Chapter 16: Vaughan

I shook and shook Sandre as she writhed on the ground repeating the phrase "Help her! Move! Don't just stand there!" All of a sudden she stopped and yet I couldn't wake her. I started to freak out and shook her harder screaming her name as tears started streaming down my face. No use. No bloody use. Helplessness filled me as well as weariness. I needed sleep and yet I couldn't with Sandre like this.

Hours later Sandre had not woken and my eyes were no longer able to stay open. With one last effort I wrenched my eyelids open to check one last time on Sandre, on seeing no improvement sleep took me away.

I woke with a jerk, instantly by Sandre's side hoping that miraculously she'll wake up. No such luck. The rise and fall of her chest was the only thing keeping me from madness. I scooped her up in my arms, her human body lighter than her other form, and prepared to run to Lisora's cabin. The nearest place with sufficient medical care that I could think off and as much as I was worried for Sandre she would want me to carry on.

The hours rolled into each other as I ran, every step harder than the last. I was forced to stop several times to eat and replenish my strength. I had to carry on for both Sandre and Lisora's sake. Every time I stopped I tried everything I could think of to wake Sandre, again to no avail. I had to stop my thoughts from turning dark as I realised both of the most important people were out of my reach one physically while the other mentally. Had to remind myself that this had to have a happy ending. It just had to!

When Sandre did wake a day after my newer determined mentality I couldn't help myself but laugh at the comical way she was sprawled on the grass her expression one of a deer caught in headlights. My laughter quickly faded away to as did some of my new resolve as the news of a trapped Aelin meant to the uprising against Erawan. Still Lisora was still the greatest importance to me at this moment so with great effort I said

"It matters little to me what is happening over the sea at the moment. I need to find Lisora." My voice cracked on the last word. Sandre took my hand wordlessly and we both started the shortening journey to the cabin.

The next day the cabin came swimming into view through my sleep deprived eyes. Our pace quickened until we were pretty much sprinting. I stopped a few meters from the door which was slightly ajar as if Lisora had left that fateful day in a hurry or, I hate to think of it, if she'd been kidnapped. I strode on ahead of Sandre eager to check for clues that could lead us to her. As I crossed the threshold I could straight away cross off kidnap nothing looked mildly out of place. This was a relief in away but then again it left the unanswered question of why she'd ended up imprisoned and WHERE?