The Sunflower Keeper

Agonizing Pain Mixed with Revenge

A jolt of an electricity shocks my chest. A gush of air rushes into my flattened lungs. Voices in the distance causes my eardrums to bang. I flinch at the overwhelming pain. I blink my eyes open.

          “She’s alive!” A familiar voice shouts. I prop myself up on my arms and make an attempt to move. Rough hands shove me back to the ground.

          “Hold her!” Someone barks commands. My temple explodes with agony. “We need to stop the bleeding! Turn her carefully but hastily.” I feel myself being lifted off the ground as the grips of my captors grow tighter. Soft air slides over my exposed skin. My cheek hits the frigid floor. A sharp pain shoots into my back but fades away.

          “It doesn’t hurt anymore.” I mumble as my breath fogs up the metal floor.

          “That’s the drugs.” I recognize Nevaeh’s voice. I force a smile. “You scared the hell out of us. You've been here for only about two weeks and you almost die... New record.” Her voice sounds shaky. She moves into my vision’s reach. Her cheeks are puffy and bright red like she’s been crying. Tears cloud her dark green eyes.

          “The bleeding’s stopped. There are outsiders in the compound. We can’t take her to the infirmary or her room. She must stay with one of you. The next keeper must be protected. Whether she lives… I will still die. So we must protect her at all cost.” The familiar voice rings in my ears.

          “Mine!” Three people all yell at the same time. Their voices clash.

          “Damian. You take her.” A grunt of argument enters my ears.  I turn my head slightly to get a better view. Elijah.

          “Easy. Just breathe.” Damian scoops me into his arms. I slam my eyes shut.

          “Nevaeh and Elijah, I need you to come with me. We need to find better means of protecting Faith.” My eyes flutter open to catch a glimpse of the commander. Her back is to me but I recognize her. The Sunflower Keeper. Elijah stares at me with his grief-stricken eyes. Anger conquers his expression as he watches Damian cradle me. “Now!” The voice demands. They run off. The keeper turns back to me.

My eyes widen. My heart slumps into my stomach. Tears burn my eyes. My breath stops in its tracks. Guilt and Anger swell inside me. Sympathy fills her green eyes.

“Why?” My voice cracks.

“I didn’t tell you because I love you. Damian take care of my daughter.” She turns and sprints off leaving me in the arms in Damian. I’m stunned.

His warmth surrounds me as he holds me against his hard chest. I bury my face against him. I sigh. My mind races.

It’s not her! You’re delusional. You’re crazy. You’re literally spread out all over the compound. You were just hallucinating. You lost too much blood… That’s all. A slight breeze kisses my back.

“Please tell me that I have a shirt on…” I whisper.

“You do… Just parts have been ripped off. We needed to find the source of the bleeding so that we could get it under control."

My eyes relax and close. “Promise me you won’t look.”

          “Promise but I already have. I had to help examine your wounds. But I promise to behave.” His steps come to a halt as he pushes a large door open with is back. He’s careful to not let my dangling feet bump into anything. He places me on his bed. The soft pillow mushes against my face. He drags the knit blanket to cover my damaged body. “You’re beautiful. But I’m not going to lie…but you look terrible right know. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.” Guilt immerses itself into his voice. He places a hand over my cheek.

          “There wouldn’t have been anything you could have done. It was a werewolf…” I hesitate. The thought of being drained of blood makes my stomach do a somersault and land upside down. “…And a vampire.”

          “What?!” He moves his fingers to check my neck. He stops over the two little holes. He mouth flattens. “I’m going to rip them apart!” He rants on about how he’s going to get revenge. I roll my eyes.

          “Please.” I choke out. A cough follows and I shiver.  

          “You need to rest. I’ll be here. Right here. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again. He leans down and kisses me slightly on the lips. The sensation of the kiss makes me smile. It lightens my emotional overload. That fact that the Sunflower Keeper’s identity has been revealed almost flows from my mind. He slides his hand over my cheek and brings his thumb in between our connecting lips. “Go to sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.” He turns to find refuge on the lumpy couch across the room. I grab his hand and yank him back towards me.

          Who are you going to choose? Now that you’ve tasted both. You can’t have two boyfriends. Nope. So who will it be? Confusion crawls around on the inside of my skull.

          “Don’t go. Please.” I whisper. A grin spreads over his gorgeous face. “I’m scared. I can’t be alone.”

          His purple eyes scream at me, “YES!” Suddenly they change. Bright ocean blue takes their place. I grin. He slides in next to me. I curl myself against his hot body. My icy skin absorbs his heat. My head rests against his loose dark blue t-shirt. His arms wrap around me. For the moment I’m his and he’s mine.

Your mom is going to die… and it’s your fault. You’re the reason the Sunflower Keeper is going to die… you killed your mom as soon as you drank from the fountain. A thought slithers inside my brain. My body heals as I drift away.