Finding You

Chapter ~~5

            I talked with her, until she fell asleep. While she slept I held her in my arms. Suddenly I heard a voice in my head. It is the voice of Caleb, my oldest and most dear friend. ‘Lucas’ he shouted, ‘help me! I am being chased by hunters’ his voice range through my head. He sounded panicked, and scared.

            I held on to Navia, keeping her still, while I slipped out of the bed. Once I was out of bed, I carefully lowered Navia and laid her down. Once she was safely in bed I waited to see if she woke. She did not make a sound and I slipped out the room. I went to the nurses’ station where only one nurse sat. She had blonde hair, and blue eyes. She looked at me with wide eyes.

            “May I use your phone to make a phone call?” I asked trying not to rush my words. I heard her heart beat quicken and a pink blush spread over her cheeks.

            “Uh…” she looked at me with a blank face, blinked a couple times. “Yeah. Go… go ahead” she said it like she was in a trance. She picked up the whole phone receiver and put it on the counter in front of me. I picked up the receiver and dialed Caleb’s cell phone number.

            Caleb answered immediately. “Lucas. Where are you?” he sounded like he was running.

            “I am at Sacred Life Hospital in Pennsylvania.”

            “I need your help. I am being chased by hunters.”

            “What did you do now Caleb?”

            “I have done nothing. I was simply dinning at a local bar when some locals took a disliking to me.”

            I sighed. “And now they are hunting you.” I paused and thought. Why am I always bailing him out of situations like this? “Can you not get yourself out of this predicament?”

            “I do not think so Lucas. There are very many of them, and I am too weak to teleport.”

            “You cannot fly?” I asked getting annoyed.

            “You see, I got into trouble two weeks ago. The queen sentenced me to be punished by having my feathers clipped. They have not fully grown back yet.”

            “Caleb, this is outrageous. You cannot keep getting in trouble like this. Fight them.”

            “Lucas there are too many. They have guns and stakes.” His voice was begging me to come help him. “Why are you so hesitant? You have never questioned coming to my aid before. What keeps you?”

            “Nothing” I defended.

            “Then you will come. Do hurry, I think they are catching up.”

            “Fine Caleb, where are you?”

            “I am in North Dakota. You can find me from there. Hurry” he said and hung up the phone.

            I hung up and handed the phone back to the nurse. It was obvious that the nurse eavesdropped on my conversation. She was bound to hear part of my conversation, but she was clearly listening. Lucky for her nothing of extreme importance was said. I smiled at her, and walked away. I went down the hall to find somewhere to think.

            I need to help Caleb. Dammit! Why do I always bail him out? It is because he entertains me. I have known Caleb for many years and he never disappoints. He is almost worth the trouble of bailing him out constantly.  I got up and went back to Navia. She was still asleep in her bed. I sat down in the chair across from her bed. I sat there watching her, and thinking of what I could possibly say to her to tell her I was leaving. The minutes went by and the sun began to rise. Navia began to wake up. I saw her look around, and then she found me sitting in the chair and smiled.

            “Hey” she whispered her voice barely there. Her eyes were barley open. She looked half asleep.

            “Hello beautiful. How did you sleep?”

            “Well.” Her smile broadened. “How did you sleep?”

            “I did not.”

            “You didn’t sleep? Do you even need to sleep?” She looked at me curious.

            “No not really. I only need a few hours and I am fine for a month or so.”

            “So these last couple days, have you been awake while I sleep?”

            “Yes mostly. Though I did sleep through the night last night.” I looked away from her. “Navia I have some troubling news to tell you.” I paused and looked at her. “I have to leave.” My stomach clenched, and my body went rigid. Leaving her is hurting me but I must go.

            “Why?” her eyes opened wide. I heard her breathing spike. “Why are you leaving me?” The hurt in her voice was clear and it tore at me. I saw the tears forming in her eyes. I heard her pain, and I flinched away from it.

            “I must leave.” Something in my chest tightened, and I felt the tears in my eyes trying to break free.

            My emotions are getting the best of me. I must be in complete control of myself for Navia’s sake. I will not hurt her again. This will be a good thing for Navia. She will be safer with me not around her. I want to protect Navia but I cannot do that. I am too much of a danger to her.

            “No you don’t. Please stay with me.” A tear ran down her cheek. I heard her heart beating faster and faster. Quickly she brushed her tear away. She looked down at her sheets and began to fidget with her fingers. “I need you. You keep my nightmares away.” Her voice began to shake and more tears rushed down her face.

            The pain is tearing away at me. Everything inside of me is telling me to stay but my head knows that I have to go save Caleb. He is depending on me. Damn him. I may just kill him myself for this.

            I pushed my thoughts back and held strong to my conviction. “You are so strong. You do not know how strong you truly are. You do not need me.”

            She looked up, her eyes begging me to stay. Tears ran down her face, leaving trails down her cheeks. Her green eyes caught mine. They looked clouded, and pained. That is my fault. I began to waver, but somehow remained strong. I turned away from her powerful gaze. I pushed all my emotions back and walked over to where she lay. I brushed my hand across the side of her face. The skin there is so smooth. A small smile came to Navia’s lips. Does she think I am staying with her? Unfortunately if she thinks that she is wrong. I looked down at her sadly. I know she does not like it, and I like it no more, but I must leave. I leaned down and lightly kissed her forehead, saying my goodbye and a shiver ran through my body. The touch of her skin against mine always did that. I pulled away just far enough so that I could see her eyes. I felt her warm breath on my cheek, and how it warmed my face. Her smiled faded.

            She must realize the truth that I am leaving. I have made up my mind. I think that this is what I will miss the most. Just being close to her, feeling her soft skin, the warmth that radiates from her, and the beautiful person that fills her. Once again I was caught in her gaze. As I looked into her eyes I saw into her. I saw what she felt and could feel it myself. I feel her pain, grieve in her misery, and weep in her loss. Abandonment and fear is raging through her, scaring her to the bone. And I am the cause. I will harm her no longer.