"I know you feel bad leaving Mark in that cage, but just because his father treats him like some animal doesn't mean he deserved to be saved."
"Who are you to decide who should be saved? Who made you God? You have no idea how it feels to have to choose. Would you have chosen me over Sam if the choice was yours?" I asked, suddenly angry. I braced my hands on the wall behind me so that I could pull myself to a standing position. I swayed on my feet as my head began to swim. Shawn grasped my arm to help steady me. I wanted to jerk it free, but I knew I would have hit the deck if he'd let go of me.
Shawn helped drag me down the hallway toward the waiting room. I collapsed in one of the hard chairs that were kept bolted to the floor. I always found it comical that hospitals bolted down their seats, like they wouldn't be able to catch someone stealing a chair if they tried to carry it out the double doors right past the receptionist. It really annoyed me when my dad had his heart attack and I wanted to sit off in a corner by myself, but couldn't.
Shawn sank down in the seat next to me. "Krista, you know there's a huge difference between the choice you had to make a few minutes ago and me having to choose between you and Sam. He left you Krista," he said, repeating his words from earlier.
"You don't understand," I said, resting my head on the back of hard molded plastic seat, closing my weakened eyes.
"So help me understand, enlighten me with whatever lies he fed you," Shawn said sarcastically.
"Seriously? Because you doubt my gifts suddenly? You think he somehow hoodwinked me when I have the power to see all that dwell in a person's soul? And really? You question my gifts after I just whisked you and Sam away from harm's way? For someone who's so smart, you sure don't act like it," I said in a huff, using my limited air to berate him.
"Okay, okay," I get your point. So, explain it to me."
I opened my eyes and looked at him. "Mark didn't break our Link, I did. Well, his sister Harmony didn't help the situation, but ultimately it was me who severed the tie," I said heavily.
"What are you talking about? I watched you beg for him not to leave you and I also watched as he left you and all of us with a houseful of Daemons?"
"He actually left us with one less Daemon to deal with than we originally thought. Mark didn't say those hurtful words, and he didn't leave me on his own accord. Victor used him as a human host while I was knocked out. I never saw the Daemon enter his body because I was unconscious. I should have known though. I should've seen it. The complete one-eighty his soul took should have clued me in, but I was so quick to believe he had turned into his father. I'm the one who lacked the appropriate faith. I should've believed in him. Victor used my insecurities against me and gave me exactly what I was most afraid of."
"Then why didn't Mark try to contact you once he regained control of his body?" Shawn asked. I noticed his skin had taken on a delicate shade of green at my words.
"Harmony has been running interference with his emotions and his thoughts. She prevented either of us from being able to contact each other."
"Well mother of crap," Shawn said, resting his head in his hands. "And your Link is broken for sure?"
"Oh yeah, most definitely. Our souls no longer have that puzzle piece feel."
"So, you feel bad for leaving him because you feel guilty for believing he betrayed you?" Shawn asked, trying to make sense of things.
"No, I feel bad for leaving him because I still love him. It doesn't seem to matter that we're no longer Guides or Protectors. I felt more drawn to him than ever before. And now it's too late."
"You don't know that Krista. Haniel is still there and the other Guides and Protectors are there. They'll get him out."
"I don't think so. Harmony is a force to be reckoned with on her own and Victor is practically Satan. Haniel would be able to take Victor out no problem if Harmony wasn't part of the equation."
Shawn looked as defeated as I felt when the ramifications of my words finally sank in.
"Can you try to reach Haniel?"
I shook my head. "I can barely sit here without falling over. My gifts were rendered useless after the transporting sapped so much out of me."
Guilt filled Shawn's eyes as he finally understood all my frustration and could clearly see why I had struggled so hard with the decision.
We lapsed into silence after that, watching the second hand slowly move its way around the large circular wall clock that advertised some new drug. It was just barely 9:00 p.m. and we had been in the hospital less than a half an hour, yet it seemed as if an eternity had passed. I let my mind dwell on what was happening back at Victor's in our absence. Had Haniel discovered who the true Descended is? Had he found Mark yet or was he busy battling Victor?
Shawn was unusually silent too as he struggled with his own worries and guilt. I could feel the heavy emotions flowing through him until his mood abruptly changed to excitement.
