by Sara Mack
“He wasn’t my friend,” he says referring to the dead Allegiant. “Just another piece in Kellan’s game.”
I twist my body and move my arms, which makes my shoulder throb. I set my hands and push my upper body off the ground, yanking my foot from Patrick’s grasp. I scramble backwards and get to my feet. My eyes sweep under the arch for James and Ash. Ash now stands, but James has disappeared. Where did he go? My heart starts to pound.
“Push him outside!” Ash sends me his thoughts.
Patrick comes at me again. I grip my anlace and ready myself. I take a swipe at him and he jumps out of the way. I circle around him and try again. He dodges. He throws a beam of light and I weave to the right. Another beam, another swipe. After a few more attempts I’ve worked Patrick outside the arch. Now what?
Suddenly, James drops from above, landing on Patrick’s shoulders and smashing him to the ground. He must have crawled to the top of the bridge while we fought. He wraps one arm around Patrick’s neck and the other around his chest, pulling his body back and jerking Patrick to his knees. He holds him in place as he struggles and shouts, “Emma now!”
In two strides I stand directly in front of Patrick. I raise my anlace in both hands and a look of terror crosses his face. I imagine it’s the same look he saw in my eyes this summer.
I bring my weapon down.
He explodes into nothing.
Chapter 17
We appear in a room that overflows with concerned faces. Madeline and Dane. Matt and Shel. Thomas, Joss, Jenna, and Meg. Jack looks less impressed.
“Thank God,” Madeline sighs. She sprints to Ash, weaves her arms around his waist, and buries her head against his chest. He lets go of my hand and envelops her.
James releases my other hand and makes a fist. “Nice job, Donohue.”
I smirk and bump my fist against his. “Ditto, Davis.” This is a much more subdued celebration than the one we had after Patrick’s demise. James gave me a hug so tight it put pressure on my heart. Then he laid a kiss on me to match.
“Hey there, kid.” Thomas approaches us and gives James a hearty slap on the shoulder. Meg, Joss, and Jenna are right behind him to greet their friend and I step aside, allowing them to get reacquainted. From what I’ve been told they haven’t laid eyes on each other in two months.
My attention is drawn across the room and meets Dane’s gaze. Relief visibly washes through him and he stands. I notice he’s still wearing his tux; although, his tie and jacket are gone, and his collar hangs open. My eyes bounce to Matt and his outfit is the same; Shel has changed and must have borrowed something from Madeline to wear. I immediately make my way toward them and Dane meets me half way. He wraps me in his arms and I try not to wince.
“What’s wrong?” He steps back, tentatively holding my shoulders.
“Nothing,” I lie. Now that I’m not distracted by fighting Allegiant ex-lab partners, my injuries are starting to show. My throat aches with every swallow and my shoulder has decided to lock up. “I’m just a little sore.”
“From what?”
“What do you think?” I smile. I don’t want to worry him; the tender muscles will heal within days. It’s a Larvatus perk.
“This one,” Ash appears by my side, “is one tough little fighter. She took an elbow to the throat and remained standing. I know guys twice her size that move would’ve laid out.”
Dane’s eyes grow dark and his jaw tenses. He looks at me. “You call that nothing?”
“I…”
“The blow to your shoulder was probably just as bad,” Ash continues. “We should really look at it. Even though it will heal quickly, ice may help the swelling.”
“What kind of blow?” Shel steps beside me, her medical training kicking in. “Was the joint dislocated? Can you move it?”
I roll my eyes and raise my left arm up and down even though it kills me to do so. “Yes, I can move it. Relax.”
“What happened?” Dane asks.
“I got tripped up,” I sigh. “I tried to kick Patrick, but he caught my ankle and I fell on my shoulder.”
“Patrick?” His eyes grow wide. “How in the hell is he involved?”
“Kellan turned him Allegiant to aggravate Emma,” James says from behind us.
Dane’s eyes dart to him and back to me. I set both hands on the sides of his face while a self-satisfied smile plays on my lips. “Don’t worry. We took care of him.”
