Tiesa didn’t answer. My feelings of frustration were overwhelming.
“How do you keep this secret?” I asked.
“It’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve never had a problem keeping it.”
I said nothing. When we reached her classroom, we stopped and Tiesa gave me a hug. “It’ll all work out, you’ll see.”
“I don’t know, Tiesa. Thayde’s still in a coma.”
“But your parents are taking care of him.”
“They have him in the guest bedroom.”
“Just keep visiting him. It’ll do the both of you some good. And don’t forget, you have powers, too.” She turned on her heel and walked into the room. I stood there watching her, deep in thought. What was it that Mom had said a few weeks ago? Something about people being attracted to me because I could heal? I had forgotten about that. I’d visit Thayde as soon as I got home.
Thayde lay peacefully on the full sized bed in the guest bedroom. I entered the room quietly, leaving my backpack at the door. Making my way to his side, I surveyed his body. After Mom had cleaned his wounds, she’d dressed him in a pair of soft gray pajama bottoms. He lay on the white sheets with a light blanket pulled up to his waist.
Carefully, I sat down on the bed, facing him. He looked so peaceful, yet battered. Bruises had formed about his face and the cuts about his eyes and mouth were still bright red. His lips were split where Akin had kicked him in the face. A large, painful bruise radiated out across his chest and down to his stomach. His ribs were wrapped with white tape as many of them had been fractured from the beating. On his arms, deep red marks from the ropes that bound him to the stake scarred his skin.
Despite all the damage, he was still beautiful. His full, long eyelashes lay in a pretty fan on his cheeks. His chest rose and fell with his deep breathing. A black tattoo ran down his left arm from his shoulder to his elbow. It flowed with his body, accentuating the muscles in his arm.
Mom had told me that his jaw and cheekbone had been broken, but she’d been able to fix them and now they looked completely normal. She wanted me to know that no human could have possibly have gone through all the torture Thayde had endured and lived. She’d said, “He is either extremely powerful or loves you very deeply and it’s not his time to go.”
“What if it’s both?” I had asked her.
“Then the Dartmoth’s are very lucky he was a willing participant.”
Now, alone with Thayde, I leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. There was no movement what-so-ever.
“Thayde,” I began, “you have to wake up. You’re scaring me.” I sighed and rubbed my forehead. “It’s funny, but we haven’t even been on a date yet.”
Smiling, I traced a finger along the muscles in his arm.
If I had the power to heal, why wasn’t he fixed? What did I have to do? Maybe if I laid my hands on his chest and imagined him getting better, imagined him waking up?
I placed my hands lightly over him and closed my eyes. Relaxing, I cleared my head, focused my energy and concentrated on healing. Soon, I could feel the energy within me, pulsating, trying to be released. The golden light began to run down my arms, out my hands and into his body, making him glow. When it was over, I was breathless.
Thayde didn’t move. His deep breathing continued. I took his hand in mine and felt the tears begin to form. Maybe this was too soon. Maybe I was just fooling myself. What more could a Halfling do anyways?
Then there was a slight change in his breathing. It wasn’t as deep anymore. His eyes were still closed, but he was frowning slightly. A small grunt of pain escaped his lips and slowly, he opened his eyes.
“Thayde,” I whispered.
He blinked a few times, looking around the room. When his eyes focused on me, his frown disappeared and he relaxed – a slight smile forming on his lips.
“I’m here,” I said, not sure what to say.
In the barest whisper, he tried to talk.
“Wh. What did. You do to. Me?”
“I’m not sure. Did I hurt you?”
“No.”
“What does hurt?”
Thayde closed his eyes and his breathing quickened.
“Everything.”
“I’m so sorry.” My heart was breaking for him. “Why did you let them do this to you?”
“Had to,” he said haltingly.
“No, you didn’t.”
He looked through me with those dark blue eyes.
“They would. Have come. After you.”
I wanted to scream in anger but looking down at Thayde struggling just to speak, extinguished my anger in a heartbeat. Instead, I rubbed his hand and asked him what he needed.
“Water,” he managed to say.