Evie watched as two Midworlders arrived. One she recognized as Zen, the other a tall man with his hair pulled back in a ponytail. She guessed that was Ridge. He leaned down next to Heath, and she heard him whisper, “I’m here, friend, like you’ve been for me. Let’s take you back. There’s a little lady waitin’ for you.”
Ridge scooped Heath up in his arms, and Heath didn’t fight against his embrace.
Genia was calling her back, and Evie found herself again floating above her body back in the room. She sensed to return to her own body would bring pain, but the silver strand connecting her to it was becoming weaker, and she wanted to fight to stay with Heath, no matter what it took. He would be with her soon.
Chapter 21
Unexpected Healers
Heath could not stop the tremors going through his body. He was aware another Midworlder was carrying him through the sky and tried to take some warmth from him. His eyes were swollen, so he could barely see.
“We’ll be back soon, old friend.”
It was Ridge. He would recognize that Southern drawl anywhere. What was he doing here? He would not want Nicole or the baby to be in danger because of what had happened. It was bad enough he could not save Evie. Heath looked within himself to see what had happened to the darkness. It was trying to heal him and was furious that he had tried to kill himself. The pity, he thought, was that he had not succeeded. Ridge thought he was being helpful, but all he was doing was taking the darkness back to the others.
“Don’t let Evie see me. I tried to rape her. The Demonic guardian within me will make me kill her.” He still could not believe those were words he would ever utter.
“She’s how we found you. Whatever happened between you, your little lady still wants you. Now shut up and rest.”
Heath’s heart soared for a moment that she could still possibly love him after what he had done. It didn’t matter; he still could not afford to get close. For now, he would let Ridge carry him. He appreciated the soothing thoughts coming from his friend. It was so unlike Ridge. What he usually offered was a whiskey and a cigar, not that Heath’s lungs could cope with a cigar. He opened his eyes again and could see the lights of Kingston before them. Out on the bay was a cruise ship, lit up with people going about their business, unaware of what was going on around them. Regardless of what was happening to him, he needed to keep it that way so humans were oblivious to their existence.
He could feel they were descending to Namid’s house, but he could also sense the closeness of Evie. The bond was growing stronger, and he didn’t know if he would have the strength to walk away again, even if the darkness took over. Heath didn’t protest, when Ridge carried him inside and placed him on the couch. Genia walked over and started to place her hands on his head and then his chest. The relief was almost instant when the searing pain reduced. His eyes opened as the swelling went down and he could move his arms and legs again.
“Thank you, Genia, but you shouldn’t risk being near me. As soon as I’m healed, I fear the Demonic guardian, called Slyth, will take over again. I would not wish to hurt you. Slyth almost made me kill a man before. It was only the intervention of the man’s guardian that stopped me.”
Nicole and Ridge stood behind Genia and he could see from the stubborn looks with lips drawn thin that they were not going anywhere, no matter what he said. After seeing the way the two of them had fought Liliath, Sayell, and over a hundred Demonic Midworlders, he was not surprised.
Genia laughed, and it was not the reaction he had expected.
“The fact a guardian intervened and enabled you to take back your power makes me think we might have a chance in defeating this.”
“Look into my mind, Genia. You’ll see it’s a Demonic with no love for our kind, nor for humans. He’s been here hundreds of years and has no intention of going back, especially now that he’s in the body of a Midworlder.”
Genia placed her hands on either side of his head, and he opened up to her. When she moved them away, he could see the tears forming in her eyes.
“Heath, I am so sorry for you. I could sense he was the cause of Elizabeth’s death as well. No matter what you say, this cannot be allowed to continue. I don’t know if we can save you, but this evil must be purged from you and returned home.”
Heath grabbed Genia’s hand. “All I ask is that you make Evie relinquish her bond to me. You can protect her until she can receive a guardian.”
“I don’t think that’s your choice. I’ve no bloody intention of going anywhere.”
