by Shae Bryant
It didn't take the Doctor long to clear me from any injuries. I had fainted due to blood loss. A bit of glucose, a few oranges and a big glass of a sports drink would fix me up in no time. I walked to the waiting room to find my friends were gone — they had been allowed to go upstairs to wait for Isaac to get out of surgery.
I walked up to the waiting room where Catherine, Vince, and Leo were all sitting together. A Police officer was questioning them, but their minds were in the operating room with Isaac.
"I'm not making this up." Catherine protested.
"Miss Kleyman. This story is insane, but I'm inclined to believe you. Your friend and I and I share a birthright." The officer motioned to me with a smile.
"You're a Druid." I plopped down on a chair next to Vince, holding my head in my hands.
The officer nodded, "I am. Finding out if this is true or not will be easy for me. ... Detective, did you receive medical attention?"
"I did." I held up my arm to show him the wristband from the ER. "And I was a willing donor. I just need this headache to go away."
Vince huffed, "Come now. It isn't that bad of a headache."
"Shut up, Vince." If I felt better, I would have smacked him.
The officer turned his attention to Leo, "And you, young man? Those bruises look bad."
Leo rubbed his arm, "They're from IV's and stuff. I'm fine. Honestly."
"Let's hope the drug tests say so." The officer looked towards the window, "I'm going to send a friend of mine to fly out and check on these Werewolves. We already have units going to the warehouses. Normally, I'd leave someone with you, but I have a feeling none of you are going anywhere."
Catherine shook her head, "Not until we know how Isaac is doing."
The four of us sat in silence for what seemed like hours. One of us would stand up and stretch out while the others impatiently watched the doors just a couple of yards away from us. No one said a word the entire time. We were all hoping and praying for good news.
Finally, a Doctor walked out and greeted us. "We're moving him to a room upstairs. You'll all be able to see him soon."
"Is he alright?" Catherine asked.
"We've done everything we can." The Doctor lowered his eyes before he walked away.
I stepped into the cold and sterile room where Isaac lay on the bed. This was not the man I had known most of my life. It was a shell of Isaac with a broken body. He was covered in electrodes, IV's and bandages. Short and deep breaths were artifically created with the help of a ventilator. I took careful hold of his bandaged hand, and pulled it close to my chest.
I wanted to stay by Isaac's side until he woke, but the Police had other plans for me. They needed statements from all of us. Our reports on the warehouses turned out to be true and there was enough evidence to suspect the Iron Oath of being behind it. We gambled in Faulkner's favor and it worked. Now, the dominoes would all start to fall.
I would have been elated over the exposure of the Iron Oath, but I was too focused on Isaac to care. Brian, Erin and Chloe came into the hospital the next morning. They went straight to Isaac's room, arguing with the Police and Doctors who begged Chloe to allow them to take a look at her.
The next few days blurred together into one long nightmare. Police came and went, asking more questions or confirming statements. Every time they walked into the room, I glared at them for interrupting our vigil over Isaac.
News reporters tried to elbow their way into the hospital, but Vince arranged for a PR task force to keep them at bay. Louis did a masterful job of talking to reporters, and barred them from coming inside of Isaac's room.
The room was a flurry of Nurses and Doctors. They came in to change fluids, check vitals, or stare at the monitors. Catherine and I used our credentials to remain with Isaac around the clock.
The days and nights blended together. Isaac stayed on the ventilator, showing no sign of waking up or any progress. His Doctor had warned us this might happen. He had sustained multiple head injuries, and the prognosis was poor.
I hadn't slept. I had barely eaten. Vince went back and forth between Central and South Florida to keep watch over Isaac. Chloe was ordered to stay home and rest, but Brian and Erin made frequent trips to the hospital. A number of Werewolves from South and Central Florida filed in and out of the room.
