by Lina Langley
Someone coughed, he wasn’t sure if it was Taln or Jon. He couldn’t hear Salisei at all. Taln. He needed to get him to the hospital.
The light disappeared into a mist.
Jesse heard himself speak, though he wasn’t aware that he was uttering any words or who he was saying them to. “Call 911”.
Then all he could see was darkness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Taln tried to open his eyes.
Even his eyelids hurt. The ceiling was out of focus when he finally did. He tried to swear but nothing came out. His tongue was sandpaper when he tried to move it. He turned to look at Jesse.
He extended his arm and touched him with the tips of his fingers.
Nothing.
“Jesse.”
Nothing.
Speaking hurt. Everything hurt.
“Jesse.”
Taln watched as Jesse’s eyes fluttered open. It seemed to take forever. Jesse opened his mouth to speak but only coughed instead. Taln stared at him, wondering if he was going to say anything, wondering if he could say anything.
Once he did say something, after he was done coughing, Taln wasn’t able to hear him.
“Your sister,” Jesse repeated. Taln watched him try to get to his feet. He rose but Jesse stopped him. “You shouldn’t get up.”
Taln scoffed. “Salisei.”
Jesse paled as he looked down at him. Blood trickled from his nose and his lips were swollen.
“I’ll check on her,” Jesse said. His speech was slurred. “You should definitely not get up.”
“Why?”
“You just—you don’t look good either. Did you call an ambulance?”
“No. I’ve just woken up.”
“Okay. I’ll go check on her and you call an ambulance, alright? You know the address, right? Here.”
Jesse handed him his phone, got up and went to aid his sister. The coffee table blocked his view of her was but she appeared to be on the floor.
He scanned the room for signs of Jon. He only vaguely remembered seeing him on top of Jesse, the feeling of magic coursing through his veins before he passed out.
“Taln. Call them now,” Jesse said, his voice shaky. “Tell them we need police and an ambulance. Tell them there’s someone with a head injury.”
“A head injury?”
“Just call,” Jesse replied.
* * *
When Taln woke again, Rayne stood over him.
She smiled weakly. “Hey. How are you doing, honey?”
“I’ve had better days,” he said, furrowing his brow. “I’m hurt.”
“I know. They gave you about fifty stitches.”
Taln stared at her, waiting for her to speak about Jesse or Salisei. She didn’t say anything. It was painful for him to open his mouth and to speak at all.
“Jesse is going to be okay.”
She swallowed before she continued talking.
“The doctors are working hard on your sister.”
Taln set his gaze on hers. “Working hard doing what?”
“They’re helping her.”
He sighed. “Helping her with what?”
Rayne put her hand over his. Taln thought it was warm and sticky with sweat but it seemed rude to move it. She looked like she was about to break down.
She took a deep breath before she spoke. “Your sister is really hurt. The doctors are trying to make sure that she—”
“Survives?”
She nodded.
He closed his eyes and sighed. “Can I see her? Please?”
“You’re hooked up to all these things. Jesse is still being seen to and—”
“Rayne—”
“You’re just not allowed in there. I promise you can see her once the doctors are all done with her. Okay?”
He rubbed his temple. “Jesse is going to be okay?”
“Yes. Jesse is going to be fine.”
Taln swallowed. “And Jon?”
Rayne sighed. “Look, just don’t worry about anyone right now, okay? You’re going to get better. And then—then we can talk about everything else, okay? The police are going to come in here and ask you questions about what happened. Just tell them the truth, but uh…”
“What?”
“Try to keep descriptions of your background to a minimum. Like if they steer the conversation towards your back story, try to talk about the attack instead. Otherwise, everything is going to get sidetracked. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Will I be able to see them after that?”
“Yes, sweetheart, you’ll be able to see them.”
* * *
A few long, long hours had passed before Taln was let into a small room to see his sister. He was in a wheelchair—he’d fought against it, but his doctor had told him that she wouldn’t allow him to move at all unless he was sitting down.
He could barely see Salisei’s face. There were bandages wrapped over her head. Her face was swollen. There was a tube coming out of her mouth, several lines coming out of her hand and leading to this odd cylindrical machine that Taln didn’t know the name of.
Peter was sitting on a chair next to her. He looked sickly.
“What’s happening?”
“She’s—we did everything we could, Taln. I’m so sorry.”
“She’s breathing,” he replied.
“Yes. That just complicates things. I assume you have power of attorney? You may want to consider getting in touch with your parents in any case. They should probably know what’s happened to their daughter.”
“My parents?”
“Taln, do you understand what I’m saying?”
“You’re saying I need to call my parents because—because she’s dying.”
“Not exactly,” he replied. “She’s not dying anymore. She’s being artificially kept alive by all these machines and—”
“Where’s Jesse? I want to talk to Jesse.”
* * *
He was still talking but Taln had stopped listening a while ago. He felt Jesse’s hand on his shoulder. He thought it was meant to be reassuring but he wasn’t sure. He was sitting next to Salisei, holding his hand over her, trying to use any magic he had left.
