“I feel like we both could argue for a century and never come to an agreement on this,” I say, and his deep laugh fills the room.
“A century, and many more, is exactly what I want with you. Arguing or not,” he tenderly tells me.
“Hello?” A little girl’s voice trembles behind me, and I turn around to see the red-haired vampire I remember from yesterday, and she is holding a tiny little teddy bear this time. She blushes and tucks the teddy in her pocket, like she is embarrassed she brought it with her.
“Hi,” I say, placing my legs on the edge of the bed.
“My aunt said I should leave you both alone, but I want to help you heal so you can get better and then save us. We need your help,” she says, and I look to Ren in confusion. He looks just as baffled, and I wonder if the girl is just trying to help however she can. The little girl offers me her hand, and I notice the bruises on her wrists. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the angel guards aren’t as nice to kids any more than they are good to me.
“What’s your name?” I ask her as I accept her hand in mine.
“Aala. My aunt said my mum named me it because it means ‘to heal.’ It’s a special gift I have, but my aunt says I shouldn’t show it to anyone.”
“You can heal other vampires?” Ren asks, leaning closer with a bemused expression just as a woman with milky blonde hair runs into the room, coming to a halt and looking sheepish.
“I just knew you wouldn’t listen, Aala,” the woman scolds, but Aala doesn’t seem remotely frightened of her. “I’m so sorry she interrupted you both.”
“No, it’s okay,” I say. “I’m Kaitlyn...I think I remember Aala from the academy, but we never got to talk.”
“I’m Masita, and yes, she constantly talks about you. The vampire with wings,” she says, and her cheeks go bright red. “Oh I’m so sorry; I’m always putting my foot in my mouth.”
“It’s okay,” I say with a forgiving smile.
“Can Aala really heal other vampires?” Ren asks, and Masita nods once.
“Yes, sir. Since she was a baby, she could heal anyone, but we kept it quiet for obvious reasons. A powerful ability like that is a gift from the gods,” she says quietly, like she has given up on the fight to keep Aala a secret from everyone. I wish she knew we meant her no harm and that telling us isn’t going to cause Aala any trouble. I know what it’s like to be a girl with a secret power and having to hide it from the world. Mine is ghosts, hers is healing. She definitely got the cooler gift. “And I try to make Aala keep her powers secret, but considering she has healed a lot of the vampires here, that hasn’t worked all too well.”
“How is it possible?” I ask Ren. “I know you have magic, but I didn’t think it could heal like that.”
“All vampires are more talented at certain things, but healing is never one of them, unless our blood is healing a human. Healing our own kind is the problem. The most I could heal is a small cut, but we have always been able to mix our blood with certain magical herbs to make pastes that heal extreme cuts,” he explains to me, just like he did when I was stabbed. “Healing another vampire is an extremely rare and powerful gift.”
Aala grins with bright red cheeks, glancing between us.
“Where are her parents?” I ask Masita as she leans against the wall, relaxing a little bit.
“They died when I was small. Angels killed them,” Aala states, sounding so much older than she is, and hurt flashes in Masita’s eyes as her hand falls to a ruby ring on her finger, rubbing it softly.
“I found Aala with my sister’s and brother-in-law’s ashes three days after their deaths. I also lost my husband on that day, but I was so glad for Aala’s life to be spared. It may sound unbelievable, but on the day Aala was born, time seemed to stop, and a blue glow covered her tiny body. I was the only one in the room with my sister, and both of us felt the presence of a goddess. I can’t explain it, but she is blessed. I know it and swear by all the gods,” she whispers, looking up at the ceiling for a moment. “The fire burned the entire house but never touched her, she just existed in the middle.”
“I believe you,” I say and smile at Aala as I lean down to her level. “You are very lucky and skilled, but I don’t want you to heal me. My wounds are deep, but I will heal. Thank you so much though, Aala.”
“I know I have to help you. I knew you before we met,” she tells me, and we all go silent as Aala walks right up to me and places her tiny hand on my cheek. “My dreams told me to help you, and then you will save us all. They are watching. You’ve seen them.”
I halt, remembering the three ghosts with the light above. I think she means them.
“Who, Aala?” Ren asks, leaning closer, but Aala doesn’t answer as her eyes and hand on my cheek start to glow a bright blue that shocks us all silent. Like a snake wrapping around me, everything feels tight, and I suck in a deep breath before it’s gone, but Aala collapses to the floor. Ren jumps off the bed with incredible speed and reaches for her and manages to catch her head before she hits the floor. I shakily stand up, needing to lean on the wall to stop myself falling.
“Aala!” Masita screams, rushing to the floor as Ren picks Aala up and places her on the bed. She checks Aala over as Ren comes to me, cupping my cheeks, and I nod once, letting him know I’m alright. “She will be okay; I just have never seen her heal like that before. She has only ever healed tiny cuts and bruises before.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want her to,” I say, walking to the bed before I pick up her tiny hand as Ren whispers something behind me.
“What is it?” I ask, turning back to Ren, whose eyes are fixed on my back.
“Your scars from the wings were big cuts, covered in blood and stitches, but now they are nothing more than two long white lines,” he explains in awe. “She healed you.”
No wonder I feel so much better. Looking back down at the little girl, I remember what it was like to have a gift at her age and how scared I was most of the time.
“But hopefully not at a big price,” I whisper, noticing how I feel a million times better, but I wouldn’t have done it if I knew it would hurt Aala. Aala mutters something in her sleep before her eyes open and she stares up at us.
“I’m sleepy,” Aala says around a yawn as she sits up, and Masita hugs her tightly, but her eyes find me. Something in them makes me wonder how powerful Aala actually is and which goddess is watching over her and sending her to me.
Ren wraps his arms around me, his lips near my ear, and he talks so quietly I barely hear him. “When Henry comes, you leave and don’t look back. Everything has been planned.”
My heart pounds in my chest as I nod once, but I’m not leaving without him, Vesnia, Thallon and the other vampires here like Aala.
“Where are Thallon and Vesnia?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.
“They were being dragged out when I came here,” he answers, and I shake a little bit as I send a silent prayer to the gods. Please keep them alive.
Chapter 55
Thallon
The angel walks around me in a circle, his white cloak chasing him around as his eyes take every bit of me in. I don’t focus on him, as my gaze stays fixed on the two pools of burning fire in front of me. Black fire and light fire…much different from the academy and far purer. This is where the power to change our souls into angels actually comes from. The light above, or the Great Light, made these pits of magic, and they are connected to his soul, but over time, they have become strong on their own. They have a life of their own now…I know that rumour is true because the power chose to bring Ren back to life. The Great Light would never have let that happen, so that means only one thing: he doesn’t control the power he created anymore.