TheHealers (28 page)

Cradled in his arms, fear took hold of me. We rocked back and forth on the soft bed. Whatever Tabitha had done to me turned off the alarms in my head that had been triggered by this place. But, I could still feel the danger. Hunters lay in wait for me.

Movement found its way back to my limbs. Leo’s eyes didn’t miss anything.

“Are you going to try to run? I don’t want to have to give you anything.” The words were soft, but they sliced through me like blades. Yes, I had been off with another man, but this was Leo. How could he possibly hurt me? It must have been the hurt that spoke now. Even so, I decided lies would be safest right now.

“No. I want you to explain all this to me. Since when did you and Tabitha become so close? Since when is she a witch?” The witch part didn’t really shock me as it should have. I was in disbelief that Tabitha was a witch, but not that there were witches. If I knew about Healers and Hunters, surely there were others. In fact, I remembered Marissa speaking about people that used magic at the Conservatory to protect us. I wondered if Marissa meant witches. How could you tell a good witch and a bad witch?

“I’ll answer your questions, Layna. But, you have to answer mine, too.” Pain reflected in his eyes. He knew I had been with Alexander.

A rumble sounded from my stomach. Not sure of how long I had been unconscious, I had no clue when I had last eaten.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll get you some food and then we can talk.” He placed me onto the bed and rose and went to the door. For a moment, I thought this might be my chance to escape, but I had no idea where I was and Leo still hadn’t explained anything to me. I needed more information before I ran off ignorantly. Besides, Leo didn’t give me a chance. He barely opened the door and whispered to someone outside before he was back in the bed with me. He placed his hand on my thigh close to my panty line. Air stopped flowing in my lungs for a brief second.

“We belong together. Look how your body responds to mine. Do you know how long I waited to have you? Just to watch some other man take you away. I love you. You love me, too.” Goosebumps attacked my skin. Leo removed his shoes and brought covers over both of us. “This is what you want, Layna.” I sat up with my back against the headboard and Leo placed both of his hands on my shoulders while he perched a breath away from me. His finger brushed across my lips and then he replaced it with his lips. Soft encouraging kisses. He invited me to play. We had played before and my body hummed slightly with the memory.

A knock at the door.

“Come in.” Leo called out as he pulled his lips off of me. Soft words in my ear, “That’s just your food.”

A small dark skinned woman walked into the room with a tray. The laugh lines on her face showed off her age. As her steps came closer, the smell of the food took hold of my stomach.

“Ten quidado! La comida es muy caliente!” Her voice flowed with the beautiful cadence of the spanish words. Living in Texas, I understood enough to know the food was hot.

“Gracias, Ana.” Leo spoke without an accent. Interesting. He brought the tray to my lap and proceeded to sit back a bit so I could eat, I guess. I watched Ana leave and contemplated the safeness of the food. He had admitted to drugging me earlier. How would I know that he wasn’t doing just that with the food?

As I gazed at the food, I knew there was no way I could hold out. The plate overflowed with what I could only guess was Ana’s good cooking. The orange and red colors of the Spanish rice had black beans mixed all through it. Next to the rice was a potato and chicken mixture that glistened with tomato sauce.

“Please eat. You’ve been out of it for a few days, and I want you to get better fast. You and I have big plans together.” The generic Leo smirk crossed his face and I thought maybe I did know him.

He grabbed the fork and filled it with chicken and potatoes. The food grazed his lips as he tested the temperature and blew on it. Yeah. I was still attracted to Leo. But, Alexander…where was he?

“I’ll eat if you answer my questions.” Grinding my mouth shut, I hoped he wouldn’t realize that I had just laid down an empty ultimatum. There was no way I could deny myself this food.

