Chapter 79 Pain
910words
I blew out a breath of relief, only to see a burst of air bubbles in front of my face.
Panic rose inside my chest, and I turned, my waving frantic as Hector swam toward us. He frowned, looking confused at my frantic waving.
I pointed to my mouth and nose, then wrapped my fingers around my neck to indicate I was choking.
It took a moment for Hector to realize the air bubble around my head was gone, and he waved a hand toward me, forming a new one.
"I underestimated you." He pushed an arm in underneath Kayn.
It took a few deep breaths before I managed to speak. "I'm not proud of it."
"It was that, or us," he swam toward me with Kayn by his side. "And our families. You'd rather have him live?"
"I don't regret it." I hesitated. "It's...I killed someone."
"You did," he inclined his head. "But you saved many more. Do you think someone like him would have stopped with us? He can't stand humans. Merfolk like him, they are relentless in their beliefs."
My eyes darted to Kayn. "Is he going to be okay?"
Hector closed his eyes, before reopening them again. "He's taken a bad hit. We need to get back so we can help him."
I nodded, not sure how I felt about the answer Hector didn't give me. I knew this was looking bad for Kayn.
Trying not to think about Kayn's state, I asked, "How did you find us?"
"Hold on to my other arm. We need to move fast."
When I did what he asked, we immediately began to move toward the surface. "Ember reached out to me and told me where you were."
"Is she okay?"
"In shock, but a better state than her brother."
"He protected her."
"Same as he did for you. He wouldn't have fought with only his sister by his side. It would have been easy for both of them to escape. They lingered for you."
"I don't understand. Ember was unconscious. He was fighting for all of us."
"That's where you are wrong. Ember was fine. How exactly do you think she reached me?"
"She…" I tried to recall if she had her cellphone with her at the dance. "How did she reach you?"
"Magic," he responded. "She could have taken off with her brother. Instead, she made herself vulnerable to reach out to me, to save you. Kayn was directing all the attention to him because he knew Graves wanted you."
Guilt grew inside me. "They could have escaped?"
"Stating the obvious." Hector didn't sound too happy. "But given, you didn't stop fighting for them, either. I respect that. However, you are a big risk to us. And then that other issue..."
I didn't know what to say. I was the reason Kayn might not make it. It took me a moment. "What issue?"
"You should know, that if Kayn dies…" he ignored my question.
"It's all my fault," I could hold back the sob.
"You die too."
"If he dies, and you kill me, I won't blame you."
"You're misunderstanding what I'm trying to tell you," he grunted. "That bond you have with him. If one of you dies, so does the other. Like I said, that other issue."
I remained still for a moment, my eyes on the surface as we drew closer. I didn't know if it because I was upset or this bond thing, but dying when he does didn't seem at all that bad.
"I don't want to be the one to inform your mother of your passing, and I sure as hell do not want to lose my grandson. And I won't. You're both going to be fine."
When we broke the surface, I immediately spotted Ember and Adriane waiting on the shore, huddled together.
"What are we going to tell my mom?" I asked as we swam closer to the beach.
"Nothing. Ariane already made up a story that you three went to an after-party. How it went, I have yet to find out."
The horrified expressions on Ember and Ariane's faces twisted at my heart. I had no idea how I was going to face them.
"Hector?" Adriane struggled to say his name. She didn't have to ask him; the question was on her tear-stained face.
"He's breathing, but you know what we need to do," Hector said as we rose out of the water. My feet grazed the sand in the water, and I let go of Hector, trying to walk out on my own.
It was a mistake. I gasped out in pain, almost having forgotten about my injuries.
Ember didn't waste any time to get by my side, supporting my balance. "You'll be okay."
I was still looking at Ember when two people ran toward us, carrying a stretcher. "Who is that?"
Ember didn't have to answer. As they drew close, I realized it was the twins who always sat with Belinda.
"Don't worry. She's not here. My mom chased her away after she threatened to do something to you," Ember said, helping me down onto the sand. As she checked me for my injuries, her eyes kept wandering toward her brother. They managed to get him onto the stretcher, picked him up, and carried him away.
