by C. M. Owens
"Hey," I say in a higher octave, offense in my tone.
"Sucks don't it?" Hale chirps snidely while he enjoys the moment of the insults not being thrown at him for a change.
I roll my eyes, and Deacon quickly pops into the conversation.
"Gemma has proven herself since. She's just as dedicated to this as anyone else."
Jace rolls his eyes, and the currents swirling his body creep back in. Gemma's vines turn back into the harmless tulips in the small pot.
It's amazing at the life she can bring to such a small plant, but then again, she's a goddess - a dangerous goddess. I'm just as worried as Jace for my safety around her, but I can't say that aloud.
"I think Camara's right. It's starting to sound like Devin's the son of Helios instead of that guy,” Jace growls while motioning to Hale.
"And now we're back to dissing me," Hale pouts.
Devin doesn't smirk like I expect. He actually acts a little disappointed by that assessment.
"I never meant to do this to anyone. I never knew how bad it could hurt to love and lose until I met Adisia. If I had known, I wouldn't have been so cruel in my dismissals," he almost mumbles.
Gemma's eyes water and I feel as though she's gotten the closest thing to an apology she'll ever get.
Devin's hand tightens around mine, and he moves me closer to his body very gently. He nuzzles his head into the back of my hair, and I respond by leaning back into his perfect body.
"I don't see why you let her play with her plants in the open if you're worried about Adisia. It's obvious she doesn't want to play by the rules," Jace adds.
"I need plants. I connect with them on a different level than your foul mind could ever understand. You just shock things and sizzle when you're mad. I feel as they feel, and I live through them. Sadly enough, these plants are the best friends I've ever had," she reprimands.
"That's because you refuse to connect with anyone else," Ther pops off.
Her eyes lift to Devin, but she quickly shies away before speaking. "Not everyone."
So much for the notion of her being over him.
It’s beginning to look more and more like she's still obsessed with him.
"I need a drink," Jace grumbles. "You guys are pretty twisted. I remember why I fly solo now."
"How long have you been on your own?" I ask curiously as he clanks the ice into the cup.
"I lost count a few centuries ago. My parents were killed in a stand of with the Athena Sheilas. The few contacts we trusted ran away with their tails between their legs and up their asses during the fight.
"I was left for dead, but then a mortal family found me and drug me to their home. They never had a clue who I was, and they were astonished when my body healed so quickly. I snuck out, and began my life as a loner. My only mission has been to find the daughter of Aphrodite, and now I've found two."
"Only one can kill Safina," Hale mutters lowly under his breath.
"That's the one I'm supposed to be with," Jace almost whispers, his eyes staring down at his glass.
Devin's jaw clenches tighter, and I can tell he's starting to worry that Jace's persistence is going to be a greater issue than he had anticipated.
Deacon snorts derisively before spouting, "Why is it you're so convinced you'll be with Adisia?"
"My mother's visions were always very precise and accurate. She saw me with the daughter of Aphrodite."
"First of all, no one besides Persia can see Adisia - not even Devin can see her, and he's the strongest visionary I've ever known," Deacon rebuts.
"Mom could see more at the end than she's ever been able to see. Her last vision came just before her last breath. I don't doubt that she saw exactly what she said. I was to stand beside the daughter of Aphrodite," he asserts definitively.
"That could mean something completely different than what you're insinuating. We all tend to stand by Adisia, but Devin will be her only mate. Fate has brought them together twice, and both times they fell in love. I think that in itself is evidence enough to disprove your poorly constructed theory."
"I'm not going to argue with you about this. I know what she meant by it, and eventually you'll see. Destiny overrules fate," he murmurs before walking off.
I lean into Devin's warm arms, but he withdraws from the contact as his phone buzzes in his pocket.
"You got it?" He asks secretively as he leans away from me and flashes outside.
My hearing seems to have declined because I can't hear him once he's on the balcony. A dull ringing erupts when I try straining to hear, and I almost feel sick when I snap out of the moment.
