Chapter 14: Branded

Andy was at work, seeing her patients as usual. She entered the next room and smiled at the man and began looking through his chart.

She then got closer to check his temperature when, suddenly, he jabbed her with a syringe. She tried to pull away but he injected it quickly. She tried to think of a way out but her vision was rapidly going dark. The last thing she remembered was him grabbing her so she didn't fall.

She woke, finding herself in a dark cell. She looked around trying to figure out what was happening.

She tried teleporting with no results. After a long wait, someone entered, pulling her out roughly.

She was soon strapped down to a table, struggling against the restraints.

She saw a few men smiling wickedly as one held something into a fire. The men ripped at her shirt, exposing her shoulder. Soon, the item was turned toward her and she realized what was happening. She let out a scream as it was pressed to her bare flesh. She heard a sizzle as she tried to stay conscious through the pain. Finally, she blacked out, head lolling to the side.

"Andy! Andy, wake up! Dammit, you better not be dead!" Kiba's frantic voice echoed in her ear.

She let out a small groan as she tried to open her eyes.

"Thank the gods. It wasn't in vain. Don't worry, I'm taking you home."

She focused on him a moment, eyes cracking open. "K-Kiba?"

"Hey gorgeous." He looked ragged, his eyes puffy. "You'll be safe in a few minutes."

"Sorry.. got drugged at work.."

"Don't apologize, okay? Just rest."

She wanted to argue but felt the darkness pulling her under again.

When she woke, she found herself in the medbay.

"Mom?" Kona squeezed her hand gently.

"Hey." she said, trying to push herself up.

"You scared us. And you have to be careful. Your shoulder isn't healed yet."

She nodded and winced as she moved it. "I guess even the human world isn't safe anymore.."

"The only place I really feel safe is with you." Kona admitted softly.

She sighed, "I wish I could stay with you 24/7 then." She looked around, "You know, we practically live here, don't we? Maybe we should think about stealing a room or two and just move in."

"But your house.."

"It's not like I'm getting rid of it. You could have a room here, one there, and even one at my castle." She chuckled.

"Okay." He looked up as Kiba entered. "She's awake!"

Kiba forced a smile. "Good to see you coherent." He was holding several sheets of paper tight in one hand.

"Thanks.. for saving my ass."

"It's only fair, since you've saved ours more than once."

"What's that?" She indicated the papers.

"Wills." Kiba answered shortly, tucking them in a pocket. "You guys can leave if you want."

She frowned, "If people died, you know I can help them."

"Doubt you can fix charred bodies." Kiba headed for the door, his voice tight.

"Won't know until I try.."

The vampire whirled. "Are you serious?"

She shrank slightly and just nodded.

Kiba sagged into a chair. "Sorry. Just don't want to get my hopes up."

"I get it," she said quietly before pushing herself up. She headed to the door to go down to the morgue.

Kiba caught her before she could open it. "It's bad. The bastards left their faces intact.."

She nodded and headed in.

Five tables were covered with white sheets.

She uncovered them one by one and started looking at the damage.

All of them were charred black from sustained flames. Tet's body showed visible broken bones.

Nara had an expression of terror while Kenji appeared resigned. Yu and Ryusei looked peaceful.

She took a deep breath before starting to work on healing them. She lost track of time as she muttered spell after spell. Eventually, she began forcing her energy into them, finishing up any healing the spells didn't get and then trying to revive them.

They revived within seconds of each other. Tet opened his eyes, closing them again just as quickly. Kenji, Yu and Ryusei were confused until they saw her, then they relaxed.

Nara screamed, scrambling off the table to hide in a corner. He went silent, his body shaking.

"Nara? It's me, Andy. You're safe at the hideout."

"It's a trick!" He huddled tighter.

"Shh, it's alright." She sat down on the floor a few feet away to try to show she wasn't after him. "I know things might be a bit confusing for you. You'd been killed.. your body was brought back to the hideout. I'm a necromancer and revived you. Is there something I can do to prove this isn't a trick?"

He raised his head, then tentatively reached out his hand toward her. "You were taken..I could hear you screaming in my head. Then fire, pain..darkness…"

"You guys shouldn't have risked yourselves just to save me.." she looked down. "I'm sorry you went through that."

"How can you say that? You have done more than that for us." Nara slowly moved to her side. "You have saved several of us more than once. You..you listened to me. We would die a million times to protect or rescue you." He awkwardly hugged her.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"That's our line." Kenji smiled as he knelt beside her. "You realize we're your family now, right? I mean..if you want us."

She smiled slightly, "I'd like that. I've been on my own for so long.."

"Not anymore." Tet wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Never again. Though I hate that you had to see us. Gonna blame myself if you have nightmares."

"I won't. Well not about that anyway," she chuckled.

"Andy?" Kiba called from the stairs. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Just talking with the others."

"It worked?!"

"Yeah."

Footsteps raced down the stairs, then a sob was heard.

"Everything's okay now," she said softly, still not moved from the floor.

Ryusei embraced Kiba, the vampire clinging to him.

"He's terrified of being alone." Tet whispered in her ear.

She nodded, "He won't be as long as I'm here and can keep everyone alive."

"You haven't healed yourself yet?" Kenji gently touched the gauze around her shoulder.

"My healing powers don't work that way.. I might do a few spells though."

"May I?"

She nodded.

He unwrapped her shoulder and winced.

She glanced at it, "At least it's healing decently and not getting infected.."

"You should not have it at all!" Tet's voice was low and angry. "I'm going to kill them all."

Kenji recited a spell, placing his hand over the brand.

She felt the pain dissipate. When he moved, she saw the redness was gone. There was still an outline of the letter Z but it was a lot less prominent than before.

"I am sorry I can not heal it completely." Kenji looked distressed.

"Don't worry about it. Thank you for helping me." She smiled softly.

"Anything for you." He bowed his head.

"We should probably get upstairs. It's fucking cold down here." Tet chuckled.

Nara slipped free of Andy's arms and moved away as the others headed for the stairs.

Andy stood and glanced at him, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I failed you." He stayed where he was. "I will stay here as punishment."

"You didn't fail me and you don't deserve punishment."

"I didn't save you! You were hurt.. I couldn't even communicate with you..You couldn't hear me." He shook his head, then stood and headed for the freezer. "I fail, I get punished."

"You tried your best and I'm so thankful for that. Please don't punish yourself."

He stopped, turning to look at her. "You should be angry. Why aren't you yelling? Why aren't you punishing me?"

"I'm not like that. You tried and that makes me happy."

"Happy? How?" He cocked his head in confusion.

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'it's the thought that counts?' You thought about me and tried to help me and that's what is important. I don't care that you failed. I care that you tried in the first place."

He stared down at her uncomprehendingly. "You don't care if I fail?"

"No one is perfect. Everyone fails sometimes, even me."

"You haven't failed yet." He gave her a small smile, then hesitated. He put his hands behind his back, then to his sides.

"Everything is fine, okay? No need for you to be punished."

"I want..I want to hug you. But I don't want you to get mad." He dropped his eyes to the floor.

She rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around him.

He hugged her back, whispering "I feel safe with you."

"I'm glad."

"Are you two going to stay down there all day? The pizza's here." Kiba called down.

"Come on, let's get something to eat." She smiled at Nara.

He returned the smile happily. "Okay."

She shivered before heading up the stairs.