Chapter 7

"She's been out for three days now." A male voice whispered.

"It's a natural mind-healing process. After a shock like that, it is no wonder her mind shut down. In time she'll wake, give her a day or two."

"She has done this to herself then?"

"Elspeth has been through a lot and seeing Jik seemed to tip her over the edge."

I was aware of voices around me but couldn't distinguish who they belonged to. I had an overwhelming feeling of weakness and my eyes felt incredibly heavy.

Slowly, my eyes flickered open and I could just barely see Brydda's and Kella's figures sitting on the edge of a bed beside me. Fortunately they had their backs to me and did not notice I was awake. I saw Brydda stand quickly and run one huge hand nervously through his beard.

"I should not of brought Jik to her so soon. I had no idea Elspeth was in such a state, otherwise I would have been more patient," He crossed over to the window and lifted it with ease, drawing in a huge breath of fresh air.

I glanced quickly out the window and saw huge black storm clouds looming over Obernewtyn, threatening to drown us.

"I just thought Elspeth would want to be the first to know. Stupid really."

By now, Kella had followed the gentle giant and placed a reassuring hand on his.

"How could you know? What I want to know is how you found Jik. We all believed him to be dead."

I sat up, eager to hear what Brydda had to say and found my upper-body ached to do so. I winced, confused, and moved my hand down to feel my ribs.

"Yes, I did to." The rebel sighed softly.

When he did not give an explanation, Kella knew not to press him.

"Where is that boy anyway?" she asked instead.

Heavy rain started to fall suddenly and Kella reached over to shut the window muttering, "It has begun."

"Jik is with Dragon," Brydda paused and seeing Kella's shocked expression added, "Yes, I have been told of her condition, her memory loss. But it is truly amazing Kella, something about that boy has triggered her memory. He was there when Elspeth first found her was he not?"

"That is true. But Dragon knew he died… well he obviously didn't did he?" she frowned in confusion. "It's just strange she remembers him and not Elspeth or I."

Brydda shrugged.

The sound of rain drumming on the roof was entrancing and staring fixated at the ceiling I seemed to forget I was there in the room. I felt as if I were listening to Brydda and Kella in a dream and didn't notice when Brydda whirled around to check on me.

"Elspeth!" he exclaimed, seeing I was awake.

Kella spun around to, smiling in relief when she saw me.

I had heard enough of what they had said to ask why I was here, so I attempted to push myself out of bed to go see Dameon.

"Elspeth, what are you doing?" Kella asked almost laughing, pushing me back down.

I resisted, but found I was too weak to fight her.

"Why?" I asked, not making sense.

Kella frowned. "You want to know why you are so weak?" she asked.

I nodded, puzzled at why words were failing me.

"Well, after you saw Jik, the shock caused you to black out and you fell to the ground pretty hard." She pointed to my chest.

Cautiously I lifted my shirt and found a large purple, circle shaped bruise near my ribs. I ran my fingers gently over it, wincing even though I had put hardly any pressure on it. My back ached the most, as I must of hit the ground backwards, the blow winding myself.

"I was scared for you Elspeth, you have healed yourself before but when I tried to drain you of energy so you could heal faster, something was resisting and it wasn't you…" she trailed off and I stared up at her, even more confused than before.

"I need to see Dameon." I told them quickly.

"You can't, you need to rest." She sounded as if going to see Dameon was laughable. I was sick of hearing I needed rest and that I expected too much of myself. But then a thought occurred to me.

"Kella, can I get something to eat? I've never been more hungry in my life."

Kella's eyes lighted up as if having an appetite was the best thing in the world.

"Of course, I'll be right back." She went to leave, and then stopped asking Brydda if he could help her.

My plan had worked, and once they had left I got out of bed, groaning with effort.

I didn't understand how falling to the ground could of hurt me this bad. The bruise on my chest confused me to. It felt like there was something Kella wasn't telling me.

Once hitting the cold floor, my bare feet felt numb as I ran as fast as I could down the hall.

Once I had realised no one else was in the hall, I slowed to a walk. It must have been midmeal, I thought as my stomach growled confirming that it was indeed time to eat. Then suddenly I heard voices ahead of me down the corridor near Dameon's room.

Pressing myself against the wall, praying the shadows would hide me, I heard the voices come closer as they eventually passed me.

"He's gone! This can't be happening." An anxious voice whispered forcefully.

"She has as well. They must be together…." The second voice trailed off as they passed out of earshot.

Once I was certain they had gone, I ran straight for Dameon's room, relief sweeping over me as I saw he was there sitting alone by his window once again.

I slid through the door, quiet as a mouse. Once closing the door behind me, certain I wasn't followed I said, "Dameon, It's me."

Startled, he turned his blind eyes towards me.

"Elspeth, what are…you are meant to be…"

"Did you hear about Jik?" I cut him off rudely.

"Oh, yes." He said simply.

I went to sit down next to Dameon. I reached over to him and holding his face in my hands, I turned his head towards me so he knew where I was sitting.

I decided to just tell Dameon how it was, no matter how abrupt I sounded.

"I'm going to find Matthew. There's nothing you can do. I'm sure Jik has answers to where he is. I'm taking him with me." I paused, not knowing what else to say. I had not even talked to Jik about this but I had already made up my mind and there was nothing anyone could do to change it.

I expected Dameon to react with a clear "No." but he said nothing.

I watched as he wringed his hands together in a nervous gesture.

"Dameon?" I asked, unsettled at his lack of reaction.

He said nothing however, but drew himself, slowly, closer to me.

Moving his hands to touch my face he slowly took in my features, like he had done on the day we left him with the Sadorians. I smiled, like I had done that day, so he could remember me that way. As his fingers slid slowly down to my lips, they lingered there for a moment before he moved his head closer to mine.

He kissed me softly on the cheek and I smiled, taking it as his way of letting me go.

However, Dameon's lips moved down to mine and he kissed me slowly, gently and I felt the overwhelming longing in his embrace.

Taken aback, I pulled away hastily, dazed with bewilderment. Then I heard the door creak shut.

My head snapped around to see Rushton standing in the doorway, eyes wide in shock.

I couldn't speak; my mouth just couldn't form words. I stared hopelessly at him, Dameon flushing with shame and embarrassment beside me as he sensed Rushton's presence.

I wondered how long he had been standing there watching us. Judging by the pain clouding his beautiful green eyes, he had been there long enough.

"I…I just thought I'd let you know…" he said, eyes fixed on the ground.

"That Dragon and Jik have gone missing."

Before I could utter a single word, he turned, slamming the door shut behind him.