FRACTURED

by Amber Lynn Natusch

Withouthesitation,Idid.

  IwasmetwiththesameglowingorbthatI'dseenwhenIsawmy parents.Butinsteadofthem,thefigureofafemalefloatedbeforeme, bathinginthegloriouslightsurroundingher.Thesightofherwas breathtaking.

  “It'snotyourtimeyet,”shesaidwhileherhandlightlycaressedmy throat.“He'ssendingyouback.”Herhandshonewiththesamewhite brilliancethatpermeatedwhateverrealmwewerein.Theheatitbrought tomywoundwasn'tuncomfortableatall,thoughIhadexpecteditwould be;insteaditwaswarmandcomforting.Myeyeswerehavinggreat difficultyadaptingtothebrightnessaroundme,andIfoughthardtosee theangelofmercywhosoughttohealme.

  ButI couldsee.

  “Sendingmeback?”Iasked,squintinghard.

  “Yes.Hesaiditisn'ttimeforyoutoleaveyet,”shereplied,leaning closertosheltermefromthelight.

  “Hewho?”

  “Whodoyouthink?”shechuckledwithasmileinhervoice.“You haveajobtodo,Ruby.Yoursisnotyetdone.”

  Asmyeyesadaptedintheshadesheprovidedmewith,Itriedto absorbwhatshewassaying. Youhaveajobtodo.... Partofmefearedas towhatexactlythatjobwas.Theotherhalfwashappytosignonfor whatevertaskwasnecessarytoletmelive.

  Sensingmyinitialuneaseatherwords,shepressedforwardfurther untilsheblockedouttheradiancealmostcompletely.IstartledatwhatI saw.Herbeautywasethereal,butmoreimportantly,itwasfamiliar.The darkhair,oliveskin,andperfectfacewerenearenoughtoconfirmmy suspicions,buttheeyessealedthedeal.Theysparkledlikefreshspring grass,lightlycoveredindew.Likeglowingemeralds.

  Shelookedatmeknowinglyasthoughshecouldreadmythoughts.

  “You'regoodforSean.Youbringoutasideofhimthathasn'tbeen seenbefore.Notforalong,longtime.He needsyou,Ruby.”Shewrapped herarmsaroundme,pullingmeintightlyagainsther.Theunadulterated loveandgoodnessthatresonatedfromherbroughttearstomyeyes.

  NeveragainwouldIfeelsomethingthatpure,thatheavenly.“AndScarlet needsyoutoo.Theburdenyoucarryisforbothofyoutobear,andbearit youshall. Together.”Withthosewords,Ifeltanabsentbutfamiliar stirringinmymind.

  Thebeasthadbeenawakened.

  ShepulledawayfrommejustenoughsothatIcouldseeherface.

  “Imustleaveyounow,”shewhispered,herexpressionforlorn.“I havefixedthatwhichyoucouldnotmend.Therestisuptoyou.”

  IstaredupatherwithemotionsIcouldnotcomprehend.Neverin mylifehadIfeltsuchloveandpeace.Notevenfrommyparents.

  “Areyou―”

  “Givehimyourlove,Ruby,”shesaidbeforepullingawayagain, floatingoffquicklytowhenceshecame.“Givehimminetoo.”

  Ishotofftheground,gaspingforairlikesomeonelongsubmerged underwaterhadjustbrokenthesurface.WhenIopenedmyeyes,Icould seeSeanwaitingatmyside.

  “Icouldn'tgettoyou,”hesaidsoftly,caressingmythroatgently.

  “Thelight...therewassomuchlight...”

  “Anangel,”Iwhispered,stillstunned.“Itwasan angel.Shesaved me.”

  Hisfacewentblank.

  “Anangel?”heaskedwiththehopeandaweofachild.“Areyou sure?”

  “Itwasyourmother,Sean,”Itoldhim,sittingmyselfuptolook himinhiseyes.“Yourmothersentmeback.”

  34

  Hesaidnothingafterthat.

  Afterafewmomentsofstaringatmeblankly,hehelpedmestand, movingtoscoopmeupinhisarms,butIrefusedtolethimcarryme.

