Days of Darkness

Chapter 11

"You really think you can use its followers as bait?" Sabbatini said as if I were a child. "It would either leave them to die or most likely use them to ferret us out. It no longer needs to be physically present to use its power." The revelation surprised me. Sabbatini was truly God's messenger to surmise so much from the evidence I had given him. I had barely suspected it myself. "No, surprise is the only weapon we possess. Kill it before it knows the strike is coming."

"Yes, Sir,"

"Good," Sabbatini said, then waved me away. I bowed my head slightly and exited the room, happy to leave and regain some of the strength my mentor always drained from me. Exiting the care facility, I breathed deeply, trying to replace the foul air that lingered in my nose.

I knew nothing about bombs. It would take research and talking with ex-military again. I wasn't comfortable with the sniper, and now I had to find a demolition expert with loose morals or religious zeal. Sabbatini was correct; collateral damage shouldn't be a consideration. I needed to be stronger, more like him. God's warriors couldn't be weak, not with the world at stake.

**Caleb

I thought the death of Jason marked the worst day of my life. It was nothing compared to experiencing Teegan's pain during his funeral. His death was a blip, compared to my love's heart shattering with every useless word the minister spouted. It was the first time I wished I could only see the tears and not share the pain of her death bond with Jason. She had died with him.

Trying to lessen Teegan's pain was useless. Physical pain I could grasp with my mind and pull into me, but this was something deeper. All I could do was share it and beg God that it would stop. It was overwhelming her, and she chose to let it grow as some kind of penance. I couldn't fight it. My love was nothing but a bandaid over a gushing wound.

Teegan approached Jason's mother, a small woman who only seemed half aware of what was going on. Mrs. Tisdale was slumped in a wheelchair with sparse gray hair barely covering her head. Her eyes looked down, seemingly unable to focus at distance. A nurse in blue sweater stood behind the chair, leaning over every once in awhile speaking words directly in her ear. Teegan kneeled before her, and I sucked in my breath as her terrible grief flooded me, a black cloud that smothered most of what I knew Teegan to be.

"Mrs. Tisdale," Teegan said, the syllables jerky as she struggled to get the words out, "your son died saving me." I couldn't stop my eyes watering as Teegan's pain increased. I wanted to pull her away from the woman, make her forget the unforgettable. I was helpless.

"You know my Jason?" Mrs. Tisdale asked. I wasn't sure if she understood that he was dead.

"He loved you dearly," Teegan said, nodding her head.

"He didn't come to visit," Mrs. Tisdale said. "He always comes on Tuesday." She turned to her nurse, "Jason didn't come, did he?"

"No, Mrs. Tisdale," the nurse said, then leaned down to whisper in her ear. I could see the confusion in Mrs. Tisdale's face.

"May I have your hand, Mrs. Tisdale?" Teegan's voice broke, and I could feel her struggling to hold back sobs. I knew what she intended, and I wanted for all the world to stop her. It wasn't my place to stop what she felt was her duty.

Teegan took Mrs. Tisdale's offered hand, and I closed my eyes. I felt Teegan's music change to something, not us, a softer slower beat. My fingers moved instinctively, forming the positions necessary to make the cords as if my violin was in my hand. I waited, clenching my jaw for what I knew was coming.

"My baby," Mrs. Tisdale called out. Pain swamped Teegan and in turn covered what little was left of my control. I covered my eyes with my hand as Teegan shared all that she could of Jason with his mother. Jason's last thoughts were of her, and Teegan made sure she knew. Mrs. Tisdale's sobbing echoed in the church as she pulled Teegan into her arms. The nurse tried to separate them, but Mrs. Tisdale pushed her off. Lucidity, driven by the bond, gave her the strength.

"I lost my boy," Mrs. Tisdale whispered to Teegan.

"It was my fault," Teegan said, "I didn't listen to him. He told me not to, but..." Teegan's voice left her and her head collapsed into Mrs. Tisdale who pulled her close.

"He saved you," Mrs. Tisdale said clearly, surprising the nurse. "Even if he had known the outcome, he would have done it." Her hand stroked through Teegan's hair, comforting her as best she could. "He thought you were an angel and so you must be."

"I'm cursed," Teegan said. I moved toward her, hating what this was doing to her. Mrs. Tisdale waved me off.

"You will not lessen my boy's sacrifice," Mrs. Tisdale whispered, "I can feel him in you. Barely a day, and he gave you everything. You have to prove that his choice was the right one."

"I don't know how," Teegan said, looking up into Mrs. Tisdale's tearing eyes.

"None of us do," Mrs. Tisdale said, "but figure it out for him. He was such a good boy." She pulled Teegan tighter like she never intended to let her go.

"She's not used to this much activity," the nurse told me, unable to figure out what was going on. "I'm not sure we should stay long."

"God has taken Jason," Mrs. Tisdale told the nurse.

"I know, Mrs. Tisdale," the nurse said, her straight red hair shifting forward as she leaned into her charge to whisper something.

"Give me some time, Wendy," Mrs. Tisdale said, waving her away again. Wendy looked at me, confused as to where the sudden clarity was coming from. I shrugged my shoulders adding to her confusion, thinking there were already too many people who knew about the link.

"Why has everything become so clear?" Mrs. Tisdale asked Teegan. Teegan leaned back, still holding her hand.

"It's the reason I needed Jason's protection," Teegan replied, "I was born with it, and now people are dying because of it."

"Why would anyone want to hurt you?" Mrs. Tisdale asked. "Such a wonderful gift, so pure and beautiful." Her words defied the tears streaming from her eyes. Her grief was strong, but the link held it in an analytical state.

"Not everyone is impressed," Teegan said, "some think it's unnatural, a gift from hell. I'm beginning to agree."