Earth's Grand Healer

Part 3: Safeguarding A Loved One

Samantha went back to Tim to find him in pain. She checked on his condition to find he was going through another growth spurt. She couldn't find any evidence that this was related to the de-aging process. Something had been altered within Tim's body. Samantha held onto Tim tightly as she eased the pain. When it was all over, she helped Tim to fall into a deeper sleep to allow not only his body to heal, but to allow his mind to rest as well.

It was puzzling. That type of change only happened in nature, especially when there was an imbalance, when there was too much of one and not enough of another. In this case, it was difficult to know what had caused the sudden change. Was Tim like this from the very beginning and Samantha never noticed? Other questions popped up, like should she tell Bruce or even his brothers about this development? Tim's outer appearance really didn't change that much, other than the fact that over the course of their relationship Samantha noticed that Tim never once picked up a razor. Jason, though only two years older than Tim was shaving every day. Dick was the same though his face also had that baby-face quality that Tim's had. Jason's face was more rugged in appearance. Damian was technically a child, and that did not apply to him just yet. One other question that Samantha thought about was what this will mean for their relationship. Maybe to get her answers, Samantha would need to go to the House of Healing in Atlantis. That would have to be explored another time.

Right now, she had other issues that had to be taken care of. Samantha pulled out the small amulet and placed it over Tim's head. There was a recess in the back where Tim's pearl rested. It was as if the amulet was made for it. There was no need to remove Tim's pearl from around his neck. She did the same with her own marriage pearl, placing it in the recess of the second amulet that Virgil gave her.

"If Tim asks about his pearl, I will tell him," Samantha thought. "Our wedding rings should be enough to show that we are married, unless we go to Atlantis."

Samantha thought about the circumstances, how she and Tim met. It was just two years ago. It felt like it was longer than that. The realization of that fact caused Samantha to pause. She hardly thought of that time before she met Tim, which meant she had settled into her new way of life quite well. There were no more nights of crying herself to sleep, wondering if her suffering was ever going to end. Tim had literally saved her, and in turn, she had saved him.

In three nights, there was another full moon. Before the birth of her children, Samantha was a willing participant giving a part of herself even allowing Tim to be a part of the ritual as well. Now her body trembled less with fear and more with anger.

'How dare a demon take advantage,' she outraged in her mind. 'I won't allow a demon to control me this way. Nathan Devlin did, and I won't let that happen, again.'

^That's the spirit,^ a familiar voice said in her mind.

Samantha was startled. ^I thought you were asleep.^

^I was,^ Tim said. ^Looks like our mental conversation is back. Sammy, what's wrong?^

Samantha couldn't fully tell Tim the whole story. He would want to get involved. Right now, she didn't need the amulet, but Tim's would keep him safe. Virgil promised that it would keep Tim's aura from being drawn out. This demon was hers to fight and she wasn't going to let some female demon have her life mate. She would die before that ever happened.

^It's nothing, my love. I'm going to check on the children.^

^Okay,^ Tim answered. ^Let me know if you need me.^

"Samantha," the demon's voice called her name. "Samantha, where are you. You need to bring your life-mate. Remember our contract."

^I remember,^ Samantha said, closing off part of her mind so Tim or the demon would not know. And each time she did, it left her feeling drained.

The more Samantha thought about it the more she realized that the demon must have been siphoning off Tim's aura as well as tasting his blood. When she became pregnant her blood and Tim's aura were cut off from the demon, even after her children were born. Being involved with their lives, and also going back and forth to and from Atlantis Samantha had gotten out of the habit as shedding her blood each month to what she thought was mother earth. No more.

"Samantha," the voice was getting angrier. "Samantha!"

Samantha severed the communication in her mind

'I cannot listen,' Samantha thought. 'I will not let her draw me in,' Samantha thought to herself. "Ah!"

Pain shot through Samantha's mind

"You dare to defy me? All whom you love will suffer for it, beginning with him."

The image of Tim surrounded by a horde of demons feeding on his aura, engulphed Samantha's mind.

"And you will not be able to stop me."

Samantha screamed. "No!"

Continues with part 4