Haven

by Celia Breslin

  Pain, too much pain. Must do something. I grabbed his head. My power flared to life.

  “No!” Oh God, please don’t let me burn up my brother. Cold thoughts, must think cold thoughts.

  I pictured rain, the ocean, snow-covered mountains, ice-covered lakes, an ice cube bath. It didn’t work. The heat poured into Tony. Burning hair and flesh stung my nostrils. He growled and leapt off me, landing in a crouch a few feet away, watching me with wary eyes, black and wild. Tendrils of smoke wafted from his head where I’d singed his hair. Hand-shaped burn marks decorated his cheeks, the rest of his skin red like the sunburn I’d given the Dark One earlier.

  Yes, he looked bad, but it could’ve been a lot worse. He could be a crispy critter or a pile of ashes right about now.

  Because my power was back in full force.

  Clearly, this was gift number two from the Dark One. Instinct had already told me I would’ve recovered it on my own, eventually, but he gave it back so I’d have to make a hard, impossible choice.

  His words echoed in my head. Save yourself or save your brother.

  “No.” I can’t do this.

  Tony snarled. My blood stained his mouth and chin. His chocolate brown eyes were black pits, the whites standing out in stark contrast to those dark irises and his burnt skin. But under it all, he was still my handsome brother. He just had new, pointy teeth and no idea he was a man and not a raging beast.

  The Dark One’s voice taunted me again. Save yourself or save your brother.

  No. Can’t make this choice.

  Where was everyone? The sounds of fighting faded, only my brother’s growls filled the air. Surely, help should be here by now. Surely Brigid’s spells couldn’t keep out the powerhouses that were Thomas and Jonas and Tessa.

  So why was I still stuck in this storage room faced with a lose-lose situation?

  Tony inched closer, gnashing his teeth. I raised my hands. He stopped an easy leap away, glaring at my palms, the source of his pain.

  A sob escaped me at the sight of my brother, more animal than man. I’d acted like a feral newbie vampire, but hadn’t come close to what I witnessed now.

  My heart broke.

  I made my decision while I lay there watching him watch me, as my lifeblood poured from my many wounds, as the tears welled and spilled. I lowered my hands to the ground and closed my eyes.

  With the last of my strength I coaxed my power deep into my gut. I pictured a cavernous black room and willed the fire inside, locking it up with a huge, golden door. It seemed fitting to have a metaphorical, magical door serve me now, as it had once served my father and Thomas for all those years. The Dark One wouldn’t like my choice, maybe no one else would either, but it was the only one I could live with.

  Or not live with.

  I sensed movement and opened my eyes. My brother crawled to me, still wary of my power, but soon enough the draw of my blood overcame his hesitancy. He grunted and hauled me across his lap. When I didn’t fight, he snuffled and licked at the wounds he’d made, lapping up the blood and making hungry sounds deep in his throat.

  Numbness consumed me. My death drew near. I welcomed it because my brother would live. Alexander would wake up and take care of him. Eventually, Thomas and crew would show up and help them both. Life, or rather, undead life would be good for Tony. He wouldn’t always be this wild animal. Our family would see to that.

  I touched his hair. He stiffened, hesitating at the hollow of my shoulder. When no fire torched him, he bit down, latched on, and drank like a pro.

  I stroked his hair as he fed and uttered the words in my heart. “Antonio, fratello mio. E tutta colpa mia. Mi dispiace molto. Ti amo.” My fault. Sorry. Love you.

  His drinking slowed at the sound of my voice and the tension vibrating his body dissipated. He cradled me now instead of crushing me like a bug.

  The light in the room dimmed to black. Far away now, a soft voice whispered, “Va bene, va bene.” The voice sounded familiar, perhaps mine, but that was unimportant. I lost track of my body, and my brother’s, too. Did I breathe? My heart beat? No idea. But none of it mattered.

  I can leave now. Tony will be okay.

  Va bene.

  Twenty Five

  Heaven was loud and dark.

  I’d expected bright light, some angels singing, maybe the mother I’d never met waiting for me by some giant, pearly gates. Instead, it was black and cold with a great deal of pounding like the afterlife was under construction. When the pounding stopped, the angels started shouting. Their conversation sounded like one of those medical melodramas I never watched on TV. Oh no, someone was dying, get the doctor, we’re losing her, blah, blah, blah.

