Page 13 of Her Immortal Love

8

ALINA

Too many vrakken were pulled to battle to even bother guarding the humans. Despite my plea not to, some fled, getting killed by dark elves immediately. Most stayed in the pen to avoid the same fate.

With the battle now over, though, I slip out of the human encampment, my heart pounding in my chest. The chaos of the recent battle has left the vrakken's defenses in disarray, and I seize the opportunity to explore. My feet carry me towards the medical area, guided by an instinct I can't explain.

The smell of blood and magic hangs heavy in the air as I enter. Wounded vrakken lie on makeshift beds, their injuries ranging from minor cuts to gaping wounds. I swallow hard, fighting back the nausea that threatens to overwhelm me.

"What are you doing here?" a gruff voice demands. I spin around, coming face to face with a vrakken guard. His eyes narrow suspiciously.

"I... I can help," I stammer, surprising myself with my boldness. "I have healing abilities."

The guard scoffs, but before he can respond, a pained groan echoes through the room. Without thinking, I rush to the sideof an injured vrakken. His arm is nearly severed, hanging by a thread of muscle and sinew.

I place my hands over the wound, closing my eyes. The energy within me surges, flowing through my fingertips. I feel the torn flesh knitting back together, muscle and bone reforming under my touch. When I open my eyes, the arm is whole again, only a faint scar remaining.

The room falls silent. I look up to see the guard and other vrakken staring at me in disbelief. Emboldened by my success, I move to the next patient, then the next. With each healing, my confidence grows, as does my amazement at the extent of my abilities.

As I work, a realization settles over me. These vrakken, for all their power and cruelty, are the only thing standing between us humans and the dark elves. I've heard whispers of the atrocities committed by the gray-skinned beings, stories that make my blood run cold. As much as I fear the vrakken, I fear the alternative even more.

As I finish healing the last of the wounded vrakken, exhaustion washes over me. I sway on my feet, barely able to stand. Suddenly, a strong arm steadies me. I look up to see Alexei, his dark eyes filled with concern.

"What have you done?" he whispers, his voice a mix of awe and worry.

Before I can respond, the room erupts into chaos. Vrakken voices rise in a cacophony of conflicting opinions.

"She's a miracle worker!" one shouts.

"She's dangerous," another hisses. "How do we know she won't turn these powers against us?"

I shrink back, overwhelmed by their intensity. Alexei steps in front of me protectively.

"Enough!" a commanding voice cuts through the din. Their leader, The First I've heard some call her, strides into the room,her presence silencing everyone instantly. Her eyes lock onto mine, and I feel naked under her scrutiny.

"Bring her with me," she orders. "Now."

Alexei's grip on my arm tightens as he leads me out. The walk to the small meeting area is a blur. My mind races, trying to process everything that's happened. What have I done? Have I just made things worse for myself and the other humans?

The vrakken stand in a small circle as we approach, their eyes gleaming in as Alexei drags me forward, just shy of the center. The First stands in the middle, turning her black and silver flecked eyes on me.

"Explain yourself," she demands.

I take a deep breath, willing my voice not to shake. "I... I discovered I had these abilities recently. When I saw your wounded, I knew I could help. I had to try."

Murmurs ripple through the council. A tall vrakken with midnight-black wings leans forward. "And why would you help us, human? What do you gain?"

I meet his gaze steadily. "Because it was the right thing to do. And because... because you're the only thing standing between us and the dark elves."

This statement causes an uproar. Some vrakken nod approvingly, while others snarl in disagreement.

"She could be an invaluable asset," one argues. "Imagine having a healer of her caliber on the battlefield."

"Or she could be our downfall," another counters. "What if she decides to use these powers against us? We can't trust a human!"

The debate rages on, my fate hanging in the balance. I stand there, heart pounding, acutely aware of Alexei's presence behind me. His proximity is both comforting and unsettling.

Finally, the First raises her hand, silencing the crowd. Her piercing gaze fixes on me once more.