Chapter 39: Cassandra

"Did they say what was wrong?" I asked as we ran across the courtyard. The morning was starting the way the evening ended. I needed to start my morning off with bourbon instead of coffee.

Nicolette ran alongside me, out of breath. I considered speeding up just to see her stop to catch her breath. "Just that he wasn't responding," she said. "Dash seemed pretty upset. He even seemed panicky."

"He's still alive, right?" I watched Nicolette for a reaction, and all she did was shrug. "Answer me, Nicolette!"

"He said Braeden and him were trying to save him, Cass, geez."

"Oliver, what do you know?" I asked.

Oliver pulled his computer from his pack as we ran. He fumbled with it in his hands but managed to type something on the screen. He then stopped and stared in horror at whatever came up. "Aurelius' life-force is almost gone. He doesn't have much time."