I got up and raced over to Jay's motionless body, stumbling on the way. I tried to grasp the bed the girl was on but slipped, landing next to Jauda.
Pressing my hand against her chest, I listened desperately for breath.
Nothing.
I couldn't believe it.
"No!" I cried out without thinking. I pumped her chest like I saw a doctor do for a person who had a heart attack once in the village.
Nothing.
"It worked on him!" I cried out, tears welling in my eyes. "Work! Jauda! Wake up!"
My muscles gave way, still weak from the pain. I collapsed backwards, tipping my head back in defeat.
"This isn't happening," I muttered, closing my eyes and trying to breathe. "She is alive. It's just some magic trick of hers. She is alive!" I found myself yelling with grief. "No..." Burying my head in my knees, I rocked back and forth with disbelief. "No, no, no, no..." I couldn't believe it.
But when I opened my eyes, she still laid there with her thin lips closed and her eyes shut. Her chest didn't rise a bit.
"You said you would stay with me until I got better!" I accused her motionless body pitifully. "You said you would! Well, I'm not better!"
I heard a distant bang on the barricaded door. I didn't care.
"Open up now! You are surrounded," someone shouted breathlessly, "there is no escape!"
I ignored them, closing my eyes. It didn't matter anymore. Jauda was dead. She was dead...
"Are you okay?" A small voice behind me said softly.
I whirled around, stumbling to my feet, fists ready to protect Jauda's body with all my might. I looked down at shock to see the girl who had once been on her death bed. Her healthy gleaming cyan colored eyes gazed at mine as she ducked her chin in fear. Her small cropped face looked stunning.
"Who are you?" I asked through disbelief.
"Milestiba," she said, tentatively.
"What kind of name is that?" I growled.
"Probably a better name then yours," she grimaced, raising a single thin eyebrow.
I glared at her. "How do you know I'm not going to kill you?"
"You don't seem the killing type." Her eyes drifted toward Jauda's body. I stepped in front of Jauda.
"Who is she?" She asked, looking down at her thing hands and wiggling her finger as though she'd never used them before.
"She's dead," I stated plainly. I felt my anger blaze threateningly, "and you killed her!"
Milestiba recoiled, stumbling back on two skinny legs. She managed to regain her balance before whispering, "She saved me, didn't she?"
Her voice sounded so strained that I almost wanted to deny her from being the cause of Jauda's death. But I couldn't even accept that yet. "That's right. She was killed because of it."
Milestiba suddenly stepped quickly forward, trying to snake around me. "Let me see her," she said quickly.
I grasped her across her neck, pushing her back mercilessly and watched her fall with a gasp. "No!" I shouted. She's dead. She is dead and she isn't coming back... I couldn't keep the painful thought out of my head.
Another banging on the door reminded me that the people were still there. And they knew we were in here. "Open up now or we will bust our way in and it won't be pretty!"
Fear crossed Milestiba's face and she quickly stood up, looking at me through strong, stubborn eyes. "I might be able to save her," she said.
"She's already dead, girl!" I growled through gritted teeth. I felt myself hate this little girl with all my heart.
"Then let me try!" She said desperately.
"You can't do anything!"
She pushed passed me stubbornly, quickly getting on her knees by Jay's face.
Spinning around, I ducked down to grab her to find myself recoiling. The same purple magic from Jay's hands now showed dimly in Milestiba's. Did Jay give her some of her own magic?
Hope fluttered pitifully in my stomach. She has to be able to help, she just has to.
Milestiba's face was screwed in concentration, so I quietly sat next to her without touching her, gazing into Jay's face as her hands collapsed on Jay's shoulders.
One violent rise of her shoulders, and Milestiba fell back, gasping for air as she sagged back in exhaustion.
I watched in disbelief as Jay's chest rose once, then suddenly she began a fit of coughs.
Weak with relief, I flung my arms around her, supporting half her body upright in my arms as I hugged her through tears of relief.
"Oh my gosh, Jay. Thank God you’re alright," I whispered, burying my face in her shoulder. Suddenly, Jauda's body went deathly limp again. I quickly released her, carefully putting her head back on the floor with fear. She couldn't have died again!
"She'll be all right," Milestiba said weakly from behind me, "she will be very tired for days but she should recover."
Jay's chest rose up and down slowly but steadily. Relief flooded in again. Turning around, I lifted the young girl into my arms, hugging her gently. "Thank you," I whispered as I shut my tired eyes, "bless you Milestiba."
Milestiba seemed to stiffen in my arms but then suddenly relaxed, grasping my back with her tiny hands. I'm going to come with you," she stated quietly.