“Yes. Of course. I would give you anything. Don’t you know that already? You told me you loved me, I know you meant it.” He brought the fork to my mouth and the flavors exploded all over my tongue. I did love Leo. All the years we had spent together colored the development of our friendship. When I told him I loved him I meant it. I just didn’t know if it was enough. Or had I made the right choice in settling? I had not known at the time it was settling. Did I? Then Alexander walked into my life and every part of my body and soul knew him. How would I explain that to Leo? I owed him an explanation. Once he realized how I felt, this kidnapping thing would end. Leo’s values did not sync with his actions right now. Something was off.

“Where is Alexander?” I took the fork and started to feed myself. Hunger kicked my body into autopilot as I devoured the plate. The scald to my tongue at that first bite hadn’t been any deterrent. I just continued to fill up my mouth and swallow. It also prevented me from engaging in the conversation I knew we had to have. Thoughts of Alexander swept through my senses. I could feel his scent, male and rubbing all over me. So powerful that I could ache for it now, in the presence of another man. Another man that loved me, too.

“I don’t know.” The gaze in his eyes made me believe him. No matter what, I trusted Leo’s word. It had not led me astray in all of our time together. There must be a reason for me to be here with him now. I just needed to understand it.

I was going to have to try another angle. “How did I end up with you?”

“I always knew you were a smart girl. That’s the right question. Alexander gave you to me.” My throat closed up. I opened my mouth to cough and couldn’t get the clog open. Leo reached around to pat my back. It took a moment, but I started to breathe again. Pain from my throat was gone but now I could feel the knife that stabbed me in the back.

“Gave me…to you?” Surely I had misunderstood. “What did you do to him?” I pushed the food tray away and Leo scooped it off to sit on the night table. I had done everything but lick it clean and now I felt the food try to come back up. They had hurt Alexander. What had they done to him? I didn’t have enough time with him. Panic overcame all other thoughts. I had to get out of here and find him. Rescue him. He was my life…my soul.

A hearty chuckle came from Leo’s throat. “He didn’t give you to me for free. I offered him something he wanted and he took it. He didn’t really love you, Layna. Did he even tell you what you are?”

Blackness clouded my vision.

Air escaped my lungs.

I brought my hand to my chest
—
everything hurt. Was I having a heart attack? The pain just increased with each breath. My cheeks were hot and the room stuffy. The analytical part of my mind said this was a panic attack. A large blood-pumping organ in my chest engaged in some heavy palpitations.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’m never going to let him near you again. It’s over.” Strangely, he looked as though he thought his words would soothe me. He didn’t have a fucking clue! Leo reached an arm around me as I crashed onto his chest. I needed his strength for the moment so I took it. The room felt stuffy before but now shivers raced up and down my limbs. Leo’s fingers stroked over my skin in a futile attempt to warm my body. Every beat of my heart yelled that Leo lied to me, but his words were easier to believe. Rejection had been the underlying theme of my life. Why would I have expected that to change now? Everything made sense. Alexander needed me as a bargaining chip. At least I had served that purpose.

Betrayal
.

Marissa’s words repeated in my head. A deep red hazed over my vision. Alexander had betrayed me. But for what? Why would he give me to Leo? Unless…no way. Pieces started to come together in my thoughts. My continued presence in the Conservatory had put other lives in danger. I would only cause more pain. Alexander sacrificed me to protect the Healers. The only people he could sacrifice me to, who would stop the onslaught of attacks, were the Hunters.

“What are you?” The words ripped from my soul.

“I’m a Hunter.” Calm, quiet words.

Silence. Neither of us spoke. Everything seemed clear and then all my thoughts scattered into a tornado. Alexander didn’t love me. Leo didn’t love me. They had both used me. All the pieces had been played now. What could be left?

“Are you going to hurt me?” What else would he want with me? Hunters killed Healers. It had all been lies. A playing piece. This is what I had become. I wouldn’t fight.

“Is that what he told you? I want you with me for always. You and I have extraordinary gifts, Layna. The Hunters that went after you at home are under my control now. They won’t make that mistake again. Together we can change the world, make it better. I’ve known what you were the first time I met you. I waited for you, though.” His fingers trickled through my hair and rested on the back of my neck. It sickened me to know that his words of keeping me warmed my heart. This must be rock bottom. A man speaks of keeping you for his art collection and your first impulse is to jump with joy.

