Free Fire and Ice by Michele Barrow-Belisle

With a frustrated grimace he untangled them, pushing her arm away, but his finger caught on her wire bracelet, tearing his skin.
    â€œ Ouch . Why do you always wear that thing? It’s forever making me bleed.”
    I grabbed hold of his hand before I noticed the gash. His index finger pulsed beads of crimson liquid from an inch-long tear. Suddenly, my head grew fuzzy. The room blurred, and I swayed, knowing what would come next. Even with Adrius’s arm around me, I dropped to my knees, which was always preferable to falling from a standing position… less chance of breaking something, again. Of course my cracked rib had healed overnight that time. But still, it hurt like crazy.
    â€œPut your head between your knees.” A firm hand was pushing the back of my head. I knew that voice, but it was distorted… too difficult to make out, and I didn’t dare look up. If Davin’s finger came any closer, that would be it. Too late. The smell washed over me, like sea salt and rusted boats. Everything faded as I felt what little strength I had give way, completely.
    ****
    I opened my eyes. It was too bright. I was lying on my back somewhere. A kitchen, an office? A face hovered over me, and I strained to focus. Then it all came rushing back… Davin, the blood, and… I gasped. Adrius . He had witnessed the whole thing. And it was his beautifully concerned face now inches above mine. He smiled, and I smiled… an automatic reaction.
    â€œYou okay?”
    â€œI’m good.” My hoarse, scratchy voice sounded anything but.
    Pushing myself upright, I took in the computer and files littering the desk.
    His hand supported my elbow. “Are you sure you’re ready to get up?”
    â€œShe said she was fine,” came a deep growl from the far corner of the room.
    I recognized that voice too and the tone. “How’s your finger, Davin?” I asked, still a little bleary-eyed.
    Something was up. I can always tell when he’s upset. It only took another second to figure out why.
    â€œHealed,” he said, with a tight smile. “Don’t worry — not everyone noticed.” Davin’s scowl swung from Adrius back to me repeatedly. Finally he shot up. “I’ve gotta find Bri,” he muttered, marching past us and slamming the door behind him.
    I frowned, shaking my head slightly, which only made the dizziness return.
    â€œSo… how long have you been able to do that?” Adrius asked, handing me a paper bag and a glass of juice… lemonade. I made a face but drank it anyway as worry seeped through me.
    I was right. He had witnessed not only my embarrassing habit of passing out at the sight of blood, but also my freakish ability to heal. Most normal people would run screaming for their crucifix and holy water. But he seemed strangely unfazed by the whole thing. As if it were normal for me to do what I could do, but didn’t because of the incredible nausea still rocking my stomach.
    â€œI don’t know,” I said rubbing my forehead. “Since I was a kid. The first time, was when Davin broke his arm. That’s why he knows.” My eyes fell and I waited for the reaction I felt should be coming. When he didn’t say anything I continued. “He fell out of the tree house in Gran’s yard, and well, the bone was sticking out of the skin and everything. There was no doubt it was broken. I took him into the house. Gran called an ambulance and mixed an herbal concoction to help while we waited. But when she came back, he was fine… the bone back in place, bleeding and pain gone.” I lifted my gaze searching his face, but his expression was unreadable. “The doctors said there was a hairline fracture, and a week later, they decided they’d misdiagnosed him because there was no trace of anything. Not even a scar.”
    I paused, waiting for him to say something, or bolt, or worse. But he didn’t. He just looked