Varick let me go and pushed me toward his bed. I stumbled and fell back onto it. He turned back to the front door and listened.
I ripped off my helmet and threw it down next to the bed. My eyes were wild with fear, my heart racing erratically in my chest.
"Varick, what do we do? What do we do?" I whispered.
Varick held up his left hand to silence me. I raised my feet up on the bed and hugged them to my chest. I was terrified waiting for Varick to speak.
We sat there for what felt like many minutes before Varick lowered his hand and crossed the little room to sit next to me. I didn't realize it, but I had begun rocking myself back and forth.
"Jacey...Jacey," Varick said as he touched my face. "Look at me." I stopped rocking and lifted my eyes to look at him.
"You'll be safe here. I promise. I won't let that thing get you."
I dropped my chin to rest on my knees. "Varick, I'm so scared."
"I know," Varick said. "But I'll protect you, okay?"
I nodded as best as I could with my chin still on my knees.
Varick stood. "I have to leave you here. I can fight the Fury better outside."
Panic squeezed my heart. I grabbed Varick's arm as he tried to leave. "Please don't leave me," I shrieked. My eyes wildly darted over his face, begging him to stay.
Varick sat again, moving to grasp my hands in his. "I am not leaving you. I will never leave you. But I do need to go to fight for you. It's the best way for me to protect you."
"Varick..."
"Trust me, Jacey. Please. Just stay here. I will protect you. You are the reason I exist, remember?"
I nodded, holding Varick's hands tighter in my own. He bent his head and captured my lips with his. I gasped as Varick's kiss deepened. I instantly responded, moving my lips against his, savoring the taste of his mouth and the electric tingling he sent through my body.
And just as suddenly, the kiss was gone.
Varick lifted off the bed slightly, releasing one of my hands to reach into his front pocket. "I almost forgot. You need this." He released my other hand, opening it palm up. He placed something in my hand and closed my fingers tightly around it.
"This is yours. I need you to keep it. Please." He kissed the top of my nose before rushing out the front door.
I sat on the bed staring at the door. I wanted to stop him. I wanted to run out after him. But I didn't. I sat on the bed, staying right where Varick told me.
I opened my fingers to see what he had given me.
I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand. The multi-faceted stones of my angel's wings pin glittered in my palm. My reminder of him.
I bit my nails nervously, as I sat on the bed with my legs crossed underneath me. My ears strained to hear something, but I heard nothing.
Where is Varick? What is he doing?
What if he fought the Fury and was injured? Or killed? My mind raced with all the possible reasons for Varick taking so long to return. It felt like hours had passed since Varick left me instead of minutes. I wanted to run outside but I didn't. I followed Varick's direction, not moving from my spot on his bed.
And then I heard footsteps outside the front door. I sat completely still, my eyes wide with panic and held my breath.
My hands flew up to stifle a scream as the broken front door flew open with a loud bang. It crashed into the wall and scattered a few framed landscapes that hung on the wall to the floor. But it was neither Varick nor the Fury that entered. It was Asim.
Asim was obviously excited. His light colored eyes were wide.
"Asim?"
"Jacey, we have to go now." Asim's voice was filled with urgency as he grabbed my hand. He tried to pull me off the bed, but I yanked my hand out of his.
"Why? What's going on? Where's Varick? What's going on?" I didn't think it could be possible, but my panic rose even higher with Asim's words.
Asim grabbed my hand again, pulling on it with more insistence. "Jacey, please. I need to get you out of here and away from the Fury."
"But where's Varick?"
"Varick led the Fury deeper into the forest. To lead them away from you."
"But what if he needs you?" I grew more fearful as I pictured Varick fighting the Fury alone.
Asim appeared to be frustrated with me. He squeezed my hand a little too tightly causing me to cry out softly. "I'm not with him because he told me to get you away from here, away from the Fury. Listen Jacey, the longer we stay here, the more dangerous it becomes for you."
"But Varick told me to stay here." I took my free hand and rubbed my angel's wing pin I had pinned to my shirt, just above my heart. Asim let go of my hand. I stopped rubbing my pin, instead rubbing my hand where Asim had held it so tightly.
