by Susan Illene
Ariel’s eyes filled with sympathy. “You are all she has.”
My throat swelled. They couldn’t possibly think I was all the protection she needed. What could I possibly do? Then an idea formed in my head.
“Can I give her my blood if she gets sick? Would that help?”
When Lucas had given me his I didn’t get sick again, even before getting the next two doses that made me immortal. Maybe it could do the same for her.
She shook her head. “I’m afraid not. She is still too young and it could do more harm than good.”
“How? Lucas’ blood saved my life. It didn’t hurt me.” Well, the first two doses didn’t. The third one was another matter, but I wasn’t going to take it that far.
“It may heal her, but it could stunt her aging process and create other unforeseen problems. This is not something I can allow you to do.”
“So am I supposed to let her die?” Even if she had to suffer a little I’d risk it, rather than losing her.
Ariel came over and took my hands. “All I can say is that you must not share your blood with any mortal. The same rules apply to you as nephilim.”
“Can you at least tell me the cure for the plague so I can help Emily and the others?” I asked.
She glanced up at the sky, conflicting emotions running across her face.
“I am sorry, but I cannot help you.” Then she leaned close and whispered into my ear. “I am being watched. Do not call upon me again until you need the portal location. The nerou you rescue will give you the answer you seek.”
“Are you in trouble?” I asked, keeping my voice as low as hers. The last thing we needed was to lose our archangel sympathizer.
“Not yet, but questions are being raised. I’m doing my best to cover them until the time comes.”
“But…” I began.
She stepped away. “I must go. Take care, Melena.”
With a flash of light, she disappeared. I stared at the spot where she’d just been standing. She hadn’t even left footprints in the snow. What was I supposed to do for Emily if I couldn’t get an archangel’s help or use my blood? Please, God, don’t let her get sick.
Chapter Twenty-two
Lucas
They watched over Emily for three days. Lucas had never known true fear until he’d met Melena and now he was living in fear for her adopted daughter as well. The tests they’d run on her yesterday revealed an elevated white blood cell count. Paula couldn’t say whether it was from something as simple as a cold or if the plague had infected her. New samples drawn this morning would tell them more.
Since she’d been exposed, he’d scrambled to set up an isolation chamber at the far end of the clinic—away from anyone who could get infected. They couldn’t afford to take any chances. It had required bringing in extra men to make the room airtight, as well as adding special gaskets for the two sets of doors leading to it. They’d just finished installing separate ventilation, which included negative pressure air and a HEPA filtration system. Lucas had never imagined he’d have to learn about any of these things, but he knew all about them now.
“Well, at least I get to miss school,” Emily said, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. “But it’s going to suck making up all my homework.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Lucas reassured her.
She picked up her cell phone and checked for text messages. It was about all she did other than sleep and eat. He had no idea she had so many friends or that they would communicate about the most inane things—such as the latest celebrity gossip. Lucas was completely baffled by teenage behavior.
The door opened and Melena came through with a smile on her face. “It looks like Hunter is getting better. Paula just confirmed his body is fighting off the infection.”
“Really?” Emily hopped off the bed.
There had been signs in the last two days that the werewolf might recover, but they’d waited until tests confirmed improvement before telling Emily or letting Hunter say anything. They hadn’t wanted to get her hopes up for nothing.
“Yep,” Melena said. “Counting his dad, he’ll be the third patient to pull through. Bambi is starting to get better as well.”
“Are they still isolating her?” Emily asked.
“For the moment. She swears she’ll behave, but Paula wants to give it another day or two just to be safe. She got pretty violent there for a while.”
What Melena left out of the conversation were the dozen victims who hadn’t survived. And that’s what worried Lucas most. If the majority of supernaturals with strong immune systems couldn’t fight it, what chance did Emily have if she was infected? The plague in the troll had morphed into a much stronger version by the time he exposed her to it. They didn’t have to worry about the demon magic working against her, but it was still a highly virulent form she might have to fight.
“Is Hunter up and around?” Emily asked, eyes lit up with hope. “Can I see him?”
Melena cast Lucas a nervous glance. “Paula is allowing Hunter to get up for a few minutes at a time and walk around, but he’s not recovered enough to come in here. I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait.”
“But that’s not fair!” Emily balled her fists. “He already has the plague so it shouldn’t be a big deal if we see each other.”
Lucas gave her a stern look. “It might not seem fair, but it is in both your best interests. Hunter needs rest if he’s to recuperate faster.”
Emily wrapped her arms around herself. “What about his father? How is he doing?”
Lucas had taken a special interest in anyone who overcame the plague and monitored their recovery closely. He’d just seen Rob the previous evening and found the werewolf in much better health. The young pixie Lucas had attempted to heal also showed signs of improvement when he checked on him this morning. Quinn was the first one to win the fight against the disease in Juneau. It gave him hope that even if Emily did contract the illness she might be able to beat it.
“Rob is still recovering and his sores aren’t fully healed yet, but he does seem to be getting back to full strength,” Lucas reported.
