“So you know your purpose,” Juston said.
Sleep nodded, her long hair sliding around her face, forcing her to brush it back. “Yes. I am a Guardian, granted the power of sleep by the Goddess of Light.”
“The power of sleep?” Dawn’s mind was reeling. She was an emissary of science and didn’t believe in gods and goddesses. But everyone around her did, and the story was beginning to make a sick sort of sense.
“Yes. I can put anyone to sleep or deprive them of it. It comes in handy.” She pulled away from Juston, walking slowly, using the medical unit for support. “But the Seekers were closing in. I’d entered the body of this woman.” She gestured at the form she now wore. “She was an empty vessel, having suffered an accident resulting in brain death. I put my spirit into her in order to throw the Seekers off my trail.”
She frowned. “It didn’t work for long. I decided to evade them by putting myself to sleep for as long as was necessary. The people of the planet offered to help, agreeing to seal me in a stasis crystal and transport me to Parnith. But something must have happened because you said you found me floating in space.”
Dawn nodded. “What about the creature in your dream? The thing with yellow eyes? It seemed to follow you everywhere from dream to dream. Was it something you created to keep yourself asleep? To protect you?”
Sleep shivered violently. “I would never create such a horrid beast. He stalked me everywhere, pushing me from nightmare to nightmare for so long that I’d exhausted my fear.”
“This is all very interesting,” Juston said, “and I hate to interrupt, but we need to get moving. The Seekers could descend at any moment. Am I right in thinking that you’re willing to return to Vartik with us and join our mission?”
Sleep nodded. “Yes.” She looked down, her face melancholy. “I have nowhere else to go.”
“Good,” Juston said. “Then I’m going to head back to the cruiser and get ready for takeoff. Calabez will escort you to our ship shortly.” He gave Z a meaningful look, then headed out the door.
Calabez came forward, extending his arm to the shaky female. “It will be my pleasure to escort you,” he said, and when Dawn put her hand in his, he brought it to his mouth and pressed his lips to it lightly.
Z growled, hands on his hips, his expression brooding. The green-eyed male paused by his older brother. “You know what happens now,” he said. “I’ll expect your ship to take off when ours does.”
Z nodded, then turned to Dawn, an unreadable expression on his face.
After his brother departed with the Guardian, he let out a heavy breath. “I suppose it’s time for me to go.”
Dawn nodded. Now that they were about to go their separate ways, she didn’t know what to say. “I promise not to say anything about your people’s existence,” she said lamely.
“I appreciate it.”
He stood there staring at her, and she stared back as the minutes rolled on. “Before I leave,” he said at last, “there’s one more thing I want to do.”
Dawn inhaled quickly, expecting him to grab her up and kiss her senseless. Instead, he walked to a nearby workbench, picked up a scalpel, and cut his thumb. Then he stopped in front of her, removing her glasses.
Dawn blinked up at him.
“Hold still,” he said, bringing his thumb close to her left eye and squeezing it. A drop hit her eye and she blinked. He moved over to the other one and did the same thing.
She blinked several times to clear it of the blood. “Why did you…” Her words tapered off as she realized that her gaze was clearing and that she could see. Perfectly.
He had healed her eyes, accomplishing a feat that science said couldn’t be done without replacing them both, something she’d never wanted to do. Now Z had done it with a couple drops of his own blood. It was a miracle.
It was a gift.
“Thank you,” she said with wonder in her voice. She tried not to get choked up, rubbing her eyes to banish tears that were swelling up, hoping he assumed she was just adjusting to her new, clear vision.
Z put a finger under her chin, lifting her gaze to his. “You are more than welcome.”
Again, Dawn thought he would kiss her one last time, but he stared deeply into her eyes, the corners of his mouth turned down slightly. Then he released her.
He was almost to the door when he turned around. “If you need anything, ever, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Dawn laughed. “And how am I supposed to do that? Your planet is hidden and you’re not even supposed to exist.”
He cracked a smile, tapping a finger against his temple. “That’s you. Always thinking.” He moved away from the door, looking for a writing instrument.
Ladee rolled up, holding out a pen and a blank card.
