Seeker (Completed)

The Voices in my head

Chapter 19

A shower can really do one some good. There're scraps and bruises all over me but I couldn't care less. I just want to pass out on my bed, so I do. We had arrived at 4:24 am, I slept until quarter past three in the afternoon. I had been absolutely exhausted but I'm feeling refreshed now. I put the stone into my back pocket and head off to my destination.

The infirmary is not easy to find but I cope...well enough. Well I find it eventually, which all that really matters in the end. I ask the healer if I can see him and she smiles. "He just woke up." She says pleasantly and tells me which room he's in. I'm about to open it when I hear voices erupt from behind it. "Seriously Zack! This is not a joke. You could've died and it would've been all her fault. She's no good for you. I can see it you know, I'm losing you to her. You running off like that, that wasn't you. Please, Zack I've lost everyone and I can't lose you-" I interrupt by knocking on the door. I really don't need to hear about how terrible I am, I already know.

"Come in." I hear Zack say; I open and see him lying on the bed. He looks like sh*t but better than he did earlier. He smiles at me and I feel as though a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders. Justin skiffs me, "I'll be outside." Then storms off. I take hold of his hand. "How are you?" God, how stupid can I be? He just got stabbed, nearly died and all because of me. That's when I burst into tears.

Zack looks at me with shock clear in his expression. He pulls me into a hug; I snuggle into him and just sob into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault." He hushes me and smooth's my hair. He assures me it isn't, kisses the top of my head and just stares at me with a peculiar expression. "What? I know I probably look terrible." I try and wipe the tears away but stop almost immediately. Let's face it; I'll never be a pretty crier. No one can make a tear-streaked, puffy, red face look attractive. "No it's not that." He puts a hand to my cheek. "I just didn't know that someone as fierce as you was capable of tears." He brings his lips crashing down on mine.

It's soft, sweet but he deepened it. I climb on top of him but am careful to keep my weight off him. I can hear a faint beeping in the back round that kept accelerating but I couldn't really care. All that matters right now is Zack. His hands slide over me and I moan. I'm in absolute bliss! Then, like always, the door burst open. That's great. Just so f*cking great.

I climb off him and turn around to find a scowling Justin and a flustered healer. "His heart race picked up drastically, um, I thought he was...I'm just going to go back to my desk." She scurries off. Well this isn't embarrassing at all. I can feel that I've gone a shade of beetroot. "I'll see you later." I frantically try to get out of this awkward situation. Justin stands aside to let me pass, glaring at me.

I walk into the dinning hall and it becomes so silent I could probably hear a pin drop. There is a sudden shriek and I'm pounced on by an over enthusiastic Jenna. "Oh my God! I missed you! And I was so worried, and, and I-" She just hugs me again and I burst into laughter. "Missed you too." After my reunion with everyone I'm finally able to dish up. I go back for seconds. And thirds. And fourths.

"Have you not eaten for a centaury? Seriously, slow down girl." Alex says, laughing at me. I shove more food down and he rolls his eyes. "Women." Katie punches him on the arm and he holds his hands up in defeat. They want to know what happened so Nick and I take turns relaying the story but I leave out certain parts like how saved I Thorn and that we saw each other again afterwards. I don't need them thinking I've got a soft spot for the enemy, even though I sorta do.

Emma comes in followed by a new recruit. He's 18 maybe 19, tall and lean. Tiffany gets off her chair and kneels, followed by Jenna and Katie and Alex and even Nick. I look around and everyone in the room is kneeling. Okay I know he's got something about him that gives off an aura of attractiveness but seriously now? Nick tugs my sleeve mouthing at me to get down. Why? I mouth back. Emma stiffens when she sees me and her face turns purple with anger. Okay, okay I'll kneel I think at her. Grudgingly I make my way to the floor. She may be short but she is one hell of an intimidating woman. New guy gives me a fascinated stare. What you staring at, creep, I think at him.

Steps echo as they make their way towards us. I'm looking down when black heels come into view. "This is her?" A deep voice aired.

"The one and only." I hear Emma's cold voice reply.

"Layla Winters is it?" I meet his silver eyes and narrow mine.

"What's it to you?" Nick nudges me and shakes his head. What? I try to think at him. Emma takes a step towards me, eager to spill my blood by the looks of it. New guy grabs her arm and tells her that it's fine. He puts his hand out to me but I ignore it and get up on my own. Who does he think he is? He has everyone bowing to him, strutting around like he owns the place, feigning politeness in his voice. "Fiery, aren't you?" Deja-vu. He looks at me, amused - like a scientist with a specimen. "You'll do very nicely, no wonder you've already succeeded once."

"Who exactly are you?" He looks at me and raises his eyebrows.

"When they said you were ignorant to our world I didn't know they meant it this literally."

"Well you know I would've checked up on it if I wasn't so busy trying to run after stones and keep myself alive while I'm at it so I regret to tell you that no, unfortunately, I don't have the pleasure of knowing who you are." This is not the time for sarcasm, I know that but he'll just have to suck it up. He's probably just some rich kid with some fancy father up in the government (or what ever the hierarchy is in this world) who thinks that they need to be treated like royalty.

Layla apologize for your tone right now! Nick's voice rings out clearly. I turn around, he has the audacity to scold me in public. That traitor. Now! I hear him say but his lips don't move. WTF? I decide to rather ask questions later. I've never been the greatest to admit I'm in the wrong and say sorry but hear goes nothing. "I'm...um...sorry...about...you know...my tone...yesterday was pretty hectic." He cocks his head to the side, amused. That's all you're gonna get out of me, jerk. Your apologies suck. "Well they're better than nothing." I grumble at Nick and realize that everyone is staring at me like a weirdo. Oh, right, they can't hear Nick. Well I must look like I'm going mental. I sigh. Life is just so...arrrrrrrrgh! "To answer your question," he begins. "The name is Tristan..."