I knew I shouldn’t have come to the hospital. It was just a nightmare. But I honestly didn’t know where else I could go in the middle of the night. I did not want to be at home. The sound of the clicking hazards lurked in my eardrums.
“Here.” Rosemary handed me a napkin. “It’s late. You should be home.”
I wiped the sweat from my forehead while I studied Rosemary. She was the only one who brought me any comfort since the incident, and I couldn’t pinpoint why. Her features softened as she met my gaze – her cheekbones, her jaw, her lips. They all appeared fuller than they had only moments ago.
“You hungry? We have pizza in the break room.” Clearly, Rosemary was going to be the one carrying the weight of this conversation.
I grinned toothily at the question. My appetite suddenly returned. “Absolutely.”
I left her in the room and sprinted to the breakroom, my mind only focused on one thing: pizza. It’s not a bad idea, right? But I never made it there. As soon as I crossed the threshold into the ER, the biting, iron scent of blood suffocated my nostrils. The wound on my shoulder ached, and a hunger like I’d never experienced exploded in my gut. My eyes narrowed in pursuit, searching for the source of the smell.
A stretcher whooshed past me surrounded by a bevy of paramedics. A man drenched in blood that was pouring from deep, jagged cuts wailed and struggled against the pain. I felt my consciousness slip away and something else rose to take its place. I lunged forward – a thing, a creature of undiluted impulse, advancing for the most basic of needs. That syrupy, mineral liquid of life. The thrill of flesh tearing apart.
I never caught my prey.
Supernaturally strong arms enveloped me. I shrieked and struggled, but the arms only drew around me more tightly. They spun me, dragged me into the breakroom, and then slammed me against the wall. They were Rosemary’s. Before I could react, she locked the door and turned to face me. Her face was no longer soft, no longer full. Rosemary’s cheekbones were sharp edges, her jaws were straight lines.
“Bonnie,” she snarled. “Bonnie, calm down!”
I blinked rapidly, my chest caving in with each breath I expelled. Confused, I looked to Rosemary hoping for an explanation. She pulled me into a hug, and I relaxed in her embrace.
“Only a panic attack. We are fine,” Rosemary purred, stroking the middle of my back. “Focus on your breathing. I’m right here.”
I only nodded.
“Stay here.” She squeezed my hand and left the room.
She didn’t need to say anything. There was no way I was going to make an appearance after that display.
While I waited for her to return, I wondered if I had actually suffered a panic attack or mental break. It was possible, given what I had endured, but it didn’t feel like it was anything so commonplace as either of those options. The longer I puzzled over the possibilities, the more I realized that this would not be explained so easily.
“Well, I’m dipping out early. We are going to take a trip.” Rosemary smiled reassuringly when she reentered the room.
“With you? Where?” I wasn’t in the mood for a trip anywhere except home.
“You trust me?” Rosemary asked.
It didn’t really sound like a question. It was a challenge.
Chapter Four
“Turn right after the gas station,” Rosemary instructed.
I did as she directed and followed the road until we arrived in downtown Mill City.
It was tiny, a bit smaller than a football stadium. That did not bother me. In fact, it was a welcome sight at this moment. The drive here had taken us across a long stretch of Highway 22, and to say it nearly destroyed my ability to maintain self-control would be quite an understatement. If Rosemary sensed my discomfort, she made no mention of it while we rode together. Her eyes were ever forward, keeping track of our movements.
We had to cross a bridge to exit downtown. It was further ahead, past a few clusters of houses and several patches of land overcrowded with brambles and ivy. It was quiet, but this type of quiet was peaceful, not ominous. I was starting to settle into my seat, finally feeling a bit relaxed with the distance between us and Highway 22, when Rosemary pointed to a driveway on the left side of the road. I pulled off the road and put the car in park in front of a large, iron gate that blocked the driveway. There was a camera covered in moss at the top of the gate. Surprisingly, it appeared to be functional.
