Sargon led Marie, Beth, and Isabel up to Harold's room. The guards looked nervous as the three witches walked by. They could tell the women did not have wolves. However, though they had masked their witch scent, they still had a powerful and intimidating disposition about them.
As they entered Harold's room, the air felt thick and cold as sweat-soaked his bedding. Catelyn was sitting in a chair near his bed as she observed him with a blank stare.
Dr. Brinks kept Harold as sedated as possible, but the shots were beginning to become ineffective. He could only give the shots every two hours and Harold was beginning to shift in less time than that.
"How is he doing Doctor?" Sargon asked as the guards closed the doors behind them.
"His vitals have not improved. I am concerned with his heart. It is fluctuating from rapid to decreased beats. His fangs and claws are extended but he has not progressed in the shifting process apart from that. It seems as though his body is trying to shift but not aggressively yet. It may be because of the medicine or his own will to stop it. He is really fighting his hardest." Dr. Brinks informed Sargon.
Marie looked at Harold with worry flowing through her mind as she tried to hide it from her face. She remembered the wolf she was not able to save. His heart gave out months after the spell was complete.
Harold was already having heart issues now. Since it was his second time going through this process, he was in an even weaker state.
Harold had a low growl as he tossed back and forth in his bed. His eyes were red, and he was fighting to keep his wolf under control. He was slowly losing that battle.
Dr. Brinks looked at Isabel and Beth as they moved from behind Sargon, further into the room. He gave them a slight bow with his head as they made eye contact with him. They gave him a pleasant look and nodded their heads in return. He knew he had to be careful with his words with the witches based on how Marie was relaying information to everyone, so he did not say much. He trusted Marie and her judgement.
Marie walked over to Catelyn and began to lower herself to give her a hug. Catelyn stood up and threw her arms around Marie tightly. "Please save him." She whispered.
Marie's heart ached listening to Catelyn's words. "It will be alright. Be strong and keep your energy light and positive if you can. That is your power, and we need it. Try your hardest." She instructed as Catelyn gave her one last squeeze, released her, and walked over to Harold giving him a kiss on his cheek.
"Harold, I love you so much. See you soon." Catelyn whispered as she ran her fingers through his hair, then left the room.
Marie and her friends began setting up the room for the ritual as soon as Catelyn left. They had to work quickly in the energy of the full moon.
After clearing the air with herbs and casting a protection spell, she directed Beth and Isabel to the opposite sides of the room to fill the space with their energy.
"Do you remember the spell and your duties?" She asked them telepathically as they both nodded.
"Good. We shall begin."
Marie concocted her elixir with the additional ingredients she searched for with Sargon earlier. She telepathically instructed Sargon to tighten Harold's restraints so he couldn't toss and turn. She needed him to be as restricted as possible so he could not break free.
When everything was ready, Marie placed her hands on Harold's shoulder and leaned into his ear. "Harold, I need you to listen to me. This will hurt but you have to fight your hardest not to shift. You have to help me to help you." She said as Harold's eyes shifted colors.
Marie looked at Sargon and then began the spell.
Marie said the spell first telepathically, then Beth and Isabel began following the words of the spell Marie shared with them.
Harold began looking calmer than he had been earlier. They held their hands out to Harold, spreading their energy through him.
Harold's fangs began to retreat, and his claws retracted as the three women began repeating the spell more aggressively. He appeared to be falling asleep as they continued. This time seemed easier than the first time Marie cast the spell on him.
Marie reached for the syringe she filled with her elixir and injected it into Harold's mouth as he swallowed it putting up no resistance with his eyes closed.
The air seemed peaceful and light as the mixture began to flood Harold's body, changing the color of his veins to a bright red as his skin regained its color.
Suddenly, Harold's eyes shot open in a blood-red glare as he began growling and tossing his body aggressively back and forth. The veins in his arms and legs were protruding as his fangs elongated completely.
Marie looked at Sargon, breaking her concentration to signal to him so he could be ready, but as soon as Sargon made his move, Harold had completely shifted into his wolf, freeing himself from the restraints as Marie's face was painted with fear.
Harold leaped off of the bed in Isabel's direction with his teeth and claws extended to attack her as she threw herself against the wall away from him as Beth screamed a deafening scream while witnessing the beast move to attack her friend.
In his shifted form, Sargon lept in front of Isabel as he came face to face with Harold.
The two wolves growled at each other as Harold's head was beginning to lower to Sargon's dominance.
Harold fought to lift his head to challenge Sargon as he snapped at him aggressively, but Sargon was more powerful. He moved closely to Harold where they were nearly touching.
Marie's heart sank into her stomach. Seeing Sargon in his shifted form for the firts time was already frighteningn for her.
What was worse is she knew the spell had to be lingering in Harold and could harm Sargon if he was bitten. She had to move quickly.
"Debilitos!" Marie shouted out of panic, freezing Harold in his place.
Sargon looked at Harold and then at Marie, completely perplexed.
"We must try again." She shouted at Beth and Isabel as she held back tears.
"No! I can't! Isabel said, barely getting the words out of her mouth with tears falling from her eyes as she dug her fingers into the wall she leaned on.
Harold shifting into his wolf was deadly for him, but this spell was different from her original spell, and she had Beth and Isabel's magic with her. They had to finish it.
Marie thought about the wolf that she couldn't save. His heart had given out months after the spell she cast. This time around Harold was already having heart issues. He was in a weakened state and there was no telling how much more his body could take.
"Please Isabel. We have to try. He has shifted. We cannot let this happen." She pleaded.
Sargon remained in his shifted form and kept himself between Harold and Isabel to protect her.
Just then, two additional guards entered the room taking their place as they waited for a signal from Sargon.
"Please Isabel. I know we can do this." Marie begged.
Beth looked at Isabel pleadingly. Isabel looked at Sargon and then glanced around the room. She took a moment to collect herself, then nodded her head at Marie as she took her position.
Marie began chanting the spell again as Beth and Isabel followed. She closed her eyes as her body moved towards Harold on its own while she placed her hands on his back. She released her fears and doubts as she fell to her knees, moving her hands to Harolds heart.
Sargon became frightened with Marie being so close to Harold, even in his immobile form. One snap of his fangs in Marie's direction and Harold could end her instantly.
As Marie chanted the spell, the room became empty and silent. She kept her eyes closed as a surge of energy moved from her chest, through her arms, and into Harold, creating a white light, absorbing into him.
Suddenly, Harold's body fell to the ground and Marie was thrown backward as she began falling into darkness.