First Magic by Raven Steele (ebook reader screen txt) 📖

“Then don’t.”

He frowned. “Jake will want to be with you.”

I sighed, knowing he was right. Jake was probably freaking out.

“I owe you an apology,” I told him.

“For what?” It was his turn to be surprised. “I should’ve listened to you and gone home.”

“No, it was selfish of me to ask you not to come. It’s just easier for me when I know you’re home, know what I mean?”

I shook my head. “Not at all.”

“You will, but it doesn’t matter anyway. I could never have predicted what happened tonight.”

“Were you expecting something to happen?”

“Yes.”

“What were you expecting?”

“Definitely not you falling through the ice.”

“Then what?”

The door flew open.

“Llona,” Jake cried. He rushed to my side. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Jake, just tired.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“What happened? The doctor said you fell through some ice, and they had to revive you.”

“That pretty much sums it up.”

“What were you doing on the ice?”

“It wasn’t her fault, Mr. Reese. She was just getting the football for everyone. They told her it was safe.”

Jake scowled at me. “Since when did you start trusting teenagers?” He turned to Christian. “And when did you start calling me Mr. Reese?”

“Sorry, Jake.”

Jake turned back to me. “I’m glad you’re okay. I would never have forgiven myself if something happened to you.”

Christian stood. “I’ll leave you two alone. Llona, I’ll come see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Christian. For everything,” I said, wishing he didn’t have to go. He seemed to be thinking the same thing.

“Christian, do you mind if I have a word with you out in the hall?” Jake asked.

As soon as they left the room, I turned onto my side with great difficulty and drew in slow shallow breaths. A minute later, Jake returned.

“What was that all about?” I asked.

“I just wanted to tell him thank you for saving you. I heard what he did. He’s one of a kind, you know that?”

“I do.”

“You know what’s really strange? He reminds me of your father.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I can’t put my finger on it, but he has this whole hero/protector thing about him.”

“I know what you mean.”

Jake stared at me, his eyes dripping with concern. “Are you comfortable? Can I get you anything?”

“I’m good. Super tired though.”

“I’ll let you get some sleep. Do you mind if I sleep in the chair? The nurse said it folds out into a bed.”

“I’d love the company.”

I don’t remember falling asleep or Jake getting his bed ready, but my eyes were suddenly wide open scanning the dark room. The lights just past the door had been turned down, and faint sounds of beeping came from down the hall. Jake slept next to me peacefully.

I rolled onto my back, surprised how much better I felt. I closed my eyes to go back to sleep, but the feeling in the room inexplicably changed. It grew thick, almost suffocating. I opened my eyes again only to find myself instantly paralyzed, unable to move any part of my body. Even my head remained trapped by an invisible force.

My eyes circled what I could see of the room, searching for the source of my current predicament. I found the problem at the foot of my bed. For there stood the tall shadow of a man. I couldn’t see his face, but by the hostile feeling in the room I knew whoever it was meant me harm.

I tried to scream, tried to move, but my body wouldn’t respond. Fear gripped me, but it wasn’t fear that had paralyzed me. It was something in the air, physically pressing down on me until I thought I might be crushed.

The figure moved closer. It was an unnatural jerky movement, much too fast for a human. It jerked again; this time moving only a foot away. The shadow made no sound. It was as quiet as the dead, and its presence was just as disturbing.

Its head cocked to the side as if analyzing me. I still couldn’t see its face, but as the shadow began to lower itself to me, I could smell its sickly breath of rot and death.

I attempted to scream again, but nothing came out. I focused every ounce of strength I had on trying to make any sound, but my efforts were wasted. In that moment I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I called upon Light, imagined its power filling my entirety. It responded instantly until my whole body tingled. I sat up, mentally flipped on the lights, and opened my mouth. A scream tore from my lungs.

Jake shot up from bed. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

A nurse rushed into the room. “Is everything all right?”

My heart beat out of my chest and beads of sweat dotted my forehead. “There was someone in my room,” I gasped.

Jake looked around. “Where?”

“Standing next to me. Just a second ago.”

The nurse moved into the hallway. “I didn’t see anyone come in, and I’ve been here all night.”

Jake placed his hand over mine. “Do you think it was a nightmare?”

“No! It wasn’t a nightmare. He was here.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know, but someone—not nice.” I’d wanted to say a Vyken but didn’t want to scare Jake. For some reason, the very name terrified him more than it did me. How I knew it was a Vyken, I couldn’t be sure. I’d never met one before, but by its unnatural movements and the way it had affected me, what else could it have been?

“Would you like a sedative, Dear?” the nurse asked. Her tone reminded of the book One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

“No, I don’t need a sedative.” They didn’t believe me. I collapsed into bed. Christian would’ve believed me. I glanced over at the clock and sighed. 4:27 a.m.

“Try and go back to sleep, Llona,” Jake said, his voice soothing.

“I won’t be able to.”

“What if I promise to stay awake? I’ll watch TV or something.”

“Really?”

“Sure.”

With my pulse slowly returning to a normal level, I turned over, tucked the blanket under by chin, and closed my eyes. Before I fell asleep, I said a silent prayer, hoping that whatever Christian had to tell me would somehow help protect me. If Christian knew about Light then there was a good chance he knew about Vykens too.

Morning greeted me with an onslaught of different doctors who poked and prodded at me like I was some newly discovered jungle insect.

“It’s remarkable,” my excellent hearing heard one of them say from down the hall. “Dr. Adams said she must’ve been clinically dead for at least fifteen minutes.”

“Someone must’ve made a mistake. She’d be brain dead if that were true,” a female voice replied.

“Go ask him yourself, or better yet, read her chart. See if you can make sense of her lab results.”

Their voices trailed off, leaving me to wonder what was wrong with me. This was the first time I’d ever been to a hospital. In fact, it was my first time seeing a doctor. I never thought it would be a problem until now.

I needed to get out of here and quick before they decided to seal me off in some giant petri dish.

As soon as Jake returned from getting breakfast at the cafeteria, I blurted, “It’s time for me to go.”

His mouth gaped open. “You can’t. The doctors are still running tests.”

“No more tests. I’m fine.”

“Llona, please. Let them make sure everything is normal before they release you.”

“But I’m not normal. Did it ever occur to you that my tests might show something strange?”

“Why would they?”

“Why wouldn’t they? I’m an Aura. I don’t know how that changes my physical make up, but I already heard a couple of the doctors talking and something’s not right. You need to get me out of here.”

“All right. Do you want to wait until after breakfast? The cart is just down the hall.”

“No. Let’s just get out of here.”

“Okay. I’ll send a nurse in to get that thing out of your arm, and then I’ll get the paperwork to get you released.”

“Thanks, Jake.”

After the nurse left the room, I dressed and tied my shoes. Christian was right. I did feel much better thanks to the moon. The only thing that didn’t feel better was my sense of impending doom. I only hoped that whatever Christian had to tell me would ease my mind.

Several minutes later, Jake returned holding a stack of papers. “All clear to go.”

I zipped up my coat. “Sorry to put you through all this.”

“It was an accident, nothing