Chapter 22: Dominic leaves the Water Sect

I woke up and found myself to be in the infirmary. My body was still a little sour, though I had stopped bleeding, compliments of my weird fast healing body. I looked around and saw that the entire infirmary was empty. I frowned, Don’t people in water sect get sick or something?

I replayed the fight in my head and sighed embarrassed. I felt so humiliated, I hadn’t even lasted three minutes and Ronald had ended up knocking me out. I felt disgraced and defeated. No wonder Stephanno won’t openly accept me as his mate. Who would want such a weakling as his mate, especially since the person in question happens to be the Head of the council? At first I thought he didn’t claim me because of Dominic, but now I suspect that he probably doesn’t even look at me like I am a woman, but rather sees me only as a troubled teenager. After all we had a huge age gap between us. I am not worthy of being Stephanno’s mate. Mates were supposed to be equals, to complete each other. And there was no way I was even close of being an equal to him. I was probably only equal to the dirt underneath his shoes.

Even after all the training with Justin, I was still behind on my training. My only advantage was that I had a mean throw, but that is not going to help me every time. Using my powers made everything a lot easier but I had a feeling that I would gain more enemies than allies if started using my powers. I sighed, there was only one way….start training from the beginning….no shortcuts this time. I just have to swallow my big ego and do it.

I heard voices and the sound of footsteps coming towards us. I quickly adjusted my sheets and closed my eyes pretending to be asleep, taking care to hide my hands beneath the sheets, so they don’t find out that my hands were already healed.
“Doctor, is there any hope for her?”
“ Let us first run a few tests on her”
I frowned, I was just knocked out. No need for something that dramatic and that voice sounded familiar…. Justin.
Then they were talking about Stella. When did they reach? I sneaked open one of my eyes, and found two men carrying Stella in and laying her on the bed right next to me. I immediately shut my eye when Justin turned towards me.
“ Jess? What happened to her?” he asked someone, panicking.
“Got knocked out in a fight” a solemn voice replied…Stephanno’s.

How many were in here? I hadn’t seen him when I sneaked a glance at them before, so he must have just entered the room.
“A fight? Why? Is she okay? Is she hurt badly? “ Justin started hyperventilating.
I frowned. That stupid idiot should really stop drawing everyone’s attention to me. I already felt miserable and humiliated at being knocked out in a fight. I don’t need everyone pitying me or babying me.

“ She is fine. The doctor had already seen to her. He said that she will wake up in a few hours.” Stephanno replied calmly.
Justin let out an audible sigh of relief, then I felt him kiss me on the forehead while ruffling my hair affectionately. I frowned. We were close….but not that close. He was acting like a worried family member in a hospital.

I sneaked an eye open again and found Stephanno icily glaring at Justin. He didn’t know Justin or how close we were. He is probably pissed that another man just kissed his mate right in front of him. I saw his knuckles tighten and I immediately rolled over to the other side of the bed, breaking contact with Justin. That stupid idiot is gonna get himself thrown into the dungeons or something if he keeps this up.

“ The doctors will be here soon. We should probably clear out so they can get some space to check on Stella” Justin said.
I held my breath for several seconds and only opened my eyes when I heard the door shut.

I quickly jumped of my bed and approached the bed where Stella was laying, her big round eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. I choked back the tears that were emerging, then seated myself right next to her.
“Hey Stella, it’s me. Can you hear me? I know that bitch is messing with your head. But you are stronger than this. I don’t know what your greatest fear is that she showed you that made you become like this, but I know that you can definitely overcome this. Please try Stella…for me….for Dominic…”

Then I broke down and started wailing. Stella was still stiff. She was still in the same outfit she wore on the day of the battle. Her blonde hair was all tangled, her clothes all messy…..I sniffed involuntarily. I felt a hand press on my shoulder and found Dominic. I immediately jerked his hand off my shoulder, feeling guilty. He was comforting me in front of Stella. Just the thought of him touching me felt wrong when Stella was like this.
“She will be fine. She is one tough cookie” he murmured softly, not being offended at all by my rejection.
“Are you here to see her? Or to check on me?” I asked him, wiping my eyes with a bunch of cotton I found in the tray nearby.
“Both” he replied.
“Well, I am completely fine as you can see. So why don’t you just spend some time with her? She will like that.” I pleaded with him.
“ I can’t Jess. I am leaving soon.”
“Huh? Leaving?”
“ I have to get my people out of that hellhole” he stated obviously.
“you are going back to the fire sect? are you crazy? The blood sect already took over the land. You will be walking right into a trap. They will be expecting you to make a move.” I yelled at him, panicking.

