Days of Innocence

by C. L. Quinn

  Bas used his talents to quickly navigate down the mountainside to the hospital he had already googled. Another time, years ago, Park lay dying from a gunshot as he sped her to human doctors to pull the slug from her body. It had been a defining moment in his life. Here, now, a horrifying repeat of that tragic event. They couldn’t lose this precious girl!

  He lifted his eyes to the sky for a second to ask the universe to remember Shani’s place in the impending battle. And that she was young and beautiful and deserved the life that lay ahead of her.

  They’d done all that they could do. Koen stroked Shani’s arm to let her know she wasn’t alone. The child was still human, and while vampire blood could help her hold on, it couldn’t save her if the wounds were fatal. They’d never tried to convert a human who was born vampire. They weren’t sure how it would even work. The options were limited or untried.

  “Hold on, my dear,” he whispered. His gaze moved to Rodney as he held Shani’s head, stroking her hair. Koen knew the man well, deeply so, but he hadn’t seen this. The young man was in love. With limited empathic skill, even Koen could feel Rodney’s pain.

  He slid a hand onto Rodney’s shoulder. “It’ll be okay, lad.”

  Rodney lifted his eyes to Koen’s. “Not if she dies. It’ll never be okay again.”

  “We won’t allow it. This child is precious to the world as well as to us.” He squeezed Rodney’s shoulder carefully beneath his powerful hand. “And apparently you.”

  Quiet, Rodney didn’t know how to answer. He was ashamed of his feelings for one of the children he had cared for these past twenty years.

  “It’s okay, my boy.”

  “It isn’t. I didn’t seek this, I just couldn’t stop how I felt when I was near her.”

  “If you don’t think I understand that, then you don’t know how love works. We fall under its spell, it doesn’t ask us what we choose. She’s a fine girl, and she’s lucky to have your love.”

  “I’m not for her, Koen. I’m just a bolt.”

  “Aye. As we all are. You’re so much more, Rodney, you just never believed it. We’ll have a discussion when we are all home safe in France. All of us.”

  He couldn’t speak anymore, the lump in his throat cutting off his words. Rodney nodded and bent to kiss Shani’s still lips. Even in the darkness of the car’s interior, he could see death linger above her face. It didn’t help to scream and cry foul, but that’s what his mind was doing. And begging. And praying.

  They arrived in front of the hospital within fifteen minutes, Bas screeching to a stop at the emergency room’s sliding doors. Koen started to lift Shani from the car, but Rodney was already there.

  “Let me,” he begged.

  As Rodney carried Shani into the brightly lit room, Koen and Tamesine handled the staff, using compulsion to make sure that everything went smoothly and making Shani a priority before any questions. Park stayed with her, her medical background crucial to bridging the skills of human physicians and the talents available through her first blood magics. She was determined that the combination would save this girl.

  She’d pushed Rodney back as they went into surgery.

  “You can’t be in here. Go out and wait with the others. Trust me, Rodney, we’ll take care of her.”

  He’d nodded, wordless, and wandered back to the waiting room where Koen cleared a seat for him.

  “It’s in the hands of the Powers-that-be now, my boy. I’ll bring you some coffee.”

  He couldn’t move, couldn’t think. All Rodney could do was close his eyes and try desperately not to see that moment when Shani pushed him out of the way to take bullets meant for him. If she died, he would never forgive himself for allowing that to happen. People would tell him that he couldn’t have done anything to change it, but that would never comfort him.

  She had to be okay.

  NINE

  “She’s holding her own,” Park said.

  Barely above a whisper, Rodney asked, “Is she going to make it?”

  “I don’t know. I think so.”

  Koen nodded to his daughter. “Thank you, sweetheart. If she takes a turn for the worse, if you determine that human medicine didn’t help her, what do you think about forcing an early conversion?”

  “I don’t know. Clinically, I assume it would succeed. Have you ever heard of anything like that happening?”

  “No. Until this influx of first blood children these past two decades, we’ve not seen that many first blood’s during their human stage. Human maturity arrives by the first or second year in the beginning of the fourth decade. It’s not very long.”

