by Tiffany King
"I don't think so. Harmony is a force to be reckoned with on her own and Victor is practically Satan. Haniel would be able to take Victor out no problem if Harmony wasn't part of the equation."
Shawn looked as defeated as I felt when the ramifications of my words finally sank in.
"Can you try to reach Haniel?"
I shook my head. "I can barely sit here without falling over. My gifts were rendered useless after the transporting sapped so much out of me."
Guilt filled Shawn's eyes as he finally understood all my frustration and could clearly see why I had struggled so hard with the decision.
We lapsed into silence after that, watching the second hand slowly move its way around the large circular wall clock that advertised some new drug. It was just barely 9:00 p.m. and we had been in the hospital less than a half an hour, yet it seemed as if an eternity had passed. I let my mind dwell on what was happening back at Victor's in our absence. Had Haniel discovered who the true Descended is? Had he found Mark yet or was he busy battling Victor?
Shawn was unusually silent too as he struggled with his own worries and guilt. I could feel the heavy emotions flowing through him until his mood abruptly changed to excitement.
I looked up expecting to see Sam's doctor in front of us, seeing no other reason why he would suddenly have a spurt of excitement, but the waiting room was as empty as before. I looked over at him, confused by the emotions radiating around him.
"I have an idea," he finally said, sounding animated.
"I gathered that," I said dryly.
"You said before that you could transport by having enough energy, right? What about adrenaline?"
"Like an adrenaline shot?" I asked, sitting up straighter as hope kindled inside me.
"Exactly. What if we can get that here," he said, standing in front of me excitedly. "We're at a hospital after all."
"Shawn, that’s brilliant, but how will we get it?" I asked, not daring to get my hopes up too high.
"Leave that to me," Shawn said, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Wait, you could get in a lot of trouble if you're caught."
"Seriously Krista? Our species is facing extinction and you're worried about me getting in trouble?"
"Okay, good point," I said, realizing how silly I had sounded. "Do you want me to go with you? Maybe I can be a diversion."
"No, I think you should stay here and rest. Maybe by the time I get back, your energy level will be on its way back up."
I nodded my head, agreeing with him. I slumped back in my chair, watching Shawn as he raced off down the hallway. The truth is I was already starting to feel a little better. The ache that had filled my heart earlier was slowly starting to disperse, and I felt like I was getting my legs back. I closed my eyes, hoping that by shutting off my senses, I would be able to refill my energy reservoir. I allowed myself the luxury of drifting back to Mark's face. His hair was a little longer than the way he normally wore it, but I still liked it. I would have loved to run my fingers through it to test out its suppleness. My mental stroll moved from his thick luxurious hair, down to his glistening, brown velvet eyes that absorbed my appearance like he was dying of thirst. His eyes were like a window to his soul and I could have gazed into them for eternity without ever losing interest. I continued on to his face that had always turned me to mush, with just the right combination of boyish good looks and manly ruggedness. I felt my pulse quicken, dwelling on the soft inviting mouth that had explored my own lips countless times.
"Krista, Krista," Shawn called my name, shaking me out of my reverie.
"Did you change your mind?" I asked, disappointed he had given up so easily.
"No, I got it," he said, flashing the small glass vial of clear liquid.
"Wow, that quick?" I asked shocked.
"Quick? I've been gone over an hour. I thought you were going to strangle me for taking so long."
"What?" I asked shocked, looking at the clock on the wall. I was dismayed to see that it was already almost 11:00 p.m. I had been ogling over Mark's face for almost an hour and a half.
"Holy crow bear, I must have zonked out," I said, ducking my head so he wouldn't see my slightly red cheeks. It had been so long since I had been embarrassed, I forgot how uncomfortable it was.
"Right," Shawn said, looking at me like I had sprung an extra head. "Anyway, I can't give you a shot here. I got a lay of the land once I snagged the adrenaline, and I have a spot picked out. Can you walk?" He asked, helping me stand up.
