Chapter Nine - I Can See My Life
Hey guys, sorry for lacking updates! So, to make up for it, here's Chapter Nine!
Also, there's no little section showing what happened last chapter this time, since that's covered in the chapter itself!
I pace in my room. The windows? Smashed. The lights? Out. The room? In disarray. I'm just so angry! How could she have chosen Jared over me? I should've seen it coming! But it's so frustrating that it hurts! I don't like feeling hurt.
The anger is boiling up in me again. I want to throw something. Anything, actually. I grab something, about to throw it, but I freeze when I process what it is. Mina's mirror.
I'm about to toss it away again, till I see the screen. Jared is cradling Mina in his arms, and walking. She's not looking to great at all. That's what she gets for choosing Jared. I sit down on the bed, the anger boiling up again, even stronger than before.
But, for some reason, something possess me to look back. Using my finger, I gently drag the image back. Pictures flash by, going to yesterday. But I freeze it there, and stare. She was laying in her room in the palace.
She looks almost lifeless. Her arm is covered with black cracks, and the only thing that comforts me is her chest moving. So she's breathing. But what is she doi...No, why is she here?
I push play, figuratively speaking.
"Mina?" That's Jared's voice, and the door opens to reveal him.
She's laying her bed, huddled up. It's still disturbing, seeing her laying the dark, hardly moving.
"Teague?" Even her voice gives off the weak vibe, but I catch some hope in it. This was yesterday. About what...Maybe six days after I thought she left with Jared? She stayed for six days? Waiting for me?
Jared looks angry at her saying my name. That's to be expected though. He doesn't like me.
"No, not Teague." He sits beside her on her bed.
"Jared? But...How?" She looks confused as she opens her eyes and notices him. I would be too. Didn't he say he would leave her alone.
"I just knew something was wrong." He takes her hand, and that's when he spots the odd marks on it. He waves his hand over the candle on her nightstand, igniting it, and look at her hand in shock. "Mina, what happened?" He's panicking. I can tell from his reaction. He reacted just like I did.
"I don't know...It started on the palm of my hand, the day you were gone. Teague never showed up after you left..."
I notice, and so does Jared, that the cracks are starting to disappear at her shoulder, climbing back down. "Teague is the one that saved your life and brought you here, correct?"
She nods. "Yes."
"Then that explains all of this."
"What?" She looks confused again. "How?"
"Your life isn't just tied to the Fae plane, Mina. Your life is tied to Teague as well, because he saved your life. He's ignoring your existence. Because of that, you're dying."
A slam to the gut. Her life force is tied to me?
"I'm...What?" Panic is welling up in her. Jared can probably sense it, and I can tell from her reaction.
"Calm down!" Jared's voice is pleading. "Listen, because you're tied to Teague, you're also tied to me. It's obvious Teague is neglecting you, but you need one of our presences to stay alive. I need you to come with me."
So, she's dying. And it's my fault. Guilt continues to slam me in the gut. I'm the reason she's dying? Because I ignored her?
"Come with you? Where?"
"I don't know. Somewhere besides here, Mina."
"Is this the only option?"
"I'm afraid so." It must hurt him to see she wants to say. Even though I'm neglecting her, she still wants to be here. How did I not know?
"Is it safe?" That takes me by surprise, and I can see it takes Jared by surprise too. Must we always mirror reactions?
"What?"
"Is it safe to go with you?" She asks again. "Will you protect me...Like you did before?"
"Of course." He scoops her up in his arms, cradling her. "But we have to go. Now. I can't stay here, and you have to come with me."
"We're leaving now?"
"No better time than the present."
They hurry away to the castle, and I turn the mirror over on the bed so I don't have to see it. I slam my fist into the table. No! It can't be! I thought she left! I thought she was gone! This can't be my fault!
But deep down, I know it is. If I'd only checked...If I'd only looked after her better...If I hadn't given up...The blame bounces around in my head, all narrowing down to one thing. It's my fault.
Poor Teague! He knows it's his fault that she's gone, and he's beating himself up over it.
~ Dagger