One morning, I turned on the early news to see a reporter standing in front of an office building in Central Florida. "When an Iron Oath officer was arrested in South Florida for the murder of Miami florist and Druid leader, Kevin Anderson, we were all shocked. After the indictments were handed down today, the public's shock has changed to outrage towards the centuries old organization. The entire Orlando office of the Iron Oath has been indicted for kidnapping and attempted murder. Police are not releasing the identities of the kidnapped, but they confirmed all were Non Human. They did release the identity of one of the victims — Isaac Carillo, a Werewolf community leader in Miami-Dade County. Mister Carillo is in critical condition in an unnamed hospital. The scandal has swept across the country as more indictments are being brought out against the Iron Oath. The main offices in the UK are refusing to comment, and Iron Oath offices across the US remain closed. Police are currently searching for Orlando's head investigator, Jacob Stuart."
Catherine and I reached across Isaac's bed, clasping our hands together. We allowed ourselves just a little celebration. After all, we may have managed to do something no one else could do. We exposed the Iron Oath.
Catherine looked at Isaac and whispered, "Did you hear that, Isaac? Look what happened. They've been exposed." She sighed, "I wish you'd wake up. We've got rides to go on. Remember? We promised each other a good long ride soon. If you don't get out of this bed, we can't go."
Vince walked into the room, holding two cups of coffee in his hand. He looked at Isaac and furrowed his brow. "He isn't well."
"No. He isn't." Catherine pursed her lips, swallowing hard.
I accepted the cup of coffee, watching Vince's expression change from compassion to concern. The monitors surrounding Isaac started to beep and flash. His heart rate monitor showed an alarming pattern of slower and more irregular heart beats.
"You can hear his heart." I kept my eyes on the monitor, unable to look at either of them.
"Yes." Catherine turned away from the monitors, and covered her ears. She gulped back a sob, "I can't listen to this anymore! But I can't leave him either!"
Every fiber in my being wanted to look at the bed, and see Isaac sitting up, admonishing Catherine for thinking he was going so soon. Instead, he lay there while the ventilator made his chest rise and fall in an agonizing rhythm.
"I'll... I'll call for the Doctor." Vince put his head down, walking out of the room to get someone's attention.
"Isaac. No..." I took hold of his hand, kneeling next to the bed. "Please..."
The Nurse walked in to respond to the monitors that were screaming out warnings. She closed her eyes, giving Catherine and I a look of sympathy. The Nurse whisked herself out the door, leaving us there alone.
"Not yet." Catherine begged him, "Not yet."
The quiet beep of the heart monitor continued to slow down. The color began to drain away from Isaac's face, and his lungs started to fill with fluid. His legs shook with tiny convulsions that began to travel through his body.
I couldn't beg. I couldn't speak. I held onto Isaac's hand, and cried. There was silence. Complete and total silence. I couldn't hear the ventilator, the monitors or my own sobs. The long and low tone of a flat line broke the silence.
I don't know when Vince or the Nurses came in the room. But, I opened my eyes to see him standing there with two of them. Isaac's hand fell slack in mine; his fingers rested on my palm.
"I'm sorry, honey." The Nurse patted my shoulder, "He's gone."
"No. Isaac, no!" I fell over onto the bed, sliding my arms underneath him and holding him in a tight embrace.
Catherine laid her head on his chest, wetting his gown with he
r tears. My entire body shook with every sob. I begged him through my tears to come back to us and wake up. Don't go yet. It's too soon. It was way too soon.
I made the calls to South Florida, and broke the news about Isaac. Brian and Erin both arrived before the night had ended. A large group of Werewolves gathered in the hospital lobby to join together and grieve for Isaac.
We left to make arrangements, and have Isaac transported to South Florida. He was escorted by a massive pack of Werewolves on their bikes.
The media was swarming us. I was forced to take a leave of absence from work to keep the reporters away from the department. Isaac's death had broken the Iron Oath scandal wide open. Across the world, Non Humans were standing up and telling their stories. After this, the public believed them.
Once again, I was unable to celebrate. Everything was focused on funeral arrangements for the man who had been like a brother to me. Brutus and I continued to stay with Vince and Leo, allowing Faulkner to wallow alone in my house.