"Adisia? You okay?" Deacon asks worriedly.
"Yeah." I think.
I stand up and use the one good crutch to hobble into the kitchen. I start pulling down various ingredients to make a sandwich, and Jace returns to join me.
"I'll help you," he says as he scoops me up and places me on the bar.
My eyes dash to see if Devin just saw that, but he's still engaged in a mysterious conversation that my ears refuse to hear.
I start scratching just behind my right ear when it feels like something is crawling on it. I shiver a little at the alarming and terribly unwelcome sensation, and Camara comes to inspect me.
"There's nothing on you. What's wrong?" she worries.
"I don't know. I think the jetlag is getting to me. I'll be okay after I eat," I say reassuringly.
"You have a fever," Jace says as he touches my face with the back of his hand.
Camara scowls at the man she barely knows who is touching me. She hates outsiders, and here he is acting as though he knows me a little better than he does.
I do feel comfortable around him though. Denying death together brings you a little closer quicker.
"The doctor said the cuts could cause infection. I need to take my antibiotics. I'm sure it's nothing. Stop looking so worried. Mortals have issues from time to time," I huff.
"What's going on?" Devin asks as he returns to see everyone making a fuss over me.
"Adisia has a fever," Jace answers as he studies me.
Devin flashes to me to check for himself, and again I feel like a kid in a house full of overprotective parents.
"I'm fine," I exasperate.
"We might need to call a doctor, and we may need to go to his office," Devin murmurs as he inspects me.
"What happened to the back of your ear?" he gasps.
"She was clawing at it when I came over here," Camara says in a low, almost mortally muted tone.
"Stop worrying," I grumble.
A wet sensation catches me off guard as I look down to see two drops of blood that have dripped from my nose to my hand. Devin tilts my head up, and the ringing returns to my ears.
I feel the room starting to spin wildly out of control. Nausea mixed with sharp stings of pain flood me simultaneously, and I feel myself falling endlessly in a dizzy spiral as the light fades from my sight. Darkness hides the world that seemed to finally be getting back to normal, and it steals the breath I had just gotten back.
Exactly spaced flashes of light with an offensive fluorescent blare attack my eyes as they attempt to wake. Rushing footsteps and hollow voices clash incoherently. Sterile cleanliness mixes with sickness and fear, and it all overwhelms my still bleeding nose.
A thin mattress barely jostles to warn me of the fast moving bed I'm strapped to. Cold latex hands check my pulse with powdery fingertips, and I gasp inwardly when I realize what's going on.
No. I'm in a hospital. No!
I try to scream, but silence is all that flees my trembling lips. A warm hand grips mine to comfort me, and I know Devin's here.
It doesn't change the fact I'm in a hospital, and I can feel my lungs struggling to expand as the panic overtakes me completely. My feeble body begins convulsing as the fear spreads, and more cold latex hands constrict my movements to keep me still.
Still no scream escapes, and no sound around me makes any sense. I feel the breat
h wheezing into my lungs, and the panic in the hand clinging to mine before a small, stinging prick forcing something warm into my arm.
The medicine burns more as a feverish liquid calms me, instantly making me relax despite my terror.
Devin's lips move to my hand, but I'm almost too numb to feel it now. I smile, and pray I'm not drooling.
I can't tell if we're still moving until I feel my body being lifted. A mask covers my face, and another prick stings against my skin.
I feel myself drifting until I can't fight it anymore, and the darkness returns.
"How long has she been out" I hear Camara ask with a yawn.
I try to open my eyes or move my mouth, but all my cognitive functions are flipping me off right now as they rebel against my wishes.
"Too damn long. Where's the fucking doctor?" Devin barks, and I feel a squeeze against my hand.
My feeling is slowly returning, but my languid body refuses to respond.
"I'll get her," Hale responds, and even he sounds too serious and worried.
