Masquerade (Heven and Hell #1)(78)
Author: Cambria Hebert

“Well, thank you for coming, Sam.”

“Anything for Heven.”

The nurse bustled back in carrying some crackers and a ginger ale. Her eyes bounced back and forth between me and Sam.

“Hello,” Grandma said, drawing her attention away from us. “Is that for Heven?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I turned to Sam, “Would you mind getting me some ice for my soda?”

He frowned. I stay with you.

It will get you away from nurszilla over there for a minute.

He looked like he might protest.

I’ll be fine.

He nodded and rose from the bed. “Could I get you some coffee?” he asked Grandma.

“Well, yes. Thank you, Sam. Decaf, please.”

His eyes returned to me before he ducked out, and they flashed gold. I’ll be right back.

I smiled and waved. When he was gone I turned to my grandma and the nurse. “How much longer do we have to be here?”

The sooner we got out of there the better.

“If you could have any super power, which one would it be?”

“Uh…”

I giggled, “I guess you already kind of have a super power.”

“I wish I was normal.”

“I love you the way you are.”

He shifted beneath the covers in my bed to face me. It was late and I didn’t think we’d ever get here. It took me awhile to convince everyone I was fine, and then I’d had to ride home with Gran and Sam was left to find his own way (Grandma thought he had his truck at the hospital, and we let her believe it). I know it made him crazy to let me go off with her alone, but there was no other choice. Once we got home I took a quick shower and then stood in front of the mirror staring at my new face. The face I had to die and then be brought back to life by an angel to get. It was all so unreal, and every time I caught a glimpse of myself, I did a double take. I didn’t recognize myself. How could I not? I looked like this all my life and only spent ten months disfigured, so how did that girl become more familiar to me than this one? It wasn’t like I was unhappy to have this face back because I was happy. It just felt strange, to get back something that I lost, something I had learned to accept.

Sam shifted beneath the blankets, bringing my attention back to him. “I didn’t think I would ever hear those words from you.”

“I love you,” I whispered. Just saying those words spread joy throughout my body.

“I love you, too.”

I scooted forward, and he wrapped me in his arms. It’s like my body knew exactly where to go and where each part of me fit perfectly against him. My eyes drifted closed at the familiar safety I felt only with him. For the first time all day I relaxed. “Sam? I’m not sure I want super powers or to be a Supernatural Treasure.”

“According to Airis you have always been a Supernatural Treasure, so it shouldn’t be anything new.” I heard a smile in his voice and looked up.

“Do you think this is funny?” I couldn’t help but smile.

“No,” he said, running his fingers through my hair. “But I can’t bring myself to be upset that you are a Supernatural Treasure, if you weren’t you might not be alive.”

“When you put it that way…” I said, tucking my face into his neck. He smelled good.

“What kind of power do you think I will have?” I said after a minute of us just lying there quietly.

“I don’t know.” Then he laughed. “Maybe you’ll get x-ray vision.”

“You might want x-ray vision, but I don’t.” I said, grinning.

He lifted his head and looked down at me, wagging his eyebrows. “You never know what you might see.”

I laughed. He pulled a pillow over our heads. “Shhhh.”

I giggled. “Sorry.”

It felt so good to laugh and just be together, especially after dying then coming back to life. We lay there for a while in our own little bliss, and I prayed nothing would break the moment. Of course, it did. I had almost forgotten about the after effects of Airis ‘awakening my abilities’ until another tremor licked through my body. It started in my legs and worked all the way up through my head, and then it was gone. It made me a little queasy and a little dizzy. I pressed closer to Sam.

“What was that?” he asked, pulling back to look at me.

I clutched at him, bringing him close once more. “I’ve been feeling them all night. It’s like an after effect of whatever she did to me.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” His was voice concerned.

“I didn’t want to worry you.”

“I’m supposed to protect you.”

“It’s like your official job now.” I giggled.

“I wasn’t so good at it tonight.”

“But Airis didn’t hurt me,” I protested.

“I’m not talking about Airis.”

“You mean China.” A little bit of fear burned in my belly, and the image of Gran’s smoking car flashed in my head.

“Did you kill her?”

He made a sound in his throat. “No. She ran off, and I let her go because I was worried about you.”

“She’s still out there?”

“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered, “she’s not coming back tonight. She’s injured pretty bad.”

“But she will come back.”

“Yeah.”

“What are you going to do?” I anticipated his answer and it made me nervous.

“Kill her.”

While I didn’t mind so much about her dying, I did mind that Sam would be doing the killing. I didn’t want him to have to do something like that for me.

I will do anything for you.

I can’t believe that God wants you to kill someone to protect me.

Maybe that’s why I was chosen. Hellhounds don’t have a problem with sin.

I gasped out loud and my hands gripped his shirt. “Don’t say that. They chose you.”

Because I love you and would do anything for you.

Yes. But you’re a good person, Sam. I yawned loudly.

Sleep, you’re exhausted.

But I haven’t asked you about what we’re doing now.

Talking through our thoughts?

Yes. Do you know how?

China told me about it once. She thought it was a myth associated with being a hellhound. It’s called a ‘Mindbond.’ Hellhounds can only do it with one person during their lives. It is very strong and even distance cannot break this communication.