“You did,” James says. “I only held him down.”
I look at him over my shoulder. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone.”
“Yeah, yeah, you two make a great team,” Dane mutters under his breath. He hands me off to Shel who winds an arm around my waist. “Let’s get you checked out, okay?”
I know I’m fine, but I allow them to dote on me. This night has been rough on everyone, and I’m sure they want some semblance of control. Matt and Shel have to be so confused and Dane is just straight up worried. I walk next to Shel as she steers us toward the hallway off The Larvatus’ great room.
“I’ll come with you and check on Garrett,” Madeline says and starts to follow us.
How could I have forgotten about Garrett? I stop walking. “Is he all right?”
Madeline turns her big green eyes on me as Shel responds. “He’s stable.”
I frown. “What does that mean?”
“He’s unconscious,” Madeline says as she reaches my side. “Your friend can explain more. We’re lucky to have her.”
My eyes swing to Shel. “C’mon,” she says and pulls me forward. “Let’s look at you first. He’s not going anywhere.”
We make it to a spacious bathroom where Shel closes the door behind us. “Take off that mess.” She indicates my shift.
It takes me a minute, but I do as I’m told. My shoulder is throbbing. I pull the green top over my head to reveal the white tank underneath. Shel steps behind me and gasps.
“Jesus Emma!” She gingerly slides the left strap off my shoulder. “Your skin is a rainbow.”
“Not a pretty one?” I smirk in the mirror.
“These particular shades of green and yellow are never a great combination.” I see her brow furrow over my shoulder and feel her trace the outline of my injury. “Move your arm,” she instructs me and I do. “Now try to roll your shoulder.”
OW! I bite my lip to keep from cursing. “That hurts.”
She steps around me. “I figured as much. You’ve sprained it and given yourself one heck of a bruise; although, the coloring indicates it’s already healing. It should be gray and purple for having just happened.”
“See? It’ll be fine in a day or two.”
She squints at my neck. “You’ve got another one there from the elbow.”
I lean forward and notice my throat is faintly yellow. “No one will notice.”
She sighs. I can see her eyes begin to tear in the light of the bathroom fixture as she says, “Let me get you some ice.”
She starts to walk away and I grab her wrist. “Are you okay?”
She looks at me and tries to blink away her tears. “Yes…no. I’m not sure.”
I pull her further into the bathroom where I lower the toilet lid and have her take a seat. I set myself next to her on the edge of the tub and grasp her hand. “Talk to me,” I say quietly.
“You’re hurt and you don’t care,” she says. “You should care.”
“Trust me, I do,” I say to reassure her. “But, I know I’ll be better soon, so it’s not a huge deal.”
“It is so a huge deal!” she exclaims. “You could have been killed! Someone – Patrick of all people – tried to kill you! That’s important. It’s serious,” she emphasizes. “You cannot die on me.” Tears trickle down her cheeks.
“I know this seems scary, but it’s who I am now.” I clutch her hand. “Did Dane talk to you? Did you ask him questions?”
She nods as she looks down. “He said he told us everything he knew.”
“Do you believe
him?”
Her head snaps up. “How can I not? I saw you evaporate in front me! Then, I saw you reappear. And James is alive,” her voice breaks on the word alive. Suddenly, her expression morphs into one of concern. “How have you been dealing with this for so long?”
I shrug my good shoulder. “I don’t know. I can’t remember anything Guardian related past a month ago. Did Dane tell you about my memory?”
“Yes.” She looks at our hands. “He told us your bracelet blocks it for some reason. He also said it gives you your abilities. I guess I know why you won’t take it off now.”
“What happened saved me, Shel. Without it I’d be dead.”
She takes a shaky breath. “I know.” A tear winds its way to her chin and she wipes it away. “Dane said you saved his life.”
“So I’ve been told.” I give her a tiny smile. “And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. For any of you.”
She studies my face and then pulls me forward to wrap her arm around my neck. “When did you get so brave?” she whispers.
