I reached out through our bond to communicate with her. She had to feel me. She had to come back to me.
But she didn’t respond. Her half of our bond was empty… unresponsive.
I realized I’d never truly felt Ava begonebefore. Even before I’d met her, her presence had always been there. Now there was an empty gap where her soul had been, like someone had carved a hole in the middle of my chest.
Maybe I was still fucked up from the inferichite, and that’s why I couldn’t feel her. I reached out to Oberi, and that connection remained solid as ever.
Fear took over me as I tried again. I thought I might hear her thoughts, feel her consciousness… something.
I felt nothing.
Marcus whimpered. “She… she’s not breathing—”
“DON’T!” I yelled. “Don’t say that. She’ll— she’ll be fine. Her mom can heal her.”
Footsteps sounded, along with the pad of paws. Ava’s parents rushed down the tunnel I’d created, followed by Oberi and Rishi. They reached the end, where I sat with Ava curled in my lap.
“Ancestors!” Liam cried.
Oberi whimpered loudly.I can’t believe she’s gone. I’m a terrible Familiar. I… I should’ve protected her.
Yeah, you should’ve, I growled. I couldn’t sympathize. All I had in my heart was agony and blame. At the moment, Ihated himright now for allowing this to happen to her. He should’ve kept her safe…
But that was my job. I’d failed her more than anyone.
Sophia must’ve gone still, because I didn’t hear her at all.
“Heal her!” I demanded.
Sophia came to my side immediately. Her breath wavered, and several of her tears fell onto my arm. I felt Ava’s body shift as Sophia placed her hand on the injuries. Several awful moments passed, but nothing happened.
“What are you waiting for?!” I cried.
Sophia drew away. “Her— her injuries are too extensive. I can’t heal her without surgical intervention.”
Fuck.
“You have to do something!” I screamed. “Magichasto fix this!”
“Charlie, I don’t think you realize the extent of Ava’s injuries,” Sophia sobbed, though she tried to keep her voice strong. It was just too much for a mother to bear. “I can heal skin wounds and broken bones and burns, but without surgery, this—”
I shoved Sophia aside. If she saidsurgeryone more time, I was going to fucking lose it. I pulled Ava into my arms and cradled her as I got my feet. My leg protested, as it hadn’t fully healed, but I didn’t give a damn.
Dirt rained down on our heads as I began shifting the stones to my command. I didn’t even have to move my hands to make them get out of the way— they moved at my thoughts. I shoved them aside so hard that they were reduced to nothing but tightly compacted dirt. I formed a staircase upward through the earth overhead.
Something dislodged from the earth, but I couldn’t control it. It rolled down my makeshift stairway, and Marcus yanked me out of the way so I wouldn’t be crushed by it. Whatever it was, it was bigger than me.
“What the fuck was that?” I asked.
Marcus swallowed audibly. “A casket from the graveyard above us.”
To hell with it. I pushed the last bit of dirt aside, until I felt a gust of air whip through the staircase. I moved as quickly as I could, carrying Ava from the Underground and into the cemetery. I used my magic to help me navigate around gravestones and out of the graveyard. The others rushed behind me, and we raced to the infirmary. Oberi guided me, giving loud barks so I knew which way to go.
The second I heard footsteps up ahead, I began screaming. “Help! We need a doctor! Somebody help!”
Nurses began yelling. I heard the sound of doors slamming, then wheels screeching as someone pulled a gurney down the hall.
“Call the Warden!” a nurse barked.
