Page 61 of Magic Touch
I close my eyes and reach into the water with my mind.
There.
I send my magic to pull him out, but something dark fights against me, as if he's lashed to the bottom of the pool.
"William!" Knowing he's dying makes it hard to concentrate. My heart is breaking into pieces. I order myself to calm down and breathe.
"Water and air, find you there. Air and water, hold and share. Part for me the way to see. As I will, so mote it be." Thrusting my hand forward and up, I part the water, pulling it drop by drop away from William.
Somewhere in the distance, I hear someone running toward me, but I push the sound aside. Only the water exists, and it moves to the right and to the left like Moses at the red sea.
At the muddy bottom William and Trina lie unmoving.
Henry and Samuel charge into my chasm and drag the bodies to the bank.
As soon as they are on land, I release the water.
Henry says, "She's breathing, but he's not." He turns William on his side and slaps his back with a resounding crack.
Samuel looks on with wide eyes while he holds Trina on her side.
She vomits up water, and her eyes flutter open.
In my head, I scream for William to come back to me. Kneeling, I place my hands on his chest and sense the water inside his lungs. "Be ready to turn him again."
Henry holds William's shoulders and nods.
I draw the water up.
Water gurgles from William's mouth.
Henry turns him to his side and a fountain of water gushes out of him.
There is no chatter in William's mind. I search for his essence, but he gives me nothing in return. Tears flow freely down my face as I haul him out of Henry's arms and into my own. I press my lips to his and blow my air into his mouth. "Goddess, do not take him from me," I pray over and over again with each breath I give to him. "Take me too, if you must have him."
An angelic voice sings in my head. "I take nothing, child. That was another. However, it is you who brings him back."
William draws a gasping breath and coughs.
"Tell me you're still in there," I cry holding him to me.
His voice scrapes. "I am here, my sweet."
Still crying, I thank Goddess. Her sweet voice doesn't respond, but I'm just happy William lives.
Samuel carries Trina back to the cottage.
William is too big to be carried, so Henry and I sit with him until he is stronger. His eyes are closed, but he's breathing well. "I heard a voice. It was like the finest music. She told me it wasn't time yet for me to leave my life."
"Goddess. I heard her, too, though her message to me was not the same." I brush the hair from his forehead. He's not had a haircut since we came to the country, and I quite like his unruly waves.
"What does she care if I live or die?" His blue eyes are clear when he looks at me and then at Henry.
"I don't know," I admit.
"Henry?" William asks.
"Yes, Will?"
