The Lycan's Bargain

Aira.

Striding back to my old rickety cottage I called home, I hummed a low tune to myself, gripping the basket of herbs I had foraged tightly to myself. My heart raced with a mix of fear and hope, but I forced myself to be positive.

My mother had been unwell for weeks nows and I've done everything I could in my power to try and nurse her back to good health to no avail. Calling a medicine man was out of the question because they were too expensive and I didn't have the money that they would demand. I reached the porch, and unlocking the door, pushed the door open and walked in.

The cold, damp air greeted me first. My eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and I found my mother lying at the far corner in the room, covered by a soft yet worn out blanket. She hadn't moved from the position I had left her in, her skin even paler, beads of sweat coating her forehead. My heart lurched at the sight and I let out a shaky breath, gently closing the door behind me.

Walking towards the chimney, I set up a pot over the goals and started to boil the water in pot, hurriedly rinsing off the herbs and grinding a couple others which I added into the steaming water. A warm, earthy scent filled the room and that's when my mother stirred. I turned to her, a smile lighting up my face when her eyelids fluttered open.

"Mother!" I cried out, rushing to her side. She turned weakly towards me, managing a tiny smile as her eyelids drifted to a close.

"Aira... " She called out, her voices almost inaudible, reaching out to grab my hands. I held her hands, pressing a soft kiss against the back of her palm. "I just got back from the forest. I went to gather some herbs. Hopefully, they'll make you feel better." I said to her and she managed a small nod, unable to speak.

Blinking the away the tears that had gathered in my eyes, I leaned forward to give her a kiss on the forehead before standing to my feet. The water had all come to boil and I poured the steaming concoction into a bowl, blowing on it as I let it steep and cool. Pain twisted my insides and my hands trembled, but I forced myself to focus on the present.

Once the concoctions had cooled to a comfortable degree, I went to my mother, raising her head gently and prompting her to drink. I met with no resistant at all, as the dark, warm liquid flowed into her mountain till she emptied the bowl. A slight frown appeared on her face, but other than that nothing. A few moments later, I realized she had fallen asleep. Her complexion was getting better now, her fever breaking and I finally let put the breath I was holding, my lips trembling.

"Please, mom... " I whispered, my voice breaking. "Please get better, you're the only I have left in this world. You have to get better." I muttered, my head falling as tears streamed down my cheeks. I stayed there, watching her sleep, occasionally cleaning off the sweat that had gathered on her body.

It was in the evening when the convulsions began. At first they were minor almost unnoticeable tremors, which I dismissed because I thought it was her fever returning but they progressively worst till it seemed like my mother was being possessed like the very devil. I couldn't stop screaming, trying to hold her down but it wasn't enough. Torn on what to do, I ran out the cottage, calling for help on anyone who would hear me.

A few passerbys and onlookers watched as I cried for help, but neither offered an helping hand. Mostly because they were already aware of my mother's illness and thought it to be highly contagious. Eventually, I had to call on the healer who I had been avoiding to come and see my mother, to determine what was wrong with her.

He seemed reluctant at first, unwilling even but at my persistence, followed. I couldn't stop crying on my way back, terrified that I would return home and meet her lifeless. Racing in front, I turned back multiple times to confirm if the healer was indeed following me before running back to the cottage.

Fortunately, she was still alive, but her convulsions had yet to subside. The healer walked in a moment later and seeing the state my mother was in, immediately set to work, alarmed. I watched on in horror as he administered every herb, potion and pills available to him, yet my mother's tremblings showed no signs of stopping. When all hope seemed lost, she finally stopped, falling into an exhausted sleep afterwards.

I collapsed to the floor in exasperation, tears pouring out of my eyes like rain, devastation tearing through me. "What's wrong with her?!" I asked in between hiccups, staring at the healer like he had an answer.

He pursed his lips, a confused look appearing on his face. "To be honest, I don't know. I've never seen anything quite like it before. How long as she been unwell?"

"I don't know, weeks? Months? She complained of body pain once and since then, I've done everything I could, she didn't get any better." I explained. He stared at my mother was who lying unmoving, a look of pity flashing in his eyes.

"To be honest... I don't think I would have any medicine your mother needs to get better. This looks like something put of my expertise." He explained solemnly and I froze.

"What do you mean? Are you saying she's not going to recover!?"

"I didn't say that. I just said, I just might not be able to be of help. If only... " He trailed off, a pained expression appearing on his face.

"If only what?" I asked, scrambling to my feet and grabbing his hands. "Please, healer Khamel. I need my mother to recover."