The Paranormal Side

Chapter 29

**(Taylor's POV)**

"Holy shit," I breathe, staring down at Katie as she writhes on the ground, clutching her leg.

I just stabbed Katie.

I just stabbed Katie.

I hadn't thought. I had only seen her trying to kill Brian, and heard Jeremiah state that the weird force field dome was impenetrable to paranormal beings, and then I had acted. Because I'm not paranormal.

I'm just human.

My whole body is frozen, and my mind is blank. I just stabbed my best friend in the leg. I just stabbed someone.

Holy shit. I'm a badass.

A quick feeling of pride washes over me, since I have finally exceeded everyone's expectations. Just a human, huh? A human that saved your ass.

The feeling quickly fades though as I continue to stare down at Katie. I stabbed my best friend.

This may seriously impair our friendship.

I had to, though. She was going to kill Brian, her boyfriend, or ex, or whatever. Her soulmate. And her eyes...god, her eyes.

They were like a demon's.

My pride quickly changes to panic and I look around, noticing the shocked faces of Jeremiah and Alara. I meet Brian's gaze and start to bounce with nervous energy.

"I-I had to, Bri. She was going to kill you. You were going to let her kill you! Oh, god. Is she okay?" I ask, wringing my hands as I bounce.

Brian turns to Katie without answering me, grabbing her by the shoulders and turning her so that she is facing him on her side. She looks pitiful, curled up in a ball and clutching the knife sticking out of her thigh, her eyes squeezed shut in pain. My heart constricts.

"Katie, sweetheart. Open your eyes. Look at me," Brian breathes, and almost as if against her will, Katie does, and we gasp.

Her eyes are back to normal. Well, as normal as a witch's eyes can be when they're in pain.

She blinks, squinting at Brian through her pain. "B-Bri?" she whispers. She turns to me, confusion evident in her gaze. "Taylor?"

Brian lets out a sigh like the heaviest weight in the world has just been lifted from his shoulders. I just stare, my brain desperately trying to catch up with everything that's happening. Katie's okay? She's back to normal?

I hear a cry of pain to my right, and look to see Jeremiah doubled over, clutching his leg in the exact place where a knife sticks out of Katie. Alara tries fervently to hold him upright. I stare in confusion, not understanding for a minute, but soon it hits me.

They're connected. Me stabbing Katie broke his control over her, but they're still connected.

She has to get away before he can control her again.

Brian realizes at the same time as I do, and looks at me with desperate eyes. "You have to get her out of here. She needs to get far enough away so that he can't do anything."

I balk, looking at him with wide eyes. "What? But...what about you?"

He gives me a grim half-smirk and jerks his head toward Jeremiah who is still doubled over in pain. "I have something to take care of."

For a minute, I debate begging him not to, but I can see the resolve in his eyes. The determination. There's no shaking him.

He has to do this.