“Good,” Emily said, sitting back down on the bed. She grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Can you guys tell them to turn the heat up? It’s freezing in here.”
It was easy to forget mortals had a lesser tolerance for cool temperatures. All the girl had on was a hospital gown and undergarments. He wasn’t surprised she was cold.
Melena stepped closer to her. “Is your face flushed?”
“How should I know? There’s no mirror in here.” Emily scowled.
Lucas looked as well. “Her cheeks do look red.”
The door behind them clicked open, redirecting their attention.
Paula poked her head inside. “Lucas, Melena, may I speak to you for a moment?”
“Of course,” he replied.
They followed the doctor out into the hallway.
She turned to face them, hands clasped in front of her and face carefully blank. “I’m afraid I have some bad news. Emily’s latest culture shows signs she’s developing the plague.”
“Are you sure?” Melena asked, taking hold of Lucas’ arm. Her fingernails dug into his skin, but he hardly felt it.
Paula gave her a sympathetic look. “Yes. I double checked just to be certain.”
“What can we do for her?” Lucas was a man of action. He needed somewhere focus his attention rather than contemplating what might happen to Emily.
“She’s been on antibiotics and fluids, but I’ll switch to a stronger medication now that we’re certain she is sick. The garlic oil might help as well if she develops sores. Other than that…” she paused, “we just need to move her to the isolation chamber.”
Emily was now a threat to anyone who wasn’t immortal. He wanted to slam his fist into a wall, but not with Melena standing next to him. Lucas needed to be strong for her—and for the girl who’d become like a daughter to him.
“I’ll take her there myself,” he promised.
Paula nodded. “Give me a few minutes alone with her. I need to do another examination, but then you can transfer her over.”
The doctor left them in the hallway and went inside.
“Lucas,” Melena said, looking up at him. “There’s a nerou in Purgatory who might know how to cure this.”
“I know. Yerik told me.” Not that it did them any good.
“What if we…”
“No,” he interrupted. “I won’t risk losing you on the small chance it might save her.”
The consequences from her last trip there still haunted them. As evidenced by the guardian headed their way with a Styrofoam cup in his hand. Kerbasi must have made another trip to the nearest coffee shop only a few blocks away.
She gave him a frustrated look. “This is Emily we’re talking about.”
“And we’ll do everything—not involving that place—we can to save her. Of that, I promise you.”
“What has happened?” Kerbasi asked, finally reaching them.
“Emily has the plague.”
The guardian’s cup splattered on the floor.
Chapter Twenty-three
Melena
Emily was sleeping. It had only been a day since she’d been diagnosed, but she already looked a lot worse. She’d developed a fever and complained of painful muscle cramps. I bowed my head and prayed harder than I’d ever prayed before. She’d recover. There was no other possible outcome I could handle.
Someone knocked on the outer door.
The walls had been thickened when they turned the room into an isolation chamber, but my supernatural hearing could still pick up loud noises from nearby. I glanced at Emily. Her breathing was deep and even as she continued to sleep.
Making as little noise as possible I left the room and entered the decontamination area we’d set up. Through the window in the outer door I could see Derrick and Aniya standing there, looking at me.
“What do you want?” I asked, hoping to avoid decontaminating if possible.
“I need to talk to you,” came the alpha’s muffled reply. “Aniya will watch Emily while you’re out.”
I put a hand on my hip. “Is this going to take long?”
He had to know I didn’t like leaving Emily except for the bare necessities—like eating and bathroom breaks.
“We’ll see. I’ll buy you lunch while we’re out.”
My stomach growled at that. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate anything.
“What about Kerbasi?” The guardian was off taking a nap in the caregiver break room at the moment. I hated to disturb him when he wasn’t being a nuisance.
“We’re not going far.”
I sighed. “Fine. Give me ten minutes.”
Pulling down the window shade to block his view, I began the decontamination process. First I had to strip everything off, tossing my suit into a special bin, then scrub myself down with disinfectant. Our methods weren’t quite up to CDC standards, but we were doing the best we could under the circumstances. Once I was finally clean and had sterilized the tile floor, I grabbed the sealed bag with my clothes. It took another minute to put them on.
I opened the door and nodded at Aniya as she passed me on the way through.
“What’s so important you have to drag me away from Emily?” I demanded.
Derrick didn’t look like he’d slept much more than I had recently. His brown hair was hanging loose and wild and there was a good bit of scruff on his face. He had dark circles under his eyes, too, and his clothes were the same from yesterday. Ever since the plague had broken out, even the healthy people didn’t look all that great.
“We need to talk. Come with me.” He turned around and began walking briskly down the hallway.
I rushed to catch up. “This is all very cryptic.”
“Lucas ain’t comin’ back until tonight, is he?” he asked, glancing over at me.
“No.”
He led us out the front doors of the clinic. “Then you’ll understand soon enough.”
