Chapter 72. The Strange Creatures

Magnus

Astrid's scream echoed through the room. I could feel the blood drain from my face. The bedspread was the only thing preserving her modesty, but it barely hid her trembling form.

"Astrid, hold on," I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady, her fingers digging into my shirt as another wave of pain crashed over her.

"Magnus..." she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. "It hurts... so much."

"Lay her down here, quickly," Gamel instructed, pulling back the covers on a nearby bed.

I gently placed Astrid on the bed, her hands still clutching her stomach. She was pale, her breathing shallow and ragged. The bedspread wrapped around her. But it was clear she was in dire need of help.

"Where does it hurt, Astrid?" Gamel asked, his voice soft yet urgent as he knelt beside her, his hands already moving to examine her.

"My... stomach," she choked out, her eyes squeezing shut as another wave of pain washed over her.

Gamel's