  “Oh my God, Rina!”

  “Holy shit, it’s Tony!”

  “She’s not breathing!”

  “Stella, no, don’t kill him!”

  “I can’t find a pulse!”

  “Jesus, the tranqs aren’t working on him!”

  “Be calm, Seer. CPR was successful. The princess lives.”

  “Shit. Get him out of here, Stella!”

  “No, Alexander. She hovers on the edge. You would turn her this time. Human blood first.”

  Oh. This particular drama concerned Tony and me. Apparently, I wasn’t dead. A cough escaped me. I opened my eyes, immediately blinded by the room’s brightness.

  “She’s breathing,” Mark shouted, triumphant.

  My eyes adjusted to the light. Mark slipped an oxygen mask over my mouth. Dr. O’s large, cold hands tugged at my arm. A blood IV. Lily palmed my forehead, speaking in Japanese. Her magic spread over me like a warm blanket. Nice pain killer.

  At her nod, Mark removed the oxygen mask. She patted my cheek. “Good, very good.” She stood, smoothed her black pencil skirt and left the room.

  “Welcome back, Princess,” Dr. O greeted me.

  I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Something is wrong. I looked the question at Dr. O and raised my IV-free arm to touch my throat but Mark caught my arm.

  He shook his head. “Don’t.”

  I frowned and let my worry show in my eyes.

  He lowered my arm to the floor. “I gotta go, but someone else wants to say hi.”

  Mark left and I spotted Faith and Kai. I made a weird, choking sound with my messed up throat and they hobbled forward. Tears fell from Faith’s dark eyes, her delicate face a wet mess. For whatever reason, I had no answering tears of my own—dehydration, maybe—but the emotion I put in my eyes was enough to make her sob, clutch my hand and press it to her cheek.

  Kai observed us, expression somber. I preferred his usual everything-is-a-joke face and incessant banter. I wanted him to crack a joke or tease me so I could pretend to be outraged and whack his arm and he could pretend it hurt. Of course, there was nothing funny about our current situation.

  “Sorry, we were late to the party, Rina.” He ran a hand through his hair, tucking bits of it behind one ear. His nervous gesture made me want to sit up and hug him, but my body wouldn’t cooperate.

  Faith raised her head from my hand and leaned back against Kai. I wanted to tell them I’d be fine, that they weren’t at fault and didn’t need to apologize, but I couldn’t talk.

  God dammit, why can’t I talk?

  Dr. O understood. “We deemed it prudent.”

  I frowned. You did this? You and Lily?

  He nodded. “A simple, temporary Band-Aid.”

  I don’t understand what talking has to do with my injuries.

  He gestured at my neck and shoulders. “There is extensive damage. It would be unwise to speak.”

  I ignored the damage comment. I don’t care.

  He studied me. I sensed he saw far more than my skin. “Fine. Alexander.”

  Faith and Kai made room for Alexander at my side. He looked pretty good considering a sadistic, ancient vampire recently slit his throat. Wet and bloody with an angry red line decorating his neck, but otherwise as handsome as always.

  He cupped my
cheek. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” I mouthed back. As we stared at each other in happy, relieved silence, growls sounded from the other room, along with clanging metal, and some hissing.

  My eyed widened with worry. “Tony.”

  “He’ll be fine. Stella is with him.” He leaned over and pressed his lips to my forehead.

  “The Dark One killed him,” I mouthed. “It’s my fault.”

  “Shhh.” He planted light kisses on my skin. I let his touch and words comfort me.

  “Feed her,” Dr. O interrupted. “Proceed with a small taste, and touch her with the power of your bond. But tread carefully, Youngling, lest you take her too far. Her body is too fragile to—”

  “I get it, I get it,” Alexander cut him off.

  His lips parted. Anticipation rushed through me when he bared his fangs. I hadn’t noticed my thirst until Dr. O uttered the f-word. Now the sight of Alexander preparing to feed me had me licking my dry lips with my parched tongue.