Rosemary stepped out of the car and marched over to the gate, stopping inches away from the iron bars of its doors. I hadn’t yet questioned her motives, but I was beginning to wonder why we were in such a remote area. It was a bit unnerving. I tried to ignore the gnawing in my belly. It was impossible to believe that Rosemary would put me in harm’s way, but then again, I didn’t know her very well outside of work. Her gaze lifted to meet the camera. One second. Two. The gate slowly opened, the iron screeched in protest as the doors slid across the ground.
“Let’s go,” she ordered, jogging back to the car.
I stared ahead, unable to take my eyes off the driveway. “Why am I here?”
“All of your questions will be answered once we are inside.” Rosemary detected my reluctance and added, “You will be safe here. I promise.”
Still not totally convinced, I decided to press on regardless.
Where else can I go?
Dense curtains of green lined the driveway, disrupting the flow of the sun’s last rays. Trees stooped low over the car as we passed, and I wondered at the remoteness of this place. The path curved around the overgrowth sharply. I gripped the wheel and decreased the speed of the car, following the inside of the curve while trying to avoid some shrubs that had been crushed by fallen tree limbs. Rosemary seemed unfazed. Truthfully, she looked as if she was entirely in her element – her eyes shone, and her auburn hair was brilliant against the various shades of green outside.
An intimidatingly large house appeared in the midst of the green a few hundred feet away. Several cars were parked to its left.
“Park next to that red Honda.” It was the first time Rosemary had spoken since we left the gate.
When I turned the car off, I sighed heavily.
“Ready?” Rosemary asked.
Ready? For what?
“I’m not here as a hostage or anything?” I had to know.
Rosemary snorted. “Of course not.”
That wasn’t good enough. “So, I can leave whenever I want?”
She tucked an errant lock of hair behind her ear. “Yes.”
“Good!” I exclaimed in relief. “Just asking. Doesn’t hurt, you know.”
I hesitantly climbed out of my car and followed behind Rosemary as we walked toward the house. The air smelled of wet earth and was heavy with the overly sweet scent of lilacs. Many blossoms were planted around the broad porch. There was an opening in the canopy of the trees that allowed the first beams of moonlight to spill over the roof, illuminating the dark wood of the structure. The aged boards groaned under our weight as we walked across them to the front door. There was certainly something fantastical about this place, but I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.
Rosemary faced me and cleared her throat to speak, “I need you to be open-minded and remember that I promised your safety.”
I shivered and nodded. I suddenly felt like running, but my body moved separately of my wishes.
The door was unlocked, and Rosemary pushed it open with relative ease. It creaked sonorously in welcome, revealing ornate décor. The effect of its elegance was somewhat diminished by the dim lighting in the house. As we stepped through the entryway, I heard the swelling sounds of chatter. The savory odor of smoke and grilling meat permeated the atmosphere inside and led us to the spacious kitchen situated at the back of the house. All of the appliances were modern – sleek, stainless steel from wall to wall. It must have cost a fortune to complete. Rosemary pointed to the sliding glass doors. Just outside, there were many people crowded around several patio tables eati
ng and socializing.
Rosemary took the lead, allowing me to cross the threshold to the backyard once the doors were opened. All talking ceased. All eyes were on us. I glanced around nervously, my gaze bouncing from face to face. I was searching for anyone familiar to me. I have no clue why. There weren’t any kids present, but I counted over thirty adults in attendance. Six were women.
A few men standing at the front of the group puffed their chests, hostile stares dominating their faces. I wanted to leave.
“She is unaware,” Rosemary announced calmly.
“What exactly am I unaware of?” I questioned Rosemary quietly, not wanting the others to hear.
A man laughed and emerged from the crowd, walking over to Rosemary and myself. His striking, full cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, and the earthen tone of his skin were indicative of tribal ancestry. His raven hair was collected into a braid behind his head, which was perched atop wide shoulders and an even wider chest. He towered over everyone around him, but it wasn’t his size that made him formidable. There was something in his movements, each one fluid and lending strength to the next. Graceful and primitive.
