Chapter 20: What the Hell Just Happened?

Emma POV

I stared at her. That was really all I could do with Jax's arms tight around me, pulling me in to him as if it would hide me from all of them.

E pouted. "What? No hello? Oh well." She casually walked over to the couch before moving to sit down next to us. I gaped at her as Jax's arms tightened further, both of us frozen as we watched her. Just as she sat down, Andi lunged—

And fell right into the cushions.

She let out a frustrated noise, pushing herself up before flipping around, grasping her wrist as she sat next to us. Philip quickly sat down next to her, gently taking her wrist out of her grasp and holding it carefully.

E laughed from her new spot across the table, right next to Diego, who jumped at this realization. "I thought it would be you who'd fall for it. Always the feisty one." She laughed again.

Andi growled and almost shot up from the couch, but Philip's arm shot out to latch around her waist first, pulling her back down.

E smiled madly before starting to make her way back around the table. "All so quick to judge, can't we just have a nice friendly talk?"

"What do you want?" I demanded, finally finding my voice.

She ignored me. She let out a fake gasp. "Did Danny finally get the kanay? So sweet. Too bad it won't last."

Jax cocked a brow at her. "Jealous over the human? I have to say, it doesn't surprise me."

E looked to him, her lips curling up in a smile. She cocked her head, staring at him with a glint in her eyes. "Considering it won't last when he doesn't remember who she is, I think I know which one of us will really end up jealous here."

Jax's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes narrowed. I sat stiffly in my spot on his lap. "What are you talking about?" Jax demanded.

She let out a laugh, walking towards us again. "You didn't really think one little witch could undo a spell done by three just like that, did you?"

Jax rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I do actually, because that's what happened."

"You'll see soon." E gave him a pitying look. "The only thing I regret about this is you have to get hurt. But don't worry," she stalked towards us and around the sofa, leaning down so her head was next to Jax, "once you come to your senses, I'll kiss it all better." And with that, she kissed his cheek.

He grit his teeth and I watched as he cast a spell, and she straightened and stiffened, frozen in place. "Tell me," he started lowly, "what in your psychotic head makes you think I'd ever want you to do that."

I looked at her as she forced a smirk, and I realised he'd scared her. She may have pretended otherwise, but she knew she wasn't safe her on her own—even if she wasn't really here.

"The spell wasn't reversed. Your memories were brought back, but the spell is still there, and it still knows what it has to do."

Jax stiffened, demanding, "What does that mean?"

She sighed. "Your memories will start to disappear. It'll just start creeping backwards, until you forget what's happening, until you forget the past year, and until you forget she chose you. It'll be the same for the human. It could be snippets that go, or whatever. But eventually, you'll forget who you think you are now. You'll forget this good thing and go back to being the Jax you really are."

Jax looked about ready to snap when the door opened and Mia and Daniel came in. "Sorry we're late we—" Mia cut off as she took in the scene before her and my gaze snapped back to E just as she grinned.

"See you soon Jaxy," and with a wave of her hand, she was gone.

Andi snatched for thin air as Jax let out a frustrated groan, his head falling back against the cushion. I let my head drop on his shoulder and slipped my arms around his torso, squeezing him in a hug. He tightened his right arm around my waist and lifted his left hand to rest on my shoulder before pressing a kiss to my hair.

Mia and Daniel looked between us all before she asked, "What the hell just happened?"

Jax POV

My breath was shaking along with the rest of me when I woke. I sucked in deep breaths of air quietly as I turned onto my side and curled around my Em. I cuddled her closer and she nuzzled her head into my chest, her breath rhythmic and peaceful in her sleep.

I let my head drop until I could bury my face in her hair, trying to steady my shuddering breaths. I closed my eyes while I attempted to calm down, evening out my breathing by matching it with hers. After a moment I dropped my head back against the pillow, sighing another breath before opening my eyes again.

I tightened my left arm around Em's back before slowly lifting my right from her waist, tentatively reaching to touch my right side. I winced in pain the second my fingers made contact with the skin—or rather, the slit in it.

My hand came away slick with something sticky and warm and I cursed under my breath. I shot up in the bed and swung my legs over the side, regretting it immediately at the burst of pain. I cried out before I could stop myself then clamped my mouth shut, letting out a quiet whimper before clenching my jaw. I winced again and closed my eyes briefly when I heard my name.

"Jax?" Emma asked quietly, her voice soft with sleep.

I licked my lips. I opened my mouth to tell her I was fine only for another cry of pain to escape. I fell forward onto one knee, bracing a hand on the ground as the other still clutched at my side.

Emma's voice seemed louder and definitely more alarmed when she said my name again. "Jax?" I heard light rustling before she appeared at my left side and I felt her hand on my back, light and comforting, as her other hand wrapped around my bicep.

"Jax," she whispered urgently. "What's wrong?"

I leaned into her, whimpering pathetically as I lifted my hand from my side. The pain was shooting through my veins, licking under my skin like fiery tongues. I couldn't fully remember everything, but the pain was burned in my mind, and it seemed to be repeating itself in my side, as if a knife was slowly dragging through the skin and flesh over and over. I only then noticed the coppery smell, and I cowered farther into Em as I looked at my blood coated hand.

Emma's jaw dropped and she gasped in horror, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. She quickly pulled me back until I was leaning against the bed and I crumpled against it, grabbing my side again and letting myself sit with my legs sprawled in front of me. She moved to kneel between them before gently reaching to peel my hand away.

I let it drop to my lap and immediately saw her flinch as her eyes found the wound. "Jax," I winced as her voice broke with just that syllable and I knew she was trying not to panic, "what happened?"

I opened my mouth again only to let out a quiet gasp, and I clenched my eyes shut while moving my hand to her waist. She ran her hand through my hair soothingly until I caught my breath enough to speak through gritted teeth. "Dream," I forced out quickly.

