by Mara, Devi
"Another coat has been provided for you." He raised his chin. "One moment."
She watched him step back and close the door. He muttered a few words to someone, and quickly returned with a heavy coat in hand. She looked from the proud tilt of his head to the wool pea coat and back.
"Thank you."
He nodded. "Of course." He helped her into the coat, and she smiled up at him.
"Thank you."
He gave her a small smile. "Shall we depart."
She nodded. As she walked through the door ahead of him, she paused. "Do you have any idea who brought my clothes?" She stared up at him.
He glanced over her head. "I am unsure."
"Oh." She followed his gaze to another Dem. "Do you know?"
He dropped his eyes to her. "We have been forbidden from entering your room."
"Then, where did..." she trailed off, and glanced at the first Dem. "Who brought my clothes from the house yesterday?"
"The General."
She felt her cheeks heat. "So, he probably brought the things today." She imagined his hands sifting through her clothes. Touching her under things. She blushed harder.
"A fair assumption." He cleared his throat. "If you are ready to proceed."
He was obviously trying to change the subject. She let him and nodded. He started to turn away, and paused. "You may call me Private Eitad." He glanced at the other Dem. "He is Private Mahdi."
She nodded, committing the names to memory. "Thank you, Private Eitad."
His lips quirked up. "After you." He gestured down the hall.
Private Mahdi stepped in front of her to lead the way. They passed several Dems between her room and the lobby. Each one paused to nod at her. She opened her mouth to ask Eitad about it, but thought better of it. She waited until they reached the sidewalk out front, and turned to him. She tried to organize her thoughts, before she spoke.
"Everyone is acting like I have a rank," she told him, a question in her tone. When he did not immediately reply, she thought she had phrased her question the wrong way.
He exchanged looks with Mahdi. "Your actions toward me on our last engagement..." he trailed off. He seemed to be thinking. "You are worthy of respect."
She blinked. "I am? Just because of what I did?"
He gave her a curt nod.
"Oh." Mahdi started walking again, and she hurried to catch up. She pondered the meaning of his words until Mahdi stopped at the front door to the hospital.
She watched a Dem approach the door. He pushed it open and scanned the three of them.
"She has permission to be here?" His tone made it obvious what he thought.
"With a guard, Sergeant," Eitad answered.
The Dem nodded. "Enter." She felt his eyes on her, as they crossed the lobby. "Take the stairwell." She saw Eitad nod from the corner of her eye.
“Yes, sir."
Mahdi took the stairs two at a time, and she had to run to keep up. He paused at the hall and glanced both ways.
"Left."
He nodded to her and stalked toward her brother's room.
As she jogged past the nurses station, a woman's head popped up from behind the counter. She paused.
"Mackenzie," the nurse said softly. The blonde eyed her with obvious interest.
Sarah nodded. "I just came to check on my brother."
The woman hummed in the back of her throat. "I had to move him." Her gaze flicked to the two Dems. "We need to talk. Privately."
A sinking feeling started in her stomach. "He's okay, though?"
The woman did not answer right away. "It would be better to talk somewhere else."
Nothing could happen to her brother. The thought repeated in her head, as she followed the woman to a nearby room. The nurse gestured her inside and closed the door with an ominous click. She turned to face her.
"I would have gotten a hold of you when it happened, but I wasn't told-"
"What happened," Sarah interrupted, tossing aside her manners.
The woman licked her lips. "Well, it's called a generalized seizure."
Sarah stared at her. "Okay." She rubbed at her arm. "So, what does that mean, exactly? He's getting worse?"
"Yes."
The one word answer, rubbed her the wrong way. "What are we going to do about it?"
The woman looked away. "It's been several weeks, Ms. Mackenzie," she started.
Sarah nodded. "I know. So, what are we going to do to fix it?"
The nurse gave her what she assumed was supposed to be a pitying look. She frowned.