He smiled, his skin stretching thin across his cheekbones. “I am Tato Sitalo. You must be the woman who causes our—”
“Tato is a good friend of mine. Well, ours,” Rosemary gestured to everyone outside. “We’re all friends. Family.”
I didn’t understand what she meant, but I had a feeling I would come to understand it before the night was over. I met Tato’s gaze and said, “Bonnie. Bonnie Collins.”
“Where is Rikki?” Rosemary asked Tato, her eyes scanning the group.
“She will come. Soon as she gets over herself.” He winked at me. Clearly, there was something I was missing.
Rosemary didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to me and put her hand on my shoulder. “Are you hungry?”
I nodded. Recently, I was always hungry.
Tato and Rosemary guided me through the crowd to the grill to grab some burgers and hotdogs. I heaped everything that I could grab on my plate, my stomach growling with each new aroma I encountered.
“Will you be comfortable here for a few minutes alone?” Rosemary stared at the house agitatedly.
I was about to say something when Tato said, “I’ll keep her company.”
Rosemary’s cheeks flushed, and I noticed a tenderness in the curves of her lips I’d never seen before. Is there something going on between the two of them? She left us alone together, rushing into the house with great urgency.
Tato took a sip of the beer in his hand. “How long have you known Rosemary?”
I pursed my lips in consideration, trying to remember exactly how long it had been since I first met her. “Almost three years.”
Our conversation continued in that vein for several minutes. I appreciated his attempt to make me comfortable, especially since this situation was anything but comfortable. I had an opportunity to survey my surroundings, particularly the people surrounding me. They were uneasy with my presence, that was certain. Rigid bodies framed by equally rigid trees. I couldn’t blame them though, I wasn’t exactly feeling at home amongst them – they were strangers with strange auras.
“Everything okay?” Rosemary inquired when she returned from the house.
I lowered my voice so only Rosemary would hear and said, “I think I want to go home now.”
“I think that is wise,” a woman interjected, stepping out of the group and into view. She wore a frown that matched her disdainful tone perfectly.
“Cecilia. She is our guest,” Rosemary insisted in attempt to keep the peace.
“I don’t care who or what she is. She is not welcome here.” Cecilia growled, causing Rosemary to take a step back.
I was unused to seeing Rosemary so timid. Her power, like her beauty, was unquestionable. It was unsettling, and I thought about grabbing her hand and running for the door. But I didn’t. I was ignorant of the customs of this group. I was loath to make trouble for Rosemary. Well, more trouble than she already appeared to be in with Cecilia. Rosemary’s hand found mine and squeezed. I relaxed instantly. She shook her head at me. Once I was calm, the tension in the air diffused a little.
Cecilia muttered under her breath, “We don’t need strangers like her, joining our—”
“Cecilia!” A sharp, feminine voice compelled Cecilia and everyone else to silence.
Heads lowered in reverence. The gnawing in my stomach returned. Oh, my God. It’s a cult. This is a cult. Rosemary brought me to the hideout of some crazy cult.
I peered through the crowd and saw the woman everyone was bowing to – the woman from the hospital! The steep angles of her face illuminated by the soft lights of the fire and the moon made her look bold and untamed. As she approached, I noticed that her gait was far willowier than I expected given the sharp edges of her body. The closer she came to me, the more I found myself wanting to put myself in her path.
“Continue.” The enchantress waved her hand as she passed me and Rosemary.
Instantly, everything was as before.
Rosemary tucked a stubborn section of her hair behind her ear. “Please, stay and listen, Bonnie.”
She gestured for me to follow her, and I did, hoping that she was leading me to the woman who was so captivating. We navigated through the crowd easily enough, stopping when we came to the fireside. Three lawn chairs were facing the flame, the ethereal woman planted in the middle, and two others next to her that were unknown to me. Rosemary nudged me forward. She was going to leave me to do whatever it was she brought me here for completely alone. Thanks a lot, Rosemary.
“Are you hungry?” purred the angular seductress.
