There was a soft tapping on my head. I raised my hand and tried to smack the bug away when I heard a chuckle. "Come on Delilah. It's time to wake up." I could hear distant shouts that all added up. There was music surrounding the shouting, but I couldn't focus on it. I sat up and rubbed my throbbing temple. That gash had taken a lot from me. My body would need time to reproduce more blood and to heal itself. I groaned when a new wave of pain invaded my head. Khader sighed. "I thought we were supposed to keep it a secret." I gave a small smile as I let my hair cover my face.
"Yeah, I know. But, he needed help and plus this could really help us gain their trust, you know?" I opened my eyes slowly, afraid it might hurt. I blinked a couple of times because my eyes were a little blurry. When they didn't clear I thought maybe I'd slept too long. Khader had a foreign look on his face. I raised an eyebrow. "What?" He leaned closer and then his eyes widened.
"Your eye..." He began. He took my face in his hands and pulled me to him.
"What about my eye?" I tried pulling his hands away, but failed.
"They..." He titled my head a little. "They went grey." I laughed. He had to be kidding. My eyes had turned grey? Really?
"Nice one Khader." I pulled away and tried to stand. He yanked me back down.
"I'm not playing with you. They really have gone grey." I started to frown. He couldn't be serious. My eyes have never turned grey. I shoved him away and stormed out the tent. Cheers went up around me. I froze for a second before darting around them and going straight for the river. I fell to my knees beside the water and peered down into it's smooth surface. Khader was right. My eyes were really grey. I splashed water onto my eyes hoping it would help, but the blurriness and grey color didn't disappear. I gasped as realization hit me. I was losing my sight. Oh my god, I was losing my sight. I covered my eyes as I began to hyperventilate. This must be a side effect of my power. But, I've never had a side effect before. I suddenly felt a hand on my back. I gasped and pulled away from Khader.
"Shh. Shh, it's alright. It's just me." I shook my head.
"Kahder, something is wrong. I mean like terribly wrong."
"What?"
"I think that my power may have side effects and I'm now just experiencing them." He looked confused.
"But, you've had this power your whole life. Why experience them now?"
"That's what's wrong. I'm not supposed to be." I pulled him closer when I noticed that some of the villagers were starting to walk over. I knew they wouldn't understand, but I didn't want them to worry. "The scientists did tests. I'm not supposed to have side effects. The power is supposed to take care of it. It's supposed to get rid of anything that might harm me. But, for some reason I'm going blind." Khader's eyes had gone glossy and he looked very far away over my shoulder. "I need to know what's happening." I told him. " I need to go back to the Capital." His eyes snapped back to my face and shock invaded his features.
"Your insane."
"No, Khader, I have to go back. They can help me. They can figure out what's wrong." He shook his head as he stood.
"No, I wont let you. They'll only lock you up again. They'll do more tests and surguries. You said so yourself." He glared at me. "How could you want that for yourself?" I groaned and stood with him.
"I don't but I need to know." I turned away and started back to the village. I needed to speak with Tetra. Khader's hand closed around my arm.
"I said, I won't let you." I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you too."
"Why do you care so much?" He froze. His face seemed to melt as he seemed to disappear mentally to another place. But, abruptly, his hard features returned.
"Because I just do."
"I doubt it." I yanked my arm out of his grasp and stalked away. I had to find out what was happening to me or it might get worse. I needed to find a way to treat it.
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After I'd said good bye to crying villagers and had received multiple gifts of thanks, Khader and I began on our journey. We borrowed a couple of horses from the villagers. Khader had the chief's wife's and I had the cheif's all black stallion. We'd been traveling for days now but we haven't found the town that Tetra had said was this way. We'd passed the boundary that Tetra had said divided them from the new world, but we haven't found the town. Khader had sulked most of the way, but now he was just grumpy and had been ignoring me for a while now. I had tried making conversation but had given up a few miles back. Khader was really upset with me and it was bumming me out. But, I ignored my emotion and continued on the path. If Khader was mad at me then I wasn't gonna talk until he did. I flicked the woolen reins and trotted foreward on my horse. Khader did the same and pulled up next to me. I pulled the hood of my wolf skin jacket (It was the chief's but since it was nearly winter, he gave it to me) over my head and pulled away from him and his horse. He didn't follow. We traveled this way for a while until I could hear vehicles and music start to rise. I gasped and jumped off my stead. I gathered his reins in my hands and began to run. I heard Khader shout, but continued on my way. I could see small houses ahead as well as a few stores and grinned. My questions would be answered soon. The blurriness of my eyes had gotten worse so I didn't see the hole until my ankle was in it. I fell as sharp pain exploded within my ankle. I hissed as Khader leapt off his horse and landed beside me. He muttered a few insults as I groaned. My ankle was angled very unnaturally to the right. I waited for it to heal, to pop back into It's place but, it didn't. I groaned again.
"I won't be able to walk on it." I said. Khader glared at me. "What?" I asked vehemently.
"You are the most stupidest human I have ever met."
"Stupidest isn't a word." I countered. He narrowed his eyes even further, but held out his hands. I took them in mine and lifted myself with one good leg. He wrapped an arm around my back and swung his arm behind my legs, making them falter, and I fell into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck after making a tiny squeal of shock. He grinned and I tightened my arms, nearly choking him. He groaned and pulled his head back.
"Serves you right." I muttered. He loosened his arms and I fell an inch before his arms caught me again. I fumed. "That's it! Put me down!" He rolled his eyes, but did so. I leaned on my one good leg and lifted out my bad one. I started to hop foreward on one foot and heard him laugh I ignored him completely and kept going.
"Delilah..." I ignored him and muttered to myself. "Delilah stop..." I could hear move closer, so I started to hop faster.
"Delilah, please, I'm sorry okay?"
"I don't need your help Khader. I can do this alone." I hissed in pain. He sighed before wrapping his arm around my waist.
"Just let me help and I'll shut up." I huffed, but let him continue on our way. We had been in the small city for less than two minutes before the Officials found us. I was carried to the black SUV while they arrested Khader. I tried to tell them he meant no harm, but that didn't help or work. I blew out a pain filled breath of air as I was set into the car.
