Chapter 35

"I'm just not convinced that you're ready,"Teharon said for like the fiftieth time. Or maybe the third.
"I'm done waiting,"I growled. "Let's just do this."
I'd been over and over the same exercises with him for hours. I knew what to do; the only thing left was the practical application.
"I guess we can give it a try,"he said and sighed.
I let out a whoop before kissing his cheek. "Thank you. I know I can do this, Teharon."
"I don't doubt that you know what to do, Vervain."He looked really apprehensive. "There's just a big difference between knowing and doing. There's so much that can go wrong."
"And you'll be here to help me if something does,"it was the same argument I'd been using for half an hour. There wasn't any need to repeat it except that it seemed to be sinking in at last.
"All right."He scooted back on the library's floor to give me some space. "Close your eyes and sink into your subconsciousness as I taught you."
"Okay"-I smiled—"sinking."
"Find that part of yourself that seems hollow,"he kept coaching, but his voice soon became distant, as if he'd retreated to the far side of the room even though I knew he was still seated right in front of me. "There should be impenetrable walls around this emptiness. Let them down slowly; carefully and gently."
I found the place where Blue had taken a piece of me easily enough. I'd erected psychic walls around it that I pictured as thick, seamless steel. I reached for the top of the steel box and began to push it down gently. Something slipped, I pushed too hard, was too eager, and the walls fell apart with the clang of a large bell reverberating through my head.
"No! Gently!"Teharon cried.
"I know,"I mumbled in my half-aware state, but before I could say anything more, I felt Blue surge through the unguarded hole.
I had no time to block him or fight back. The walls had crashed down, and he was there before the echoes faded. I felt his heat seep into my mind and spread. There was a flash of crimson eyes, deadly midnight hair falling over me, and then pure panic. My entire body tensed to fight while I vaguely heard shouting around me. I went numb; arms falling limply, eyelids too heavy to lift, before suddenly being revived with fresh imperative; a new focus and direction.
Home, I had to go home. I got up quickly; brushing away something that was trying to hold me down. I headed into the hallway; my vision hazy around the edges. Dark shapes fluttered around me as I walked, but I kept batting them away. I just needed to get out of this place and go home. Yes, home where he would come for me. My god and lover commanded that I return to him. I had to go.
Then suddenly I wasn't moving anymore. There were strong arms around me, and I fought them, but I couldn't make them let go.
"Vervain!"I heard my name and frowned. I knew that voice, it was important to me.
"Little witch,"my lover whispered inside my head; blocking out the other voice. "I ache for you. I need you, do not fail me."
My chest ached at the sadness in his words. I had to get to him. He was grieving for me. How could I have been so cruel? I knew he loved me, I knew he needed me with him, but still, I'd left him. I'd been vicious and spiteful. I'd behaved like a child, but I'd gladly spend the rest of my life making it up to him.
Vaguely, I felt the sensation of more hands on me and somewhere in the background I heard voices shouting, but all I could concentrate on was Blue. He kept calling to me; urging me forward and lending me his strength. He loved me so much that he was giving me a piece of himself so I could fight the monsters trying to restrain me.
I bucked and writhed. I twisted and kicked, but I couldn't break free. I felt the cold bite of steel around my wrists and ankles; sending me into a screaming rage. I had to get to him, why were they trying to keep us apart?
"They're evil,"his voice caressed me from the inside. "They want you for themselves. They will all use you, one by one, and then they'll kill you and toss your body into the sea. I'm the only one who truly loves you, little witch. You must come to me so I can protect you."
I fought viciously; knowing my life depended on it. Hands reached out to calm me, and I bit at them, clawed at them. They wouldn't win without a fight. If they thought I'd just lie still while they all took their fill, they'd be sorely surprised. I was the beloved of a god. Nothing could keep me from him.
"Huitzilopochtli!"I cried. "Help me!"
"I'm giving you my strength, little witch. Fight them; you must use it to fight them."
I felt his magic pour through me, and I strained at the chains. Something warm coursed down my wrists which brought on another round of shouting until someone placed a damp cloth over my face. I inhaled a sharp scent and sank into oblivion.