Amethyst Flame (Flame 2)

Did Emma send you?

Becca nodded. She was searching the future and said we must be with you, to help you.

Did she say in what way?

She wanted us to remind you that you’re a team, you

and Emma.

Vaughn didn’t think this was much help at all. Was that it? She didn’t say anything else?

Becca’s face twisted in anguish. No, only that she wanted you to remember that you’re a team. Is there anything we can do?

Let me think.

Vaughn stared at the ghosts for a long time, his hand to his ribs, holding them in place while he took each breath. He shook from the pain, which didn’t help.

So, what had Emma been trying to tell him?

Emma’s abilities had brought the triplets back into their lives. She’d helped them escape their bodies in the Graveyard and she’d encouraged their presence in her home.

He loved that about Emma, that she was generous with her heart and her time. Helping the girls initially almost got her killed because he and Emma had stayed with them way too long.

She’d given Vaughn so much in the short time he’d known her. She’d become a friend, a good friend. He’d treasured their phone conversations. Each one had eased his heart.

Emma had made Five Bridges tolerable. That’s what she’d done for him. She’d done the same for these three young ghosts. And he didn’t want her to die. Dammit, the woman deserved to live.

But she’d done something more as well. She’d reached into the darkest place of his heart and filled it with hope. Her love had made him feel like Five Bridges was a place he wanted to be.

It was Emma. Always Emma.

That’s when he realized that she had truly changed everything for him, just as she had for these ghosts.

Vaughn? Becca looked worried.

Emma’s the key. She sent you here to help me see that.

His thoughts flew back to the gun battle against Loghry and his forces in Savage Territory. Vaughn had gotten hit, his shin bone shattered. Then Emma had healed him with her witch power.

She’d healed him.

She’d healed him.

For whatever reason, from the time they’d come together, they’d actually shared their powers. His presence in her spellroom had enhanced Emma’s abilities. She could now levitate because of him and she could reach into the future.

He could fly faster now and see ghosts when he never could before. But he wondered if there was something else he could do. Could he utilize her profound healing ability?

He looked down at his wrecked knee and put both hands around it. Was it possible? Could he make use of Emma’s healing gift and restore his broken body in time to save himself as well as Emma and Beth?

He turned every thought to Emma and her alter witch gifts.

As he did, small jolts of electricity began flowing down his arms and into his hands and fingers. And just like that, healing began to work on his knee at lightning speed. The more he focused, the stronger the wave became. Only it didn’t just heal his knee, but began to flow through his body to his ribs and higher to repair the ache in his head.

After a few more seconds, he could breathe easily and the throbbing in his ribs and his knee began to drift away.

You look better. Becca clapped her hands together, though there was no accompanying sound.

He met her gaze and smiled. I am, and you’ve helped me tremendously by delivering Emma’s message. But I want you to go be with her now. I’ve got this.