Chapter Four- Rude Awakening

The doctor pauses at Lenora’s words, face still holding that doctored smile. “That depends from person to person. If all is well, it could be quite soon. Around three to four months.” Lenora stayed silent, trying to process the change that would occur. Not only emotionally but physically too. Sure the young woman dove head first into all of this. But was she truly ready to be a mother?  Lenora had another question resting on the tip of her tongue but kept quiet.   She thought it was best to swallow the thought of the consequences if her body didn’t pick up things quick enough.  This is it. There's no turning back. It was bound to happen. ****** Weeks flew by without Lenora even realizing it. The young woman fell into a monotonous routine only broken up by a few visitors here and there.  The weather grew colder as well and Lenora often found herself wondering if it was a depiction of what she felt within.  The leaves turned to crisp and there was rain in the air. The City of Drake was a skeleton as a frost hit the wind, clouds gathering ahead without fail every single day. The cold chill led Lenora to enjoy her baths ever more. Every day she would take a nice long bath with scented candles and bubble bath to ease her mind. Lathering her body in luxurious lotions and oils. That was something she looked forward to since the moment she woke up. Humming a soft tune to herself, Lenora paused over her toner, taking in its contents after she patted at her face. Almost as if on instinct, her eyes darted to the bedroom door. Ares hasn’t had his face pampered in ages. Debating on the pros and cons, Lenora thought it would be amusing to give the comatose man a facial. “There’s hardly any moisture in the air. We wouldn’t want Ares Levine to have flaky skin and chapped lips now would we?” With her mind made up, Lenora sat next to his bed and got to work. She gently cleaned his skin with a cleaner, applied some toner and moisturized his face. “Now for the chapstick.” Almost like clockwork, the man’s eyes opened up. The action still made Lenora’s heart skip a beat and her skin to turn clammy. ‘It’s just him being weird,’ she grumbled to herself like she always does. Grabbing the chapstick, my fingers were quick to apply the product only to freeze when my eyes locked with his. Ares' once vague stare now felt like needles being driven into my eyes. The conscious awareness caused the chapstick to slip out of my hand and clatter against the tiled floor. Blinking once, then twice, Lenora gaped at the man in front of her. Shaking her head, she pursed her lips before trying again. “Ares, are you awake?” Lenora’s voice shook with emotion, pure dread traversing through her at the endless possibilities. No answer was uttered out of Ares lips but his awareness deepened. Slowly but surely, the man started to move. First narrowing his eyes, followed by the ruffle of his eyebrows and the tautness of his muscles. Lenora always wondered what she’d do in a fight or flight situation. She got her answer when she found herself hightailing it out of the room and pounding down the stairs. “James! James! Ares. He’s awake. It’s not a false alarm this time.” Lenora’s voice was high pitched and grating as she ran this way and that through the mansion, repeating her sentence like a mantra.   The woman doesn’t get a verbal answer but she understands enough when multiple people rush past her, barely apologizing for smacking into her as she’s pushed aside. Lenora found herself with her back pressed against the wall. Her hands resting on her knees as she hunched herself forward. Gasps of air left her lungs while she simultaneously tried to inhale greedily. An all new fear consumed her. Lenora’s faux facade shattering in mere seconds. She pretended like she didn’t care. As if Ares Levine waking was a thing of distant realities. Lenoara had envisioned her future without that man in it only for him to wake up as if he had planned that all along. Lenora’s comfort was ripped out right from under her. ‘What will I do now?’   It didn’t take long for Luna to rush past her. The woman had gotten onto the road as soon as news had reached her which hadn’t even taken five minutes.  The sight of Luna’s startling gray hair finally brought Lenora to her senses, or at least what she could manage.   Lenora followed her mother-in-law, unsure of what to do with herself now that such a commotion had come about. The woman entered her room just in time to see Luna sniffle, hand raised to her mouth in shock as she locked eyes with her son. “Oh dear God. Ares. You've finally woken up. Do you know how long I waited for you? You made your poor old mother wait for so long.`` Everyone stayed quiet, taking in a rare emotional Luna. The woman herself was smart enough to stay back, barely holding on for the doctor to complete his checkup before she rushed over to him. “Mrs Luna. Your son was in excellent shape before his accident. With proper care, he’ll make a full recovery in no time.” The excitement of it all seemed to be too much for Luna as she paused. Wide eyed, she stared at her son before flickering her eyes over to me and then finally the doctor. Lenora watched in alarm as the woman’s eyes rolled to the back of her head, her whole body going limp as she collapsed to the floor.   The doctor was quick on the scene, checking her over before they moved her to the guest bedroom. “It was the excitement of it all,” The doctor announces as he steps back into the room, glancing between me and Ares. Lenora didn’t dare to enter the room, feeling quite comfortable standing in the threshold to the doorway. Staying far away from the hubbub of it all, hating the attention she would soon receive.  Her peace was not meant to last long as she noticed Ares eyeing everyone in the room, sweeping past every occupant before landing on her with deep conviction. “Who is she?” Lenora noticed two things. Firstly, even though the man hadn’t spoken for a year and his voice had been dry and crackly without use, the deep timber reached her from across the room regardless. Secondly, she noticed that although he had asked a question, it sure sounded like a command. James took that as an opportunity to step forward, knowing Lenora needed to compose herself a bite more before she could function properly. “Well sir. It might seem like a bit of a shock but that woman there is your wife. Mrs Luna wanted you to get married and well, she chose that young woman over there.” The look of disgust didn’t take long to grace Ares' features as he disdainfully regarded Lenora. Anger flashed in her eyes and Lenora felt more unsettled than ever before.  Lenora was already at her wits ends, what was left of her false bravado completely shattering. It all became clear to the young woman. Her position had drastically changed all in the span of a few minutes. The beast had awoken and the woman had turned into a pitiful young girl. Little red riding hood finally in the clutches of the hungry wolf.  Lenora practically ran from the room, slamming the door shut behind her only for it to be opened again.  James stumbled out with an apologetic look on his face. He bowed his head and spoke gently. “Do not worry. You are Mrs Levine after all. Mrs Luna is fond of you as well. She will take you under her wing no matter what happens. Regardless, it's best if you get some rest.” Lenora listened as if on autopilot, letting herself be taken to the guest bedroom.  All she had to do was slide into bed. “Thank you, James,” That is all Lenora said, still perturbed by the sudden change of events.  Laying down with her head on the pillows, Lenora knew that she still had made the right  choice. She was still untouchable but only if Luna was by her side. She knew Ares would stab her the first chance he got. The man valued his independence and was known for his ruthless nature. Even comatose, Lenora knew the man would have hated the prospect of being tied down with a wife and child. ‘Is divorce the only option I have?’  Wrapping the blanket around herself, she still laid frozen. Too many thoughts swirling through her head. Ares was a dangerous man. The only way Lenora Levine could survive would be to cut ties.