  AlthoughIwasslightlyweakfromthebloodloss,itfeltgoodtobeable towalkonmyownagain,andIrelishedtheopportunitytodoso.With mysightreturned,thatburdenwasliftedoffmyshoulders.

  Butanotherwasputuponthem.SightmeantScarlet,andScarlet meanttroublewithSean.TroubleIwasn'treadytodealwith.Hismother mayhavemendedthatwhichwasbrokenbetweenScarletandmyself physically,butshedidnothingtorestorethetrustthatwaslost―the communicationeither.Scarlet,thoughpresent,wasutterlyhiddenaway, andthistimeitwasofherownvolition.Thegrowingsenseofuneasethat Ifeltwashardtocontain.

  Scarletfearednothing―orverylittle,atleast.Whatevershewas hidingfrom,consequencesorotherwise,couldnothavebeengood.I wantedtofindoutwhatshehaddonebeforeSeancouldgettoher.If damagecontrolwasneeded,itwasinmybestinteresttobefully prepared.

  AsSeanandImadeourwaytothevehicle,hefilledmeinonthe highpointsofthebattlethatIhadbeentoobusydyingtobeanactive partof.He'dapparentlymadeshortworkofTobias―the realone―once hisbargainingchipwastakenoutoftheequation.Tobyreallyhadbeena cleverlittlebugger,organizingeverythingthathadhappenedtous,from theplannedbattleinBostontotheambushatmyapartmentthatledusto believethatallwassafe.Seandidn'tsaymuchabouthowhegotthat informationfromTobiasbeforehedied,butI'msureitwasbothcreative andexcruciatinglypainful.IwassorryImissedthat,thoughIdoubted Seanwas.Hedidn'twantmetoseehiminaction.Hewasstillsensitive aboutmeseeingwhathewascapableof.

  Whohewascapableofbeing.

  Tochangethesubject,Iaskedhowmyboysweredoing.Sean becameslightlyguardedatmerementionofthem,informingmethatJay andthebrothershadroundedthemupandtakenthembacktothefirst floorofSean'sbuilding.Theyhadtofigureoutwhatneededtobedone withthem.HavingbeentoonlythesecondandthirdfloorsofSean's place,Iwasalittleconcernedaboutwhatexactlyhehadsetuponthe floorIhadn'tyetseen.

  Iwantedtoaskhimoncewegotinthecar,butIfoundmyselfata lossforwords,and,apparentlyhewastoo.Nearlytheentiredrivehome wasspentincompletesilencewithonlythehumoftheBMW'smotorto offersomeauditorystimulation.Icaughthimlookingatmetwiceoutof thecornerofmyeye,butIcouldn'treadhisexpression.Disbelief, jealousy,love―theywereallintheresomewhere,butchangedtoo rapidlytotellforsurewhichonedominated,orwhotheyappliedto.

  Aswepulledintotown,Seanwasthefirsttobreakthequiet betweenus.

  “Wheredoyouwanttogo?”heasked,eyesstillfocusedonthe road.

  Ihesitatedslightlybeforeanswering.Itwasaterriblyloaded question.Turningtofacehim,Iwhisperedthreesimplewordsthattold himeverythinghecouldhaveeverwantedtoknow.

  “Whereveryouare.”

  Hismouthpressedintoathinlineinresponse.

  “ThenmightIsuggestnotdraggingyourthroatacrossabladelike thateveragain?”hesaid,withtheslightestedgeofhostility.“BecauseI cannotfollowyouwhenyouare dead. ”Aninkyblackpervadedhisirises, swallowingwhateverlightwaspresentinthedimlylitvehicle.“Not easily...”

  “I'msorry―”

  “Iknowyouare,Ruby,”hesaid,takingmyhandinhis.“AndI knowwhyyoudidit,soletmemakesomethingverycleartoyouright now.Never,underanycircumstances,areyoutodo anythingthat sacrificesyourwell-beingformineoranyoneelse's.Doyouhearme?”

  Inoddedsilently.

  “Sayit.Outloud.”

  “Iwon'tsacrificemyselfforyouoranyoneelseIlove,”Imumbled, knowingthatitwasn'tentirelytrue.

