Page 73 of Meeting Her Mate
Thankfully, when I woke up this time, there were no signs that I had shifted or frenzied. I was in bed, tucked in like I was when I fell asleep, and Alexis was sitting beside me. There was a tray laden with food on the bedside table and a vial of some strange elixir set on the table. We were not alone in this room. Vincent was also there.
“Vince,” I said.
“Hey there, Will. You gave us all quite the scare the other night,” Vince said, smiling compassionately. “But I had the tranquilizers, just like you asked.”
“There was always the possibility of this happening,” I said. “I am glad that you were there.”
“Well, then you’ll be gladder that I’m here now,” Vince said, his smile broadening into a full-blown gleam.
Whatever it was, Alexis also knew, as she was smiling just as much. “Vince just did the best thing ever.”
“What happened?” I asked. I groaned as I tried to sit upright. Alexis came to my side at once to help me up.
“When that asshole Dr. Morris was going on about how you were either going to die or go mad, it triggered me. Like, it was such a bleak outlook. I needed to go somewhere. I had to do something. And I have done something.” Vince picked up the vial from the bedside table and brought it over to me. “I call this Moon Presence.”
“A potion?” I looked at the purplish liquid with tiny white specks floating in it. It looked like jelly. The smell coming from the vial was very flowery.
“Not just a potion. It’s a concoction that a dear friend of mine made,” Vince said.
“Vince was just telling me that this concoction was made from ancient white magic recipes used by medieval witches,” Alexis said. “If traditional medicine fails us, we’re going the way of magic.”
“Vince, how do you know someone who has access to witchcraft?” I asked a little warily. In my experience, witches were some of the most powerful beings to walk this earth. Their magic was deep, ancient, and potent. If there was one thing that the people of Germany feared more than werewolves, it was witches.
“I am not going to go into details,” Vince said, shrouding his face. “But let’s just say that we’re not alone in Fiddler’s Green. Other beings reside in the forest. Some of them are our allies, others not so much. This potion came from someone quite close to me. That’s all I want to say on the matter. I explained your situation to them, and they made this concoction.”
“What does this concoction do?” I asked.
“My source tells me that in medieval times, the court alchemists used to imbibe soldiers with strong chemicals to make them more powerful in battle. In small doses, those chemicals were beneficial, but in the long term, they could cause madness, epilepsy, leprosy, and even death. To remedy those chemicals, the alchemists came up with a concoction that would detoxify the soldiers’ bodies after the battle was over. It’s a healing potion that restores your body to its optimal state. It also has a calming effect, from what I’ve been told,” Vince said.
“Do you trust your source?” Alexis asked.
“With my life,” Vince said.
I uncorked the vial, lifted it in the air, said, “Bottom’s up,” and then emptied its contents in my mouth. It tasted overly sweet as it flowed down my throat. I coughed a little as the potion made its way down.
“How are you feeling now?” Alexis asked, staring at me intently. She was also keeping her distance, just like Vince.
“Is the effect supposed to be spontaneous?” I asked Vince. He nodded.
It took a second, but then immediately, I felt the tiredness leaving my body. The veil of brain fog, the lurking rage, and the impulse to be violent were all gone. Just like that. In a manner of seconds.
I laughed loudly and freely for the first time, completely unhindered by any negative emotions. I looked up at Alexis and smiled at her profusely. As I helped myself off the bed, I could feel strength returning to my body. That tray of food had never looked more appetizing.
“Tell your witch friend thanks from me,” I said to Vince as I got up to my feet and stretched my body.
“I didn’t say I had a witch friend,” Vince stuttered, and his face turned red all of a sudden.
“I may not know much about witchcraft, but I know that there are only a handful of witches alive in the entire world who know the recipe to Morrigan’s Death Defying Tincture. That’s what the potion was. Not Moon Presence, although you may call it that if you like. Whoever your ally is and wherever they live, whether in the forest or somewhere else, they’re a very powerful witch.”
“How do you know all this?” Vincent asked.
“I was raised on lore. Stories of Norse and Celtic origin. Morrigan was the Celtic goddess of death. Whoever she granted her tincture was saved from a terrible death. This potion is like a myth among the witchcraft circles. It’s nigh impossible to make it. You’ve got a talented friend, Vince. Thank them for me,” I said. “They have saved my life.”
“I’ll gladly pass on that message,” Vince said, his face still flushed red. “I’ll give you two lovebirds some space now.”
“Much appreciated,” I said. Then I gave him a strong hug and shook his hand. He passed me a solemn smile as he left. I waited for him to leave the house before I turned to Alexis.
She was massaging her temples. Her eyes were closed, and she was sitting on the sofa, breathing heavily.