She stabbed him with a sword, ran a spear through him, and dropped a boulder on him.
And brought him back, and back, and back.
Then she hung him from her balcony, which took longer, but finally killed him. Again.
And she brought him back.
But after that—after I'dbeen presentat each of his deaths, because that's how my "gift" works, it's full living color—after all of that, it stopped.
I opened my eyes. I was shaking, tears were running down my face, and Jack was holding me, saying my name, over and over and over. Susan and Logan stared at me, concern in both their faces, and Jed huddled at the other end of the porch, on the floor, and I waited, sucking in deep breath after deep breath, and I waited, but …
That was it. There were no more visions.
I only saw the deaths he'd already endured, not the final one still to come.
Exactly how it had been with Jack.
"I'm okay," I finally managed to say. "Just—that was harder than usual."
"There's an understatement," Jack said, his arms tightening around me. "Tess? Honey, are you all right now? Do we need to get you to the hospital?"
"I'm fine," I said, and I actually was okay—not fine, not even close to fine, but okay. I'd survived worse. And the good thing, if anything could be said to be good about seeing how someone was going to die, or had died, is that physically the aftereffects had lessened significantly since the visions had first started when I was a teenager.
I just really,reallywanted to sleep.
In my own bed.
"It's okay, Jack, put me down," I murmured, because I could see Jed collapsing in on himself in guilt and distress, and it was suddenly more important that I help him than try to catch my breath.
Jack protested, but I insisted, and then I shakily walked over to Jed and dropped down to sit on the floor next to him. This time, I tookhishand, holding tight when he tried to snatch it back.
"It's okay," I reassured him. "I really am fine, and the visions only kick in the first time I touch a person."
"I'm so sorry," he rasped out, the trace of tears shining on his face. "I didn't even think. I just wanted to thank you for being so kind, and I … I … I'm so sorry."
I patted his hand. "It's okay. Even people who've known me for a long time forget sometimes. It's over now, and I'm fine. I'm just so sorry for what she put you through."
Anger seared through me, burning away any lingering weakness from the visions. "That … that …horrible woman! I saw it all. She killed yousix times. You're so lucky to even be alive to talk to us. I'm in awe of your strength."
Jack snarled; a low, terrifying sound. "Six times? She'll answer to me for that."
Jed started to answer Jack, but then his gaze snapped to me. "Six? But I thought … You didn't see a seventh? You didn't see how I'll finally die for the last time?"
I shook my head. "No. It happened that way with Jack, too. I only saw how he died in the past, not how he'd die in the future."
Logan cast a speculative glance at Jack. "You died before? When was this?"
"None of your business," Jack snapped. "Tess, are you sure—"
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm fine. I just really, really need to sleep. Especially if we're meeting at dawn…"
"I can take you," Jack said, but I shook my head.
"No, you need to stay here with your granddad, and I need my car." I gave Jed's hand one last pat and then stood and walked over to my car.
Jack followed me and touched my cheek, staring down into my eyes. "Tess, are you sure? You can stay here, in the other spare room. I'm not sure you should be alone."
"No. I really want to be home in my own bed. I just need to sleep. Really. I'll text you before I fall asleep, okay?"
