Chapter 7: Nightmares

"No please" I cried, shivering on the silk bed I slept on. My palms were already covered in sweat and the same was the case for my forehead. "Dear" madame Gertrude's voice sounded so faint, like a whisper against the loud screams in my head. "No I won't go back!" I screamed again as even more sweat and tears began to stream from my face and the voice became louder and scarier. "It's okay dear" madame Gertrude's voice spoke again, this time a little louder but it blended with the others . I did not know if it was truly her. "No it's not okay. Stay away" I said trying to escape the voices, twisting and turning on the massive bed. There was no change whatsoever. "Dear" her voice was as endearing as ever but at this point, my brain could not differentiate whether it was madame Gertrude of my stepmother speaking. "No" I'm not your dear!" I screamed at the only face I could see at that moment which was my stepmother dressed elegantly and looking down at me. "Snap out of it!" the voice was harsh but it sounded nothing like my stepmother. Forcing me to open one eye to find that I was still on the bed. "I… I …" I could not make sense of my surroundings or how my small shack back in my stepfather's house had transformed into a beautiful bedroom with massive furnishings. "It was only a bad dream" her sweet voice reminded me of everything that happened last night. How my escape was both a success and a failure. "Madame Gertrude" I called out to her as she pulled me into another warm hug. I did not know how hugs could manage to be so soothing but I was glad they were. "Good morning dear" she whispered into my ears warmly. It was a new day, the day the alpha and the elsers would decide what to do with me. "I am sorry" I apologized as I realize that my screams might have been what woke her up. Just a day and I was already so much burden to her. "It was only a nightmare child" she said in her usual motherly tone. I suddenly felt like wrapping my arms around the older woman again. "But I woke you up" I insisted, guilt written all over my face. She had agreed to take care of me instead of letting them throw me in jail and this is how I repay. "Oh I was already awake dear" she smiled with her eyes and it left me feeling warm inside. Even if I have to leave, I would not forget madame Gertrude. "Really?" I was so amazed. The sun was barely up and the woman was already awake. Back with my foster parents, I was usually the first to wake up and everyone grumbled that I was noisy with my chores. "Oh yes. Being the only healer around a multitude of violent boys is quite demanding" she said this with a smile, like she loved her job very much. "You're a healer?" I asked, admiringly. I knew there was something that always warmed me at her touch but healers were extremely rare in the Diamond Moon pack. "Yes I am. Do you have a broken foot?" she mused as she pointed to my leg and made funny shows with her hands. I almost laughed out loud. "No I don't" I replied sincerely. What I had a problem with was not with my foot or any part of my body that an healer could heal. "Oh dear,, you have a broken heart" madame Gertrude said as she pulled me in for a hug and I could have sworn that it did something to my heart. "Thank you madame…." I could not complete my sentence because I was drifting off to sleep in her arms like a little child. "Hush child. Sleep now" she whispered and my eyes shut at the words with my whole body drifting into unconsciousnesa under the warmth of a mother's touch. "You have been through so much as such a young age" was the last thing I heard from madame Gertrude before she gently placed me back into my bed. This time around, I did not have a single nightmare. I just saw myself running through the billionaire mansion and enjoying the sights in the light of day. "Lady Gertrude" my sleep was cut short when Sky came into the room. His voice was in his usual calm tone but it was softer now. "Dane is not here to disapprove. You can call me mother" madame Gertrude replied and I could feel her weight leave the bed. "How is she mother?" Sky asked pointing to where I lay on the bed. I could not tell if there was care in his voice or not but I wanted to believe so. "She is okay child. Hope you don't believe that lie Dane and his son were spewing" she chided him and I almost alerted them that I was awake. I could not hold back a chuckle. "Mother" Sky sounded exasperated for the first time and I really wanted to turn over and get a good look at his face. "They might as well think that I am a spy for the rogues with all their war strategy nonsense" madame Gertrude continued and I also wanted to see how disgust looks on her motherly face. "But we can't trust just anybody. We are still at war" Sky argued. He did not make any hint to me but his words still cut me like a knife. "Well I am a good judge of character and I trust her" madame Gertrude said plainly and I wanted to just jump up from bed right there and give her another warm hug. "You do?" Sky sounded puzzled, even taking in a deep breath. I admired that he could let his true emotions show in front of madame Gertrude. "Only a blind man would not be able to see that she is the victim here" madame Gertrude continued. I wondered how she knew so much when I have told her nothing. "I trust your judgement mother but elder Dane…" Sky still sounded conflicted. It was not easy being the alpha and listening to so many different opinions. "He and his son just want to rile you up and I don't know why"madame heaved a sigh letting her hands drop. "But the rogues are a real threat" Sky said again and there was a passion in his voice, a deep rooted hatred for rogues. "Yes but she is clearly not one. And I can't believe you let Kane put his hands on an helpless woman for that long. Is that what I taught you child?" madame Gertrude scolded again. "He was only doing his job mother. I could not just stop him from doing that" Sky breathed helpless. Being alpha was taking its toll. "He was only acting for you" madame Gertrude said confidently. She paced around the room before adding "The brute gave her nightmares" There was silence for some seconds as madame Gertrude continued to walk around the room. "Diana has nightmares?"