The Healer: First Touch (22 page)

Asim gave me a flourishing bow. "I am Asim. Protector of Rafela. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Yes, nice to meet you too," I stammered in response. Asim was strikingly handsome. He was slightly taller then Varick, but much more muscular. He was well dressed, his clothing very expensive and perfectly pressed. His skin was smooth, a lovely shade of mocha. His head was bald, a black goatee outlining his mouth and thick black eyebrows framing his light eyes.

I stared at Asim, curious about this stranger who referred to Varick as his brother.

Asim broke his eye contact with me to look at Varick. He spread his arms to embrace Varick. "Brother," he exclaimed, a broad smile lightening his brown face.

Varick smiled in return. He eagerly returned Asim's embrace, clapping him hard on the back a couple of times. "Asim. It's good to see you."

They parted and Varick came back to stand next to me. "What brings you here?"

"Apparently, I came at just the right time. You looked as though you were losing that battle," Asim chided Varick.

Varick scoffed. "Losing? I had the Fury right where I wanted it."

"Sure you did," Asim teased some more.

As I watched Varick's and Asim's bantering, I began to feel dizzy and ill. I closed my eyes to stop spinning.

Varick, no doubt feeling my vertigo and illness, suddenly turned to me, taking my hand gently in his own. "Jacey?"

"Varick, I don't feel so well." The intense fear I felt just moments before as the Fury's wrath breathed down around us had left a sickening dread in the pit of my belly. The realization that I could have died at the claws of the Fury made me ill. "I think I need to sit down."

As my legs crumpled underneath me, Varick caught me and gently helped me to the pavement. Crossing my legs underneath me, I bent my head down between my legs and covered my head with my hands.

"It's okay, Jacey. Just breathe," Varick said, rubbing my back lightly with his hand.

My breathing was fast and shallow and I felt like I was going to pass out. Dread, relief, fear, and surprise all jumbled together inside me. I was so overwhelmed.

As Varick rubbed my back, my shoulders began to shake with sobs. Tears dampened my knees and legs.

"Jacey," Varick whispered gently. "I know it's overwhelming. But you're alright and I'm alright, and..."

"Don't tell me it's alright!" I snapped my head up to look at him. My eyes flashed angrily and tears still streamed down my face. Varick was squatted down next to me, his face level with mine.

"It's not alright! We were almost killed by a demented shapeshifter. What could possibly be alright about that?" My vertigo and illness were replaced by anger.

Varick's eyes were soft and caring as he searched mine. "It is alright because I never would have allowed that thing to get you. Ever." Although Varick's words were meant to be soothing and reassuring, they were filled with contempt.

I could feel the anger dull as the intensity of Varick's blue eyes reached me.

"Promise?" I finally asked weakly, surrendering all of my anger.

Varick's stare intensified and his eyes grew even brighter. "Promise."

Asim cleared his throat. He stood above us, his hands on his hips. "I know I'm interrupting your...ah...moment, but are you just going to stay here in the middle of this park?" Asim waved his hands around us.

Varick stood, pulling me with him and looked at Asim, his eyebrows creased with apparent skepticism. "Really, Asim, it is good to see you, but why are you here?"

Asim smiled broadly. "I came to find you and see you again. Brother." Asim opened his arms to embrace Varick again. Varick didn't move.

"Where's Rafela, your Healer?"

Asim dropped his hands to his sides. The smile he had dissipated from his face and a look of sadness and grief replaced it.

"She's gone, Varick. It got her. The Fury killed her." Asim shook his head in disbelief. "I wasn't able to protect her. I failed her."

As Asim told us how the Fury claimed his Healer, I felt Varick's arm circle around my waist. He pulled me close to him, keeping his arm securely around me. I stole a glance at Varick, but he kept his gaze on Asim.

"So, here I am, Varick." A small smile broke out across Asim's face.

"But if your Healer is dead, how are you still here?" I shuddered at Varick's words. He pulled me closer in response.

"Yes, it's true that when the Healer no longer exists, the Protector also ceases to exist. When Rafela died, I waited for either the Fury or death to claim me. Without her, I actually welcomed it. I wanted to die. But neither came. And somehow, I stayed alive. I don't understand it, but here I am."

