Surviving the Dark

Chapter 23 - Found

Zae doubled over screaming in pain.

"Jamie do something!" I scream in panic.

In the back of my mind I knew it's because he doesn't have his moonstone. He has had it so long that when he lost it the magic was still flowing through him, but now he hasn't got it the magic is draining away causing this pain.

Jamie picked Zae up in his arms and started walking out of the preserve. Suddenly he stopped in the car park.

"Izzie, front pocket of my jeans are my car keys."

I got the car keys and clicked the unlock button. A sliver Mazda CX5 lit up and I rushed over to open the back door for Jamie to put Zae in.

We walk so much around town I forget that Jamie has a car. He only normally drives when there is something official going on with the preserve, like today with the meetings. Day's like today I am glad Jamie drives.

"Izzie, either give me the keys or get in the drivers seat."

I blink. Xavier cried out again and I ball my hands into fists. Jamie's car keys digging into my hand.

All I could do was stare at Zae, my mind racing trying to find something I could do.

'If only we had that bloody bracelet.'

"Izzie..." I felt Jamie's hand wrap around mine that held the keys. "Izzie, I need the keys so I can get us home."

Slowly Jamie coaxed my hand open and he takes the keys. He opened the passenger door and helped me inside the car. I was too worried about Zae. If Jamie didn't help I would have been glued to the spot.

The walk from home to the preserve normally takes about thirty minutes, going by car takes less than five. With Zae crying in pain in the back the drive home felt like hours.

I kept my eyes focused a head of me but winced every time Zae screamed.

We get back to the apartment and I rush inside, Jamie not far behind carrying Zae again.

"What is with all the screaming?" Liv asks coming out of her room. Her eyes go wide as soon as she sees us.

"XAV!" She rushes over to us. "Put him on the couch."

Slowly Jamie lowers Xavier on the couch trying not to add to the discomfort he his experiencing.

"What the hell happened?"

I shrug, just staring at my brother writhing in pain on the couch. Jamie throws an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close to his side.

"No idea. I went to go see Izzie and Xav and when I was in the middle of telling them something, he started screaming and doubled over."

"If only he didn't loose that bloody bracelet." I mumble. I feel Jamie stiffen beside me, obviously hearing my words.

"He wouldn't be in pain if the bracelet didn't get lost in the chaos of the irrigation system blowing up. Or if I didn't show up here in the first place. The only reason he was there was to distract me anyway." I explain, feeling the need to.

"Izzie..." When I keep rambling Jamie spins me around to face him. "Izzie, stop. None of this is your fault. The irrigation system would have blown if you were here or not. For all we know it could have been in a completely different spot where Xavier could have been and he still could have lost the bracelet."

"But..."

"No buts, I'm glad you are here, because we know what is happening to him. If you weren't we wouldn't have a clue."

"Jamie, I can't help him. The only thing that will is gone. He needs his bracelet."

Liv sends her brother a pointed look.

"J you didn't tell them?"

"Liv I was in the middle of telling them, then Xav sorta-" He tailed off and guestured to Zae on the couch.

Liv sighs and motions for Jamie to tell me what he was meant to have already told me.

"Don't get mad Izzie because I didn't know it would help."

"Jamie what is it?" I ask worried that I will get mad with what he says next.

He reaches into his back pocket of his jeans and pulls something out.

"I found Xav's bracelet today." He holds ups the bracelet, the rainbow moonstone glinting in the light.

I snatched it out of his hand and run to Zae's side. I pull his wrist away from him so I can clasp his bracelet back around his wrist.

His screaming doesn't instantly die but after a few moments all he is doing is whimpering from the after of the immense amount of pain he just went through.

Once I know Xavier is fine, I turn my attention to Jamie, eyes narrowed.

"Now Izzie, I said don't get mad." He tried to joke. I walk over to him and slap at his chest, hard.

"You had it the whole time?! Why didn't you say something?" I all but yell.

"I tried Izzie, I really did. But then I got blown away by what you and Xav did to the Coolabah tree and when I remembered what I was going to say Xav, started screaming. I didn't know it would help. All I was thinking was to get him home."

I sigh and slump down to the floor.

Liv kneels beside me, grabbing my hand.

"At least you were here and knew what would help Is. If you weren't I didn't know what we would have done."

Zae had somewhat passed out from the pain not long after I put his bracelet back on his wrist. When he groaned I was instantly by his side clasping his hand in mine.

"Isa... Is that what you go through every time you take your necklace off?" Zae's voice is horse from screaming and I see Liv go to the kitchen to get some water.

Falling from my raised position on my knees beside the couch, I lean against it on the floor still holding Zae's hand.

"You get use to it."