I screamed.
CHAPTER TWELVE:
Felicity Baines
A SHARP, INTENSE ACHE RADIATED FROM my chest and across my ribs. I attempted to move, and the pain intensified.
Everything was dark, but familiar scents and sounds slowly came into focus around me—the beep of a heart monitor, the periodic hiss of a blood pressure cuff, the steady drip of an IV, the smell of disinfectant and hospital cleaners, and the muted voices of people trying to have a conversation.
I blinked my eyes open and groaned. My temples throbbed. God, I really hated hospitals. I once again attempted to sit up. Every bone and muscle in my body screamed in protest. Whimpering, tears filled my eyes.
“Don’t try to sit up,” Trent said.
Suddenly, the events that led to me being here crashed over me. Leaving school because some girl was watching me. Driving to Trent’s house. The girl in the middle of the road. The truck lurching forward. I hadn’t been buckled. Did I go through the windshield?
“No, but you would have if Trent hadn’t stopped you,” Whitney said from where she sat near the window. The blinds were closed, shrouding the room in semi-darkness. Colt and Karina stood next to her.
“Get out of my head,” I grumbled. My throat was dry and scratchy. “What happened?”
“You don’t remember?” Trent asked. He stood near the door. Why was he all the way over there?
“I remember the accident. What happened after?” I winced. Talking hurt. So did breathing.
“I broke a couple of your ribs when I stopped you from going through the windshield. I’m so sorry, Chloe.” His voice cracked.
“Don’t be. I’m sure it would have been a lot worse if you hadn’t,” I said, and then another, more horrifying thought struck me.
Trent and I were linked. My eyes widened. Ivy said that his immortal life was linked to mine, that what happened to me would happen to him. Had he been injured, too?
“Are you okay?” I asked, unable to hide the terror from my voice.
I held my hand out to him, and after what felt like an eternity, he approached. Taking my hand, he kissed my palm, then my wrist; each time his lips touched my skin was gentle, as if he were afraid to hurt me again.
“I’m okay,” he said, smiling sadly. “I felt your pain, but I wasn’t physically hurt.”
Sighing with relief, I closed my eyes for a moment. I hated that he’d felt the same intense pain I had, but I was incredibly grateful that he wasn’t injured. “Where is everyone?” I asked, forcing my eyes open again.
Surely, if Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean knew I’d been in an accident, they’d be here. So would Abby.
“Isach took Abby to the cafeteria to get some food. She hasn’t stopped crying since she saw you. Your aunt and uncle are talking to the billing office,” Trent explained. He caressed my knuckles.
“So, what happened? Who is that girl, and why was she suddenly standing in the middle of the road?” I took a deep breath, and fresh pain filled my chest.
Trent grimaced, the action so subtle if I hadn’t been watching him, I wouldn’t have even noticed.
“She was after you,” Whitney said and stood. “Isach still hasn’t told us why, though, and I’m ready to beat it out of him.”
My eyebrows shot up. I’d never heard Whitney get angry before. Nor had she ever shown any violent tendencies. Granted, she was a vampire, and that meant she was inherently dangerous, but normally, she was so calm and happy.
Trent shot her a warning look. “He’s willing to tell us, but we wanted to make sure you were going to be okay first.” Hesitantly, Trent sat on the edge of the hospital bed.
I wanted to move over so he’d have more room, but even the slightest movement hurt.
The door opened, and Isach and Abby walked in. Abby’s gaze landed on me, and her eyes widened. She rushed to my bedside, but Trent didn’t budge, so she couldn’t get too close. Good thing because she’d probably try to hug me and just thinking about that caused a fresh wave of pain.
“Chloe! You’re awake. Are you okay? How are you feeling? Do you remember anything?” Abby fired questions at me so fast my head spun.
“I’m sore, and it hurts to move, but I’m okay. Groggy. But yeah, I remember everything,” I said, swallowing against the dryness in my throat. “I need some water.”
Abby thrust a bottle of water toward me. “Take mine.”
“Thanks.” I smiled and took the bottle, but twisting off the top proved difficult.
Trent took the bottle from me, opened it, and then placed it near my lips. I took a small sip, letting the cool liquid soothe the burn in my throat.
“I am so sorry, Chloe,” Isach said. “If I had known she was going to follow you…”
“Who is she?” I asked, surprised with how strong my voice sounded.
Other than the broken ribs and a massive headache, I didn’t feel that bad. There weren’t any bandages on me, so I had to assume I didn’t suffer any cuts.
“Her name is Felicity Baines,” Isach said. “And she’s—”
“Oh, good. Our patient is awake.” A nurse walked in and smiled, effectively cutting off Isach. “How are you feeling?” She moved around the bed to check the machines.
Trent stood, but he didn’t move too far away.
“My ribs are killing me, and it hurts to move or take a deep breath,” I said.
“Well, that’s to be expected.” She pressed buttons on the heart monitor machine, then patted my shoulder. “I’ll let the doctor know you’re awake. She’ll explain everything. In the meantime, is there anything I can get for you?”
“No, thank you.” I shook my head. When she left, I turned my gaze back on Isach. “She’s what?”
Now that everyone knew I was going to be fine, he was going to tell us what he knew about this girl, and most importantly, he was going to tell me why she’d tried to kill me.
“Felicity is a