  “Itwillnevercometothat...”hewhisperedsoberlybeforequickly composinghimself.“Promisemeyouwon't.”

  “Ipromise.”

  Hisblackeyessearchedmineuntilhewassatisfiedwithwhathe saw,thenturnedbacktowatchtheroadaswenearedhisapartment.

  “IhavetodealwiththeboyswhenIgethome.Areyousureyou wanttogo?Youmaynotlikewhatyousee,”hesaidhesitantly.Hewas invitingmeintoPCbusiness―somethinghe'dneverdonebefore.Itwas anolivebranchofsorts,andIwasdamnsureIwasgoingtotakeit.Iwas worriedaboutwhatwasgoingtohappentoTobias'packmembers―if therewereanyofthemstillbre
athing―especiallyJanner,Ali,andBecks.

  Ididn'twanttobelieveCooperwasintrouble,butIjustcouldn'tbesure thathewasoutofharm'swayeither.Ineededtoseeformyself.

  Weparkedthecararoundbackandtookanentirelydifferentroute intothebuilding.I'dneverknownitexisted.Itledtoanarrow,darkened tunnelthatendedinasmallstaircase.Attheendofthatwasasingledoor madeofthickreinforcedsteel.Theimplicationswerenotpleasantfor whatIwouldfindinside.

  Withoutaword,Seanunlockedthedoorwithasecuritycodeand swungitopenforme.IfrozewhenIlookedinside.Rowsofcellsfully equippedwithmetalbars―betterdescribedasbeamsduetotheir extremethickness―welcomedmeintotheroom.Itwasajailforthe supernatural,andoccupyingthosecellswereallthosewhoremained fromtheoldVictorianoutsideoftown.Bythelooksofit,notmanymade itoutalive.

  ThatthoughtrattledmeandIquicklysearchedforthefacesI neededtosee.InthecellclosesttomewasJanner,andbesidehimwas Becks.FurtherdownwasamanIdidn'trecognize,thenanother,then Cooper―they'dchainedhimtothefloorforgoodmeasure.Icouldonly imaginethefightheputuponcehesnappedoutofTobias'hold.

  Iwrenchedmyheadaround,tryingtolocateanyothersurvivors,but couldn'tseeanyoneelsefrommyvantagepoint.WhenItriedtostepinto theroomtolookmoreclosely,Iwasstoppedshortbyahandaroundmy wrist.

  “Notyet,”Seanwarned.“We'renotsurewhat'struthandwhat's illusionatthispoint.Wedon'tknowthattheeffectshavewornoffyet,or ifthey'lleverwearoffatall.I'mnotlettingyounearthemuntilIknow forsure.”

  “ButAlistair.Idon'tseehim.Whereishe?”

  “Heisn'there,Ruby,”Jannercalledout,hisvoiceassaddenedas theenergythatlazilyfloatedmydirection.Hewasdevastated.

  “Where?Whereishe?”Iasked,lookingtoSeanfortheanswersI didn'thave.I'dmissedsomuchwhilebeinghealedbyhismother.

  Apparentlytoomuch.

  “Hewasreallybadlyhurt,”Seanreplied,hisvoicelowand controlled.“Heisn'there.”

  “How?Whohurthim?”

  Sean'sgripflinchedeversoslightlyatmyfinalquestion,andmy heartsank.IfSeanwastheonetoharmhim,thenIdoubtedthattherewas muchleftintactwhenhewasthrough.

  “Whatdidyoudo,Sean?”Iasked,lookingathimwithtear-filled eyes.

  “WhatIhadto.”

  Igulpedhardagainstthesobthreateningtoescape.DeepdownI knewthattheboysnevermeanttoharmme.Tobiashadbeenusingthem aspawnsforalongtimetodohisbidding,andcollectingmewasjust anotherplayinhisultimatequestforpower.TheenergyIfeltfromthem thatnightwasasguardedandwalledoffasever.Tobiaswasworking hardtokeepthemincheck.ButIhadfeltthemwhenthatenergywas down,andinthosemoments,Iknewthattheywereauthenticand genuine.ThosewerethemenIfearedfor―themenIcaredabout.