During this time, I found a comfort in talking with Vince. On nights I couldn't sleep, I always found him sitting by the pool. Sometimes, I would talk about Isaac while he listened. Other times, we said nothing. We sat there, and watched the night sky ebb and flow.
The day of the funeral came with a roar of bikes. Werewolves from all over the East coast flew or rode in to say good-bye to Isaac. I found myself standing by a grave with hundreds of Werewolves and Non Humans. The crowd started to trickle away after the graveside service, but I stayed staring at the casket. A spray of white flowers with a small motorcycle in the center laid on top of it. Next to the spray was Isaac's helmet, and his beat up leather vest. It was fitting that they went with their rider.
Brian and Erin stood on the other side. Neither of them were able to speak. Their hands rested on Isaac's vest while they stared at the casket.
Brian cleared his throat, "There's...ahh...going to be a gathering at the dealership. A celebration of Isaac's life. It's probably going to last a long time. You should come."
"I might go. For now, I'll just stay here." I tried to blink back the tears that threatened to spill over for the hundredth time that day.
"I hope we'll see you." Erin stepped around the casket to hug me. "Raina if you need anything, please call us."
I managed a smile, "Thank you."
I sat on a stone bench just a few yards from Isaac's grave. The employees lowered the casket down and left, allowing the crew to come and fill in the grave. I looked right at it, but I was not watching them. My mind was replaying a lifetime of memories.
Isaac was a scrawny teenager when we met. He liked motorcycles and heavy metal. I liked my dogs and electronic music. He smoked pot with his friends in their garage. I went to raves in Miami. There was little that we had in common save the fact we were both Non Human, but that was enough.
Both of us were preparing for college when he announced to me that his girlfriend was pregnant. He and I argued over his choice to marry her, and try to be a Father. I thought she would screw him over. He wanted to try to "do the right thing."
Despite our argument, I attended their small ceremony at the courthouse. Five months later, she had Isaac's son Emilio. When Emilio was a month old, she disappeared, leaving him a note saying she couldn't face being a young Mother and wife.
Isaac was devastated, but he had the support of his friends. I spent many exhaustive nights helping him with Emilio. We were babies ourselves, trying to raise one. Most of us were barely out of High School. Thank God the Non Human communities chipped in to help the young Werewolf and his newborn son.
He was determined to make a life for himself and Emilio. He scraped together every cent he had to buy a shack of a place in Hollywood. I helped him hand paint the sign that advertised motorcycle repairs for a fair price. That was the beginning of his journey to the successful dealership.
I made it through the academy. Isaac got married and divorced. Then he married her again and divorced her again. He teased my boyfriends. We argued over my long hours at work. I argued with him over hiring a Vampire. When my boyfriend of eight years left me, Isaac came over to cheer me up. When he got his second divorce, I ran over to make him dinner. He wasn't just my best friend. He was family.
I sat on that bench with nothing but Brutus and my memories to keep me company. The afternoon turned to evening, and soon the sun started to set over the horizon.
Brutus' ears lifted along with his head. He started to thump his tail on the grass, warning me someone friendly was approaching. My dog ran behind the bench, offering a happy bark to whoever was behind me.
A hand clasped my shoulder and I heard Vince's voice, "Wasn't the funeral hours ago?"
"It was. What the hell are you doing here?"
He sat down next to me, "I couldn't attend the funeral, but I needed to say goodbye just the same."
"He'd appreciate it."
"Raina..." Vince sighed, "you may think this is a bad time, but I hope you understand why I gave Catherine a job with my private security firm. I think that you..."
I interrupted him, "You're right, Vince. It's a terrible time."
"But it isn't!" He insisted, "Look at what is right in front of us. It is a time to leave some things behind, and a time to get your revenge on the Iron Oath. You know as well as I do that they are not gone. As a Police officer, you won't be able to do what you need to do. Private security firms only hire Non Humans. They allow all of us to utilize what we have. You need to be a Druid first. An officer second."
