Descending Darkness(103)

“Another reason why we need to get to Ryanne,” I mumble. Tom turns and glares at me. I know that he wants to find Ryanne as much as I do. We all know what Dravin is capable of, and we know what he wants with her.

Ten minutes later, the Howicks pull over to the side of the road. “What happened?” Mr. Howick asks; his eyes landing on Liam who is still in the dream.

“I’ll explain everything at the hotel,” Tom says as we reach down and lift Liam into the car. Natalie hops into the back seat beside him.

“Is he going to be okay?” Mrs. Howick inquires. Natalie brushes Liam’s hair away from his face.

“Liam’s a dream-walker. He’ll be fine. We don’t know what he’s seeing right now,” Tom explains as he moves over to help Bragden stand. David walks over and wraps Bragden’s other arm around his shoulder while I move to help Logan get into the car. I’m pretty sure Logan’s leg is broken. His magic is trying to heal him but due to the extent of the damage, it’ll take some time. When he’s finally healed, he won’t be able to heal anyone else for a while. His body will need to recuperate.

“Where are you headed?” Mr. Howick asks once everyone is situated. Tom gives him directions and then turns to me.

“Don’t worry, Colton. We’ll get her back,” he states as he walks away and gets into his car. I keep my mouth shut as I hop into the other car and close the door, watching as the burning sedan recedes into the distance.



*****

“Ryanne?”

I whirl around and come face to face with my protector. I run and barrel into him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He returns the hug. “I’m so glad to see you, Liam.”

“Where are you?” Liam asks as he puts me back on the ground. I don’t step away from him though. I need to make sure that this is real.

“Dravin’s compound.”

“Have they hurt you?”

“I don’t think so. I think all of my injuries are from the car accident. My heads bleeding, but I don’t know how bad it is. They’re keeping me under with dormirako, so I can’t tell. I can use my magic, but they won’t let me stay awake long enough to do anything. Some man just took some of my blood to see if he can separate my magic from it,” I explain. “It’s too late. If they can extract my magic, they’ll kill me, Liam. They won’t need me anymore.”

“Ryanne, don’t say that.”

“Why? It’s the truth,” I shout.

“Ryanne, we’re going to find you. Don’t think like that.”

“The only way you’ll be able to find me is if I’m awake long enough to call for Larkin, and they won’t allow for that to happen.” Liam winces when I mention Larkin. “Is Larkin okay? Did anyone get hurt in the accident?”

“Everyone got hurt in the accident, but nothing too serious. Bragden and Logan are the worst since they were sitting on the side that got hit. Bragden took most of the blows when he covered your body with his. Logan’s too injured to heal anyone, so we have to wait for him to recover before he can heal everyone else.”

“Oh my gosh,” I say.

Liam runs a hand through his hair. “We’ll find a way to get you, okay? Don’t do anything that’ll get you hurt.”

“Liam, I’m being kept unconscious. There’s not a whole lot I can do right now. They have me strapped to a chair, hooked up to an IV. I’ll be out for a while…at least until they find out whether or not they can take my magic.” I cross my arms and look off into the distance. This place has become so familiar to me. In a way, I wish I could stay here. If Colton was with me, I’d never want to leave. “Please keep your promise, Liam.”

“Ryanne.”

“No, I don’t see a way out of this situation right now. Maybe this is how it’s supposed to happen. We’re nearing the end, and you know it. Keep an eye on Colton for me, please. Claire told me that you and Colton were the ones that end the war and that I am elsewhere. Maybe this is where I’m supposed to be. Maybe this is the end for me.”

“Stop saying that!” Liam yells. I flinch away from him but shake my head.

“You can’t keep denying what’s right in front of you. I love you, Liam; I do. You’re like the brother I never had, but you can’t keep rejecting the fact that something could happen to me. I’m in Dravin’s compound, unconscious, while some man runs tests on my blood. Everyone that has the capability to come rescue me is injured. Dravin thought of everything!”

“There’s always a way, Ryanne. You just have to believe.”