“Sam?” I asked, confused, my voice hoarse.
“It worked,” he said to himself, sounding very weak as he used the bed to brace himself.
He kneeled next to me, looking very pale as the veins in his face faded. He cupped the side of my face, his thumb stroking my cheek softly. “You're okay,” he said, strained, looking into my eyes warm and deeply relieved.
His eyes were like an undisturbed lake, so clear, so beautiful, so loving, except for those dark rings underneath.
I stared into those eyes and I watched his face turn to worry when I didn't say anything. I had to think of something to say, but I wanted it to be good.
“I love you,” I finally said, remembering everything he had said to me when I was unable to move.
His fingers ran over my face and I put my hands on his shoulders.
“How bad are the scars?” I asked, not daring to look in the mirror.
The corner of his mouth turned up. “Elane said they are almost gone, just your back,” he said, a note of sadness in his voice.
“Hey,” I said, claiming his attention by taking his face between my hands. “This isn't your fault, I chose to stay behind and this is what I got.”
“But if I had have been there―” he started, but I cut him off.
“You would have got hurt too. Just please, don't blame yourself,” I said sadly. “You promised.”
He took my hands off his shoulders and pulled them around his neck, pulling me against him as he slid onto the bed.
“You will always be my amator,” he said, sweeping my hair back.
“You're not going to blame yourself?” I asked.
He looked back at me, his expression undecipherable. He suddenly inclined his head down so he could kiss my neck.
“You're going to keep blaming yourself, aren't you?” I asked shakily. “And break a promise to me.”
Damn him for being so desirable and irresistible.
“Depends,” he murmured softly against my skin, his soft brown hair tickling my face.
“On what?” I asked, automatically pulling myself closer to him.
I breathed in a deep breath, inhaling his smell, even his hair smelt good to me.
“If you forgive me for leaving you,” he said.
He pulled his lips away and held me tight, resting his head in the crease of my neck.
“I… I forgive you,” I said.
He moved his face to mine and when I felt his lips touch mine I felt the energy circulate through us both, and I felt more alive than ever. I felt a huge explosion of light run from both our bodies, and it felt warm, comforting, exhilarating and incredible all at once.
He pulled back just an inch and smiled my familiar smile, the one I missed most. “We should go tell the others you are awake,” he said, touching the tip of his nose to mine. “Although, I am in my right mind just to keep you to myself for a couple of hours.”
My heart rate speed up and he gauged my reaction with a sly smile. “But I don't want to be greedy, having you now is enough for me,” he continued, kissing my hand, but keeping his eyes on mine and his face still close.
“You have me forever.”
“I guess that's a good thing, now I definitely won't need to take you away from here,” he said jokingly.
He sounded joking, but I could see in his eyes that he really did want to take me away from here. It would just be the two of us, but I would miss everybody so much, and I'm sure he would miss his family too. The images painted in my head though, they made me shiver involuntarily, but it wasn't from fear, it was from what I imagined could happen.
“I should let you get changed,” he said after a while of searching my face. “You are adorable when your eyes are slightly black and you are healing yourself.” He walked out the door slowly, throwing me a quick smile.
Damn him, he was so good at changing the conversation, always weaselling out of that one promise.
I threw back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at my right leg to find Sam was right; it was completely healed. It had no sign of ever being burnt, but as I stood up shakily, I felt my shoulder and right side of my ribs ache. I walked to the bathroom slowly and painfully, my legs feeling stiff. On the way in I grabbed some clothes I found on the draws that looked like girls clothes. I took a deep breath before I debated whether to look in the long stretched mirror of the tiled bathroom. Could I really face the mass destruction left on my body? I wasn't so sure, but I had to do something. With a sigh I turned around and faced myself in the mirror. I was shocked when I examined myself. My face wasn't scarred, not one bit, my hair was all there, and I couldnt help but feel relieved. If I had had a permanent scar on my face, it would have haunted Sam forever, and he would've never came to forgive himself. He still hadn't forgiven himself now, but over time I hoped he would. After all, it was never his fault.
As I slowly got undressed out of some clothes I had never seen before, I wondered who had dressed me. It must have been Jane or Elane, they were so caring. I hoped they didn't get hurt like me, I hoped everyone made it out.
Looking into the mirror I discovered a huge burn mark on my right shoulder blade that followed down and across to my ribs. That was why my skin felt like it was tearing when I moved, but hopefully it would heal soon. It sort of felt like that day I went to the beach with mum, dad and Adam. I had forgotten to put on sunscreen and got really badly sunburnt, I looked like a lobster and couldnt move for three days. I had to get alovera gel rubbed into my skin every night.
I smiled at the memory and looked at myself in the mirror again. It was amazing how fair my skin had gotten, just a couple of months ago I was nearly as tanned as Hunter and Fredric, now I looked like I had lived in Iceland all my life. It was lucky that the shirt I found was soft cotton and the pants were jeans shorts.
