by K. R. Willis
“What do you think his chances are?” I asked as I took the spot opposite her. He looked better, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I knew Sally would give it to me straight.
“If he regains consciousness and continues on his current path, I don’t see why he shouldn’t make a full recovery. As long as no unforeseen side effects occur, that is.” We both knew that’s how life seemed to be going lately. One unforeseen thing after another.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“You can help me wipe him down,” she said. Sally took the bucket of cool water and placed it on a small shelf above the headboard, then handed me another rag. I watched as she pulled the covers back until they rested right above his underwear, then she began wiping him down with cool water, stopping to re-wet the rag often. I mimicked her movements.
He burned, his skin hot to the touch. The rag became soaked with sweat and heat, so I frequently re-wet the rag as Sally did. She even had to make two trips to the bathroom to fetch more cool water, as it didn’t take long for all the water in the bucket to become warm.
About halfway through wiping down George’s right leg, my phone rang. “Excuse me,” I said as I dashed into the living room to grab my phone where I’d dropped it on the counter on my way in. “Hello?”
“Keira,” Leo said, his voice sounding as though he’d been up for hours, not like he’d just risen as I knew he had. “I received your message. What has happened?”
Sally’s wooden bar stool scraped across the floor when I pulled it out and took a seat. “It’s Khalid,” I said, trying not to sound as nervous as I felt. “He attacked me this morning before daybreak, about an hour after you dropped me off. It’s a long story, but Rya managed to kill him.”
Leo remained deathly quiet on the other end of the line for several seconds. Then he asked, “Are you all right?” Worry edged his voice, not anger, which helped me relax.
“He burned me with scalding hot water from my shower, but I’m fine now.” The memory of how that had felt made me shiver.
“Where is his body?” Leo asked, all business.
“Sam...um, well he, he opened the windows once the sun rose.”
Leo would know exactly what that meant. No need to say more. I chewed my bottom lip and waited for whatever he was about to say.
“I see.” He became so quiet, I pulled the phone away from my ear and checked that we hadn’t been disconnected. We hadn’t.
“Are you angry?” I asked. For some reason the thought of him being angry with me made my stomach hurt. Suddenly, I realized just how much I valued his friendship, and the prospect of whatever was developing between us. I didn’t want to screw that up like I had with Brian and so many others.
After a moment he sighed. “Of course I am not angry,” he said, putting my fears to rest, “but this does complicate things with the Council. We will have to make sure none of the members come sniffing around your apartment looking for him, because more than likely, they would be able to smell him. I will send someone to your place tonight for a deep clean.”
Relief washed over me, and I sighed heavily into the phone. “Thank you. Once again, you come to my aid.”
He chuckled, but it sounded more strained than happy. “I must go make the arrangements. You need not be there when he arrives. In fact, it is probably for the best that you are not. He prefers his secrecy.”
“Okay.” I thanked him again, and hung up. Just as I set my phone back on the counter, Sally joined me in the kitchen. “Looks like I’m staying here tonight, if that’s okay with you,” I told her.
She poured herself a cup of coffee, and offered me one. I accepted. “You know you’re always welcome,” she said. The mug was steaming hot when she put it in my hands, so I placed it on the counter to let it cool a bit. “We can watch a movie or something, and you can help me keep an eye on George. Checking on him every hour or two has not allowed me much sleep. Perhaps with you here, I can catch up some.”
“I’d be happy to help.” With our coffees in hand, we retreated to the living room. Sally picked out a movie as I settled onto the sofa. With any luck, she and I could both get some rest without any more excitement. I’d had enough for one day, and then some.
Chapter 16
I woke the next morning feeling fairly rested. Sally and I took turns throughout the night checking in on George, both of us pleased with his progress. His color appeared pretty much normal, and he’d even opened his eyes for a few seconds sometime after midnight. Sally said his prognosis was pretty good now. She’d continue caring for him until he woke completely, and she was certain all of the silver had been purged from his system, but she didn’t have to watch him so closely. She could get some much-needed rest, and do a few things around the house.
