Jess was at his heels. “You’re not going alone,” she said.
Mitch nodded and headed for his car. He placed the phone in its holder and accessed the app that would lead him to Diar. The air was tense as Mitch hauled ass and roared down the driveway. From the GPS coordinates, Diar wasn’t far away.
“What’s the emergency beacon?” Jess asked.
“A programme we got that we hit if we’re in danger. We’ve never used it until now. Which means Diar is in big trouble,” Mitch gritted out. Worry swamped Mitch; the app showed Diar’s location, not his fate.
“There!” Jess shouted as they rounded a corner and spotted a hole in the crash barrier.
A man stood staring downwards at something. When he saw their car, he jumped into his own and sped off.
Mitch glimpsed him, but his concern lay with Diar.
“Fuck!” Mitch exclaimed, pulling into a lay-by. He didn’t hesitate and rushed across the road and peered down the steep slope. Mitch could see where a car had rolled down, and following the path, he spotted Diar’s crumpled vehicle.
He cautiously began making his way down, telling Jess to stay where she was. His gut was tied in a knot; if Diar were badly hurt or worse… he’d burn the world down around the Sealgair Uilebheist’s ears. Mitch reached the car and tried to open the door. It was so warped, Mitch had to brace his foot against it to open it.
After a struggle, Mitch finally opened it and shoved the deflated airbag away. Diar lay with his head on the wheel, blood dripping down his face, and his eyes closed. Panicked, Mitch felt for a pulse, and relief swept through him when he felt a pulse.
“How bad is he?” Jess demanded as she slammed into the car’s boot. The tree holding it in place groaned.
“Bad. We need an ambulance and a fire engine. Diar’s legs are trapped.” Mitch couldn’t stop staring at the blood pooling in thefootwell. That meant Diar was in serious trouble. Had he lost his legs for good this time?
“Move,” Rhett demanded, and Mitch withdrew in surprise. “You need to get him out. Jess, call Mary and have her get Pandora ready. She needs to meet us. This man won’t last long otherwise. Leon’s taking my car back, and I’ll take yours and will follow you from his house.”
“Thank you, Rhett. Sorry, Mitch,” Jess apologised up front as she called Mary Worth three times. Jess grabbed Diar’s shoulder and then Mitch’s hand before he was ready. The world shifted, Mitch’s stomach tipped upside down, and he landed in the throne room.
Vomit rose, and Mitch headed for a bin in the corner.
When he turned back, Baba Yaga, Lilith, and Pandora were bent over Diar. Mitch almost threw up again when he saw the injuries to Diar’s stomach and legs. Diar wouldn’t survive this. Even if he did, Diar would never be pain-free again. Tears trickled down his cheeks.
“Let Diar die,” Mitch choked out. Baba Yaga and Lilith stared at him. Pandora completely ignored him as she held glowing hands over Diar.
“What?” Lilith demanded.
“Diar… those injuries… he won’t want to live with them,” Mitch murmured, dashing tears from his face.
“Good job he won’t have to,” Baba Yaga said.
“Mitch,” Jess wrapped herself around him, and he embraced her tightly. “Pandora can heal. She’s an amazing healer.”
A whitish-blue light shone from Pandora’s hands, and it grew until it covered Diar’s full body. Several people appeared in the tower, watching and placing their hands on Pandora. Not to distract to but to offer her strength and support, Mitch realised as Pandora didn’t respond.
Minutes ticked past, and then an hour, two hours, and Pandora continued working. Most of the Uile-bheist arrived and offered wordless solidarity. Twice, Lilith and Baba Yaya went into trances and bolstered Pandora with energy. Mitch dropped to the ground and prayed. Four hours later, Pandora slumped into Dale’s/Invisible Man’s arms and closed her eyes.
“He’s healed but needs rest, or he’ll undo everything I’ve done,” Pandora murmured. Mitch scurried across the floor to check on Diar and was relieved to see his friend had colour in his cheeks. Diar lay serenely, his chest rising and falling steadily.
“He’ll make it?” he whispered as he placed a hand on Diar’s chest.
“Yes,” Pandora muttered. “And this time he’ll be pain-free.” Pandora’s eyes rolled up, and she closed them.
“I’ll take Pandora to her room,” Dale stated, picking her up.
“I’ll bring a restorative,” Baba Yaga said as she yawned.
“Your friend can’t stay here. Shay, please shift and carry our guest to Jess’s spare bedroom,” Lilith ordered gently.
“Diar’s really going to be okay?” Mitch gasped as he realised what they’d done for them. Diar would be pain-free. His friend had not experienced that for eighteen years.
