“It was just a bad dream, Jake. Just a dream. Did I hurt you?” she asks, looking at him with fear for his safety.
“No, I’m fine. Do you want to tell me about it?” he asks reaching for her.
“I wish I could, Jake.” She gets out of the bed and turns away from his outstretched hand. The moment she puts weight on her foot her ankle reminds her of the wound. Pain radiates up her leg, stealing her breath.
“You’re hurt!” He helps her sit back down and gently lifts the leg of her pants. The binding is saturated with blood and has run down into her boots. Jake gently removes her sock and shoe along with releasing the wrapped T-shirt from around her leg.
A hiss of pain escapes Elina when he pulls the cloth away from the deep angry wound.
“What the hell? That looks like claw marks, Elina.” He rushes out of the room to the bathroom, and grabs his medical kit. “That is going to need stitches,” he reaches into a pocket on the bag for anti-septic.
“Jake,” she says stopping him, “let me take a shower and get clean then you can dress them. Help me up, please.”
She leans on him hobbling to the bathroom, he sits her on the side of the tub as he starts the shower.
“Can you manage, I’d be glad to help?” He says with a sassy smile.
Elina laughs at the image he presents, she smacks at him with a cloth. “I bet. Get out of here, you animal. I can manage on my own.”
Jake sighs deep and loud, “Okay. I know who holds your heart, but if you change your mind, I’m here. Just toss your clothes out and I will throw them in the washer.” He closes the door softly and heads to the kitchen to make coffee and breakfast.
Elina showers quickly, scrubbing her hair and body clean. Trying to scrub the image of Malach out of her mind. The steam feels so good, but her leg reminds her that she needs to be healed.
She walks into the bedroom wrapped in a towel and finds a T-shirt of Jakes waiting for her. She quickly pulls it on and dries her hair, then brushes the tangles out.
He stands in the doorway and stares at her with hunger in his eyes. The T-shirt is huge, covering her to mid-thigh. She looks so beautiful, that all thought of keeping his distance flees.
“Elina.” He says and in that word she hears hope; hope for a future together that she cannot give him. When he steps toward her, she backs away, holding up a trembling hand.
“Don’t, Jake. I really need you to be my friend right now and I can’t give you anything more than that.”
He looks closer and reads her fear, desperation, and exhaustion.
“Okay, then. Let’s look at your leg. Sit on the bed and put your leg on this towel.”
She tugs on the T-shirt and sits. His hands are gentle as he prods the wounds.
“Elina, what the hell happened to you? What kind of animal did this to you?” Red striations flow up her leg, indicating infection and swirls around the ankle, flaring out.
“Not, animal, demon. A fallen angel, named Kane grabbed me.” She inhales swiftly when he swabs the wounds with iodine. Looking at long rips and finding some of the claws left buried in her trembling leg. He looks up mumbling.
“You need a doctor, or an angel. Why don’t you call Malach? He could heal this for you.”
“No!” she says too loudly. Jake looks at her and grits his teeth.
“Okay, that’s a first. Tell me, Elina. Let me help you,” he asks. When she doesn’t answer, he wraps the leg in gauze and waits patiently.
In her mind, she remembers a bible verse, “The enemy seeks to steal and destroy your hope, your faith and your purpose.” Now looking at this man who has been her friend since childhood, Elina knows it is time to trust him.
“Jake, the things I will tell you are… unbelievable. I need help and I can’t do this alone anymore.” Trembling, she waits for him to respond.
He smiles, “You never had to do it alone, Elina. I have been waiting for you to ask me.” He cups her cheek with his hand, “Let me shelter you. I promise you can trust me.”
She covers his hand with hers and smiles at him.
“Okay, you asked for it, but first can I have some clothes? I keep ending up naked.”
Jake laughs and hands her a robe from his closet.
“I have coffee ready.” With his help she settles down into the couch while he props her ankle up.
“Seth’s mother is a nurse, she can look at you later today.”
He walks off and throws her clothes in the dryer and returns to her.
Chapter 17
“Jake, you know that I am the Keeper. I was chosen from my people to protect the Book. It was broken into five pieces and I have been able to find four parts and return three of them to the Ketuwah. I have made some bad choices, my need to protect my family and my desire for…” she pauses to sip her coffee because she does not want to hurt him.
“Your desire for Malach?” He urges.
“I made a bad choice, Jake and all of you suffered because of it. I have seen what will happen to this world if the Fallen are given the power of this book. I made a promise to my God to see this through to the end. I have to find the final part, no matter the cost. Any who are near me will be on their own, Jake. I am responsible for more than just our people, my choice will decide if humanity survives or not. ALL of humanity, Jake.”
Jake listens without interruption. “You said final part of the book, Elina. You have the fourth part? Why haven’t you returned it?”
“I..,” she hesitates because she doesn’t know
