The healing herb

My preparation of the herbs I had gathered filled the room with a weighty silence. Dim light seeped through the win- dows, casting soft shadows that danced along the walls. Lucian's mother lay on the bed, breathing shallowly and laboriously. I felt, in my heart, the urgency of the moment, knowing I had to save her.

In their squeezing, the crushed herbs sent their potent aroma nostrils wide open. The mixture had to be perfect; it was my only hope to counteract the poison that had found its way into her system. "Clark," Lucian said in a whisper as he watched me. "Do you really think that will help her?"

"It has to," I answered, casting a glance toward his mother, pale and weak lying there. "These herbs are quite strong in healing. If we can counteract the effects of the poison, she might recover."

With the mixture prepared, I poured the dark, aromatic liquid into a small cup and went to Lucian's mother. "Drink this," I urged gently as I held it out to her, "It will help."

Quaking fingers brought the cup toward her lips, and she took a sip of the potion from my hand. My heart raced as I watched her swallow, chanting fervently for the potions to hasten her recovery. A flicker of strength returned to her eyes after a matter of mere moments.

"Clark," Lucian said, looking at his mother, "Thank you. I can't believe you managed to do this. You saved her."

"Not yet," I replied, avoiding his gaze and staring at his mother. "We're going to have to keep a close eye on her. The effects of the poison can react strangely.”

Lucian nodded in acknowledgment, his gratitude evident in his gaze. “I don’t even know how you learned to heal like that. It’s truly incredible.”

I hesitated for a moment, weighing the extent of my revelation. “When I was exiled, I had the opportunity to stay with a great healer. I learned so much from him-about herbs and healing techniques, and about the magic that flows through nature.”

“Exiled?” Lucian displayed a furrow of confusion crossing his brow. “Never knew. What was it like?”

“It’s h-h-h-h-difficult," I said while remembering the darkness of those days. “But I was able to survive through some strength I got from the knowledge. That alone was a way of surviving for me.”

Concern suddenly slipped into Lucian’s expression. “I’m sorry you had to endure such things. No human being should be subjected to such agony.”

"Thank you," I said, and I looked him in the eye. "But I did it for my son, Lorenzo. He deserves a mother who can fight for him."

“Lorenzo…” The sentence trailed off as Lucian’s brows furrowed again. “You care for him so much. So lucky to have you.”

“He's more than lucky. He is everything to me,” I said, holding my ground. “But you need to hear me now, Lucian. Don't trust Sarah. She is not who you think she is.”

“Clark, she’s my Luna,” he said, his uneasiness stacking upon his loyalty. “You don’t really know the kind of bond we have. She’s always had my back.”

“Is that what you truly believe?” I pressed, a fierce urgency lining my words. “Sarah has her own interests at heart. You’ve seen how she treats me, how she tormented Lorenzo. You must see it before it is too late!”

Lucian sighed and pushed a hand back through his hair in frustration. "I wish I could see it your way, but I have known Sarah too long. I can't just turn my back on her without proof.”

Sometimes the evidence is right in front of you, I somehow managed to say, the weight of my warning heavy on my heart. I know how hard it is to believe, but she does not actually have good intentions.

He turned away, an internal battle raging on his face. “I will think about your words, Clark, but right now, I have to think about my mother and her recovery. She is my priority.”

I nodded, respecting the weight of the loyalty. “I can respect that. Just please promise me that you will watch your back around Sarah. She is dangerous.”

“I will,” some of the worry fell off his face as a hint of a smile broke through. “Thank you for everything you've done. I don't know what I would have done without you.”

As we watched over his mother, I felt apprehensive yet determined. The palace stood warding us, filled with the tension of all that was left unspoken and the threat of the return of Sarah. Yet, in this moment, I focused on the healing process, hoping and praying that Lucian's mother would pull through.

The hours crawled on, thick with anxiety. I kept my vigil by the bedside, watching her every few minutes, while Lucian strode about the room, his worry bringing unbearable silence. I could almost sense the brewing of an approaching storm, a mirror to the tempest within both wash.

At last, Lucian's mother opened her eyes, and I leaned close, heart racing. "How do you feel?" I whispered.

“Stronger,” she said, her voice hoarse but warm with gratitude. “Thank you, Clark. I can’t express how much this means to me. I thought I was lost.”

“You're not lost,” I said, bursting with hope. “You're here, and I will do everything I can to help you recover.”

As I was preparing yet another dose of herbal mixture, I could almost feel Lucian's stare burning into my back, asking questions he left unspoken. "Clark," he said very slowly, "I do not want to overstep my boundaries, but I need to know: what really happened all those years ago? Why did you leave?"

At that point, I froze, burdened by the weight of my past. "It was complicated. I had to protect my son from those who would harm us. It was not an easy decision to make, but it was a decision that had to be made."

Lucian nodded slowly, and the tenderness in his expression almost broke me. "I understand. I just wish I could have been there for you."

"Sometimes we have to make decisions on our own," I said calmly. "But I'm here now...and that's all that matters."

As we spoke, the door creaked open, and I turned slowly to see a shadowy figure framed by the doorway. It was Sarah, an instant choking mist descending upon the room. "What is going on here?" she asked of us, narrowing her eyes in scrutiny on what was taking place.

An electric current of motion surged through me into full readiness for yet another confrontation with her. "We're looking after Lucian's mother," I stated emphatically.

Sarah turned a calculating look toward Lucian. "And what do you think you're doing, Clark? You think you can just play healer in MY palace?"

"I am doing what is right," I said stubbornly. "Your reign of terror ends now."

Lucian stepped between us, speaking coolly. "Sarah, this is not the time to pick a fight. My mother needs healing and peace, not confrontation."

"Peace?" scoffed Sarah, her voice glazed thick with sarcasm. "You think she'll heal--with her around? You're delusional, Lucian; she's here to bring chaos to our world.”

"Enough!" I shouted, white-hot anger curling around my heart, collecting strength. "You're the one sowing the seeds of chaos. This family of yours has been tainted by your lies and manipulations."

"Really? You have no idea what you are talking about, Clark. I have done everything for this pack, and you are nothing but the dirty outsider trying to tear us apart," Sarah growled as she stepped forward.

"An outsider saving your mother," I spat back, my heart pounding. "And I will not let you intimidate me anymore."

Lucian's voice cut through the atmosphere. "Sarah, I don't want to see you treat Clark that way. She is here to help us, and I need you to respect that."

For a second, there was a thick silence layered with unspoken threats. Sarah's eyes, full of fury, met mine as I held my ground for a righteous cause.

"Just remember this, Clark," Sarah said at last, low and poisonous as she spoke. "You may think you've won this round, but the game is far from over. I'm not going to allow you to take my place."

I felt a surge of determination when she turned to leave. "You think you're untouchable? In your dreams. I will not back down. This is just the start."

With Sarah gone, all that was left in the room was a thread of relief. I looked at Lucian. "We need to watch her. She will not let this go."

He nodded, his eyes burning with conviction. "Whatever comes, we will take on together; I will not let her tear us apart."

While we stood united, the darkness ahead lingered over us, yet in that moment, I felt hopeful. We would stand together and face the dark for the future we all deserved.