A Heart of Crystal

Gone

“Ok guys,” Zeada interrupted, stepping in between the two. “Now that you’ve effectively scared him out of his wits, I’ll be walking him back to the docks.” Silas just nodded while Gavin scratched Raul once more behind his ears. The wolf then padded back over to Zeada as she put her shoes back on.

“Stay safe sis,” he told her. Zeada just nodded before proceeding Ray out the door. After they had walked back to the main road, Ray glanced over at Zeada.

“So...your brothers?” he prompted as she walked by his side.

“They can be a bit much at times, but they’re the only family that I really have,” she confessed, “besides, they only time when they get like that is when there are guys around me.”

“So basically, they’re your typical overprotective brothers.”

“You could say that,” as Zeada responded, she looked back up at the lighthouse and the bright yellow crystal that gleamed at the top. Even with her limited vision, the luminescent stone was vibrant and alive. All of the sudden the light fractured and diminished significantly before going out altogether.

“What’s going on with the Heart? The lighthouse just went dark,” Ray told her. Zeada just turned on her heel and started to sprint back up the road. Raul kept pace with her while Ray tagged along at her heels. Zeada was out of breath by the time she made it to the building and was shocked to find the front door thrown wide open and the lights had been turned off. She started to approach the door when a larger hand captured her own.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Ray hissed. Zeada tore her hand away and continued walking without a word. She cautiously crept into the dark room. Raul left her side with a whine as Ray fumbled for the lights. Zeada barely held back a gasp as the scene before her came to light. Gavin was sprawled out on the floor, blood oozing out of a wound on his head. Raul was beside him, whining lightly while nudging him. Zeada made her way over to her brother and carefully knelt down by him. She gently ran a hand over the back of his head. His blood felt hot and sticky against her bare skin.

“Ray, second drawer down on the right of the fridge,” she instructed Ray snappily, “get me the first aid kit.” Ray didn’t respond but did as he was told. Zeada pulled off her jacket and pressed it firmly against the wound. She sighed in relief as Gavin let out a low moan. At least she knew he wasn’t dead. She then, fishing her phone out of her pocket, quickly punched in Drake’s number.

“Drake I-”

“Zeada, thank goodness you’re alright!” he exclaimed and she had to pull the phone away from her ear to avoid going deaf, “The lighthouse went dark and everyone down here is totally freaking out. Don’t tell me you just closed it off on acide-”

“Drake, Gavin’s injured,” her voice shook slightly, “I need a healer up here, stat. I’ll tell you what I know when you get here.” She could tell he had to bite back a torrent of questions.

“Hold tight, I’m on my way.” Zeada shoved her phone back into her pocket when the line went dead. Ray hurried in with the first aid kit a moment later.

“Help’s on the way,” she told him simply as he knelt down beside her.

“Drake?” He asked. Zeada merely nodded. He nodded silently as he opened the box and pulled out several large gauze pads and a roll of medical tape. “Move your jacket,” he told her. Ray rolled the gauze pad on to Gavin’s head as Zeada peeled off the bloodied cloth. “Ok, now hold this down.” She followed instructions and watched intently as Ray tapped the pad in place. The two then rolled him onto his back and cushioned his head with the now ruined jacket. “That should do until Drake gets here.” Zeada only nodded. “I don’t want to worry you, but I haven’t seen Silas yet. You know what that likely means, right?” She nodded before standing up.