The Baby Dilemma Ch 15
"We can't ask anything of him, not even for Devi. But we should visit him after all he's done for us," Sevriel said very quietly outside of Aridan's hospital room.
They entered quietly.
Aridan looked half-dead already. His eyes were sunken in with grayish skin making raccoon like prints around his eyes. His veins stood out like black smoke trails all over his body.
"He's given nearly all of his power to our cause and now he's paying for it," Torian leaned down, kissing Aridan's forehead. He smiled sadly when Abel grasped his hand.
"Devi," Aridan whispered, his eyes sliding open. Dull blue eyes slowly moved over the faces that hovered over him.
"Aridan, your eyes!" Torian gasped. Aridan's eyes were only blue when he was close to death.
"m'fine," Aridan mumbled. He forced his agonized body to sit up. It was all he could do to push his back against the rail instead of falling back down.
"You're not fine! You're dying!" Abel pressed his hand to Aridan's forehead out of habit. When someone was sick he naturally just checked the temperature first. Aridan's forehead was so hot that Abel quickly pulled his hand away.
"I heard Devi scream. I heard them take him," Aridan shut his eyes tightly. Devi's screams had made him weep helplessly.
"They used crystals to open a portal. Go and get Devi and then shatter the crystals," Aridan whispered. He hung his head, trying to gather some strength in his body. In his hands he formed a small golden collar.
"Put this around Devi's neck, it will break the collar they have put on him and give him his strength back. Hurry before he is ruined," Aridan let Abel take the collar from his hands.
"Do you know where we can find crystals to open a portal of our own?" Torian asked, more or less knowing the answer.
"There are no such crystals here on Earth," Aridan held out his hands, grasping both of Torian's hands in his own.
Torian screamed in pain as he felt something split through his palms, entering his body.
"Two crystals for you, one to get there and one to..." Aridan slumped against the rail.
"Aridan!" Torian screamed, wrapping his arms around his best friend. The young man was completely cold. He sobbed into Aridan's neck, clinging to him for dear life.
"I know how you feel, Torian, but we have to go now," Abel tried to keep the tremors out of his voice and failed miserably as tears streamed down his face. He carefully pulled Torian away from Aridan's corpse.
"We need your abilities, Torian. Please, we'll cry together later," Abel kissed him softly.
"I know, you're right, I just..." Torian shook his head, trying to force his tears back. He held his hands out. With eyes closed he pictured himself grabbing the universal fabrics like great curtains and shoving them open.