  “Sean,”Istarted,tryinghardtokeepmyemotionsincheck.“Where isAlinow?”

  Hisgrimexpressiondidnothingtocalmme.

  “Upstairs.Inmyapartment.”

  Notgivinghimachancetosayanythingelse,Iboltedforthedoor, andsurprisingly,nobodymovedtostopme.NotevenSean.

  Iflewthroughtheoutsidedoorandtorearoundtothefrontofthe building.Takingthreestepsatatime,Ireachedthethirdfloorinseconds andslammedtheeight-digitcodeintothekeypad.Theseconditbeeped approval,Ifaltered.WhatexactlywasIgoingtowalkinonandfind?

  Seanwouldn'thavelefthimthereunlesstherewasnothreatfromhim, andmyguesswasthatifhewasbreathing,he'dhavebeenperceivedasa liability.

  IgnoringtherisingpanicIfelt,Ienteredthevastspacetoan unexpectedscene.Jaystood,heavilyarmed,hoveringoverthe couch―anditsbarelybreathingoccupant.

  “Ali!”Iscreamed,divingtowardshim.“OhmyGod,you'realive!”

  “Easy,Ruby,”Jaysaid,stoppingmejustbeforeIcouldgetto Alistair.“Don'ttouchhim.It'llonlymakeitworse.”

  “But...butwhy?Icanhelphimheal,Jay.Ijustneedtobeclose enough.”

  “Ruby,”Jaysnapped,spinningmebymyshoulderstofacehim.

  “He'sfullofsilver.Nothingyoucandowillstopthis.You'llonlyprolong hissuffering.”

  “Thenwhydon'tyoujustputhimoutofhismisery?”Isnapped back,thinkingthatJaywasdoingexactlywhatheaccusedmeofdoing.

  “Answers,”herepliedcoolly.“Seanwantsanswers.”

  BeforeIcouldevenbegintosharemythoughtsonhisanswer,a voicedistractedme.

  “Ruby?”Alistaircalledtome.“I'msosorry.Youhavetoknow that―”

  “Iknowyoudidn'tmeanto,”Ireplied,chokingbackmytears.He didn'tneedtoseemefallapart.Heneededmetoholdmyshittogether.

  “Justlaystill,please.I'mgoingtofiguresomethingout.Justrest.Save yourenergy.”

  IstaredJaydownhard,knowingIwaslikelyabouttostartafight.

  “Whyisn'tPeytahere?”Igrowled.

  “Seanwon'tlethernearthem.”Hisexpressionwasunfazedbymy mentionofthesprite-likegirlthathe'donceloved.Likelystillloved.

  “We'llseeaboutthat,”Isnarledbeforestormingoutoftheroom.

  IwasinthebasementbeforeIknewit,rememberingnothingofmy tripthere.Iwasonamission,andmyragewasgrowing.Alistairwasn't goingtodiethatway.NotifI,orPeyta,couldhelpit.

  “Sean!”Iscreameddownthenarrowcorridor.

  Heemergedimmediately.

  “Shecan'tcomehere,”hestarted,knowingexactlywhatIwasabout todemand.

  “Ican'tlethimdielikethis,Sean.”

  “Iknowit'shard,Ruby,butthere'snothingtobedone.”

  “Goddammit!”Ishouted,slammingmyfistintothewall,breaking afewbonesagainstthecinderblockformyefforts.

  “I'msorry,”hewhispered,movinginonme.

  “NO!”Ispat.“Notnow.Ican'tdealwiththisnow,Sean.You pepperedhimfullofsilver!”

  “IdidwhatIhadtodotokeepTobiasfromescaping.Heusedthem likeshields,Ruby,”hegrowled,eyesdarkening.“Itwasachoicebetween takingAlidownorCooper.Wouldyouhavepreferredthealternative?”

  Myheartstoppedcold.“Ididn'tthinkso.”

  “Letmecallher,Sean,please.Ifshewantstodothis,willyoulet her?Willyouletherhelphimifyou'retherewithher?Jaytoo?Hell,all ofyoucanbetheretokeephersafe,Idon'tcare.Whatwillittake?”

