Varick yelled out as he held both hands out toward the Fury. His body moved back slightly before surging forward, sending a blast of force against the evil creature. The Fury flew back to the wood line at the far end of the open meadow.
Varick turned to me, his face contorted with pain. "Jacey, I told you to stay in the cottage."
My chest heaved as I breathed deeply. "Asim. It was Asim."
Another shriek came from the Fury. It morphed back into the furry beast with sharp claws and fangs. Another growl echoed across the meadow, and Varick and I turned to watch the Fury. It paced anxiously, its large paws pounding on the grassy ground.
The Fury crouched low on its hind legs, snarling at us and prepared to attack. I grabbed Varick's shoulder, moving behind him. "Varick."
Varick pushed me farther behind him, his arm on my waist. "I'm here." Varick watched the Fury keenly. "Telit Kapet," he whispered.
A loud roar ripped from the belly of the beast. It bolted toward us, its claws tearing up the ground.
I felt Varick brace his body for the beast's impact. Then he stretched out his tattooed arm, his hand spread wide. "Dadaluk metalip petay."
The Fury stopped abruptly, sliding to rest in front of us, spraying dirt and grass around us. It panted heavily, its enormous body moving with labored breaths.
"Impressive, Varick, very impressive."
"Asim," Varick said, shifting his eyes to where Asim appeared from the tree line. "I'm glad you're here, brother."
"Varick...."
A rumbling sound from the beast interrupted me. It almost sounded like the creature was laughing.
Asim walked calmly to where Varick and I stood. He was examining his fingernails as he approached. Sighing heavily, Asim spoke. "I'm only a little sorry I have to do this."
And Asim punched Varick in the face. The force of the blow knocked Varick over; he caught himself on the large boulder next to us.
Varick stood, shaking his head as he did. He stared at Asim. "What was that for, brother?"
Asim's face opened into a menacing snarl, his teeth whiter from the contrast of his dark skin. "Varick, how do you think I live? After Rafela was killed?"
"I don't know. I've been trying to figure that out."
Asim looked at the Fury and then back to Varick. The Fury's growling continued.
Varick's eyes widened with understanding.
Asim didn't give Varick much time to think about his evil alliance with the Fury. Instead, he tackled Varick, sending the two of them crashing into the large bounder. The sounds of fists striking flesh and the grunts and groans associated with it were all I heard. Varick cried out as Asim slammed his fists into the injury to Varick's back.
I glanced at the Fury. Its head was bent low to the ground and saliva dripped from its yellow fangs. Its yellow eyes glared at me hungrily. With Asim and Varick fighting, I was totally vulnerable to the Fury. That was the plan. Keep the Protector busy. Leave the Healer alone and unprotected.
As the Fury approached, I slowly sank to the ground. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to go. I sat on the ground, my knees drawn up to my chest as the Fury stalked forward for the kill.
And then a blur of movement from my right slammed into the side of the beast in front of me. The Fury yelped in pain as it was thrown violently off its path. Varick stood up with some effort. He glanced at me, his eyes wide.
"Varick! Look out!" I screamed just before Asim slammed into Varick's back. I heard more grunts and groans as fists struck hard flesh.
Asim stood, leaving Varick on the ground. Varick rolled over onto his side and leaned on his elbow. Asim was bleeding from his nose, a cut above his eye, and the side of his mouth. Asim brought his thumb to the side of his mouth and wiped the blood away. He looked at his bloodied thumb. "Impressive little brother. You've become quite the fighter. It's a shame you have to die." Asim spat blood.
Varick rose slowly. He too had cuts and blood on his face. He took a few deep breaths before he squared his shoulders and stood up straight. "I'm not your brother. Not anymore." He ran at Asim. Asim crouched low to avoid Varick's blow. But Varick twisted at the last moment, turning to wedge Asim's neck between his arms. With a yell, Varick flipped Asim over his shoulder so Asim lay helpless in the headlock, the rest of his body sprawled across the ground.
"Jacey! Put your hands on his heart."
I blinked my eyes at Varick in confusion.
"Do it!" Varick yelled. Asim was thrashing his arms and legs. Varick was desperately trying to keep him contained. Varick's muscles strained as Asim dug his heels into the ground and bucked his body wildly.
