The Angel's Stone

Chapter 9.

The Shadowhunters only had so much time to think before Natascha hit the ground. Marlene decided to let the trainees try to save her while she estimated the time before she slammed onto the floor. Ten. "Throw me, I'll catch her!" Angel screamed. Nine. "You'll miss her; you'd be going to fast!" Dylan yelled back. Eight.

"By the Angel, you two.." Patrick was a blur as he ran and jumped off something in the corner. Marlene counted a mere seven as he went hurtling toward the wall, pushed off with his legs, and was sent flying towards Natascha.

As if playing back a movie in slow motion, Natascha's eyes widened in fear as she saw Patrick soaring towards her. What was he doing? Was he really going to die for the newbie of the Institute? She couldn't help but reach for his hand anyways, because there was no possible way he could go back to safety now.

She turned her head to look at everyone on the ground while Patrick struggled to reach her outstretched arm. Dylan was staring, wide-eyed, Angel had her hand clamped out of her mouth and looked as if she might leap out to catch them at any second, and Marlene was mouthing a word like "it" or "sit" or "six". The door suddenly flew open, and Wayne's face turned the corner, just as Patrick caught her wrist. Wayne's lips formed her name, and Patrick was suddenly pulling her into him, shielding her with himself. His heart was like a tiny hummingbird caught between her back and his chest, and Natascha thought it was funny, staring at Wayne while Patrick was saving her. She almost laughed, but she couldn't laugh, falling to her possible death. So instead she shot Wayne what she hoped looked like a reassuring smile, but she was very sure she looked mad in the process.

The world snapped back in motion when they hit the ground. Patrick took all the impact, landing on his back, and Natascha was thrown from his grasp, hitting her head on the black wooden floor. Pain flared into her neck and throughout her spine, making all her nerves ache incredulously.

"Three," was the first thing she heard. Marlene. "Three seconds off."

Then she heard Angel scream, "Natascha!" at the top of her lungs, but when she opened her eyes, she saw Wayne's intent stare, his gray eyes full of expression, but giving none away. Then it hit her with more pain than her back head was giving her.

"Patrick," she breathed.

"He's ok," Wayne replied. "He's using an irazte."

"Actually," Angel called, kneeling next to him with a silver stele in her hand, "These healing runes don't seem to be working."