Gabriel patted my back and I felt safe in his arms, closing my eyes.
He was with me for the entire week until today because he had a test at school he couldn’t miss. I'd been having weird dreams and Mommy and Daddy said I couldn't bump my head again or I might begin to shake uncontrollably like I had when I first hit my head.
I didn't remember it, but from my dreams I knew exactly what it felt like.
It was like having tiny spiders crawl all over your arms and legs, or like the feeling when Alice’s fox tail brushed against my skin when I was half asleep.
With Alice's fox tail, it tickled and made me happy, but the weird spider crawling feeling scared me to the point I felt I wouldn't wake up from the nightmare. It would become so hard to breathe and I would hear people talking and shouting.
I didn't like those dreams and when I finally would wake, I'd cry until Gabriel or Mommy came to comfort me.
Father wasn't good at dealing with me crying.
Gabriel explained it was because Father hated seeing me in pain, so he had a hard time and couldn't console me for long.
"Meow."
I peeked my eyes open again and saw I was in my pink princess bed instead of in Gabriel's arms.
Alice licked my face, cuddling next to my face in her cat form. I wanted to get up and find Gabriel, but I was scared the creeping feeling would return.
A gentle hand brushed my cheek and I looked up to see Mother's smile.
"It's okay Jewel. Mommy is here,” she reassured me.
I smiled and another face came into view, gold eyes meeting mine.
"Logan," I whispered.
He gave me a wide smile before he yawned, rubbing his eyes.
"Hey, Jewel. I'm going to sleep right next to you and fight the evil weird se-se...the seize thing away. So just relax. I’ll make sure no one hurts my precious Princess."
I smiled and finally calmed, feeling safe again.
"Okay. Thank you, my Prince," I whispered.
He brushed my cheek with his hand and the motion felt nice and calming.
My eyes finally closed as I submitted to the darkness of sleep.
I was safe with my family and prince Logan.
***
Something brushed against my cheek,and I forced my heavy eyelids open. Everything was blurry and even though I squinted, it made no difference in clearing my vision.
"Jewel?"
I turned my head slightly to the right, Maximus’ voice sounding close.
"Ma...xi?" I whispered, my throat felt dry and hurt after forcing out that single word.
"Hey, don’t speak yet. Let me get you some water and your glasses. Braxton brought them over this evening since you left them in the test locker," Maximus explained.
I wanted to nod, but my body felt stiff.
I took deep breaths and tried to ignore the steady dripping sound coming from my left.