Descending Darkness(36)

Something is telling me that this isn’t a vision. This is different. Emma was right about that. I can feel my anger rising. If I don’t get control soon, I’ll go invisible. What if Dravin and Adam have her? What the hell is she going through right now? Natalie must have gotten a read on my anger because she walks up to me and grabs my forearm. Instantly, I feel calmer. I am still angry, but it is manageable now. “Thanks.”

She nods and steps back a little. I glance back at the couch. Nothing has changed. If it weren’t for her breathing, I’d think…No, I can’t think like that. She is going to be okay, isn’t she?



Thirty minutes later, she is still in the same position. I am starting to get worried again. Pacing the back of the room, I keep an eye on her, waiting for any sign of change. I look over toward Liam, who is rubbing his arm absentmindedly. “Liam.” He looks over at me. I glance down at his arm. He curses and stands up, looking toward Ryanne. There’s no change.

“Something’s happening, isn’t it?” Emma asks. She is just as worried as Liam and I are. Liam gasps and touches his stomach. Natalie keeps glancing between Liam and Ryanne. Liam doubles over, holding onto his stomach. Ryanne still isn’t moving. Natalie walks over to Liam and crouches down next to him, trying to calm him. He grunts, which shows how much Ryanne is going through. He only feels a fraction of what she is experiencing. I walk over to the couch and sit down next to her, lifting her head and placing it in my lap. Logan moves closer, so when Ryanne wakes up, he can heal her. Her head moves slightly in my lap.

“She’s going to wake up soon,” I say. She groans and opens her eyes. Covering her mouth, she jumps away from me. She pushes past Logan and runs out of the living room. I hear the sound of a door slamming open and then retching sounds. I push past everyone and round the corner, walking into the small bathroom.

Ryanne is sitting on the tiled floor throwing up in the toilet. I crouch behind her and grab her hair, pulling it away from her face. Emma walks in holding a wet washcloth and a bottle of water. When I move her hair from her face, I see a giant bruise under her eye. She is visibly shaking as she gets sick again. I don’t know what to do. I look around for Logan. He pushes past everyone and reaches under her sweatshirt. He grabs her stomach and starts healing her. She leans forward and throws up again. What is going on?

“Ryanne, what’s happening? I’m right here.” I rub her back as she starts dry heaving. There is nothing left in her stomach to throw up. She leans against her arm and starts breathing heavily. I hear the sound of bones popping back into place, and she cries out, arching her back. Logan falls backward and gasps as he finishes healing her.

Ryanne is still breathing heavily, but she isn’t getting sick anymore. She shakily pushes herself away from the toilet and flees out of the room, running up the stairs. I start to go after her, but Logan stops me. He looks toward Emma. She nods and leaves the room. “What happened?” I ask him as I reach down to help him stand up.

He accepts my help and starts shaking his head. He leaves the room and slowly walks back into the living room. “Make her some toast or something. She needs to eat when she comes back down,” he orders. Natalie rushes into the kitchen to make it.

Logan sits down on the couch and exhales loudly. He drops his face into his hands. All of us turn towards him, waiting for his explanation, but he remains silent. Hearing a sound behind me, I look up the stairs and see Emma helping Ryanne walk down. She’s is gripping the hand rails, appearing too weak to move. I walk up the last remaining stairs and pick her up. She doesn’t even protest. I carry her over to the couch and sit down with her in my lap. I’m not going to let her go. I don’t care what she says or how much her stubborn little self tries to fight me on this; I’m not letting her go. Natalie walks back into the living room with the toast and hands it to Ryanne, who just stares at the plate. I take the plate from Natalie and thank her. “Ryanne eat this.”

She shakes her head. “I can’t eat anything.” I try not to outwardly sigh when I hear how weak her voice sounds.

“Ryanne, you just threw up all the food you had in your body. Eat this.” When she glances up at me, I see how scared she is. What did she see? I glance over at Logan again, and he is still sitting with his head resting in his hands. Liam is back in the chair. He doesn’t look much better.

“Will someone please explain what happened?” I ask. I look down at Ryanne, who is shaking her head, nibbling on a piece of toast.

“Dravin found another way to get to her,” Logan says.