We crossed the icy parking lot and he motioned for me to get into his truck. After he unplugged it from the outlet, he climbed inside and started the engine. There was tension in the air. It was almost stifling to my senses. Whatever we had to discuss, it was serious.
He pulled the truck out and drove us down the road to a small restaurant. As soon as he parked I started to get out, but he put a hand on my arm.
“Wait. There’s something I need to say first.” His voice was gruff.
“Okay.” I waited.
Derrick tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. Then he rubbed at his whiskers. It was getting more awkward by the second, but whatever he had to say I didn’t want to rush him.
“I’m sorry about Felisha,” he began, staring out the window. “It eats at me when I’m awake and asleep, rememberin’ what happened to her, knowin’ it was my fault.”
My chest tightened, but I didn’t say anything.
“She was a good person—a lot better than me. If I could take back that night, I would.” He exhaled a breath. “But I can’t.”
That was the thing about being a sensor. We knew when people spoke the truth and when they said it from the heart. That’s what Derrick was doing now. No matter how much I wanted to rail at him for all the trouble he caused I couldn’t do it when he was opening himself up like this. He was a hard man who rarely showed his feelings. It couldn’t have been easy to say these things.
“I still miss her,” I said, looking away.
“I don’t doubt that. You ain’t had nothin’ but trouble since you first got here and it ain’t got any easier. Don’t think I don’t notice that. If I could somehow snap my fingers and make things better for you, I would. But it just don’t work like that.”
“No, it doesn’t.” I rubbed my face.
“It is what it is, sensor girl. We can keep this wall up between us or break it down. That’s up to you.” He met my gaze. “If you ask me, I’m tired of fightin’ with you.”
I didn’t say anything right away. What could I say? There were so many things that had come between us and I’d been holding onto them because…well, I didn’t even know anymore. People we knew were dying and more could soon. If we were to survive it, we needed to pull together and put up a strong front. I didn’t really hate Derrick. I hated what happened, but so did he. It was time to let it go.
“The past is the past,” I said, meaning it.
“You’re darn right it is.” He pulled me into a hug.
His wild scent enveloped me as I buried my face in his jeans jacket. For a couple of minutes we sat just like that, holding onto the moment for as long as we could. Then we finally pulled apart. He gave me one last brush across the check before fully letting go.
“Wish you hadn’t mated with that nephilim, though. Given a little more time I’d have made my move.”
I smiled and shook my head. “I love that nephilim. He’s it for me.”
“That’s what makes it so much worse.” He slapped the steering wheel. “The damn man loves you as much as you love him. I’d have to be blind not to see it.”
There was no bitterness in his voice. He only spoke the truth.
“You’ll find someone someday,” I said. A guy like him could catch any woman’s eye.
He grunted. “Better not take as long as it did for Lucas.”
I laughed. Twenty-five hundred years was a long time, though I’d never thought of it that way before. How had Lucas gone that long without finding true love? Maybe that’s why Zoe had become so psychotic. She’d never found that one person that completed her.
Two new presences popped up on my radar, coming from down the road. One was the daimoun and the other a female sensor.
“Is Yerik and his mate meeting us here?”
The alpha nodded. “Yeah. That was the other reason I had to take you out.”
He reached for his door handle.
&nbs
p; “Wait.”
Derrick looked over at me with a questioning look.
“Will you tell me where you stashed Zoe?” I asked.
A slow smile spread across his face. “The moon.”
I would have thought he was joking if my senses didn’t tell me otherwise.
“Seriously?”
He shrugged. “I asked the daimoun if he could take her that far and he said he could--barely. She ain’t powerful enough to get back on her own so it seemed like the perfect spot to keep her contained. What’s the worst she can do there?”
I thought that over. “Well, I hope she doesn’t tear up the American flag.”
“Nah, I told him to take her to the other side. She shouldn’t make it that far, considering she ain’t got no water or food. She can’t even yell for that matter with no air to breathe.”
“That’s gotta drive her crazy.”
We hopped out of his truck just as Yerik pulled up in a white SUV. He got out of the driver’s side and went around to open the passenger door for his mate. She slowly got out and turned her head until her gaze met mine. She smiled.
I moved over to greet her and she took my hands. Hers were frail and cold, but she had a strong grip. I hadn’t been sure what to expect. Her hair hadn’t grayed and remained a dark brown she kept just above shoulder length. The biggest signs of her age were the wrinkles in her skin, but her blue eyes were clear and sharp. I could tell by looking at her she’d once been beautiful. Not much of her looks had faded with time.
“I’m Melena,” I said. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“I’ve been looking forward to seeing you as well. You may call me Lorna.”
She talked with a perceptible brogue in her voice, but it wasn’t so pronounced I couldn’t understand her. Maybe she’d dealt with Americans before and knew about our bad ears. We tended to be terrible with accents.
We followed the men as they led us into the restaurant.
“So where are you from in Scotland?” I asked.
“In Glencoe.” She glanced over at me. “It’s a little out of the way place where we can have our privacy and no one asks questions.”