Tidal Vortex-Book One

Chapter Twenty-Three

Connor:

Sitting wounded on the sidelines watching as she battled Zeus was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do. A war wages within me as I ping-pong between beating myself up for getting injured and the helplessness threatening to swallow me whole. A couple times Bianca and a few others had to hold me back as I struggled to go to her side, regardless of my wounds still healing. My mother attempts to calm me down, but it's no use. Anyone who tries to hug me is shoved away. No amount of coddling will comfort me when my mate is clearly in trouble. I watch as the waves laid her onto the beach, then washed back out to sea. Teal lay motionless in her red torn dress on the sandy beach as everyone, including myself, runs towards where she lay. The sight reminds me of how we once found her in another red dress on a shore injured. Ignoring the pain, I limp as I run towards the woman I love. Dread makes my heartbeat quicken as I draw closer. Falling to my knees beside her, I feel for her pulse. A wave of relief settles over me when her pulse beats a healthy rhythm under my fingers. The pool of blood leaking out from under her still form has me panicking anew.

She fought for you all God damn it! I need healers to step forward now!" I yell with frustration and worry thick in my tone of voice.

I ignore all the shame cast looks on almost everyone's faces as I focus on my mate. I'm her guard. It should have been me taking those hits! Yet common sense tells me if I had tried, I would have died. After all, I'm not a god. There's no way I would've been able to wield the power Teal had. I run my hand through her dark hair, then lean forward to whisper in her ear. "Teal, I need you to fight. You have to survive. Beautiful, don't leave me. Remember, whatever the future holds, we face it together."

Then I sit there clasping her hand in mine, willing her to live.

The crowd makes way for five of our best healers. They all quickly take up positions, kneeling around Teal's motionless body. I watch as they lay hands upon her body, then close their eyes in heavy concentration. Their hands glow faintly in the dim light thanks to the ugly storm clouds above. Abruptly everyone surprises me by singing an ancient hero's song passed down from thousands of years ago. The haunting melody is one of thanks and prayers for healing. The song was sung for an injured god long ago, and now it is sung for our injured siren goddess. Everyone, old and young, sings for their fallen princess, their voices blending and carrying on the wind. Lily's child, who Teal had saved, kneels beside me, then looks at me with tears in her eyes.

"Will she be okay? She saved me from that mean god; she has to be okay."

My throat grew thick as I wrap my free arm around the child. "She will heal, little one, don't fret. She needs us all to stay strong. Can you do that?"

The child nods her head as she leans into my one armed embrace. Abruptly, thousands of fireflies fly over to us, then land on Teal's body. The healers open their eyes in surprise then make to move away.

"Don't stop! They're here to help, so keep pushing healing energy into her body!" Bianca directs as she kneels with the other healers.

They all put their hands back on her, then close their eyes once again as their hands softly glow along with the fireflies. Everyone continues singing the ancient song as I watch her wounds start to knit back together in front of my eyes. As the last ugly gash heals, the fireflies fly away into the sky. The healers sit back, waiting for fate to decide if Teal will fully recover. I stare at the fireflies as they retreat, silently thanking them. By the time I look down, Teal lays there staring at me.

"Thank the gods above! I love you so much, Teal!" I lean down planting a tender kiss on her forehead.

She weakly smiles up at me.