So sorry for the lack of updates the last few days. My computer fell victim to the MacAfee update virus, but we're all good now. I'll be updating a lot in the next few days so keep checking back.
The ride to the Marrok's house was silent. Afton was in the small back seat of the truck hunched forward so her back wouldn't touch anything. They pulled down a long drive and the truck came to a halt in front of a medium sized log cabin. The front light was on but the rest of the house looked dark.
Bran stepped out of the truck and turned to open Afton's door. He held out his hand to help her out. She gladly took it and then gestured for his other hand, Charles truck had a small lift on it and her back was still screaming from climbing up into it at the hospital. She knew that werewolves were strong so she gratefully pressed her weight to him to ease her way out of the vehicle. "Thank you," it came out as a whisper again.
"Charles I'll call in the morning," Bran once again grabbed the purple bag and swiftly closed the doors on the truck. She followed him up the steps of the front porch, stomping the snow off of her shoes once she was on the clean surface. Late April and still there was snow, she was ready for the spring weather. Singing birds and warm breezes could make anyone feel better.
Bran opened the door, no keys were needed, he never locked it. Dropping the bag he turned to her. "Stay here I'll turn on a few lights." When the soft glow from an end table lamp came on she noticed how small the place was. Thick couches in a deep red sat close to the dark stone fire place. It was on open layout the living area and kitchen ran into one another a small dining that sat maybe four separated the two areas. An old fashion cream colored stove from the 50's was flanked by cream colored cabinets. A few bright blue trinkets stood out from the light colors. "Alright," he spoke coldly from the hall having just turned that light on, "Last door on the right is the bath you'll be using. I set a towel in there for you." He walked closer and she could help but take a step back. Something didn't seem right to her. The house was cold, everything was tidy but it was lacking something. His eyes flashed, at her apprehension. "What is it?" the amber color was bleeding into his blue eyes. She needed to calm herself, he was feeling her nerves. "I'm not sure at the moment, I just felt a little uneasy." She gave a small smile. "I'll be alright as soon as I can use your bath for a while."
"Follow me and I'll show you were you can sleep." With his eyes still amber he led her down the hall, her duffel in his hand. The room reeked of him, it had to be were he slept every night, but there was a lingering old female sent. She didn't get to speak because he quickly retreated out of the room closing the door behind him.
Grabbing clean clothes out of her bag she casually glanced around his room. King size bed, with a beautiful quilt on it, one dresser, no photos of people but there was a lovely landscape above the bed. It looked like a field in the spring time covered in wildflowers.
Looking around more she noticed a door open and there was tile that she could see as flooring the in next room, his master bath! 'Hmm he didn't want to share that' she thought then flicked on the light and peaked in. Then she felt like a little bit of an ass, there was no tub, just a stone stand up corner shower. It was actually quite lovely stone work in the bathroom she was surprised. Flicking off the light, she walked back to the hall looking to right she could see all the way to the front door, but no sign of Bran. She crossed the hall and slipped into the other bathroom. Setting her cotton pajamas on the edge of the sink she then turned the knobs of the tub. As the water flowed out of the tap she ran her fingers threw it and closed her eyes.
Yes this was well water, came from a natural spring under ground not tainted by any man made treatment facilities. It was like the spring was whispering to her threw the water, 'We'll help you.' She had no idea how it worked, but it did. Letting the tub fill with warm water she carefully stripped out of her clothing. Slipping into the water the whispering grew louder in her head. 'Poor child, how hurt you are, heal, heal child heal.' She smiled; the earth and the Fae went hand in hand some were better with dirt, some air and some with water. Fresh water was kind to her, no idea why. Her mother didn't get the chance to explain things to her. After birthing five daughters, giving up much of her magic each time to give to them, she was too weak to stay in this world after giving what little she had left to Afton.
Afton back was starting to itch; she knew things were getting better. The soft magic of the healing was wrapping around herself and she let herself go into it gently drifting into sleep.
Rapping at the door woke her. The water was like ice now, shivering she answered the knocking. "Yeah?" "Are you alright in there? I haven't felt anything going on for a while." "Fell asleep in the tub I'll be out as soon as I dress," She said standing up. Her skin was tight across her back. She moved slowly stepping over the side of the tub. It felt like if she moved to fast or to hard her back would split back open. Running water from a river or a lake would have been better but this was better than nothing.
Slowly she toweled off. She stepped into her panties and then the cotton pants. The hardest part was the tank she brought in. It had a shelf bra in it so it was better than fighting with a bra and a t-shirt. Bringing all of her hair over one shoulder she began to squeeze at it with the towel and opened the door with the other hand. Bran was right there in the doorway. She jumped at being surprised like that.
"That was one of the strangest things that has happened in my house. The smell was amazing." "Smell?" she had never smelled anything. "It was a cross between, a spring rain and someone baking fruit pie in a kitchen." Afton squatted down to pick up her dirty clothes. "I've never smelled anything but it could have been because I fell asleep, it usually happens when I heal." Bran moved aside from the door was and followed her into his room. "I imagine you have many questions," she tossed the clothes next to her bag at the foot of the bed.