Navi
"You're hurt, Navi. You need to go home." Elizabeth's voice somehow found its way through the darkness. I forced my eyes open and stared at her. The asuwang lay at my feet, slowly changing from its human form back to the demon dog-spider-icky thing as the sun rose on the horizon.
"I can't breathe," I whispered.
She nodded, watching me sadly. "You cannot tell him?"
I shook my head. "I took an oath. If I tell him, it will open his eyes. He'll see the demons, he'll see the ghosts. It's too dangerous. If I don't tell him, I keep him safe."
"Did he not already see the demon with you?"
"He saw it in human form. They won't open his eyes in that form."
"Ah." She nodded wisely. "Then he is a fool."
Yeah. He was a fool. But I couldn't blame him. Just like in high school—I knew how it must have looked as I tried to cut through the demon's neck with my swords. It was way harder when he had a soul shell. But Alec wouldn't know that.
Because I was keeping him safe.
"You are hurt, Navi," Elizabeth said again. I pulled my arms away from my stomach. My shirt was ruined. The skin underneath was ruined too, at least until the moon came up again to heal me. I'd lost a lot of blood, I could tell. Or else Alec had hurt me enough to make the entire room sway. Black splotches came and went in front of my eyes.
But the asuwangs who had made it past us were dead. That was all that mattered.
We hadn't been fast enough, though. One man lay lifeless in an alley three streets over.
"What happened to Jesse? Did they—"
Don shook his head. "I watched Jesse go back to her cell. She was on the beach last night and did not chase them."
Because of her, a man had lost his life.
"Why?" My voice was hoarse. I felt like I was split into two agonizing vials of pain—one for the battle I'd just been in, and one for the fight I'd just had with Alec. He'd called me a whore.
Even the first time, he hadn't stooped to that.
One vial for night, one for day. My soul was torn.
"She said she was afraid."
Well. Wasn't that ironic. Because of that, Death would take her to hell. Then she'd truly know terror.
"Navi. We can do nothing for the lost tonight. Nothing for Jesse. We must get you treated."
Yeah. I wasn't sure how to explain this kind of wound. Dog attack? Not feasible. Hit and run? No… I wished I had a doctor friend who could fix me and wouldn't ask questions.
Oh wait. I did.
"Konstanz?" I asked as soon as she picked up the phone.
"Navi?" Her voice was sleep-slow and froggish. "What's wrong?"
"I need your help."
"Navi, I don't know what you're involved in, but we need to go to the cops." Konstanz's hands shook as she dabbed at my stomach with already bloody rags.
"I can't, Konstanz. I'm sorry. This can't go beyond us." My voice sounded robotic in my head. I wasn't sure how it sounded to her.
"Whoever you're protecting, this isn't worth it, Navi. You could have died. You were unconscious in the middle of a cul-de-sac!"
"It is worth it, Konstanz. I promise."
She scowled at me, shoving her hair away from her face. "Why can't you just be a normal girl who goes to school and has a not-scary job and you can grow up and marry Alec…"
I squeaked in pain and she looked up at me. "What's wrong? I wasn't even touching you."
"Alec and I…" Hmm. How to explain it? We texted late into the night. Spent an entire day together. I was planning my life with him when he assumed I was already cheating again and called me a whore. "We aren't friends."
Her busy hands stilled. I couldn't see her face because she had her head bent, but I could imagine her expression. "Seriously? What happened last night?"
Lots. Lots happened.
I shook my head, feeling traitorous tears snaking their way down my cheeks.
"Oh, Navi. I'm so sorry." She rose from her crouch and awkwardly wrapped her arms around me, trying not to touch the gaping wound she'd been cleaning for a half hour. I tried to be strong. I tried not to cry.
I failed.
I leaned my forehead on her shoulder and sobbed. "He thinks I'm a horrible person. I was just—" I hiccupped, "I was just trying to keep him safe." So I could cry. Look at that.
She leaned back and studied my face. "Navi, I was there when he saw what he saw in high school. I couldn't believe it was you. It felt wrong. I don't know what's really going on, but I'm sorry I didn't stand by you then." She blushed, looking down. "I just—I've just felt like I needed to say that. For a long time now."
She picked up her thick pack of gauze while I gaped at her. "Konstanz, you've always been there. You've always been my friend."
"I should have argued with him. I should have stood up for you."
I shook my head, closing my eyes briefly. "You couldn't. I didn't give you anything to argue with."
"You gave me ten years of knowing what kind of person you are. That should have been enough. Stand up so I can wrap this around you."
I stood obediently, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. "I thought—I thought I was in love with him. After one day. How stupid am I?" Stupid. Very stupid. I hid my face in my hands. Apparently I'd decided my life was a chick flick. With a really crappy ending. Wasn't there a law or something that chick flicks ended happily ever after?
She shook her head. "You aren't stupid. Everyone at that party could see the connection between you two. It was unreal. Also, you are way easier to fix up than a 100 pound unconscious dog."
I snorted, giggling despite all the pain. "Thanks?"
"All done. Go lay down. I'll talk to your professors and get your notes today."