  He pricked his forefinger. Blood pooled and he spread it on my lower lip. My tongue flicked out, chasing his finger as it moved, trying to catch it, to draw it into my mouth, suck on it like a lollipop. But he pulled away and I had to content myself with licking and nibbling my lip. I gave him an unhappy pout. It wasn’t enough, not even close.

  He reopened the wound, deeper this time, and pushed his finger into my mouth. I clamped it with my teeth, and fed like a starving baby with a bottle.

  He released a trickle of power over me. It called to mine where I still held it trapped behind a metaphysical door. An unnecessary barricade. Tony is safe now. I am, too. The door shimmered out of existence. Our power braided together, danced around us like a warm wind, tousling the locks of hair on Alexander’s forehead.

  His free hand glided down my stomach and the satisfied expression on his face told me it was healed. Healing energy stirred in my wrists, too, though the sensation was so subtle I might’ve missed it had Dr. O not picked up one to examine. He grunted with approval, but his expression darkened when it landed on my neck and shoulders.

  I released Alexander’s finger. “What’s wrong? Oh hey, I can whisper now, that’s good, right?”

  Dr. O and Alexander exchanged a look. Alexander disappeared in a blur of speed. He conversed with someone in the other room, tone urgent. Dr. O released my arm to rummage through his medical bag.

  Well, if they refused to tell me what was wrong, I’d find out for myself. I touched my shoulder.

  “Rina, no!” Faith cried, but it was too late.

  I tried to make sense of it. It was my body, my neck and shoulder, but it felt more like...like...hamburger. Warm, wet, raw. And underneath that, something slick and hard. Oh, God. My collarbone. Tony had shredded me like so much meat, literally shredded me to the bone.

  I screamed. The sound tore away Dr. O’s and Lily’s magical Band-Aid. Blood spurted from my neck, pain vibrated me like a tolling bell and I did the one thing a girl can do when faced with that much trauma.

  I passed out.

  ~ * ~

  A rumbling voice woke me up. “Sei a posto, Principessa, vedrai che starai bene, Principessa.”

  I opened my eyes and blinked with heavy lids, trying to get a grip on what was happening. That deep voice kept murmuring in Italian, the sound vibrating through me because its owner held me in his arms. He was huge, thick and strong, solid like a tree. A familiar tree.

  “Roland.” My voice was breathy, ethereal.

  “Si, Principessa.” He stopped walking. Oh, we were moving.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Clinic.”

  “Oh. Why?” I should know the answer, but my brain found it difficult to hold onto any particular thought. I was fuzzy around the edges and everywhere in between.

  “You are hurt.”

  “Oh,” I repeated, blinking hard, struggling to snap out of this funk. Roland resumed walking.

  “Wait. Where are we going?” I slurred, voice little more than a whisper.

  “Clinic.”

  “Oh. Did I already ask that?”

  “Yes.”

  We moved through a dark hallway.

  An ocean breeze flowed past us, making me shiver. “Where are we?”

  “In the hall, princess.”

  “Yes, Roland, but where?”

  “My place.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  A woman’s scream pierced the air.

  I attempted to lift my head and failed. “What’s happening?”

  “That would be Jonas, having a little chat with Brigid,” Alexander replied from behind us. His voice and the mention of the evil witch from hell brought everything flooding back into my foggy brain.

  He fell into step beside us. “Let me have her.”

  “No.”

  “Come on, big guy, hand her over.”

  “No.”

  “Alexander,” I interjected. “What’s happening to me? I can’t think.”

  He snorted. “Of course you can’t. The doc gave you a truck load of morphine.”

  “Guess he didn’t get the memo about me being a lightweight.” That was the sentence I said in my head, but it sounded unintelligible to my ears.

  Alexander chuckled. “Oh, no, he knew it and was counting on it. Wanted you plenty loopy.”

  I think I frowned, but with my face so loose and rubbery, I wasn’t sure. “Oh, okay, I guess.”

  Now that I knew the cause of the weirdness, I didn’t need to worry about it. Besides, I knew what the drugs masked. I remembered the pain, the blood and muscle, ligament and bone against my fingers. But the morphine made it all distant, unreal, slippery. I was unable to hold onto any particular thought and for that I was grateful. I snuggled my head against Roland’s chest, closed my eyes and rode the high.

