Page 72 of Claimed by the Fallen
I exhale and mentally call forth my Angel Fire. My hands don’t illuminate. Instead, I push the growing warmth into my mom’s body. Her skin glows, and I hear Adrian say, “Angel… what are youdoing?”
I don’t answer. I focus entirely on pushing all of my angelic power into my mom. I refuse to let her go. Not today. Not when I can helpher.
“Veronica,” Adrian sounds alarmed. “You must stop. You are losing too much.” He tries to pull me back, but I don’t budge. I don’t know how I know this, but the connection between me and my mom is inseparable until I wish to breakit.
Mom’s entire body is illuminated. I still can’t see her neck, but I imagine her wound is healing. In fact, I will it to be so. I pour all of my thoughts and efforts into mending her sliced skin and replenishing her bloodloss.
The whole process only takes only a minute or two, but it feels like hours. It isn’t until I feel my mom shift beneath me that I dare to remove my arm. When I do, I realize just how drained Iam.
I fall backwards. True to his nature, Adrian is there to catch me. “Angel?” I feel his fingers running over my body, frantically trying to help me. “Angel, don’t fall asleep. Stay withme.”
There is nothing I’d rather do, but I am no longer in control. I spent all of my strength healing my mother. I close my eyes and release a happy sigh. I welcome the darkness, knowing I saved my mom from a fate which was entirely my fault. And I would do it again in aheartbeat.
Twenty-Seven
I’m floating through darkness.It feels like I’ve been here a lot lately, and it’s beginning to feel like home. Contentment fills me, and I’m at peace. This is where I’m meant to be. Nothing can hurt me here. I’m safe, and so are myparents.
My body is weightless as I hover in the inky blackness. Then, without warning, a rope is wrapped around my waist and I’m bent into a V shape as I’m pulled back into thelight.
I open myeyes.
My ceiling fan spins above my head. I’m back in mybedroom.
What justhappened?
“Messenger.” Familiar blue eyes fill my vision. “You’reawake.”
I squint, and it takes me a moment to recognize the angel leaning over me. “Mr.Cohen?”
He sighs, relieved. “Joseph, remember?” He tries to smile, but I can see the effects of worry written all over his face. He looks like he hasn’t slept fordays.
“What’s going on?” I try to turn my head, but my muscles don’t respond. “What’s wrong withme?”
“You exerted too much power.” Adrian’s voice reaches me. I don’t need to look to confirm its him. His frustration and displeased tone arerecognizable.
I struggle to understand what he is talking about. I open my mouth, preparing to ask, when an onslaught of memories bombard me. I see my mom with a sliced neck, and I feel her blood seeping into my athletic pants. My heart begins torace.
In a hoarse voice, I ask, “My mom? Is she okay?” I stare into Joseph’s eyes, searching for any hint of information, but he disappears from sight as Gabe takes hisplace.
Gabe takes my hand and smiles, and I’m momentarily awed by the beauty of the simple gesture. “She is healed. You healed her,Veronica.”
I blink, unsure I heard him right. “I-I did?” I can scarcely believe I succeeded in saving my mom’s life, but I remember feeling her move just before the dark consumedme.
“Yes,” Gabe confirms. “Youdid.”
The relief I feel is overwhelming. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I close my eyes to hide my tears, but one escapes and rolls down my cheek. “She’s okay,” I whisper, more to myself than anyoneelse.
“Yes,” Mr. Cohen’s voice is soft, “and you will be too. You need to rest, then you can come back tous.”
“Rest.” Saying the word makes all of my muscles relax. It’s almost like I’m under a spell, but I refuse to let it pull me under. My eyelids part and I meet Gabe’s gaze, trusting he will tell me the truth. “What happened tome?”
“You risked your life by draining all of your angelic power.” Zeke appears beside Gabe’s head. His eyes are dark, and I know he’s upset. I lick my lips and say the first thing that comes to mymind.
“I thought I…died.”
The room grows quiet. I get the sense none of the angels wishes to discuss what almost happened tome.
A thought steals my attention, “What about my dad? He’s okay, too. Right?” The last I remember, my dad had been unconscious and lying on the ground. I pray to God he is not hurt after the ordeal, aswell.
