Chapter 40: Sleeping Beauty

David couldn't stay in the freezer any longer needing to get a drink for himself and to stretch his legs. He kept the door open to the freezer room and paced the hall drink in hand while he checked his messages. Everyone had called him at regular intervals checking on them. He sent off a quick group message saying there was still no change.

Looking at the time he did the calculations in his head. Candice had been unconscious for just over 24 hours. He had no idea how long she had been suffering covered in silver. He can't believe someone would do that to another person for no reason. She was tortured without a purpose. He'd used silver before on vamps but it had always been to get information and they were all low life vamps who really were monsters of the night.

Legs stretched and unable to stay away from her side David headed back in. After he settled inside the freezer next to her once more he traced his finger from her cheek down her neck and shoulder to her arms that still had angry marks from the silver. His finger tips hovered above the marks unsure if touching them would cause pain.

"I know you're fighting. I know you are because that's what you do, you fight for what you want and I know you want to wake up." His eyes followed over the rest of her body as he released a heavy breath.

Below her knees she had the same ugly marks. He released another breath as his eyes became wet thinking how bad she was when he found her and how close he was to losing her. He still didn't know the full extent. The burns did seem to look slightly better than when she was first put into the freezer.

"I'm so sorry baby. I should have been here. I should have come home when you told me about that traitor and the witch. I had a bad feeling and I still didn't come home." Shaking his head he ran his fingers through her hair on her shoulder.

"I never should have left you in the first place. I promise you right here right now baby I'll never leave you again. Even if you hate me for not being there like I promised, for not finding you sooner before…before this happened I'll understand. I'll understand but I promise baby I'll do everything in my power to make it up to you and make sure another hair on your head is ever harmed."

Tears slipped out of his eyes and fell down his cheeks turning to ice before reaching his jaw. "Just keep on fighting baby. Coraline is dead. Beth actually beheaded her so there's no way she'll ever hurt you again. And Ryan…he's staked but I'll deal with him as soon as you're better. I won't leave you alone."

Kissing her temple again he breathes in her scent sending her every ounce of love he can. "I love you baby."

Candice feels her body stiff and her mind groggy. The last thing she remembers clearly is cutting Ryan's anklet and the burning of the silver. The pain was bad but she remembered Coraline was setting it up as a trap to get Kayla. Then she vaguely remembered Ryan talking to her. Her thoughts had been on David knowing if she was going to be rescued he'd be front and center.

She wanted to open her eyes and look around, find David but it was so hard she couldn't move or make any noise. Her body was uncooperative. She wondered briefly if she was dead but then she heard David's strong voice. "Come back to me baby. I love you," it was like a balm to her soul. She wasn't dead, she was with David. She was just out of it, she had to fight to come back.

His voice drifted off for a while or she drifted out she was unsure. She heard it again and focused hard on the sound willing her body to follow her command. If she was dreaming she didn't know but she wanted to cry hearing the pain in his voice. She couldn't catch every word just enough to know he felt guilty about what had happened about not being there for her and she couldn't have that. She had told him to stay, she had told him she'd be fine. She was the one who went to follow up on a lead without backup with her.

"I love you baby," drifted through to her and she wanted to throw her arms around him and hold him tight and tell him she loved him back.

She tried to say the words and was rewarded with a sound. She could feel his body beside hers move closer and she tried again to speak and got another moan as she felt the feeling in her body start to come back to her slowly as her fingers twitched.

David sat up closely inspecting her. He leaned closer and heard another sound escape her lips. Tears fell down his cheeks even faster as he pushed the lid open and sat up some stroking her face in his hands. "Candice I'm here. I know you're there, wake up for me baby I'm right here."

The movement of her fingers twitching at her side caught his attention and his grin spread. She was waking up. She was coming back to him. "Dav…" she half managed to mumble his name.

"Oh God yes baby I'm here. I love you so much. I'm right here."

Her eyes managed to flutter open but she blinked rapidly against the drowsiness. His eyes were right on hers and he was smiling wide as he stroked her face over and over excited to see her beautiful hazel eyes for the first time in so long.

"David," she croaks out his name and tries to life her arm out to him but it falls flat.

Lifting her hand in his David takes it never taking his eyes off of her. "I'm right here baby."

Feeling everything come back to her a little bit stronger with each passing moment she smiles up at him, "You found me."

"I did baby. I'm so sorry it took me so long but I would never stop looking for you. God I love you. I was so scared I'd lost you."

Her eyes drift close for a moment and she remembers the last moments before the pain overtakes her once more and Coraline's confession. Her eyes open wide, "Coraline…is after…Kayla." The words are hard to get out but she pushed them out.

David can feel the panic spike through her body and lifts her up into his lap holding her close. "Can it's okay. Coraline is dead. Kayla is safe."

Relief relaxed her body and she nodded limply as the drowsiness threatened to take her back over. "I feel…so tired."

"Okay baby you can rest. I'll be right here with you while you do." He wanted her to stay awake scared she would disappear again but Allie had warned him that she would feel tired if and when she woke.

"Love you," she managed before drifting off in his arms.

"I love you too," he leaned forward and kissed her lips softly.

David settled them back down into the freezer and shut the lid as much as possible with a smile on his face. His mate was back.

To Be Continued…

Evilous