The Evensong by Lindsay Payton Read Free Book Online Page B

towards the door. “Ready to make a run to the car?”
    I nodded, hardly listening until he opened the door.
    The rain was pouring down in sheets, and I was soaked by the time I climbed into the passenger seat of his old station wagon. My hair stuck to my neck and face, and I pushed it all away, annoyed. My head still felt like it was slowly splitting. Linden fell into the drivers seat, shaking the hair out of his eyes as he started the engine. I buckled my seatbelt as the car lurched forward, and I prepared myself for a long ride, though home was barely ten minutes away.
    When Linden pulled up to the house, I felt just as bad as before. It wasn’t as intense as when the storm hit, but I still felt awful.
    “Okay, do you think you can walk?” Linden asked.
    “I’m fine, I’ll see you around,” I said hurriedly, fighting with the door handle. Linden leaned over and opened it for me, and I avoided his gaze completely as I prepared to get out.
    “Hey, I hope you’re okay,” he said before I could leave.
    “Thanks,” I replied, stepping into the storm. Before I closed the door, I got a glimpse of his face under the spikes of hair over his eyes. He frowned into space, looking troubled and confused as the rain dripped down his cheeks. I paused, but then shut the door, making a run for the front door, hoping I could just sleep this thing off immediately.
     

RECOVERY ’ S CURIOSITIES
    A slew of herbs were piled on the nightstand next to my bed. I could smell them, even in my sleep. It was what roused me the next afternoon, just in time to see Alysana walk in, a steaming mug in her hand.
    “Hey,” she said quietly, shutting the door behind her. “How long have you been awake?”
    “Your herbs woke me up,” I replied hoarsely. I tried to clear my throat, but it was too dry, and I grimaced as I brushed my hair out of my face.
    “It’s a good thing you finally woke up,” Alysana said as she crouched next to the bed. “Rene was almost going to resort to the hospital.”
    “Why was she so worried?” I asked, sitting up on my elbows. My head still ached from the night before— the night before . Everything started coming back to me: stumbling out of Linden’s car, running into the house and completely collapsing on the stairs. That was the last thing I remembered; I didn’t even know how I got into bed.
    “Considering you were partially conscious when you got here, I think she had reason to worry. You wouldn’t wake up.”
    “Sorry—I didn’t know it was that bad,” I replied. “So was it you that saved me from the ER?”
    She shrugged slightly as she sat on the bed next to me. “I’ve only been doing as much as I can, just giving you healing stuff. I figured it was a headache, just a million times worse?”
    “Yeah—I was at Linden’s, and when it—”
    “Who?”
    I paused, wondering if the questioning would begin. “Stranger. Linden’s his real name.”
    Alysana raised her eyebrows in intrigue. She smiled and jostled my shoulder. “Well, now you know his actual name. But tell me later.”
    I smiled meekly and thanked her, leaning back against my pillows. She instructed me to drink the tea she had brought and promised she’d have Rene make soup for dinner.
    When she left the room, I noticed Omar hovering in the hall, waiting until Alysana left before tentatively knocking on the door.
    “Can I come in?” he asked.
    “Uh—no,” I replied mockingly as I sat up, pulling the comforter with me. I smiled and Omar stepped in, carefully maneuvering over my things that layered the floor.
    “Are you okay?” he asked as he sat on the corner of my desk.
    “I swear, I’m fine,” I sighed, leaning back. “It was just a bad headache.”
    “Bad enough to make you pass out?”
    I glanced at him sharply, surprised at his hard tone. He looked angry, his jaw clenched and his hands tight on the desk.
    “I guess so,” I shrugged.
    “Did that guy do something to you?”
    I didn’t really mean to, but