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That was a good thing, she hoped

Brax rubbed at his shoulders, as if in syirlfriend," she said, a wave of cold blasting her, beginning where the wounds originated, then spreading through the rest of her,her awake

"Driana?"

"Do you have another girlfriend?" Zacharel snapped A long while passed in silence while he stared down at her, his eyes bright with determination

"But she would never… She’s…" Shock increased Brax’s tre "Is she okay?"

Don’t tell him Stay silent "I’m sorry, but she’s dead" He deserved to know "I shot her"

He peered at her with growing horror "What kind of monster are you? Wait I remember You’re the Butcher of Colorado"

Zacharel was at the other bed, backhanding Brax and nearly dislocating his jaw before Annabelle could blink "Your woman was demon possessed and tried to kill your sister Annabelle was protecting herself"

A fresh bout of tears streaked down Brax’s cheeks "N-no I refuse to b-believe that She couldn’t have been demon possessed, she just couldn’t! She hasn’t been herself lately, but…but…" The force of his sobs had hi of truth struck his core and he accepted what Zacharel had said "I’m…sorry, Annabelle If she had been herself, she would never have tried to hurt you"

"Don’t worry about it," she said as Zacharel returned to her side

"Are you okay?" Brax asked

"I’ll be fine," she said She hoped She ached, oh, did she ache, her , but she kept her features relaxed "I’ve healed froel nodded "I’ll make sure you heal this time, too" Jaw clenched, he withdrew a clear vial from the air The Water of Life "Open"

"No, I--"

With one hand under her neck, lifting her head, and the other tipping the vial back, he ensured a droplet hit her tongue before she could finish her protest Cool, crisp, the clean flavor slid down her throat, into her stoh the rest of her As new cells were created, as nified, chill replaced by heat

But then, a few th replaced her weakness, andher in a breathless heap atop the bed

No, not true Her pain hadn’t dulled but had sian to burn, burn unbearably, and only getting worse

"What’s wrong with her now?" Brax asked

A frowning Zacharel ignored hi?"

"Yes" She rubbed at her chest, reminded herself to breathe in, breathe out and concentrate on so besides her body But that was easier said than done, because oh, no, no, no, she felt as if she were actually on fire fro hands pinned her ar over her chest Zacharel rubbed gentle circles at first, creating friction, then increased the fervency of his strokes "Breathe, sweetheart Breathe"

"Trying"

"In Out In Go get some ice," he shouted

"Can’t"

"Not you You continue breathing Out In Good girl"

Sheshe knew, she lay in a cool puddle of water, her chest on the road to nor

"Better?"

"Yes, thank you, but listen up" She ran her fingers over her sternum, the skin frozen and wet "I don’t want any unshot on ain"

"Your pain has now eased completely I do not consider that a waste"

"Well, you aren’t the one who just got back from hell"

"You are alive, aren’t you?"