She bit her lip as she nodded, her big brown eyes starting to glisten. I shook my head, tugging on her waist to bring her closer. "Don't," I grit out, "don't cry, Em, please don't cry." I pleaded with her, my head falling back against the bed when I lost the strength to hold it up.

She just smiled sadly at me and traced her hand lightly across my jaw before leaning forward to brush a soft kiss against my temple.

"What spell can I use?" She whispered, dropping her gaze and her hand to my side.

I breathed out deeply. "You can't."

Her head snapped up so she could look at me again and she blinked, shaking her head. "There has to be something, there's no way there isn't a single spell I can use to fix this," she insisted, her expression helpless.

My face pinched and I shook my head, trying to make her understand. "I just don't think, any of them would work."

Her expression broke further and she shook her head again. "I have to try," she pleaded.

I stared at her, my breathing starting to catch with each inhale and nodded slowly. But before she could start I caught her hand, pulling it to my chest. "Don't overdo it."

She nodded, moving forward to kiss my cheek. She pulled away and took a breath before she started a spell. Her magic hit my side and I clutched at it, curling in on myself and letting out another cry.

Emma flinched and she bit her lip. "Sorry, I'm sorry!" I shook my head before dropping it to her shoulder, burying my face in her neck. Her hand automatically made its way to my hair, stroking through the strands, and I smiled slightly.

"It's okay," I murmured, brushing a light kiss across her shoulder. "Try again."

She started to shake her head and I kissed her shoulder again, more firmly. She faltered in her disagreement, resting her cheek on top of my head. I pressed another kiss to her shoulder and she sighed, relenting in a whisper. "Okay."

I sat back with a tight smile, finding both her hands and giving them a reassuring squeeze. She squeezed back before letting go and I leaned back against the bed, squaring my shoulders.

Her magic hit again and I spasmed, my cry of pain coming out louder and broken. I curled forward towards her until she wrapped her arms around me as more pained sounds broke out.

She moved until she was sitting sideways next to me and swung both of her legs over one of mine, so I could lean against her. I did so happily, leaning my head on her shoulder as I shook in her arms. She held me tightly, murmuring apologies over and over.

I shook my head, my hair brushing over her neck with the movement. "Not your fault." My voice came out shaky and quiet, tight with pain, and the words were nothing more than a pathetic whisper. I searched for her hand with mine and clasped it, lacing our fingers together tightly.

I let my eyes fall shut and forced my breathing to even out before speaking again. "It's like the spell that was on the ball. Another spell had to activate it. When you tried to heal it with magic, it just fed on it. It's not your fault."

Em's voice came out strained as she pressed her cheek to the top of my head. "Why did you let me do it if you knew that?"

I winced. "I wasn't sure?" I tried pathetically. She groaned quietly, hugging me tighter. "I know you can do it," I went on quietly. "His spells are strong, but you're stronger. You could do anything Em. You can do this." I kissed her neck gently.

She trailed a hand through my hair before I felt her nod. She leaned sideways, gently pulling me with her until I was rested back in my spot against the bed. She kissed me softly then sat back.

She slipped her hand around mine and held on tight before pressing her other hand against my side. She paused, looking to me hesitantly. I nodded, squeezing her hand.

She closed her eyes before raising her hand slowly, and the magic hit my side again. Pain laced through me and I let out another cry before it slowly faded and the burning in my side stopped.

I dropped my head onto Em's shoulder, letting out ragged breaths. Emma rubbed the back of my neck soothingly as her other hand pressed to my side.

I forced myself to lean back and look down to see smooth skin. I prodded at my side hesitantly, letting out a shaky breath when I didn't feel any pain.

I looked back up at Emma, staring at her as she looked back at me. She smiled softly, reaching out to brush back stray strands of my hair.

I slid my arms around her waist and pulled her to me, holding her tight as I buried my face in her neck. She wound her arms around my shoulders and tangled her hand in my hair. "Thank you," I murmured.

She hugged me tighter and pressed a kiss to the crown of my head. Before she could pull away again I lifted my head, reaching up to cradle her jaw before pulling her down until her lips met mine.

My lips molded to hers as I probed her to part them, finding comfort in the feel of her mouth against mine. She leaned into me, curling her fingers around my shoulders as I wound mine through her hair.

I coaxed her legs around my waist, wrapping my hands under her thighs and standing. She gripped my shoulders tighter and let out a surprised noise that was quickly lost against my lips.

I moved away to gently set her back on the bed before quickly moving back on top of her and reconnecting our lips. She wound her arms back around my neck as I hovered above her, my weight resting on my forearms pressed against the bed on either side of her head.

She tugged me down until the length of my body pressed against hers. I skimmed my hand down her side and she arched her back, pushing up against me as she parted her lips. I grinned into her mouth and moved my hand back up to her neck.

I felt my muscles start to tremble from having to hold myself up and felt a pang of anger at myself. I should be able to stay like this for hours, not minutes. But my muscles trembled and my chest ached and my side had reclaimed a dull ache.

I tensed my muscles, pressing my lips to Emma's with more pressure. She ran her hands down my back soothingly before turning suddenly, pulling me with her until we were lying on our sides. She pulled back a moment later, pressing another kiss to my cheek and brushing back a lock of my hair.

She smiled softly and I finally cracked. I buried my face in her neck with a sob, tightening my hold on her waist. She wrapped her arms around me in return, stroking my hair as I cried quietly.

"Shh, it's okay, you're okay, I've got you," she whispered.

"Emma," I choked out.

She squeezed me in a hug. "I'm here."

I shook my head, letting out a shuddering breath. "Emma. Why can't I remember going to bed?"

I'M. SO. SORRY.