HeartBreak Warfare

Chapter 8

I didn't know who long I had been out, or what day it was, let alone what time, but by the brightness of the sun on my face I figured that it was around two o'clock, give or take a few hours.

I smelled the air. There was salt and dirt, telling me I was still near the ocean. Hearing came to me next. The roar of the crashing waves hurt my ears, just like the sun hurt my face, but that could just be because I'm a vampire. It almost felt like I was experiencing a hangover. Great. I could feel the sand under me in the next second, soft and warm, shaping around my body. So I must have been here for a while. Maybe a few days or however long it took me to wash to shore. By the time I had everything about me and where I was figured out, the onslaught of pain came next.

This pain didn't hurt as bad as I thought it would. It was just physical pain-no big deal for big bad Logan Masters right? Don't make me laugh. I may be strong, but things like this still hurt. Luckily I had learned how to shut myself off from my body, making the pain a dim weak spot in the back of my brain. Right now I had more important things to worry about.

I opened my eyes to more pain as the sun hit me. I blinked a few times, trying to focus, my eyes watering a little bit until I got used to the light. I stifled a groan as I tried to move, but found it impossible. A faint thought of being paralyzed occurred to me, but I found my hands in the next second and with them the rest of my body. I wiggled my toes, pleased that I could, and began shifting every part of my body, trying to see what was broken, what needed reattached (Gross I know), or what was okay to use to get around. I wasn't stupid. I needed one of my old healers, if healing was an option anyway.

The damage wasn't that bad. My wings were broken, a big setback, but they were the easiest to fix. A few ribs might be broken, my collar bone, but I was lucky enough to land on my side, than my face-I could have broken my neck. That would have sucked. Other than that, I was good. No internal bleeding that I could tell no organs that needed fixed, and no bones protruding from my skin. That's a big plus.

I propped myself on my elbows, trying not to scream out from the flood of hurt in my limps. I gritted my teeth, counting to ten before I moved again. I was going to try to balance myself by leaning on my side, but it was unneeded for someone had put their hand on my back, giving me some of their strength as I pushed myself up.

"Looks like you tried to bite off more than you could chew, pal. Next time you wanna fight someone bigger than you, you might want to have back up." Christoffles's voice was quiet, slightly amused at my predicament. He would be.

I grunted and shook off his hand, falling back to the sand with a thud. Okay, that one hurt. I hissed and tried to get up again.

Christoffles sighed, putting his hands under my back again. I wasn't able to shake him off again, but I didn't really want to. I knew when I needed help; I just didn't want it from him. He betrayed me. He was my best friend and he betrayed me.

"Thanks, pal." I said sarcastically. I got on my hands and knees, then on my hands and feet. Once I was able to balance, I threw myself up, hoping to stand correctly. I overestimated the power I still had left and I pretty much threw myself in the air. Christoffles caught me with ease and set me down on my feet. I mumbled another thanks to him, too embarrassed to sneer it.

"You need help getting back to the house?"

I was about to make a snappy remark, but once I thought about the long walk it was to the door, I bit my tongue and just nodded.

He walked right beside me like he used to, the same bounce in his step, like nothing happened to either of. Like we were still the same friends. Hell, no. I could feel the change. The same bond I used to have with him was gone, the trust had disappeared, and that feeling that I could do anything with him or tell him anything was also gone. He was the only person I could truly confide in, and now he was gone.

Life really sucks right now. Oh and let's not forget I'm going to die in…how many days?

"What day is it?" I asked. He stopped in his stride, surprised that I had spoken. He looked in front of him, then back to me.

"It's Wednesday. Why?"

"Just wondering." It's been a day and a half. Normally that wouldn't have meant much to me, but dying puts things into perspective. It figures I have to be dying to live like I'm dying. God, I hate that stupid country song.

It was ten minutes later when I saw the stairs that led up to the house. I passed a few black trees, seeing the black smoke move around them like snakes. I trampled on through the glass, completely unaware of how long I've been on it and not in the smooth sand. My senses were all out of whack. Instead of seeing too much, I now saw nothing, felt nothing, and experienced nothing. It felt like I was disconnected from the rest of my body, but yet I was still able to move it. Yippee.