“What about work?” I asked her. The thought hadn’t crossed my mind before, but he’d been in her care long enough I wondered.
She gave me a tired smile. “I had some time built up, so I took the week off. Told them I had a family emergency to tend to.” She pulled ham, cheese, mayo, and pickles from the fridge, then grabbed the loaf of bread from the bread keeper.
“I’m sorry,” I told her. “I didn’t mean to make you use your leave like that. Especially since George is just a friend, and you already used some of it because of...you know.” She’d taken a week off to mourn for Tom when he died, but I didn’t actually say it. She knew what I referred to.
Sally blinked a few times, her eyes shining a little more than they had a few seconds ago. She didn’t say anything as she slathered mayo on a couple pieces of bread, then put two big pieces of ham and cheese on it. I graciously accepted it when she passed it my way.
“George isn’t family,” she finally said, “but you are. Goodness knows you’ve done plenty for me over the years. I don’t mind.” She quietly assembled her sandwich and then joined me at the counter.
“Thanks,” I said around a mouthful.
“You bet.”
We lost ourselves in small talk, purposefully avoiding discussing anything depressing or dangerous. It had been a while since we’d gibbered about girl stuff, and I had to admit, it was nice. No talk about vampires, werewolves, silver poisoning, nothing. Just little things like new clothing styles we loved or hated, who the hot celebrity of the moment was, and so on. I’d missed this side of us. But before I knew it, we had finished our breakfast, and I needed to get to work. I hugged her tight, and we said our goodbyes.
Sam was upstairs in his dojo when I arrived at the shop, already dressed in his workout clothes: gray sweat pants and a black Under Armour sleeveless shirt. His favorite. I changed quickly and met him on the floor. He paced back and forth like a caged animal.
“Good morning,” I said. Unease quivered through me. He seemed flustered at something, but I didn’t know what.
“I’ve been missing something,” he said. He stopped pacing and came to stand before me. “It occurred to me yesterday after I left your apartment. I’ve been training you these last few weeks as I always have. Just you and me—same old, same old. But things have changed. Why didn’t I think of it before?” He shook his head and grimaced.
“Think of what, Sam?” My stomach knotted anxiously. I didn’t know what he referred to.
“Rya.”
Rya perked up at the mention of her name.
“Ninety-nine percent of the time she will be with you,” Sam explained. “More than me, more than Leo, she is the one who will fight by your side. She needs to be a part of our training. Starting today, she will train with us.”
I relaxed, glad it wasn’t bad news or some other problem I didn’t need right now—and a little excited, too. The thought of Rya training with us hadn’t occurred to me either, but now that he mentioned it, it made perfect sense.
Exciting, Rya said. Her magic tingled for a second, letting me know what to expect next, then she stretched and pulled against my skin until she’d freed herself. An instant later, she stood beside me.
&
nbsp; “What did you have in mind?” I asked Sam. I had to admit, the prospect of training with Rya thrilled me. We’d pretty much been winging it since she’d been awarded to me, but with the dangers increasing around us on what seemed like a daily basis, it’d be nice to have some real strategy. If anyone could teach us that, he could.
Sam smiled. “Eventually we’ll add weapons to the mix, but for now, to get started, let’s work on the two of you fighting in tandem. Rya needs to learn how you fight, Keira, and you need to know what strengths she has as a puma. Learn to use them to your advantage. Your styles will be different, but you must learn how to coordinate and work together.”
I listened as he talked, and took the opportunity to run through my stretch routine. With Rya, I had a feeling I would need to be limber.
Sam continued. “Wild pumas are ambush predators by nature. Rya, if you can gain the high ground on an enemy, do so and take them by surprise. Most people, supernatural or human, don’t expect to be attacked from above. That and your ability to cloak yourself are two of your greatest assets. Use them.”
