My eyes narrow. This must be the client she said she referred, but that was just the other day. Could it really be the same person? Why would Liz want that? “When was this?”
“Monday. Why?”
I’m not sure if that would violate confidentiality. Does it go both ways? “It’s not important. What did she say?” I can scarcely breathe. Had her trying to eat the scone not been a sudden impulse? Was this something she already wanted? Is she trying to do it for me?
“She just asked me how it had happened. I told her I didn’t remember a lot, but she pressed me for details. I assumed she was trying to help me process it and maybe she had some morbid curiosity. She seemed the type. She was so understanding of my death, my old one back when I thought I was dead, not now that I actually am dead. Then she told me to come here. Now that I think about it, she did say she had a girlfriend here. Is that you? Did you try to eat my therapist? That’s hilarious. If she wasn’t such a good therapist, I probably would’ve done so myself.”
I manage to refrain from tearing him limb from limb. “Real funny. But you think she wanted to be a vampire?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe. She could’ve asked me to turn her. I owe her a lot. I would’ve done it. She didn’t, though, so she probably was just being a good therapist, right? Or maybe my turning her would be unethical. I’m not really sure. Is that what a dual relationship is?”
I’m not even listening. With him talking about her, I can almost smell her. Wait, that’s not my imagination. I can smell her. She’s here. I look around, my nose raised, trying to find her. Her scent trail is all over the next room. How did I miss it until now? “I have to go.” I stand, walking past the rest of the group, practically having to climb over the vampire on my way out. She’s here. Why is she here? I have to find her.
* * *
I prowl the stands, following her trail, everyone parting for the big scary wendigo on the hunt. She went outside, but the scent is fresh; she just left. She might still be nearby. I shove open the door and see her car, but her scent leads away from it. I follow it around the side of the building to a dark alcove with a red emergency exit door, and a vampire sinking his teeth into her neck.
I shove him aside, my own fangs bared. “Stay the hell away from her,” I bellow, my voice its natural horrifying basso.
His eyes widen. So few people see an angry wendigo and live to tell the tale. Now I’ve made it two. He flees without a word. I turn back to Liz. There’s no blood on her mouth, but her neck is spraying everywhere. I must’ve torn it when I ripped the vamp off her. “Liz?” I can barely breathe. She’s gonna die right here, isn’t she? It’s all my fault. I need that vampire to come back. I press my hand to her neck, trying to stop the bleeding.
“Abby?” Tears well up in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
Pulling her close to my chest, I shake my head. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who tried to eat you.”
“I forced you into that position, I hurt you. I didn’t understand anything. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t talk. We need to get you to a hospital.”
“I’ll be fine.” She winces. “How bad’s the bleeding?”
I take my hand away, seeing the chunk of reddened, torn-open flesh. I don’t even want a bite. “It’s not great.”
Her eyes squeeze shut. “Shit. I was just trying to be better for you. If I wasn’t human anymore, everything would be so much easier.”
“I don’t want you to change, Liz. I just want you to be you. I love you.” I plant a soft kiss on her lips, pressing on the wound just enough to stop the bleeding without choking her. What am I going to do? “I’m gonna take you inside. Maybe someone can help.”
“I love you too,” she murmurs, her eyes staying closed. I don’t know what I’ll do if she dies. I can’t take it. She has to be okay.
In less than a second, I’m pushing back through the doors, clutching Liz tightly. Every eye in the building turns to me. That’s what happens when you hold out a bleeding human to a bunch of fiends. “Can anyone help?” I sob. “She’s hurt.”
Everyone moves at once. I have no idea where Ashley comes from, but she’s reaching out, trying to take Liz. I pull her back. I can’t let go I have to look after her. “She needs to go to the hospital,” Ashley insists.
“I can’t take her.” I can’t stop crying. “I can’t leave her alone. Isn’t there anyone here who can treat her?” Normally, the vet’s on call. I’m not sure I’d trust her with this, but anyone’s better than nothing.
