So happy people have enjoyed this story so far! I know the last chapter was sad, but it starts to get better. Not right away though. It takes time to make it right. Also, Ember is being a straight up savage in this chapter.
Brigid was floating peacefully. Here there was no pain, heartache or doubt. Turning over she swam lazily back to , she had no worries. Nothing to concern her. Smiling softly she waded out of the grotto, picked up a towel to wrap around her shoulders. A warm gentle breeze seemed to wrap around her in greeting. Going over to a blanket with a picnic basket on it she sat down and opened it. Reaching in she puled out some water and candied salmon. She frowns slightly at the slight pang she felt in her chest. Just then she felt like she was being watched. Looking up she sees a good looking man at the nearby tree line. Unsure, she stood as he stepped forward hands outstretched in a peaceful manner as he smiled softly.
"I didna mean ta startle ya lass. I was wandering when I saw ye. I thought I'd introduce myself."
He held a hand out to her.
"My name is Finn."
She shook his hand as she looked at him still a little wary.
"Brigid."
When their hands touched she reached out and felt nothing but warmth and concern towards her.
"Um, Would you care to join me?"
He gave a slight bow as he released her hand while smiling softly.
"I would be honored."
She lead him back to her spot and sat down. She still felt a little unsettled but decided to share her meal with him anyways as she hasn't seen anyone else here. Pulling out another bottle of water she hands it to him as well as some salmon.
"I didn't think there was anyone here aside from myself."
She tilts her head slightly.
"How long have you been here for?"
He took a bite of salmon frowning slightly.
"Truth be told lass, I'm not even sure where here is."
Brigid lifts a shoulder.
"A place were spirits go. A place of rest before they continue on their journey."
He blinks in surprise as she smiled softly and in understanding.
"You don't remember what happened to yourself?"
He clears his throat.
"Ah, no. Not really. You?"
He saw her eye's fill with sadness as she took a drink of water before nodding.
"I do."
"May I ask what happened. If not, that's alright. Ye don't know me."
She gives a sad smile.
"I don't mind Finn. Maybe it'll help us move on from here to where we're supposed to be."
He swallows hard.
"Maybe."
Brigid looked down at her hands as she started.
"Mine was heartbreak."
She lifts a shoulder.
"I wasn't enough for him I guess. I stayed by his side when he was really sick until he recovered and he tossed me aside like what I did was nothing. I was hoping he would've got in touch with me while we were apart so he could make amends."
She sniffles as she wiped her eye's before giving a humorless chuckle.
"That was a lost cause. He probably didn't even give me a second thought. He didn't want a mate. When he found out he couldn't get in my pants that easily he probably figured I wasn't worth the trouble."
She took a deep breath as she raised her gaze to his. She saw sadness and guilt in his blue eye's.
"It's alright Finn. It's for the best this way. He can go back to the way he was and I can move on."
He tilts his head slightly.
"Ye have anger inside you."
She gave a unladylike snort.
"Of course I do. At him and myself."
"Why yerself?"
"Because if I didn't go to that masquerade I wouldn't have met him and started to fall in love with him. I wouldn't have trusted and believed in him."
Finn looked behind her to the tree line when she wasn't looking before back at her.
"If ye had the chance ta go back would ye? And would ye do anything different?"
She smiled softly.
"Of course. I wouldn't go to that party because I wouldn't have met him and I wouldn't be in this position. I would be living my life with my friends and my little book store."
She frowns slightly.
"Except for Matt and Jeff Hardy."
She wrinkles her nose slightly.
"I could so do without them. They were completely twisted and demented."
Her gaze turns sad. "I feel bad for Roman and Seth. They lost their friend to Matt."
She smiles sadly as she took a deep breath.
"Things are meant to be this way."
"Ye think so?"
She shrugs as she wipes a stray tear away.
"Yes. My friends will be sad for me but they can be rest assured I'm not in great discomfort anymore."
She frowns slightly.
"Great discomfort... Perhaps pain would be better as well as sad. No, I'm still sad."
She frowns harder.
"And angry."
She looked sharply at him.
"Before you appeared I wasn't thinking of any of those things. Just enjoying a lovely swim and good food."
Quickly she stands glaring at Finn as he stands as well.
"Who are you and why am I thinking those things?! I was quite content and at peace before you showed up!"
Finn holds his hands up.
"Brigid, ye need to calm down lass. Yer not making this easy."
She caught a glimpse of black eye's and his skin briefly changing colour before it was gone.
Finn mentally cursed as he saw her go pale as she looked at him and knew she got a glimpse of his other half. The one she already had met.
"I know you, don't I? I've seen you before."
Reaching a hand up she gently rubs her temple as a headache was quite quickly making itself known. Before she knew it she was staggering and would have fallen if not for Finn catching her. She felt very dizzy and disorientated as she looked up at him.
"Why couldn't you have left me alone? I was happy here. Nothing hurt."
Silent tears spilled free.
Finn looked sadly at her.
"I'm sorry lass. I didna mean ta make you upset like this."
Leaning down he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Rest now."
Those were the last words she heard as her world went black.
Brigid woke with a gasp as she grabbed the sheets tightly while her gaze darted around the room before landing on a figure whom rushed to her side.
"Brigid! Thank the Goddess you're awake!"
"Ember..."
Brigid coughed weakly at her dry throat. Ember gently eased her up into a sitting position before handing her a glass of water with straw for her to sip out of. Ember sat carefully on the edge of the bed as she looked at her and smoothed some of her hair back.
"We were so worried for you Brigid. We almost didn't make it time. From what we figured out you mixed to much of that special herb into your drink and wound up drinking some of it."
Brigid saw tears in her friends eye's quickly build and spill over.
