by Mandi Oyster
“Oh, is he?”
“Yes!”
“How easily you can forget your life. If I wouldn’t have mentioned his name, would you have remembered he existed?” His voice was condescending, and I knew he was right.
I stepped back, focusing on his black boots, not daring to look into his eyes. “If you wanted me to forget him, why did you even bring him up?”
“I wanted you to realize that he isn’t that important to you. If he truly mattered … if you loved him like you say you do … would you forget him every time you see me?” Once again, his voice was velvety smooth. He sounded so sincere that I almost fell for it, but I knew deep down that he was playing me. He wanted something from me, and it was time for me to realize that he was no less of a monster than Nefarious or Draconian had been. He just came in a nicer looking package.
“Cody is my life!” I jabbed my finger at him. “The fact that you can control my thoughts and feelings doesn’t make them any less.”
“Are you so sure about your feelings, Dacia?” His hand brushed against my face, tilting it up until he stared into my eyes. I tingled from his touch and was his again. “Don’t you want this? We could be a great team.”
For a moment, I considered his offer. However, something held me back. Just as I was about to make the biggest mistake of my life, I pictured the most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen and returned to my senses. “No, it’s a great offer, but I think I’ll have to pass.”
Mavros’ retribution was swift. He reached up and slashed me across the chest with a panther’s paw.
I stumbled back. Pain blossomed across my shredded chest. Blood ran out of my mouth. I lost my balance, falling to my hands and knees. The lights faded, and I slipped into oblivion.
“Dacia.”
The voice sounded a thousand miles away. I tried to peel open my eyelids, but they felt like they’d been sealed with superglue.
“Dacia.”
I recognized it this time. Cody. He came for me. Oh, God. What if Mavros is still here?
Cody pulled me into his arms and rushed down the hallway. “What happened?” His voice was muddled and far away.
“Mav—” The word scratched against my throat but came out as barely more than a breath. “Mavros.”
Cody laid me on the couch. “I’ll call Sarah.”
“Demon,” I whispered. I still couldn’t open my eyes, but I could feel his fear.
“C—” His voice cracked. “Can you get Aurelia?”
Aurelia, help.
I don’t know when Cody came back to me. I don’t know who was with him. I don’t know how long I slept before waking up to find Aurelia standing over me. The couch crinkled with my movements. Plastic covered the cushions. I lay between sheets dressed in only the bandages that wrapped around my chest and pajama shorts.
“Water,” I croaked.
“Cody, get Dacia some water please,” Aurelia said to him.
He brought me a bottle of water, placed one hand behind my head for support, and helped me drink some of it. “Not too fast,” he cautioned me.
“Now, can you let Sarah and Nancy know she is awake?” Aurelia turned to me. “How are you feeling?”
“Better than when Cody carried me here.” My voice sounded better, but it was still scratchy.
“I would hope so.” She held my hand, and her energy flowed into me. “That was three days ago. I have been trying to keep you alive since Tuesday morning.”
“Three days?” I gasped. I couldn’t believe it had been that long.
“Three and a half,” Cody said, sounding exhausted. “It’s Friday afternoon.”
I turned to look at him and gasped in pain. He rushed back over to me. “You all right?”
“I just need to remember not to move.” I tried to smile, but pain turned it into a grimace. “Are you okay?”
Black bags circled Cody’s eyes, making them appear sunk in. His skin was pale, his hair stood up like he’d pulled his fingers through it too many times, and dried blood crusted his clothes.
He didn’t say anything. He knelt beside me with his hand on my leg. It looked like he was fighting to keep his eyes open.
“He has not slept,” Aurelia answered when it became obvious Cody wasn’t going to.
“I must’ve been in bad shape.”
“You barely breathed.” Cody stared at the floor. “Barely held on.”
“It has been a long time since I had to treat wounds this bad.” Aurelia squeezed my hand before standing up.
“I can’t believe I was out for three days.” I tried to push myself up so I wasn’t flat on my back. Pain sucked the air from my lungs and pinched my eyes shut.
“Stay still.” Cody’s voice shook.
“I need a drink.”
This time Aurelia lifted my head and held the water bottle to my lips. “Last time you were mauled by a demon, it took a while for you to heal. That was just a wound to your leg. This was your chest. Your heart and lungs were damaged. Your ribs were broken. No normal human would have survived. You scarcely pulled through.”
Cody rubbed his hands over his face. “Didn’t think you’d make it.” Tears lined his eyes. “None of us did.”
“I’m glad to prove you wrong then.” I was still trying to get my head wrapped around the idea that I’d been out for three days. “Have Samantha and Dan been here?”
“No, they will be here tomorrow.” Aurelia twisted the lid back on the bottle and set it on the ground.
“It’s probably best they weren’t.” I yawned, and my eyes slid shut. “Nobody else needed to see this.”
“Why’d he attack?” Even though Cody was trying to hide it, I could hear the rage in his voice.
“Because in the last possible second, I saw your beautiful blue eyes and told him no.” I reached for his hand. “If he’d’ve asked a minute sooner, things might’ve ended differently.”