Boris shoves his way through the crowd. “I have bandages, but she will need to go to doctor. Remove hand, please?” I uncover it for a fraction of a second before placing pressure on the wound again. “She may bleed out if she is not seen quickly. Let me wrap her up, then you can take her.”
I shake my head but lower Liz enough that he can work on her. What am I going to do? Can I just run her to the hospital and drop her off? What if that hurts her? What if someone sees me? There’d be so many people there. Could someone else take her? Her car’s right there, but who can I possibly trust?
I want to take her so badly. She’s my girlfriend—holy shit, she’s still my girlfriend—it’s my job to look after her. I shouldn’t have to rely on someone else.
The remaining members of my diet group file out of our conference room and into the crowd of onlookers. It’s useful being able to see over everyone. Dennis makes his way to the front. “Ms. Rosseau,” he breathes, taking the last few steps toward me.
Boris glares at him.
“Let me help her!” Dennis insists, looking up at me, pleading. “I can turn her, then you won’t need to worry. She won’t even have to go to the hospital.”
It’s what she wanted. Who am I to deny her? I already ruined it once already, assuming that was going as planned; he may have been trying to kill her. Then she and I could spend eternity together.
As monsters. She doesn’t deserve that fate. “No.” I force the word out, almost choking on it.
He takes another step toward us, his voice a panicked plea, “Please. Abby, right? It’s the only way. She wants to be a vampire. Let me help her. Let me save her.”
It’s so tempting. I want to give in, to know that she and I can live happily ever after, but I won’t rob her of her life. I can’t. “No. I won’t let you.”
“Then let me help. I can take her to the hospital.”
That’s a possibility. Can I trust him? He’d be alone with Liz. As she’s bleeding out. Even through the bandage, he’d smell it clear as day—night—and I don’t know if he could resist it. Until today, I didn’t think I’d be able to resist that kind of wound myself, and I’m not even a vampire. Plus, he might turn her, and while it would rob me of some of the responsibility, I have to do everything I can to stop it. If, when, things are all sorted out, and we’re happy and growing old together, she still wants it, then it’s her choice, but when she’s bleeding and on the verge of death, I won’t let it happen to her. I can’t.
But who can I trust? Boris can pass as a human if he wears a hat, but it’s not like he’s the most trustworthy sort. He rips me off every week, but he’s saving her life at no cost. He might sell her. I like him okay, and he likes me, but he’s not a friend. He’s not someone I trust.
Ashley? She can’t pass as human, even if she might be slightly better about it than me, and she’s hungry. She’ll want to eat Liz. She’s already said as much. I can trust her, but I don’t know that she can trust herself, and that puts me right back at the same point.
Kara can pass as human, and I’m still not sure why she’s in the group. Selkies don’t normally eat people, but that’s all the more reason I can’t trust her. I don’t know what she’s after. Who else do I even know? What can I do?
“Oh, honey,” a new person calls, taking a step closer to Liz. I start to pull her away and receive a silent reprimand from Boris. I finally recognize Caris, a siren I met early on in my time here. “I guess she
found that vampire she was looking for.” She glances at me. “I’m sorry, Abigail. I told her I wouldn’t help, but I didn’t think this would happen. I should’ve watched after her.”
“You know her?” I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything. I may be processing a bit slowly. In my defense, the love of my life is almost dead.
“I met her today. She seemed desperate.”
“I’m desperate now. Can you help her?” She doesn’t eat people, she can pass as human, and she feels as if she already failed Liz once. She’s perfect. “Please take her to the hospital. Her car keys should be in her pocket. Her car is right outside. Please. I’m trusting you. I can’t do this myself.”
She nods. “Okay.”
Trust, but verify. I don’t want her to go alone. “Vampire boy.”
“Yes?” He looks up, hunger still clear in his eyes.
“Go with her. If Liz starts to die before you get there, do it. And look after her, okay?” If I let both of them go, there’s almost no way they’ll betray me. I just wish I could tell Caris to stake him if he tries anything. Damn vampire hearing, it’s almost as good as mine. I lock eyes with her, willing the message to her, hoping that she understands my silent, madly desperate plea. Look after her. Don’t let anyone hurt her.
