Chapter 47: Wounds

I opened my eyes to the bright light, feeling tired still. I wished Neville would just close the curtains and let me sleep. However I heard a gasp and realized that it was shock. I blinked a few times, my vision clearing enough to see Augusta staring back at me. Her hand was holding a rag, wet with water. "Aethna, dear? Can you hear me?" I kinda looked at her funny, wondering why she was so worried, I was just tired. "Neville, come over here." her voice said and then Neville appeared beside her. "You're awake!" Augusta said she would send word for Sanguini and would return.

Neville's hands cupped my face, his smile so bright and happy. I went to speak, but my throat was dry still. He seemed to understand and lifted my head slightly so I could sip some water. "W-what's happened?" I got out after a minute, still hurting with any movement. "Can you sit up at all? Don't push yourself." he assisted me and it was painful, but wasn't as bad as before. I looked down and saw my arms were still swollen and blue…but they looked a lot better than before.

"T-tell me…" I breathed out, hoping he would just tell me how bad I was and how Nikolaus was. "Aethna…you've been sleeping for 2 months. Nikolaus still hasn't woke up." I blinked, this had to be a joke, we just did the transfer last night. "Sanguini said there was no way to know when…or if you two were going to wake up. I've been taking care of you both with the help of Gran and Sanguini. I asked Dumbledore to allow us to be late for school starting, due to your…condition. Gran talked him into it. You were still out when our letters came, we are in the same year again now. As soon as you recover, we need to head to the school."

I listened to him tell me everything that had happened while I was sleeping…but I was worried that Nikolaus hasn't woke up yet. Although the sun was shining in on me and my skin wasn't burning anymore. I tried to move, but my body wouldn't respond. He stayed with me, only to leave to go get me drinks and food and just talked to me and I just listened, my throat and body aching so much that I didn't want to do much. By nightfall, I was so tired I just wanted to sleep again…but Sanguini would be here shortly and I wanted to see him and get the truth of what was happening with Nikolaus and myself.

Augusta appeared with Sanguini in tow and Neville gave my forehead a gentle kiss and they left us alone. He walked over and seemed to do a simple check up on my head and arms and legs. "Aethna, are you able to move at all?" he asked and I nodded, lifting my arms up slightly, but the pain was too much and they fell back down. "And your legs?" I blinked, I had lifted them hadn't I? his face showed his worry as he poked at my legs, but I felt nothing. "You have no feeling in your legs…and barely able to move your arms. Aethna, I must confess that you need to feed…fresh. Otherwise you may get worse. The blood transfusions aren't helping as much."

I debated with myself, not wanting to feed on anyone, but also knowing it was the fastest way to heal my body. "Okay." I huffed out, my eyes getting heavy. "I can find a donor if you would like. Willing, of course." I shook my head, asking him to get Neville. His eyes understood and he nodded, but voiced his opinion. "Do be cautious with this boy, Aethna. He isn't like you. Your bite may turn him." "It won't." I replied and his face couldn't hide his shock. "You have fed from him already?" I gave a slight nod, and telling him I had fed on others in the past without killing as well.

"Again, I must say to be careful. He may grow to become obsessed with you." I didn't have to explain myself to him. "Thank you for your concern. However it is none of your business. Keep this to yourself though, no one need know about this." "His grandmother especially?" I nodded and he swore to keep it to himself and left to get Neville. I was so weak I could only hope I would be able to stop myself. And having flashes of the nightmare of my killing Neville was popping into my mind. Maybe I should have just let Sanguini just find a donor.

I was pulled from my thoughts as Neville's head popped in, before he came in and closed the door, before joining on the bed. "Sanguini said you asked for me." I nodded and lifted my arm, but it fell shortly after. "You're still weak…" he mumbled and I sighed, "Neville…I need…you…your…blood…" I forced the words out, not wanting to chance hurt him or killing him. "Oh, right. That should help you heal a lot faster right?" "…Yes…" he didn't need much more talking as he lifted my head and moved behind me, placing his forearm in my face. I went to object, knowing someone would see the bite marks there, but I was so tired already, I felt like I was going to pass out soon.