I thought about what Vince said. He was right. Regulations for Non Human officers were through the roof. We couldn't use any abilities in our line of duty, or we'd face disciplinary charges. Even me talking to animals was a risk. We were scrutinized and watched like hawks to make sure everything was "by the book."
"Alright. You have a point." I agreed.
"Just think about it." Vince patted my leg as he got up, walking over to Isaac's grave. "Goodbye Isaac. You were a good man. Thank you for being a friend to my son." Vince offered me his hand, "A cup of coffee might do us both some good. Won't you come?"
"Sure. Come on, Brutus."
We sat together at a coffee shop well into the evening. I drank coffee. Vince talked. He told me a number of stories that kept my mind off of the funeral. Most of it was him remembering his days in the Arizona Territory when the "Wild West" was a real thing.
He told me of Sheriff Levi Dunlap, a reformed gunfighter who became the lawman in Tombstone, Arizona. About a Vampire named Leopold Payne who terrorized the Werewolves of Tombstone. I had to laugh when Vince told me how Leopold ultimately lost to a Werewolf named Happy. I listened intently when he told me how Happy married his sweetheart Eliza, and whisked her away from a life in a brothel. I sighed in admiration when he told me of a Werewolf named Vera Clarke who stood up to him and every other Vampire in the Territory. He was so animated that I felt like I was right there with them.
The coffee shop closed, and we returned to his house, where I learned more about his friends in Arizona. I started to talk about my own friends. I told him about how close Catherine and I had gotten, and made him chuckle when I told him about her first day on the force. He learned how I met my friend India and about her struggles as a rare type of Druid. He laughed when I told him stories of Isaac's son running around the house as a puppy during a full moon.
We continued to talk late into the night. Our conversation flowed from one thing to another, or one story to another. Brutus had gone to bed hours ago; I was sleepy, but I found myself once again enjoying our conversations.
I blinked my eyes open and stretched out on the bed. It was so dark. Why? The sun should be streaming through my window by now. Brutus should be...
When I reached over to pet Brutus, my hand rested on someone's hip. Then, I remembered where I was. What seemed like a dream had been very real. Now I remembered everything. How Vince and I ended up in his bedroom in the first place and how we took out weeks of frustrati
on until we both collapsed together in a breathless heap.
"What are you doing, Raina?" I laughed at myself, scooting out of the bed to put my clothes on.
Vince stirred in his sleep, but he didn't wake up. It was eleven in the morning. I wouldn't see him again until sunset.
Vince walked out onto the pool deck that evening. I was sitting on a chair while Brutus ran around the yard, chasing a wayward leaf. Neither of us said a word for a little while. He sat down next to me and watched the final rays of sunshine disappear over the water.
Vince cleared his throat, "Raina, I think we should discuss this."
"There's nothing to discuss, Vince. We slept together. We enjoyed it. That's all there is to it."
I was surprised to see that my flippant response had genuinely hurt his feelings. It seemed that he felt like there was a bit more to it than just a one night stand. There was. The last couple of weeks found the both of us becoming a bit more than "just friends."
But, how could I compete with the women I had seen on his arm? Hannah Levigne was a raven haired European beauty who stayed with him until World War II. Elizabeth Leigh was a glamorous actress whom he almost married. The model-like Anika Hines was a frequent date in modern times.
My reflection in the glass door told me I looked nothing like those women. I had a caramel complexion and curly dark hair that frizzes in the Florida humidity. My lips were described as "too full" by some. Personally, I always liked my lips, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I had never found myself ugly or unattractive, but I didn't feel like I could measure up to the glamour queens that Vince preferred.
I sat down next to him, attempting to find something witty to say. Instead, I started to giggle. The giggle turned into a laugh; within a few moments, I was holding my stomach, doubled over with hysterical laughter.
"It... It isn't...!" He was trying to look indignant, but a smile crept across his face. He placed a few fingers over his mouth, trying to hide the snickering. Soon after that, he joined me in laughing at the situation.