But there was nothing.
“Taln,” Jesse said.
“It’s not working,” Taln said, his voice breaking.
“I know.”
He sighed, putting his arm on his lap. “Why are there so many things poking her if there’s nothing to do?”
Jesse exhaled sharply. “It’s complicated. She’s a minor and there’s some legal shit that needs to be taken into account, I guess? I’m not really sure how to answer that.”
“But she’s breathing,” he said, again. He was sure he’d said it several times.
“Right,” Jesse said. “That’s ‘cause of the tube in her mouth. That means that she’s getting help to breathe right now. And if they take it out, she won’t be able to do it.”
“So, if they keep the tube in, she’ll wake up.”
“No,” Jesse said. “I’m so sorry. She’s not waking up.”
“Ever?”
Jesse shook his head. “I’m so sorry,” he repeated.
Except for the tubes, Salisei she looked almost normal as thought she was asleep. Except she was dead. The first time she’d actually been on a real bed, not one of the cots, and she was dead.
Jesse watched him. He wasn’t in a wheelchair—the bulk of his injuries had been around his face. He was wearing an eye patch and every time he opened his mouth blood dribbled down his chin.
“Where is Jon?”
“I don’t know,” Jesse said. “I think he may have been arrested. I don’t know, I haven’t asked where he is. I was more worried about you.”
“He’s not dead?”
“No. He’s not dead.”
“He’s going to come after you until you are.”
“No, that’s not true,” Jesse said. “He was just drunk. He’s never like this when he’
s sober. Anyway, it was my fault for letting you open the door. If I wasn’t being lazy, I would’ve just been able to defuse the situation by talking to him.”
“You nearly died last time you spoke to him.”
“That was also my fault. It’s not like he has a key to my house, you know? I have to let him in. And I have, every time. And now—I don’t even know how to tell you how sorry I am. I am so sorry.”
Taln closed his eyes. “Stop. Stop telling me you’re sorry. This isn’t your fault.”
“It’s just that—”
“Jesse.”
“What?”
“Stop.”
Jesse sighed. “Okay. I’ll give you some space.”
Taln swallowed. “No. Stay.”
“You sure?”
“Yes,” he said. “I’m sure.”
* * *
Taln held his head. It was late and the room was completely dark. Every time he heard footsteps outside, it felt like he was being punched in the head again. His ears hurt, too.
Jesse sat on the sofa, his eyes closed. He had finally fallen asleep. The nurse had insisted that he go to his own room but Jesse had ignored him. Taln hadn’t said anything. He didn’t even know if he could remember the past few hours—whether he was asleep or awake.
The headache was weird.
He hadn’t been in pain for a while. The medications—that was what they called their healing magic, he thought—had mostly worked. His sides were throbbing and his eyes were dry.
He tried not to groan when he felt another pang of pain in his head spreading through his body like a wave. He stifled a cough and shut his eyes tightly. He wanted to sleep but he hadn’t been able to let his mind drift enough.
There were so many things going through his head. Every time he let one thought go, something else popped back into his mind. There was nothing he could do.
Jon.
He needed to get him.
Taln wasn’t strong enough yet, but as soon as he was, he would be able to get him. He needed to be able to get him. He didn’t understand why Jesse blamed himself.
Someone in Jesse’s standing wouldn’t be trained in combat.
He had been a little surprised that Jon was. That was the reason he had been thrown off. That was the reason he had allowed any of this to happen.
He needed to protect Jesse.
Maybe that was the reason he was here. Jesse wasn’t able to protect himself.
He looked at Salisei on the bed and sighed deeply. That had been his fault. If he had just convinced her to go back, if he had just managed to actually protect them, none of this would have happened.
Even the powerful magic of this realm wouldn’t be able to wake her up.
Nothing could.
I can.
Taln looked around him, wondering where the voice had come from.
“Isocrice?”
Silence. I’m in your head. I can hear your thoughts. You don’t want to disturb your companion.
He set his gaze on Jesse and nodded.
Please help her, he thought. If you can.
The communication in his head wasn’t exactly like a conversation. Everything felt stilted—it took her seconds to answer and her voice was slurred but reverberant, as if she was trapped inside Taln’s head.
My magic is useless in that realm. You must bring her here if you want her to be healed.
Taln stared at Jesse. But I’ve been banished.
Long seconds passed.
You have learned your lesson. You have completed your sentence. You may come back now.
Taln sighed. Can’t you just take her back and heal her?
I’m not powerful enough, Isocrice replied. You must bring her to the transport point. She will not be able to make the journey by herself, she needs a chaperone.
Taln rubbed his temple. And after you heal me, you will be able to send me back here?
Five seconds passed. Ten seconds passed. Taln’s heart accelerated with each one. It became more and more intense every time he closed his eyes, expecting to hear her voice. He knew what she was going to say, and his stomach churned with nausea.
I can’t.
Dizziness spun him.
