POISONED BLOOD

Chapter 18

My eyes open slowly and my mouth drops. It's beautiful. We're standing in a long hallway with peachy walls, ruby red carpet, and gold lanterns lighting the way every five feet. Vines of white roses travel across the top and bottom of the wall. He laughs at my gawking expression and moves to the right, bending to pluck a rose. A question forms in my mind.

"How do you make them grow like that?" I ask, pointing at the gorgeous, yet strangely out of place flowers. He holds the rose out to me and my eyes widen, watching the thorns disappear.

"Are you part nymph, too? My best friend Daisy is and she could more than likely do the same thing." Benjamin shakes his head as I hold the rose close.

"No. I can control the elements. You may be a bit surprised that I can... I'm not the usual guardian. My father raised me into magic from the time I could understand."

"Wait, your father? I thought the Gods created you." He begins walking down the hall and I take in the many different colors and styles of doors that reach all the way to the ceiling, nearly jogging to keep up. He slows an ounce to let me follow at his side.

"Our race was created by the Gods, but after that we were born like humans through a male and female's-" I catch him before he says it.

"Yeah, I understand that part." His eyes carry a humour that tempts me to blush.

"My Momma never got me through everything... Truly, the one element I'm good with is fire." Benjamin sighs for some reason and I glance sideways at him.

"The most dangerous. You think I wasn't there but I watched you and I am more sorry than you'd believe for what fate has put you through." He sounds so sincere. An unwelcome lump fills my throat.

"Why didn't you help me?" Keeping my eyes on the floor, he halts me grabbing my arm with such a gentleness it melts my insides. His other hand lifts my chin to meet his eyes.

"The poison works like a ward on things of the light. I tried Laney." He unbuttons his coat and my cheeks burn as he pulls his grey t-shirt off. His hands are covered in black, fingerless, leather gloves. He turns to the side, pointing out a long black vein going from his neck to his waistline, spidering out. I gasp and shyly touch the terrible mark with my fingertips, immediately feeling a guilt for what he endured, trying to reach me. His body tenses as my fingers glide down his body. I step back, realizing what I'm doing and he looks in my eyes, holding me there with them only. Oh, the power he has. I bite my lip nervously. Pretty sure my guardian is NOT supposed to do that.

"I believe you. So, where are we going?" I have to start walking again, avoiding his gaze. I'm pulled back and a bolt of electricity flies up my spine feeling his arm around my waist as he steers me through a burgundy door with larger symbols and what looks like iron swirls. Was that open before? The room isn't what I expected. UMMMMM.... A large bed with light green sheets and one white pillow sits in the middle of the floor on white tiles. The walls are bright silver and huge statues of what I can only guess is the Gods and Goddesses are surrounding the bed. Besides this the room is bare. It looks almost like a hospital bed. My heart skitters like a frightened insect. He sees my fear and slides a hand onto my cheek, his fingers touching my ear. A calming energy seeps into me. I sigh and he smiles.

"I promise you... I won't hurt you. The procedure will be a bit rough but once the poison is out, you'll feel better than you ever have." I gulp and stare at the bed and him.

"You sound like a doctor."

"I do have a preference for healing." Out of nowhere, I'm intensely tired. My legs get weak and he catches me before I fall as my knees give out. I can't open my mouth to protest and I almost don't want to. I manage to keep my eyes open as he lays me down on the bed slowly.