I tried to tune into his heart beat and pulse but it was harder in his arm as I sunk my fangs into him, making him whimper, but stay still. I retracted and began to drink from the pooling blood. I felt stronger and my hearing was able to tune in his pulse now, it was still strong. I continued to feed until I felt I was hearing his heartbeat slow slightly. I pulled back, licking the wound and cleaning the last of the blood up. "Are you alright?" his voice was hoarse but at least he was still up and talking. "Yes…did I take too much? How are you feeling?" he shrugged and wrapped a rag around his arm, hiding the wound now. "I feel alright, just lightheaded and tired mostly. But anything to help you get better. I'll come back after breakfast in the morning to give you more."

He gave me a cheek kiss before telling me to get some sleep. "Neville, don't go." I breathed out fast, trying to get him to stay so I could watch over him as well, to make sure I didn't take too much. He nodded and climbed into the bed with me, settling beside me and making sure I wasn't in pain. "Aethna, please don't worry about me. Just focus on getting better. I want to be able to walk with you in the greenhouse again." I gave a small nod and he kissed the top of my head, bidding me goodnight. I curled my head to his chest and listened to his heartbeat steady itself and I fell asleep to it's sound.

**Two weeks later**

Neville gave me blood twice a day, he wanted to give more, but I refused. My arms were finally normal color again and not swollen anymore. I could move them with no pain now. My legs were still painful to move, but I was slowly getting there. I had moved to a wheelchair, refusing to lay in bed any longer. I was sitting at the bedside of Nikolaus, who was in and out of sleep these days. The first day he woke, all he did was scream with the pain and Sanguini ended up having to put him back to sleep for a while.

He opened his eyes, turning his head to see me sitting and picking at my nails. "S-sister…" I looked up, seeing him smiling at me. "Nikolaus! Are you alright?!" I asked, moving my chair closer to him. He groaned and lifted his arm up, looking at the skin, it was almost healed, only the veins were swollen and purple in color. He was unable to feed because of the pain, so it was transfusions that had been helping him heal. "Don't move too much. It's going to be so hard and painful to move for a while. I still can't move my legs that much."

I called for Sanguini, who swapped his empty bag for another full one, making sure it was wide open for flow to Nikolaus. He did the same as me, checking his body out to ensure it was healing like it should. I held his hand and felt horrible. Because I was a chicken and didn't want my father's power and didn't want to change my life, I did this to myself and my brother. I was regretting my choice until I saw Nikolaus move his leg. He lifted it up a few feet. He held it there as well, although a bead of sweat appeared on his face. "Very good. But don't push yourself. Just rest."

We left him to go back to sleep and I stopped Sanguini in the hall. "How is he able to move his legs yet I am not?" "Not sure. Healing is different for you two. And the power share has never been done. We will just have to see when you both are fully healed." I nodded and Neville came sprinting up the stairs. "Gran just finished our school list, there's a car waiting for us. You need to pack." I sighed, I had told him too many times already, but he was sure it was fine for me to return to school. "Neville, I can't walk. I can't go back to school. There's no telling the effects of this until Nikolaus and I are healed. I must stay here. However, I want you to go." "But you need me here…" he whispered, glancing at my mouth.

"I'm fine, I want you to go to school, see your friends, learn new spells and show me how well you are able to use your new wand. Neville, this is for the best, you can come visit me at the holidays if I'm not already back at the castle by then." Augusta appeared and agreed, telling Neville that he would be going back now. When he left, his crushing hug almost broke my heart down. He kissed me deeply as soon as we were alone, telling me to write him everyday with updates and to make sure to join him soon. I waved bye from the door as the car drove away, leaving me with only Sanguini and Augusta as company while I healed.