Chapter 13

Teleporting is annoying; teleporting when you're barely conscious sucks; but teleporting when you're nearly dead from dragon energy exposure in the middle of an explosion: that's suicide.

Still, it was worth a shot.

I closed my eyes and struggled to remain conscious long enough to concentrate on the alley in Vegas where I had first seen Thierry, trying to ignore the burning agony of the energy blast.

I felt a familiar spinning sensation just as the bomb exploded, shoving me towards what remained of the wall. I felt myself vanish just before my head banged against the wall.

Let me explain something about teleporting: It's really uncomfortable and it feels like you're being pulled through a small tube the size of a rolling pin. Also, it's really hard to land after you've been teleporting.

I slammed into hard pavement, my head whacking against the ground. The impact took my breath away and sent me spiraling into unconsciousness.

* * *

Amaranth eyed the third story window at the other end of his room in Thierry's house, wishing he could actually die by jumping out of it. Unfortunately, vampires couldn't be killed as easy as that, and Thierry and Ash had taken away all of the wood. They didn't trust him around wood. Actually, he didn't even trust himself around wood. Not that he needed to trust himself; he didn't actually care what his body did so long as it killed him. He needed to die, and soon, before the pain killed him.

Thierry had told him Media's story when they had reached Las Vegas. Amaranth had listened, listened with more focus than he had ever given to a single object before. He needed to know what had brought Media to that damned hideout in South America. Now that he knew, he was ready to die. Strange, he had never thought himself suicidal. Depressed, maybe, but not suicidal.

Strange how a soulmate could change everything, even when they weren't there to know they were changing things.

Amaranth looked away from the window, his black eyes locking on the picture he kept on his bedside table. Media and her grandmother hadn't noticed when the picture went missing, which was probably for the better.

Amaranth looked down at the small picture frame. Media's face smiled up at him innocently, so different from the pained and frightened look she had worn when he found her with the dragon.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, not sure if he was talking to the picture or to himself. Maybe both, who knew.

He looked around when the window exploded.

* * *

I finally came to after who knows how long.

The sun glared mercilessly down at the dust-covered alley way where I had landed.

Luckily, the alley was removed from the tourist and mafia sections of Vegas, otherwise I might've gotten into some trouble. Most human doctors, or gang members, weren't certified to take care of a half-dead witch on a teleporting hangover.

I got up gingerly, wincing at the pain that lanced through my side. I winced and stood up, leaning heavily against the wall. A hand caught my shoulder, helping to my feet. I froze. What the heck?

"I was wondering when you would wake up," a familiar voice said with calm relief.

I sighed in relief, unaware that I had been holding my breath.

"Cap?" I whispered.

Cap chuckled.

"Hello, young grasshopper," he said, amused. "Did you get a little sidetracked?"

"Yeah, you could say that," I muttered, thinking of the dragon. "What are you doing here?"

He sighed.

"More dragons have been awakened," he said, weighing his words carefully.

"No kidding," I grumbled sarcastically.

Cap shot me a look but went on.

"Anyways, I've been tracking their movements ever since you left. I figured I might as well do something and with you gone…. Well, I followed them around the country for a few days until- until they lead me here." He paused, seeing the confused look on my face. "The dragons are attacking Circle Daybreak," he explained. "They're starting with the headquarters in Las Vegas."

I felt like I had just been punched in the stomach with an iron glove.

"Amaranth," I gasped.

Me: Hey guys, sorry this took so long, I've been kinda busy with school work lately. Thanks for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Night World.