"Ms. Mackenzie. A coma is not a stable condition. Every day your brother is in a coma, the likelihood of him waking is reduced." She sighed. "He suffers anoxic encephalopathy. His brain was severely deprived of oxygen during the fire."
Sarah swallowed hard. "I know that."
"Then you also know, after a week, recovery is extremely rare. The condition usually progresses to a persistent vegetative state, or de-"
"I know," she interrupted.
"I read in the file, that Dr. Jones spoke to your parents about the situation. Maybe, it's time to consider letting nature take its course."
Sarah's eyes snapped up to her, and narrowed. "Don't ever say that to me. Not ever. That's not going to happen."
"Ms. Mackenzie," the nurse tried again. "I know it is difficult for you, but you need to resign yourself. He's not going to get better. At this point, he will only continue to get worse. You are drawing-"
Panic rose up inside her. "You don't know that!"
The nurse's eyes widened, and her gaze swung to the door in alarm. "Please, keep your voice down," she whispered frantically.
Sarah took a couple deep breaths to regain her calm. "I'm sorry. I apologize for yelling at you, but you don't know that for sure."
The woman sighed. "I'll do what I can."
Sarah knew she was just trying to appease her. She gave her a sharp nod. "Thank you. That's all I ask." She turned away before the nurse had time to reply. As she pulled open the door, she came face to chest with Dem armor.
"Sarah." Farran's voice made something tingle in her stomach.
She tipped her head back to look up at him.
His gaze moved from her to the nurse behind her. His eyes narrowed. "You have duties that require your attention." He stepped aside to let the nurse hurry past him, before his eyes landed on her again. They seemed to soften.
"Do you mind if I see my brother?" She asked quietly, the nurse's words still sharp in her mind.
He gestured for her to proceed him. "You may."
She wondered at his tone, but did not ask. She felt him fall into step behind her.
"Your brother's condition declines," he said, when she paused outside the hospital room.
She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Yes."
"I see." He motioned toward the room.
She turned to the door and pushed it open.
The room looked similar to the first one, but several more machines crowded around the bed. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. John lay motionless on the bed, the only movement caused by the ventilator at his side. She swallowed hard and drifted closer. In the bright morning sun, his face was deathly pale.
"Hey," she said softly. Her fingers trailed over the back of his hand. "I have so much to tell you."
He did not respond, but she did not expect it. She sighed and perched on the edge of the bed.
"Mom and Dad kicked me out of the house." She shook her head ruefully. "I know. I'm not surprised either." In her mind, he frowned. "I'm okay, though."
She glanced away from his still face to stare out the window. "The nurse thinks I'm selfish. She told me there was no way you were ever coming back." She swallowed hard. "And you were just going to keep getting worse, until-" She broke off and rubbed at her face. "I don't know what to do."
Her eyes moved from the blue sky to scan his face. A flash of white caught her attention. A folded piece of paper stuck out from beneath his
pillow. She snatched it and quickly unfolded it. Her name was scrawled across the top of the page.
Sarah, it's not difficult to visit your brother, she read. Her eyes dropped to the bottom of the page and narrowed. Keane. Her hands gripped the paper hard, as she continued to read his writing.
I know all about you and that Dem. She blinked. And I know you survived that gunshot wound. The forest is a large place, and deep voices carry. The Dems were talking about her. She frowned. They may be faster and stronger, but they aren't as perfect as you think. All it took was a little diversion, and three of us were in the city.
She sucked in a breath. They could be anywhere. Now, I know you're in good with that Dem. He's holding everyone in the City Hall. I know there are at least two hundred guards. I want them out. She set down the paper to wipe her palms on her jeans. It was impossible. The Dems were everywhere. Her eyes dropped to the last three lines.
I got in once, I can do it again. Your brother may not be so lucky next time. I don't care how you do it, but you better figure something out. You've got until tomorrow morning. She reread the note twice, before she crumpled it up and stuffed it in her pocket. She reached out to touch her brother's hand.
