Inferno : Elements Series Book One

Derek

My heart is still pounding. Gwen just scared the holy hell out of me. I’m putting the damp cloth back against her forehead when she jumps up and just starts running. I think I might have had a heart attack. Her ankle gets tied up in the blanket and she falls back onto the bed. I rush over to her. She’s woken up in a panic.

“Hey, Gwen, Gwen!” I yell to get her attention. I take hold of her shoulders and try to get her to look at me. “It’s okay. Calm down, it’s just me. You’re okay.”

I see recognition flash in her eyes and she looks around, trying to figure out where she is. A worried look crosses her features and she turns back to me.

“Why am I in your bed?”

I can’t help but chuckle. She’s been unconscious for fourteen hours now and the first thing she asks is why she’s in my bed.

“The infirmary was full of burn victims and with you being unconscious you couldn’t unlock the door to your apartment, so my apartment was the next best place.”

She looks a little sceptical and I begin to worry about what she might have heard while she was out.

“How long have I been unconscious?”

“Fourteen hours.”

“Fourteen hours?! What the hell happened?”

“We aren’t sure, Mags couldn’t really figure it out. She thinks that after everything that happened today that the whole mind/body meld with Oliver was just the last straw. She thinks your body just wore out and shut down for a while.” She nods and seems to take everything in. I realise I’m still holding onto her and, muttering an apology, I let her go. I get a glass of water from the nightstand and hand it to her, sitting back down on the bed with her as I do. I send out a quick message to Anya with my mind, telling her that Gwen is up and to find Mags and Oliver.

“Thanks,” she says as she takes a sip. The silence stretches out and, selfish as it may be, I can’t stand it.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, just to get her talking again.

“I’m a little out of it. I’ve never passed out before. My head is a little fuzzy and I feel kind of sick but, other than that, I’m alright.” She looks confused. “Did you carry me here?”

I’m surprised by her question, and terrified. If she remembers me carrying her she might remember other things too.

“Yeah, I did.”

“Sorry you had to do that,” she says, looking a little awkward. Why, I wonder.

“It wasn’t a problem at all,” I smile. “Can you remember anything else?” The glutton for punishment that I am, I just can’t help asking.

“Just voices, I couldn’t make anything out; that and someone who was playing at some serious mind voodoo.”

“What?” I say, shocked that anyone would have done that. Especially to someone who was unconscious in the first place.

“Yeah, everything was just darkness at first. I couldn’t move, see or speak. The most I could do was hear and even that was sketchy. It was pretty terrifying,” she pauses to take a sip of water. “And then there was just this little blue light. I followed it, just assuming that I was waking up, and ended up on this cliff face overlooking this huge forest. I could tell I was being manipulated and managed to get through the illusion only to be transported to some random cave that opened up onto this lake of lava. It was excruciating. The air was so hot that I felt like my lungs were being burnt out of my chest and I was gasping for ai-what?” She looks at me, I must have a weird look on my face because I just realised what caused her fit a few hours ago.

“A few hours ago you started gasping for air. You couldn’t breath and you were burning up. We did what we could but not even Mags was able to calm your breathing. She managed to slow it though, until you were more just gasping a little, not just completely unable to breath. We were pretty worried, terrified really.”

She looks stunned. For a moment I think she might pass out again but then she says;

“So it was real. I thought it was just like a super vivid dream. I was hoping it was just a vivid dream.”

She looks so freaked out, I don’t really know how to respond.

“Can you tell me who it was? Did you recognise anyone?” She’s shaking her head before I’ve even finished asking my question.

“There were only two people that I saw, well one really. The first was a disguise for the second. She was young, younger than me, and she was beautiful. I think that was the point. Put me on a beautiful cliff, overlooking a beautiful view and give me someone beautiful and innocent to talk to. I think they were hoping it would put me at ease, maybe make me buy whatever shit they were selling,” she sounds so bitter. “She said she was the Messenger of the Elders and that I had been chosen to lead the Elementals out of the chaos they’d fallen into. They weren’t her exact words, but it was implied. I figured that it was a lie and then the scene changed and so did the person.”

She pauses, scrunching her eyebrows and chewing on her lip in an expression I recognise as her thinking face.

“What happened then? Did you know who the guy was?”

“No, the second scene was painful. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t speak and I could barely see. The heat was excruciating, I could feel myself burning,” she looks down at her arms, probably searching for burns. “The guy rose out of the lava. He was dressed all in white and I couldn’t see his face. He told me I was stronger than he’d anticipated. That even in my weakened state I could see through his illusions. He seemed impressed and the whole scene dissolved after he told me we would talk again.”