At least I can understand what everyone is saying now.
"I still don't understand what this could be. If they couldn't find anything, then it obviously isn't mortal. Her heart rate seems to be steadier, and the bleeding stopped on its own. What's going on?" Jace growls.
Way to read my mind, shock boy.
"I don't know, but we've got some of the oldest, wisest minds in the world at our fingertips. I've contacted every-damn-one of them, and they better come up with something. I won't lose her," Devin chokes out.
"They'll find something, son. We'll find something. This could have something to do with the siren attack. No mortal has ever lived through something like that," Theia comforts. "This could be a side effect we weren't prepared for."
"Then we need to find a way to fix it," Devin asserts.
"I'll call Deidra. She's dealt with sirens more than any of us, and she'll know what to do if this is the case," she offers.
"She's not going to be happy when she wakes up here," Persia murmurs guiltily. "I'll force the doctor to release her, and we can take her somewhere more comfortable until we can find out what's going on for sure."
My eyes finally flutter open, and I realize there's a tube in my mouth. I start choking against the intruding object as my throat constricts around it, and Devin screams for a nurse.
He flashes to my far side and grips my hand as two women rush in. One tries to scoot him out of the way, but he barely gives her any of the space she's demanding.
I gag slightly as they free me from the foreign intrusion, and I choke on the air as it filters through my lungs.
"Adisia?" a blond woman says as she shines a light into my eyes. "Your throat might sore, so try not to talk unless you have to. The doctor is going to ask you some yes or no questions, and you can respond by nodding or shaking your head. Can you do that for me?"
I start to speak, but she's right - my throat is killing me. I take her advice and provide a nod.
The white sloshed room offers me a chill, and the cold hands continue to freak me the hell out. I try to move, but my body is still too heavy to respond.
The nurses check my hanging medicine bag that is dripping through the needle in my hand, and then they scurry out to find the doctor.
"Forget the doctor. She's a female. You can't force her, and it'll take to long to deal with them,” Devin murmurs as he scoops me up. "I dare someone to try and stop me," he growls.
I lie limply in his arms, and Jace walks over to the outlet on the wall.
"I'll give them something else to focus on," he murmurs, and the power begins flickering on and off.
I start to panic as I think of all the others hooked up to machines that depend on that energy, and I shake my head at him. His eyes narrow, and then he realizes the reason for my insisted pause.
He releases his hold on the electricity, and frowns in his failed attempt. Devin smirks as he steps to the door with me still in tow, and suddenly the sprinkler head over the nurse station breaks loose.
Shrill screams erupt as gallons of water drop down on them.
The pandemonium becomes nothing but a blur as Devin flashes with me in his arms, and I feel the outside air rushing my desperate lungs and freeing me from the sterile hell.
A rapid descent grabs my stomach and forces it into my throat as if I'm in a free fall, but his perfect embrace holds me steady and offers me zero pain as he glides through the animated streets of Chicago.
"Call Deidra," he orders. Then he turns his gaze on me as we walk into a building like normal people - other than the fact I'm wearing a horrid hospital gown and having to be carried. "Please tell me you're okay," he says through strain.
Tears fill my eyes as I hesitantly shake my head instead of nodding, and it forces tears to brim on his lids as well.
"I'll call a guy I know back home," Jace murmurs through tightened lips. "Maybe he'll know something."
Devin gently places me on the couch, and I squirm uncomfortably.
"I spoke to Deidra," Theia announces. "I'll call the pilots. We'll need to meet her in Texas. She's already there dealing with a siren outbreak," she exclaims breathlessly.
"More sirens? Just tell her to come here, and we'll help her once she helps Adisia," Devin insists.
"Not more sirens… the same sirens, son. They've migrated here already, and there are more of them. They've started feeding on the mortals now," she breathes out in disbelief as Phillip grabs his phone to make a call.