I looked up expecting to see Sam's doctor in front of us, seeing no other reason why he would suddenly have a spurt of excitement, but the waiting room was as empty as before. I looked over at him, confused by the emotions radiating around him.
"I have an idea," he finally said, sounding animated.
"I gathered that," I said dryly.
"You said before that you could transport by having enough energy, right? What about adrenaline?"
"Like an adrenaline shot?" I asked, sitting up straighter as hope kindled inside me.
"Exactly. What if we can get that here," he said, standing in front of me excitedly. "We're at a hospital after all."
"Shawn, that’s brilliant, but how will we get it?" I asked, not daring to get my hopes up too high.
"Leave that to me," Shawn said, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Wait, you could get in a lot of trouble if you're caught."
"Seriously Krista? Our species is facing extinction and you're worried about me getting in trouble?"
"Okay, good point," I said, realizing how silly I had sounded. "Do you want me to go with you? Maybe I can be a diversion."
"No, I think you should stay here and rest. Maybe by the time I get back, your energy level will be on its way back up."
I nodded my head, agreeing with him. I slumped back in my chair, watching Shawn as he raced off down the hallway. The truth is I was already starting to feel a little better. The ache that had filled my heart earlier was slowly starting to disperse, and I felt like I was getting my legs back. I closed my eyes, hoping that by shutting off my senses, I would be able to refill my energy reservoir. I allowed myself the luxury of drifting back to Mark's face. His hair was a little longer than the way he normally wore it, but I still liked it. I would have loved to run my fingers through it to test out its suppleness. My mental stroll moved from his thick luxurious hair, down to his glistening, brown velvet eyes that absorbed my appearance like he was dying of thirst. His eyes were like a window to his soul and I could have gazed into them for eternity without ever losing interest. I continued on to his face that had always turned me to mush, with just the right combination of boyish good looks and manly ruggedness. I felt my pulse quicken, dwelling on the soft inviting mouth that had explored my own lips countless times.
"Krista, Krista," Shawn called my name, shaking me out of my reverie.
"Did you change your mind?" I asked, disappointed he had given up so easily.
"No, I got it," he said, flashing the small glass vial of clear liquid.
"Wow, that quick?" I asked shocked.
"Quick? I've been gone over an hour. I thought you were going to strangle me for taking so long."
"What?" I asked shocked, looking at the clock on the wall. I was dismayed to see that it was already almost 11:00 p.m. I had been ogling over Mark's face for almost an hour and a half.
"Holy crow bear, I must have zonked out," I said, ducking my head so he wouldn't see my slightly red cheeks. It had been so long since I had been embarrassed, I forgot how uncomfortable it was.
"Right," Shawn said, looking at me like I had sprung an extra head. "Anyway, I can't give you a shot here. I got a lay of the land once I snagged the adrenaline, and I have a spot picked out. Can you walk?" He asked, helping me stand up.
I expected the same weakness and dizziness from before, but I felt surprisingly stronger. My dream-fantasy session with Mark must have rejuvenated me more than I thought. I could even feel excitement beginning to race through me. Shawn's plan may be nuts, but at least we were doing something.
"How's Sam?" I asked, feeling guilty that I hadn't asked before.
"She's still in surgery, so I'm not sure," he said, worry clouding each word.
"She's going to be okay, Shawn," I said, reaching out to grab his hand. I yearned to fill him with peace, but knew I needed to conserve as much energy as I could.
"I hope so."
Shawn led us down the rest of the hallway in silence. We passed several doors before stopping in front of a room marked, closed for repairs. We glanced either way down the hall to make sure no one was around and went inside, quickly closing the door behind us. Shawn flicked on the light switch of the bathroom within the room, wanting to remain as inconspicuous as possible. The room looked like it was serving as more of a storage unit than a place being repaired. Boxes and medical supplies were piled up on every surface available. Shawn maneuvered me toward the hospital bed that sat in the center of the room and started pushing the junk stacked upon it down to the floor. I glanced at the door warily, worried that someone would hear us.
"Don't worry, we’re too far from the nurses' station for them to hear us," Shawn said, noticing my apprehension. "Here lay down," he said, indicating the now empty bed. "I think it’ll be better if you're lying down."
"Why?" I asked, feeling slightly confused.