She nods. I think she understands.
Boris stands up, admiring his work. “It’s not perfect, but it should keep. As long as you don’t toss her around, she should survive the drive. I’ll take the fee out of your next haul, Abby.” I hate him.
“I’ll keep her safe,” Caris whispers, hugging and grabbing my precious cargo. I look down as Liz is taken from me. Her eyes are still closed. How long has she been unconscious? That’s not a good sign.
Dennis fishes the keys out of her pocket. “I’ll drive.” Probably a good idea since I’m not sure if Caris even knows how. Besides, it makes it easier for her to watch Liz while he’s busy driving.
They run off. I’d be faster. I should be the one taking her. I feel a pull at my elbow and spin on whoever’s disturbing me when Liz is in so much danger only to find Ashley. “I’m so sorry, Abby.”
With a nod, I find a nearby bench and collapse onto it. “I need to be there for her.”
Taking a seat next to me, she rests her hand on my knee, looking up through tear-filled milky eyes. “You’ve done everything you can.”
“Then I should be able to do more.”
“I know, but we’re not so lucky. You saved her life, now let the two of them finish the job. She’s lucky to have you.”
My eyes narrow, my mouth opening as I stare, not able to comprehend how that could be. “How? All I see is the damage I’ve caused. She’s hurt because of me. She wants to stop being human because of me. Hell, I almost ate her yesterday, so she runs here and almost gets herself killed.”
Patting my knee, she shakes her head sadly. “Look at it from her perspective. How amazing must you be to be worth all that? She loves you so much. She was willing to give up everything to be with you. It’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. I’m kinda jealous. If a guy was willing to do that for me, I wouldn’t be beating myself up. I’d be letting him, I’d be marrying him, and I’d be spending eternity with him. Instead, look at you. You try to save her from herself and everyone else. You’re the best person I’ve ever known, Abby, and you completely deserve that girl’s utterly insane adoration.”
I’m not sure I agree, but it’s nice to hear it. I wrap my arms around Ashley, pulling her into a hug as my tears fall onto her back. “I’m so scared.”
“She’ll be okay, Abby. She’ll either come back as a human or a vampire, but she will be okay.”
I try to blink away the tears, but they keep coming. I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop crying until I hear from her. I need her to make it. I need her to keep being her. I need her.
Chapter Fifteen
Elizabeth
The last thing I remember, I was in Abby’s arms. So she isn’t mad at me? We’re okay? Oh, thank God. Looking around, I find myself in a hospital with an incredible pain in my neck as I turn. Fuck. I shut my eyes, leaning back in bed. “Abby?” I call. Did she bring me here?
“Fortunately for you, that bitch isn’t here,” a voice says. It takes me a second to place it. Sandra? How did she find out where I was? “You just got out of surgery. They called me when you got in. I’m still on file as your emergency contact.”
“What time is it?” I check my pockets for my phone, but I’m in a hospital gown. I glance around the room again, wincing in pain, trying to find my clothes. It should be in my pocket or maybe my purse.
“It’s a little before eight a.m. I have your phone, and I canceled all of your appointments for the rest of the week. You need to recover.” Her voice is firm, almost cold. I think she might be pissed at me.
“Give it to me.” I reach toward her, doing my best to ignore the pain. “I need to tell Abby I’m okay.”
“No. She doesn’t need to know anything. She’s been hurting you, and it’s clearly escalated. Just look at yourself.” She glares at me. I turn my head and try to ignore her. I need to let Abby know I’m all right. She sounded so scared when she found me.
“She didn’t do this. I did this to myself.”
“Just listen to yourself. Making excuses for that monster.”
They prefer “fiend.” I hold in the laughter. I don’t feel like explaining it to her.