He turned to me. “Keira, you’re great with a sword. You’re quick, agile and can outmaneuver larger, slower opponents. Don’t always wait until you’re in the thick of things to ask Rya for help; sometimes by then it’s too late. Try to anticipate trouble and have her hide. It doesn’t always have to be with her magic, as I know the risk of her over-using it is something we shouldn’t take lightly, but instead have her look for a place to conceal her presence. Preferably high up. Pumas are fantastic at blending in to their surroundings.”
I listened to everything he said, soaking it in, and committing it to memory. Sam’s knowledge was priceless. His teaching ability, the way he explained things, his attention to details. The Great Spirit had chosen my teacher wisely.
“Let’s begin,” Sam said.
Rya and I turned to each other. Are you sure this won’t drain too much of your energy?
As long as I’m not using magic I’ll be fine. This is hunting, for which I am built.
Promise?
Yep. Let’s play! Her excitement was nearly palpable.
We spent the next half hour countering Sam’s attacks, learning each other’s moves, fighting side by side, separately, and everything in between. We even got the upper hand on Sam once when Rya went invisible, tripped him from behind—which planted him on his back, giving me the opportunity to land a killing blow with my imaginary sword since we weren’t using our wasters yet. I had no doubt that using the moves we learned against supernaturals wouldn’t be that easy, but it was a good start.
Sam applauded us, and called it quits for the day. Time for me to open the shop. After taking a quick shower, I slid down the fireman’s pole. Since Sam didn’t have any clients scheduled until later on tonight, Rya stayed upstairs with him, sprawled out on a blanket he laid in the office for her. She and I were both exhausted, but unlike her, I had work to do.
Shortly after I opened the shop, Kit showed up. He spent a few hours prepping the portable spray booth for a car coming in next week, making sure everything was ready, then talked to me about the details. He said something about leaving early to attend a local art show, but ended up staying most of the day and helping me catch up on some things I’d fallen behind on. With everything that had been going on in my life lately, it was a miracle I hadn’t fallen farther behind.
We had just started our cleanup routine in preparation for closing the shop when a tingle of magic skittered across my skin like tiny ants. My boots slid to a stop as I listened, searching for the source.
Rya, is that you?
No, she hissed. Someone comes.
A moment later, that someone walked—or glided might be more accurate—into the shop.
The woman was young, roughly my age, with flaming orange hair plaited down one side. Her high-heeled leather boots clacked on the cement as she entered my shop. She gazed around at everything, her face scrunching up in a look of distaste. Something above her lip shimmered in the shop’s lights, drawing my attention. My stomach cramped when I realized what it was.
A witch’s knot charm. Damn.
Witch, I told Rya. Get Sam’s attention. Stay out of sight until either I yell, or you sense trouble.
Got it.
Kit stopped sweeping and started toward her to offer assistance, but I laid my hand on his shoulder and asked him if he would put the cash box in the safe in my office. He looked from me to her, confusion written all over his face, then he nodded and did as I asked. I didn’t know what a witch wanted with me or my shop, but with the way things had been going lately it probably wasn’t to buy a car or drop one off. This way at least, Kit would be out of the direct line of fire if things held to their current pattern.
“Can I help you?” I asked the witch. A small leather pouch hung off a rhinestone belt she had cinched around her waist. The sight made me quiver. There was no telling what it contained. I inched a little closer to a tool chest that held my collection of wrenches. Unfortunately, my weapons were in the office safely tucked away from customers.
She focused her green eyes on me. “My mistress sent me to retrieve something you stole from her.”
Her words made the hairs on my arm stand on end.
“What mistress? I haven’t stolen anything,” I said.
She frowned and stepped around a small puddle of oil I’d missed, ignoring my question.
“Did you hear me?” I said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The witch pursed her pink lips. “I’m sure Mistress Farini would be displeased to know you don’t think you’ve stolen what’s rightfully hers. She acquired the werewolf fair and square.”
Oh, shit! The woman from Nite Vale had finally sent someone for George. I snatched a large wrench off the open tool drawer and threw it at her.