I expected the same weakness and dizziness from before, but I felt surprisingly stronger. My dream-fantasy session with Mark must have rejuvenated me more than I thought. I could even feel excitement beginning to race through me. Shawn's plan may be nuts, but at least we were doing something.
"How's Sam?" I asked, feeling guilty that I hadn't asked before.
"She's still in surgery, so I'm not sure," he said, worry clouding each word.
"She's going to be okay, Shawn," I said, reaching out to grab his hand. I yearned to fill him with peace, but knew I needed to conserve as much energy as I could.
"I hope so."
Shawn led us down the rest of the hallway in silence. We passed several doors before stopping in front of a room marked, closed for repairs. We glanced either way down the hall to make sure no one was around and went inside, quickly closing the door behind us. Shawn flicked on the light switch of the bathroom within the room, wanting to remain as inconspicuous as possible. The room looked like it was serving as more of a storage unit than a place being repaired. Boxes and medical supplies were piled up on every surface available. Shawn maneuvered me toward the hospital bed that sat in the center of the room and started pushing the junk stacked upon it down to the floor. I glanced at the door warily, worried that someone would hear us.
"Don't worry, we’re too far from the nurses' station for them to hear us," Shawn said, noticing my apprehension. "Here lay down," he said, indicating the now empty bed. "I think it’ll be better if you're lying down."
"Why?" I asked, feeling slightly confused.
"Because, I have to give you the shot in your heart."
"What?" I squealed, feeling slightly nauseous at the thought of a needle going into my heart.
"How else is it supposed to work? Don't worry, I Googled how to do it on my iPhone.”
"You Googled it?" I asked astonished.
"Sure, you can find anything on Google. Now lay down."
"Jesus Shawn," I said, relenting uneasily.
"Alright, you're going to have to pull your shirt up. Here, you can cover up with this," he said, shoving a folded sheet my way.
I pulled the sheet up over me, mortified that my brother would see me in my bra. Silly, based on the situation, but what can I say.
"Are you ready?" He asked, looking green in the face once again.
"Yeah, let's get this over with. If this works, tell Sam I love her," I said, trying to say my goodbyes.
"Krista, this isn't goodbye," Shawn said, looking at me uncertainly like he was changing his mind.
"Of course not," I said, not wanting him to back out. "Do it now," I coaxed him.
He hesitated for a second, but then pulled the vial of medicine out of his pocket. He handed it to me while he unwrapped the sterile syringe he also swiped.
Once the syringe was filled with the dose of adrenaline, he turned back to me. "Are you sure you’re ready?" He asked.
I nodded my head, shutting my eyes. Shawn adjusted the sheet so he could plunge the syringe in at the right angle. I kept my eyes shut and focused on gathering all my energy to one location. I felt a sharp pain as the syringe pierced my heart. The adrenaline hit me instantly, causing me to jump like I had been launched from a cannon. My hair tingled and a warm sensation began to creep down my scalp, filling every surface on its way down my body.
The comfortable bed vanished out from under me as I slammed into Mark’s rock hard body, landing on top of him.
&n
bsp; "What the Hell?" He said, startled. I finally opened my eyes and found myself peering at his face. It was amusing, looking down into his eyes as he took in my sprawling half-dressed appearance on top of him.
Chapter 15
Mark's amusement faded to something else as he appraised the smooth flat skin of my stomach. I watched as his eyes traveled over me.
I gave a nervous laugh that came out more like a grimace as my body tried to recover from the second transport in one evening.
Mark's desire abruptly burned out as he looked at me with concern.
"Krista, are you okay?" He asked, sitting up and holding me in his arms.
I nodded my head weakly. "It just takes its toll," I said, trying to keep my words short so I wouldn't lose the last of the remaining air in my lungs.
He pulled me up closer to him so that I could rest against his hard chest. "Krista, I thought you said you wouldn't be able to come back," he said, stroking my head. His touch felt heavenly, but lacked the healing touch he used to be able to offer.
