Arya woke up with a terrible headache. Again.
These headaches were getting worse. Was it because of the memory loss?
She looked around and found herself in her room on her bed, Kimberly sitting by her side.
"Aunt Kim?" She managed to say, and Kimberly instantly looked up at her and patted her head.
"Bobo, how are you?" She asked, stroking her cheeks.
"Head is exploding," Arya managed to say as she sat up.
"Are you hungry? I have made some grilled chicken, and I can warm it up... then you can have some meds the doctor gave you."
Arya nodded, and Kimberly called someone with her phone. A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door.
Kimberly opened the door, allowing Vivien to come in, carrying a tray with her.
"Luna," Vivien said, placing the tray on the table. "How are you?"
"Just headache."
"Shall I serve it, Mrs Hunter?" Vivien asked politely.
"It's okay. I'll serve it myself. You can go."
Vivien nodded, turned, and walked out the door.
"Aunt Kim, where's Uncle Pete and Marcus and Natalie?" Arya asked as Kimberly uncovered the food.
"They had to leave. But they'll stay in contact," her aunt said.
Arya felt disappointed, as she knew Natalie wanted to talk with her, but had to leave without saying anything.
Kimberly put the food in front of her. Just as she was about to dig in, she remembered how Alfa didn't want Natalie near her, but he had said 'they' meaning all of them.
"Does Alfa know you're here?" Arya asked, concerned and afraid of what he might do when he finds her in there.
"Relax. He's the one who told me to be with you. He didn't want you to be alone," Kimberly replied, and Arya released the breath she was holding.
Arya ate slowly. She was hungry, but for some reason, she didn't feel like eating. She knew her aunt wouldn't hear anything and force her to eat.
"Where is he?" She asked as she forced herself to swallow.
Kimberly understood who she was referring to. "He went to his office," she replied.
After eating a few bites, Arya finally pushed to plate aside. "I'm full," she said.
"But Bobo, you haven't even touched your food!"
"No, Aunt Kim. I'm really full. I can't eat another bite."
"Okay. Here, have this," Kimberly said, taking the plate from her and giving her two tablets. Then she handed her a glass of water.
"Thank you," Arya said, after swallowing it and handing the glass back.
"I was meaning to ask you something," Kimberly said, looking at her.
"Yeah! What's up?" Arya asked, looking at the intense glare of her aunt.
"Where were you?"
The question took Arya by surprise. She didn't think anyone would ask her this directly. But then, Kimberly wasn't just anyone.
"Honestly, I don't know." Arya shifted uncomfortably. "I don't remember anything that happened in the past weeks or where I was."
Kimberly studied her face. She could always tell when Arya was lying, and this time, she was telling the truth. Her eyebrow didn't twitch.
Kimberly also knew that Arya wouldn't just leave them and disappear. If anything, she would have taken them with her.
"It's okay, sweetheart. You take rest, and I was hoping we could go around the village... it's been so long since I came here," Kimberly said, her demeanor changing.
"I don't know .... "
"I would love to go around, but only if you were present. I can show you the things that were here during my time, and what changed," Kimberly said, almost begging.
"Alright. Maybe in an hour?" Arya finally gave in.
"I'd love that." Kimberly kissed Arya's forehead and then sat by the bed again.
"Aunt Kim, if you want, you can go rest. I'll try to get some sleep," Arya suggested.
"It's okay, honey. I can stay here."
Arya smiled, got into a sleeping position, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep.
The surrounding forests were unfamiliar, and the path down there leading somewhere was never seen by Arya before.
Curiosity got the best of her as she walked down that path, eager to know where it led to.
Something felt strangely familiar about this place, though she was certain she had never been here.
Soon, she arrived at a cave, a familiar cave. She had dreamed about this cave some time ago.
The stone walls and a grand alter in the middle made Arya feel like she truly belonged.
Some part of her felt drawn toward that stone alter, and she wanted to learn what it was.
Her fingers brushed at the cold, unforgiving walls, and Arya felt an energy that she had never felt before.
"Arya. You came back!"
Arya turned around and saw the same familiar face of a woman. Her great-grandmother.
"Grandma, I don't know how..."
"Child, I know. I know everything he did. Taking away your wolf just because he thought it was right? What a fool!"
"Can you help me get her back?" Arya asked before she could think it through.
"No. But I can give you something far better. Follow me."
Arya followed her through the cave to the back. The witch took out a book and handed it to Arya.
The cover was made of hard wood like substance, and it had a picture of some kind of demon. Whatever was written on it wasn't a familiar language to Arya.
"What's this?" Arya asked, intrigued by such an ancient book.
"It's my book of spells. It contains every piece of information on how to make sacrifices in order to stay young and beautiful," Arya's great grandmother said. "Look at me! I looked like a twenty year old girl when I was closing in on a hundred years."
Arya looked towards the old woman in shock. She indeed looked like she was way younger than Arya. Glowing skin, flawless black hair, bright eyes, beautiful hands... every girl's dream was in this book.
Arya did hesitate, but the need to look young and beautiful took that hesitation away.
Yes, Arya was selfish! But any girl in her position would want this, especially given today's time. Every woman wants to look younger than her actual age, and over time, all expensive products and procedures fail.
This book can be a one-way ticket to being young and beautiful forever. Something inside her ignited. The desire of being this young, healthy, and strong... why wouldn't she choose this life?
Her wolf was a part of her, but they all knew that werewolves age and die at a certain age. They grow old.
This book contains the elixir to eternal life, eternal beauty, eternal youth and eternal power and strength, forever.
"What should I do?" Arya asked, and the old woman smiled.