I faintly recalled the feelings of multiple hands pulling me out of the lake and arms wrapping tightly around my upper body as I'd begun to lose consciousness. Dark blue eyes had briefly held my gaze before my own eyes slipped shut.

When I awoke again, it was only for what seemed to be a few minutes. I was naked in a bathtub, with warm water pooling around me and covering most of my body.

A damp cloth was pressed against my forehead, and through blurry eyes I saw a worried Athena kneeling over the tub, her hand pressing the cloth tightly to my forehead.

Pain seemed to shoot from my temple as I heard Hannes' voice nearby, outside of whatever room I was in, frustration and confusion leaking from his muffled words.

Five unfamiliar women stood inside the bathroom as well, pack members, some which I recognized to be the ones which had hunted recently.

Bright bowls were in their hands, and the vivid colours seemed to intensify the longer I stared, until I had little choice but to close my stinging eyes.

Voices drifted into my mind and I grinded my teeth together, my fingers clenching around the edges of the bathtub as I attempted to straighten, eyes still closed tightly. Athena uttered a word of protest, and once again, rapidly, I lost consciousness.

Heat.

My hands pulled at the hot sheets covering me, lips parting as a choked scream arose. Strong hands began to press me down against the bed which I attempted to leave, and immediately I began clawing at the arms which held me, my nails raking against skin repeatedly until I was released.

I collapsed back onto the bed with the sheets no longer on me.

All I could see was absolute darkness, and my panic soared, the ringing noises in my ears which I'd heard earlier returning. I scratched at my ears and face, feeling my blood trickle down my cheeks as I punctured skin. The hands returned again, roughly this time, wrestling my wrists.

"Olivia!"

It sounded like Kanes who had yelled.

I screamed as pain shot through my entire body and my back abruptly arched off of the bed. My eyes rolled, and I choked on my breath when I was abruptly lifted into the air momentarily, before being settled down against a warm body. Hannes.

Words escaped my lips, garbled and confusing as I moved desperately closer to him, seeking comfort.

"Shh." Hannes voice floated into my ear, and I rested my face against his neck, body shuddering every now and then. I could feel sweat on my back, and the bloody ringing in my ears had yet to stop.

I lifted my hands back to them, more words which I couldn't even comprehend pouring from my mouth.

I could hear Athena and Willow speaking, voices rushed and urgent, whilst Hannes continued to hold me against him, whispering soft words.

My fingers grabbed handfuls of his shirt as I inhaled his scent deeply and a sudden wave of dizziness finally made me halt from speaking. My head abruptly lolled backwards, and I lost sense of what was around me, and basked in the silence I found.

************

Someone was shining a light into my eye and fingers were prizing it open. I grimaced and attempted to shift the position of my head, but a hand gripped my chin, keeping the direction of my head in place.

Soft wind seemed to caress my body as I laid on a bed wordlessly, enduring the individual continuously shining the bright light into my right eye.

And when it was finally turned off, I heard several footsteps before I felt a hand drift across my forehead, and rest gently against my cheek.

I exhaled slowly, feeling exhausted, but managed to open my eyes to see Hannes' worried face as he stood over me.

My eyes ran over him, lingered on the light beard which he seemed to have recently grown and then to the individual standing behind him.

Skylar.

Her arms were folded against her chest, and her long black hair was pulled into a tight pony-tail. Her arms eventually dropped away as she lifted a small, wooden bowl from a bedside table, cradling it in her arms for several seconds before clearing her throat. I closed my eyes again, listening as she spoke,

"She'll need to drink this." Her voice was quiet, and her voice was persistent. I opened my eyes slowly to see Hannes take the bowl and peer down at the contents before fixing Skylar with a heavy, warning stare.

She sighed, and pointed a finger at the bowl.

"That will further get rid of any lingerings of the toxic potion in her body. Just let her drink it." She frowned when Hannes hesitated, and snapped, "I didn't spend fifteen minutes using my magic to make that just for it to go to waste, Hannes. It won't harm her."

My eyes closed again, as I heard Athena speak. I had not seen her in the room.