Asim's eyes softened as they rose to meet mine. "Your angel's wings. A gift from Varick, yes?" I nodded. "I gave such a pin to my Rafela, my Healer, once." His face softened as he spoke of his Healer. Asim sighed. He extended his hand again, this time inviting me to take his hand.
"Please Jacey, come with me. As Varick commanded me. Let me protect you. I don't want the same fate for you that Rafela suffered."
I hesitated, my eyes dropped to look at Asim's outstretched hand. He shook it lightly at me, urging me to take it. "Please, Jacey."
I placed my hand in Asim's. His grasp was firm but not painful like before.
"Good," Asim smiled, his eyes bright. "Let's go then." And we rushed out the front door.
"Come. We must hurry." Asim rounded behind the little log home and started walking quickly deeper into the forest and away from Varick's home pulling me along behind him. I hurried to keep up with him.
"Asim, where are we going?" I asked, panting breathlessly between words.
"The rendezvous point," Asim answered. "He will meet us there." Asim didn't even turn to look at me. He just continued deeper into the forest, stepping over rotting logs and pushing tree branches away from his face.
"The rendezvous point? Where is that?" I stumbled over an uprooted tree vine. Asim barely slowed.
"We must hurry," is all he answered, pulling me after him. The forest finally opened into a large clearing. Thick trees surrounded the open meadow. Asim guided me to the center of the small meadow where a large boulder sat.
"There. Rest young Healer," Asim said as he pushed me toward the boulder. I stumbled, but caught myself with my hands on the bounder before crashing into it. I leaned on the large rock, turning to face Asim. My chest heaved as I took heavy breaths to recover from the challenging run through the woods.
"When will Varick be here?"
"Shut up," Asim barked, his voice instantly harsh. His lips rose into a snarl. My eyebrows crinkled together in confusion.
"Asim, what's going on?"
"You are such a silly girl. So gullible." Asim laughed menacingly.
I felt the blood drain from my face as I realized my situation.
"Varick isn't coming, is he?"
Asim's sinister laugh echoed through the meadow.
"Varick doesn't know I'm here, does he?" I swallowed hard.
Asim's smile was smug, his eyes wild with his accomplishment.
"Okay," I said. "Why did you bring me here? What are going to do?" My voice cracked as I spoke.
"There are some things I wouldn't mind doing to you." His eyes raked over my body.
Panic filled me as I realized my helplessness. And then my body began to prickle with a new uneasiness. I sat up straighter on the stone I was leaning on, my eyes darting uneasily around.
Asim noticed the change. "Ah, you feel the approaching danger. Yes, young Healer. It isn't what I'm going to do that you have to worry about. I'm just the messenger."
"Messenger?" I said, staring in disbelief at Asim. Then I heard a low, growl from somewhere in the tress. My defenses warned me to flee.
And then I saw it. I turned to bolt towards the tree line, but Asim caught me before I could move, his hands like steel vises on my arms. His fingers bit into my flesh as he forced me to turn to the evil approaching me. His breath was hot in my ear as he whispered.
"Yes, Healer. Watch as the Fury comes for you. Watch as it approaches to kill you." I winced as Asim chuckled softly next to my ear.
The Fury stepped from the cover of the heavy wood line, its massive, fur covered paw stepping into the grassy clearing. A ferocious roar erupted from its long snout. I cringed in fear and tried to close my eyes to escape the frightening beast.
"No, no, no," Asim whispered, pinching my arms harder. "Look at the magnificence of the Fury, its awesome power." The Fury came closer, snarling and growling, saliva dripping from its yellow fangs. "And you know where it gets its power, don't you?"
I shook my head.
Asim continued. "From Healers...like you." His voice was low and sinister in my ear.
The Fury threw its massive head back and roared. I closed my eyes tightly again, desperate to shut out the evil creature in front of me.
Asim let go of my arms and shoved me toward the large boulder. I caught myself again, this time allowing my body to sink to the ground. My legs folded up underneath me. I hung onto the side of the large rock, trying to sink into it. Asim laughed at me as I cowered by the boulder.
"Stand up, Healer. Stand up and face your destiny."
The dark creature shook and growled in front of me as it morphed from the furry beast into a shrouded, faceless demon. I stared at the yellow eyes glowing within the darkened hood.
