Soul Bound

Chapter 11

The hours following Eva's arrival drifted by in a blur. Moving through the monotonous corridors, arriving at the infirmary, the healer examining her. She paid no attention to any of it, to anyone. Voices came and went as she lay on the bed. She had a vague recollection of someone asking her questions; she didn't know if she responded. She stared at the wall of the room, memories swimming in and out of focus. They consumed her, became everything that she was. Every sound dragged her back to that place. Fabric tearing, metal instruments, a gentle voice--they reminded her of the moment her soul was battered beyond recognition.

"What are you doing here?" A woman's voice, the healer's? Her indignation wasn't directed at Eva. "I told you to wait outside."

"I've waited." This voice was deeper, commanding. Impatient. "You've had her in here for an entire day, asked your pointless questions and prodded at her wounds--but you haven't done anything to heal them. If you're not going to do something about them, Eran and I will."

"She doesn't need to go into the pools. It would be a waste-"

"A waste?" His words cracked through the room like a whip. "It's Eran's magic. He can decide how he wants to use it."

A strong arm came around Eva's waist, while another tucked under her legs. She was lifted from the bed, and her head naturally leaned against the solid chest holding her close.

"Wait. Smith! Don't touch my patient. There are protocols-"

"Fuck your protocals." Eva flinched at his harsh tone and clutched the cloak hanging off his shoulders. "She's in pain."

He carried her out of the infirmary into a hallway where orange hues dimly bounced off the walls, flames licking up the side of the rock, just like...

"No." Eva's voice was a broken whisper, panic flooding her veins. Her nails dug into his shoulders, fighting against the strong fabric of his cloak. He was taking her back, she couldn't go back there. Back to the village drenched in fire. The sounds of swords slashing through flesh, people screaming, fire crackling. The heat... the smell...

"Eva, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." Grayson's voice became clearer. A familiar slice of reality that grounded her and soothed her soul. "Eran's waiting for us in the healing pools. He'll take your pain away."

Eva shook her head. She wasn't ready. She liked this feeling--or the lack thereof. In this state, she could drift endlessly, feel nothing, unseeing of the world around her.

"I'll stay with you... if you want." His tone was gentler with her than he had been with the healer.

To fargone for words, she nodded, rubbing her cheek against his cloak.

"I won't leave your side, Eva. Nothing will hurt you here."

They entered a dark room, all traces of fire chased away by the cool, sharp air. The room was large, hosting a series of pools carved into the raw stone at their feet. Each pool fed into another, the next one bigger than the last. Little twinkling lights illuminated the cave and filled the pools with a gentle white glow that reflected on the ceiling.

Grayson approached the largest, bottommost pool, descending a set of stairs carved into ground. Eva inhaled sharply as the cold water bit into her flesh.

"Apologies, Eva," Eran's deep, gravelly voice murmured from somewhere deep within the cave. Her eyes flitted in the direction of his voice and found his blue scales glistening under the white light just like water. His emerald eyes watched her attentively. "I forget humans are susceptible to cold water."

No sooner after he spoke, the water began to warm. Her body relaxed against Grayson's form once again. She tried to thank him, but the words died on her lips; her tongue felt swollen, heavy.