PROMISE

CHAPTER 16

Hain felt adrift in the darkness, his body floating atop water still as glass, the knotted muscles in his back from days of travel all unwound.

He'd heard a voice only seconds ago. A voice calling to him from the void of unconsciousness.

A woman's voice.

You must head south, Hain.

Hain had struggled against the command. He needed to go east. Toward Sierra. Toward Sam. Not south into the static wastes of the Geigerlands.

El Todo wills it.

The words shocked Hain from his semi-sleep. Was he dead? Maybe, he thought. But then, that would mean he was–where? The world beyond? He hoped not. Floating in water, even as comfortable as he was, seemed an uneventful eternity.

The sound of raised voices beyond his mind met his ears. Two voices. Female. Arguing.

"When is he going to wake up?"

Even through the murk clouding his thoughts, Hain recognized that voice, strained and hard as it was. Lilith's voice. He heard her words, but their meaning slipped from his grasp and into the fog of his thoughts.

"You have to give him time, Lilith. Predicting the effect from the Guardian's toxin isn't simple, especially when I don't know how long it's been in his system."

Lilith let out a string of curses.

"First it was the Cats, now its this," Lilith said. "I don't understand why Hume insists on having those vicious things out there if they can't be called off."

"Don't blame the Guardians just because the human wandered into the wrong part of the forest."

"Please don't call him that," Lilith said.

"Call him what?"

"The human," Lilith said. "He's more than that to me."

"I thought you were interested in the other one," the other said. "I didn't realize you wanted collect the entire family."

"Can we not drag your baggage into this, Sanger? Please?" Lilith drew a trembling breath. "I'm stressed out enough about Hain as it is."

"If you're so worried then you should have let me take him to–"

"I've already told you that we're not taking him to the haven," Lilith said over her. "Not until I know for sure that he's going to be alright." Lilith's voice suddenly sounded very tired. "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to him."

"Don't let the others hear you say that, or they'll start thinking you're getting too attached."

Lilith's voice went sharp again. "I don't care what they think."

"Well you should," the other said, just as sharply. "You have a job to do, Lilith. Don't forget that."

"I haven't forgotten." Lilith's voice was closer now. Softer. Hain felt a hand brush back hair from his forehead. "But I do care about him."

Hain jerked at her touch, a weak moan spilling over his lips.

Lilith's voice went bright. "Did you see that?"

Hain heard footsteps coming closer.

"See what?"

"He moved when I touched him."

"Step aside." The other spoke in a voice that was all authority. "I need room to look at him."

Hain heard feet shuffling around him, then hands gripping one of his wrists.