Carpathian 12 - Dark Melody

were bandages everywhere. Lisa had lied and said she was his fiancée so she could stay with him. Once Corinne's disappearance had been confirmed, the hospital staff left Lisa strictly alone, posting guards at the door to Cullen's room.
    Obviously, no one knew what to say to her. Lisa didn't know what to do. John and Corinne had always handled the details of their lives.
    She stuffed her hand into her mouth, biting hard to keep from screaming. She was responsible for this disaster. If she had listened, Corinne and the baby would still be safe. Cullen wouldn't be near death.
    "But he will not die," a soft feminine voice said from behind her. "Do not be alarmed – I am Syndil and this is Barack."
    Startled, Lisa spun around, nearly falling off the chair. She hadn't heard a thing, and the security guard hadn't escorted anyone into the room, yet two people were standing just inside the door. Her heart pounding in alarm, Lisa debated whether to scream for help. It took a moment before she recognized the names. Barack and Syndil from the Troubadour band. Dayan's friends.
    "How did you get in here?" Lisa whispered. She didn't understand anything that was going on.
    "Cullen has been our friend for a long time. He risked his life to warn us when we were in danger. We would never allow him to die," Barack told her. He smiled gently, looking directly into her eyes. "You must be Lisa, Corinne's sister. Dayan has told us much about you."
    Lisa burst into a storm of fresh tears. "They've taken Corinne."
    Syndil circled Lisa's shoulders comfortingly. "Corinne is fine, Lisa. She was dying here. Dayan could not Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    allow such a thing. Gregori, one of our greatest healers, has come from New Orleans to help her. We are determined that Corinne and the baby will live." She squeezed Lisa's shoulders gently in reassurance and then glided the short distance to Cullen's side. At once her expression changed. "Barack, he is so pale.
    There is much damage." She touched Cullen's shoulder with gentle fingers. "It is difficult to see him this way."
    "He will not be so for long," Barack answered confidently.
    Lisa drew herself up to her full height. "Tell me about Corinne. Where is she? Dayan had no right to remove my sister from the hospital when she was so deathly ill. He had no right." For the first time in her life, Lisa was not going to hide from the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
    Barack glanced back at her. "Lisa" – his voice was soft but compelling – "you know Dayan. You know that he loves Corinne and wants her to live. He needs her to live. He took her to the only people who have a chance of saving her. You wanted him to save her, remember?"
    Lisa blinked rapidly. She found herself nodding, wondering why she was so upset. Of course Dayan would take care of Corinne. Anyone could tell he was crazy about her. She moved to stand beside the bed, reaching for Cullen's hand.
    "Sit here near him and stay close while we work," Syndil invited softly. "No one will come in to disturb us."
    "Corinne is really going to be all right? She's with Dayan?" Lisa sat in the chair because the relief was so tremendous that her rubbery legs threatened to give out.
    "Gregori is reputed to be the best in the world." Syndil's voice was melodic, easy to listen to. "And yes, Lisa," she continued, "Dayan is with Corinne and will not leave her side."
    "Where? I need to see her."
    Barack reached down and caught her chin, tilting her head so she was forced to look up at him. "You will see her soon, Lisa. Right now, your place is with Cullen. He needs you here. You know Corinne is in the best of hands, but Cullen is alone. He needs care. As soon as he is able to travel, he must be taken to a safe house which Syndil and I will secure. You will care for him there until he can go with you to where Corinne and Dayan are. It is what you want, and you will rest easy over Corinne's health, trusting in Dayan to inform you of her progress. Dayan must stay with Corinne; it is where he belongs." Barack's voice was mesmerizing, hypnotic. Lisa felt as if she were falling forward into his dark eyes.
    Barack made perfect sense to her. She had to stay with Cullen. She was responsible for his terrible wound, and there was no one else to take care of him. Dayan's place was definitely with Corinne.
    "I am going to teach you a healing chant, Lisa," Syndil said softly. "It will help us to aid Cullen. The