Without further hesitation, I ran to where Varick was holding Asim, forgetting the Fury. I yanked up Asim's shirt, closed my eyes, and placed my hand on his chest, pressing down as hard as I could. The burn was instant and so intense it scorched my entire body. Asim's breath caught in his throat and his body went instantly limp. As I pressed harder, Asim's body began to shake violently. The burn continued and Asim gagged, his eyes wide with shock and pain. And then with a final yell, Varick twisted and pulled, snapping Asim's neck with a sickening crack. Breathing heavily, Varick shoved Asim's lifeless body to the side.
I stared at Varick, tears running freely down my cheeks. Varick just stared back, his eyes electric. But we were interrupted by the howls of the Fury which seemed enraged by the demise of Asim. Varick pushed me behind him and held me there with his right hand. "It's not over yet."
The Fury shook and quivered, transforming into the dark shrouded creature again. But before Varick could raise his left arm to protect us, the Fury used its own force to lift Varick off the ground. I screamed in terror and Varick yelled in pain as the Fury held him suspended in the air. Varick's body was stiff as he grimaced with pain.
"Stop, please. Don't hurt him." I fell to my knees in front of the Fury.
The Fury looked at me, eyes gleaming with raw hatred and greed. "What will you do for him, young Healer?" The Fury hissed. Varick yelled out again as the Fury's force inflicted more pain.
"I will die for him," I answered quietly, my eyes turning to Varick.
The Fury howled loudly and released Varick who dropped to the ground with a thud and a loud groan. I ran to him and kneeled by his crumpled body. His shirt was soaked with blood.
"Varick!" I cried, as I tried to turn his face to look at me. But I couldn't. The Fury grabbed me around my neck and lifted me to my feet.
"Time to die, Healer." A bony hand dug into my neck. I felt the sharp black nails pierce through my skin. The Fury squeezed my neck tighter, again choking me. Its hand was icy cold as it squeezed. I grabbed onto the bony arm to pull it off my neck. But I was weak compared to the power of the Fury.
I looked down at Varick. He still lay motionless at the Fury's feet. As the Fury squeezed tighter, I felt myself growing tired and dizzy. I felt the Fury draining my life force and my healing powers from my body into its hand.
I closed my eyes, ready for death. I would die just like in my nightmares, all alone.
"Nadot," came a command from my side. I opened my eyes to see Varick standing next to me. The Fury shrieked in protest as Varick placed the hand of his tattooed arm on the bony arm holding me. The Fury screamed louder when smoke wafted from underneath Varick's hand on the Fury's arm. I fell to the ground coughing. With a yell, Varick snapped off the creature's arm. The Fury howled in pain and retreated toward the woods. Varick placed his hands in front of him. With each flex of his hands, the Fury was bombarded by an invisible force. The Fury rocked backward with each powerful blow.
"This isn't over," it snarled menacingly. "This isn't over!" It slinked out of sight into the woods
We stood in the meadow, both of us breathing heavily and watched the Fury's retreat. Varick finally dropped his arms and turned to me. He gave me a weak half smile before crumpling to the ground in front of me.
"Varick!" I screamed, kneeling down next to him. "Varick, what's wrong?"
Varick coughed violently. Blood reddened his mouth and trickled out the corner.
"Oh my god," I moaned. "Varick." I raised my hands over him, but stopped when I remembered the warning Varick had given me about healing him.
Varick groaned in pain and closed his eyes; his face contorted into a grimace.
"Varick, tell me what to do," I pleaded.
"There's nothing you can do." Varick struggled to breathe.
"That's not true. It can't be true." I shook my head in denial.
"Jacey, look at me," Varick said, his voice low. I looked at him, shocked to see his eyes had dulled to a pale blue as the life left him. There was so much blood.
"Varick...."
He tried to speak, but it only caused him to cough more, sending blood out of his mouth again.
"Don't talk. I'll get you home so you can heal yourself." I looked around helplessly. "Somehow, I'll get you home."
Varick placed his hand on my bare arm. His touch was cool. There were no electric sensations shooting up my arm. "Jacey, you need to protect yourself now. The Fury will be back. It isn't over." His words were so weak.
"No, Varick. You have to protect me. I can't do it." Tears fell down my cheeks as I watched Varick struggling.
Varick tried to shake his head. "You need to protect yourself. Be mindful of your surroundings. Listen to your instincts. You must survive." Varick coughed violently again.
"Don't talk. Save your strength."