“You need some time to get your head on straight. You promised me you weren’t going out. I trusted you. Clearly, I can’t do that, so you’re going to take your time and recover. Forget about her. You’ll find someone better.”
“You’re not my mom, and I’m not a child.” God, that sounds childish. “Give me my phone.”
“You can have it back once you’ve started to be reasonable again. I’ve already messaged her. She won’t be bothering you now.” Sandra stands, rubbing her eyes. She looks exhausted. Has she been here all night? “I’m going to tell a nurse you’re awake. Don’t even think about running off.”
I glower, useless and impotent in my hospital bed. What did she tell her? Did she pretend to be me? Did she claim I was breaking up with Abby? I wouldn’t have thought she was capable of it, but she’s never acted like this before. I’m actually a little scared of her now, more than I’ve ever been of Abby. I kick the foot of the bed, the motion causing a shock wave to spiral from my neck. I swear it didn’t hurt this badly last night.
A few minutes later, someone in scrubs comes in, accompanied by Sandra. “Hey, Doc, am I good to go yet?” I ask. A girl can dream.
He checks my chart. “I’m your nurse, so we’ll have to wait for your doctor to say anything, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to want to keep you for observation. Can you tell me what happened? Your friend says your partner attacked you.”
“She didn’t. I was being dumb.” I try to think of how to explain this, but whatever cocktail of drugs they pumped me full of seems to be slowing my planning capabilities, and they weren’t remarkable to begin with. “I was bitten by a dog,” I offer. It sounds so dumb.
“That would make sense with the injury.” What? That worked? “There’s not really any way I can think of for a person to cause that kind of damage, not without some pretty powerful jaws. I could be wrong, but I certainly wouldn’t guess it was from a person. Does her girlfriend have very sharp teeth?” he asks Sandra. I’m not sure if he’s serious or joking, but I laugh anyway. She does. I cut my tongue on them once. I find myself laughing harder. Yeah, I’ve been drugged.
Sandra lets out an irritated sigh. “She didn’t when I knew her, though who knows what weird things she might be up to now.”
“I’m doubting it’s that, then, though you’re welcome to wait for the doctor to give her opinion.”
“Her girlfriend is abusing her, and then she shows up in the hospital with that injury? It doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together.” She waves before crossing her arms and glaring.
“What do they pay you people for? You’re supposed to be keeping her safe, not just throwing her back to the wolves.”
“Well, it looks like it might’ve been a wolf. Miss, is your girlfriend abusing you?”
“Nope.” I shake my head, trying not to giggle, though fortunately, the pain makes it not so funny. Did he turn up the drugs, or are they just kicking in? Does morphine even do this? What if it’s a drug from the vampire bite? Do vampires inject venom or something?
“That settles that. There weren’t any other bruises remarked upon, and I can’t see any signs. The giddiness should be a side effect of the medication. You lost a lot of blood, so you’re gonna be here for a while. You’re on an IV. Give it some time, and you should be okay. We’ve replaced most of it, but you lost almost two liters. You’re lucky to be alive.” He sifts through the pages as he reports.
I wasn’t trying to be alive. I was trying to be undead, but I guess that isn’t so pressing now that Abby seems to have forgiven me. Assuming Sandra didn’t ruin that. “How much have you put back in me?” What a weird question. I laugh again.
“You’re on your second liter right now. You lost some more blood in surgery, so we’re getting you another half-liter, but at this point, the signs are good. No signs of infection. Give it a few more hours, and you should have a full tank again. Then we have to make sure there aren’t any complications from the surgery. The bite was bad, but it missed your carotid, though it ripped two of your jugular veins.” He lets out a low whistle. “You must’ve gotten here just in time. At this point, it looks like you’ll be okay, but you shouldn’t be making plans to head anywhere yet.”
I need to see Abby. “Sandra, can I please have my phone? I need to let her know I’m okay. She didn’t do this.”
“We’ll see what the doctor says,” she grumbles. “I’m going to the vending machine. Don’t let her leave,” she adds, turning to my nurse.
My Date with a Wendigo Page 15