Chapter 115

Almara’s Pov

Reluctantly, I tell Cathy the ingredients needed to heal Arthur’s aliment. I hold my breath waiting for her to tell me that gaining those ingredients is impossible, disgusting, or that they simply won’t work. When she raises from the couch I half expect her to thank me for wasting her time.

Instead, Cathy nods and looks at me with deep compassion. “All right then. Let’s get to it.” I let out a deep exhale and savor the release I feel at her words. Who knew Cathy would be my rock in all of this.

“You’re so wonderful.” I tell her and mean it.

“Well, when my husband is in a fatal situation and needs the oddest concoction of ingredients to make a potion to make him normal once again, I’ll know who to call.” Cathy smiles at me and I can’t help but smile back. “Speaking of the star of it all, where is Arthur?”

“He’s upstairs, resting. I think he gets overwhelmed being around so many people.” I tell Cathy and luckily she leaves it at that, grasping the hint that what Arthur really wants to avoid is the constant smell of new blood.

“Well one thing I noticed about the ingredients is they’re categorized into similar properties.” Cathy speaks matter of fact, and I raise my eyebrow for her to continue on.

“Bat wings and a tongue from a red lizard are from animals, fresh garlic and plasma juice from the moon plant are culinary which leads into the final ingredient of dandelions- a hybrid of a culinary and plant ingredient.” I start to put together the pieces that Cathy is telling me.

“Which means the ingredients can likely be found near the other in its group.” I say realizing that makes the gathering of ingredients a least that much simpler.

“Should be at least.” Cathy shrugs like it’s worth a try.

I start to get excited about the task set before us and then am quickly met with the realization some of these ingredients are on opposite sides of town and this could still take the whole day, even if like ingredients can be found near each other. Arthur doesn’t have that kind of time.

“One second,” I tell Cathy “Keep an eye on Grace.” I leave the living room. We’re going to need the search team again, though this time for ingredients. I enter the kitchen where I hear chatter, though it dies down as soon as I enter.

“We need help gathering ingredients.” I say to Bess, Roman, Elenor, and Jack. I notice that Ceclia is missing, the actress in the advertising commercials, but decide she may not be much help anyways. I guess she left after she heard Arthur was found.

“Here we are under the impression you and your little friend had this under control.” Roman says as if he couldn’t care less about the time we’re wasting by arguing. I try to cool my impatient temper. The others in the room look at me, as if waiting to see my remark as though that will determine who side they ought to follow.

“For the last time Roman, Cathy did not tell the press. In fact, she told me the girl I thought that did, didn’t. which means someone else who knew about Arthur missing must’ve told.” I say in a rush, just trying to get past this part.

Everyone in the room stiffens at the realization everyone’s a suspect. Roman eyes everyone in the room with open curiosity.

“For the moon’s sake, Roman. Your son needs our help. Finding him was only half the battle and now we must cure him.” Bess snaps under Roman’s scrutiny.

“Very well. How are we to assist?” Roman asks, setting aside his suspicions.

I explain what Cathy had relied to me and what the publicist, Cindy, told me about the ingredients and narrowing of time. Just then Cathy enters the room holding a sleeping Grace in her arms.

“I wanted to be part of the plan.” Cathy says, almost shyly as if expecting to be rejected by Roman. We all wait for his response.

“Yes, do come in.” Roman says, but what is meant is a truce- for not at least. Cathy crosses the marble floor, clearly taken back by the extravagance of the kitchen but pretending not to be.

We all huddle around the oval island in the center of kitchen. The overhead window hangs high above us, moonlight flooding down and illuminating everyone’s face. Bess recalls knowing where to get plasma juice from the moon plant.

She says it grows in the wild just as you begin to enter the borders of the vampire world. Sometimes vampires patrol the outskirts and root the plants up so outsiders can’t harvest it, probably for reasons such as this.

Bess also pointed out the obstacle that it be safest to wait until day, when the vampires are inside or sleeping. Though then we risk the chance of the plants being rooted up. Roman bangs his fist on the counter, causing the grand glass chandelier to rattle its chimes.

Elenor grabs her husbands arm as to comfort him. Though he speaks no words, his impatience exudes from his being. Bess ignores his outburst and says that bat wings might be in nearby caves on the way to the vampire boundary.

Jack offers to go there and to grab the nectar from the plasma moon plant if he’s able. He runs off, wasting no time. Bess sets out to get the garlic and dandelion as these will be the easiest ingredients. Roman sets out to look for red lizards, says he’s in a hunting mood.

This leaves me, Cathy, and Elenor here to care for Arthur and Grace. “I’m going to go check on Arthur. Can someone watch Grace?” I ask and Elenor is already scooping her granddaughter into her arms.

I dash up the stairwell and head to Arthur’s bedroom. I slow myself down before opening the door, not wanting to startle him. Though, when I put open the door, it’s me whose taken back. It’s completely pitch black, even the curtains have been drawn tight.

“Arthur?” I call out in a whisper and step forward, as I do I feel something crunch beneath my shoes only to realize the lamps are smashed to pieces.

“Careful.” I hear him groan from the bed, and I’m not sure if he’s referring to the glass or to me coming near him.

I approach the sound of his voice, using my hands to guide me. Once I feel the plush comforter, I know that I’ve reached the bed. I slip off my shoes and slide into bed with him.

I bring my hands to his back and almost drawback at how cold he feels, but I don’t. Instead, I use my nails to lightly stroke up to his shoulders and down to his lower back. He lets out a sigh of comfort and we stay like this for some time.

“You’ll be better my morning.” I whisper into his ear. He turns his head and I can faintly see the glow of his eyes. There’s still a yellow-reddish tint, but beneath that is the beautiful forest green eyes that belong to my man. He’s still there. Arthur brings his lips to mine and gently kisses me.

“Don’t bite my lip this time.” I tell him playfully and hope it’s not to soon. When I hear Arthur’s breathy laugh, I can’t stop my heart from doing a little flip and a school-girl grin from appearing on my face. Good thing it’s dark, you look ridiculous. Lily teases me. I look in love. I answer back.

“I’ll save that for when I’m healed.” Arthur says, my heartbeat now quickening in pace. Suddenly, I get a strong yearning for him. I nuzzle into his chest and let him comfort me.

“We’re almost there.” I tell him, yet even as I speak it I get the feeling that maybe it’s not true.