Page 35 of Christa's Obsession

That’s it, beloved, smell the leaves.

She reached blindly for them and brought them to her nose, mewling as she inhaled deeply, yearning them to turn into Christa.

Wanda didn’t see the branches part, she felt it before the breeze touched her arms.

“Oh, lass, are you hurt?”

With a struggle, Wanda uncurled, lifting her head. She opened her eyes to look at Dougal. Her lips were working, but no sound came out, except for the whimpers of distress. “Hold on, lass. I’ll go get Silas for you.”

Would he understand? Be able to help her? Desperation made her nod wildly, curls flicking over the bed of leaves she lay on. Struggling as she was to just keep breathing, she didn’t notice her trees expanding the surrounding space. Her eyes closed once more, so she didn’t see Dougal running carelessly through the forest to get Silas.

Why did it hurt so much?

Was this being separated from Christa, or were her fears coming true?

She shuddered violently.

Was Christa hurt?

Dead?

Beloved, we would know if she was dead. Please stop these thoughts. Christa will be fine. We have protected her.

Not from the demons that might hurt her because of me.

Her thoughts tumbled from one disaster to another. She didn’t notice the leaves wrapping themselves around her, working to stop her violent shivers. Misery tugged her into a dark place where there was no sunlight. Where the darkness had sharp claws and wanted to peel the skin from her body. From her soul.

Christa.

Christa.

Christa, come back to me.

Wanda rocked back and forth, her eyes unseeing as she stared out of her nook.

“Wanda. Wanda, I’m here.” Silas’s voice floated in the air, and she worked to catch it. Hear what he was saying. “Shush my love, I’m here.”

Strong arms wrapped around her shuddering body. A familiar warmth pressed against hers and caused a broken sob. The scentof Silas made her twist and bury her head into his chest, tears flowing down her icy skin, seeking solace.

“Do you know what happened, Dougal?” Silas questioned quietly, stroking up and down Wanda’s back.

“The wind encouraged me to pay Wanda a visit. When I got here, I felt her distress,” Dougal answered. “The lass was beside herself. Even her trees couldn’t help her.”

“Christa has gone to the demon realm,” she heard Dakata say as yet more shudders ran through her.

They had reasoned out the need for Christa to go, but Wanda could not think of one of them now. She wanted Christa here, safe in her arms.

“How do you know that?”

“Because she asked me to watch over Wanda while she was gone.”

“You never said.”

Was Silas hurt by this?

Wanda pressed closer to her brother, hating that she had somehow caused an issue between him and Dakata.

“It’s fine, Wanda. I understand why Christa would do such a thing.”

---