Minutes later Lisa was climbing into an ambulance with Corinne, clutching Corinne's purse, tears running down her face. Cullen was being loaded into another ambulance. Lisa pressed a hand to her mouth to keep from crying out loud. "I did this," she whispered to Corinne.
Corinne was so pale she looked gray. Around her lips was a distinctive blue color that horrified Lisa. "She's pregnant," she said unnecessarily to the paramedics, "and she has a bad heart."
An oxygen mask covered Corinne's face. She looked small and helpless, very vulnerable and fragile. Already broken. As if she had already gone far away from Lisa. Lisa took a firm hold of her hand, wanting to cling to her, to prevent Corinne from slipping away. "Is she going to be all right?"
The ambulance was moving very fast, the paramedics talking on their radio, putting things into Corinne's IV. None of them looked directly at Lisa, and none answered her question. She touched Corinne's stomach, the baby. John and Corinne's baby. She didn't want to lose either of them. And if the worst happened and Corinne's heart gave out, Lisa wanted that tiny little part of her to live. "It's too early for you, baby," she crooned softly. "Way too early."
At the hospital Lisa was hustled out of the emergency room. She could only watch helplessly as they rushed Cullen into a cubicle beside Corinne. A policewoman came in after a long while to talk to her, but nobody said anything about Corinne or Cullen. Eventually the waiting room was filled with people: her photographer, her agent, Frank the security guard. The one person she looked for, waited for, knew she could lean on, the one person she dreaded most, didn't come.
Dayan. She would never be able to look him in the eye. Why hadn't she just listened to them all? Lisa hadn't wanted it all to be true. Murders didn't happen to regular people; she and Corinne were finished with that world. She had worked hard and found a new life. One that didn't include murder. She sat quietly, her fists clenched tightly, wanting to cry and cry forever.
Dayan lay locked in the earth, counting the minutes until he could rise without danger. He burst from the soil, dirt spewing like a geyser as he shot into the sky, shape-shifting as he did so. The sun was low but had not set, and the light hit his eyes so that they burned and wept. Or maybe it wasn't the sun. Dayan didn't know for certain as he winged his way swiftly across the sky toward the hospital where she lay.
His world. His life. The best part of him. She lay dying in a hospital. He knew it. He felt it. He kept his mind firmly merged with hers so that she couldn't possibly release her spirit from her dying body. 'You will hold on.' He commanded it with every fiber of his being, bent his entire will to ensure her obedience.
'I am so tired.'
'Rest then, but you will not let go.'
'I hear them talking. They do not think they can save my baby.' There was sorrow in her mind, in her heart. A terrible weariness as if she had given up along with the doctors, as if she could no longer continue to struggle against the tremendous odds.
'Do not leave me alone!' he cried out. It was a plea. An order. No one needs you as I do. Do not leave me alone ever again.'
'Dayan. You are strong. So very strong. There will be another for you.'
Even in her darkest hour she was thinking of him. Of Cullen and Lisa. She was piecing it together in her mind. Their future. Their happiness. She arranged it the way she thought would work best.
Dayan surrounded her waning spirit, locked her firmly to him. 'There will never be another for me. Never. Should I survive your loss and continue for all eternity, I would no longer be me, but something hideous, an abomination. An evil monster. I will not become such a creature. I would choose to follow you into the next life. We are one, Corinne. One. There is no Dayan without Corinne. You have no choice but to live. For the daughter you carry inside you. For me. For our unborn children. For Lisa. I will not release you. Not now. Not ever.'
He was much closer now, moving swiftly as the sun sank below the horizon. Colors splashed the sky blood red, and the wind was beginning to pick up, an ominous sign. Dayan was no longer the easygoing poet, the gentle man Corinne knew. He was a male Carpathian at full strength, and something was threatening his lifemate.
He strode unseen past the doctors and nurses, leaving a freezing cold in his wake. Past Lisa, huddled in the room where Cullen lay pale and bandaged and still unconscious. Dayan spared his friend a quick glance, attempting to assess the damage as he hurried to Corinne. Without her, he couldn't help Cullen or anyone else. His first thought, his first duty, was to Corinne.
