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member of the Brotherhood and had followed their protocol, he had killed the father and the injuries inflicted on the child left her at death’s door.
    All because of her.
    She forced a calm façade. If she couldn’t control her reaction to the man, all would be lost. “I’ll do my best. What are your names?”
    “Mine’s Sally.” Tears rolled unchecked down her checks. She lightly brushed the backs of her fingers along the toddler’s cheek and raised her gaze to Allana. “Mandy’s only three. Please save her.”
    She nodded in silent encouragement. Oh, she would save the child...and the mother, then she would teleport them all to safety. As the humans said, fuck ‘em . Allana placed a hand under Mandy’s head and the other on her forehead. Her eyes closed. She turned her sight outward, letting her essence float into the child. Her mind focused to merge with Mandy.
    She searched for the most life threatening wounds and tunneled into the child’s brain, melding herself with the fragile mesh of Mandy’s cerebellum. Ripped vessels and small arteries oozed blood into delicate tissue. She isolated damaged and dying cells from healthy. Pinpoint white light, much like the norm’s lasers, sealed the tears and evaporated the liquid on the surface. Her energy permeated and quarantined one lobe at a time as she eased through the labyrinth of each layer until she stopped every leak, and prevented further damage and death.
    Satisfied, she floated down the brain stem into Mandy’s spine and stilled at the sight. It was a miracle the child was still alive. She carefully matched torn nerve fibers, sealed minor tears, halted leaks of spinal fluid, and ensured stability. Spotting a cracked vertebra, she mended bone and eased the swollen disk.
    Then she focused her attention on the child’s ruptured spleen and torn liver. The hemorrhaging fissures seared closed, she gave silent vent to her rage, grateful that in this state no one could hear her internal screams at what this child had endured.
    Allana turned to the spiral shattered right ulna. She fit the puzzle pieces together, knitting them together into one seamless forearm bone. She could prevent Mandy suffering the aches from broken limbs, but was helpless to heal the broken heart that would come from the loss of her father or the memory of what had happened to her. Events didn’t determine character, rather how one dealt with them did. Mandy’s character, even at this young age, was strong and honorable, as was her mother’s.
    Now to get them all to safety. She began to disengage from Mandy, then stilled. No, that would never work. Weakness infused every muscle of Allana’s body. She had used most of her power to heal the child. From experience, she could either save herself or use what was left of her energy send the two norms to the safety of her rooms in the boardinghouse one hamlet over.
    Save the two innocents or herself, but not all three.
    Goddess, hear my prayer. I beseech you. Protect this child and her mother from further harm. Allow me sufficient energy to teleport them to safe haven .
    White light filled her. With a mental sigh, she completely withdrew from Mandy and back into her own body. Straightening, she nodded to Sally, joined the mother and child’s hands, and placed hers atop theirs.
    “You finished, Healer,” the man growled.
    Allana smiled. “Almost, there’s one more thing to complete. May the Goddess protect you both and shower you with her light and love.” Not even a flash of light signaled the disappearance. Shoulders sagging, she allowed herself a quick breath of relief.
    “What the hell? Where’d they go?”
    She lifted her gaze to his and winced under the assault of his corrupt soul visible within the emotionless depths of his eyes. “I don’t know,” she said with a shrug.
    He reached her in two long strides, his weapon raised. The last of her energy faded as he slammed the rifle’s butt against her forehead.
     
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    They