Chapter 29
I slip in and out of consciousness, the pain trying to pull me under. After Theresa shattered my rib cage, I had trouble breathing right. I always wondered what her power was, but never would have guessed strong arm. I never really thought of it at all actually. How embarrassing that she used that situation against me, to try and hurt me. Or worse, kill me. Cal carries me to the healers right away, and I hear him telling someone that I will be ok. Kilorn and Cameron. He tells them to go back to the room, and that he will send someone to tell them when I am healed. They hesitate and argue, but Cal insists and they end up leaving us. I hear Cal tell me I am stupid, and that he will make me regret not listening to him. He swears to himself mostly, as I slip in and out, trying to hold on.
When we get to the healers, the swarm around me like bees to flowers. They ask questions, but Cal just orders them to heal me. They stab something in my arm, and I feel my heart start to quicken, my body reacting and waking me up. I nearly get up, but they tell Cal to hold me down. I look at him and his face is a mask of sadness and anger, mixed into one. He is angry at me, and he is angry at the whole situation. He is also sad that I am hurting. I don't blame him. It was a stupid move, to think Theresa wouldn't have power and wouldn't use it.
The healer takes scissors and cuts my shirt off. Cal's eyes travel the length of me, and he adjusts where my bra strap is, because it is threatening to slip off. But he turns away when he looks at my ribs. I manage to get myself up, but the pain shoots through me. All I catch is a glimpse of something sticking out my body, and purple bruises. Yuck.
"It has been shattered, she shouldn't move" the healer says to Cal.
"You heard her Mare" Cal says, between his teeth. He is so angry at me. I can feel his warmth radiating off him, fire and heat threatening to burn the whole room down. He places his hands on the table beneath me, a steel table. He can't touch me. I would burn alive and he knows it. The anger is too much for now.
"I wouldn't place my hands on that" the healer says to Cal. Cal looks down and realises its melting beneath his touch. He folds his arms and stands one step away from me. I turn my head towards Cal, and we look at each other for what feels like forever. His eyes keep glancing to my hand, and I realise why. My ring. I am not wearing it. The pain is clear. The healers do their job, well, because I am starting to feel myself being able to move. I go to get up, but the healer tells me I should just take a second.
"Can you leave us" Cal says to the healers, still standing there with his hands across his shoulders. I don't move, I just close my eyes and take a deep breath, still laying on the table. "What the hell where you thinking Mare?" Cal says when the healers leave the room, closing the door. "Just when I think you have grown up, you turn around and do something immature and stupid. Not to mention dangerous" he breathes in, trying to calm himself. "Do you have a death wish. Because all you seem to be doing is finding ways to leave this world and me" I blink, and don't realise the extent of his words until the last line. I don't have a death wish. I don't think I do. I don't want to leave him. I raise my body up, my legs dangling from the table. I am facing Cal, and he is staring, still angry. His gaze is too much and I move mine, cowering while I look at my hands.
"I didn't know she was.." I don't even get to finish as Cal pushes a tray with medicine and equipment. The metal table flies across the room until it hits the wall. He is breathing hard, and his hands are resting on the side of one of the benches. I see his shoulders tense, his muscles are strained under his anger. I didn't think he would react this way. I wouldn't have done it if I knew.
"Where is your ring Mare" he says, not turning around. Still holding onto the bench, head down in frustration. His voice is a quiet whisper. "Is that another thing you pretend to want. To make me happy for the short time you have left because you are planning on not coming back and fighting your way out?" he turns then, to look at me, and I don't know what to say. My mouth can't form any words, I have never seen him so angry. So disappointed in me. He laughs, but not in a good way. A sad laugh that doesn't catch his eyes. I don't know if I will survive Maven this time. I don't want to go back, but I have no choice. How can I tell everyone that I want to stay here with Cal, that I don't want to give myself up. Why don't I ever get a choice in my life. I want to save my sister and niece, more than anything, but why am I always the one losing. Maybe it is better if I wasn't here, in this world. Cal would be better off without me. All I do is cause him pain. "That's what I thought" he says as he leaves the room.
The words are stuck, I want to yell and say that's not what I am doing. But I can't. Cal leaves the room, and I don't even say anything. I don't even follow him.
