The Ascended (The Saving Angels 3)

"Yesterday," I finally piped in. "She seemed fine, but today she got a nose bleed and passed out," I said, ripping an excuse off a TV show I watched with my mom. I was too worn out to come up with a more legitimate excuse.

The nurse nodded toward me, but any further questions were delayed as several doctors and a gurney arrived to whisk Sam away. Shawn tried to follow them, but the nurse firmly closed the door in his face after giving him directions to the ER waiting room.

"You okay?" He asked me dejectedly as he joined me against the wall.

I nodded my head weakly. I would have wept from the ramifications of the decision I had made, but I didn't have the energy to even muster that up. It was like I was a hollow shell. Haniel had warned me this would happen and told me that it would be several hours before I started to feel somewhat normal, and a full twenty-four hours before I could even think about transporting again, if then. There was no way I could get to my friends before the night was through. I had made my choices and now I would have to live with them. >"Krista," he said, lifting a hand as if to touch my cheek, but jerked back as an electric shock raced through him.

I stepped forward to help him, but was knocked backward on my butt as my hand encountered an electric current.

"What the heck is that?" I said, standing up to rub my sore bottom.

"It's an electric cage," Mark said, pointing to the voltage boxes lining the perimeter. "As long as this is turned on," he said, indicating his ankle bracelet, "I can't leave and no one can enter."

I moved closer to his space, eyeing the voltage boxes warily. He sat down on the floor as close as he could get without getting shocked. I did the same sitting directly in front of him.

"You've Ascended," he said, after a few minutes of silence.

I nodded my head, not wanting to admit that we had all assumed he had Descended.

"It suits you well. You've never looked more beautiful."

I grimaced at his words, since I was sure I pretty much looked like pond scum. I had dried Daemon blood on my pants and who knew what else.

"You left." I said, no longer able to contain myself.

He studied me for moment before finally answering. "He told me you believed I left you on my own freewill, but I didn't believe him. I could have never left you. How could you believe that? Didn’t I show you countless times how I felt about you? I didn't break our Link Krista. You did by buying into his lies."

I jumped to my feet indignantly. "I didn't break our Link, you left me." I said, louder than I intended. "You told me you were doing what was right, that we all should have our own freewill."

"Krista, I never said any of those things," he said quietly.

"Yes you did, everyone heard you," I said, choking on a half-sob.

"Krista, I didn't say those things because I was no longer there."

"What?" I asked, sinking down on the floor as an awful truth began to creep over me. "Tell me you’re not saying what I think you are." I pleaded in a whisper.

He nodded his head.

The room began to spin. How had I let this happen? Mark never said those things because he was not in possession of his body. Victor had used the time I was unconscious to use Mark's body as a human host. The lies that left his mouth had been orchestrated by Victor. He was right, he didn't break our Link, nor did Harmony. By believing Victor, I alone had broken our Link.

I bowed my head as sobs racked though me. I had done this.

"Krista, look at me," he pleaded.

I lifted my tear streaked face. "Krista, I think it was all meant to be. Haniel had spoken many times about how special you are. How you would do great things. I believe The Light always planned for you to be an Ascended."

"But, what about you?" I asked, sickened by what I had done.

"I don't know," he said, sounding defeated for the first time. "Harmony hasn't allowed me a moment alone with my emotions for the last two months. By keeping me contained though, it’s only served to make her stronger. I'm surprised they're allowing even this, but I'm sure my father has some hidden motive."

"I need to contact Haniel and see what’s happening with the others, but I think Victor is able to block me somehow," I said, remembering my duties.

"You can do that?" Mark asked, clearly impressed.

"I can do all kinds of cool things," I said, falling into the easy banter we had always shared.

His mouth pulled into a smile that was always guaranteed to turn my insides to melted butter. I mourned the loss of our Link, but I relished in the way we still seemed drawn to each other. It seemed like an impossible situation, but for the moment I enjoyed the presence of the boy I had loved my entire life.