What was with everyone trying to feed me? This time I wasn’t hungry. Could I probably fit more food into me? Sure. But I was too wired to do that. I wanted answers.
“No.”
Her eyes analyzed me with terrifying scrutiny. “I apologize for Cecilia’s rudeness. She can be quite animalistic when it comes to protecting our family.”
I wasn’t interested in niceties. “Is that what we’re calling it? Just ignoring me or saying something petty would have been considered rude. No. That was her being an insecure—”
“Bonnie,” Rosemary pleaded from somewhere behind me.
“Ass,” I finished defiantly.
She should be thankful. I almost called the woman something much worse. I heard someone growl from the direction of where the others sat.
I ignored them and frowned at Rosemary. “She was harsh with you. What kind of friend does that?”
I didn’t understand her or this place. If I didn’t get a solid amount of information in the next five minutes, I was gone. The entire time I was talking, the woman was watching me as if fascinated. She seemed to be enjoying my attitude.
“Look, I don’t care about her. I came here hoping to understand what’s happening to me. For some reason, Rosemary wants me to believe you have the answers I need.”
“I am sorry about that. This never should have happened.”
It was evident that her concern was primarily for her family, it was definitely not for me. But I wasn’t leaving without an explanation.
“May I ask who you are?”
“Rikki.” Sprouts of her coffee-colored hair fell across her forehead and she tried to sweep them away.
“Just Rikki?”
“Rikki Thompson.” She smiled, her teeth shining brilliantly in the firelight.
“Bonnie Collins.” I pointed at my chest. A useless gesture, I knew.
“I know.”
“I’m sure you do.”
Rikki’s brows arched in amusement rather than surprise. “Do you remember what happened the night you were attacked?”
“Why?”
Rosemary grumbled as if my question was an insult to her. It was a fair question. As far as I was concerned, what happened to me was none of Rikki’s business.
“Bonnie! Just answer her question.” Rosemary de
manded angrily.
“Why?”
Someone from across the yard snorted.
I ignored it.
“No, seriously. Why?” I shook my head in frustration. “I would rather not revisit being ripped apart by a giant wolf, thank you very much.”
I was about ready to tear anyone I could reach apart myself. I told my subconscious self not to think so harshly. It wasn’t in me to get violent. It certainly wouldn’t do any good in this situation. I sensed I was the focus of everyone’s attention. Everyone was silent.
“Al-Rikki…you’re not seriously considering entrusting her? Allowing her to join us?” It was Cecilia who spoke, striding toward us with sober resolve.
Rikki was noticeably irritated. So was I. I glanced at my wristwatch. I was done with this…whatever this was. I have no clue what I thought I was going to achieve here. Fortunately, I had a friend here in Mill City. I’d knock on his door and crash on his couch.
“I think I’ve overstayed my welcome.”
“You are free to leave as you please.” Rikki sounded disappointed, but I wasn’t inclined to care.
“I’ll walk her out,” Rosemary offered.
Rikki bowed her head slightly in agreement, and I quickly turned on my heel to leave. Rosemary walked with me through the house in silence. I could tell that she didn’t want me to go, but I was in no mood to stay where I wasn’t welcome and didn’t feel comfortable. Everything about that situation was too odd. Once my car was in sight, Rosemary let out a deep breath and stopped walking.
“There’s so much you need to know. You will have questions, Bonnie. And when you do, you know where to find me. Just…please call me before next Friday.”
That was six days away.
I was done talking. I waved her off dismissively, and then got into my car. Watching her walk back to the house, I shook my head. What the hell is all of this?
Chapter Five
I hid in my house for the next three days. I tried to focus on my recovery while getting myself prepared to go back to work. It became easier each day that passed. My body felt stronger – bones hardened, tissue tightened, veins and arteries pumped in a strange, hurried rhythm. Even my vision was sharpened. I put my glasses away in an old shoebox. I questioned whether I should schedule a visit to the doctor, but I decided against it. What would I even say?
A Night Claimed Page 3