'It sounds like you might've encountered a Werecat' Lao Shi said thoughtfully.

Jake had immediately gone and told his Grandfather about the woman who'd come into Selena's room. He'd told him about what she'd said and what he'd heard after she'd disappeared. They were waiting for Wheylyn to turn up and were currently sat in the waiting room of the Infirmary.

Jake blinked 'What's a Werecat?'

'The wisest and oldest of all magical creatures. Some say they were the first to take human form, others say they are the old spirits in tangible forms. They are immortal creatures, the one you encountered might not be as young as you thought' Lao Shi replied

'She might be centuries old. I've only heard of Werecats watching others a handful of times and if they give you advice, you'd better listen' Fu Dog added

'You are indeed lucky to have encountered one and talked with her and Selena is very blessed if there is indeed one watching over her' Lao Shi finished

Jake sighed and wiped his hands over his face. His exhaustion was starting to take hold. Lao Shi frowned at him.

'How long is it since you have slept?' He asked

'I've not slept since yesterday night' Jake answered

'Go, go and get some rest' Lao Shi urged his grandson

Jake shook his head though 'I should at least speak to Wheylyn and I need to know if they managed to catch William. If they're this desperate to get hold of Selena, there should be guards at her room twenty four hours'

'Yes, I have already recommended them but if Bayard himself decides to get her there won't be much that can be done against a magic user like that' The older man replied

'Bayard isn't the type to get his hands dirty. He'll sit in whatever hole he's hiding in and send his lackeys to get her' Jake said darkly

'If he gets desperate enough though' Fu Dog trailed off

XxXxX

Both Wheylyn and Shai arrived not long after. Wheylyn put his hand on Jake's shoulder when he saw him.

'I know you did your best lad' He simply said before going into Selena's room.

Shai was beside himself; he was devastated over losing a member of his pack who had also become his closest friend, upset over Selena's current condition and angry with himself that he hadn't realised it had been a trap.

Lao Shi and Fu Dog remained with him but Jake was now on the verge of collapse. He excused himself and took a transport spell home. His mother was there waiting for him. As soon as she saw him she opened her arms to him. Jake accepted the comfort. Susan was far smaller than her son but sometimes a mother's comfort is needed. They sat down side by side on the couch.

'I'm so sorry Jake' She said softly

'I'm useless, how could I let this happen?'

'I know you and I've already spoken with your grandfather. You did your very best and at least Selena has a chance' Susan replied

'Have you seen Emily?' Jake asked

'Yes, she's distraught'

Jake sat quietly, feeling his eyelids going heavy. His mother pulled him up and led him to his room.

'Get some sleep, if anyone calls you I'll wake you immediately' She promised

Jake simply laid on his bed, not bothering to get undressed and only pausing to pull his shoes off. He fell into a deep and dreamless sleep of complete exhaustion.

XxXxX

Jake allowed himself about five hours of sleep before he got up. He changed his clothes, washed his face and brushed his teeth. On the way out of the bathroom he bumped into Hayley. She looked up at him, her dark eyes expressed sympathy and sadness.

'I'm so sorry about Selena Jake' She said 'Take the time you need to be with her, Sun and I will cover your duties for you'

Jake looked down at his sister, she was now a similar age he'd been at when he'd first started his dragon duties. He knew Hayley was very capable of taking care of things for him. She'd been given time to learn what she needed to while he'd been learning on the job. He'd never admit it but she was also a lot more sensible than he'd been at that age too; he trusted her.

'Thanks Hayley' He said honestly

She nodded 'I know she might not hear but wish her well for me would you?'

'Don't worry, I will' Jake replied

He only stopped long enough to phone Trixie and tell her what had happened before going back to Draco Island. As soon as he got to the Infirmary though and saw Wheylyn's face, he knew there was a problem.

'What's going on?' Jake asked

Wheylyn sighed 'While Shai was visiting her, he managed to gain access to her mind. But her thoughts were garbled and she was in great pain. I'm sure the knife wound and the poison was most prominent in your mind at the time but she has a head injury'

Jake groaned 'I can't believe I forgot, she slipped in the tunnel and hit her head'

'She's not just unconscious from the poison; she's in a coma. They're trying to determine how bad it is' Wheylyn said

Jake wobbled on his feet before sitting down. This was going from bad to worse; Wheylyn sat down next to him.

'I can't believe this' Jake said, his voice strained

'I know, I feel like I just found her and now I might lose her' Wheylyn said sadly

Jake nodded, it felt the same for him too.

'Is anyone with her?' Jake asked

'Yes, Emily is in there' Wheylyn replied

'Oh'

Wheylyn sideways glanced at him 'I spoke to her earlier. She told me she shouted at you yesterday and what she'd said'

Jake nodded, without looking up

'She said-'

Wheylyn cut himself off as Emily herself exited from the room. The young woman shut the door behind herself and then she looked over at them. Jake tensed. She walked over to them but sat down next to Jake. She took a shaky breath and looked at him.

'Listen, I'm sorry for what I said yesterday' Emily said quietly

Jake looked around at her in shock.