“Alexander took advantage of you and used you to further his cause. I’m being honest with you. You know me, Layna.” Leo was safe. He always protected me. Years of friendship flashed through my head.

Betrayal

Everything was a ruse. He wanted my power. I had given almost all of myself to these men. I would not give him my power. This playing of games had gone on entirely too long and would end now.

“What did you give Alexander?” It hurt to even think about it. What had he traded for me? I thought I knew what it was, but I wanted to hear the words. Blood felt like it leaked from my pores and then I regained myself and the blood turned to ice. Cold and calm. That’s what I needed to be. I would figure out how to manipulate him. This game had not ended yet.

“The rod of Asclepius.” He paused for impact. I knew of the rod, but allowed him to continue since I was certain he liked to feel as though he enlightened me. “Our scientists have studied it for generations and found nothing significant. However, my people still wanted it. The Healers have tried to recover it for as long as I can remember, and they wanted it too. They claim that as the true descendants of Asclepius it belongs to them. I don’t care about the rod. All I care about is you, Layna, and your safety.” Too much emotion threw my mind into chaos. Too much. It hurt too much. Focus. I had to take care of myself because no one could be trusted with that task. I bit down hard on the inside of my mouth and warm blood spilled all over my tongue.

Every word Leo had uttered made sense. Alexander had always been too good for me. A razor sharp pain cut my heart from my chest. Love was a choice. I knew this and yet I went after the guy that made my heart beat. Not thinking, I had also given him the power to make it stop. Curling in a ball, I rolled away from Leo. The tears spilled out of my face silently while my body shook.

Leo held me until I lost consciousness.

I awoke to his arms still wrapped around me and huge lump in my throat. How could there possibly still be tears left? Blood was dripping from my soul. I had almost given Alexander everything and it had destroyed me. Empty. I had nothing more to give. This would benefit me now. If I had nothing to give then I wouldn’t end up hurt like this again. That promise filled me with temporary hope.

And then the pain trickled in again. I had tasted the utter abandonment of Alexander’s love and I never wanted to feel anything else again. How would I go on? Stupid, stupid girl. I had really believed in the fairy tales. Fairy tales were for fucking fairies and I was just a Healer.

Convulsions started to trickle through my body. Leo held me tighter. I lied to my mind, believing that the strength in his grip helped me. Nothing helped. I only wanted the arms of the man that had ripped me apart. Sick. I was sick. What kind of healthy person craves that pain? But, I did. I wanted it until the tears came again and ran out again.

Darkness crept over the bright room. Leo got up to leave, but stopped to place a kiss on my cheek. He returned with food again, but I couldn’t eat. My stomach writhed and twisted with protest at ever being fed again. I wanted to suffer. Pain felt good. It was better than feeling empty. The emptiness tortured my soul. Was I even capable of having love? Everywhere I went I brought pain and suffering. Even here, I saw the hurt in Leo’s eyes as he tried to comfort me. My rejection reflected all over his face. He came in and out at all hours and I continued not to move.

“Layna, this has got to stop. Baby, you’re scaring me.” I had no idea how long it had been going on, but it did not feel long enough. Funny, he thought I scared him. Try waking up to this twilight zone. My body shook in fear with my worst nightmares, and they were real.

I wanted to respond, but the energy needed to do so lay just beyond my grasp.

Leo attempted to shove the cold glass with a straw in my face. My body protested the nutrients because I wanted to die. It would make the pain go away. Instead, my body protested with every gulp of air.

“Drink. I’m not leaving until it’s gone.” Authoritative. He needed me to live. The scheme had not been divulged to me yet, but I knew one percolated in his scheming mind. Unsure of what he knew about my magic, I decided to keep my lips closed. Damage control had to be done on some level and the less he knew, the fewer people Leo could hurt.