"Shawn had a plan," I said, trying to adjust my shirt so that I wasn't flaunting so much skin.
"A sentence that starts with ‘Shawn had a plan,’ is never a good sign," Mark said with a chuckle.
"If I didn't feel like a bus just ran me over, followed by a Mack truck, I might argue with you," I said, trying to find the strength to turn my head to look at him.
"Then why did you risk it?" He asked, angling my body so he could peer down into my eyes. "To help the other Guides and Protectors?" He probed.
"You know why," I said, feeling flushed. What if I had misread the situation? What if he had no feelings left for me now that our link was gone? I looked down at my hands, mortified. I was so stupid. Why hadn't I transported somewhere else, somewhere useful, where I could have helped the others? Instead, I let my feelings override everything else.
"Krista look at me," he pleaded quietly.
I shook my head no as my face burned out of control.
"Krista," he said again, using two of his fingers to lift my chin. I tried to avoid eye contact, afraid of the pity I would see there. The pad of his thumb swiped away a lone tear that had escaped without me noticing. He moved his thumb further down until it gently caressed my bottom lip.
"Krista, you have to look at me," he said more urgently.
"Why?" I whispered.
"Because, I need to look in your eyes before I kiss you," he murmured.
I pulled my eyes up finally and was lost as he lowered his mouth to mine. I kept my eyes locked on his until the last possible moment. They finally fluttered closed as he kissed me like never before. We had always had our share of passion from the supernatural link we shared, but this made every other kiss feel like child's play as Mark plundered my mouth with his own. I gasped as he nipped on my lip, encouraging me to open completely to him. His mouth was familiar in so many ways and yet I could feel multiple layers that had never been there before.
Mark pulled away and I couldn't help my small moan of disappointment as I latched my mouth back on his.
"Krista, we need to stop for a minute," he said, pulling away, holding my head firmly between his hands.
"Why?" I gasped, working to get oxygen flowing through my foggy kiss-induced state.
"Because, you’re having a hard time breathing sweetheart. You don't have the appropriate energy to kiss the way I want to kiss you. We're on unfamiliar territory here, my kisses no longer replenish your needs."
"Um, yeah they do," I said, still gasping for breath.
He chuckled. "I mean like they used to. We no longer have the power to heal each other."
"I know," I said as grief for what I had destroyed threatened to crash over me.
He tilted my head back and was able to read the grief on my face. "Krista, this is the way it should be," he said gently. "Look at what you can do. Your gifts exceed everything we could ever imagine, tenfold."
He leaned down and lightly kissed the sensitive skin high on my cheekbone, right below my left eye. I closed my eyes, shivering by the sensations his kiss had stirred inside me. I heard him chuckle quietly and knew that even without being able to read my mind, he could read me like an open book. He moved his lips to my eyelids where he placed an equally sensitive enticing kiss on the closed lids. I murmured my pleasure, letting my body relax completely in his arms. I knew I was shirking my new duties, and I was sure my wanton ways would deeply disappoint The Light, and my mentor, Haniel, but I couldn't seem to find an ounce of care in me. I knew I was acting selfish and letting my new gifts go to waste, but as I lay curled up in Mark's arms, I felt I was exactly where I should be. I had lost him once—I would not let that happen again.
"Well, well, well, as sweet as this was to watch from the monitors, I really must break up this happy reunion," Victor said, strolling into the oversized room with a disgruntled Harmony tagging behind him. "Krista, it loathes me to admit it, but you truly are a remarkable being. It's a shame you bought into the Ascended facade though. You would have made a spectacular addition to my following. Harmony shares many of your gifts, yet your ability to transport to another location seems to elude her. Unless, perhaps she's not applying herself appropriately," he continued in a biting tone that contradicted the genial outward appearance he was shooting for.
