Page 107 of The Dark Obsession

Dale reaches for me, and I take his cold fingers. My pain is non-existent as I stare into his suddenly innocent dark brown eyes.

Blood trickles down the corner of his lip. “When God demands you to do something, you ha …” He takes a deep raspy breath. “You have to do it.”

“Oh, Dale,” I cry out, desperately wanting to wrap my arms around the man who wants me dead.

Rafael’s arms tense beneath my body.

Adriel moves a glowing hand to Dale’s forehead. “I can’t help him; he’s too broken inside.”

Rafael’s breath is hot on my face as he leans forward and reaches for Dale. His hand glows as bright as a star, making it hard to see.

Dale’s body illuminates, giving the same eerie appearance as Rafael and Adriel. The light travels from his head to his feet, and his arm clicks loudly to move into place. Next is his leg, which makes a loud crack as it fixes itself. The room remains silent as Dale’s body becomes whole.

“It’s the blade,” Rafael murmurs. “It’s made to withstand my powers. I’m sorry.”

Dale lifts his hand to brush off Rafael’s apologies.

I stare at Rafael, examining him. Unsure of how to approach his powers or even how to feel. Rafael, whose face looks torn and broken, drops his gaze from me.

“This … this wasn’t in my control. I’d never willingly hurt you. None of you,” Dale whispers. “I’ll miss your smile. Smile for me, Rose.” A tear falls down his cheek.

I force a grin with trembling lips. “God made you do this?”

The room becomes still, as if the whole world is frozen.

Rafael’s hot arms that carry me cool down in an instant.

Dale clenches my fingers. His breathing is erratic now. The whole room holds its breath. “I never want to let you go,” Dale croaks, blood splashing out his mouth with each word. It’s as if the entire planet becomes silent as Dale’s hand grows heavy. His chest sinks slowly, his last breath pushing through his lips.

I stare into his glassy eyes, the tears still on his pale cheek.

Rafael sighs behind me, and his arms tighten around my body as any light left emitting from the two angels fades with each heart-aching second.

“Dale,” I sob, my hand squeezing his fingers. “Dale, please.”

Adriel watches Dale, and a diamond of fire falls down his cheek and splashes onto Dale’s forehead.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur. We sit for a long moment in complete silence. The only sound is my stifled sobs. As the minutes pass, my body aches more, the stabbing in my back engulfing my whole torso. “Rafael,” I gasp, holding onto my breath, not wanting to breathe again to allow the pain to stab back.

Chapter 31

Rafael’s hand presses to my head. The heat burns from his fingers, and my body stiffens. He whispers to himself, willing my body to heal.“Just the spine, it’s all I need. Just the spine.”

My back clicks and groans under an invisible pressure.

Rafael narrows his eyes when I scream, my pain disables him, the agonising pressure wanes momentarily. "Why?” I beg, my words trapped in my mind. “Why are you hurting me.”

The fire from his fingers triples in intensity and travels into my legs, burning down my bones. I writhe in agony, my back arching and spasming. It stops as suddenly as it started. I can’t bring my words to leave my mouth as the pain evaporates; a dull ache is all that remains. My body is frail. Each muscle contracts on and off as I try to turn my head.

“Give it a second,” Rafael mutters, his lips on my ear. “Close your eyes, amor. You’ll be okay.”

I relax my eyes, and my body relaxes with them.

Rafael’s hand cools down fast on my forehead.

The cold room sends goosebumps up my arms. Rafael’s cold body against mine doesn’t help the frigid air, though without him holding me, I know I’d fall into hysterics.

“What’s her injuries like?” I hear Adriel whisper.

---