Matched

Chapter 8

Preston wound up the tall spiral staircase that led to Kate's bedroom. She was still completely unconscious, and Preston knew that he had to get Dax soon, or she would be in grave danger of not waking up. "Damn it," he muttered as he kicked the door to his bedroom open. His arms were burning so much that he deposited Kate on his bed. He noticed that her hand was grasped tightly in a fist, and he tried to pry it open.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you," said a voice behind him. Preston whipped around to see Dax standing there in the doorway. "Damn it Pres, I told you not to do this tonight. Father's going to be looking for us any moment now and you don't really expect anybody to cover for us do you?"

Preston opened his mouth to speak but Dax cut him off. "And if Father was already suspicious, this will just heighten his concern further." He looked at Kate who was lying on the bed. "Emotions?"

"All of them," Preston answered, "But I can't get her to wake up."

As soon as he had said this, Kate drew in a sharp breath from where she was laying. Both boys turned their heads towards her, and she began to rapidly take in short breaths, her eyes still closed.

Dax rushed over to the side of the bed. "Help me sit her up!" he shouted. Preston grabbed Kate's other arm and they sat her up, resting her head against the headboard.

"She won't wake up!" Dax said to Preston, "Did that book you found say anything about this?"

Preston shot Dax an irritated look. "No Dax, it wasn't like the book warned that the girl was going to experience an overload that would cause her to go unconscious." He glanced down at Kate's closed fist. "I think she's still holding the stone, Dax. I think that what's causing this."

Dax got up and went to the other side of the bed. He pushed Preston out of the way and grabbed Kate's hand. Instantly, her grip on the rock loosened, and Dax pried it from her hands.

Preston looked at him and asked, "Can you make it a ring?"

Dax shot him a withering look. "You know I haven't been that strong lately."

"But with her here, you can at least try?" Preston said.

Dax took the stone shakily from Kate's palm and put it between his two hands. Turning away from Preston, he muttered a few words, and opened his hands slowly to reveal a small gold ring with a small pink rock in the center.

He turned towards Kate, who was still breathing heavily and took her hand in his, and placed the small gold ring on her ring finger. As he did this, her breathing stopped for a moment, and then her eyes flew open and she was gasping for breath. She went to get off the bed, but Dax took a hold of her arm and eased her back down onto the bed.

"Easy Kate," he said softly, "I remember this stage. You're really fragile right now and you need to take a few minutes to rest."

She looked at him with wild eyes. "I remember it all. Everything I've ever done seems so much more vivid now."

"I know," Dax murmured, "I got my emotions back three years ago. It was something that kept me in bed for days."

He emphasized the last part of his statement, swinging his head around to look at Preston.

"Look, I didn't think that it would go that far, Dax," he said.

"Yeah? Well now Father's going find out that something's going on and we're going to be caught and he's going to kill her," Dax fired back pointing at Kate.

Kate gasped behind him and clutched at the sheets. "Who's trying to kill me?" she gasped.

"Shit," Dax muttered, taking Kate's hand, "Look Kate, you really don't know me, and I sure as hell don't know you, but right now, you're going to have to trust me."