37 Power
***
Niklaus had been out for a couple days. Atlas and James arrived the same day of Blink's return, shortly after the Ever Green pack doctor finished examining Niklaus.
"He's been out since we got here." Atlas leaned against the door frame.
"He looks better now than when we first met him though." James stood on the opposite side of the room with his back to the wall.
"How was he? When. When you first met him?" Evelyn sat in the chair by Niklaus's bed.
Neil had woken up as soon as they'd returned to the pack house but Niklaus, despite seeming not to have any physical injuries, hadn't woken yet.
"He was." Atlas thought for a moment. "Scared. He'd flinch whenever someone would move too quickly, or if they'd yell, make too loud a noise."
Evelyn's eyes saddened more.
"He was much different to his he is now, however he's shown tremendous strength through everything." James spoke candidly. "He used to wake up screaming, and it'd take four or five of us to hold him long enough for him to calm down and realize it wasn't real, at least not in those moments."
"He's truly been to hell and back.." Evelyn spoke softly.
Evelyn's eyes searched Niklaus as her thoughts invaded her mind.
"Excuse me." Evelyn rose from the chair and kissed Niklaus's forehead. "I need to check something." Evelyn walked swiftly from the room.
***
"Congratulations Niklaus." Shades ragged voice echoed in Niklaus's head. "You've finally begun to unlock your full power."
"What do you mean?" Niklaus sat by the fire warming his hands. He'd learned since the bar that he could change the black room that appeared in his head.
"The Epulon. You finally unlocked the beginning of the Quietus' true power and final shift." Shade laid on the other side of the fire.
"Final shift and true power?" Niklaus roasted a marshmallow over the fire. "What does that mean?"
"That red lightning covered form you used to destroy half of the trees. That's the true power of the Quietus but you weren't in control so you didn't fully take on the entire shift." Shade changed their surroundings to the memory of what happened. "You have those incomplete protrusions on your back and half coloring over your body. Your entire transformation is incomplete."
"So what do I do to complete it?" Niklaus crossed his arms.
"You train. You practice using your abilities, practice controlling them, get better and stronger." Shade's cloudy form changed to look like a figure of Blink. "Defeat your enemies, conquer your fears, and most importantly, become a worthy alpha to our bloodline and honor our mate."
Niklaus took a deep breathe, releasing it slowly.
"Okay." Niklaus looked Shade directly in his eyes. "Let's go."
***
A few hours had passed since the alphas left Niklaus's hospital room. Nurse Kaley was tasked with checking on him every thirty minutes, he is, after all, the crown prince of the Ever Green pack, the (almost) brother-in-law to the crown prince of the Red Vine pack, who helped the Ever Green and Adler packs come to an alliance.
Nurse Marie watched as Niklaus laid in the hospital bed.
"He looks peaceful." Marie glanced up at Kaley who was checking his monitors.
"He does." Kaley spoke without looking away from her task. "I wouldn't stand too close however, I hear he can be violent when he first wakes up."
"I'm not violent when I wake up." A gravely voice suddenly was heard. "I'm violent when the memories invade my head."
"My prince!" Kaley bowed and glared at Marie to do the same. "Of course, I'm sorry.. I meant no offense. Should we get you something?"
Niklaus started getting up from the bed.
"No." Niklaus tore the I.V.s from his arms and the electrodes from his chest and back, walking into the bathroom. "Also, you don't have to bow. I'm no longer your crown prince." Niklaus shut the door as the lock could be heard.
"What does he mean?" Marie whispered trying to make sure Niklaus couldn't hear her. "Should we call the Luna?"
Kaley nodded and walked out of the room to the nurses station, picking up the phone and dialing Evelyn's number. The line rang for a moment before someone answered.
"This is Nurse Kaley at MacTear Memorial Hospital, I need to speak with Evelyn MacTear please." Kaley stopped talking for a moment before continuing. "Luna? Yes, Ma'am. He's awake."
***
Evelyn rushed into Niklaus's hospital room and pulled him into a tight hug before he even had the chance to say anything. The others following behind her.
Niklaus winced, his ribs were still bruised and healing from the fight before.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Evelyn jumped back. "I'm just so happy your okay."
"I know." Niklaus gave everyone a hug, lingering on Olivia's. "I'm okay, better than, actually." Niklaus snapped his fingers and red electricity fizzled around his hand. "Apparently, I can harness the Epulon now, I just need to learn how to completely control it."
To everyone's surprise, Niklaus smiled as he spoke. Evelyn listened as he spoke about the Epulon and how he could use it to finally defeat Blink, and while she enjoyed seeing him seem happy, the thought crossed her mind wether he was seeking justice or revenge.
"Is he good to leave?" Evelyn turned to the nurses.
"Yes Luna." Kaley nodded and bowed. "I'll get his discharge papers."
***
Niklaus kept giving Olivia passing glances. He watched her expression and wondered if she had worried about him.
"I'm sorry." Niklaus muttered, leaning close to Olivia's ear.
"For what?" Olivia turned towards him.
"For not being the mate you deserve." A shameful look crossed Niklaus's face. "I have issues and I know that you probably imagined someone much different than myself. You deserve better and should know that I wouldn't blame you if you want to reject me."
Olivia wasn't sure what to say, she didn't really know what she wanted. On one hand divinity had brought them together but on the other she was only 19 years old and Niklaus was 21 and already their bond was being put under immense strain. She sat quietly for the rest of the ride back to the Ever Green's pack house. It was past dinner when they'd arrived and inside looked dark and quiet, Olivia figured everyone had gone to bed already.
"Mrs. MacTear." Olivia hadn't directly spoken to Evelyn the entire time they'd been there, she got the feeling that Evelyn disapproved of her.
"Yes dear?" Evelyn waved the others inside. "What is it?"
"Is there another room I could sleep in?" Olivia toed the ground. "It's just. I need to think about some things."
"Of course." Evelyn resumed walking. "I'll have your things brought to a separate room."
***
Niklaus laid in the bed unable to sleep. The conversation he'd had with Shade danced through his head and the tingling of power he hadn't had before tickled at his finger tips.
He put his shoes on and walked downstairs to the outside. Once he thought he was far enough away from the house the red lightning sputtered around his hands.
(Explain to me how this works.) Niklaus watched the electricity fizzle between his fingers.
(In everybody there's a certain amount of potential energy, but since you have the blood of Cerberus flowing in your veins you're able to turn that potential energy into kinetic energy, which then builds up in your body and releases through the pores of your skin.) Images appeared in Niklaus's head as Shade explained.
(That's actually pretty cool, I guess.) Niklaus watched as the electricity faded.
