Page 56 of Live Like Legends

“I can breathe just fucking fine.” I shoved his hands off of me, shouldering him out of the way. Beetee fast-walked past me to open the door, closing it behind her.

Reese snaked his hand around my arm, pulling me back. “You won’t be if you don’t stop and take a minute to wake the hell up.”

I ripped my arm away from him and turned on my heels so that we were face to face. “I really don’t need to be coddled rightnow. What Ineedis to find my girlfriend.” The label rolled off my tongue like it was always meant to be there and that fact alone hurt my heart even more.

“What youneedto do is sit the fuck down, so we can talk to you.” Elise stepped up to me, the look on her face cool and collected.

“I would think you of all people would want to head in there magic blazing. You care about Dani just as much as I do,” I argued, leaning my head down so that she heard every word I said. I honestly didn’t give a fuck if she kneed me in my balls right now. I wanted to get out of here.

Elise let out a soft laugh. “I would love to fuck some shit up, you are right. I am also someone who just saw you hyperventilate and pass out thirty minutes ago, so personally I don’t think you are even remotely prepared to fight for your girl’s honor

I rolled my eyes. “Fine, you don’t have to come with me, I’ll go by myself. So, move.” I pushed her out of my way, wobbling a bit on my feet before heading towards the door.

“Nick,fuck, just stop,” Reese pleaded, the frustrated tone in his voice hitting me for a moment, nearly making me turn around. I almost did, but then I felt a searing pain in my ankle. That pain traveled up to my calf, my knee and then to my thigh. I stumbled, hissing at the sudden burning, but then I couldn’t feel my leg at all. I tried to take another step, but fell forward on my hands and knees, looking back over my shoulder.

“You could have been nicer about it, you fucking psycho.” Reese stared daggers at Elise, who swung her tail behind her. The tip of the magical appendage dripped with the inky black venom that she used to temporarily paralyze.

Elise ignored him. “Now be nice or I’ll make sure the other leg matches, alright?”

I tried to move my leg, but it wouldn’t budge. I managed to flip myself over so I could sit on the floor. The door opened, revealing Xander and Beetee.

I looked up at Xander, whose teal eyes squinted down at me confused. The last time I’d really seen him was when he’d cleaned everyone up after our time in Purgatory. I knew Reese had gone to see him multiple times about his leg, stating that angelic nurses had nothing on the kind of medicine Xander made.

The Enchanter scratched his head. “Didn’t I leave you on the bed last time I was here?”

I let out a huff but didn’t answer him. Reese decided to do it for me. “He wants to go to Purgatory.”

“Right now?” Xander asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Elise and Reese both nodded. The fact that they seemed like a united front against me was scary enough despite everything else going on.

Xander hummed, squatting down and taking my face in his hands. “I mean, let me look you over first and then well, I can’t advise you to go gallivanting off to be the hero we all already know you are, but I can’t very well stop you either.” He placed his hand on my chest, and I felt an odd vibration as a pulse of color came from his hand. “How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve told them, I’m fine. I feel fine.”

“Muscle soreness, any pains in your body, exhaustion?”

I shook my head, severely annoyed.

“Your chest feels fine, and I don’t believe you hit your head on anything when you passed out, so no need to worry about injuries there. How about shaking or trembling?”

“Nope.” I nearly popped the ‘p’ when I spoke, so fucking tired of this.

“Uh, Nick.” I looked over at Reese who pointed toward my hand that was closest to Xander. I lifted my hand, bringing it tomy face and watched as it shook slightly, twitching. My fingers flexed in tiny spurts, and I closed them into a fist.

“Look, that’s nothing. It’s just stupid aftereffects.” I eyed Xander, running my shaky hand through my hair. He looked at me with a sense of understanding, but at the same time it was his job to look after people. “I feel fine. It’s one little fucking slip. I’m allowed to do that, like I don’t understand the big deal. It’s one little panic attack.” I felt like I was fighting in a losing battle.

Xander sighed. “Like I said, I can’t stop you from doing what you want to do. But just take this.” He pulled out a tiny bottle with a cork at the top. “It’s a lavender blend. It will soothe you internally. It’s pretty nasty going down, but it should help.”

I took it from him, yanking out the cork and downing the liquid. I scrunched up my face, wishing the bitter taste would quickly subside.

Xander looked over his shoulder and nodded, swapping places with Beetee. She gave me a small smile as she fanned her neon pink dress around her so she could sit on the floor. “I know you want to save her; believe me we all do.” Her voice was almost like a whisper. “I know I haven’t known you all that long, but I have a pretty good assumption that you wouldn’t want to go into something without all the information. Something so tiny could mean everything when it comes to getting her back. We would never keep you from her, but you are just as much of a priority to us as she is to you.” Her lilac-colored eyes were almost imploring me to side with her.

I didn’t know if it was whatever Xander had given me or the way Beetee spoke with a friendly softness, but I nodded. She reached over and pinched my leg.

“Ow, fuck.”

She giggled. “It looks like you got feeling back.”

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