That’s easy. “Since the people I love were threatened.”
She squeezes me. “This is amazing, but really messed up. How am I supposed to be a medical professional when I know people can be resurrected from the dead?”
I laugh against her shoulder. “That is twisted.”
She leans away. “Your erratic behavior is more easily explained now.”
“I’m sure.” I smile. I look at her and a calm feeling settles over me. I have someone to talk to about this. An outsider to give me perspective. My best friend. “I’m so glad you know,” I say, relieved. “And Matt, too. I won’t have to lie anymore. And James needs his friends. I’m sure he’s ecstatic to have you guys back.”
“Speaking of,” she clears her throat and raises an eyebrow at me. “What in the world is going on? You’re seeing Dane and James? That’s…it’s…”
“Crazy, I know.” I let out a heavy breath. “My feelings for both of them are trapped in my memories. We’re trying to build new ones.”
She gives me a sly smile. “How’s that working out for you?”
I playfully swat her leg. “It’s a day by day thing.”
“So, what are you going to do?” she asks. Leave it to Shel to get right to the juicy stuff. “Do you have a chart where you compare them against one another? A column for personality, a column for looks, one for kissing, one for…”
“No!” I laugh. “We have rules.”
“What?” she giggles. “Tell me!”
“I won’t do with one what I won’t do with the other.”
Her mouth falls open, and I know what she’s thinking. “No clothes come off ever,” I stress. “Making out is as far as it goes.”
She makes a face. “I was joking about the kissing! They’re okay with this?”
“Should they not be okay with it?”
“Emma,” she chastises me. “The James I know would never let another guy come within a ten mile radius of you let alone touch you! And Dane…he’s head over heels in love! You two, you know, in St. Thomas…”
I gape at her. “He told you about that?”
“You both did! I mean neither of you denied it while feeding me that story about needing a vacation.”
My face turns red. “I don’t remember any of it.”
“You don’t remember sleeping with him?”
I shake my head. “Or James.”
“Wow.” Her mouth forms a huge O on the ow. “I thought you’d at least remember Dane. He’s not a Guardian.”
“But, all of our time together is due to Guardians,” I explain. “Our whole relationship is wrapped around them.”
Her eyes search my face and she tilts her head, propping her chin on the heel of her hand.
“What?”
“I’m curious,” she says slowly. “Do you think you guys would still have a connection if you eliminated all the supernatural stuff?”
I blink at her. That’s an excellent question.
A knock interrupts us and my body jerks. “Everything all right?” Dane is on the opposite side of the door.
“Yes,” I automatically respond. “Can you bring us some ice?”
“Sure thing.” I hear him walk away.
“So?” Shel asks quietly.
It’s true she’s given me something to ponder. I’m not going to figure out my romantic life in the next five minutes, so I concede. “I’d like to think we would. He’s a great guy.”
She pats my knee, and I stand to open the door so Dane can enter when he returns. As we wait, I think. Would Dane want me if I had just been a normal girl when we met? If he didn’t help free me from – what did he say? – a protective shell? My demeanor this summer should have been a turn off except he’s proven over and over again that he enjoys a challenge. Is that what I am to him?
Moments later, he appears with a plastic bag full of ice. “Which shoulder?” he asks.
I turn and point to my left. He steps toward me and grimaces. “Damn,” he mutters. “Are you sure it’s not broken?”
“Dr. Moore says it’s only a sprain and it’s healing.” I wink at Shel.
He places the bag against my skin, and I reach up to hold it in place. “Thanks.”
“Have you seen Garrett?” he asks.
“Not yet. Let’s go.”
I follow Dane and Shel a few steps down the hallway to a bedroom. When I enter I’m not prepared for what I see, and the bag of ice slips from my hand. Dane catches it.
Garrett lies pale and motionless in the middle of a twin bed. His head is propped on two pillows and his arms lay outside the blankets that are pulled to his chest. A bedside lamp provides the only light in the room; it casts eerie shadows across his body and face. One of those shadows looks like an IV pole. Wait. It is an IV and it’s dripping into his arm.