"Have the jets ready as soon as possible. I'll email you the itinerary," he gruffly commands before walking away.
"They shouldn't have migrated so soon, and they certainly shouldn't have started feeding on mortals yet. Is she sure they're the same ones?"
"She's positive. They grouped with more that spawned in other areas, and now they're working together."
"That's just crazy. Sirens have a pack mentality. They don't branch out and organize like this," he murmurs in complete bewilderment.
"Devin," my hoarse voice strains out.
His eyes widen as he grips me to him.
"No, baby. Don't talk. Just rest your throat. You need something to drink? Eat? Anything?" he asks while handing me a pen and paper.
I roll my eyes, and strain harder to speak. "Water," I grunt.
He tightens his lips at my stubborn refusal, and then he flashes to and from the kitchen with a bottle of water to hand me.
I sip slowly because I know I came out of an anesthetic sleep just earlier.
He takes my hand in his as he sits down, and I lean against him while the others continue their spontaneous planning. Jace walks out with a pale face, and Devin's eyes connect with his as they share a private conversation.
"What?" I force out.
"I know a guy in Australia who has a lot of experience with sirens. He's only ever seen this once before, and it was the same scenario. The mortal was a destined immortal who was strong enough to withstand the initial shock of the sirens," he murmurs with a fear stricken tone.
"What happened?" Hale says as he walks into the apartment.
Jace just shakes his head, his eyes refusing to meet mine any longer, and I know what that means - I'm dying.
"No. I won't let that happen. There's a way to fix this, and I'm going to find it," Devin blares as he scoops me in his arms. "I love you," he whispers before flashing out of the room with me in his arms.
Chapter 9
Broken to Badass to broken
"Any problems getting here?" A woman asks as we step off the jets.
Devin's arms keep me tightly placed against his chest, and I just lie there with limp ambition.
"Skip the small talk. Where's Deidra?" Devin barks.
"She's in the desert. We weren't expecting you to be here so soon," she yells over more planes descending loudly upon us.
Devin turns to Kry to pass me off as he walks with the woman to a car with Hale at his side. I cry a little as Kry tucks me into his
safe embrace. He kisses the top of my head to try to comfort me, but it's not what I need right now. I just need Devin.
"I want to go too," I cough out.
Devin flashes back with a grimace.
"The desert is where the sirens are right now. They've hoarded them up, but they can't get too close until a silencer arrives."
"I don't want to stay here alone. Devin, I don't think I'm going to make it much longer, and I don't want to-"
His lips close over mine to halt my teary-eyed confession that is so coarse from my injured throat that it's barely understandable. I can feel his absolute panic in his mouth as it pours into mine.
He pulls me back into his arms, and this time he doesn't fight me. I could die either way. He knows that I'd rather die in his arms than in someone else's.
The car revs its engine as soon as we get in, and Hale stays behind to talk to the others about strategy.
"We'll just grab Deidra since she can't do anything without a silencer right now," Devin says to the perfectly manicured woman driving.
"It's good to see you again, Devin. Even if these aren't the best of circumstances," she offers a little too kindly.
Great. Another one.
He catches my disgruntled pout, and shakes his head. "She's my cousin," he says quickly.
Oh. Thank goodness.
He doesn't smile at my relief. His eyes stay intensely focused on the road ahead as if he's worried about every second that passes by. Of course, with every second that passes, I'm feeling all the weaker.
The car slows to a halt as the engine ticks into expiration.
"Damn it. They've already learned to control their pulses?" Devin gasps.
"That's new. I wasn't expecting that. Deidra and the others are still ten miles away. Are you ready to run?" She asks emergently.
Devin flashes with me out of the door, and sand spins behind us as he digs it up too fast.
Then I'm suddenly shrieking out my pain as I feel myself collapsing to the ground, and the banshee-like screams erupt around us.
I cover my ears, and Devin yells for me just as the vines rip free from the ground and cover the mouths of the sirens.
