A kiss was the first thing I felt when I woke. It was placed on my forehead, warm and gentle. The second thing I noticed was a hand was wrapped around mine. The last thing I noticed was the voice. "Fight it Jose! Fight it and come back! Come back to me!"
I tried to open my eyes, but they felt too heavy, so I went for using my voice instead. I tried to call out, but only a whimper came out.
"Jose?"
I squirmed, wanting to see him, wanting to tell him not to go away. Another whimper escaped my mouth.
"Hey, it's okay!" whispered that voice I didn't want to disappear. "I'm here. I'm here, Jose."
There was a hand on my face now, wiping away my tears. I opened my mouth and gasped in air, then strained to speak. "Kesar!"
"I'm here!" he whispered. Another kiss to my head. "I'm here." With those words in my mind, I fell asleep.
When I woke again, there was no warm presence beside me, no kiss on my head, no hand holding mine. I cried out weakly, squirming to get up and find him, needing to find him.
"Kesar! She's awake!" called a female voice. "Better hurry!"
I began to thrash now, tossing my head and feeling pain in my stomach. It hurt! It hurt so much!
"Kesar!"
Running feet caught my ears, then…
"I'm here, Jose!"
I whimpered, stilling my body once I felt his hand on my face. I managed to move my hand to my stomach, clawed at it.
"Jose, are you hurting?"
I whimpered louder.
"Get me something to help her." A kiss on my head. "Jose, can you swallow down some medicine?"
I would do anything to make the pain go away. "Kesar!" I groaned.
"I'm here, Jose. Can you take some medicine to help the pain?"
I began to cry, but nodded.
"This should help," said a voice I didn't recognize.
"Jose, open your mouth." I obeyed, swallowing down a foul tasting liquid. Once I finished, I coughed, the stuff leaving a horrible aftertaste. "Here," Kesar whispered, and cool sweet milk was poured into my mouth. I drank greedily, thinking I had never had anything so good in my life. A chuckle. "I thought you would like that."
He stopped giving me milk and I breathed, licking my lips and settling back on the bed. "She's going to fall back asleep. The medicine will make her tired."
"As long as she wakes up, I don't care."
"We're out of that danger, Kesar. She's going to wake up from now on, but sleep much."
"I'm fine with that."
A hand clasped mine. I squeezed, letting my head fall to the side. It squeezed back and I sighed with content, falling back asleep.
I don't know how much time has passed, but I woke several times before I was finally able to open my eyes and look around. I was in the infirmary. Beside me, a table held a glass of water and a plate of eggs, sausage, and toast. I carefully sat up, reaching for the table and wheeling it over. My stomach roared, so I dug in. It was the first time I ate a whole plate of food in my entire life. I was happy with myself, drinking the water slowly.
The door opened and a familiar nurse came in, smiled at me. "You seem to be feeling better!"
I nodded, remembering it was Verah.
"Kesar should be back soon. He just left to grab clothes."
I nod again, gestured for pen and paper. Verah smiled and grabbed them. I wrote, "Sleep days?"
Verah sighed, sitting beside me. "It's been about three weeks since Kesar brought you in here."
I tried to remember what happened but all I could think of was being saved by Zargis, Otreg, Thelia, and Cam. "Switch Jose pain?"
"Do you remember how he injected you with something to help your leg?" Verah asked. I nodded. "It was poison. When he attacked you again, it got your heart rate and adrenaline so high, it turned the stuff to help you off and instead began to poison you."
"Help?"
"Yes, we helped you. It put you in a lot of pain, but you will be back to normal soon." Verah smiled at me. "Maybe if you're up to it, you can leave the infirmary tonight."
"Thelia?"
"She's doing good. Safe."
"Zargis?"
"The same."
I nodded. "Switch? Einnig?"
"Both are locked up. They can't hurt you anymore."
This made me relax, lie back and sigh in relief, begin to take a breath without worry.
The door opened then and I smiled. Verah made her way out as Kesar walked over with a bundle in his arms. When he saw my eyes open, he dropped the bundle and hurried over, cupping my face with both hands. "Jose!"
"Kesar," I sighed.
"It's good to see you smiling again," he whispered. "How are you?"
"Happy," I say, though that didn't quite cover what I felt. It would have to do.
"Pain?" I shook my head. He sighed and gently sat down and pulled me into his arms. I buried my face in his chest and wrapped my arms around his torso. It felt good, felt safe. "I've been worried sick about you!" He gasped. "You were in so much pain. Then you didn't wake up! I didn't know what to do!"
I squeezed, the only way to tell him I understood.
Pulling back, he kissed my head and smiled. "Everyone can't wait to see you!"
"Thelia Jose help," I say.
He nodded. "Zargis told me what happened. They can't hurt you anymore, Jose. They are locked up, no way out."
I nod. "Clean?" I ask, looking down at myself and feeling gross.
Kesar chuckled. "You've had baths since I brought you in, but I'll go start the water. Did you eat?"
"Big food," I say. Kesar furrowed his brows so I pointed to my empty plat.
"You ate all of it?" I nod, rubbing my stomach in glee. Kesar grinned. "Good! I'll be back!"
He picked up the clothes and ran into the bathroom. Verah sneaked in and took the dirty dishes and set some of those white clothes on my bed, then disappeared. A few minutes later, Kesar returned and helped me stand, supporting me while we walked into the bathroom and sitting me on the toilet. He knelt and asked, "Do you want help? I can get Verah…"
I shook my head. "Kesar safe. Kesar Jose…" I trailed off, trying to say the right word but ended up lost.
