Fate's Demand (Twisted Fate, Book 3)

Chapter Fifty-Five

Deryk was sitting in a chair beside my bed in the dorm when I woke.

For someone who supposedly didn't need much rest in astral form, I was still tired, and Deryk looked as exhausted as I felt. Did he need sleep? He told Marcus the Void had been as expected, but I had no idea what that even was. Did it mean he was hurt by being there and needed to recuperate? Or had he just proven how stubborn he really was and foregone sleep in order to watch over me?

Dead or not, after a fight like we'd survived, I'd be amazed if he didn't need to sleep for like, an entire week—I felt like I could hibernate for a month.

"How did I get to bed?" Lifting my head, I smoothed the covers at my sides and looked around but was instantly pushed back to the pillow by the effort. I sighed and rolled my head to the side so I could at least see Deryk.

He looked up and smiled, though remained reserved. "Marcus carried you. How do you feel?"

"Tired," I said and struggled to push myself into a sitting position, and Deryk leaned forward to help arrange the pillows to rest behind the small of my back. "I want to leave."

"Uh..." He sat down and shook his head. "Aly, Marcus took it from me. He wants you to help him before giving it back."

"What?"

"Marcus wants—"

I waved my hands in front of me and squeezed my eyes closed as I shook my head.

A moment later I re-opened them, locked my gaze to Deryk's, and said, "I know what you said. I just can't believe he's serious. Fine, what I managed to do was helpful. It allowed us to save Dark Souls from possession and ultimately, death, because of Darkness. But it exhausted me, so much so that I'm still tired." I paused and then asked, "How long was I asleep?"

"Six hours."

"Really?" I sighed, clasping and unclasping my fingers as I twirled my thumbs. "Now compare that to how long I was out the last time I helped. I need to leave, Deryk. It isn't just what I want anymore."

"You're wrong."

"I know my own body, Deryk."

"No." He shook his head, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his hands. "Think about it, Aly. How can you be physically tired without a body? A body that has been asleep during your whole time here, might I add? Helping the Dark Souls didn't do this to you."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Deryk. I'm tired, so if you don't mind?"

When he didn't take the hint, I slumped down under the covers and shifted until I was able to rest my head on the pillow. Turning my back to him, I clutched the covers in my fist and tried to keep my breathing slow, my heart regulated. Behind closed eyes, I couldn't see him, but I heard each breath he took as he watched me.

Finally, my ruse proved to be true and I once again fell victim to sleep.

*****

A knock on the door woke me.

Without a changing sky or the presence of a clock, I had no way of telling time. The sluggish feeling in my limbs told me it wasn't long enough, though. All I wanted was to be able to close my eyes.

The knock sounded again.

Marcus, smiling from ear-to-ear, poked his head through the opening he'd made and said, "Oh, good, you're up. I was afraid we'd have to wake you."

I narrowed my eyes and pulled my blanket to my chin. Whatever was affecting my rest had assaulted my body temperature. Despite the natural heat of the building, I was clammy with a cold perspiration. Another blanket in lieu of a visitor wouldn't be refused. At least then the discomfort of his intrusion might disappear.

"Who's we?" I asked, realizing what he'd just said.

Marcus's grin widened and he pushed the door all the way open. Four students walked in, three girls and a boy. Each had a look of hope pasted on their face and my stomach sunk. How could he? There was no question what he'd brought them for.

I shifted my gaze from the four students back to Marcus. "What are you doing?"

"I told you—"

"And I said no," I said. "I'm too tired! My energy is all but gone, Marcus. Don't you get it? I'm not whole and I need my body."

"Just help the ones who want it, Aly," he said, gesturing between me and the students. "Once they are better, I'll give you what you need."

Selective hearing much?

He just didn't get it.

Meeting his gaze told me he didn't understand. Until he saw otherwise with his own eyes, he wouldn't be open to further clarification. Was it worth it? Could I do it in order to go back to my body, to Glory Academy and... Mike?

The answer was obvious—I'd pretty much do whatever it took to reunite with David in his true form. The consequence—dying from exerting too much—wouldn't leave me with a chance to regret anything. Depending on whether I had something to look forward to after death, Marcus might not, either. I mean, what happened to them if I was gone? For good? If I wasn't here to apologize to, I doubted they would be here to convey the sentiment, which meant only one thing: Darkness would win.

Marcus wouldn't believe it unless he could see for himself what was happening.

I could handle helping four students.

"Fine," I said, despite all the reasons not to. I pulled myself up so that I was sitting with my back against the headboard of my bed. My hands dropped to my sides and I looked up, appraising the four students, and sighed. "I'll do it."

"Great!" Marcus clapped his hands and pushed the first of the four forward. "You won't regret this, Aly."