What am I supposed to do? I’ve got to get out of here.
“You have to calm down.” Luke’s tone is low, almost soothing. “Take control of the power and push it down. Things are going to get bad if you don’t. We need you.”
Doesn’t he think I know that? If I were feeling better, I would slap him. Everything inside me is quivering against the ferocity of the magic. It wants out and now.
Dax closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath. “We’ve got to get you out of here, Luke, in case she can’t stop it.”
Thank God. At least one of them has some common sense.
“What?” Luke’s head jerks up, and he glares. “We need her. We can’t win without the artifacts.”
“Yeah, but if we lose you, who's to say the next two replacements won’t go rogue with the oldest Elder?” Dax’s voice cracks, but he stands tall. “We need you just as much as we need her, especially if she doesn’t make it.”
My ears begin ringing from all the pressure. They need to go and now. Dax is right and Luke needs to get on with it.
“Fine.” Luke glances at me one last time, concern shining through his eyes. “I hate it, but you’re right. Let’s go.”
Grabbing Luke, Dax pulls them both through the portal he already had open.
Holy crap. I’m alone now, and I need to get out of here. I can’t hurt all the people in here. There must be at least ten butlers who are always here, and no telling if there is anyone else in the dungeon or what not.
I roll over to my belly and attempt to get up on my hands and knees but fall back down. Ugh, I’ve got to find a freaking way out. I won’t have my life end in such a catastrophe.
A strong gust of wind blows into the room and picks me up. I’m lifted about five feet in the air.
What the hell is going on?
Something pulls at me, and my body moves toward the windows in the back of Luke’s office. I’m not moving slow or fast, but somewhere in between. I’m reminded of long-ago summer days when Beth and I would ride our bikes down the road with no destination in sight. Fast enough to feel a breeze, but we weren’t in any rush.
As I get close to the window, the power begins vibrating, and my vision begins to bounce. I can’t see straight, but I hear a loud crash and feel piercing cuts all over my body. I’ve gone right through the window
The smell of fresh cut grass hits my nose, which makes me want to laugh for some reason. I’m losing my damn mind right before I die. I wonder if everyone does or if it’s just me. Hell, I’m flying for goodness sake.
I fly through the air and land at the base of a huge oak tree. As soon as my back hits the bark, more power from the ground bleeds into me. My vision goes black, and the pain is like never before. I don’t know where I begin or end, and it feels as if I’m splitting in two. The artifacts’ energy glows brighter, and soon it rips me apart and pours out of me.
“Is she okay?” Dax’s tone is hoarse, and then he coughs.
“Yeah, at least for now she is.” Luke is right beside me, and a hand brushes some hair off of my face.
My eyelids flutter, but I still can’t open them. What is going on? How am I still alive? My body feels heavy, and my breathing is shallow.
“I can’t believe she did all this.” Dax laughs and then stops short. “I mean, she’s something, but this is scary. She doesn’t deserve this.”
“Don’t you think I know this?” Luke huffs, and his hand leaves my face. “However, it wasn’t my choice. I didn’t choose her for this.”
Wow, they sound like they really believe in me. Good thing I don’t need validation any longer. I can do this with or without their support. I tug at the white power inside me, and it unfurls and begins circulating through me. As soon as it’s made a round through my body, I can breathe easier, and the pain isn’t quite as bad.
I’ve never tried healing myself before, but hey, at least it worked. This time, my eyes open, and I find Luke kneeling over me.
“How bad do you hurt?” His suit is in disarray, and there is dust all over his jacket.
I take a deep breath, letting air fill my lungs. “Actually, I’m okay. I don’t know how, but I’m fine.” My throat is dry, grainy, and I cough. I need water or something to drink. I begin to sit up when Dax comes to my other side and places a hand on my arm.
“Take a minute before getting up. Make sure you have your bearings.” He licks his lips and shakes his head. “You went through a huge ordeal.”
“You don’t think I know that? I was the one living through it.” Times like these make me hate being around people. They act like I’m not part of what’s going on, like I’m just a bystander.
A small grin spreads across his face. “I think she’s going to be just fine. There’s my fire cracker.”
Where did this nickname come from all of a sudden? It’s sweet but makes me feel a little uncomfortable. It’s almost like he’s turning into a different person. That’s how Becca started out too.
“Can you both just focus for a minute?” Luke rolls his eyes, and he glances behind him. “How in the world did you get out here? We left you in my office.”
Hell, he’s right. Everything comes back to me. “I didn’t want to injure anyone. I remember focusing on that. Those butlers are just doing their jobs. Many probably