She is silent for a moment and I let her be, it must be a lot to process. Honestly, the day she’s had. Ambushes, attacks, melding with Oliver, using so much magic that her body literally gives out and now this; being unconscious wasn’t even a peaceful experience for her.

“Do you think it was real?” she finally asks. For the first time since I’ve known her she looks frightened. I want to tell her no, that she has nothing to worry about, but I’d be lying.

“Yeah, I think it was real. It would take someone extremely powerful when it comes to mind tricks, but, the fact that it took a toll on your body as well as your mind tells me that it wasn’t just a dream.”

I hate the fear that I see in her eyes but she shuts it down quickly enough. She squares her shoulders and turns on her usual charm.

“So, what do we do now?” She’s all business.

“We should probably tell Hank about this person messing with you. And Jillian. She’s the strongest person here when it comes to mind manipulation. You’ve met her; she’s going to be training you with all of that. She might be able to figure something out. For now, however, you get checked over by Mags and then get some rest.”

“Mags?”

“Margaret, the Healer you met before you blacked out. She should have a look at you now that you’re awake, just to make sure that you are okay. Then it is all rest and relaxation for you.”

“I’m fine. Just some food and some water and I’ll be alright. Honestly there is no need to go bothering Marg-“

She’s interrupted by a knock at the door. Little does she know that the moment she woke up I sent out a little mental message for Anya to go and find Mags.

“That’s her now isn’t it?” Gwen gives me a suspicious look.

“Probably, would you like to come into the living room?”

“No, if it’s cool I’ll just stay here. I’m not too confident in my ability to walk just yet.”

I nod, knowing how much she would have hating admitting that she wasn’t strong enough to walk yet, and leave her to go answer the door. Sure enough it’s Mags.

“I’m assuming she’s awake,” she says with a warm smile. I smile back.

“She certainly is. I don’t think she’s in too great a mood though, she seems a little down.”

“That’s understandable, she’s been unconscious longer than I expected.”

We walk back into my room and I find that Gwen has moved back to the top of the bed and has made room for the rest of us. Anya, Oliver, Mags and I climb on and get comfy. Mags of course, sitting closest to her.

“Welcome back, G,” says Oliver in a chirpy voice.

“G?” asks Gwen.

“Everyone needs a nickname, ‘G’ works for now. It’s shorter.” Gwen gives him a tired smile.

“Of course it’s shorter, it’s a single letter.”

Oliver laughs and leans back to get a better look at her face.

“You look beat G,” he says.

“Oliver, she’s been unconscious. Did you think she’d come to and be prepared to run a marathon?” chastises Anya. “We’re really glad you’re back, Gwen.”

“How about I get a word in with my patient?” says Mags.

Oliver and Anya say sorry at the same time and then everyone’s attention turns to Gwen. She hates that.

“So how are we feeling?” she asks.

“A little groggy and slightly queasy, but other than that I’m just fine,” she says.

Just fine is right, at least until Mags tries to touch her. She jumps up and moves to the other side of the room.

“Um, no offense, but don’t touch me. Last time I got anywhere near healing magic I got completely voodooed, so if we could just not. Yeah, um, just don’t,” I see the fear in her eyes again and understand why. The others don’t.

“I’m just going to go back to my apartment. Thank you for taking care of me, I’m lucky to have you guys around but I’m honestly fine. Some food and water and I’ll be good to go. Thanks.”

Before any of us can protest or get up she’s out the bedroom door and we hear the front door close just a second later.

“What the heck was that about?” asks Oliver. More to himself, I think, but I have an answer.

“She had an interesting experience while she was unconscious and she doesn’t know what to make of it.”

“Tell me,” says Mags. So I do. I relay all the information Gwen gave me and everyone is wearing matching expressions of shock and concern.

“He said that they will speak again,” I pause. “Gwen obviously has someone out to get her.”

“I guess that just means that your job as her Guardian got a little bit more serious,” replies Mags. “I will go and speak with Hank and Jillian, tell them what has happened, and also that Gwen is going to be just fine. Hank has been worrying since he found out. I think he is quite fond of Gwen. As for training, she’s not allowed to go to any sessions for a few days, at least. I’ll be sure to make that quite clear to Hank.”

“Are you going to go and see Gwen?” Anya asks me as I stand to show everyone out.

“No,” even though I really want to. “She won’t admit it, but this whole thing has her a little freaked out. I’ll give her space until sometime tomorrow. Until then, let’s all just get some sleep. It’s after one in the morning; I think we all need some rest.”

There is a short moment for goodbyes before I shut the door and head back to my bed. I don’t bother showering, I’m too tired. I just lay down, fully clothed and fall asleep almost immediately.