Chapter 138: A Sleepless Vigil
Thelma Zane’s POV:
power
The reflection staring back at me in the mirror felt like a stranger–a version of myself I barely recognized. The intricate tattoos now etched across my skin whispered tales of and pain. When I was a child, I used to think the tattooed villains in comic books looked so cool, so commanding. But the reality of becoming one wasn’t nearly as enchanting.
Golden medicinal ointment glistened faintly in the dim light as it seeped into the fresh scars, making them pulse with a soft glow.
“With your werewolf healing abilities, these wounds will fully heal within a week,” Hayley explained as she finished applying the potion. “Once the scars are gone, the tattoos, mirroring the purification rune, will be permanent. The power of the Moon Goddess will continuously renew itself through these marks. That means the pain may fade, but it will never entirely disappear. You must resist the urge to scratch or tamper with them. If you do, it could ruin everything we’ve worked for.”
I nodded, forcing myself to focus on her words despite the burning sensation coursing through my body. Even though my wounds had scabbed over, the pain felt unyielding, as if molten fire flowed beneath my skin.
“Thank you,” I murmured, pulling my shirt over the markings.
As I stepped out of the medical room, I found my parents waiting for me. My father sat on the couch, flipping through documents, while my mother stared out the window, lost in thought. When they noticed me, they both quickly came to my side.
“Father, Mother,” I began with a small smile, “it went well. The process is complete, and for now, the mutation is contained. Master Hayley assured me there will be no complications for
at least six months.”
Their
eyes
traveled over the tattoos adorning my face, arms, and hands. My mother trembled as she gently touched one of the runes carved into my cheek.
“Oh, Thelma,” she whispered, her voice thick with sorrow. “How painful this must have been for you…”
“It’s not as bad as it looks, Mother,” I said, squeezing her hand. “And it was worth it. It’s a small price to pay for control.”
“But these marks will stay with you forever!” she cried, her voice breaking. “Once the Moon. Goddess has claimed you, there’s no reversing it. You’re so young, my love–what will you for the rest of your life?”
do
My father placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, pulling her close. “Helena, have faith in our daughter,” he said softly. “She’s stronger than anyone I know. Aren’t you, Thelma?”
“Yes,” I replied firmly, though my chest ached at my mother’s tears.
I embraced them both, holding them tightly as the weight of the day threatened to overwhelm
- me.
“It’s not so bad,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “Tattoos are in fashion now. Everyone has them these days, so I’ll fit right in.”
Despite her tears, my mother managed a faint smile. “Oh, my brave girl..”
Once we collected ourselves, our attention shifted to the other medical room. Inside, Dorothy was undergoing a procedure of her own, guided by another werewolf grandmaster skilled in matters of the soul.
Her process was far more delicate than mine. While my runes were carved into my skin, Dorothy’s engraving reached into the very core of her being. The risks were immense. Hayley had decided to start with me because mistakes on the body could be mended, but damage to
the soul was irreversible.
Hayley packed her tools and glanced toward the closed door of Dorothy’s room. “She’s doing well,” she assured me. “The protective layers we’ve placed around her soul are holding. This will take time, but we’ll ensure she’s safe.”
I wanted to stay and wait for Dorothy, but my mother insisted I take a break. “You’ve gone all day without eating,” she said. “Your body needs strength to recover.”
Reluctantly, I followed her to the dining hall, where a bland yet nutritious meal awaited me. The food felt heavy and tasteless in my mouth, but I forced myself to eat, knowing I couldn’t afford weakness now.
When I returned to the medical room, Dorothy was lying on an ornate marble altar, her expression serene. She appeared to be in a deep sleep, thanks to a spell designed to keep her unconscious throughout the procedure.
“She won’t feel the physical pain,” Hayley explained. “All her focus is needed to withstand the strain on her soul. The prayer inscriptions on the altar are for the Moon Goddess’s blessing.”
Seeing Dorothy so still sent a shiver through me. “She’ll be okay, won’t she?” I asked, unable to hide my anxiety.
“She will,” Hayley replied with unwavering confidence.
As the door closed behind them, the quiet of the hallway enveloped me.
The night stretched on endlessly. I couldn’t bring myself to leave, even though there was nothing I could do. My parents tried to comfort me, but eventually, they called Aldrich to join me, knowing his presence would bring me some peace.
He arrived quickly, his expression a mix of concern and exhaustion. He had wanted to be with me earlier, but I had begged him to stay away during the engraving. I couldn’t bear for him to
Chap 138 A Sleeples Vigil
see me in such a vulnerable state.
“I felt your pain even from a distance,” he said softly as he sat beside me.
I tried to smile, but his worried gaze reflected the toll the day had taken on me.
In his arms, I finally allowed myself to let go. All the fear
out in silent tears.
the pain, and the exhaustion poured
“I’m so afraid,” I whispered. “Of what’s happening to me. Of what might happen next…”
“You’re the strongest person I know, Thelma,” Aldrich said, his voice steady. “But you don’t have to bear this alone. I’m here. Always.‘
His words wrapped around me like a shield, and for the first time that night, I felt a flicker of hope.
The engraving had left its marks on more than just my skin. But in Aldrich’s embrace, I
realized I wasn’t defined by those scars. They were a part of my story, but they didn’t have to be its ending.
As the night wore on, I clung to that thought, finding strength in the quiet promise of a new day.