Varick managed to lift the corner of his mouth in a smile. "That's the Jacey I want to leave behind. Never stop fighting. Ever."
"Leave behind?" I blinked back tears as I wrung my hands together.
Varick closed his eyes, his face contorted with pain. I grabbed the hand that was on my arm and cradled it gently in mine. I caressed the top of his hand lightly and tried not to show my fear and anxiety, but I couldn't stop my tears. My finger traced the lines of his tattoo.
With his free hand, Varick caressed my cheek. His eyes were cloudy and his face pale. "There isn't much time," he whispered, running his hand across my cheek.
"Varick, you are going to be fine. You have to be. I can't do this without you. I can't."
"You have to, Jacey," he answered softly.
"No, Varick," my voice broke, interrupted by a sob. "I can't."
Varick groaned as pain racked his body again. "Sack maeoo tekay," he hissed through clenched teeth.
"Varick, god, no," I cried, leaning over him. His breathing was slowing, his chest laboring for each breath.
"Jacey," Varick's eyes closed and his head listed to the side, a final breath escaped from his mouth.
My eyes widened. His hand was icy cold in mine. I looked from his face to the hand I was holding and back to his face.
"No," I whispered. Fear threatened to crush my heart. I placed my hand on his chest. Nothing. There was no throbbing of Varick's heart. There was nothing.
"Oh, god, no!" I yelled, dropping his hand. I covered my face with my hands, sobbing uncontrollably. "No, no, no, no," I repeated, shaking my head in denial.
I placed my hands in my lap. "Varick! You can't leave me! You promised you'd never leave me! You promised!"
"No!" I screamed, suddenly sitting up, angry at Varick's death. "You are not leaving me. I won't let you. I won't." I wrapped my hands on either side of Varick's face. Bending close to him, I yelled at him. "Varick wake up!" My shoulders shook with my sobs. "Wake up, please!"
I stared down at Varick's body. "I won't let you die. I can't lose you and Oma. I can't." Another wave of crushing grief wracked my body
I brought my hands up to my face. I knew the power these hands contained. I looked past them, at Varick. I knew what I had to do. I had to try.
I angrily wiped the tears away, breathing deeply as I did. Wasting no more time, I ripped open Varick's shirt, crying out with my exertion. I flipped open the torn remnants of cloth and exposed Varick's smooth chest. I sucked in my breath sharply, my eyes taking in the heavy tattoo that weaved around his left pectoral muscle, disappearing up over his shoulder. It was thick, intricately patterned, circling around his heart.
Breathing deeply, I closed my eyes. "I know there's life in you yet." I placed my hand on his heart and pressed as hard as I could. "Please," I whispered. "Please come back to me. I can't live without you. I love you." I felt a flicker of warmth in the middle of my palm like a match threatening to blow out. But I refused to let it smother. Instead, I pushed down harder, closed my eyes tighter. "Take my life force, Varick. May my heart beat for us both." My breathing slowed and I focused on the tiny spot of heat in my palm, willing it to grow.
The flame flickered timidly until suddenly it ignited. In a flash my entire arm burned with the intensity of the white heat. The searing fire throbbed from my heart through my hand with each heartbeat. The pain was excruciating. I gasped for my breaths. I tried to slow my breathing to slow my heart but it didn't work. Each pulse of searing heat quickened from another until I couldn't even feel my heart beating at all. It was just one constant fiery burn directly from my heart into Varick's. I opened my eyes wide from the shock of it.
"Varick!" The world around us darkened. It was only me and Varick. As my life force emptied into Varick's dead heart, I noticed a faint blue glow appearing just under my hand. The glow spread along Varick's tattoo, illuminating the edges of the dark lines and patterns. The glow followed the paths down his arm until it glowed hotly at his wrist. The pattern of my name lit up. "Jakeik". My name. His language.
A scream escaped my lips as the white burn ignited into a fiery inferno. And then, a beat of a heart, not my own, filled my hand. Varick's eyes flew open, the blues of his eyes glowing as brightly as the lines of his tattoo. He gasped violently, his entire torso rising off the ground.
But I didn't see or hear anymore. I had nothing more to give. Absolutely nothing.
Once, when I was three years old, I had gotten myself locked out of the house in the dead of winter. I didn't have shoes on. I didn't have a coat. I just walked out the door trying to find Opa who had left for the store. I didn't know the door had locked behind me until it was too late.