Masita as she leans against the wall, relaxing a little bit.
“They died when I was small. Angels killed them,” Aala states, sounding so much older than she is, and hurt flashes in Masita’s eyes as her hand falls to a ruby ring on her finger, rubbing it softly.
“I found Aala with my sister’s and brother-in-law’s ashes three days after their deaths. I also lost my husband on that day, but I was so glad for Aala’s life to be spared. It may sound unbelievable, but on the day Aala was born, time seemed to stop, and a blue glow covered her tiny body. I was the only one in the room with my sister, and both of us felt the presence of a goddess. I can’t explain it, but she is blessed. I know it and swear by all the gods,” she whispers, looking up at the ceiling for a moment. “The fire burned the entire house but never touched her, she just existed in the middle.”
“I believe you,” I say and smile at Aala as I lean down to her level. “You are very lucky and skilled, but I don’t want you to heal me. My wounds are deep, but I will heal. Thank you so much though, Aala.”
“I know I have to help you. I knew you before we met,” she tells me, and we all go silent as Aala walks right up to me and places her tiny hand on my cheek. “My dreams told me to help you, and then you will save us all. They are watching. You’ve seen them.”
I halt, remembering the three ghosts with the light above. I think she means them.
“Who, Aala?” Ren asks, leaning closer, but Aala doesn’t answer as her eyes and hand on my cheek start to glow a bright blue that shocks us all silent. Like a snake wrapping around me, everything feels tight, and I suck in a deep breath before it’s gone, but Aala collapses to the floor. Ren jumps off the bed with incredible speed and reaches for her and manages to catch her head before she hits the floor. I shakily stand up, needing to lean on the wall to stop myself falling.
“Aala!” Masita screams, rushing to the floor as Ren picks Aala up and places her on the bed. She checks Aala over as Ren comes to me, cupping my cheeks, and I nod once, letting him know I’m alright. “She will be okay; I just have never seen her heal like that before. She has only ever healed tiny cuts and bruises before.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want her to,” I say, walking to the bed before I pick up her tiny hand as Ren whispers something behind me.
“What is it?” I ask, turning back to Ren, whose eyes are fixed on my back.
“Your scars from the wings were big cuts, covered in blood and stitches, but now they are nothing more than two long white lines,” he explains in awe. “She healed you.”
No wonder I feel so much better. Looking back down at the little girl, I remember what it was like to have a gift at her age and how scared I was most of the time.
“But hopefully not at a big price,” I whisper, noticing how I feel a million times better, but I wouldn’t have done it if I knew it would hurt Aala. Aala mutters something in her sleep before her eyes open and she stares up at us.
“I’m sleepy,” Aala says around a yawn as she sits up, and Masita hugs her tightly, but her eyes find me. Something in them makes me wonder how powerful Aala actually is and which goddess is watching over her and sending her to me.
Ren wraps his arms around me, his lips near my ear, and he talks so quietly I barely hear him. “When Henry comes, you leave and don’t look back. Everything has been planned.”
My heart pounds in my chest as I nod once, but I’m not leaving without him, Vesnia, Thallon and the other vampires here like Aala.
“Where are Thallon and Vesnia?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.
“They were being dragged out when I came here,” he answers, and I shake a little bit as I send a silent prayer to the gods. Please keep them alive.
Chapter 55
Thallon
The angel walks around me in a circle, his white cloak chasing him around as his eyes take every bit of me in. I don’t focus on him, as