Last day of summer so I decided to give ya'll an update! Enjoy!

Chapter 20: Waking up to Love

Charley's journey into consciousness was filled with stinging pain. Hissing, she opened her eyes and saw the blurry outlines of everyone watching her. The relief was evident on their faces as Charlie became more aware of her surroundings.

"Owwww," Charlie groaned as she tried to move. Her muscles were sore and the cuts and gashes were stinging in residual pain. "What happened?" she asked before wincing at the pain in her throat.

"You were hexed and placed under the Living Nightmare. Whatever happened to you in your nightmare happened here in the waking world," Kaleros explained gently as he brushed Charley's bangs from her forehead. "You must have dreamt of something horrible to gain all of those gashes. Veronica has been working to heal the worst of your injuries," Kaleros continued with worried eyes.

"That explains the muscle soreness. I was running from this hideous bird monster that I remember drawing years ago. As you can see, running was only effective to a certain degree. I didn't have my ring and it was pitch black so I didn't know where I was going or if something was going to come at me," Charley recalled with a quivering voice. Dave ran a soothing hand up and down her arm. "God I was terrified," she said with a crack in her voice. Balthazar, hearing the cracking in her voice, ran to get her a glass of water. "And then the creature trapped me under one of its massive feet and I was just so tired, but then all of a sudden I felt this surge of energy and I managed to redirect the creatures beak away from my face using my arm and it smashed into the ground and it backed away in pain and I was free. And after that my ring materialized onto my finger and I threw fireballs at it, watching it burn," Charley said with a wistful smile. "I finally faced my fear and won," Charley said. "But I hurt way too much to celebrate," she said with a dry chuckle.

"We were all terrified when you started whimpering and shaking and then all of a sudden this massive gash appeared on your back," Dave said with a shaky voice. "God I thought I was going to lose you," Dave said with watery eyes before leaning down and kissing her deeply.

"Silly boy, I'm not going down without a fight," Charley said after they broke their kiss. "So what happens now?" Charley asked after watching Veronica heal the gash on her arm.

"Now, you are on bed rest until you're finished healing. Veronica's magic closes the wounds but it requires time to heal the deeper damage," Kaleros said, ignoring the aggravated groan from his apprentice. "And while you are healing, we shall devise a plan to take down Versala," he continued with a smirk.

"Don't you dare go after her without me!" Charley shouted as she watched her master walk off. "I'm coming with, and don't you dare argue the point," she directed towards Dave. Dave just nodded in agreement before kissing her forehead. "How long do I have to stay on bed rest?" she asked Veronica before the woman could walk away.

"Your magic is assisting in the healing so I suspect only a couple of days," Veronica said with a gentle smile. "Just relax young one, you'll be up and spell casting in no time," she said with a teasing wink. Charley stuck her tongue out childishly before relaxing back onto the cot.

"What happened to Michael?" Charley asked as she couldn't see him in the turnaround.

"Balthazar and Kaleros moved him to one of the rooms. He was becoming hysterical after he saw what the curse was doing to you. He seemed pretty concerned," Dave said with a frown. He looked up when he felt Charley's hand rest on his cheek.

"He may have seemed genuine in his concern for me, but he lost his chance a while ago. I'm with you, Dave, and there's no one else in the world I'd rather be with. I felt you, during my nightmare. I felt your magic," Charley said with a serene smile. "I couldn't have gotten out without you, Dave," she said before drawing Dave's lips to hers. "I love you, Dave Stutler," Charley whispered. Dave's eyes widened comically in shock before they softened with love.

"I love you too, Charlemagne," Dave whispered back. "Now, is there anything I can get you?" he asked as he leaned back and smiled at her.

"I'd ask you to go to my dorm and get me some clean clothes but I won't subject you to my psycho best friend who would undoubtedly harass you," Charley said with a giggle. "I would like for you to join me on this tiny cot and just hold me though," she said sheepishly. Dave smiled and with some careful rearranging, the two of them fit snuggly on the cot facing each other. Charley sighed in content as she snuggled closer to Dave.

The masters watched from the overhang of the turnaround as the two apprentices fell asleep in each other's arms. Balthazar and Veronica smiled in amusement while Kaleros watched with a serene smile. Charley was like a daughter to the much older master and he was happy she and Dave were together. Michael, who had the perfect view of the couple, glared in utter fury at the couple.

"So ready to tell us where your master is?" Kaleros asked as he turned away from the windows. Michael just kept his mouth shut stubbornly. Veronica sighed in aggravation before pinching the bridge of her nose. After a few moments, she took a deep breath and leveled a fierce glare at Michael.

"Listen here you foolish child. You have hurt those that I care about, and I shall never forgive you for that. But I can promise you that if you do not start talking and tell us where that bitch is, I shall make your life a living hell. Now tell us, where is Versala!?" Veronica said in a deadly voice. Michael looked at the woman whose magic was swirling around her in a deadly aura. Balthazar and Kaleros watched the display with barely suppressed fear. Veronica was definitely a force to be reckon with.

"She's at this abandoned warehouse. I can give you the directions but please let me go," Michael whimpered out as the dark aura around Veronica grew in intensity. At hearing his plea, Veronica backed away with a sweet smile on her face.

"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" She asked sweetly before turning to face the other masters. "Let's start devising a plan of attack and remove this Morganian from our lives," she continued as she moved to go get the Encantus from down below. Kaleros looked towards Balthazar with a raised eyebrow that screamed 'what the hell was that?'. Balthazar just shrugged and went to join Veronica down below.

"I think I'll just leave you here to think," Kaleros said to Michael before he too left. Michael glared at the closed door before he averted his eyes to where Charley and Dave were. His glare intensified before he simply looked resigned. He screwed up royally and he knew it. Now all he could do was hope that things can be fixed, even though he knows they never will be.

Charley is awake and Michael cracked and told the masters where to find Versala. Next chapter will be the start of the epic fight between Morganian Versala and the Merlinians! And don't forget to review because reviews make sure you get what you want to read!