Page 12 of Vayn

Charm’s dark clouds expanded, losing their normal shape and becoming a black mass. That mass began swirling, a sign that he was angry. He’s never been angry at me before.

“Calm down now, or slumber,” I growled.

Those were his only two options. I was not about to put up with this insubordinate shit. I was already pissed off with my charge for allowing herself to get this beat up. As my charge stood up straight again, Charm’s clouds slowly returned to their regular form. My shadows and I watched her open the glass shower door and step inside. She groaned with each step she took.

Before I knew it, my hand was rubbing at my chest, trying to ease the ache there. When I realized what I was doing, I forced my hand to my side. My heart couldn’t ache for her. I don’t have a heart. It burned to ash the moment I was cursed to this Earth, cursed to reside in purgatory and guard the gates of Hell.

My charge stepped under the spray of water. A different groan escaped her. One of contentment. My shadows and I stepped closer to the glass, eyes never straying from her. She tilted her head back, allowing the water to wash over her face. To say we were in awe of this creature would be an understatement.

My gaze roamed over her curvy figure. Then I noticed that she had one hand pressed against the shower wall for balance. Standing up to shower was hurting her. Like Rage, I now wanted to kill her opponent from earlier. Why hadn’t my charge tapped out when the pain became too great?

All students had that option. It wasn’t like they were fighting in death matches. Yet, she’d kept going until the teacher called it quits. Though I was angry at her for being hurt, as a guardian, I was proud of her for not being a quitter. That pride was the only reason I was willing to help her now.

“Charm, can you take away her pain without her realizing we’re here?” I asked my still upset shadow.

He shook his head. “I’ve spent too much time near her. She’ll sense my energy if I begin siphoning her pain. Our little charge isn’t a dud. I don’t know why her powers aren’t manifesting. But I’m sure she’s not a dud.”

I was starting to think the same thing.

“What about you, Rage?” I asked.

Like me, my shadows could draw pain away from other beings. We couldn’t heal them, but we could end their agony. Normally, I didn’t do it because that agony would become my own. But, for my charge, I was willing to accept the pain... this time.

Same, Rage replied. I’ve been near her so much that I’m sure she’ll sense my energy if I try to take away her pain. Your shield is holding. But, if I add my abilities to it, it’ll weaken the shield enough for her to sense me.

There’s only one of us who hasn’t spent any time near her, Charm added. And that’s Dread.

Shit. Not Dread. That sick fuck would probably make things worse. That’s if he was inclined to help at all. Helping others wasn’t his forte. Hell, sometimes, he didn’t even want to help me.

I’ll do it, Dread said, voice hoarse from not talking much over the centuries.

All our gazes snapped to him. His clouds were darker than the others and tinged with gray wisps.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

He nodded.

“You have to make sure she doesn’t sense your energy.”

Again, he nodded.

Take her pain, don’t cause more, Dread. Do not hurt her, Charm told him. And don’t make her feel any fear.

Fear was Dread’s specialty. Dread only nodded again. I was apprehensive as fuck about sending Dread into the shower with our charge. Our gazes jerked to her when another groan of pain escaped her. Frowning, she stepped away from the spray of water and moved closer to the shower wall.

With her back now pressed against the wall, she squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her hand to her side, holding it there as if that could stop the pain. I shoved my hands into my pockets to keep from reaching for her, to keep from going to her.

“Fuck,” she muttered. “That kick did more damage than I’d thought.”

I feel the anger vibrating off my shadows. It matched the intensity of my own.

“Do it, Dread. Take her pain away,” I ordered.

I didn’t have to tell him twice. He stepped through the shower door, clouds dispersing briefly and reforming once he was standing on the other side of the door. Our charge didn’t open her eyes as he stared down at her. He placed his hands above her head on the shower wall, caging her in. Her eyes were still shut.

Dread was so close to her that I could feel her breath against my skin. To siphon her pain, he had to touch her. I must admit, I was anticipating that touch just as much as I was ready for her to be free of pain. Dread hadn’t touched her yet. He was staring at her like he was debating where he should touch her.

Just touch her already, Charm urged, as on edge as I was.