She lay on the bed, hooked up to lines and bottles. She was very pale, almost transparent. Despite the oxygen, there was a blue tint around her mouth. Corinne looked small and thin beneath the single cover. She looked a mere child, a waxen doll. She was laboring hard for each breath. Leads ran from her heart to a machine and from her abdomen to another machine. Dayan stood looking down at her, his heart in his throat. She looked so fragile, he was afraid to touch her.
There was a familiar stirring in his mind. Warmth. Reassurance. Total confidence. 'Dayan? We are much closer. Bring her to the healers. We are gathering.' It was Darius. His friend. His family. Darius could always be counted on.
Dayan allowed himself to breathe. 'Cullen is in need. I cannot take the time to attend him. I will hold Corinne to me as long as I am able, but should I lose her, I will choose her path at once. I did not bind her and there has been no blood exchange, so I do not have the control needed for such a fight.'
'You do have it, Dayan. You will not allow her to slip away from you.' As always, Darius was completely confident. 'I will send help to Cullen. Barack and Syndil will go to him. He knows them and he will not be distressed. Come to us now. Bring your lifemate that together we may save her life.'
Dayan knelt beside the bed and took Corinne's hand. For a moment it lay there in his larger palm limply, but then slowly her fingers curled around his. He watched her long lashes flutter before she managed to open her eyes. "Dayan." There was a smile in her voice. "I think I was dreaming about you, or were we just talking?" Her voice was so low, such a faint thread of sound, he would never have heard her if he didn't have such acute hearing.
"I do not suppose you are aware that I love you." He said the words against her temple, his lips brushing her pulse tenderly. "Did they talk to you? The doctors?"
"They don't have to talk to me. I know I'm dying." Her eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to lose the baby. I want her to live."
"Do you trust me, Corinne? Really trust me?"
Her eyes closed again as if it was too difficult to keep them open. "Yes, of course."
"No, honey, you have to know what you are saying. Do you trust me with your life? With the life of your baby?" He willed her to open her eyes and look at him.
She blinked up at him. "I know what I'm saying."
"I am going to take you out of here."
"They won't let you." She closed her eyes again. It was a struggle just to breathe. Carrying on a conversation was far too difficult.
"They cannot stop me."
Dayan studied the lines running in all directions for a few minutes, then as he unhooked her carefully, he produced the same rhythms as the monitors, simply using his brain to work them. He lifted her carefully into his strong arms and strode boldly right out of the room into the hall with her. He moved easily among the humans, shielding Corinne and himself from human eyes as he made his way out of the hospital and into the night.
It was darker now and storm clouds were beginning to swirl above their heads. In his arms Corinne shivered, unable to maintain her body temperature. Dayan automatically did it for her, holding their mindmerge, breathing for her, aiding her failing heart. He took two running steps and leapt into the air with his slight burden held close to his heart.
* * *
Chapter 10
Corinne heard the whisper of a voice. Faint. Far off. She loved that voice, the way it caressed her name, turned it into something sinfully intimate. Dayan was calling her. She was dreaming
, though, and it was a beautiful dream. She struggled to open her eyes. Voices surrounded her, seeped into her heart and soul. Strains of music. The sound of water. She became aware she was lying comfortably on something other than a bed. It seemed a great stone slab, but it didn't feel hard. She lifted her lashes and stared up at the ceiling of a cave. She was in a crystal cave!
Corinne looked around herself in sheer amazement. Everything was beautiful, a world of crystal and steam with the flickering light of a thousand candles. The air was scented with an aroma she had never smelled before, but she inhaled in an attempt to take it deep into her lungs. It was soothing, tranquil in this place, surreal even. She knew she was dreaming again, but if such a place could never actually exist, Corinne was grateful she could visit it in her dreams.