It was his beloved’s voice, but she sounded weak and breathless. He looked across to see her leaning against the doorframe nearby. Ridge and Nicole rushed to her side, as her legs gave out beneath her. Heath managed to sit up, but the stabbing pains of his injuries still wracked his body. She was placed down on the other couch nearby. He wanted to touch her so badly. To hold her in his arms and say sorry, but he could already start to feel Slyth clawing his way back. She was smiling at him, and he could tell from her thoughts she was relieved to see him. He got off the couch with Ridge’s help and knelt before her.
“I don’t know how long I can hold out, but I want you to know I’m truly sorry for what happened.”
She put her hand up so her fingers touched his lips. “You forget, I lived with that darkness for a long time, and I know what it’s capable of. I forgive you, and we don’t need to talk of it again.”
“What has happened? How were you hurt?”
Evie started to cough, and Georgia offered her a drink of water and some tissues. Heath noticed there was blood on the tissue as she tried to fold it in her hand.
Genia placed her hand on his shoulder, and he looked up. “We believe, since we removed the Demonic presence, her original injuries from the accident have started to return.”
“Can’t you heal her?” Heath gazed at Genia, but she shook her head, and so did Calloue and Georgia.
Evie gripped his hand. “I died, Heath. I shouldn’t be alive anymore. Even Genia can’t fix this. I know you don’t like bad language, but I’d say we’re fucked.” Evie took his hand in hers and tried to laugh but started to cough again.
Ridge came forward. “If she can be transformed, then she might survive. As a Midworlder, her body would heal itself.”
“I sense a big ‘but,’” Heath said.
Nicole bent down and looked him in the eyes. “Genia thinks we may have a chance in the conduit to remove this Demonic, and then you could try to transform Evie.”
“I’ll do whatever is needed, but you should know it will fight. In the conduit, its powers are increased.” The effort to keep his thoughts shielded was taking its toll as Heath became lightheaded and thought he would pass out.
Namid stood up. “I believe you both need to rest, and the journey may be too much. But I fear we don’t have any time to waste.”
“Evie can’t come. The Demonic in me will kill her,” Heath said.
“You’re a bigger idiot than I thought you were if you think you’re going anywhere without me, Heath,” Evie said, trying to pull herself up.
Ridge entered the discussion. “I think Heath’s right. The journey across may very well kill you. After we sort this out, we can come back and save you.”
Nicole grabbed Ridge’s arm. “For once, darling. Shut up. I know what it was like when you went over to Pergor, and I nearly lost you. I wanted to kill myself with the despair I felt. Evie goes with us. There are enough of us to surround and protect her while Genia does what she has to.”
Ridge shook his head, but Heath knew both their women were strong-willed and would do what they believed was right.
“Well, let’s get goin’ before the sun comes up,” Ridge said.
Evie’s aunt came over and kissed her on the forehead. “I wish I could go with you. Make sure you bring her back to me safe, Heath.”
Nicole came across and picked Evie up in her arms. Heath leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss on her lips. The soft touch of them made him want to take her into his arms and run away, but that would solve nothing. He couldn’t protect her from himself, let alone anyone else. Nicole closed her eyes for a second, and her wings appeared. Evie reached up and touched them.
“It’s amazing to think you were human like the rest of us before the transformation.”
“Once we get this thing removed from Heath, we can help you through yours,” Nicole said, as she looked down and smiled.
Evie glanced across at him, and she wasn’t smiling. He knew her well enough to see she thought it would never happen.
Outside, he stood beside Ridge and closed his eyes as his wings sprouted from his back. It had never hurt before, but this time, he found himself groveling on the ground as the darkness inside him tried to prevent it. The fight was on, and he had no idea who would win. His whole back was taut as the muscles clenched. This darkness had hate, but he had love, and it was stronger. The darkness fought only for itself, whereas he fought for Evie as well. He felt the skin on his back sting as it stretched and shrunk when his wings fought to break free.