'I overreacted and I said things I shouldn't have. It's just that I guess that taking care of Selena the way I have has made me more maternal than sisterly over her'

Jake felt sympathy towards the young woman, she'd been flung into a situation she hadn't been expecting or was even ready for. It had obviously been too much for Emily to process rationally at the time.

'I truly am sorry, you were right though. I failed to protect her' Jake replied

Emily put her hand on his arm 'If that knife had hit you, you wouldn't be here right now. At least Selena has a fighting chance to recover, and she is a fighter. She won't go down easily. You can go and see her now'

Jake nodded and stood up. He took a deep breath before he went in, the beeping of the machinery was the first thing before the door fully opened and he could see Selena herself. The healer who Jake was now rather familiar with was in there. She looked up at him and gave him a small but sad smile.

'I'm really sorry, we've met quite a few times now and I don't even know your name' Jake said

She smiled 'It's Seefa'

'Seefa, thank you' Jake said

'There is no need for thanks, it's my job. But I must admit, I've grown to care for her. She's a very special girl'

Jake nodded 'She is'

Seefa smiled again 'I'll give you some privacy with her'

Jake nodded again and waited until the healer had left before sitting in the chair by his girlfriend. There was no change apart from the addition of a few sticky pads on each of Selena's temples, holding on sensors picking up her brain activity. The new monitor the wires were attached to was putting out information Jake couldn't understand.

The blood bag had been taken away and the cannula in Selena's hand had been removed. The back of her hand where it had been looked bruised and there was a very small scab, only the size of a pins head. Jake held her hand, trying not to look at her face. The breathing mask and the fact that her eyes had been taped shut made him not want to look up.

He'd never wanted so badly just to look in her eyes. To see the sparkle of mischief in the unique green hue. She seemed a shadow of herself looking at her now as her body tried to fight off the poison in her system and now the brain injury.

This also got him thinking, how badly would she be affected by this? He'd heard of brain trauma patients waking up to a personality shifts, not remembering things or even not being as able as they were previously. He knew he'd stand by her and help her as much as he could but Selena was he kind to push people away and try to deal with things on her own.

'Hey Lee?' Jake tried 'I don't know if you can hear me, but Hayley sends you her best wishes. She wanted you to know she's thinking of you'

Jake paused, wondering what else to say.

'I love you, you know. I promise that whatever happens I'll look after you and I'll make sure that this time Bayard and his lackeys pay for this, properly and that everyone involved will pay'

Jake managed to look up to see that there was still no change. He looked down again, feeling his eyes prickling. He couldn't allow himself to break down. As he sat there he lifted Selena's hand again and pressed his forehead to her fingers. He sat for a moment like that before feeling her fingers twitch. He looked up, staring hard at her fingers. He watched them for ages before deciding that he must've imagined it before her forefinger and index finger twitched as he watched.

He put her hand down gently before pressing the call button. Almost immediately Seefa and another healer came in, followed by Emily and Wheylyn.

'What's wrong?' Seefa asked

'Her fingers twitched, twice! I thought you should know' Jake said

He moved out of the way as the healers began to check her vitals quickly. Emily gripped his arm anxiously and Wheylyn had his hand on his shoulder. The other healer left the room with some notes and Seefa faced the concerned people.

'I don't want you to get your hopes up but Selena's brain activity is coming around and her latest blood analysis showed her bloodwork is back to normal and it's beginning to really fight off the venom'

'Why didn't you tell us this sooner?' Wheylyn asked

'Because she still has a long way to go and I didn't want you all to get your hopes up. But this is a very good sign and I do expect that with her kind's fast healing abilities, she may be waking up by the end of the week'

Emily, Wheylyn and Jake all looked at each other in happy disbelief. Seefa smiled as Emily broke away from the rest and went to Selena's side, stroking her hair affectionately from her face. Wheylyn went to the other side and clutched his daughter's hand.

Jake surveyed this scene before turning away. It was time he got to work trying to figure things out.

XxXxX

Pain. So much pain. As if corrosive acid was coursing my system. My head felt terrible, like it might actually pop. I couldn't figure anything out. Through the haze there was a presence. I could sense their good intentions, their concern for me as they tried to gain access to rational thought.

They were speaking but it was all garbled and jumbled and my brain swelled in confusion. They withdrew quickly and I was alone for some time. I was beginning to think there was no one else there but at least the pain was beginning to go away. It felt numbing and it was a relief.

Then there was another, someone warm. I could hear his voice, I think it was a man anyway. He was speaking to me, his words were kind and I could hear how much he cared about me. I couldn't make out what he was saying but there was some deep kind of affection in his voice and also I could tell he was in his own pain.

Was he in pain because I was here? Unable to respond to his kindness? I didn't want someone who cared about me to be hurt. I latched onto that thought, gaining a moment of sensation in a limb. I made it move; hoping to let this person know that I was really trying hard to get out wherever this dark place was that I was trapped in.

His presence left but it left behind a kind of glow. A determination to get out of this darkness. I kept a hold of that and began to concentrate on the feeling of corrosive acidity which was flowing around mercilessly. I wasn't going to let this defeat me and keep me forever in the dark.

XxXxX

So guesses as to who the last POV was. Of course it was Selena. Anyway, review please, they always make my day!