“Sam! Rya!”
The witch easily dodged the wrench, then lobbed a green ball of something at me. The air charged with electricity, making my hair stand on end. I ducked behind the tool chest, and shrieked when the orb splattered all around, the droplets sizzling on the concrete when they made contact. A second later, Sam’s heavy boots thudded when they hit the floor.
“Keira!” he yelled. His head jerked in my direction, searching for me, but then he dove to the side away from the fireman’s pole and whatever the witch threw at him.
“I’m fine,” I yelled back. At least for now.
“What’s going on?” I heard Kit yell from my office.
Crap, I’d almost forgotten about him. “Stay there! Don’t come out till I give the all-clear!” He didn’t say anything, but I heard the door snap shut. Now I just had to hope he stayed there, and the witch didn’t go in after him.
“I had hoped to do this the easy way,” the witch called out, bringing my attention back to her. “But this works, too.” A whistle echoed through the shop, bouncing off the walls and making me cringe. Now what?
Several seconds later, twin howls answered.
A shudder ran down my spine. What the hell? I risked a peek over the top of the tool chest—and froze, afraid to move a muscle. Two large black dogs the size of Irish Wolfhounds padded into the shop, their nails clicking on the concrete, eyes red as a blood moon.
Ah, shit.
A noise to my left caught my attention. I dropped back behind the tool chest and watched as Sam raced across the few feet that separated us. Something blue and sparkly whizzed past his head just as he reached me. I moved over, sharing the cover the large tool chest provided, though it wasn’t as much cover as it had been without Sam’s bulky frame squished behind there with me.
“What the hell are those things?” he asked. He handed me a short sword, one I recognized from his office that usually hung above his desk. He held the sword’s twin in his hand.
“Hellhounds.” Rumors of their existence had floated around for years, but I’d never known for sure if they were real. Now I did. We both cringed as two more balls of light flew
at us, and splattered the front of the tool chest.
“Where’s Rya?” Sam asked. He peered around the chest, and jerked his head back quickly.
I’m maneuvering into a high position, she answered. Just like he taught us.
I smiled, proud of her. “She’s hiding,” I told Sam. He smiled back, but it quickly faded when we heard the clicking getting closer.
“You ready?” he asked. I nodded. “On the count of three then. I’ll go left, you go right.” He turned slightly to the left so he was at a better angle, and gripped his sword tighter. I did the same, waiting for him to say go.
“One...two...three!” Sam dove to the left, and I rolled right. The witch, momentarily distracted by the two of us going in different directions, missed when she threw a bright green ball of light at me. It went wide, splattering on the tailgate of a ’54 Ford a customer had dropped off for a tune-up. I cursed, knowing the owner would be pissed if it scratched his brand-new paint job, or didn’t come off.
The hellhound closest to me snarled, its black teeth barely visible inside its snout. Razor sharp nails clicked on the concrete as it took a step closer. My eyes jumped from it to its master, who prepped another green ball in her hand. I needed to get to the witch, but the hellhound stood between us. Sam had taken on the second one, the snarls and grunts of their battle echoing through the shop.
Something moved along the wood beam that ran along the wall, drawing my eyes up. A shimmer, like a mirage in a desert, moved quietly into position behind the witch. Rya had found a perfect ambush spot. I gripped my short sword tighter. My fingers tingled, but I wasn’t about to lessen my grip on it. My breath hissed through my teeth as I exhaled, then I yelled to Rya, Now!
She dropped her magic veil and leapt from the beam, her trajectory lined up perfectly with the witch. I dove for the hellhound, sliced through some of the tough gristly muscle on its shoulder and smiled when it howled in pain. I tucked and rolled, dodging the green ball of light the witch sent flying my way. Rya took her to the ground, took one bound across the floor, and tackled the hellhound. They tumbled several feet away, snarling and snapping as they went, black and tan fur flying. With the hellhound occupied, I concentrated all my attention on the witch. She smiled—not in a friendly way—as we circled each other.