The Book of the Watchers

Chapter Eight (Danny)

He stayed in the room with Anastasia for a long time, watching her light breathing, her golden hair splayed out across the pillow. She was still wearing his t-shirt, and that made him smile. It had smelt of her the last time he had worn it; of lavender and something wonderful that could only be the scent of innocence. The shirt had ridden up above the bandaging around her left thigh, and quickly, he crossed the room to tug it back down, his fingers lingering on the bandage. It was his fault, what had happened to her. If she had died, he would never have forgiven himself. He should have been more vigilant. If he had not been so blinded by this girl and her innocent happiness; her occasional bursts of temper that amused him rather than abashed him, he would have noticed the car following them across Nevada.

And to make it all the worse; she had saved his life. Danny couldn’t recall much from the Qeres poisoning, but he remembered coming out of it, with the taste of blood on his lips, with her eyes on him, both terrified and furious. And then she had slapped him. Her hand felt like nothing more than a butterfly’s wings across his cheek, but he figured it would be best not to aggravate her further by commenting on her lack of a fighting ability. His hand had been burning, and he looked down to see a sunburst tattooed on the back of his hand in blood red ink. His heart began to beat a little faster as he realised he’d sworn away his freedom yet again. Except this time it was a heavenly oath, not a curse laid out in blood and death by a man who could utilise more power than any other of the Fallen could dream of.

After all that, here she was, lying curled up in a bed far too big for her; a chunky bandage around her thigh, marked with blood in some places. He remembered how she had looked when he burst into the bathroom the other day; the day of the attack. She had been in nothing but a towel; her dark blue eyes wide in surprise and embarrassment. She was so clean. After being coated in filth for days, it was as if someone had blown the dust off an old book; revealing the intricate leather-bound cover underneath; something beautiful revealed once again.

“Is she asleep?” Jaime poked his head through the door, glancing over at Anastasia.

Danny nodded. “You told her to forgive me.”

“I suggested it; she wouldn’t have done it if she hadn’t meant it. I’ve watched over her for her whole life, Danny. I know her better than anyone, in a way.”

Inexplicably, this made Danny jealous. He ran a hand through his hair. It was getting long. “I almost got her killed, Jaime. Twice. Honestly, I don’t deserve her forgiveness.”

“I had as much a part in that as you, Danny. I’m her Guardian, I am the one who is supposed to protect her from this, not you.”

“I’ve protected her line for thousands of years. That instinct doesn’t just go away; and yet I’ve completely ruined her life.” Danny crossed his arms as he gazed at Anastasia; her face vulnerable and clear in sleep.

“I find that curious. The Fallen are sworn enemies of her kind, and yet you don’t seem to be affected by that at all.” Jaime cocked his head at Danny.

“Who cares about some age-old feud; this is her life we’re talking about. And not just her; if Saxon gets his hands on her; Heaven will be as good as destroyed.”

“You know that as soon as she grows into her powers on her eighteenth birthday, she’ll be overcome with a blood-deep instinct to kill you, right?”

“That’s three and a half months away.” Danny shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Honestly, that had been all Danny had been able to think about since laying eyes on her. “There’s still time.”

“Time for what?” Jaime looked honestly curious. Everything Jaime did was honest; that was why Danny liked him so much. He was easy to trust.

“An end to the war.”