"Don't worry," she whispered. "You'll be okay."
...
He looked up at the door. Her soft words made very little sense to him. From what he had heard of the nurse's words, the opposite was true. The woman glanced up and visibly shivered at his expression. He sneered.
"General."
He turned his head to Eitad. "Speak." His eyes narrowed at the nervous way the private glanced around.
"The king comes."
He stood up straighter. "When?"
The private cleared his throat. "Now. He is at the northern edge of the city."
Farran cursed under his breath. He stalked across the hall to pound on the door. "Sarah."
She pulled open the door, almost before he dropped his hand. Her eyes appeared red and slightly swollen.
He frowned. "We must go."
She nodded and squeezed past him. His eyes followed her, then moved back to the bed in the center of the room. The human smelled of death. He felt a twinge of something at the thought of the human's demise. His marked seemed close to her brother. He pulled the door closed.
Sarah watched him approach. When he stopped beside her, she dropped her gaze. He frowned at the top of her head. Her bright hair flowed over her shoulders, slipping occasionally to show glimpses of the sweater. He tore his gaze away.
"Follow me. Do not speak." He saw her head come up, but he did not look at her. "No matter what you see." He walked away.
He had three days. That is what his brother had said, and yet he was here. He glared at anyone who met his gaze, as they marched through town to meet the king. He kept his eyes away from Sarah. She would be safer far away from him. Far away from his brother.
The head of the king's entourage turned a corner up ahead. He raised his hand in greeting, even while his fingers itched to pull his marked behind him. He set his face in a cold smile.
"General," the Dem acknowledged with a quick nod.
Farran fought not to growl at the sneer aimed at Sarah. He stalked past the lowly members of the guard, until he caught a glimpse of his brother's bright hair. His jaw clenched, as a swell of mixed emotion threatened to overwhelm him. He paused.
"Brother." Lonan's ice blue gaze swept him quickly, before he smiled. He took several steps toward him. "My messenger brought disturbing news," he murmured. His smile faded.
Farran followed his gaze to Sarah.
Lonan glanced to his left. "Is that the human you spoke of?"
Farran narrowed his eyes, as the royal messenger stepped to his brother's side. The Dem's eyes glittered with dark humor.
"It is, my king."
Lonan's eyes returned to his face. "This is the human you chose?" His voice held a note of confusion, as his gaze dropped to Sarah. "There have been many beings over the years. Many who the abdicated king, deemed worthy." His head tilted, and anger began to bleed into the confusion. "Yet, you refuse all of them to mark this tiny human female."
He felt Sarah tense at his side, but he did not look at her. "It is complicated."
"I assume it must be," his brother bit out, never taking his eyes from her. "There must be a very complicated reason why you would mark one of the filthy humans."
"My king."
Lonan's eyes flew to his. Confusion and a flicker of pain crossed his face. "It is her people who are responsible for your actions." His lips twisted into a humorless smile. "And after six thousand years, you still mark a human."
The ator began to tug at him. He refused to look at Sarah.
"A group of the dishonorable beasts attacked me in the forest," his brother continued. He gestured over his shoulder.
Sarah gasped.
His gaze flicked to her, but she was not looking at him. The ator swirled under her skin wildly.
"Your human is very timid, brother."
He jerked his eyes away from her to send his brother a short glare, but his gaze stuttered on the bound humans. Seven of them, a mix of male and female, stood among the king's guard. He glanced at his brother to see him staring at Sarah.
"Does this bother you, human?"
Sarah nearly vibrated at his side. He looked down to see her staring hard at two of the humans. A male and female.
"Answer me!" his brother yelled.
Sarah flinched. "Yes," she whispered.
A wave of anger surged through him. He narrowed his eyes at his brother. "What is your intention, my king?"
Lonan's eyes met his, and he saw the bitterness mingle with the old anger. "What is the punishment for attacking a member of the royal family?" He stared at him, but addressed the question to his messenger.
