Two hours later, one of the twins slips into the room without a word. He’s not wearing a mask, his vibrant red skin and white hair on full display. With a nod, he rests a hand on Niki’s arm and stands there for a moment while the energy transfers. I can’t see it, but I swear I can feel the energy in the room shift.
Two hours later, Sebastian walks in. He’s dressed in all black, not wearing his mask, and he lingers by the bed for longer than the others.
“If you want to lay down, I can hit the couch,” I assure him, moving to crawl out of the bed.
He shakes his head. “That’s okay, I’m not staying. Ihave to go collect more energy.” Then, he bends to kiss Niki’s lips and turns to leave.
I order takeout, even though I don’t have much of an appetite. Then I’m back to sitting with Niki, staring at the TV in the corner without actually paying attention. My mind races, my thoughts clashing. All the while, I try to make sense of all this.
Try to rationalize…
Try to prepare myself for whatever is to come…
When Tobias walks in wearing his black, horned mask, it feels like all the air has been sucked out of the room. I stiffen, watching as he slowly approaches the bed, my heart beating in my throat as memories from last night consume me. My eyes linger on the way his shirt hugs his broad torso, and a shiver dances through me as I recall what he's packing underneath those clothes.
He doesn't even look at me.
Forcing down the disappointment I shouldn’t even be feeling, I drag my eyes away from him and pretend to be watching the TV. Pretending to ignore him, even though he can probably sense my nerves.
I know I should be elated that he’s sticking to our agreement, that everything has gone back to normal between us, but I’m not. If anything, I’m deflated as he leaves without a word.
“He’s such an asshole,” I mutter to Niki, imagining her laughing at me if she was coherent. What I wouldn’t give to hear her laugh right now.
One day soon.
Hopefully…
I crash on the couch when Sebastian finally decides to catch a few hours of sleep, but I can’t find it in me to go back to my hotel in the morning. I don’t want to be far away, in case anything happens. In case things take a turn for the worst.
Like clockwork, the guys take turns bringing her energy every few hours, making sure she has the strength to hang on. They never complain, and most of the time they don’t say a word. They just show up, give her energy, and leave again. Doing what they can to keep her alive.
Ashten comes to check on us a couple of times, always kind and offering to help with anything she can. I can’t believe it took so long for us to meet, and now I regret all the lost time, because she really is a gem. A beacon of light in this dark storm of a situation.
Every time Tobias steps onto the bus, I do my best to control my racing pulse. I distract myself with my phone, trying to pretend like the asshole doesn’t exist, but just his presence has my senses lighting up and my nerves on fire.
Then, he’s gone just as quickly.
Days pass, blurring into one another. Morning, noon, and night I stay on the tour bus, my mounting anxiety threatening to tear me apart. I lose track of time, but I refuse to leave.
Everything outside of this tour bus, including work, can wait. Niki’s health is more important, and if she isn’t able to pull through this—if these are her last days earthside—I plan to spend every second with her.
The weekend rolls by, and the band cancels theirshow. Not even the promise of money and a swell of energy can distract them from the task at hand. They’re all committed to keeping Niki alive, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
My nerves surge with every passing day, and I can’t seem to soothe the anxiety making me too jittery to stay still. I take a scalding shower in an attempt to relax and squeeze my ass into some of Niki’s clothes—leggings and a T-shirt. I get used to sleeping on the couch, crawling into bed with her anytime Sebastian isn’t around, talking to her like she’s listening. Hoping, with every part of me, that she can hear me and hang on just a little longer.
Every hour that passes is a milestone, every day a huge step further into the unknown, and I can’t help but cling desperately to a single thread of hope that Niki and the baby will make it out of this alive.
The last thing I want, after all this, is to bury my best friend.
Chapter 26
Tobias
It’s well after midnight when I gently open the door to Sebastian’s tour bus and climb on. My body is teeming with so much fresh energy that my steps are a little sloppy; I nearly topple up the stairs and catch myself at the last second.
Good job, Kaseilon.
The lights are off, aside from the emergency ones along the floor, but I can see well enough to make out Joseline’s form on the couch. Her soft snores are the only sounds in the room, and I stop a few feet away, allowing myself to look at her for the first time in days.