While getting dressed I thought of what day it might be, and what would dad think wouldve happened to me. I had so many unanswered questions and I was a little worried about going home.
With a sigh I walked out of the bathroom door and I was able to walk properly now that I had moved my legs for a bit. I just had to be careful when moving my torso was all. I opened the bedroom door and walked out, looking around for Sam. There was no need for that though because he already had his arms around my waist. He must have been next to the door when I walked out.
“Come on, the others are downstairs,” he said, taking my hand and pulling me towards the hallway.
“Is Fredric okay?” I asked, remembering his face that night.
“He made a full recovery,” Sam said, kissing my cheek.
I smiled. “What's the date?”
“It is Sunday the 1st of June,” he answered. “You were out for one week.”
I looked at him worried. “What about dad?”
“He thinks you are on a school camp,” Sam said with a smile.
I looked down at the ground and started swinging our hands in between us. They must have done a lot to cover that up with dad, but the story didn't really fit.
“What's the time?” I asked curiously.
He pulled out the pocket watch I gave him and smiled at me when he noticed I was looking at him. “12:28pm,” he said, putting the watch back in his jeans pocket.
“What about Peter and Summer?” I asked.
I was remembering they were suppose to come back in four days from Sunday.
He laughed because I was so eager to ask questions. “They arrived back home on Thursday... and I'll tell you, they both nearly had a heart attack seeing you were hurt,” Sam said with a hard, frustrated laugh.
I looked at him gently. “They thought you did it right?”
“Yeah,” he answered with a nod.
I smiled and squeezed his hand lightly. “I know you would never hurt me.”
“You know that, but they don't.”
“What about Rosetta?” I asked, changing the topic.
We were at the bottom of the stairs now and I could hear voices c
oming out of the kitchen.
Sam tightened his grip on my hand as we walked through the living room. He was prepared for this question, I could tell.
“She is here,” Sam said darkly.
We rounded the doorway, and in the kitchen I saw Rosetta sitting in one of the chairs at the table. I instantly recoiled into Sams side and he put his masculine arms around me.
“Layla, you have awoken,” Summer said, coming over to me.
I saw her familiar fragile face and her green eyes were warm. “We are very glad you are okay, but how ever did you heal so fast?” she asked in amazement, pulling me into a soft hug.
I raised an eyebrow. Someone must have filled them in on everything that happened around here after they left.
I pulled back after her hug and went back to Sam who wrapped his arm around my waist tightly but gently.
“I transferred my energy to her,” Sam answered for me.
“That is very interesting, but no wonder. You look exhausted and very colourless. You may want to get some rest yourself Samuel, now that she is awake,” Peter concluded, coming over to join Summer. “Though we are glad you are okay.” He smiled at me kindly and I smiled a small smile in return, my eyes avoiding Rosettas.
I could feel her stare bore into my face, but I refused to look at her.
Fredric came over to me and hugged me gently, I only slightly flinched from the gesture. “I want to thank you for saving me,” he said with a smile.
It sounded good to hear his bass voice again.
I observed his face and he didnt look as badly beaten up, except he still had a split lip and his cheek was slightly yellow.
“I'm not the only one who saved you,” I said quietly, meeting his gaze, feeling ashamed.
I reached my hand up and touched his lip with one finger and my other hand covered his cheek, healing him vastly.
“Thanks… but you did risk your life to save us all in the end, so I guess that makes you a hero.” He smiled teasingly.
“No, I'm not a hero,” I said embarrassed, dropping my hands once his cheek and lip were healed.
“Yes you are Lays, admit it,” James said, laughing his booming laugh.
I hid my face in Sams shoulder and everyone laughed.
“Rosetta,” Peter said after a minute.
I watched Rosetta stand and walk over to me halfway. She hadn't changed a bit on the outside, her short Blondie-orange hair was still the same, her features, her actual self; she looked exactly the same, but the question was had she changed on the inside.
“Lays, I'm sorry I tried to off you. I didn't… understand there were sides of Dark and Light, but I now understand and I wanted to say I am so sorry,” she said in her alto voice. “All I ask is if we could be friends, for real this time, and start again?” she asked.
I looked at her stiffly. Memories of her last few days here flashed back to me and I flinched. Sam pulled me closer to him and I looked up at his face. He was looking at me softly in reassurance.
“Rosetta. I'm not sure if we can be friends…” I trailed off.
I saw her face fall so I continued. “Right now, I don't think we can be friends right now, but over time when you earn my trust back, maybe then we could try to be friends,” I said to her.
That was reasonable enough, after all, how many people would forgive the person who tried to kill them.
I had stood up straight and said this strongly because I was confident I could protect myself now.
“Thank you,” she said, her expression friendly.
“We should get you home now Rosetta,” Summer said in her soft voice.
“Yeah, mum and dad were psyched when I came home three days ago, theyve really been missing me,” Rosetta said to me.