Varick's eyebrows came together again in disbelief. "I've never heard of anything like this ever happening before." Varick's words were slow and questioning.

"I can't explain it," Asim said simply. A teasing smile played on his lips.

Asim looked at Varick, his smile suddenly broadening. "Can I stay with you, just for a bit until I move on? I wish to assist you for a time."

"Of course, Asim. You know you are welcome to stay as long as you want."

Disappointment overwhelmed me. I realized I desperately wanted to be with Varick. I needed to be with him after what we had experienced together. I didn't want him to leave me.

Turning to look down at me, Varick said, "Oma is coming home anyway, right? You have missed her. I'll bring you home so you can be with her, and Asim will come to my place."

"Oma?" Asim questioned.

"Jacey's grandmother who raised her. She's been caring for an ill friend for a few days."

"Ahh," Asim responded.

I looked at Varick, desperation filling my eyes. "But Varick...."

"You will be safe with Oma. The Fury won't go to your house if she is there, especially not now," Varick said sternly.

I glanced over to Asim, who was grinning smugly. I gave him a small smirk in return.

Asim laughed deeply. Pointing his finger at me, he teased, "I like this one, Varick. She is feisty and beautiful." He laughed some more.

I looked back at Varick, my eyes pleading. "But Varick..."

"Come on," Varick answered abruptly. "Let's take you home."

With his arm still around my waist, he walked me the short distance to his motorcycle. Looking around, I suddenly realized how dark it was here, even with the moon shining over head.

When we reached the cycle, Varick released me to take the helmets off the bike. He handed me one and turned to face Asim who was behind us.

"Just follow us. I'll take Jacey home first. See if you can keep up." Varick smiled mischievously at his brother.

Asim chuckled deeply. "Shouldn't be a problem, little brother." Asim reached in his back pocket, retrieving dark aviator sunglasses and placed them over his eyes.

I couldn't resist. "Uh, it's night. How can you see with sunglasses on?"

Asim placed his hands on his hips. I couldn't see his eyes through the dark tinted glasses. "Don't worry beautiful. I can see everything just fine." Asim turned and walked toward his sleek car.

"I don't like him."

Varick smiled. "That's Asim. He's harmless, really. Full of himself, yes, but still harmless."

I tried to place my helmet on my head but my palms burned from the road rash. "Ow," I groaned softly.

Varick took my wrists, pulling my arms so he could see them better. "Jacey, you're hurt. Why didn't you tell me?"

Shrugging my shoulders, I brushed it off. "It's nothing. Just some scraped up palms, that's all."

"You know you can fix this," he nodded towards my hands.

I shrugged my shoulders again.

Taking a deep breath, Varick placed my palms together, his hands over the top of mine. He held my hands firmly together.

"Close your eyes," he whispered, bringing his face closer to mine.

I did as he instructed, taking a deep breath myself. I envisioned my palms healing as I pressed them tighter together. The burn of the rash was replaced with a different type of burn, one that started deep in the tissue of my hands. The burning intensified, growing hotter and hotter as I felt the skin on my palm heal. I tried to keep my breathing even and steady even as the pain of the burn increased.

"Good, Jacey. That's right." Varick encouraged gently.

And then the white heat flashed, scorching my palms. With a gasp, my eyes flew open. Varick was staring at me. "See," he said, opening my palms. The rash was completely gone, leaving unmarred skin.

I smiled at Varick. I looked him over and I noticed that he had a long scratch on his right arm from the crook of his elbow down to his wrist. It had been bleeding and the blood now clotting around the wound.

I gently held his arm to examine the scratch. "Varick, your arm. Did the Fury do this?"

Varick shrugged. "It must have got me sometime during our fight. I'll be alright."

"Let me heal you," I said, gently pulling his arm towards me.

"No!" Varick yanked his arm roughly out of my grip and took a step away from me, holding his injured arm up against his body protectively.

"It's okay, Varick. I can fix it," I responded, my face clouded with hurt and confusion. I took a step closer to Varick.

Varick responded fiercely. "No! You can't heal me. It doesn't work with me."

Confused, I nodded at Varick. "Yes, Varick. Let me heal you. I can do it."

"No. You can't," Varick insisted, shaking his head.

