Page 128 of A Bolt of Magic

We say our farewells, and then I’m alone with Kian in the heavy silence of the room. I stand and walk over to where hesits, positioning myself directly in front of him, searching those glowing eyes for any flicker of recognition.

Nothing.

“Stand,” I ask him, taking his hand.

He does as I ask, getting to his feet, but nothing changes in his expression. Nothing changes in his face at all.

“Talk,” I command, but he just stands there. I’ve tried this before, but I have to check, just in case something Morwyn did worked. I look him over.

Is it just my imagination, or are there more black veins spreading across his face than there were this morning? They look darker, too, more pronounced against his pale skin. My heart sinks. I think Morwyn was right. Whatever this is, it’s progressive and getting worse. Kian is falling further and further into darkness, further away from me.

Before long, I won’t be able to reach him at all.

“Kian?” I say softly. “Can you hear me? It’s McColl. I’m right here.”

As always, there is no response. Not even the slightest acknowledgment that I’ve spoken or that I am even here. Whatever the healer tried had no effect at all.

I place my hands flat against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palms.

“Please,” I whisper. “Come back to me. I know you’re in there somewhere. I know you can fight this.”

Still nothing.

I was told not to use any kind of magic on him. I was warned against this because it might make him worse. We just don’t know.

But desperation claws at me. I have to try, so I close my eyes and send healing magic into him, the same power I used to help Maya, only much less of it. I open my eyes at the same time as he blinks.

He blinked.

He did!

I gasp. It’s the first time I’ve seen him have any kind of response since my mother did this to him.

It isn’t much, but it’s something, and I’ll take it.

I pour more magic into him, watching with growing excitement as he blinks again, his chest rising and falling in what might be a deeper breath.

“Yes, that’s it. Come back, Kian, please.”

Something flickers in those horrible glowing eyes – just for a moment, but I see it. A spark of something that might be awareness. The thick black veins on his face seem to recede slightly, becoming less raised, less angry-looking.

I think it’s working.

He blinks several times in rapid succession, making a soft sound in the back of his throat. Not words, but the first vocalization I’ve heard from him in days.

Moons, yes!

I redouble my efforts, pouring more and more healing magic into him. Sweat beads on my forehead from the effort, but I don’t care. It’s working. Praise Kakara, it’s actually working.

But even as I watch, the moment I pause to catch my breath, everything I’ve accomplished begins to undo itself. The black veins darken again, spreading back across his face like spilled ink. The brightness returns to his eyes, and that terrible vacant stare settles back over his features.

“No!” I gasp, immediately resuming my healing efforts. “No, no, no…”

I push hard, but I’m tiring. I push and push and push until I’m shaking, until my head is hurting, and my vision is blurring. I’m pouring everything I have and more into him, but it isn’t enough. After a time, I am forced to stop. Within moments, he’s exactly as he was before, as if I never touched him at all.

I rock back on my heels, tears of frustration streaming down my face. It’s infuriating. He’s so close, right there within reach, but I can’t quite grasp him. Can’t quite pull him back. I would call for help, but I know this has to do with our magical bond. I can feel it, like a fine tether between us. It’s why my mother had to split us up. We’re strong together. Only I can save him. It has to be me. I know it like I know my own name.

My hand goes instinctively to the starlight crystal at my throat, Maya’s gift. I grip it tightly, feeling the chain pull as I close my eyes and whisper a prayer to the moon goddess.

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