Dragonlands(191)

They walked in silence. Jarrett unlocked the door, letting Fi in first. She gasped. Jarrett pushed past her into the room, barely registered the sound of the door slamming behind him.

Tressa sat up in bed, tears of blood streaming down her cheeks. A set of black, leathery wings protruded from her back, her shirt torn and hanging in shreds. "What's happening to me?" she asked in a cracked voice.

Jarrett rushed to her side, but she pushed him away. He flew backward, hitting the wall. Jarrett slid to the floor, dazed, the breath knocked from his chest.

"I didn't mean to do that." Tressa’s whisper tiptoed around his ears.

"I know you didn't," he said. He stood, woozy, but he didn’t want Tressa to know she'd come very close to seriously injuring him.

Fi jumped on the bed and wrapped her arms around Tressa, carefully folding the wings onto themselves. "Just breathe. In and out. Keep it even."

The wings slowly began to meld into Tressa’s back. It wasn't long before Jarrett didn't see them at all.

"Good. Good girl," Fi said, stroking Tressa's hair.

"Don't talk to me like I'm a puppy," Tressa said. But she didn't push Fi away. Tressa looked up at them, her eyes moving back and forth between the two of them. "You knew this was coming?"

Jarrett shook his head. Fi nodded.

"Which is it?" Tressa asked.

"We suspected it," Fi said.

"But we knew nothing for sure," Jarrett said. "It's why I think we should leave for the Charred Barrens right away. Fi believes they can help you there."

Tressa took another shuddering breath. "I don't want to be like this. If there's any chance they can help me..."

"I think we can," Fi said. She grabbed a fresh dress from the wardrobe and pulled it over Tressa's torn shirt.

Jarrett wanted to help, but he didn't know how. Helplessly, he shoved more of Tressa's clothes into a pack.

"Does everyone know?" Tressa asked.

"Just the three of us," Jarrett said. "I thought you'd prefer it this way. But if you want to tell the others before we leave, that is your choice."

"No." Tressa sank into the pillows, her hair cascading over her cheeks. "I don't want them to know. They have enough to worry about." She turned an angry eye to Fi. "But you told them I could be healed, back here, and ready to help them with the search in a few days. Is that a lie? Are we abandoning them for good?"

"It is the truth as far as I know," Fi said. "Hopefully my people can help you within just a couple days."

Tressa looked at Fi, then her gaze settled on Jarrett. "Thank you for protecting me and for offering to come with us."

Jarrett sat on the bed next to her, losing his hand in her dark hair. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be than by your side."

Tressa pulled his hand from her locks. "I don't want you to come with me."

"But—"

Tressa placed a finger on his lips. "No buts. If I find out I can't be fixed and I'm to be this strange thing—this hybrid—then I don't want you there. I want you here where you can be useful. You are of far more use helping them find the eggs than you are to me in the Charred Barrens."

Jarrett grimaced. She spoke the truth. As always. But that didn't mean he agreed. "I would rather be with you. The last time I left you in what I thought were capable hands, Jacinda put you out to sea to die."

"I won't do that," Fi interrupted eagerly.

"Can you leave us alone for a moment?" he asked Fi.

She nodded, contrite, and left the chambers.

"Tressa." Jarrett tried to hold his voice steady. "Don't do this. You don't have to go through this alone."

"I won't. Fi will be with me."

"You barely know her." Jarrett leaned over, kissing Tressa on the cheek. "And I can't bear the thought of being separated from you. Not after everything we've been through."

Tressa returned his kiss, but her stiff back told him no matter what arguments he used, he wouldn't change her mind.

"You don't have to do everything alone," he said, trying one last time. "When you left Bastian..."

"This isn't the same," Tressa said. "Are you afraid I'm running off to find a new lover? This is about my body. My life, Jarrett! I could die if I don't learn to control whatever is going on inside me. You've known dragons. Is it normal to cry blood?"

Jarrett answered quietly. "No. It is not."

"Is it normal for some parts of the body to change while other parts remain the same?”

"No."

"Then please, understand I am the only one who can fight this battle. I have to do this alone. You help the others."