Crusade ~ World from Ashes {Complete}

15

Three Years Later

"You sure?"

Kilia huffed, rolling her brown eyes at me, "Yes, I'm sure."

"Really, really, really sure?"

"Takye..." her voice dropped to a dangerous level and I cringed, "I promise you, it won't hurt."

I nibbled on my lip.

"I'm right here," Ryker's deep voice could vibrate the room if he really wanted it to. I looked over to him and took a deep breath. His larger hands took mine and I swore he could crush them so easily. I slowly nodded as I glanced at the stuff on the silver tray.

Seated in the medical room of Tristan's manor, I cringed up on the bed that she had me on. The fingers of my free hand curled tightly into the sheets while the other tightened around Ryker's hand. He squeezed lightly with mine and leaned forward. Kilia huffed heavily as she picked up the gloves and put them on. I felt cold liquid on my arm and I cringed.

"Oh Takye, relax. You should know by now that you're not going to feel anything. Haven't I done this enough with you?"

"I know! But... I can't help it!"

She released an irritated sigh, "Ryker. Do something so he'll relax and I can finish this up. You're the last one to get this Takye, quite being so damned difficult."

"I'm sorry..." I whimpered and pouted. I really honestly couldn't help it. I hated needles so much. Just knowing that it was right there and about to be in her hands and then in my arm right after was making me sick to my stomach.

Ryker moved from where he was sitting and sat next to me. Pulling me up against his large chest I rested against the shirt he was wearing. It was the first time he'd ever worn a shirt and I was a little irritated at the cloth for some reason. It was covering his finely chiseled frame that I was so used to looking at all the time. It was an obstruction and I wanted it to go away.

"Relax, Takye," he said, his voice easing into my nerves and making me shiver. I curled up against him while my arm was held gently in Kilia's hands. He was so warm. Sometimes his heat made me feel so cold.

It had taken three years. Three long years of research, searching, and painstakingly slow tests. However, it all paid off. Finally, Kilia had made it. She was a wonderful person. She was smart, she was amazing and most of all she was tenacious. She never quit. Not once. Not even when things seemed so bleak that we thought for sure there wouldn't be any help for us. Kilia plowed right through it. I don't know how many nights she spent awake. I wasn't even sure how many hours she put in to the research of the drugs the scientists had created.

All I knew was that she never gave up.

Kilia had created the cure. She called it 'Avalon'. Very fitting. She'd managed to take all of their research, all of their corruption, and turned it around to make us human again. Valkyrie and Ryker had already taken it. Which was why Ryker had a shirt on for the first time since I'd met him. I sighed up against him. It was going to be odd. Being human again. I wasn't sure how it was going to feel.

"There, done."

"Done? Really?"

"Well yes. Jeez... Do I really have to go over this again?"

"N-no. It's fine..." I paused and waited. I didn't feel any different. At the same time though, I knew that Crusade was gone. I couldn't reach it. I struggled to find it. Nothing was there. A deep breath filled my lungs again and I held it as I concentrated.

Nothing.

I laughed slightly. A little bit of a chuckle that bubbled up in my chest until I was giggling like an idiot. Tears fled my eyes and streamed down my face as I turned to look up at Ryker, my lips pulled back in the largest smile I had ever felt. I leapt onto him, my arms wrapping around his thick neck and holding tightly. Crusade is gone... It's gone! Finally I'm free.

"You're hair... It's not red anymore," Ryker commented softly.

I cried on his shoulder in pure bliss and nodded, "It never was... To begin with..." I sniffled a little and snuggled closer to him. He held me tightly in return.

"Let me see you."

I pulled back a little so that he could look at me properly. A small smile lifted the corners of his mouth. My heart jumped a little in my chest at the look on his face. Reaching up he ran his hands through my hair, "Black, and dark brown eyes... You're beautiful."

I snickered at him, "What, didn't like the red? I could dye it you know."

Ryker's smile grew and he shook his head, "It doesn't matter what you look like, Takye. I'm still in love with you."

"Alright alright, get out of my medical room before you get all lovey dovey, jeez," Kilia huffed from behind me.

I had forgotten she was there. Pulling gently from Ryker's grip I fell over onto her and hugged her tightly, "Thank you so much Kilia. Thank you," I cried again, burying my face on her neck, "You... You have no idea what you've just done for us. There is no way I can repay you for this."

I pulled away from her and through my tears I smiled brightly at her.

"You'vefreed us."