"Stand up." Asim roughly grabbed my arm and yanked me to a standing position next to the rock. "This was just too easy."
"Why Asim? You're a Protector." My voice cracked with fear and desperation.
Asim's lips curled up. "When the Fury took my Rafela, I thought I wanted to die with her. But then the Fury made me an offer. Ever lasting life, not dependent on a Healer. And all I had to do was help find and destroy Healers. I love life more than I loved Rafela. So I took the opportunity. It's been easy gaining the trust of my brothers and their Healers. You will be the fourth delivered to the Master."
"You were a bit more challenging then the others, I'll admit. You were supposed to be the Fury's once I delivered your caretaker to the warehouse. But this will do." Asim's smile was smug on his lips.
I raised my hand and swung it at him to slap him in the face. But he caught my wrist easily before I made contact, twisting my arm and making me cry out in pain. "Silly girl."
The Fury shrieked and Asim pushed me back toward the rock again. Asim clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "I almost forgot. You won't be needing this anymore." He grabbed my angel's wings pin and ripped it off my shirt, leaving a small hole where the pin had been.
"Asim...don't."
He enclosed my pin inside his fist and squeezed. A sob caught in my throat as Asim turned his hand over and let the shards of crystal and metal fall to the ground.
I fell to my knees, desperately picking through the grass for the pieces of my pin as tears ran down my cheeks. "Varick," I whispered. I found a few tiny pieces and cradled them in my hand.
Asim yanked me to my feet again. He held my arm and turned me roughly to face the Fury. "That stupid pin is the least of your problems," Asim snarled. As if answering in agreement, the Fury shrieked loudly.
"Varick," I whimpered, tears rolling down my cheeks. "Help me."
The Fury lifted its shrouded arm, the cloak falling back to expose yellow bone. Its black nails seemed to grow into sharp pointed daggers on each finger. The shrieking intensified so it rang in my ears. My hands flew to my ears as I tried to block out the noise. "Stop it!" I screamed. I could hear Asim's muffled laughter.
My throat tightened as I felt the Fury's choking power growing around me. My hands moved to my throat as the pain worsened. I coughed and swallowed, desperate to fight the Fury's power. The Fury's shrieks gained strength. My lungs burned and I began to panic as I fought for air.
"You're a feisty one, aren't you?" Asim murmured approvingly. "I knew you would be. I knew you wouldn't let the Fury take your power willingly."
My eyes opened wide as I tried to plea with Asim. "Please...help...me," I gagged and choked, having used my last bit of air to plea with Asim.
Asim just laughed. "I am helping you by handing you over to the Fury. Soon it will be all over."
The Fury's power strengthened, squeezing every last bit of air out of me. My knees buckled and I fell to the ground.
My vision darkened as the lack of oxygen took affect. I felt as though I was falling into a dark hole. I was so tired. I started to relax, succumbing to the darkness which I knew would be my death. I would have called out to Varick if I had any strength to do so.
Was I dead? Was this darkness I found myself in death? It couldn't be. There was far too much pain. There was still something around my neck, but the pain was lessening. I could breathe. My eyes watered with the force of my coughing as I filled my lungs again with air. I kept my eyes closed too afraid to open them. But I still heard the shrieking and howling of the Fury.
"Jacey? Jacey?" Varick's voice sliced through the muffled shrieking of the Fury. "Jacey, wake up. Please." My eyes fluttered open to see Varick hovering over me. He had his right hand extended to take my hand. I noticed his left hand was stretched out toward the Fury, creating the invisible shield around us.
My body regained strength with each breath, and I placed my hand in Varick's. His eyes were wild and bright and he grimaced every time the Fury attempted to penetrate the shield. But the shield stayed strong and so did Varick.
"Varick!" I yelled. He helped me up and I threw my arms around him. "You're here," I sobbed into his chest. "The Fury..." I couldn't continue.
"I thought I'd lost you." Varick groaned with the effort of keeping the shield over us. I let go of him, unwrapping my arms from around his waist, aware that he was trying to fight the Fury as I held him. I looked for Asim. But he wasn't here.
My hands felt warm and sticky. I looked down to see they were covered with blood. Varick's blood. "Varick, you're hurt." The back of his shirt was darker than the rest.