I don’t have much time, Taln. Bring her to the transport point before night falls again. The power of my magic is limited.
He wanted to ask her something, but the pain abruptly stopped. He sighed and looked around the room before leaning back and studying the ceiling.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Jesse struggled to open the can of soda. His fingers were slippery and cold. He groaned as he finally managed to pop it open, the pressurized content exploding all of over his arms. He swore and looked up, trying to find the nearest trash can, when he saw a panicked Rayne running towards him.
He smiled, rolling his eyes. “Rayne, do you know where I can—”
“Your parents are here,” she said.
He tried to process what she was saying. The words sounded so strange, Jesse wondered if she was speaking a different language. He raised his eyebrows.
“Your parents,” she repeated, very slowly this time. “They’re here.”
“Do you mean, like, here in the hospital?”
“They’re coming up the elevator right now, Jesse.”
Jesse’s eyes widened. “You’re joking.”
“Nope.”
“Fuck, alright. Shit. Um. What am I supposed to do? Should I hide?”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“Don’t social worker me right now!” He replied, moving the can in his hand and getting the soda everywhere. Rayne took half a step back and watched him.
“Well, they know where your room is. So if you want—”
“Come on,” Jesse said and started running towards the fire exit.
“You’re just going to—”
“Get some air,” he replied. “If you don’t want to come with me, that’s fine.”
“You’re hurt.”
“I’m not hurt—okay, I am, but I can’t see them right now. Seeing my mother is the last thing I need,” he pushed the fire exit open and started running down the stairs, Rayne struggling to catch up behind him. “How am I going to explain any of this?”
Rayne smiled between pants. “Well, that’s the beauty of it. You’re an adult. You don’t have to explain anything to them.”
He stopped walking when he got to a landing, doubling over and holding his knees. “I’m not—wait, what?”
“Jesse, you don’t have to explain anything to your mother anymore,” she replied, sitting down on the stairs and fidgeting with her necklace. Jesse wondered if she was going to break it. His hand and forearm were cold and sticky with soda, the can still in his hand.
“I probably have to explain my face.”
“Not really,” she replied. “You don’t owe her anything.”
He looked at the floor. “I guess that means I have to go back to my room.”
“Yeah. But not right now.”
* * *
Taln looked up when he heard footsteps approaching his sister’s bedroom. Jesse walked into the room and sat down on the sofa, looking extremely pale. Taln wondered if he was going to throw up.
“Hey,” he said. “So—actually, forget it.”
Taln tilted his head. “What?”
“You have enough to deal with.”
“Yes. I would like some distraction.”
Jesse sighed. “This isn’t pleasant.”
“I did not ask for that.”
“Okay, well, my parents are here. And I can’t—I’m not really sure if I can face them by myself. But I can’t ask you to do anything about that, I mean, that wouldn’t be fair.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Nothing,” Jesse replied. “I just need you to be there. If you want to be.”
“Sure,” he said.
“Right. So I just need you in the room with me. I don’t really want you to have to leave your sister…�
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“She isn’t alive.”
“I don’t know. That’s a complicated question.”
Taln shrugged. “That wasn’t really a question.”
“I don’t know,” Jesse repeated. “I don’t really feel good about this. I think I’m being selfish because I’m freaking out.”
Taln furrowed his brow before he spoke. “What’s wrong with being selfish?”
Jesse swallowed. He was sure there was an answer for Taln’s question, but his mind was totally blanking. He did need Taln. And Taln wasn’t opposed to it.
“Right, come on, then. Let’s go to my room.”
“Are you okay, Jesse? You look—worse than you did before.”
Jesse rubbed his temple. “My parents scare me more than Jon ever did, to be honest with you. They’re a force to be reckoned with. The worst part is that they’re sneaky about it. So just make sure that you answer their questions with just yes or no answers. I mean, I don’t think you’ll have any problem with it, you’re so literal. I just mean because they’ll use whatever information they have to manipulate and—I don’t even know why I’m briefing you. Just like, I don’t know. I’m scared.”
“I’m sorry you’re scared,” Taln said. “Do you need me to protect you?”
“Hah, no, not that type of scared,” Jesse replied. “And I really wish you hadn’t done that.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know,” he said, looking away from Taln. “I just really wish that you hadn’t.”
“Should I be apologizing?”
“No, please don’t apologize. That will probably only make me feel worse. We need to talk about this, just—not right now,” Jesse replied. “Come on. Let’s go to my room. Get this out of the way with, okay? Then we can talk. Extensively. Which we obviously need to do.”
“Okay,” Taln said. “That sounds adequate.”
Jesse smiled. “Adequate is the right word. Seriously. If we don’t go now I’m going to lose my nerve.”
“Okay. I’ll follow you.”
* * *
Taln didn’t really understand why Jesse seemed afraid of these people. The woman sitting at the foot of the bed was small, with black hair tied up in a ponytail. She was wearing a blue blouse and dark trousers. She had put a lot of cosmetics on her face and her skin looked shiny under the neon light in the room.