  Xavier walked across the waiting room with Cairine and Su’ad. He was huge, outrageously sexy, aggressively so, and claimed a lot of attention. “We didn’t want to wait longer. How’s the child?”

  “Shani’s fighting. She is in recovery. I’m going back in with her.” Park took Rodney’s hand. “Come.”

  They tracked back through double doors to a large area filled with curtains wrapped around beds. On one bed, surrounded by a cheery pale blue curtain with a pretty white flower pattern, Shani lay wrapped in bandages, still unconscious.

  “Her vitals are stable, and she’s breathing on her own. Thank God for vampire blood. The bullets struck five sites, most lower, and they tore her up, but her major organs are functioning well. The concern, Rodney, is the damage to her spine. There is a chance there may be some paralysis.”

  “What?”

  “We won’t know anything until she comes out of the anesthesia. But I see every reason for her to survive. If she begins to fail, we’ll try forced conversion. We wouldn’t give up without a fight, and you know that vampires are very powerful.”

  “But you’re not all powerful.”

  “No, my friend, we are not. But you can trust that Shani couldn’t possibly have better care.”

  “I know, Park. I trust all of you with my life and those I care about. This, though, I never expected to have to watch Shani fight for her life.”

  “Welcome to the world of long lives. We must learn to adjust or suffer if we don’t.”

  Park turned to the attending nurse she’d left in charge of Shani. “Notify me without delay if anything changes. As earlier, do not discuss this case with anyone. Thank you. Rodney, let’s join the others.”

  “I’d like to stay with her.”

  “All right. Do you want anything to eat or drink?”

  “No.”

  “The sun will rise soon, but we’re okay in the hospital. No outside exposure at all. Tonight, if Shani’s well enough, and she should be by then, we’ll go back to Patagonia, pick up the others, and get her home. Stay as long as you’d like. Later, I’ll bring you something to eat.”

  “Thank you for all you’ve done, Park.”

  “I acted out of love. These children are as precious as my own.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  “Talk to her, Rodney. She’ll hear. Tell her to come back to you.”

  His eyes moved to Park’s. “Me?”

  “Your love fills this room. Nothing is greater. If her feelings for you are as strong as yours are for her, she’ll waken soon.”

  Once Park was gone, Rodney stood at the end of the bed and watched Shani struggle to live. Moving to her side, he dropped onto his knees and closed his eyes, reaching for her hand, his lips against her warm skin.

  “I will give you anything, God, if you let her stay, whole, and fully well. I am but a servant on this world. Take me if you wish to add another soul to heaven.”

  Hours passed, some of which Rodney slept, folded over, his head on Shani’s bed. When Park brought him food, he ate quickly, with no enjoyment, and eventually fell asleep again.

  In a separate room, Koen had arranged for beds, and all the vampires rested. Su’ad wandered back and forth between her bed and Shani’s.

  Close to twilight, asleep, Rodney felt a hand on his head, tapping him lightly. He lifted up to see Su’ad smiling into his face fro
m just inches away.

  “Awaken. I have spoken to your woman.”

  His eyes shot to Shani’s face, but she was still unconscious. He looked back at the child again. “What do you mean?”

  “She has spoken to me. Not awake, not yet, but soon. She knows you are here with her and it makes her very, very happy.”

  “She’s okay?”

  “She is. You must have faith in the magic, she says. She says she will not leave you.”

  Su’ad tilted her head, her eyes moving over Rodney’s body. “You would be a fine cat. There is a grace about you. Elegance, like my race. One day, you must come and visit my people.”

  “I would like that very much.”

  “D’lanna Yi. It means the door is always open for you. You are always welcome.”

  “That is a fine invitation. No’li.”

  “You know my language?”

  “Very little. But I do know how to give my thanks.”

  “No’li, my new friend. Shani is about to wake. She asks that I bring Cairine and Park.”

  No sooner had Su’ad left the room, than an almost imperceptible moan pulled Rodney’s eyes to Shani’s face. Her eyes opened, searched, found him, and she smiled.

