Trust From Within - Book 3 Daughter of a Monster Series

Chapter 13- Critical Damage

A pounding headache greets me as I slowly open my eyes to my dark room, my magic groggily curling up to me, still worn out. I don't care though, some of my energy restored, and I swing my legs out of bed, setting my feet on the floor. Quickly, I venture out into the hallway, running through the halls until I come to a door, a door that I push open to see Nathan, a thick bandage wrapped around his calf with the concrete still lodged in his leg, but otherwise it just looks like he's asleep. My magic goes crazy, stirring around inside me and making me have to grip the doorway to keep myself from falling over from the intense war of keeping my magic down, trying to make sure it doesn't kill anyone. With uncoordinated movements, I'm able to pull a chair over and sit next to him, taking his hand in mine which calms my magic a bit, enough so it doesn't feel like I'm going to be sick. He groans in his sleep, his eyebrows scrunching together before he relaxes again.

I sit there for so long, just holding his hand, desperately calling out to Dad through our link. But I get no response. Eventually, I leave Nate's side, even as my magic claws at me to go back to him, trekking through the hallways in an attempt to find Dad. Karn opens the door in front of me, stopping me in my tracks as I reach for the door handle. "Hey Jade, good to see you up, but you should still be in bed, you only had a couple hours rest. That was a big hit your magic took." He steps in front of the doorway, effectively blocking me from going in there.

"I'm fine, is Dad in there?" I ask, getting straight to the point.

"Uhm... yeah, but you can't come in right now, he's uh-"

"Karn, let me through, now," I order.

"Jade, no, I can't."

"You can-"

"Princess, I will teleport you back to your room without lifting a finger, maybe go and see Gaby, see how Liam's doing."

"Okay," I sigh in fake resignation, turning around and taking a step, making him lower his guard. I speedily spin on my heel and dive under his legs, rolling into the room. I look up, my head spinning slightly, to see Steve and Cole leaning over the bed, light magic dancing around the room as Cole continues to focus all his attention on the bed in front of him. I get off the ground and walk forward, my body moving on it's own, and I approach the bed. Steve tries to keep me back but I easily duck under his arm, kicking him in the shin at the same time, and he falls to the ground.

My eyes land on Dad, or what's left of him more like it. Instantly, my magic gets crazed again upon seeing Dad in this state, adding to the rogue nature of it from Nate. Slowly, the huge hole in his chest is being healed, but there's still a hole, and it is not small. Blood has soaked into the sheets of the bed underneath him and his eyes remain shut. I cautiously step forward and lift his eye lid, gasping at the chocolate brown of his iris. The whole world around me seems to shatter as I look at him like this, and even as Steve pulls me away, I have no strength to resist.

Karn replaces where I was and I feel my legs buckle underneath me, Steve catching me before I hit the floor. He takes me out of the room, but all I can see is Dad, and all I can feel is my magic desperately clawing out for his.

With no response.

Steve is able to drag me out of the room, but I elbow him in the gut, going to try and rush back in, but he quickly grabs me from around my waist, even as I fight against him. "Steve, let me go! Dad!" I cry out. I feel my magic push forward, the familiar feeling of my eyes glowing, giving me a boost of confidence

"Jade, you can't do anything, let Karn and Cole do what they need to do," he grunts out as I struggle against him. I turn around and elbow him in the nose, but he doesn't let go, even as I kick him with my heels, right in his shins. He grunts but tightens his hold on me, keeping me trapped in his arms.