She watched the dancing shadows flickering on the walls of the cave. The steam rose and swirled lazily, forming interesting shapes. It was difficult to focus on any one thing, and Corinne allowed her gaze to drift around the large chamber. She seemed to be in a subterranean city of some kind. There were many entrances and large open areas that she could see, almost as if the cave had a network of tunnels and chambers that ran deeper and also rose above where she was resting. The chamber she was in seemed very large, and a pool of steaming water was to her left. When she looked closer, she could see she was in a series of underground caves, with large cathedral ceilings and a stream that moved through a maze of tunnels. Stalactites formed huge sculptural works of arts, hanging from the ceiling. They were dazzling to look at. It seemed a sparkling world of gems and colors.
It took a few moments to realize she wasn't alone. There were several people in the large chamber with her. They were all around her and chanting in a foreign language. It was like a beautiful melody, dark and mysterious, a sacred ritual of some kind. The men were very handsome, their faces sober and intent, the women beautiful beyond description. The chanting filled the underground chamber with the haunting rhythm of the earth itself so that Corinne began to feel it in her veins. It was running through her like a river, ebbing and flowing with the cycle of life.
The ritual didn't alarm her; in fact, she felt very secure lying there watching them all. She studied each of them for some sign that they were familiar to her. The men were exotically handsome. They wore their hair long, their bodies were trim. All of them were intimidating to look at, yet, strangely, she wasn't frightened. They resembled Dayan, as if they could be closely related. All of them were chanting, and their voices were beautiful.
Corinne turned her attention to the women. Three of the women had long dark hair flowing nearly to their waists, while the fourth had rich red hair. All of them were graceful in their movements. Corinne found herself watching them singing, admiring the way they moved, their gestures and voices, their uncommon grace. The pattern of their hands and the swaying of their bodies were mesmerizing to watch.
After a time she became aware of the hand holding hers firmly. Carefully, because it was almost too much trouble, she turned her head toward that side of her body. To her astonishment, Dayan was standing beside her, his fingers woven tightly with hers. He was chanting the same foreign words as the others in the cave. As dreams went, it was strange and yet utterly beautiful. Had she died? She felt she was deep within the ground, maybe near the center of the earth. It was warm, with steam rising from several of the pools of water, yet the frothy falls cascading out of the walls were icy cold.
Corinne was certain she hadn't died, because her head was throbbing terribly from where it had struck the rocks. Her body felt bruised and battered, and she was terribly tired. It hurt just to breathe. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was definitely alive, she decided.
Dayan leaned down to brush a kiss across her forehead, his warm breath a healing balm to the scrapes and bruises there. "This is my family, my people. I do not want you to be afraid, Corinne. Strange things may happen here, but one of our greatest healers will attempt to strengthen you and save your baby. I will be with you every step of the way."
Her eyes moved over his face. "You look so worried, Dayan." Her voice was soft and very loving in this unguarded moment.
Tears burned in his eyes, in his throat. He was breathing for her, regulating her heart, keeping her alive as effectively as the human machines had done. He bent closer so he could look directly into her eyes. "I want you to live, Corinne. Do you understand me? I need you to live for me."
She nodded, sudden tears swimming in her eyes. She wanted to be his world, the air he breathed. She wanted to listen to the sound of his beautiful voice for the rest of her life, watch his eyes go from bleak emptiness to sudden desire for her. Her body was slowly fading, and she knew that his faith in his healers would come to nothing. It was too late for her.
The chanting continued around her, and Corinne settled back into her dreamlike state. It didn't matter to her if any of it was real, she concentrated on the beauty of her surroundings and the symphony of voices to keep the fear of dying at bay. Most of all, she didn't want to think about her child. She had failed to give her daughter the necessary time to grow.
"Honey." Dayan's voice intruded again, catching her attention.
Corinne watched as a tall, slender woman with long black hair approached her. The woman smiled reassuringly. "Corinne, sister kin." She touched Corinne's hand with gentle fingers. "I am Desari, lifemate to Julian and sister to Dayan, now to you." Her voice was musical, soothing, a healing in itself. "We have with us one of our greatest healers." She turned to gesture toward a man with slashing silver eyes.
