Protector (36 page)

It wasn’t the greatest idea for
Anna-Marie.  Alessandro had let go of her hand once they started running.  By the time she gets to the bottom step, she had to cling to the railing for dear life, while Alessandro hurries to the foyer with the other warriors to be in the mix of the commotion. 

Anna
-Marie strains to hear what is going on.  It’s almost impossible to discern between everyone talking at once and the dizzying pounding in her ears.

“Alessandro!”
she cries out.

He looks in her direction and sees that she is bracing herself against the railing.

“Anna-Marie!” he yells and runs up to her.  “I’m right here.  What can I do?”

“I don’t know.”  She begins to cry.
  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

He picks her up to carry her back up the stairs when the door swings open.  Alessandro quickly turns in the direction of the door.

The sudden movement makes Anna-Marie open her eyes again.

All has become quiet. 

What little color she has to her skin is now gone.  She is unable to breathe as she stares dizzily at the man standing in the open doorway.

She blinks her eyes rapidly, desperately trying hard to fight off the darkness of unconsciousness that is overtaking her.  It is a battle she knows she won’t win.  Before the darkness completely overcomes her, she manages to say one word before she passes out in Alessandro’s arms.

“Dylan
. . .”