whip around just in time to see it tackle a man standing at the edge of the camp site. He wore long black robes and a mask on his face. His wand was out, but he hadn't the time to do anything before the wolf was atop him. They fought in a frenzy, red sparks shooting all around, the wolf's yips echoing into the air. I ducked behind a tree, not really sure what I should do. I could shoot both of them. The wolf didn't attack me… yet. He could have just been waiting to rid of the most danger, first. But I couldn't bring myself to act. The smell in the air was the smell I had been smelling lately – the wet dog smell. If this wolf wanted to harm me, he has had plenty of changes he did not take.

I grip my gun in one hand, wand in the other, anyway. Just in case. The man yells something awful, and the sound is quickly cut off, with a gurgling sound in its place. I gather myself and step out from the behind my hiding spot. The wolf is standing over his victory, licking his paws and ignoring me completely. I creep closer, glancing down at the man on the ground. His throat is ripped clean open, the blood still pooling around his body. The mask is still on, and I kick it up with the toe of my boot, glancing up at the wolf. He is still ignoring me, and I look back down at the face of the dead man.

He has long brown hair, messy and oily. There is a long scar running from his forehead down to his jawline. His eyes are still open, void of life and already clouding over. I am still staring when the wolf makes a whining noise. I look back to him and he pushes forward at me with his nose. I stuff my gun back into my jacket, and reach out. He puts his nose in my palm, and bow his head.

"That was a good boy, wasn't it?" I coo, smiling. "Thank you. I did not even know he was here. You saved me." The wolf vibrates in appreciation as I scratch behind his ears. "So, you are a friend. What should I call you?" I tap my finger on my chin. "How about Chevy? Ima call you Chevy." I swear the wolf rolls his eyes at me, and I chuckle.

"Where did you come from, Chevy?" No answer as I continue scratching his enormous head, and I wonder if there is a potion that will allow me to talk to animals.