"Because, I have to give you the shot in your heart."
"What?" I squealed, feeling slightly nauseous at the thought of a needle going into my heart.
"How else is it supposed to work? Don't worry, I Googled how to do it on my iPhone.”
"You Googled it?" I asked astonished.
"Sure, you can find anything on Google. Now lay down."
"Jesus Shawn," I said, relenting uneasily.
"Alright, you're going to have to pull your shirt up. Here, you can cover up with this," he said, shoving a folded sheet my way.
I pulled the sheet up over me, mortified that my brother would see me in my bra. Silly, based on the situation, but what can I say.
"Are you ready?" He asked, looking green in the face once again.
"Yeah, let's get this over with. If this works, tell Sam I love her," I said, trying to say my goodbyes.
"Krista, this isn't goodbye," Shawn said, looking at me uncertainly like he was changing his mind.
"Of course not," I said, not wanting him to back out. "Do it now," I coaxed him.
He hesitated for a second, but then pulled the vial of medicine out of his pocket. He handed it to me while he unwrapped the sterile syringe he also swiped.
Once the syringe was filled with the dose of adrenaline, he turned back to me. "Are you sure you’re ready?" He asked.
I nodded my head, shutting my eyes. Shawn adjusted the sheet so he could plunge the syringe in at the right angle. I kept my eyes shut and focused on gathering all my energy to one location. I felt a sharp pain as the syringe pierced my heart. The adrenaline hit me instantly, causing me to jump like I had been launched from a cannon. My hair tingled and a warm sensation began to creep down my scalp, filling every surface on its way down my body.
The comfortable bed vanished out from under me as I slammed into Mark’s rock hard body, landing on top of him.
"What the Hell?" He said, startled. I finally opened my eyes and found myself peering at his face. It was amusing, looking down into his eyes as he took in my sprawling half-dressed appearance on top of him.
Chapter 15
Mark's amusement faded to something else as he appraised the smooth flat skin of my stomach. I watched as his eyes traveled over me.
I gave a nervous laugh that came out more like a grimace as my body tried to recover from the second transport in one evening.
Mark's desire abruptly burned out as he looked at me with concern.
"Krista, are you okay?" He asked, sitting up and holding me in his arms.
I nodded my head weakly. "It just takes its toll," I said, trying to keep my words short so I wouldn't lose the last of the remaining air in my lungs.
He pulled me up closer to him so that I could rest against his hard chest. "Krista, I thought you said you wouldn't be able to come back," he said, stroking my head. His touch felt heavenly, but lacked the healing touch he used to be able to offer.
"Shawn had a plan," I said, trying to adjust my shirt so that I wasn't flaunting so much skin.
"A sentence that starts with ‘Shawn had a plan,’ is never a good sign," Mark said with a chuckle.
"If I didn't feel like a bus just ran me over, followed by a Mack truck, I might argue with you," I said, trying to find the strength to turn my head to look at him.
"Then why did you risk it?" He asked, angling my body so he could peer down into my eyes. "To help the other Guides and Protectors?" He probed.
"You know why," I said, feeling flushed. What if I had misread the situation? What if he had no feelings left for me now that our link was gone? I looked down at my hands, mortified. I was so stupid. Why hadn't I transported somewhere else, somewhere useful, where I could have helped the others? Instead, I let my feelings override everything else.
"Krista look at me," he pleaded quietly.
I shook my head no as my face burned out of control.
"Krista," he said again, using two of his fingers to lift my chin. I tried to avoid eye contact, afraid of the pity I would see there. The pad of his thumb swiped away a lone tear that had escaped without me noticing. He moved his thumb further down until it gently caressed my bottom lip.
"Krista, you have to look at me," he said more urgently.
"Why?" I whispered.
"Because, I need to look in your eyes before I kiss you," he murmured.
I pulled my eyes up finally and was lost as he lowered his mouth to mine. I kept my eyes locked on his until the last possible moment. They finally fluttered closed as he kissed me like never before. We had always had our share of passion from the supernatural link we shared, but this made every other kiss feel like child's play as Mark plundered my mouth with his own. I gasped as he nipped on my lip, encouraging me to open completely to him. His mouth was familiar in so many ways and yet I could feel multiple layers that had never been there before.