The Leader

The Leader: Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine: Maya

The darkness is comforting, because it takes away all pain and confusion. Each time I wake, I feel shooting pains in my left shoulder and elbow, and I can't make sense of anything around me. All I know is that whenever I wake, I want to fall back to sleep again. When I wake this time, the sun is bright outside my window, and I can feel that my arm is in a cast. It takes me a few seconds to realise that I'm not in my room. The window is on the wrong side of the bed, and the door is too far away. The bed under me is too soft, and the ceiling is no longer violet, but a soft beige. I try and sit up, but my arm collapses beneath me, and I yelp with pain. In an instant, Caleb is next to me.

"Hey Maya, how are you?" he asks, looking at me worriedly.

"I'm fine...why? I thought you were hurt." He shakes his head.

"Nah, I'm fine because one of the traits of our kind is to heal so quickly, it's as though nothing happened. Nothing can kill us except one of our kind or a demon spawn when they're using the death flame. Andy knew he wasn't doing any lasting damage. To me, at least. Are you okay?"

"I..." I trail off, unsure how to continue. "What happened? What hit the car?"

"I'm sorry," he tells me, looking guilty. "I got angry, that's all. Answer my question."

"I guess I'm fine, but a little confused. I think we were about to..." I stop, because now everything comes flooding back to me. "You! It's your fault! Caleb Sindrae, you son of a-"

"Maya," he says simply, cutting me off. The word is so filled with pain that I look up into his face. "I had to," he adds. "I can't help the way I feel about you, okay? My instincts told me you were in danger, so I had to save you. Please, forgive me."

"Of course I forgive you. But you need to trust me Cal. I can make my own decisions now, okay? I'm eighteen years old."

"Oh, that reminds me. I got you a present!" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box, then hands it to me. I open it and find a necklace. The chain is silver, and on it is a small heart charm made of amethyst with silver streaks through it. On the clasp part of the necklace there is a tiny circle, and on it are the words: My Angel.

"It was my mum's," Caleb tells me. "My dad gave it to her when he... when he marked her." I smile softly, and Caleb grins when he sees my delighted expression.

"I love it," I tell him. In an instant, it's around my neck.

"I'm glad you like it," he tells me, giving me a glowing expression. I hug him, and immediately he tenses.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Nothing, it's just... I'm not supposed to touch you. The moment I ran into the car, I became your guardian. That continues until you're Initiated."

"Really? You did that for me?"

"Maya, you're my best friend." I felt disappointed for some reason, as though I had been hoping he'd say something more like "Maya, I love you." He gave me a surprised look when I thought this, and I blushed.

"Damn! Stay out of my head, Cal!"

"You practically yelled that out with your thoughts," a voice says behind Caleb. I turn and see Liam. He grins at me, and I feel part of my pain ebb away. I'd had years to become comfortable in his presence.

"Hey, Liam. I'd hug you, but I can't really move right now."

"Hey, Maya. Sorry, but I have to speak to Caleb for a second." I nod, and the two exit the room. I study my current setting. There is a chest of drawers in one corner, a cupboard against one wall, and a bookshelf against another wall. The carpet is gray and new, and the walls are perfectly bone white. There is a mirror on the wall near the door, and I notice just how neat the room is. The boys are only absent for half a minute before the window opens and Andy climbs in.