After crying for a few hours (which felt like an eternity) Chris felt different. The pain inside her chest was still there but there was also sothing else, love and gratitude. She felt light as she clumsy tried to wipe her eyes and realized almost her entire body was bandaged.
"Why am I wrapped like a Mummy?" she asked Sol.
Sol gave her an odd look before replying, "Nolan and . . . I did it . . . to make . . . your bleeding . . . stop. Though . . . I don't know . . . it helped . . . you or . . . not."
Chris looked at Sol and sothing dawned on her. Sol was never friendly. He didn't trust anyone and the last ti Chris took Sol out, Sol ran away because of her. But last night and still now he was with her. He hadn't left her side since yesterday. Not to ntion Chris was alive because of him.
Right now, the boy in front of her was not the boy she t a few days ago who always looked angry with her, but it was a boy who looked so small and unsure and vulnerable.
"Hey, Sol?" Chris muttered. Sol looked up and Chris smiled at him as big as she could manage. "Thank you."
To Chris's surprise, Sol looked down and his ears started to turn pink. Seeing him Chris chuckled.
"I ant it, Sol. Without you --"
The door opened and two people marched into the room.
"Why is no one at the door? I thought -- Christina! You are awake!" Oziyat rushed to Chris's side and kissed her forehead. "Christina, I am so glad that you are awake. Don't worry I have bought a healer for you."
Shocked by the sudden kiss and Oziyat worried face hovering over her, Chris shuttered. She didn't know how to feel about this. But before she had the chance to say anything, the healer Oziyat brought for her stepped forward and removed the cloak, revealing their face.
"Now if you move aside Prince Oziyat, I can check on Chris."
Hearing her nickna and seeing that figure's face Chris almost scread in shock.
"Leyla?"
"Nice to know you haven't forgotten , Chris," Leyla Flores, the youngest Order mber smiled kindly. Leyla looked a lot older than the last ti Chris saw her. There were signs of exhaustion and tiredness all over her round face. Her small brown eyes had dark circles around them and jet black hair was tied ssily.
"So you know each other?" Oziyat asked stepping aside. He looked genuinely surprised.
"Yes, I --" Chris began but Leyla cut her off.
"We can have our chat after I treat her. Please step out of the room, Prince and you too, boy," Leyla order Oziyat and Sol.
Oziyat looked at Chris worriedly before ushering Sol out with him.
Leyla closed the door after them. She looked a lot calr than Chris. Because as soon they were out of the room Chris burst out.
"Leyla, look I am sorry for leaving without telling anyone. But have you already told the Order that I am here? Did you know all along that I was here? Did you know Oziyat? Did he tell you about ? How do you know Oziyat? How do you --?" Chris spoke one breath.
"Calm down, Chris. I will answer all your questions but let see your condition first." Leyla started to look at Chris's wounds. "Well, I won't ask you what happened but I have to ask Chris, what attacked you? Your injuries are looking nasty. It's miracle that you are still alive."
"A Snallygaster," Chris replied trying to calm herself. First the news of her friends, then Zil, then Harry's ssage, and now after seeing Leyla, Chris's emotions were all over the place.
"Where in the heavens you found a Snallygaster? They are rarer than Dragons and they can't be secured like them either." Leyla looked surprised.
"There is one in Titania," Chris said rembering her not so long ago fight.
"Okay. . . Here, drink this," Leyla pulled out two vials from her pouch and poured one in Chris's mouth. Then started to pour the other one over Chris's wounds. Chris hissed in pain. Leyla looked worried. "Sorry, hold on a mont. It will be over soon."
"What are these?" Chris asked gritting her teeth, trying to distract herself from the burning sensation on her body.
"So potions used after a close encounter with Dragons. I have seen these healing so of the nastiest dragon burns and cuts. As Snallygasters are not that different from Dragons, I think it will help. Oziyat told about your healing potions, I assu those were the ones that kept you alive."
"It was mostly Sol and Nolan, I think," Chris said quietly. "So how do you know them?"