  She licked her lips. “Hi,” she said, but it seemed like it took everything for her to do so.

  “Baby,” Rodney said, the endearment unintended, but heartfelt. He’d never felt such joy. “Welcome back, beautiful. You scared me. Us.”

  “Not.” Shani’s breath came with effort. “Leaving. Yet.”

  “That’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever heard. Poetry.”

  Park swept in with Cairine on her heels.

  “Sweetheart! How are you feeling?”

  “O…kay,” came out slowly.

  “Good.”

  As Park pulled back the sheet, Cairine perched at the top of the bed. “Hey sleepyhead.”

  Shani just smiled up at her as Cairine brushed her hair with her fingers.

  Moving her hands along Shani’s legs, Park frowned.

  “Shani, can you move your right leg?”

  Park, Rodney, Cairine, and Shani stared at the leg that did not move. Seconds passed before Shani’s eyes moved up to Park’s. “I can’t.”

  Park pulled the sheet back over her and smiled.

  “It’s okay. Probably just needs a little more time. But your stat’s are good and we’re taking you with us tonight. Are you hungry?”

  Shani nodded.

  “I’ll choose something good for you,” Rodney volunteered.

  Once he left the room, Cairine looked up into her mother’s face, a question in her eyes, and her mother’s slight shake of her head answered.

  This was not good. Shani should have healed from the bullet that struck her spine, should be able to move. The vampire blood normally repaired that type of damage. The fact that it hadn’t, meant that the damage was much more extensive.

  “We’ll see,” Park finally said, unwilling to throw even the slightest doubt into Shani’s recovery. The girl had survived, and that was the true victory.

  IN PATAGONIA

  From the waist down, Shani was paralyzed. Park’s blood carried the strongest healing properties, and even a second blood meal hadn’t been able to repair the damage.

  After considering the situation, Crezia had been brought into the room where Park was working with Shani.

  “Crezia, I know your talent has just manifested, but what you did for Caedmon was extraordinary. I wonder if your magic might help Shani.”

  “I will try, of course. But I really don’t know how I did it for Caedmon. I touched him, and something came forward. It wasn’t anything I did. It felt like my body recognized his, and then went to the source of his problem and fixed it.”

  “Whatever you can do is welcome. We all understand the limitations of a nascent talent.”

  Brigitte, Cairine, Eras, Ife, and Caedmon waited as Crezia took a seat next to Shani. “Hey. I hope this works.”

  Shani gave her an encouraging smile. “I know you do. I appreciate it.”

  Leaning close, Crezia touched Shani’s legs, a hand splayed across each thigh, her eyes closed, and tried to reach into the magics that she felt swirling just beyond her reach. With Caed, they had come as soon as she touched him, but she’d also felt a weird bond as soon as they contacted. She felt a different energy with Shani, closer to that when a magnet is exposed to one with opposite polarity…the magic seemed to push away. Sitting back, she smiled into Shani’s eyes.

  “Um, it’s difficult. I’m going to try again, but this time, I want to hold your hands.”

  Lifting her fingers, Shani gently clasped Crezia’s. They were hot, slightly slick, and she felt a crackle of electricity. This near, with skin to skin contact, Crezia’s emotions fully exposed, Shani felt her frustration and sorrow.

  Crezia’s head began to hurt, and the electrical charge moved through her chest. The healing magic buried within Crezia stayed there, it wouldn’t come for Shani.

  “I’ll try again,” she said as she held tighter to Shani’s fingers.

  “No.” Shani pulled her fingers away and rested them against the sheet. “You are going to be very powerful someday. Yes, your talent is healing, but it isn’t there today, not for me. Perhaps someday. I sense your desperation to help, I feel it, and I appreciate it so much, but all you’re doing is hurting yourself.”

  Park tried to reassure Crezia that it was okay. “You’re not vampire yet, your talents are still developing and unfocused. Healing, like compulsion and freezing, are the hardest of all to accomplish and manage. You have not failed, you’re just not ready yet. You must have a very special connection for your healing to have surged into Caedmon. Caed, you are a lucky young man.”

