Marie's vision blurred as she blinked her eyes continuously, trying to clear her sight. The room was spinning, and her heart was racing.
The last thing she remembered was Sargon shifting into his wolf while he protected Isabel from Harold's attack.
She placed her hand on her temples and rubbed them. Her head was throbbing, and her mouth was dry like she hadn't drunk anything in weeks.
She noticed a needle implanted into the back of her hand, secured with medical tape. Forcing herself to sit up, she fell back into the bed. Her body felt heavy and weak.
"You are awake." A familiar voice said.
"Mabel, what happened?"
"I am not sure. Alpha Sargon told me to look after you. When I came here you were unconscious." Mabel explained as she fixed Marie a cup of tea and brought over for her.
Marie took the tea from Mabel and began sipping it. She immediately began feeling a bit calmer.
"Thank you, Mabel. How long have I been unconscious?" Marie asked, noticing she wasn't wearing her own clothing.
"You have been unconscious for a few days. Dr. Brinks has been checking on you and giving you fluids. He said your vitals were ok. You just wouldn't wake up."
Marie sat in disbelief. "I was asleep for days? How? Where is Sargon?" She asked nearly dropping the cup of tea.
"Do not panic dear. You are safe and well. Alpha Sargon will be here shortly. I will let him know you are awake. Would you like anything to eat?"
"No thank you. I am not hungry. I am too confused to eat." Marie said.
"You haven't eaten in days! I will bring you something light just in case. Please try not to worry."
"Thank you, Mabel." Marie said as Mabel left the room.
Marie put down her cup on the table near the bed. She forced herself out of bed and tried to stand. Her legs buckled, giving out from under her as she fell to the floor. She had hardly any feeling in her legs. Fear began to consume her as she tried to stand again, but she couldn't.
"What is happening to me?" She whispered as she pushed herself up in a sitting position on the floor.
She moved her legs in front of her and began rubbing them vigorously. She held onto the bed and pulled herself up, forcing herself to stand. Slowly she began regaining feeling in her legs.
She gave herself a few more moments standing in place and began taking slow steps to the bathroom, swaying from side to side the entire way. Bracing herself on the bathroom sink, she looked into the mirror.
Her skin was more pale than it had ever been. There were dark circles underneath her eyes, and she had lost weight.
She looked like death. Her own image in the mirror frightened her. She immediately tried to cast a healing spell, but nothing happened.
"No! This isn't happening!" She whispered as she frantically looked around for something to burn. She found a cloth on the side of the tub. She reached for the cloth and cast a spell to ignite it, but once again, nothing happened.
Marie was terrified. She couldn't use her magic. She desperately tried to remember what happened when she cast the spell on Harold, but she couldn't.
Tears poured out of her eyes. She felt weaker than she had ever felt in her life.
She turned around and walked towards the door, placing her hands on the sides of the door frame to brace herself. She steadied herself as she tried to control her breathing.
"This isn't real. This isn't happening." She whispered.
"Marie!" Sargon said as he grabbed her, spinning her around and pulling her into an embrace as Marie allowed her weakness to fall into his strength.
"I don't have my magic! She cried uncontrollably.
"What do you mean?" Sargon asked as he lifted her up, carrying her to the bed.
"I tried to do magic, but I can't. Nothing is happening when I try." She said through her tears.
Sargon ran his fingers through her hair while he held her as she sat on the bed.
"It is ok, Marie. You are just weak. You have been asleep for a long time. It appears the spell you cast on Harold took a lot out of you. Today is day five since you have been unconscious. Thank goodness for Dr. Brinks. He has been taking care of you. We all have. Everyone has been worried." Sargon said.
Marie looked at Sargon, noticing worry lines in his forehead. He looked like he had lost weight as well. She couldn't feel his energy or what he was feeling. She tried talking to him telepathically, but that ability was gone as well.
She touched the marking but felt nothing there as worry filled her face.
"It is barely there. It has weakened as well." He said, trying to hide the sadness in his voice.
"Something is terribly wrong, Sargon. This isn't supposed to be happening." Marie said, grabbing onto Sargon, wrapping her hands around him.
"It will just take some time. Take it easy or you will feel worse." He instructed.
"How can I take it easy? I am in the middle of a fight for my life and my magic, and I am losing the battle! She screamed as Sargon held her tighter, allowing her to release whatever emotions came out of her.
"I won't let anything happen to you. If it takes my last breath, you will be ok." He said, cupping her face in his hands as Marie tried to calm down.
"Don't say that. I can't imagine anything happening to you." Marie said as she let herself cry for a moment while she tried to gather herself.
"Is Harold ok? I don't remember anything." She said as her voice cracked.
Sargon held her for a moment before he answered.
"Well, Harold hasn't woken up yet. He is in his wolf form. He is alive but we can't determine what will happen to him. We do not know if he can still shift back into his human form or if he will even wake up."
"No! This can't be happening. He wasn't supposed to be able to shift." Marie sobbed.
"He is still alive Marie. We will figure it out."
"Sargon, I have no magic. How will I help him?"
"You cannot carry that weight right now. Just focus on getting well. I need you to get better."
"Where are Beth and Isabel?"
"They left two days after you didn't wake up. Isabel had to go check on her grandmother. She doesn't use phones. They both stayed as long as they could. Beth has been calling to check on you every day." He said.
"Sargon, what happened in that room with Harold?" Marie asked firmly.
"I am not sure, Marie. One minute you were casting a spell and the next, both you and Harold were knocked out on the floor. I am still trying to handle the fact that you just woke up. You have been unconscious for five days! Do you know what that felt like? I thought I was going to lose you! Stop stressing yourself out and allow yourself to heal before I really do lose you! I can't handle that!" He barked as he held back tears.