I released Milestiba, staring into her smile fragile face. "No, me and my friend are in trouble. If you came with us you would be too. You must stay here and pretend like you saw nothing, you here?"
I grasped Milestiba's face, gazing at her every expression sternly. Milestiba scowled, thrusting her face out of my grip and stepping backward defiantly. "I have no where else to go!"
"Sure you do," I insisted, "your parents will be thrilled to see that you recovered from your sickness!"
"They aren't my parents," she wailed, "and I didn't have a sickness!"
"Our journey has been too dangerous for a young girl like you." I started at the sound of the door banging. They were trying to break in.
Quickly, I raced over and grabbed Jauda's frail body in my arms, heading for the window.
"Wait!" Milestiba cried out, lunging at me.
Before she could grab me though I stuck my head out the window, to recoil at the terrifying blasts that greeted me. Something small broke through the window, piercing through the walls behind me where I'd been a moment earlier.
"What the heck is that?" I cried out in shock. Suddenly the door broke down, and I quickly maneuvered myself to save Milestiba from being crushed by the barricade.
Suddenly the small girl seemed to pass out, falling motionlessly onto the ground. I stumbled backwards, setting Jauda down quickly to defend her with my life.
Before I would take a single punch at one of the men dressed in blue that entered the small room, a weapon in his hand shot something that pricked through my chest, suddenly making me unbearably drowsy.
I widened my eyes with fear as I tried to see the world darkening around me. As I fell onto the floor, I was dimly aware of a small voice whispering, "You will need me to get you out of here. I'm coming with you."
******************************************************
I woke up again, feeling a lot better then I had before. Blinking in the blinding light, I realized that there weren’t even any lights on. It was broad daylight. What happened?
I sat up, groaning quietly at the painful protest of my chest. Standing up, I swayed, my body threatening to give out on me. But I was done sleeping. I needed to join the world.
Walking slowly over to the window near my bed, I gazed blankly out at the trees that surrounded a bunch of hills in the distance. Looking at the other side, I was able to appreciate the beauty of the city below, surrounded by its vast view of the hills and trees.
I shook myself out of the pointless thoughts. I had to gather what happened and why I was in such bad shape.
I looked around, and seeing my clothes on a hanger, I walked carefully over, stripping my nightgown for my old set of clothes. At least I remember my clothes, I thought grimly.
After I was dressed, I quickly stuffed my hands in my pockets in thought. But instead of feeling the cloth on both of my hands, my left hands crunched into paper.
Curiously I took it out and opened it, immediately recognizing the writing.
Jonah,
If you're reading this, you must be recovering. For that I am so grateful. I don't know what I would do if I lost you. I waited by your bedside talking to you nonstop for a long time. In other words, I've really missed you, not to mention how I've worried myself sick over it as well.
Now you must not show this to anyone. I wanted to be there with you when you woke up but due to an emergency I had to leave. I know Jauda was the one who harmed you,
I immediately stopped reading, looking up in horror. Was it Jauda? Slowly, memories flooded through my mind. I was walking into the woods because I was told that she needed me. Only moments after wandering through the woods did I find her. The shocking image of Jauda on her hands and knees as purple magic radiated from her flashed through my mind. How she looked up at me in horror before her mouth had parted in a desperate and painful scream and moments later I was lost in the purple radiations that hit me hard. I remember landing and being unable to breath until the point where I passed out. How did I survive? And why would she do that to me?
I wrinkled my brow, thinking hard about the scenario. I remembered the utter fear that Jauda had on her face. Of course! She fears her magic more then anything? Why does she if she is so powerful though? I am her only friend... Why did she attack me?
I gasped in understanding. She feared her magic because she can't control it! Dread filled my stomach as I could only imagine her past pains and what she had gone through to acquire this fear. That's why she doesn't want to use her magic. I had no idea!
Confident now on why Jauda didn't want to accept her destiny, I felt a new hope in helping her overcome her problem so I read on eagerly.
But I think there may be more behind it then what we would have known. Jauda has run off after Lord Heath had guessed that she had magic and I had no idea where she'd ran off to until I got a probing message from her of her surroundings. She has gone to the United States. I have no idea why but she is in trouble so I am off to help her in any way I can since she is so important to you. Please don't worry about me, I will be careful. Just concentrate on getting better for me. I'll bring her back and we can talk about what happened.
For a personal warning, Josh is going nuts with worry for her and interest in what happened to you. I'm sure the first chance he gets he will ask you what happened and if you know where Jay is. Sorry about leaving him for you to deal with alone, I just wanted you to know because I know you’re an understanding person and wouldn't wish to give Jauda up without further explanation.
