Chapter 21-Bedridden

"It doesn't matter who hurt you, or broke you down, what matters is who made you smile again."

- Unknown

It felt like I was being sucked into a vacuum, the sir leaving my lungs. The feeling only lasted a split second before we hit the floor of the library, Nathan's hand snaked around my torso preventing me from falling, the tips of my ears suddenly felt very warm.

The library was exactly how I remembered it the last time I came here, except a tiny detail- Swellius was here. His presence was like a heavy blanket, suffocating but his were kind giving away nothing else.

"Why do you need us here Uncle, it's quite late." Nathan asked his eyebrows raised but I was more focused on the arm around my waist. He wasn't loosening his grip so I just relaxed which made his lips curl up slightly at the sides.

"It seems like you children had a fun filled day." Swellius remarked with mock amusement on our appearance.

"Fairy darling, I've missed you. Why don't you visit your poor old man anymore I might just collapse one day?" Albert said materializing out of nowhere in particular. It was kind of weird but I said nothing of it.

He walked towards her and checked for injuries when his search satisfied him, he moved onto Andrew with a little more force while inspecting him. Upon finding nothing he slapped him right across the back his head. Xavier struggled to hold in his laughter, while Andrew shot him a murderous look while rubbing the back of his head.

"Albert!" he called out in mock terror, the old man just shrugged leading all of us to chuckle, except me.

"Why exactly are we here Albert?" I asked

"Oh no sorry darling, my message must have gotten misinterpreted, I only needed you to be honest, you have a visitor." Albert said bringing out a pocket watch from his coat " come with me."

We followed Albert down the hallway, I wasn't concerned about the small army that seemed to march behind me.

There was a small room that smelled a little to much of disinfectant the walls were light brown and there was a small window on the other side but the rest of the details went over my head when I saw a figure on the bed.

I lurched out of Nathan's hold and he let me, a small gasp fell from my lips when I recognized the bandaged individual with large circle around his eyes- eyes that were closed.

"B...Ben." I stuttered and my world turned upside down. He was leaner than I remembered , but he still had a little bit of muscle on him. His complexion which was a shade lighter than mine looked awfully grey. His torso was bandaged and he looked like he was in pain.

"Oh Benny what happened to you?" Mery asked her hand coming to rest on my shoulder.

"Looks like he was attacked." Anai said

"No shit sherlock." My voice came out acidly but I realized who I was talking to and horror filled my expression. "I'm sorry Anai I didn't mean it."

She gave me a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Jonathan cleared his throat drawing my attention to him.

"What she meant was that he was attacked by a demon a powerful one, he reeks of the essence." he said gauging my reaction, my eyes fell they were stinging as tears threatened to fall out of my eyes.

"That's why I'm here, to issue some perspective, he was attacked by one of the Princes of the underworld." Swellius stayed by the door.

"H...how?" I asked but my back was turned to him.

"He was on a mission from the Guard." Albert said.

"Don't tell me that's the Ben." Valerie's voice cut through the silence. "Why is he here instead of the Guard infirmary?" she asked to no one in particular. Her question hung heavy in the room.

"Because, he didn't want anyone to know, yet and he specifically said he needed his sister.", Albert said. " He came with a journal, I think he wanted you to have it."

"He said that?" disbelief laced my voice.

He never needed me, not while we were growing up, so what's changed?.

He handed me a brown book with an intricate design of and angels wing on the cover but I couldn't get it so Nathan took it for me and passed it to me. I just placed it on the bedside table .

I didn't notice anything around me it was just me and Ben in our own bubble. "Can everyone just leave me, please?" I asked my voice strangled then I noticed I had been crying while kneeling beside Ben stroking his hand.

Nathan and Andrew started to voice out their opinion, but I don't know what made them shut up whether it was my tear stained face, or the fact that Anai and Xena were shoving them out the door. Mery was leaving but I held onto her hand urging her to stay with me.

It wouldn't be fair she knew and loved him too.

How could I say 'loved' and 'knew' like that he's still alive. The slow and labored breaths obvious of that. I tried to ignore the pained expression on Nathan's face as he left.

"I'll be back in the morning, Quinn. Rest okay?" He called out from the hallway.

Mery continued to rub my back as I touched Ben's cheek.

What the hell were you thinking Benny?