'Where am I?' Christopher asked, looking around at the faces gathered round him. 'And who am I?'
This second question was what threw everyone. Did he just ask the question they heard him ask?
They looked at the witch who was just getting up to her feet from her faint.
'What have you done?' Alpha Sylvester asked. 'He does not know who he is!'
'I forgot to warn you that the side effect was amnesia', Wendy said. 'It is going to be for a short while though and then he will recover his memory fully'.
'How long is this 'amnesia', supposed to last?' Sylvester asked.
'It depends on each individual. For some people it takes a fortnight, some a month, others a year, you will just have to be patient and see how long he takes to recover his memory fully'.
'Is there an antidote for this 'amnesia'? Chief asked. 'You know, like a potion?'
'No. But if he has a reason for living. If there's something he desired so much before dying, then his subconscious will drive him to recover his memory faster for that!' Wendy said, looking at Millicent who was holding on to Christopher like a trophy.
'Your blood really worked wonders. There's something about you that you are yet to find out!' she said, though she sounded as though not very happy about it.
'Christopher, you remember me at least?' Millicent asked.
'Who are you?' Christopher asked, furrowing his eyelids at Millicent, frowning in thought, trying to recall the face.
Millicent bit her lip in disappointment.
'It will take a while and everything will return to normal', Wendy said flashing a brilliant smile at them. But you have to be patient and not force him to remember because it could be detrimental', she paused to let it sink. 'And it will be impossible bringing him back again if anything should happen!' she said, gathering the things she had brought with her back into the backpack she carried.
'I need to be around to monitor his progress because it is risky leaving him like this for now!' Wendy said. 'I repeat, do not be in a hurry to get his memory back for him by asking him any questions or any such thing. His memory will return gradually of their own Accord and his health will flourish!'
'Since you will be staying back to take care of Christopher, I'll ask the maid to prepare a room for you', Millicent said, smiling gratefully at the Wendy.
Since people had come for a celebration, the Luna making , though it will no longer take place for now, there was still a reason to celebrate - Christopher's life!
Millicent tried to stay with Christopher after his Beta finished bathing him but he looked at her curiously and said simply, 'Do you mind?'
Millicent was flustered and shook her head vigorously. 'No, I shall let you rest and be back later', and she hurried out of the room.
Christopher was not acting like his normal self. What could be the matter? Millicent thought. She was so deep in thought that she nearly collided with Alpha Sylvester and his Beta.
'How is he doing?' Sylvester asked and Millicent knew at once who he was asking. 'Very well. He said he needed a little time to rest!'
'Of course, considering everything that has happened, we all need rest', he said, touching my cheek tenderly. 'You should also take time to have some rest. Now that he is back, he won't be leaving us anytime soon!'
Millicent nodded and moved on to her room.
'Samantha, you're here', she said as she saw Samantha sitting in her room.
'Yes', she said, frowning thoughtfully.
'What is it now?' Millicent asked. 'You should be happy for me, I am finally back to myself and Christopher has been restored back to life!'
'Don't you find it odd?' Samantha asked, still bothered.
'Odd? Millicent was perplexed. 'Find what odd?'
'That someone who was dead was raised back to life?' she whispered fearfully. 'It is scary, you know. It is not natural!'
'No matter what it is, I am happy Christopher is back with us!' Millicent said, dismissively.
'What if it is not Christopher who is in there?' Samantha asked, still in a whisper.
'You are spoking me. How can it not be him? Didn't you recognize him when he woke?'
'I do not mean his appearance. I mean the thing inside, the spirit. What if some force has possessed his body and we think he is Christopher when he's not?' she asked, looking around.
'Stop this Samantha!' Millicent cried. 'Is this what you came into my room to tell me?'
'No! But...'
'Good! So, let's change the subject!' Millicent said with finality.
But what Samantha said lingered in her mind and she felt bad that she was doubting her own love.
Over the next couple of days, she rarely saw Christopher except when she forced herself into his room. At first he was irritated but later, he started accepting her presence with calm resignation. But Millicent,could not understand why he could not recognize her. She was getting impatient. The witch Wendy was the one always with Christopher and she did not think she would say this but she started resenting Wendy's closeness to Christopher.
She was on her way to Christopher's room one day, when she heard laughter.
Was that Christopher laughing? she thought happily. He had not laughed since coming back from the dead. She wanted to go in but decided to eavesdrop and find out what was responsible for Christopher's happy laughter.
'You should do this more often you know!' Wendy was saying.
'You make me laugh, so yes, I'll do it more often!' Christopher promised.' And you are beautiful, yourself. Are you married?' he asked and Millicent could not decipher if he asked in jest or not.
'Do you want to marry me?' Wendy countered.
'Answer the question first!' he said and Millicent could hear the smile in his voice.
'I was waiting for you!' Wendy said.
What was that? Millicent thought wildly. Even if they were just jesting, it was a dangerous thing to jest about.
'You barely know me, so how could you be waiting for me?' Christopher asked and though Millicent could still hear the smile in his voice, there was an underlining seriousness in his question.
'Oh, but I do know you. This is the second time I am saving your life and you owe me!' she said.
Millicent could not hold still any longer but rushed into the room, visualizing one on the lap of the other but she felt foolish when she saw Wendy propping Christopher's head on his pillow.
They both looked towards the door as Millicent burst into the room, panting.
'Did you want something Miss O'Hara?' Christopher asked, smiling tolerably at Millicent and she felt stupid. 'Miss O'Hara?' she thought in dismay.
'Christopher, I wanted to come find out how you were faring' Millicent said, for want of something else to say.
'As you can see, Alpha Christopher is doing very well, thank you', Wendy said, smiling smugly at Millicent. 'If you do not mind, leave the room so that he can rest!'
It was a slap on Millicent's face but she could not start a fight with Wendy over someone who could barely recognize her and Wendy was helping with Christopher's recovery. Millicent didn't want to jeopardize that. So, nodding, she left the room.