The Dem smirked. "Death, my king."
Sarah let out a quiet whimper, but it was enough to catch his brother's notice.
"Warriors, kings, leaders of men. All of those you thought unworthy of your notice. But, this human," he spat. "This human who cringes at your side, is worthy of the marks." He whipped around to face the bound humans.
Farran scanned them. His gaze paused on a petite female. Her wide, green eyes swung from Sarah to the man at her side. He glanced at the male. The facial features were oddly familiar. His gaze dropped to Sarah.
"Please," she suddenly whispered. Her eyes rose to his.
He scowled and took a step closer to her.
"My parents." The quiet words drifted up to him, and he turned to look at the familiar male and the female beside him.
His brother whipped around to face him. "Your human dares to speak without permission?"
Farran clamped his hand on her shoulder. "She is untrained." He felt Sarah tense.
His brother gestured over his shoulder, and one of his guards stepped forward. "I think General Farran's human would benefit from observing the price of treachery."
Sarah's shoulder shook under his hand. "Please, don't let them."
He ignored her, willing her to stay silent. Her pained words twisted his stomach, as he watched the Dem approach the humans. He grasped the first man's throat, and ripped his head free of his body.
Sarah jerked violently. The ator screamed across his nerve endings, and he clenched his jaw to keep from growling in pain.
The Dem worked his way down the line. At the death of each human, Sarah's sobs became louder and harder to ignore. He fought it, forcing himself to ignore her reaction. The Dem paused behind her father.
"Let me go!" She struggled to escape him, twisting in his grasp hard enough to bruise her soft skin.
His fingers clung to her like talons. He could not let her go. His eyes moved to his brother's face. The king waited for a reason to harm her. The human's head left his body, and Sarah screamed. He jerked her into his arms, trying to ignore her fists pounding at his chest.
"Let me go!"
He held her tighter, holding her until the
last human's life ended in a sharp scream. She collapsed against him, all the fight seeming to drain out of her. Her small body convulsed with each sob, as she clung to him. He ignored the small pain of her fingernails in his chest. His dark gaze lifted to his brother's face.
"I will take my leave, my king," he snarled. For a moment, he did not think his brother would give him permission.
Lonan nodded. "Leave one of yours to escort me to your base."
Farran gave him a curt nod and spun away from him. He stomped through his men and strode down the sidewalk toward the hotel. Sarah's breaths came faster and faster until she was gasping for air. He scanned the surrounding area and ducked into an abandoned office building.
"Sarah," he called softly.
"He killed them. My parents. And you-you didn't do anything," she gasped out between ragged breaths. Her eyes rose to his. "You didn't do anything."
He braced his back against a wall. His mouth opened and closed, but no words escaped. She stared up at him with her beautiful, accusing eyes. He could not hold her gaze.
"They never loved me like they loved my brother, but they loved me."
He looked at her sharply.
"But now I have no one," she said brokenly. "My parents are dead. My brother is dying." Tears spilled over to slide down her cheeks. "Why didn't you do anything?"
His hands tightened on her convulsively. "I-"
Her eyes seemed to search his. "I thought-I thought you cared about-" she broke off, and her lower lip trembled.
He slowly slid down to the floor. "There is nothing I could have done," he muttered. He felt her staring at him and met her eyes. "I had to keep you safe."
She blinked and another tear escaped. He watched it slip over her jaw to fade into the skin of her throat. She leaned toward him, and he caught her scent. The warmth surrounded him. He leaned toward the hypnotic swirl of the ator. Her lips parted, and suddenly she was kissing him.
The ator surged under his skin, as if sensing a piece of itself. His mind filled with flashes of light and noise. Her body hovered over him, warm and alive, and covered in the her scent. She smelled of summer. He had to stop. His fingers trailed up her arms to fasten on either side of her head. Her breath feathered against his lips, and he bit back a growl.
