Page 119 of Visions & Shadows

“They’re here?” I ask with my back still turned to him.

“Yes. They’re waiting outside.”

Jason returns to the living room, looking like he’s ready to go to war.

He’s changed his clothes and has a huge duffle bag in his hand. Taking one look at him, you’d think he’s ready to conquer Mount Everest.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he says, giving me half a smile. “I’m not the weird one around here. I don’t know where you two are taking me or what I'm in for. I want to be prepared.”

“I didn’t say anything,” I mutter, too relieved he’s coming with us and we don’t have to use force.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through my head, driving me straight to my knees. Just as I hit the floor, Raighne’s arms wrap around me.

Chapter 22

Alchera

I’m blinded for a fewseconds, and all I can do is hold my head. I can’t make a sound, my jaw’s clenched so tightly from the acute pain.

“Sarah, open your mouth for me, honey. Just a little more,” I hear a man with an Irish accent say, worry and love coating his words.

“That’s it, sis. Just a little more. You’re doing so great. Here’s some water. Swallow for me. That’s it, down the hatch they go.”

I can feel someone holding my head back so the water and pills can go down my throat. I swallow as best I can.

He holds me for a few minutes while wiping beads of sweat from my face with a cool cloth.

“You’re so strong, Sarah. You’ll beat this ugly thing yet. We’ll beat it together.”

It takes all my strength to pry my eyes open as he wipes blood from my nose.

Before my vision can focus on his face, everything goes black.

I open my eyes and feel Raighne’s familiar arms around me.

“Alchera?” His face is a mask of worry as he wipes something from my face, his fingertips coming away bloody.

Shit.

I shake my head lightly and begin to sit up while saying, “The pain isn’t mine.”

When I try to climb to my feet, Raighne pulls me back against hischest. “No, not yet. Your nose is bleeding.”

Jason comes in with some paper towels, asking, “What happened? Is she okay?”

There’s remorse on his face as if he blames himself for what happened.

“I had another vision.” I take a paper towel from Jason and wipe the last of the blood from my nose. “She’s in a lot of pain. Her name is-”

“Don’t tell us about her. We don’t know how far behind us Adeth may be,” Raighne warns me.

My eyes snap to his face. “Adeth is here?”

“We don’t know where she is,” he says. “We just have to be cautious.”

This time, he lets me climb to my feet.

There’s movement by the sliding door, then Brenna and Finian enter the room, giving us questioning looks. It’s weird seeing them in regular clothes, and I don’t know what to say to Brenna. In spite of everything, she must be heartbroken from losing our father.

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