He flinched at my yelling, shifting his legs uncomfortably as he replied, “I have to try Jess. They are my people. I can’t leave them to the hounds.”
“But…Ugh , at least do you have a plan?”
“ I will ,after I finish discussing with you” he replied nonchalantly.
“You included me in your plans? I thought you would try to keep me out of it”
“ Of course, I should involve you. They are your people too. And I know that you are not the type to sit out of a fight.”

I felt touched when he called them my people too, when the truth was that I was a horrible Mistress. I have never conversed with them or try to know their problems or even shown an ounce of interest regarding the Sect’s matters. I was too busy living in my own tiny little world. God! I was such a self-absorbed, conniving bitch.

“I won't be coming with you, Dominic” I said, remembering my fight with Ronald.
He furrowed his brows, confused by my response. Knowing my character, he clearly wasn’t expecting this to be my response.
“ I would just be a liability if I went with you. You won’t fight whole heartedly because you will always be worried about me. I would just end up weakening the team. And they will use me to lure you and divert your attention. It’s hurting my pride to say this but it’s the truth. I am just not good enough right now and I don't want to weaken our chances at getting our people out.” I said sighing.

I expected Dominic to feel disgusted by my cowardice, but weirdly enough, I saw his eyes glint with pride.
“ You have grown up haven’t you? I never expected to see the day when you voluntarily stayed out of a fight. You were always so intent on proving that you are tough and that you don’t need anyone’s help.” He replied, letting out a breath.

I smiled at him sadly and replied, “ I am so full of myself, aren’t I ? But I promise you this is the last time you are going for a fight alone. Next time, I will be right in the front leading the fight, to protect our Sect”
He gulped then in a blink of an eye, gave me a bear hug, wrapping his arms around me tightly. I hugged him back and sobbed onto his chest. My throat went dry and I tightened my grip on him.
“ Be safe.” I sobbed, tears flowing through my cheeks, wetting his shirt.

We pulled apart after what felt like hours ,then he solemnly nodded at me and went out, without a word. I immediately fell to my knees, right next to Stella’s bed and started wailing. The door opened again and I saw Dominic walk in again.
“Aren’t you going to at least see me off?” he asked me, tears emerging from his eyes.
When I shook my head no, he walked towards me, then removed the chain that he was wearing on his neck, then without a word slid it around my neck.
I looked at him confused,blinking back tears, taken aback by his sudden gesture.
He shrugged and replied, “ It’s for safe keeping. That was my mother's. I will definitely come back to claim it, so take good care of it.”
It represented his promise to make it back, I realized with a jolt. My eyes started filling with fresh tears, my throat was already burning with all my wailing. I didn't know how to react to this sweet gesture.
Then without a word, he walked out again before I could even say anything.
I touched the simple platinum chain that hung around my neck, hesitatingly at first then fondling it. I had always seen him wear this chain, but I didn’t know that it was his mother’s.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I almost didn't hear the door open for the third time and saw Stephanno walk in. I immediately grabbed some bandages from the tray near Stella’s bed and wrapped it around my hand, behind my back ensuring that he don’t see it. I didn’t feel in the mood to explain my weird healing abilities to him right now.

His gaze raked over my shabby appearance, my swollen eyes, my wet cheeks and then they landed firmly on my neck where Dominic’s mother’s chain currently resides. I suddenly felt exposed and guilty at the same time and shifted uncomfortably. Me wearing Dominic's chain in front of Stella and the look on Stephanno's face when his gaze landed on my neck made me feel uncomfortable and guilty but I still couldn't bring myself to remove it from my neck. It was after all a promise.....a promise that he would come back safe and sound.....