  “I know. Shani, I’m sorry it didn’t work.” Caedmon kissed her on the forehead.

  “It’s okay. Really. Honestly, I can’t wait to get home.”

  Brigitte, Eras, and Ife surrounded their sister.

  “We’ll take care of you until you’re well. And you will be well again!” Brigitte refused to even consider another possibility. “Our fathers and mothers are anxious for us to get back.”

  Shani admitted she missed them terribly. Right now, she was having trouble adjusting to the situation. While she believed she would walk again, this journey had taken a turn that seemed to steal her spirit.

  And Rodney hadn’t been to see her today. He had to know they would be leaving in a few hours.

  “Brigitte, will you see if you can find Rodney?”

  “Of course. Why don’t we all get out of here and let her rest?”

  Park nodded. “Yes, good idea. Xavier’s jet will be leaving at noon. His pilot will fly you straight back to Zambia.”

  “Thank you, Park.”

  Everyone cleared out after hugging Shani except Park.

  “Now you know I won’t let you get despondent over this, right? I’ll find a way to fix this.”

  “I know.” Shani’s eyes met Park’s. “But what if you don’t?”

  “You mustn’t think that way.” Park watched the emotions play across Shani’s face. She knew better. “If I can’t, your conversion will fix it. I refuse to even think that we can’t reverse this damage, but, sweetheart, if we can’t reverse it, it won’t be for long. You’ll convert within the next few years, and you’ll be okay.”

  Tears slid from Shani’s eyes and she wiped them away in frustration. “Yeah, I know. But I want to travel and do things before I become vampire and lose daylight. Damn’t, Park...”

  “I know, honey.” Park pulled her into her arms. “Still, I always have some tricks up my sleeve. I’m pretty clever, did you know that?”

  Held tight in Park’s embrace, Shani nodded.

  Once Park left, Shani stared down at her legs, uncovered, unmoving. She punched her thigh. Nothing. No sensation. She punched it again, and again, and again. Still nothing.

  The door clicked, opened, and closed as Rodney came in and dropped
back against it to stare at her.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Silence filled the space until Shani pulled the sheet back over her legs. “I’m leaving soon.”

  “I know.”

  “Were you going to come see me?”

  “I was. I waited for everyone else to clear out.”

  Moving closer, Rodney pulled the sheet back and lifted Shani from the bed. Her long tee shirt slid up to reveal her satin underwear, but she didn’t care. He curled her into his arms and held her close.

  “Your heart is pounding,” Shani said. She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “This wasn’t your fault.”

  “I will never forgive myself for letting you take the bullets for me.”

  “You couldn’t stop me. I knew they were there before anyone else did. If I’d had more time…”

  “Don’t. It’s over. Park is going to make you well again.”

  “She will.” No point in telling him it was unlikely.

  “Rodney, I’m going back to Africa. Will you come with me?”

  “Shani, this injury doesn’t change anything. You’re eons beyond my tiny presence. You are brighter than the sun and bigger than the sky. You have a destiny to save this planet someday, and I am only a human man who will be long gone by then.”

  “No, I’ll convert you.”

  His smile was sad. “I don’t think that’s my destiny. The man you will be with must be worthy of you.”

  “I hate that fucking word, Rodney. How are you not worthy of me?”

  “I am, and will always be, your protector. I have my place. It isn’t with a first blood vampire. This small man was born in a dirty street on a snowy day to a woman who threw him away. It was the grace of an angel who determined that I survive.”

  He took care as he slid her off his lap and dropped to his knees to her. “You’re young and beautiful and powerful, and you’re trying your sexual prowess out on me. I get it. I’m the first man you’ve been attracted to. You are going to be a vampire, and the experiences that await you will be beyond your imagination. One day, if I see you with someone else, my heart will break. I wish I were your destiny, but you, my lovely Shani, were never meant for one as unremarkable as I. It is my loss, I assure you.”