Nicky sat down in a corner of the lift. He was panicking, partly because of his lift phobia, but even more because he sensed that Shane was in deep trouble. Why hadn’t he used the stairs?

He closed his eyes. "Lord, forgive me. Please help Shane. I know I have failed but don’t let him suffer. Punish me, but save him. Please, don’t let him suffer because of my failure."

He opened his eyes as he felt the presence of another spirit. Cliodhna appeared beside him.

"My Lady?" She smiled.

"Nicholas, you have not failed. Fate wanted you sent here to learn how to care for people. It is part of a punishment for what you did 6 centuries ago." She smiled. "You put Shane’s life before your own, and therefore you have completed this mission."

"Is… is Shane all right?" He forgot to call her Lady but she didn’t seem to notice.

She reached her hand for him. "He will be. He is in trouble now, you have to finish off your work and beat Kian." He took her hand and felt the rush as she transported them out of the lift.

She gave him a hug, something that was very uncommon. "You will make this. I will see you."

"Thank you, my Lady." She vanished and Nicky hurried to his and Shane’s room.

Shane’s key was still in the outside of the door so Nicky turned it and entered. He gasped. Kian was stood over Shane, who was clutching his head; his face twisted in pain as tears flowed down his cheeks.

"Kian."

Kian looked up, intimidating but Nicky would not back off.

"Oh, Nicky. I was just finishing off your… protégé. You may go home, here’s nothing for you."

Nicky took a deep breath and a step closer to Kian. "If Shane’s here there is something for me."

Kian nodded in Shane’s direction. "I don’t think you can save him."

Nicky took another step closer. "Try me Kian. I dare to say I can."

"Oh yeah?"

"Oh yeah." Nicky took a few steps more and ripped the chain from around Kian’s neck.

Kian cried out. ""You give me that back…"

Nicky backed. "I do not." He took a crystal piece out of his own pocket and clutched it with Kian’s pendant in his hand. A blinding flash of lightning filled the room as Kian cried out and fell.

Nicky slowly opened his hand. Both the pendant and the crystal had vanished.

Chapter 9 >>