“Where did you get that?” I ask.
“Matt’s clinic,” Shel answers as she rounds the bed. “It’s the best I could do on short notice. Tomorrow, I’ll head to the hospital and get him some TPN.”
I stare at her confused.
“Total parenteral nutrition,” she clarifies. “He’s extremely dehydrated and malnourished.” She gently picks up his wrist and checks his pulse. “His heart rate remains steady,” she says almost to herself as her fingers travel to the side of his neck. “If I could get him hooked up to a monitor I’d feel better about keeping tabs on him.”
“He won’t wake up?” I move to stand beside her. “He was talking in the Intermediate.”
“He collapsed as soon as he arrived with Madeline and Jack,” Dane says.
“I didn’t have to do CPR, so I don’t suspect any brain damage,” Shel continues. “But I’m not a doctor yet. I know he needs rest and fluids. Without taking him to the hospital, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Why can’t we take him to the hospital?” I look from her to Dane.
“If we register him as a patient Kellan can easily find him. At least that’s what Madeline said.”
“Then we use a fake name,” I say adamantly. “He needs our help.”
“Em,” Dane says. “He can still search who was admitted and on what date.”
I let out a frustrated sigh and reach around Shel to grasp Garrett’s hand. He feels cold to me. “Do you think he needs another blanket?”
Shel looks around the room. When she doesn’t immediately find more bedding she opens the closet to search.
“Garrett?” I lean over him. “Can you hear me? Are you cold?”
Nothing. No response. An ache in my chest starts to build over the one in my shoulder. What if he doesn’t wake up? I think of Jack. He must be livid. He said he’d hold me responsible if anything happened to his brother. In all honesty, I will hold myself responsible too.
“Garrett,” I say again, “we’re going to get you some type of food soon. Stay strong. You’ve come too far to give up now.”
“I don’t think he has any intention of giving up,” D
ane says, suddenly behind me. “He just needs time to heal. He’s still turning human after all.”
This is true. It makes sense his body would be overwhelmed by all the stresses on it. That wouldn’t be easily explained to a doctor or a surgeon.
“Here.” Shel pulls a blanket out of a dresser drawer. She unfolds it and I grab one end. Carefully I place it over Garrett, lifting his arms and tucking it around him. “Better?” I ask as if he’ll respond.
He doesn’t even twitch.
Dane gently touches my arm. “Let’s get you home. You need to rest.”
“No.” I brush him off. “Someone needs to stay here in case he wakes up.” I glance around the room and notice an overstuffed armchair. “I’ll sleep here.”
“You will not,” Dane’s tone is stern. “You can’t sleep in a chair with your shoulder the way it is.”
“Watch me.” Why is he giving me a hard time?
“Guys,” Shel interrupts. “When I told Madeline I’d have to leave to get supplies she volunteered to keep an eye on Garrett. I think he’s in good hands.” She eyes me. “Go home and get some sleep. I know I have to if I’m going to be of any use tomorrow. There’s nothing anyone can do until I get the TPN anyway.”
I sigh. I don’t want to leave Garrett. He looks awful. But, I trust The Larvatus. Besides, they can reiki him, or Pax him, or whatever if necessary. Not that it’s helping now.
“Fine, but I’ll be back,” I say stubbornly. “What time do you think you’ll be here?”
Shel thinks about it. “I’ll call you. It depends on how long it takes me to borrow what we need.”
Great. I realize Shel can get into some serious trouble over this and suddenly I feel tired and defeated. “Be careful. Don’t get arrested for stealing.”
Her expression twists as she walks toward me. “You do remember who you’re talking to, right? I don’t get caught doing anything.” She grins.
As we leave the room, I give Garrett one last glance. Please be okay, I silently pray. Please.
When we make it back to the living room, we catch Ash in the middle of describing what took place in the Intermediate. Madeline sits next to him, and I catch Matt standing near the corner. I break my own rule and read his thoughts.