I love you and I do hope you gain back all your strength. I can admit that I felt anger toward Jay for a long time after what happened but I realized after I got her message that you would be more understanding then that and would indeed give her a chance to explain. So once we get back, we will make her tell us what happened. I can't wait to see you again, and I hope it will be sooner rather then later.
Love,
Grace
I looked up in shock. So much stuff had happened since I'd been asleep. And she thinks I am just going to lie around and rest while she and Jay were in danger. I rolled my eyes. She could only wish.
Opening the door, I confidently left the room down the familiar hallway of the palace. Rounding a corner, I came out to the main room leading outside. Glancing around warily, I made my way for the door, going quickly in hope not to be caught by any dwellers.
Making it outside successfully, I turned to quietly shut the door when I heard someone call out my name.
"Jonah!"
I glanced regretfully down the stairs to where Josh was rushing eagerly up as he waved a frantic hand.
Remaining my composure, I replied lightly, "yes?"
Breathless, Josh slowed down as he neared me, gazing at me with wide eyes. "You're better."
"Yes," I agreed solemnly, "I am indeed."
"What happened?" He gasped.
"I woke up," I explained, starting to walk down the stairs.
"Are you feeling okay?" Josh asked.
"Fine, Young Lord," I addressed him impatiently as he followed.
"Jonah!"
That was a command.
"Yes?"
Josh gazed at me.
"Sorry for being rude, I am just in a hurry Young Lord," I apologized. I was being a little rough on him for his status in society, but I wanted to catch up to Grace before she did something drastic.
"I understand you are just recovering," Josh offered slowly, "but you must understand that we all are wondering what happened to you. Grace found you passed out in a terrible state in the woods."
"Unfortunately," I said sincerely, "I am unsure of what had occurred. I am sorry I cannot offer more as of right now." I turned and headed toward the stables.
"Where are you off to?" I glanced behind me to see Josh gazing at me with a hint of disbelief. He clearly knew I wasn't telling him everything.
"I received a note of an emergency I must attend. Thank goodness I woke up in time for it."
"Shouldn't you rest?" Josh asked looking at me with suspicion. "After all, you just got out of a comma!"
"Of course," I said before adding quickly, "soon. But I must first address this case."
Suddenly, Josh's expression turned into one of concern. Loneliness. I recognized the expression right away. I'd seen it enough in Jauda's face to recognize it anywhere now.
"Did that note by any chance tell you where Jay is?" He asked quietly. Drawing closer, she added, "I think she is in trouble. My father wants her dead because he thinks she has magic and because she hurt you. Maybe if you could tell him you know it wasn't Jay..."
"I don't think it was Jauda," I confessed carefully, "but I can't say I remember what happened. I cannot tell him anything until I remember more. I am sorry."
I opened the barn door; trying to hide a grown at the effort it took my still weak body. Josh's arm came into view, firmly pushing the door open with one hand.
"Thanks," I said as I walked in.
"I'll come with you. You seem a little weak from all that happened. To be honest, I can't see how you have enough energy to walk. You were near death."
"I'll be fine," I assured him as I entered the tack room. I didn't want him around to watch me struggle with the saddle as it would make his argument better.
"I insist," he pushed quickly. "You've saved my life many times; I'd like to return the favor."
I decided to grab the bridle first. "I don't think it's a good idea," I said slowly.
"Why's that?" Josh persisted.
I sighed. He was so stubborn! "I must go to the United States," I said quietly.
Josh gazed at me, trying to follow my every move. "Because Jay is there," he whispered quietly, "she's run away and found a way to get to the United States."
I pushed by him to go get my horse.
"You know it's illegal," Josh whispered, as he followed.
I stopped. "That's right," I said glancing at him. "That's why the Young Lord shouldn't be trying to get out of the country. That would look really bad if they caught you sneaking."
"Yeah but I could get us a pass to go. After all, like you said, I am the Young Lord. I just have to tell my father I'd escort for your medical studies and we can go."
I hesitated. Josh was very convincing. I needed to talk to Jauda about her magic problems which I can't do around Josh but that could wait. If Jauda is in trouble, we may need as much people as possible.
"Fine," I agreed with a sigh. "Go do what you must and I'll saddle the horses. Bring your sword and shield."
Josh nodded understandably, picking up the saddle I was going to get and smiling lightly as he took it over to my horse. "I'll have the stable hands get mine saddled up so don't bother."
"Very well," I replied as he put the saddle on my bay horse. "I'll be waiting."