Graveyard Watchman (Book 1)

Chapter 72

Dominic's arms are still wrapped around my waist as I watch the awkward reunion of my aunt and uncle. My lids feel like they have weights attached to them and I can barely keep my body in a standing position. Dominic must have noticed because he instantly scoops up my legs, cradling me as he begins to walk out through the infirmary double doors. His steady stride is familiar and comforting, making it easy to give in and allow my body to relax.

"Dominic." My brother calls out to him and he turns around. "She needs rest but stay with her. I'll come by in the morning," he pauses, "to check on her."

Dominic doesn't say a word as he nods, heading back in the same direction down the corridor. My body aches like I have the flu and I can no longer open my eyes so I snuggle closer to him, taking in his incredible scent—but his arms keep me just far enough away to reveal he's not happy with me. Not even a little bit.

I'm too exhausted to care as he continues to walk, his shoes echoing a steady rhythm off the stone walls and everything starts to slowly fade away...

~~~~

Hushed whispering from across the room interrupts my dreamless sleep as I attempt to open my eyes. Trying to focus on the blurry figures standing just feet away, I instantly see Dominic standing with another person. Listening carefully for more clues, I recognize Zack's voice almost immediately as they both stop and look in my direction.

"She's awake." Zack says in a low voice, walking toward me as Dominic follows. I smile but quickly realize they both look too serious to notice.

"How are you feeling?" Zack asks, his expression starting to make me nervous.

"I'm fine." I pull myself up but my head slams back down on the pillow, throbbing from the quick motion as I look at both of them in confusion.

"You're not fine." Zack deadpans. "You have no idea what you've done."

My eyes instantly lock with his, "What are you talking about?" as my fingers automatically  begin rubbing my temples.

Zack turns to look at Dominic, then back to me. "You shouldn't have done it, Katie, " he says in a whisper, but I can still hear his words loud and clear.

"What?" I say, pushing the covers back in an attempt to show my frustration. "Saved my uncle's life?"

"Yes!" he shouts, looking around the room as if he didn't mean to raise his voice.

Fighting the urge to keep my head on the pillow, I pull myself up as instant nausea hits my gut. I take in a deep breath to refocus in an attempt not to hurl all over myself as my eyes shift back and forth to both of them.

"Let me tell you a little story," I pause; swallowing the vile trying to make it's way up my throat. "Nobody handed me a freaking guide book on how to become an entirely different person in a matter of a couple of weeks!" I cough as my anger continues to build. "Much less become a God Damn Queen! So I suggest you chill on judging my every move!"

"Watch your language!" Zack shouts, completely ignoring my rant.

"Seriously?" I yell back. "You guys expect me to be perfect under these circumstances? When I clearly don't even know what I'm doing or even want it to begin with?"

Zack's brows push together like the answer is obvious, "You don't have a choice..."

"Yeah, yeah," I interrupt, "It's my destiny, my duty and all that shit. Well, you can fire me and find someone else! I won't be ridiculed like a child!"

"That's just it!" Zack says, "Everything you do. Every single decision you make is completely up to you," he stops. "We have no say so once your mind is make up."

I have to swallow again to push back another wave of nausea.

Holy shit.

"Then why is everyone so upset? I did what I thought was right. Hell, I didn't even do it for me, I did it for Aunt Kelly."

"We know..." Dominic chimes in, his deep tone redirecting my thoughts.

"Then how can you be upset? How can it be a bad thing?" I plead, looking back and forth to both of them.

"Because, Katie," Zack whispers, as if attempting to dial back my emotions. "You brought back a demon."

"Wait, the demon was gone!" I say, pausing for them to agree but they just stare at me. "You both saw him leave. We all did!"

"Yes." Zack answers, "But the risk outweighed the act, you could have died." he looks down as if it hurts just thinking about it. "Only time will tell if it was the right thing to do. Until then, for the next couple of days, you're going to feel like you've been hit by a truck."