"But why?" I asked, my voice catching slightly with hurt.

Varick placed his hands on my shoulders. I looked at him, my eyes filled with sadness.

"Jacey, I love that you want to heal me, really, I do. You just can't. Your powers won't heal me. In fact, they could hurt me."

"You mean they might kill you?"

"Maybe, or destroy my own strength and powers rendering me useless to you." Varick's eyes were gentle.

"Oh," I responded softly.

Varick smiled. "Thank you, Jacey, really. But I'll be fine. It will heal on its own. We were interrupted by Asim honking the horn of his expensive vehicle.

Varick waved in response. I rolled my eyes. "Like I said before, I don't like him."

Varick laughed. "Come on." And he pulled his helmet over his head, securing it in place. As Varick hopped up onto the motorcycle, I pulled my own helmet over my head. When Varick extended his hand to help me up, I took it, allowing Varick to help me on.

With a jerk and a purr, the cycle started and we were off toward home.

The world was dark around us, night in full bloom. The moon shone brightly above us, illuminating the landscape flying by. I glanced back behind us to see the headlights of Asim's Audi. He followed through town until we reached home. Varick turned the motorcycle into the driveway and Asim stopped his Audi in the road, his vehicle still running.

As we pulled into the driveway, my heart dropped into my stomach. I felt ill again. Although Oma's Buick wasn't in the driveway, another familiar vehicle was. Jamie's black Jeep.

"Oh no," I groaned. Varick brought the cycle to a stop, the machine jerking forward. As I swung my leg over the cycle, not waiting for any help from Varick, my heart dropped again. .

Jamie was leaning up against the side of the Jeep, his arms crossed. And he didn't look very happy.

I reluctantly pulled off my helmet. Smoothing back stray hairs that had escaped my braid, I looked at Jamie. He was leaning up against his Jeep, his arms crossed obstinately in front of him. His lips were in a tight line, his face rigid and full of tension.

I held the helmet against my belly and tried to smile at Jamie, but it quickly turned into a grimace when Jamie just stared back. My stomach flipped again sending new waves of nausea through my body.

"Jacey, what's the matter?" Varick's voice asked in my ear. "Everything all right?"

Glancing at Varick, who was still seated on the motorcycle, I nodded my head curtly.

"Do you want me to stay?" I could hear him but his lips weren't moving.

I wondered how I should answer that question. I wanted desperately for Varick to stay. I wanted to be with him, talk to him, feel his arms around me again. But, looking back at Jamie and his angry posture, I knew Varick couldn't stay. I was sure Jamie would start a confrontation with him. Looking back to Varick again, I shook my head no.

"Okay," Varick answered in my head, his eyes staring intently at me. "I'll talk to you later, then."

I nodded again. I tried to communicate to Varick with my eyes to show him how much I needed to be with him.

The corners of his eyes turned up with amusement. "It's okay, Jacey. Don't worry. I'm never far away and I'm always watching out for your safety." Varick's voice calmed and soothed me.

I nodded again. I wanted to say something, to tell Varick goodbye. I wanted to thank him for saving my life just moments ago. Tears clouded my vision as I recalled the frightening ordeal with the Fury.

Varick nodded at me, looked at Jamie, then flipped the plexiglass of his tinted visor over his eyes. Varick backed out of the driveway without even looking behind him. He accelerated the cycle quickly, the back tire squealing and throwing up smoke as the tire burned a mark on Oma's driveway. Popping the front tire up in the air, Varick sped down the street with Asim following. I watched them go until I could no longer see him or Asim. I then turned to face Jamie.

I walked up to him as if I were walking to my execution. I really didn't want to have an argument with Jamie, not after the evening I had. And further, I was confused by Jamie's angry posture. I really didn't know what I had done to make him so upset.

Taking a deep breath, I spoke, "Hi, Jamie." My voice squeaked.

Jamie stayed as he was. He didn't answer, just raised his eyebrows at me.

We stared at each other, standing in the driveway next to his Jeep. I held the helmet close to my body.

Jamie nodded at the helmet and finally spoke. "Looks like you forgot to give your boyfriend his helmet back." His voice was cold, especially when he emphasized the word boyfriend.

Gripping the helmet protectively, I responded. "He's not my boyfriend."