Harmony muttered something derogatory under her breath. Victor turned on her with lightning-quick reflexes, firmly wrapping his hand around her slender throat. "Don't think for one moment that your newfound relationship with The Dark One will save you from my wrath," he said, tightening his fingers around her neck, making her skin take on a bluish tinge.
I pulled myself to my feet, wanting to do something to stop him, but the electronic cage kept Mark and me at bay. I wondered why Harmony didn't use her gifts to break his hold on her throat.
"She is not insolent like you and Mark," he snarled at me, pulling my thoughts from my overworked brain. I would have tried to block him, but it took all the energy I had to stand. "She knows her rightful place and respects those that have created her," he said, shaking her by the throat to emphasize his point.
Tears of pain leaked down her cheeks and after a moment he released his hold on her. I watched, sickened as Harmony fell to his feet gasping for breath.
"I'm sorry father," she said. "Please forgive me," she begged, pulling on his pant leg much like a toddler would.
"I know you think you're sorry my dear, but you must learn to respect those that give you life," he said, pulling her to her feet.
"I will, I promise," she said. Her relief over his forgiveness was glaringly obvious.
"Now, where were we? Oh yes, we were discussing Krista's ability to do something as a newborn Ascended, that you as a full-fledged Descended have been lazily unable to accomplish," he said to the now remorseful Harmony.
"I don't know how she does it father," Harmony said in a plaintive voice.
"Then perhaps we will have to search for a solution that will give us insight into this gift of yours," he said, directing the statement toward me.
"I would rather cut my tongue out than help you further your sadistic plan," I said, stepping back away from the electric field.
"Once again Krista, your insolence tests my patience. I believe with the right motivation you will be a little more compliant," he said, turning on his heel. "Come my dear, let's go see how our other guests are doing."
My stomach dropped as I watched Harmony and Victor leave the room. His point was clear. For the third time in a handful of months, I was once again at Victor's mercy. Even with Haniel's help, we had somehow allowed Victor to get the upper hand. And I sure didn’t help by transporting into this electric cell rather than help my friends. I couldn't help thinking that maybe The Light just wasn't strong enough to avoid an eclipse by The Dark. Good versus evil had been battling it out for years and we were merely pawns in the whole scheme of things. I sank back down on the ground, no longer having the will or inclination to stand up.
"Krista, it's going to be okay," Mark said, sinking down next to me, rubbing my arm to comfort me.
"How?" I asked. "Our extended family is being held captive somewhere in this labyrinth of a building. I'm scared of what he has done to them, but most of all I'm scared of what he has done to Haniel," I continued quietly.
Mark paused halfway up my arm. "Krista, do you have feelings for Haniel?"
"Of course."
"I see," Mark said, pulling away.
Puzzled, I looked at the withdrawn look on Mark's face. "What?" I asked confused.
"Nothing," he mumbled, sinking back.
Confused and hurt at his sudden mood change, I allowed myself a small peek into his mind and nearly laughed out loud with relief.
"You dork. I don't love him like that," I said, smiling at him.
"Are you sure? Every time you talk about him your voice takes on a different quality. I know you two have been spending a lot of time together and you believing that I had betrayed you might make you turn to someone else."
"I could never turn to anyone else. It has always been you, and only you," I said as he dragged me back in his arms. His lips smothered out any further talk as he made it clear I was only his. I returned his kiss with fervor, feeling my energy coming back in small measures.
"Dang," I said, pulling back slightly to replenish my lungs with air.
"You could say that again," Mark said with a small laugh, resting his forehead against mine.
"Dang," I said lightly, making him chuckle before his lips reclaimed mine once again. This time though, the passion still flowed around us. The kiss was gentle and tender as he cupped my face gently, holding it in place.
I laughed, standing up reluctantly. "As nice as this is, we need to find a way out," I said.
"I know," Mark said also standing.
"Let me look at your ankle thing," I said, sitting on the edge of the small couch in the makeshift jail.
Mark pulled up the cuff of his jeans so I could inspect it closer.