Cody twined his fingers through mine. “Think he knows you survived?”
“He knows.” I remembered the anger in Mavros’ eyes. “He told me he didn’t like seeing me sleep in your arms. He was watching us then. So … I can only imagine he’s been watching since.”
“We need to be careful what we say and do,” Aurelia said.
“Oh, Aurelia.” I covered my mouth with my hand. “Is Arion okay?” How could I have forgotten him?
“Yes.” She tilted her head to the side, and I wondered if she was listening to him. “Like us, he has been very concerned about you.”
“I’m sorry you had to leave him.”
“You needed me more than he did,” she said. “You would have died if I had not stayed by your side. Whether you would have come back or not is another question. One I am not ready to find out the answer to right now.”
“Thank you.” I yawned again.
“Both of you need to rest.” Aurelia’s words were laced with magic.
When I woke up a few hours later, I could make small movements without severe pain. Cody slept soundly on the floor next to me. Aurelia sat by my feet. Her revitalizing energy flowed into me. Even though my strength was returning, I had a long road ahead of me.
When Cody woke up, Aurelia took him to the men’s dorm so he could take a shower and change clothes. While they were gone, the doorknob rattled. Something scratched against the wood.
Fear clutched my heart. My breathing accelerated. Sweat beaded on my forehead.
I tried to pull myself to a sitting position. My ribs ached, and something tore in my chest. Blood seeped through the bandages. I fell back against the couch, panting.
My heart pounded in my ears, blocking any noises coming from the hall. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my breathing.
“Dacia, let me in.” Mavros’ voice slid over me like Aurelia’s had wh
en she’d told me to rest.
I pressed my hand against the couch, trying to push myself up.
“I can help you if you let me in.” His voice was smooth. “I can take your pain, take your suffering. I can end this.”
My arm shook, but I pushed myself up to a sitting position. I swung my legs around. Sweat dripped into my eyes.
“Dacia, let me heal you.”
I fell off the couch and dragged myself across the floor.
“I can take away your pain forever.”
My muscles trembled. Each movement sent shockwaves of pain rippling through my body. Tears dripped off my chin, splashing against the top of my hand.
“You’re almost there, Dacia. I can hear your heartbeat. It calls to me.”
I stretched my hand up, reaching for the handle.
“Dacia, no!” Cody’s voice snapped me out of Mavros’ hold.
Mavros roared, shaking the walls. “I’ll kill you for this, boy!”
Cody lifted me, gently carrying me to the couch. “Looks like we came back just in time.”
As soon as he laid me down, Aurelia pressed her hand over my reopened wound. “She cannot be left alone again.”
Before I passed out, I felt my chest mending.
Chapter 15
Too Little, Too Late
The breeze blows across the lake, sending ripples dancing toward the shore. I spin in a circle, taking in the scenery. Lodgepole pines surround the lake on three sides. The fourth side is taken up by a mountain I don’t recognize. The sun is high in the sky. A few clouds flit by.
I fold my arms across my body to block the chill. Tape scrapes against my fingers. I look down to find I’m at this lake wearing only my bandages and pajama shorts.
Mavros stands a few feet from me, staring across the water. “Dacia.” He steps toward me.
“What do you want?” I scramble back.
“Your forgiveness.” He lifts his hand, palm up, reaching toward me.
I look at it, shaking my head. “You almost killed me.”
He slips his hand into his pocket and kicks at the ground. “I was angry. I was wrong.” He looks at me through his eyelashes. “I never wanted to hurt you. All I want is for you to love me.”
Repeatedly shaking my head, I take another step back. My foot hits a rock, twisting my ankle. Mavros starts toward me, but I hold my hand up. “You want more than that. I just don’t know what it is.” I shuffle back. “And, if you want love, you’re going about it the wrong way.”
“Why do you think I want more?” His shoulders slump forward, making him appear smaller, broken. “I want you to say you’ll be mine.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he whispers, “And, I want your forgiveness.” He holds his hand out, trudging toward me. “Please.”
His voice is so broken that I look into his eyes.
“Please forgive me?”
“Of course.” I close the gap between us. “I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. You only want what’s best for me.”
He opens his arms, and I step into his embrace. “Can’t you see I’m what’s best for you?” His voice is soft and seductive.
“I can see you believe that.”
He leans his face down to mine and brushes his lips in a line from my ear to my mouth. My body quivers in anticipation and my breathing accelerates. “Are you sure that’s all you can see?”
“I can see that I want you to kiss me.” I grab his shirt with both hands, curling my fingers in it, pulling him closer. “Please?”
He doesn’t answer. He just brings his lips down to mine and kisses me. It’s a hard, fierce kiss. I feel all of his anger in it, but even so, it leaves me wanting more.
“Dacia, will you be mine?” He breathes into my ear.
I press my body against his, craving his warmth, his touch. “I …”
He puts his hands on my shoulders and pushes me back. His fingers dig into my skin.
“I don’t know why, but I can’t answer right now.” Tears tumble down my cheeks. “I want to say yes, but something’s holding me back.”