"Help?"
I shake my head. "Kesar-" I gestured to the room. "No go."
"Do you want me to stay?"
"S-s-"
"Stay," he said slowly.
"St-stay?"
"Stay," he smiled. "You want me to stay with you."
"Stay Jose."
"Stay with Jose."
"With?"
He nods. "Kesar stay with Jose."
"Kesar stay with Jose."
He smiled again. "Kesar will stay."
"With Jose?"
"With Jose," he confirms.
An hour later, I have bathed, dressed, and am steadier on my feet, walking around the infirmary slowly while Kesar cleans up.
I was lost in my thoughts, thinking about how I wanted more time with Thelia to teach me to write and possibly speak when the door opened. I spin around and give a shy smile. "You have no idea how good it is to see you up and looking healthy again," Zargis said, looking me over. "Is Kesar here?"
I point to the bathroom.
He nods and opens his arms to me. I slowly go over, hug him. I felt him hug back, gentle but strong. "Do you know when you'll be released?"
I turn, gently undoing his arms to get my pen and paper. "Night?"
Zargis nods. "Jose?" I look at him. "Why don't you talk?"
"Learn."
"You know we all will help you learn, right?"
I shrug. "Thelia with Jose. Jose Thelia learn. Jose Thelia talk tomorrow."
He furrows his brows. "She is going to ask Thelia to teach her," Kesar interprets and walks over to wrap an arm around my waist.
"I've heard you, you know?" Zargis says softly. "You called out Kesar's name many times since that day."
I nod. "Jose sad. No good talk. Learn. Talk Zargis."
He nods. "I just want you to know that you don't have to hide. We all would rather you feel comfortable around us than distance yourself away."
"Learn with Thelia. Talk Zargis. Happy Jose."
Zargis chuckled. "Alright." He turns to Kesar. "When do you want to interrogate?"
"Two days. I want to make sure Jose is completely healed before I leave her."
Zargis nods. "If she is released, you should bring her to Thelia's chambers."
Kesar doesn't have to answer because I smile and nod emphatically. Kesar laughs. "We will certainly do that."
Zargis leaves a few minutes later after confirming a few more things with Kesar, then we're alone, sitting on my bed. "Kesar in-inter-"
"Interogate."
I tilt my head.
"It means to ask questions of a person to find the truth about why or how something happened."
"Person?"
"Who," he corrects.
"Who?"
"Who am I interrogating," he says. I nod. "Switch and Einnig. We want to know why they targeted you and Thelia."
"Switch jealous Zargis."
"Yes but that doesn't give him the right to take her away and put her in danger. Nor does it make it right to hurt you."
"Jose Switch stranger."
"I know. That's why it doesn't make sense."
I nod then ask, "Danger?"
"What about it?"
"Thelia danger?"
Kesar sighs. "Do you remember the big group of people we saw before we left the cottage?" I nod. "Do you remember the people in chains?"
"Man talk cruel."
"Man was wrong," Kesar shook his head. "Those people were dragons, taken and hurt. They are being forced to do whatever those humans want."
"Dragon hurt? Do?"
"They didn't do anything. The humans are scared and are fixed on killing that fear by acting bigger and stronger."
"Thelia human."
"Yes."
I tilt my head, unable to voice the question in my head.
"If what Zargis and I believe is true, Switch has allied with those humans. We think he is wanting to take Thelia to those humans and make her think dragons are dangerous."
"Einnig?"
"I don't know about him. He probably is just being used."
"U-used?"
"It means Switch has Einnig doing whatever he wants until he's happy. When Switch is happy, it's probable that he'll kill Einnig."
"Einnig good? Einnig bad?"
Kesar shrugged. "I thought he was good with anger problems, but now I don't know."
I frown. "Jose Einnig interrogate?"
"You want to interrogate Einnig?" I nod. "Why?"
"Jose Einnig good. Jose Einnig bad. Einnig Jose talk. Jose Kesar talk"
Kesar frowned. "You don't have to, Jose. I can get him to talk."
I shake my head. "Kesar pain. Jose Kesar help."
Now he gives me a smile. "Okay, but not alone." I shake my head with a gross look. That made Kesar laugh.
I was released from the infirmary that might and after stopping by Kesar's chambers to get shoes, we went to Thelia's chambers.
The moment she opened the door, she squealed with joy and hugged me. I hugged back, happy to see her. "You're okay! I was so worried!"
She led us inside, then let us sit on her couch while she got drinks. She had just handed them to us when someone else came in. It was Zargis. He smiled at his female's joy and sat beside her as they and Kesar talked. I just listened, content for the time.
"Jose?"
I blinked up at Thelia, smiling.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" She held out her hand and I took it, letting her lead me to the bedroom. I sat on her bed and waited. Thelia sat beside me. "Kesar was worried for you."
I nod, knowing this.
"I mean really worried, Jose. He didn't leave your side unless absolutely necessary. He cried which he never does!"
I frown, not knowing this.
Thelia grabbed my hands and squeezed gently. "You also wouldn't let him go. You didn't let anyone else take care of you, cried when he was only using the bathroom."
I gazed out at the male who had saved my life, the male who I could trust more than anyone else. "Kesar," I whisper.
Thelia nodded. "Yes. Kesar."
"Thelia Jose help?" I ask.
Thelia blinked in surprise. "What?"
"Thelia Jose help? Jose learn talk. Thelia Jose help?"
Thelia smiled. "Of course!"