Chapter Nineteen
Bréagha groaned as once again she woke up in a ton of pain. White hot agony shot through her head as she tried to open her eyes.
“Turn off the lights! Bréagha’s head hurts!” she winced when she heard Sperwa yelling at the others.
“Sorry, Soul-Bonded. I forgot to exclude you from that,” whispered Sperwa, her voice at a much lower volume. She also felt someone turning off the overhead lights, so she tried to open her eyes again. Kat stood by her side and Roz was standing right next to the Elder, smiling tearfully down at her.
She slowly moved her head to the other side where what looked like a baby incubator was pushed up against the bed and Sperwa sat with her head resting on the side watching her.
“How are you feeling Soul-Bonded?” asked Sperwa still being as quiet as she could.
“Like I died and caught on fire,” responded Bréagha, glad her voice sounded normal.
“Well, you didn’t scream this time. That was unnerving to say the least, last time,” retorted Kat. “Drink this and it should help the head. Anything else hurt?”
Bréagha checked in and winced. “Everything hurts. This Rebirth thing sucks.”
“Well, I would think staying dead would be worse,” said Kat. Bréagha glared at the Elder but took the cup she was holding out and drank the sweet concoction, the same as the last time.
“Rozengwyn, you better let the boys in. I can hear them out there about ready to break down the door,” instructed Kat as she adjusted Bréagha’s bed and blanket.
Roz went to the door and giggled as Bracken and Cathal both fell into the room.
Killian stepped up to the open door and looked down at the fallen Sentinels, sighing deeply while shaking his head.
He then glanced up and caught Bréagha’s eyes.
The profound relief that flooded him left him staggered.
For a moment, he thought he might join the idiots on the floor.
Jaxx stepped up next to him and offered his hand to Bracken.
Killian did the same, pulling Cathal up with more force than was strictly necessary.
He used the moment to gain his equilibrium before he stepped into the room, Aiden pushing in behind him.
“Liam, you owe me 20 bucks! She’s alive!” yelled Bracken out into the hallway. He turned and winked at Bréagha who growled, knowing someone bet against her. “I had no doubts, little fire girl. No doubts.”
“What are you talking about? You had her dead and buried before she hit the ground!” Bréagha grinned at the voice of Travis from somewhere in the hallway. Bracken gasped in outrage.
“I did not! That was Mason,” pouted Bracken, making Bréagha giggle.
“How are you for real though Bré?” wondered Aiden as he came to stand where Kat was previously. She glanced up at her lifelong friend and forced a smile. Kat’s potion was working but not as quickly as it had last time.
“Dying isn’t fun Aiden, I don’t recommend it,” answered Bréagha.
“I see no one is asking about my welfare,” pouted Sperwa.
“Oh, little fire sparrow, we were saving the very best for last,” soothed Bracken as he came to stand next to her bed. He reached out and stroked her head. The phoenix preened under his attention and Bréagha chuckled.
“So we now know that you’ve indeed inherited the phoenix rebirth ability,” remarked Killian from his place at the foot of the bed.
“Yes, thanks for trying out that theory for us. Cause we were really worried about that,” smirked Jaxx as he came to stand next to his brother. Bréagha grinned at him.
“You’re welcome. Glad I could help solve that mystery for you.”
“But maybe don’t do it often. It isn’t fun to watch,” commented Mason as he poked his head around the door. Cathal and Liam popped their heads around the door as well and gave Bréagha a thumbs up. Travis pushed Mason a little so he could see her as well.
“Gentlemen, I think it’s important for the person you want to stay alive to be able to breathe,” everyone turned to the door where Donegal and Marcus were trying to push through the Sentinels to see Bréagha themselves.
Everyone but Aiden, Killian, and Roz moved to make room for the Elders.
Bracken patting Sperwa’s head one last time as he made space.
“How are you feeling Guardian?” inquired Marcus.
“Probably like she just died and came back to life I would imagine,” retorted Donegal before Bréagha could answer. She grinned.
“That about sums it up, yeah. Though Kat gave me some wonderful tea that has helped ease some of the aches,” she answered.
“Yes, that is some amazing stuff for sure. I remember in my younger days when I would visit one of the realms and get myself into some trouble, that tea was just the thing,” agreed Donegal as he squeezed her hand.
“When he says trouble, he means he spent too long at a pub or sampling alcoholic drinks,” corrected Marcus. “I believe he was named the God of Wine or some such nonsense.”
“Dionysus. Yes, that was fun,” reminisced Donegal. “They had the best feasts in Greece back then.” Roz shook her head and covered her mouth, but the giggle still slipped out and Donegal winked at her.
“We won’t stay long, we just wanted to check in. I’m glad we found you awake this time. It was easier walking down the hallway without slumbering Sentinels and their familiars,” observed Marcus.
“I’m glad to be awake as well,” assured Bréagha.
“Have you noticed anything different this time? Like last time you lost scars. Do you have one from the arrow that struck you?” Marcus asked curiously.
Bréagha pulled the gown she was wearing away from her chest and gasped.
Right there on her chest, just slightly to the right of her heart, was a starburst scar.
“I do!” she exclaimed excitedly.
“You are the only living being in all the realms who would be excited about a scar,” lamented Killian as he facepalmed.
“You, grumpy boy, are not going to dim my joy,” said Bréagha as she pointed at Killian. “I earned every single one of those scars I lost before, now I can earn them again.”