Corinne watched as the man glided to her side. He was more muscular than the other men, with long blue-black hair. Power emanated from him. He smiled down at her, softening the cruel edge of his mouth. He took her hand. "We are awaiting Shea, one well versed in the care of our infants. Please allow my brother Darius and me to do our best to delay the child's arrival until Shea's journey is complete."
For a moment Corinne could only stare at him, dazzled by his raw power. She was reluctant for the healer to touch her, to learn the truth. Like Dayan, Gregori seemed to believe he could somehow do what all the doctors had failed to do.
Desari gestured again and a second man came forward. He looked very much like Gregori, only with black eyes that seemed to suit his dark good looks. "My brother Darius, now your brother. He will assist Gregori in this attempt."
Darius bowed, a courtly gesture, then raised Corinne's limp fingers to his mouth. "Welcome to our family, little sister. We wish your permission to attempt to heal you."
Dayan brought Corinne's small hand to his mouth. "Please, honey. I know this is strange to you, but for me, please try whatever they ask of you. Shea and Jacques have not yet arrived, and we must delay the birth until we have Shea here. Without her, the chances of saving the baby are much less."
Corinne looked up at Dayan and was instantly lost in the black abyss of his eyes. He looked so vulnerable; his feelings for her were stark and unprotected, written in every line of his face. Dayan leaned closer. "I need you to do this, Corinne. Please trust me, baby; this one time, do this for me." His words were whispered intimately to her, his need so great it brought tears to her eyes.
Corinne nodded and allowed Gregori to take her left hand. How could she ever refuse Dayan anything when he looked at her like that? Her right hand remained firmly in Dayan's. She didn't want to be alone with her failing body and strangers with slashing eyes and far too much power.
Gregori closed his eyes and sent himself seeking outside his own body and into the mortal lying so frail before him. Her human heart was nearly useless. It was Dayan who supplied the power to keep Corinne going. Gregori moved on to examine the baby. The child was female. Aware. Too small to be born yet. Gregori reassured Corinne and moved quickly out again.
'There is little time. Without Dayan aiding her she would have died, and the child with her. Darius, the child is female and a strong psychic. We cannot afford to lose either of them.' Gre
gori spoke to his brother, but he used the common mental path every Carpathian used so all those present would understand the dire need. 'I will work on the woman, as it is imperative she live for both of them. You take care of the child.'
I have only done such a thing with Desari when she was an infant, never a babe in the womb.' Darius moved up beside Gregori and glanced once at Dayan. 'I will do what needs to be done.'
'She will need your blood, Dayan, and she must not fight the transfer. She does not have any strength to waste so make sure she accepts it willingly. Darius will monitor the baby to determine whether her body can accept your blood. You cannot convert your lifemate while the child resides in her. The child would not live through such a difficult transformation. At this time, neither would Corinne.' Gregori was in complete command, his voice confident as he gave instructions.
Dayan half lifted Corinne so he could sit on the slab, cradling her on his lap. He bent his head toward hers, enclosing them in a private world. "What I offer you is life, Corinne. For both of us." His breath stirred the thick mass of hair tumbling over her shoulders. She felt his lips traveling over her bare skin, his teeth scraping gently back and forth over her irregular pulse. He murmured something soft in his strange language.
Corinne felt herself slipping further and further into her dream world. With Dayan's arms around her and his body so close to hers, she felt safe and protected. And then white lightning streaked through her, something between pleasure and pain. She lay passively in the crystal world of dreams and music. The flickering flames cast reflections on the wall from the pools of water, reflections that danced and mesmerized, tiny flames of orange and gold.
She felt the presence of the healer once again. Corinne felt a peculiar warmth as if another's spirit shared her body, just as when Dayan had attempted to heal her. It was strangely comforting. With the other presence, her heart seemed to labor less. She was tired, though – very tired. It was too difficult to keep her eyes open even though she wanted to observe the beauty of the chamber and the people in it.
Dark 12 - DARK MELODY Page 18