  “Hello, my little warrior.”

  I opened my eyes. Jonas surveyed me, his face an angry mask. Angry with me? No. His face softened, as much as it ever did, which isn’t much, and relief gleamed in his dark eyes.

  He waited for me to speak. I took in a breath and slurred-slash-whispered, “Still think I’m your Chosen One? If this were school, I’d be getting a big fat F in the how-to-be-a-kickass-warrior class.”

  Roland coughed and cleared his throat. Alexander laughed outright.

  Jonas’s lips twitched and he put his face close to mine. “Yes.” He disappeared.

  A moment later, Brigid screamed again.

  Roland shifted toward the sound. We were in his restaurant. Or what was left of it. It looked much like it had the night Dixon and crew attacked us. Debris and bodies everywhere. This time, however, Mark and Ren weren’t lying on the ground unconscious. They stood next to two enormous mountains. Primo and, given the strong resemblance, his brother.

  “Take me to my boys,” I ordered Roland. A rush of air caressed my skin and the next instant, we stood with them.

  “Hey, Rina.” Ren greeted me as if we’d met up for coffee and weren’t standing in the middle of a war zone. Hell, I wasn’t even standing.

  “Hiya, Ren.” I sounded blasé, too, thanks to the medication.

  Ren regarded something on the ground but at the sound of my breathy voice, his head came up. He cocked a brow, a slow grin spreading over his face. “High much?”

  I would’ve given him a one-finger salute, but my hand wouldn’t cooperate. Instead I ignored the teasing and whispered to both my boys. “Thanks for saving me. Saving us.”

  Mark nodded. Ren winked. “Anytime.”

  A wave of emotion pushed through the morphine and I wanted to hug them both, but I was floppy as a rag doll, and stuck in Roland’s arms until he decided otherwise. I put the emotion in my eyes. “I love you guys.”

  Ren patted my head. “Yeah, yeah, high girl, we love you, too.”

  “Shut up.” I gave him a sloppy smile.

  Brigid screamed again, interrupting our banter.

  “Whatcha doin’ to Bi-Bi-Buh.” I gave up on her name. “Witch.”


  My boys lost their grins, suddenly all business. Serious, violent business. “What needs to be done,” Mark replied.

  “Tell Jonas she killed my dad, I mean Edoardo. She’s a spy, she’s evil, she—”

  Jonas appeared next to me. “We know. We know everything.”

  He laid a soft kiss on my knuckles, hand warm against the iciness of mine.

  “Where’s Thomas? And Tessa?” I asked.

  You called, cara mia? His smooth voice slid through my head like silk. I shivered.

  Jonas patted my hand. Careful, Thomas, she is fragile.

  Yes.

  “Where are you?” I slurred at Thomas.

  We await you at the clinic.

  We? I asked in my head since forming words challenged my mouth.

  Me, Lorenzo, Dominico.

  Why aren’t you here? How odd they would’ve gone ahead without me.

  Your brothers accompanied us into the fight. They were injured.

  My body twitched, but the morphine suppressed any stronger reaction. Are they—will they—?

  They live, little one. They are healthy and strong and will recover from their injuries.

  Okay. Relief flickered through me and rolled away on the morphine slide. Jonas squeezed my hand. I squeezed back.

  Is Tessa at the clinic with you, too?

  She attends Antonio.

  “Tony.” Even drugged, my despair pushed to the surface.

  Jonas pressed my hand to his face, his cheek warm like his hand. How odd for him to be so touchy-feely. My heart swelled. This stoic vampire loved me, loved us all.

  Rest now, cara mia, do not worry. You will see him again. I promise you. A brush of silk and Thomas was gone.

  The slamming of doors followed by a gentle rocking sensation opened my eyes though I had no memory of closing them. Thanks, morphine. I was horizontal now, in a small, dimly lit space with double doors at my feet. A siren sounded. I lay in an ambulance, cocooned on a stretcher.

  Mystery solved, I stared at the white ceiling while my mind wandered nowhere in particular.

  Alexander’s face appeared above mine. “Hey. You’re back.”

  “For a minute,” I yawned.