“Um… Bréagha, you’ll find that the only way you earn scars is from mortal wounds,” murmured Sperwa. Bréagha gaped at her familiar.
“I have to DIE to get new scars?” she asked to clarify.
“Yes, look on your arm, the one that was hurt during the battle before this one. Do you see a scar there?” Bréagha looked down at her arm and groaned when she just saw flawless skin.
“Well, that sucks,” she complained.
“Again, most people would be happy they don’t scar easily,” commented Killian. He had moved to the door and stood leaning back against it, his arms and legs crossed. Bréagha stuck her tongue out at him and he just grinned.
Marcus and Donegal noticed the exchange and looked at each other, their eyebrows raised. Killian was actually teasing the Guardian and grinning. Donegal grinned at Marcus and wiggled his eyebrows to which Marcus rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Well we don’t want…” Roz suddenly straightened and teleported out of the room, returning seconds later with Lily in tow. She was holding a book in her hands and an astonished look on her face.
“MARCUS, his book started writing again!” Lily handed the book to the other elder who pulled his glasses out of his pocket and put them on, staring at his partner then turning to read what she was pointing at.
“The Guardian fell from the sky. He had managed to hit her squarely in the chest with that last arrow. He watched her fall, a triumphant smile on his face. He heard the scream of the phoenix as it flew to its soul-bonded’s aid, and he felt Vaelthryx pulling him back into the shadows, so he wasn’t noticed.
” Marcus read the passage and looked up at Lily.
“But it stopped again,” he said, puzzled. She nodded excitedly.
“Yes, I think now that the Garden has been awakened, and we’re aware of him out in the world, when he’s physically in any of the realms, I think we’ll know it.”
“So, when he’s pulled back by Vaelthryx, his soul is hidden again?” Marcus asked to clarify what Lily was thinking. She nodded.
“Yes, I believe that’s exactly how it’s going to work,” she agreed. She then turned to Bréagha. “How are you feeling Bréagha? And Sperwa?”
“At least someone remembers me without having to be reminded,” complained Sperwa. “I’m doing okay, just tired. My fire helps my soul-bonded to be able to heal fully and quickly, but it takes a lot of energy.”
“We’re all glad that you’re here and are feeling okay,” said Donegal as he moved to stroke Sperwa’s feathers like Bracken had done. Bréagha swore she heard the bird purr and shook her head.
Marcus was looking down at the book he still carried in his hands. He brought his ever-present notebook out of his back pocket to make notes. Then he looked over at Roz.
“Can you take us back? We don’t want to exhaust these two more than necessary, and we should continue our research. From what I read about the battle you all just went through, the sooner we can find the other Guardians and figure out the cleansing ritual the better,” he said absentmindedly.
Roz created a portal to take all three Elders to the Record Keepers library. They all three patted Sperwa on the head and squeezed Bréagha’s hand before leaving.
“Okay, I think you can go home if you want Bréagha. And take ALL of them with you.” Kat gestured all around the room and toward the hallway.
“If one more of my healers gets threatened by a dragon or growled at by another freaking big cat I may have a full mutiny on my shoulders.” She left the room again and headed down the hallway, looking forward to having her clinic back.
Roz stepped forward and created a portal. “In you go guys! I’ll get your familiars next.” Aiden picked Sperwa up gently and carried her through the portal, leaving Killian to help Bréagha. He walked over to her and helped her slowly stand up, allowing her to take a moment when she got light-headed.
“Thank Marcus you use nightgowns for your patients and not those open-backed ones we have back on Earth cause I would be flashing all of you,” giggled Bréagha as she walked through the portal.
“Wait, Thank Marcus?” asked Bracken who had followed closely behind to ask his question.
“Yeah, you know because he’s Odin on Earth. I’ve decided to identify as a Norse Pagan so he would be my god,” grinned Bréagha who got equal satisfaction from the growl that came from Killian and the startled laugh she got from Bracken.
“Oh I am sooo telling him,” said Bracken. “Hey Travis! Cathal, you won’t believe what Bréagha just said.”
Killian shook his head as he guided Bréagha up the stairs to her bedroom. Rozengwyn had her portal open in Bréagha’s living room so the Sentinels could exit easily and Bréagha would just have to go up the stairs to bed.
They heard Aiden in Sperwa’s room laughing which made Bréagha grin.
She was half tempted to go see what was going on but let Killian lead her to her own room and even let him help her climb into her big comfy bed.
She sighed as he tucked her quilt in around her.
He turned off all the lights except the small nightlight she kept next to her bed.
That way she didn’t kill herself if she needed to get up in the middle of the night to pee.
Before he turned away Bréagha grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards her. He looked down and raised his eyebrows in question.
“Thank you,” she whispered before falling sound asleep less than a second later.
Killian reached his hand out and tucked a stray piece of her auburn hair off her face. “Always.”
He turned away and walked into the hallway where Aiden was waiting for him. Aiden looked at him for a moment, his eyes searching his team leaders. Killian stared back, shaking his head when Aiden just grinned, clapped him on the shoulder and started down the stairs.
“I hope you know what you’re getting into my friend,” laughed Aiden as he walked out Bréagha’s front door.
Killian sighed as he followed, stopping to shut the door behind him.
Kaedryn was flying in the air above him and Makani stepped out from the wooded area between the cottage and the townhomes coming to walk beside his soul-bonded’s side.
“You have no idea what you’re doing do you Soul-Bonded?” Killian didn’t bother answering his dragon, just groaned and ran a hand down his face. No, he didn’t.