The Dragons' Crystal

Chapter Seven

The music had completely stopped and all the joy that had once surrounded everyone here had vanished. I longed for it to come back, to feel those around me distracted by something other than myself. Confusion had completely taken over my mind. I have been sick before and in pain, both unpleasant experiences, but nothing ever like this. In the moment the pain had hit, I had wanted to die. It was as though I couldn't breathe, and if I did it was too hot to take in. 

"Odelle?" Darius was still knelt in front of me, his focus similar to those around us. He was still staring, flickering his eyes back and forth across me. I recognized Dove, Genevieve, and Finn directly behind him. "What happened?" His soft expression reminded me of the fun we had been having while we had been dancing together. Was he like that to every newcomer? The feeling of being in his hold had been comforting. I wanted it again. I wanted to feel safe and secure again, not alone out here in the open left to wonder what exactly had just happened to me.

"I... I don't know." I muttered, shaking my head. "That's never happened before." I placed a palm on my forehead, surprised to find it perfectly cool. 

"Here. Let's get you inside." Darius stood, then offered his hand to me. 

I was relieved to know I'd be out of sight of all these partial strangers soon. The thought of disappearing inside calmed me. I reached my hand out. Just as our fingers barely touched, I sensed the smallest tingle in my fingertips. It had started out as a small tickle, but was enough that I stopped where my hand was. "Wait." I stared at our hands. The tickle began to twist in my fingertips, starting to grow hot and tingly. When I began feeling the needles, I pulled my hand away and tight to my chest. To my great relief, the pain withered away. 

"What was that?" Darius hesitantly pulled back his open hand. He, too, looked over his hands. Nothing was out of the ordinary, from what I could tell. 

"It started to hurt again." I managed, scared to admit it out loud. 

Finn stepped forward, taking Darius' place. "I won't touch you if it hurts. I just want to see something." He extended his hand.

My stomach started to twist. I dreaded feeling those needles all over again. Though, if I was able to sense it before it happened, maybe it would be the same here? With Finn? Maybe I could pull away before it got too bad. I could handle the little tingle, and I'd be able to tell right away if it felt weird. Swallowing my fear, my shaky hand reached towards Finn's. When our hands reached the same distance as mine and Darius' had, to my surprise, there was nothing. A little closer. Nothing. 

"Nothing yet?"

I shook my head.

"Grab my hand, please. We'll see then." While Finn was demanding something of me, his demeanor was calm and his expressions were soft. There was a smile laying lightly on his face, one of comfort and security rather than of happiness. He was trying to relax me, which I appreciated. 

I was still nervous, mostly because I never wanted to feel the pain I had just felt again, but knew it was important. Did this happen when I touched anyone? Or... Or just Darius? Biting the bullet, I dropped my hand into Finn's and flinched at the contact. I shut my eyes tightly, wincing away. 

There was nothing. 

Finn successfully helped me off the ground. He squeezed my hand. "Dove? Genevieve?" He briefly let go.

I watched as the two women grabbed my hands. Again, nothing. 

All eyes were on Darius now, who looked more confused than anyone else here.

"I don't understand." He approached closer. He laid his hand on Finn; nothing. Dove? Nothing. Genevieve? Nothing. His eyes fell on me this time. 

A mixture of emotions passed by me. While I was frightened of the pain that he might deliver unintentionally, I wanted him near me. I thought back to when we had first arrived. We had touched before and there hadn't been a single problem. Why now? What had changed?