Fate's Demand (Twisted Fate, Book 3)

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Hell's Fire merged with Glory Academy in my dreams, though neither became solidified enough to be clear. I heard Suzie and saw Deryk. Mike smiled and Gabe winked, while Raffy had no problem telling me to stop being a pain and wake up already.

When I did, none of the people from my dream were present.

Tyler was there, perched on the bed at my side.

After my initial shock wore off, I looked past Tyler's shoulders and saw Deryk sitting in a chair in the corner of my room. He was just watching, looking at me like he was waiting for something to happen. Though he didn't speak, he didn't have to. The clench of his jaw and intensity of his gaze said enough.

"H-how—?" I cleared my throat and my tongue, heavy and disconnected from my mind, stuck to the roof of my mouth. "Why are you here?"

I looked at Tyler and he glanced back to Deryk, but neither answered.

Were they thinking of a common lie to tell me? If someone didn't speak soon, I was going to feel the need to do something which, in all likelihood, would cause me to pass out again.

How many times could that happen until I didn't have the strength to wake up?

Surely if there was a limit, I'd have already reached it by now.

"Deryk?" I asked. "Why is Tyler here?"

Deryk stood and slowly walked to the side of the bed. Tyler hurried to scoot away so Deryk could take his place and then sat in Deryk's chair in the corner. What was wrong? They were acting like I was a patient and the mother stepped aside so the father could deliver grave news. Terminal cancer, a brain bleed they couldn't repair... death.

I looked at Deryk and furrowed my eyebrows.

"Tyler helped you, Aly," Deryk said, looking down to where he held my hand. His touch felt like fire melting a layer of frost that was icing my skin. He sighed. "You were right. This wasn't your emotions. If Tyler hadn't helped you, or if Renalda hadn't been here to tell us what was happening—"

"Renalda?" I looked at Tyler. "First of all, how did he help me? When—why was Renalda here?"

"You weren't waking up, Aly. I didn't know why, and Marcus wasn't talking," Deryk said. "All he said was that you didn't help before passing out."

"No." I shook my head, relieved that the room didn't sway. "I yelled at him and passed out before he could make me help those girls. Oh, those girls!" I rolled my head to focus back on Deryk instead of Tyler and sucked in a breath. "Will you tell them I'm feeling better? I can help—"

"No," Deryk and Tyler said in unison.

"What? Why?" I sat up and the movement felt unburdened. I spread my hands out in front of me. "I feel fine! Better than fine. I told them once I feel better, they could come back to me." I looked at Deryk, to Tyler, and back again. "What?"

Deryk sighed. "Aly—"

"What?"

"You almost died!" Deryk leaned forward, his eyes going wide. "Renalda came because the Brothers found her—she told us what was wrong and how to help you."

"Help me?"

"Yes." Deryk nodded. "I talked to her about what you were saying before, and... you were right," he said and glanced back to Tyler for a moment before making eye contact with me again. "Ever since you helped with the group that attacked us, Marcus has been unstoppable, like he's on some sort of a mission. He's determined to recruit everyone so that you can save them from any ounce of Darkness they may carry."