"Do you rember why I was sent to Romania?" Leyla produced a bottle full of purple gel.
"Argghhh!" Chris groaned in pain as Leyla started to cover all Chris's cuts with the purple gel. It stung for a bit. Chris let out a breath then answered, "You were going to investigate Malgino's past life and his followers."
"You have a good mory. Yes, that was my goal and to backtrack his life I have been to a lot of places in these past two years apart from Romania. But that was the weird thing, no matter where he went, for so reason Malgino always ca back to Romania. As if there is a connection he couldn't leave behind. After discovering that, I have been here for the last six months trying to understand why Malgino was coming back here. I have talked to all of the important people in Romania about that and that is how I t Oziyat. The vampire royal family doesn't associate with the wizarding world very much but Dumbledore told that he knew the First Princess and maybe she could help . However, when I tried to contact the First Princess, she didn't respond to but send her brother, Oziyat." Leyla finished wrapping new fresh bandages over Chris's gel-covered wounds. "This will help. But no sudden movents for a while. Stay still and take a rest. Your injuries need ti to heal."
Chris nodded. But she was thinking about what Leyla just said. When she ca here the Royal family looked rather indifferent about Malgino's plans in the wizarding world. However, according to Leyla Rosaline not only knew about this but she even sent Oziyat to contact Leyla. They knew more than they led on. After a mont, Chris began hesitantly, "So, Leyla, do the order know that I am. . .?"
"That you are here? No. I haven't inford the Order, yet. And before today I didn't know you were here. I haven't talked to Oziyat recently. I was busy with the order. Trying to stabilize the situation in the wizarding world," Leyla answered swiftly and sighed. "Yesterday Oziyat ca looking for for an injured witch. He thought I could help you because I know about Malgino and I am a healer. He didn't know we know each other. I also didn't know it was you but I had my guesses."
Chris quietly listened to Leyla. The burning sensation in her body was slowly cooling down.
"Are you going to inform the Order, now? Chris asked. Not sure what she wanted to hear.
"Well, I guess it depends on you. If you don't want I can keep this a secret. But I have to say, Chris. I am disappointed. The way you left without telling anyone. You hide from Malgino and the Dark Lord, which is a good thing but because there was no trace of you, many assud you were dead . . . which was not very good, to say the least. Right now, You and Harry are the hope of the entire wizarding world, Chris. People are fighting because they know even if they die in this fight, you and Harry will finish this and there will be a better future. But after the assumption of your death, many lost hope. People are dying every day Chris. The wizards, half-bloods, muggle-borns, innocent muggles. It's a ss. Malgino and death eaters are controlling everything. Things are getting worse day by day. The Order is still fighting but I don't know how long. It feels like an end." Leyla's eyes looked tearful but she quickly collected herself and steadily spoke, "Sorry didn't an to sound so dood but after the Order lost contact with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, it was getting hard. And after I saw your injuries. . . you could be dead here alone, and no one would have known. Don't think I am stupid, Chris, I know you are here working against Malgino, just like . But you don't have to do everything alone. Especially when you are our last hope."
"Leyla, I --"
"Leyla? Is Christina okay?" Oziyat called from outside the room and Chris stopped.
"I should let him in. He was really worried about you," Leyla gave a ghost of a smile to Chris.
"Is she okay?" Oziyat hurriedly entered as soon as Leyla opened the door and looked at Leyla then turned to Chris. "Are you okay, Christina?"
"I am better now, Oziyat. Thank you for bringing Leyla," Chris stared at Oziyat feeling conflicted. Was Oziyat knew more than he was leading on? After there so many conversations why didn't he ntioned his connection with Order or Leyla? And now his overly concerned affection was just a way to trick her? Was she that easy to trick? What was going on?
"I am so happy you are feeling better, Christina," Oziyat sat down and smiled. He looked relieved. "I was scared I might be too late. But thank goodness I found Leyla just in ti. Speaking of Leyla, how do you know each other?"
"I think it's better if we start with how do you know Leyla?" Chris asked glaring.
⟦To Be Continued⟧
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