The Heart Collector (Under Editing)

Chapter Forty: Medusa

Fare could only watch as Novus and Milo got beaten around like two rag dolls while Jasmine and Hughes acted as her personal gargoyles. Out of the five of them, those two were the most fragile, yet they wanted to help protect her. She shifted where she sat, and pain radiated up her legs and spine. She wanted to help, but her healing ability was still working to repair her injuries. The last time that she felt this helpless was when she wandered the streets blind with no memory. Even then, this was a completely different feeling. When Fare was young, she knew that she was alone from the start. It was her decision to make her way through life without sight that made her vulnerable. Now, it was her current state that left her newfound friends vulnerable. She shifted again and this time the pain radiated through her chest to her back. Jasmine caught her when she bit her lip.

"I wouldn't try moving if I were you. You're pretty banged up. Even with you're accelerated healing you'll still be sore for a few days. I especially want to check your heart out when we get out of this. 

"If we get out of this." Fare thought to herself. 

Jasmine gently brushed a strand of hair out of Fare's face and Fare looked up at her.

"Don't think that I don't know where your thoughts are going Fare. I know that the outcome of battle seems bleak, but I believe that we can win. I've known Novus for several years now. He'll do whatever it takes to protect those close to him and as for Milo, I can't say I know much about him. But the fact that he's here, fighting alongside Novus shows loyalty to you."

Loyalty? Fare was taken aback by that word. Up until recently, Fare did not know that Milo Curse even existed. Why would he show her any loyalty?

"Loyalty?" Fare's voice was slightly clearer than it had been.

Hughes joined in, "I think it has to do with how you interacted with him. While he was staying with me, he mentioned that other than Kila, you showed him kindness. You didn't treat him like a drug addict. Especially, when he was being watched. You took it seriously. Others would have chalked it up to the drugs."

Fare raised an eyebrow at that.

"I received the data back from when I swept his apartment. There was some DNA left behind, but I couldn't get a hit off the registry. I did match it to Jasmine's attack though. Given the circumstances, I think its safe to say that it belongs to our 'friend' over there."

Fare watched Milo raise Calder in the air while Novus attempted to trap him in ice.

She turned her attention back to Hughes and swallowed, "Calder."

Hughes was surprised, "What?"

"Calder Blackglade. He's a great-uncle and Faina's son."

"Shit. You're related. No wonder he's had such a fascination with you. Wait. If he's Lady Faina's son, how is he still alive?" Hughes asked.

Fare laid a hand over her still rapidly beating heart. Jasmine caught on.

"Taking hearts keeps him young."

Fare gave a painful nod, "Especially familial hearts. According to him, mine will let him live forever."

"Shit. Then we should probably get you out of here then."

Hughes motioned for Jasmine to help him get her up, but Fare batted away their hands.

"No."

"What? Come on Fare. Now's not the time to be stubborn." Jasmine chided.

They tried again. She batted them.

"I said no. I need to stop him." Fare attempted to stand, but fell back down before she could get halfway standing.