Page 61 of Salvation
K’rona and Alex exchanged a glance, then the Anferthian woman released her grip. “All of you, out here.Fyhenneeds our help.”
In less than a minute, the Anferthians had exposed a six-foot swath of damp dirt. Sakura knelt and pressed her palms against the hard-packed earth. The signature of Nick’s Gift was definitely there, like a message sent to her. But, from where? Maybe she could follow it back to its point of origin, but she would need to be in full contact. She sat up and stripped off her shirt, then lay on her stomach with nothing but her black tank top between herself and the frigid ground.
Nick’s music flowed through her and her Gift responded, following the psychic trail through Center Village, the woods, to South. He was farther than she thought, somewhere beyond South. Her breaths came in short, quick pants. Extending herself beyond her endurance seemed like the only way she could find him. It might wipe her out, but if he could blast his Gift through the Matiran soil to get her attention, then she could trace the call back to him.
In theory. And theory always looked good on paper. Practical application, on the other hand….
A warm, slight weight rested between her shoulder blades and the gentle ocean waves of Alex’s signature washed over her.
“Let me help, Sakura.” Alex’s voice came from above her. “You’re expending too much energy. Tap into mine.”
The boost from Alex’s Gift eased Sakura’s struggle and propelled her forward into the wilderness toward a stand of trees…a small, white shelter…hand in the dirt. Nick.
Oh. No. Nausea roiled in her stomach and she lurched to her feet. There was no time to waste. She bolted in the direction of Nick’s call.
“Sakura! Stop!”
Alex’s shout didn’t stop her. Nothing would stop her. Nick’s life depended on her reaching him, soon.
Smack!
She bounced off something very large and solid and fell backward, butt-first into the snow. She blinked up at the towering form.
Storo bent over. “I thought you were the smart healer. Please, tell me I am not mistaken.”
“What?”
“Where do you go dressed in summer wear, little blossom? Do you desire a hideous death?”
He liked nicknames. Little Blossom had been hers since he found out what her name translated to, and she liked it. “I know where Nick is.”
“Then, by all means, you must show us…after you are properly attired for the journey.” He scooped her up and tucked her under his arm like a football.
“Put me down, Storo!” What was he doing? This was urgent. If they did not leave now, Nick and Dante would die. She tried to peel his fingers back but they did not budge, so she kicked and flailed.
Smaller hands grasped her by her ears and she froze. Storo had stopped walking and Alex’s face was inches from her own.
“Stop it now, Sakura.” Nick’s sister had a very definite mom voice.
A dry sob shook her. She needed to take a breath and calm down enough to explain the situation. “I found Nick, Alex. And Dante, too.” When had she started thinking of Magister by his first name?
“Yes, and you’ll take us to them as soon as you’re dressed.”
Misery threatened to overwhelm her common sense. She met Alex’s stern gaze. “But, they are infected with the illness.”
Alex’s face paled. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Alex glanced to her right. “K’rona, help me get her ready. We need to hurry.”
~*~
Saku. She was here, Nick could have sworn he’d sensed her fragrant essence, but then he’d sunk back into the abyss of blackness. How many times had he drifted in and out since? Maybe it’d been his imagination, because he sure as hell couldn’t sense her now. There didn’t seem to be anything now other than the hard-packed ground under his fingers and a dull ache in his head. Most likely the result of the contaminant’s attack. He reached out a hand and encountered a body.
“Dante?” Sometime recently he must have swallowed a rusty railroad spike.
“Here,” Dante groaned. “Glad you’re awake.”