  Atsomepointinmyrant,thetearsbrokefree,andItastedthesalty sadnessastheyrolledovermylips.Hisexpressiongrewincreasingly pained.

  “Callher.”

  Isnatchedthephoneheofferedmeoutofhishandlikeagreedy childanddialedher.Sheansweredrightaway.

  “Sean?What'swrong?”

  “Peyta,it'sme.It'soneofthenewguys,Alistair.He'sdying.They usedsilveronhim.He'llneverhealitonhisown,”Icried,unableto controlmyoverwhelmingemotions.“Canyouhelphim?”

  Shepausedforonlyabriefmomentbeforeanswering.

  “Yes.Ofcourse.I'llberightthere.”

  “I'matSean'splace.”

  “Okay.Thereinfive.”

  Itwasthelongestfiveminutesofmylife.

  35

  “He'salive,”IyelledouttoJannerandtheothersbeforepushingpast Seantoseethem.Disregardinghisearlierwarning,Iwalkedstraightinto theprison-likeroomandovertoCooper.Mindcontrolornot,Ihadtosee him.

  WhenIarrivedathiscell,hehadhisbacktome,stillsittingonthe floorandshackledtoit.Isatdownnexttothebarsandtriedtoreachhim throughthem,buthewastoofaraway.Andhewouldn'tlookatme.

  “Coop?”Icalledsoftly,lettingmyvoicetellhimeverythingwasall right.“Cooper,it'sme.I'mfine.Please...”
/>   Buthewouldn'trespond.Istartedtogetanxiousandevenbacked awayfromthecellslightly,wonderingifmaybeTobias'littleexperiment hadpermanentlydamagedhim.Ormaybehehadn'tsnappedoutofitat all.

  “Cooper,answerme. Now,”Iordered,tryingtoquashthefear threateningtoovertakeme.“Ineedtoknowyou'reokay.Thatyou're you again.”

  Withhisheadhunglow,heturnedtomeslowly,lookingeverybit asdejectedasheclearlyfelt.HiseyesweresofilledwithsorrowthatI couldbarelystandtolookdirectlyintothem.Thenthewaveofguiltand sadnessslammedintome,andInearlyfelloverfromtheassault.

  “Cooper,”Isaid,reachingforhimonceagain.“Iknowitwasn'tyou backthere.YouhavetoknowthatIknowthat.Youneverwouldhurtme orallowmetobehurt.”

  “ButIdid,Ruby,”hereplied,turninghisgazetothefloor.“That's exactlywhatIdid.Ifailedyou...”

  “Butitwasn'tyourfault.”

  Heignoredme.

  “Sean.Please.Can'twelethimout?”

  “Istillcan'triskit,Ruby.”

  “He'sright,Rubes.It'stoochancy.”

  Isighed,knowingthatIwasn'tgoingtobeabletobudgeeitherof themontheissueuntilwehadanswers.

  “Fine,”Isnipped,lookingbackintoCooper'scell.“ThenI'm comingin.”

  IstoodandmarchedtowardSean,hellbentontakingthekeysfrom him,butthesoundofthehallwayentranceopeningwaylaidmycourseof action.

  “Peyta!”

  Isprinteddownthehalltomeether,whiskingherbackoutsideand aroundtothefront,thenupthestairstoSean'sapartment.Jayheardus comingandopenedthedoortomeetus.IfeltPeytafreezebesideme whenshesawhim.Jaylookedimpassive,butIfeltthesurgeofemotions thatseeingPeytabroughtoutofhim.Hereallydidloveher.

  “Thereisn'tmuchtime,”hetoldus,leadingthewaytothecouch.

  Jaywasright.Ali'sbreathingwasmoreofashallowandfeeble panting―hiscolorpaleandsallow.Alightdewcoveredhimand glistenedinthemoonlightpouringinthroughthevastwallofwindows nearthecouch.Hehadminutesleftatbest.

  Withoutfurtherprovocation,PeytawasbyAli'ssideassessingthe situationlikeapro.Itwasaproudandsadmomentforme.Shewas tryingtoembracehercalling,butIwishedshedidn'thaveto.Theprice shepaidwastoohigh.