“I’m right here with you.”
There is an echo to it. It moves and reverberates off the insides of my skull. A tiny little pixie flits in and out of my nightmares. She’s glowing. So tiny. So sweet. And so intensely bright that whenever she comes, she chases the darkness away—even for those brief moments.
Waiting for her to speak again is what carries me through the pain. My body wants to collapse in on itself, and then I hear her. And I’m almost okay.
Then I’m lost again.
Then she calls me back.
I don’t know how long this has been going on. It feels like I’ve been trapped in hell forever, but the sweetness of her voice keeps reminding me that itwillend. She whispers and tells me I will make it through, that I’m going to be okay.
***
Sunshine pushes against my closed eyelids.
My vision swims with red as I wake up, reluctant to open my eyes.
My body is aching. It’s tender. I try to roll over onto my side and my skin feels bruised.
My eyes flicker open, blinking against the bright, piercing light.
I know Izabel was here last night. I felt her. I heard her. I know it.
But now, in the late morning light, I am alone.
Sighing, I lift my hand and rub my eyes, groaning loudly.
Of course, she took the chance and escaped. Why wouldn’t she? I should just be grateful that she saved my life and not even try to chase her down. Not that I could chase her down in the state I’m in. My body feels like I got run over a truck. Like it backed up and reversed over me again just to make sure the job was done properly.
“Yeah, fuck it. I need a coffee,” I grumble, forcing myself to sit up despite the pain that spikes through the knife wound in my hip.
“Fuckers. Using the Devil's Tongue on their fucking knives. How fucking low can you get?” I mutter to myself.
I have to hold onto the balustrade as I stagger down the stairs.Hey, I’ve been in worse situations and still managed to take care of myself. I didn’t need anyone then, and I don’t need anyone now.
I scoff. Yeah. No. The pain I felt last night was pretty much as bad as it has ever been. I wonder where she ran to. I wonder if they’ll come bashing down my door and drag me away?
I mutter to myself as I walk into the kitchen with my hand clasped over the bandages on my side. My entire body freezes in shock as I stare at Izabel.
She spins in fright, her hand on her heart to calm it, as she stares back at me.
“You’re…awake,” she mutters. “You don’t look like you should be up and about yet,” she insists, taking a step towards me.
I’m still in shock, and my reaction is probably not the best, but I blurt out, “What the hell are you still doing here?”
She pulls a face, glaring at me. “What kind of a thank-you is that?” she stammers.
I realize how it sounded and lean more heavily against the kitchen doorframe as I try to regather my thoughts. “Sorry,” I mumble. “That is not at all how I meant for that to sound. I just thought…I thought you would…”
Sighing, I give up and shrug.
She is ignoring me and my rudeness. I walk closer to see what she’s busy with, and the faint scent of ginger and lemon washes over me. My stomach grumbles hungrily.
“What is that?” I ask, eyeing the green powder she’s about to mix into the tea with suspicion.
She glances at me, still annoyed at my snappy comment. “It’s herbal tea. For the pain and for infection. And you should be back in bed.”
“I don’t have ginger in my pantry. Or whatever that green stuff is,” I remark curiously.