I could see the steps, but I knew that they were another 15 minutes away. I groaned internally. My feet were killing me, my knees about to give out. I wouldn't be able to last much longer on my own. Christoffles, like he could feel the fatigue in me, put his arm around my waist and hoisted me up. I kept walking, feeling lighter and stronger. I kept my mind in check, not letting this act of kindness get to me. It was how he deceived me before. I couldn't let my old life get into my head anymore. I was a loner, made for solitude and a loveless life.

When I made it to the steps, I was breathing hard, leaning heavily on Christoffles, him practically carrying me. I looked up the stairs with a feeling of defeat. There was no way I would be able to make it up all of those.

Christoffles unfurled his wings, gripped me around the waist tighter, and jumped off the ground with a powerful shove of his wings. In a few seconds we were at the top, Christoffles landing lightly on his feet. He supported me throughout the walk through the house while I was giving him directions on how to get to the healers.

"Man they're gonna have a field day with this. I don't think you've ever been in here have you, Logan?"

"Don't be stupid. You know you put me in here when you thought it would be funny to see how far my wings could bend backwards." I winced at the memory.

He laughed. "Must have slipped my mind." He grinned.

"You know what else has slipped your mind you bast-"

"Oh my!" one of the healers exclaimed as she took me from Christoffles's arms. She gave him a look of reproach. "No more wing tricks I hope."

"No ma'am." I really wanted to slap him right now.

"Thanks for bringing him in. you can go now." Said the other healer as she came in from the other room. As Christoffles left she laid me down on a cot and began to take off my shirt. She hissed at the wounds.

"What did you do, jump in front of a train?"

"Something like that." I winced again.

They put a cloth over my nose, and I inhaled instinctively. I struggled when I felt my body shut down.

"Shhhh, Logan. Don't want to be awake for surgery do you?" the healer laughed in a shrill voice.

Then it all went black.

Have I ever told you that I'm claustrophobic? I hate feeling trapped. It's normal from my kind, but I've taken it to the extreme. If I'm in a tight space, I immediately panic, normally taking down someone with me trying to escape. Nothing caused this type of response for me, it just happened. Like being allergic to broccoli or something. It's the same thing with being unconscious. I can still feel what's going on around me, but yet I can't. Like I know its happening but I can't feel it. Does that make better sense?

I can feel them going through my body, repairing any damaged body parts, and it's making me sick. I hate being trapped in my own body like I'm my own prisoner.

By the time my mind cleared I was shaking.

Someone slapped my face.

"Logan! Jeez what does it take for you to wake up?" Blake's sharp voice broke through the silence…and the current pain on my face.

"Blake." I said it like a cuss word.

"Yeah yeah yeah, wake up sleepy head. I've got stuff to do and I'm not going to carry you around like a doll." She sounded impatient, but half amused. She probably thought it was funny to see in me a hospital gown or whatever.

"Stuff like what?" killing puppies, drowning babies, throwing cats in the fire…

"Like taking over the world maybe?"

I snorted, but I stopped abruptly, only to laugh more. Laughing made my sides hurt, but for some reason this was hilarious to me so I couldn't stop.

Blake just stood there like some goddess.

"Oh you were serious?"

She rolled her eyes and tossed me some clothes. "Just get dressed, Logan. And try to hurry up- I don't have all day."

I took my sweet all time getting dressed, and though Blake flipped her hair impatiently, she didn't yell at me or anything. In fact she said nothing the whole time or even as I got up to follow her.

Why was I following her? I asked myself when we rounded the corner. She could be leading me to my death for all I knew. All well, I'm dying in 11 days, what does it matter anyway?

"Are you serious about taking over the world?" it was hard to keep my voice serious.

Blake glanced at me; those blue eyes making my heart melt. She flashed a smile at me- a smile that made chills go down my spine-and kept walking. Looks like I wasn't going to get an answer out of her any time soon.

She opened white doors and entered the great marble hall, the very place where I had my trial just the other day. Just like that day my family was seated in the exact same rows, except that there were two open seats-one by my father's right side, and one by Lily and my mother. Blake went to sit beside my mother and sister. I stood there, looking confused, when my father stood up.

"Come, son, take a seat. There are some things we need to discuss with you."

I seriously considered bolting for the doors. When I turned around two big guards now stood there, blocking my only exit.

Guess that plans out.