"I wouldn't have brought Skylar here if there was even a small possibility that she was going to harm Olivia. I know you're protective of her right now Hannes, but please let Olivia drink it."

There was a stretch of silence, and I attempted to shift my body on the bed, but burning pain took ahold of my body. I clenched my teeth as I resisted grunting, and I felt Hannes' near presence.

"Open your mouth, Liv." Hannes' voice was gruff. I couldn't hide my agony as a bolt of pain went through my body and I grimaced, heaving out a breath as I slowly did as he asked.

The liquid I drank tingled in my throat, and it was uncomfortably chilly. However, the flavour was pleasant.

"She may vomit in a couple seconds." Skylar warned, and I heard her move around the room. "It will greatly help with getting rid of the toxicity."

I heard Hannes curse, and when I opened my eyes, I saw him set down an empty bin beside the bed. Athena, who I saw to be standing in the doorway of the unfamiliar room, watched me, traces of her concern in her eyes.

And just like Skylar had stated, I vomited. I'd barely been able to move my body to the side of the bed and hover my face over the bin before it spewed out.

Hannes' hand continuously rubbed at my back whilst I vomited several times, and the scent of it made me gag.

When I straightened moments later, a handkerchief was dangled before my face. I looked at Skylar, who held it out to me and then I took it to wipe at my chin, muttering my thanks.

She nodded, watching as I laid back unto the bed, pressing the side of my head into a pillow as I left the handkerchief by my side. I noticed that the pain which I'd felt was already disappearing, and I knew that it had to be because of the combination of me vomiting and whatever Skylar had given me.

I thought I would have perhaps spewed out whatever magical potion she'd given me, but it's magical effects were evidently working.

Nonetheless, I still felt very exhausted.

The bed dipped as I felt Hannes sit upon it, and I looked up at him. He looked tired, but also relieved as he watched me watch him.

"How long was I unconscious for?" I asked, voice husky and throat burning. The relief on Hannes' expression grew, and he cleared his throat before saying,

"Almost two weeks," I felt his fingers trace my cheek and linger on my scar before skittering up to my temple.

"You consumed something that was made with a dangerous potion."

My eyes watered and I searched Hannes' face. "I was hearing my mother's voice when I left the house. And I saw Clyde's body on the frozen lake."

Hannes' eyebrows furrowed, and his expression became grim. I broke my gaze away from his stare to look towards an opened window, the crushing, sorrowful feeling in my chest overwhelming me for a little while.

"Do you recall the last thing you ate, Olivia?" Skylar asked, her voice carrying from where she stood by the doorway. Her mysterious grey eyes were piercing as she watched me think.

"A cake. Stewart, one of the cooks had given me a cake." I finally said. Skylar nodded, as if she expected that answer.

"I figured it had to be something you ate, unless you like going around drinking random liquids." Skylar muttered, confirming my suspicion.

She swung a bag over her shoulder, and it appeared as if she was going to leave soon.

She addressed Hannes and Athena, "What I believe was that the cake was made with the potion. It more than likely must have been poured into the batter. As you both already know, the particular potion that I suspect it to be was one which causes hallucinations, the hearing of voices and it can also lead to death."

Her grey eyes averted to my body, and she took a few seconds looking me over before meeting Hannes' eyes.

"She will be better, but rest is needed."

Hannes nodded, body visibly tensed, and Athena straightened from the doorway, exhaling loudly. Her smile was tired as she looked at Skylar.

"Thank you for coming here. I'll have someone drive you back."

Skylar shook her head immediately. "That won't be needed. I will walk." She cast one last look at me before leaving, and Athena followed, saying that she'd at least walk her to the door.

I remained curled on the body, head pressed comfortably into the pillow, and I watched with sleepy eyes as Hannes joined me, sitting on the edge of the bed, his hand raising to gently stroke my hair.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"In one of my rooms inside of the house." His eyes did not look my way, and instead, they were fixated on what was outside of the opened window.

Wrath brewed in his honey colored eyes, and I could see a muscle in his jaw ticking repeatedly. I watched him attempt and fail to quell his fury. And suddenly, as his suffocating emotions flooded the bond, I felt Hannes' blood lust.