"If I didn't come along at that moment..."
Brigid reach out and took her hand in hers.
"You know I'd never leave like that Ember. I was just so tired. The nightmares were so bad..."
Her own tears quickly built and spilled free.
"I couldn't sleep more than 4 or 5 hours at most. My appetite left me. No matter how much I wanted to eat I couldn't. I know everyone was worried for me and was trying to help."
Brigid looked down at her hands as sorrow filled her.
"I'm sorry I let everyone down."
Ember placed a hand over hers getting her to look into her eye's
"You didn't let anyone down Brigid! If anything you showed us how strong you are. You were trying your best to overcome things out of your control."
Ember smiles fondly at her.
"If anything, we are so glad that you're awake. Are you hungry? I can make you something light and nutritious. Wait, are you hungry?"
Brigid smile softly.
"Actually, I am. Perhaps some toast with honey?"
Ember beams before hoping off of the bed.
"Yes! Of course! I'll also let the others know."
With that she bounded out of the room leaving Brigid to smile at her friends enthusiasm. Taking another drink of water she placed the glass back on the side table with a slightly shaky hand. Sighing softly she leaned her head back and closed her eye's. After a moment she heard soft whispering causing her eye's to shoot open as her gaze darted around the room. Her heart was pounding in her chest as her hands twisted in the blanket. She knew she was nowhere near strong enough to defend herself much less anyone else. Her throat felt tight as she silently willed Ember back upstairs. She felt tired still but was scared to close her eye's again. Biting her lip hard enough to draw blood Ember came back in with a small tray. Seeing Brigid in distress caused her to quickly put the tray down before rushing to her friends side.
"What is it Brigid?"
"I was relaxed and closed my eye's when I heard whispering."
Brigid was terrified everything was starting over again.
Ember could smell and feel her friends distress coming off of her in waves. Reaching out she laid a gentle hand on her shoulder while smiling softly.
"I know someone who can help with things. If you like?"
Swallowing hard Brigid nods.
"How long would it take for him to come here if he's willing."
Ember grins.
"Not long at all. If he's not busy he can be here within half an hour."
Brigid took a deep breath.
"Yes please."
Standing, Ember got the tray and placed it over her lap. Brigid smiled softly at the two slices of toast with honey, a glass of orange juice and small bit of scrambled eggs.
Ember shrugs.
"Just in case you feel like eating a bit more. Eat what you can while I go call him."
"Yes mom."
Ember saw the twinkle in her friends eye before she left the room. Gently closing the door she walked to the stairs before bolting down them and out the front door while pulling out her phone. They answered on the second ring.
"Hey, I need you here asap. It's about Brigid."
She listened a moment before smiling.
"Sweet. We'll see you soon. I'll send you the directions."
Hanging up she looks up at the window with a heavy heart as she remembered.
Flashback;
Ember, Aleister and Balor went around the side of Brigid's family home and saw her stumble and fall. Ember and Aleister called out her name at the same time as all three rushed to her side. Aleister gently turned her over as Balor picked up the almost empty glass and took a sniff as they tried to rouse her. His nose scrunched up at what he smelled before looking at Brigid's still form.
"She used to much of a special herb in her drink. She needs aid now."
Aleister scooped her limp form up as Ember quickly showed them where her room was.
Laying her gently on her bed with tears in his eye's, Balor placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You two should wait outside while I help her. We donna want her waking and seeing ye just yet Aleister. Miss Moon, perhaps ye can keep him company and under some control."
Ember grins coldly at Aleister as she dragged him out of the room.
"Gladly."
In the hallway she snarled at him as she shoved him hard.
"She wouldn't be in this predicament if it wasn't for you and Balor wanting to see how long Billie could last under torture! Because of your selfishness she was slowly wasting away thinking that you decided you didn't want her anymore! She believed she was yours and that you grew tired of waiting for her thinking she was just another 'conquest'."
She shoved him again and again as he kept his bowed in shame.
"Why should any of us let you near her again after the shit you did? What kind of mate leaves their other half without some sort of reassurance that everything is going to be alright? What kind of mate are you anyways?!"
A hand on her shoulder had her spinning around snarling louder as she fought the change.
Balor stood there looking remorseful.
"Tis my fault that we lost track of time. We let our hate for Billie cloud our better judgement. It didna take long ta find her. She groveled at first then tried ta seduce the both of us."
Aleister finally spoke.
"That was like tossing gasoline on a already burning fire. Rage and blood lust filled me. Because of that I lost control and blocked everything out of my mind. My wolf wanted to rip her to shreds but that would have been too easy, too merciful. We wanted to see her suffer for the wrongs she did. I forgo my mate, the one I was supposed to protect and cherish..."
His voice cracked as he sank to his knees cradling his head in his hands as sobs wracked his frame.
Ember got to her haunches in front of him looking concerned, head tilted slightly. Then with a silent snarl she reached out and yanked his head up by the hair getting him to look at her as her eye's glowed brightly.
"Now you have an idea, a small taste of what Brigid went through every night and day. The hell she went through because of you and your pathetic vendetta. So, Aleister, how does it feel knowing the possibility of losing your mate?"
Balor spoke as he yanked her up.
"Enough Miss Moon! The blame falls on the both of us! Right now our concern is getting Brigid awake and on her way ta being healthy. After tat if she wants nothing ta do with Aleister then we'll have ta respect her wishes."
Ember takes a deep breath.
"Agreed. I'll be downstairs getting a drink."
Before she goes she looks at Aleister.
"I hope you have nightmares. Gut wrenching ones like she had. May you understand the suffering she has gone through. How much she wishes she never went to that Masquerade and met you."
With that she left the two men in the hallway.