Anger flashes in his eyes for an instant before he covers it up. “Then when?” He steps away, turning his back on me.
The wind blows across the lake, raising goosebumps on my exposed skin.
He glances over his shoulder. His eyes have softened, and I wonder if I’d mistaken his anger. “When will you answer me?”
“Do you have any idea how expressive your eyes are?” I rub my arms, trying to warm them. “Every emotion shows in them.”
“Then surely you can see my love for you.”
“I’ve seen desire and passion, and anger flits across them from time to time. I’ve seen jealousy and even sincerity, but I can’t remember seeing love in them.” I rub my arms, trying to warm them.
He crosses to me, pulling me into his embrace. I slide my arms between him and his jacket, savoring his warmth. “Then before you make your decision, I will make sure you find it there. You will see how much you mean to me.”
Chapter 16
Back On My Feet Again
Light flickered through my eyelids, brightening, then darkening. I forced my eyes open. Cody paced in front of the couch.
“Hey.” My throat was scratchy, and the word slid out like a bad come-on.
Cody stopped instantly, turning to look at me. “How you feeling?”
I pressed my elbows into the couch and scooted back. Pain tore across my chest. “Like a demon tried to rip my heart and lungs from my chest.” I tugged on my lower lip with my teeth. “I thought I’d feel better this morning.”
He sat by my feet, massaging them while he watched me. “Wish I could help.”
I pulled my hand through tangled curls. “I hate to ask, but … what day is it?”
“Saturday.” He slouched down, stretching his legs out.
“Where’ve you been sleeping?”
He pointed. “The floor.”
“Why?” I looked around. “You could’ve slept in my bed or one of the chairs … or your bed.”
He shook his head. “You can’t be alone, and I wanted to be close.”
I looked down and noticed my bandages had been changed. I didn’t want to think about what led to them needing to be changed, so I said, “Maybe you can join me here tonight.”
“How’re you sleeping without me?”
“You mean, how’m I dreaming.”
“Well, yeah.” He looked away, not meeting my eyes.
Cody didn’t want to hear about me holding and kissing Mavros. He didn’t want to know how good Mavros could make me feel, or how I longed for his touch. “Mavros apologized to me in my dream last night. I’m just glad he didn’t hurt me. I’m not sure my body could handle another injury, even from a dream.”
i
With Cody’s help, I got up and walked around several times throughout the day. My strength was returning slower than I’d have liked but faster than most people’s would have. Anytime I left the room, Cody or Aurelia went with me. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be left alone again. The attack was reason enough but crawling to Mavros last night was a downright embarrassing reason for them to keep me under constant observation.
Students filled the halls, moving into their rooms, chatting with friends. Aurelia helped me put a sweatshirt on to cover the bandages.
I still hadn’t seen the wound. I wasn’t ready to face it.
Samantha and Dan showed up late in the afternoon. They came in laughing and excited, but their moods changed when they saw me lying on the couch. “What happened?” Samantha asked.
“Mavros attacked me Tuesday morning.” I sat up. The scabs pulled, and pain lanced through my ribs, pinching my expression. “I didn’t wake up until yesterday afternoon.”
&n
bsp; “She was in bad shape.” Aurelia knelt in front of me, holding her hand out, wanting me to take more of her strength before she left.
“If you need me, you know what to do.” She turned to Samantha and Dan. “Do not go anywhere alone. Dacia was just going down the hall for a shower when Mavros attacked her.”
“More people here now.” Cody sat beside me, leaving a gap between us.
I wondered if he thought he’d break me if he got too close. “It’ll be easier for Mavros to blend in.” I placed my hand over Cody’s, needing his touch to center me. “I don’t know if he’ll attack any of us in the open, but he might lead one of us away.”
“Be careful.” Aurelia turned toward the door.
Samantha and Dan followed her out of the room to unpack their cars.
While they were out, Cody and I paced from one end of the room to the other. He stayed close by, ready to help me if I stumbled.
Samantha and Dan came back in carrying her things. Dan set down a couple of boxes and said, “Cody, can you give me a hand while Sammi unpacks.”
“Sure.” He led me to the couch and helped me get situated. “Don’t leave.”
I grabbed Cody’s hand. “Please be careful. He promised to kill you.”
“You stay. I’ll help him.” Samantha’s eyes were wide. “This isn’t going to be as much fun as I was hoping.” She and Dan started for the door. “I’m sorry we weren’t around when you got hurt.”
“I’m not.” I pulled my hand through my hair. “Cody looked pretty bad when I woke up. I’d hate to put too many people through that.”
“Remember when Nefarious attacked?” Cody clutched my hand. His eyes looked haunted. “That was her leg. Mavros ripped open her chest … her heart and lungs. For three days, we … we thought she’d—” his voice broke, and tears glistened in his eyes. “Aurelia said she might come back, but it was scary.”
I looked around the room, then out the windows, wondering if we were being watched. “Mavros has been keeping an eye on us. So we need to be careful about what we say and do in here.”
