Chapter 134

Almara’s Pov

I’ve mostly come to terms with the very real possibility that Arthur is going to die, or so I keep trying to convince myself that I have.

As of now he rests on this white armchair, cradling him the way I hold Grace in my arms. I’ve been watching as his breathing has become more and more shallow, his skin more and more cold no matter how many thick blankets I layer on top of him.

I lay my head on his chest and listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart, until I can’t find a pulse at all. This was around the time I lost all other feelings inside me. I thought that when this moment came I would be in agonizing pain, but even I never would have expected this.

My heart doesn’t feel as though it’s cracking and making it hard to breathe, nor do the nerves in my body panic in fear like I might be dying. Instead, all there is a black hole swirling where my heart used to me. It’s like I’m an outsider witnessing events in my life that we’re never really mine simply vanish.

The sound of the front door opening catches my attention and reminds me of an emotion I thought was long gone: hope. Roman must have returned and he’d only come back once he’s secured the quartz dust from the soul plant.

I kiss Arthur’s icy lips, he doesn’t press back and I feel as though I’ve just taken his last breath, like my pulling away took any last remaining bit of heat he has.I find myself downstairs this time in the kitchen. “I got it.” I hear someone say a moment after it’s been said. I realize it was Roman who spoke. He and Arthur move about the kitchen lining up all the ingredients needed.

I stand back and watch in disbelief, almost wishing Roman hadn’t come back at all because now hope is beginning to take place of the black hole in my chest. If this doesn’t work, I won’t recover. I won’t be able to be the mom Grace needs me to be.

“Why are you crying, Almara?” Roman asks. “I said I got it.” He exclaims with the joy of a child. He seems to have no doubt that it might be too late. Then I remember it’s because he’s never been told ‘no’ before.

All the ingredients are gathered. Spit from the councilmen, garlic cloves, quartz dust, even blood from Noah sits in a small glass jar that must’ve been delivered during the time we we’re gone.

Now that it’s all displayed, every needed item right here before our eyes I’m dropped back into myself. As if life gave me a hard slap in the face, I spring into action. Robert brings out the spell book that Bess stole and for a moment I can see her standing in the kitchen smiling with us.

I follow the instructions and begin to combine the ingredients one by one. I feel as though I’m trembling, but my hand moves with a steady precision, measuring out the exact elements needed. Once I add in the spit, the final ingredient, the red liquid begins to glow like it’s florescent.

Together we say the chant and the bottle begins to glow brighter. It makes me wonder if the brightness is the vitality force that’s going to be poured back into Arthur.

The past couple of days have all been for this moment that’s about to happen. Without a word we move in haste to Graces bedroom where Arthur still lies unconscious. We step back into the room and though I was gone only ten minutes, it feels as though an eternity has passed in here.

The room itself has dropped temperature, atmosphere somehow seems older, like we’ve walked through a time portal and this room ahs been abandoned I shake myself out of it and tell myself it’s all in my head.

“Arthur?” I say with a slight shake. “Arthur, wake up.” Arthur moves but only because of my own force. Nothing in him moves on his own. Tears begin to blur my vision. “Arthur.” I say again my voice cracking. Still, nothing. “Arthur.” I say shoving him hard. “Why won’t he wake up?” I shout in anger.

I feel a hand on my shoulder gently try to move me out of the way, but I shoulder it off. “Drink the medicine!” I tell him, command him even. “Arthur, don’t leave me now.”

I give in to my sobs. It’s like the blackhole spewed everything back out inside of me and now running through my veins is all the pain and hurt. I don’t know how to handle it, my body breaks under the intensity of each crushing emotion.

I’m pulled off of Arthur and though I can see I can’t recognize Roman as he opens Arthur’s mouth and pour the glowing liquid down his throat.

The bottle is drained and Roman closes Arthur’s lips ensuring the potion all goes down. A few seconds pass and nothing happens. We all hold our breath. A minute passes and nothing happens. Eventually, instincts kick in and my own lungs which are now on fire cave and suck in the stale air around me. Though no air comes out of Arthur’s mouth.

With fresh air back in my lungs, I scream. I howl and I yell. All these sounds escape from me and I can’t do anything to stop it. Roman and Robert sink back into their own despair and process the unfolding events before them in their own way.

I crawl over to Arthur and fall onto his chest. I compose myself only to share my last words with him.

“You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You are more important than you know, and believe me I know you know you’re important, but I don’t think you know how deeply you are.” I suck in my breath and continue on.

“You are fiercely protective of the ones you love, though the world is cold you bring it warmth and light if not with your smile then with your security of knowing who you are. Arthur, you made me special the moment you set eyes on me. I was nobody and now I know exactly who I am. I am your wife, the mother of your child, and I am completely and forever in love with you.”

I wipe away my tears and kiss his cheek. I rub my nose on the stubble of his facial hair and think of how perfect we are together; rough against smooth, hard against curvy, his being and mine are made for one another.

“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” I tell him. I close my eyes and lay in stillness with him. My head dips down and rises back up, lowers and then rises. I shoot open my eyes and lift myself up. Arthur is waking up.

“Arthur.” I say, this time with love and not anger. Robert and Roman snap their heads in our direction. They move closer and see for themselves, Arthur is stirring awake. One his eyes flutter open, I’m back on the ground kissing him repeatedly. He kisses me back harder, with his the strength I’ve always know him to have.

“It’s you.” I say in disbelief, “Is it really you?” I ask.

“It’s really me.” Arthur confirms, the forest green eyes livelier than ever.

“Well, let the man get up.” Roman says with a sound of praise singing from his heart.

I laugh and make room and help Arthur rise to his feet. The second he’s standing he pulls me in for a bug. He picks me up off the ground and I wrap my legs around him. “I heard everything you said.” He whispers in my ear, sending heat all over my body.

I nibble on his ear. “What are you going to do about it?” I whisper back. Just then Grace makes a laughing and cooing sound. Arthur puts me down and spins to see his daughter.

“Hey there little one.” He says and scoops his daughter up. She laughs and bounces in his arms.

“I’m going to go call your mother.” Roman says, though I think that’s just an excuse so we don’t see the tears fall from his eyes. Before anyone can respond he hurries out the door.

“And like I said, I will leave you two alone.” Robert says, following Roman’s lead.

The door shuts and Roman sets Grace down and pulls me in. We stand close together, he hovers over me and I tilt my chin up towards him so he can kiss me tenderly. At first our lips play smoothly with one another’s and slowly we introduce more play.

I bite his lip and his tongue meets mine. His hands race over my body as though he can’t satiate his desires fast enough. I find myself shaking beneath his touch. Everywhere his fingers grace my body lights up in a tingling sensation.

“Nothing you wouldn’t do for me, huh?” He says, toying with my words. He’s taken my breath away so all I can do is nod in confirmation.

“Go to the bedroom and get naked.” He orders, an order I gladly follow.

For the rest of the evening, Arthur and I make love only stopping to hold and feed our beloved daughter.