We watched Rosetta and Summer walk out the door and I started to relax when they did. I went and sat on the couch in the living room cautiously, making sure I didn't hurt myself in anyway. Sam came and sat with me, wrapping me in his arms softly when we sat down.
“So Lays,” Elane said, coming from the kitchen and sitting on the other side of me.
“What's up Elane?” I asked.
“Since you saved us, I just wanted to thank you as well.”
I rolled my eyes. “I'm not the hero, I'm just the one who got hurt,” I answered with impish smile.
“What ever you say. You are a hero to me. Oh, by the way, Jane and I dressed you in shifts just so you know,” she said cheerfully, getting up and kissing my forehead.
“Thank you,” I said to her gratefully. “Where's Hunter, Jane and James?” I asked Elane as she was walking away.
She turned towards me but kept walking backwards towards the stairs when she answered. “Um, James is with his car,” she said rolling her eyes and smiling. “And Jane and Hunter are out the back,” she said scandalously with a grin, before running up the stairs.
“Really,” I said slow and curiously.
I looked up at Sam and he was smirking. “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” I asked him, my grin getting bigger.
“I think I am,” he said, gesturing with his chin towards the kitchen.
We both got up suddenly, and holding hands we briskly walked through the house sneakily, heading for the back door. When we got to the backdoor Sam and I were almost spotted when we were about to walk past the door. We saw them before they spotted us and hid back behind the wall, keeping our heads peaking nosily around the corner. We saw Hunter and Jane were both standing and holding hands, facing towards each other. We couldn't hear them but we were laughing silently and smiling to each other like little kids. They were quite a distance away from the house and we could only just keep them insight because they kept moving. The next minute we saw Hunter pull Jane into him and kiss her, thats when we burst with laughter and their heads turned instantly in our direction. They glared at us so we bolted back to the living room. We quickly arranged ourselves on the couch and I picked up the remote, seconds before Jane and Hunter came storming into the living room hand-in-hand.
“Were you two just spying on us?” Jane asked angrily.
I looked at her and knew this is where my acting skills came in handy. “Who spied on you?” I asked, dumbfounded.
She looked at me in disbelief. “Don't lie to me, you two were spying on us,” she accused.
“What, we've been here watching TV,” I said innocently.
“Lays come on, just tell us if you and Sam were watching us,” Hunter said lightly.
I looked at Sam and he answered this time, but I hadn't blown our cover and neither had he.
“We were not spying on you, we were here watching TV, like Layla said. For all you know it could have been the wind, or James, you dont always have to blame the closest people,” he answered, just as innocently as I had.
Jane narrowed her eyes at us but we both kept straight innocent faces. “Fine, but if it was you two, be warned. We will use force next time,” she said, calming down a little.
“Okay, whatever you say Jane,” I said casually.
They both took one last look at us before heading for the stairs, and when they were gone, I smiled at Sam and he grinned back. I hid my face in his chest and he placed his arms around me, resting his chin on top of my head. He suddenly shifted me so softly, yet so sudden, so I was on his stomach while he was lying on his back, our legs tangled together.
“Do you ever think your life would be better without me?” he asked.
I frowned and played with his hand on his chest. “I can't think of a life without you,” I simply answered.
He sighed and placed his hand on the small of my back. “I cannot imagine life without you either.”
“Good,” I said with a smile. “So what happens now?” I asked after a few minutes of aimless fiddling.
“I didn't tell you, did I?” he asked.
“Tell me what?” I asked cautiously.
“We have Thora.”
I looked at him confused for a moment before I understood. I met his
anxious gaze and touched his face. “What are you going to do with her?” I asked quietly.
“We are planning to bargain with them. Thora for Tommy.”
“Why would they go for that?” I asked, looking into his green misty eyes.
I had never realised how much I missed them more than anything else about him.
“Because Thora is Tommys amator,” he answered.
I looked at him surprised, but I had a question I needed him to answer before I got sidetracked. “How did you save me?”
He looked at me thoughtfully, and in one movement he had us both sitting upright on the couch. “After I left you, we practically ran to the cars. I told Hunter and James to go with Jane, Elane and Fredric, to get them to safety. But James, being who he is, refused to go with them and came with me.
“We raced back into the reserve in the Hummer and I saw you get distracted for that split second and look away. The fire hit you hard and I saw everything yet I felt helpless against it. If I had have been there earlier, or have never left, you would not have gotten hurt,” he explained, meeting my eyes.
His expression was saddened so I hugged his side to try to take his pain away.
“I rushed over to you. You were still on fire so I threw my jacket over you, praying I was not too late. Thora went to attack me and I didnt even realise, you somehow got my gun and shot her twice.” He shook his head in amazement, like he was impressed but continued. “That is when James went and grabbed her. I was afraid and panicked that I wasnt going to be able to help you.”
He had stopped and was looking at me. I felt his arms tighten around me and he held me close, breathing in deeply and exhaling loudly as he rested his head in the crevasse of my neck.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 39