by Amber Garr
We all looked around in the dark even though I was pretty sure my survey wasn’t going to help. Their eyesight was much better than mine.
“He’s gone. He’ll stay out of it.” Mac seemed confident that the werewolf wouldn’t be discovered.
“Okay then, here’s the plan.”
Twenty Four
We decided the truth would be best, or at least a close resemblance of the truth. I’d been abducted by the same group of people that kidnapped and murdered the other girls because of my involvement with the police. It was agreed that we would not discuss Miranda or Jake’s visit to the porn shop. Atticus would be able to name the people involved and steer the investigation toward the disillusioned practices of a cult. He’d provide enough details to convince the police and prosecutors that Leanna and her troupe were crazy Satanists with a fascination with mummification and ancient Egyptian prophecies. And only women were suitable for their sacrifices. The fire started with an out of control but bodiless pyre and we had escaped just in time. The cult would sound insane enough that it should keep the police from learning the real truth.
Since Garrick had met Conner the night he saved us from the train, we thought it best to explain Mac, Gallus, and Conner’s presence honestly. They were friends of mine who’d contacted Garrick when I missed a planned outing. Garrick managed to track me by my cell phone which was now somewhere in the pile of ashes along with my purse. For the second time this month, I would have to get them replaced.
The biggest hole in our story was going to be the explanation for Garrick’s wounds. Gallus had suggested we tell them there was a dog, but when Mac reminded us that a forensics team would be able to identify whether or not a dog had been in the building, we changed the plan. Garrick was attacked by Leanna and a knife. Atticus knew of an Egyptian story that involved the use of a large serrated dagger, and he would do his best to convince the police that if someone untrained used it, the result would be tears and lacerations resembling an animal attack. In questioning the validity of the myth, I finally learned that Atticus was an ancient history professor.
The majority of the plan relied on me. Once Garrick woke up, I’d have to convince him that this was the best story. We didn’t know how much he would remember, but they had confidence in my ability to stretch the truth, plus I was the only one who would be approved to see him in the hospital.
We knew we’d have a lot of explaining to do to Garrick in a private conversation. Gallus and Conner were hesitant, but Mac thought we should tell him the truth and introduce him to everyone. It would be beneficial to have someone from law enforcement familiar with the supernatural world. Although I felt a little skeptical, considering how I’d handled this information myself, I thought Garrick would be the perfect choice for a human liaison.
Footsteps crashed through the night and Detective Sherwood stopped a couple of feet away, gun drawn and pointed at everyone in the group. Mac’s hand automatically went to where he’d kept his sword on his belt, and it disappeared. That was one way to avoid answering questions that would inevitably evolve from the sight of a sword.
“Danny,” I sobbed. “Please help him.”
The detective lowered his gun and his eyes travelled to the place I was pointing. “Jesus, Leila. What happened to him?”
He was already on the ground feeling for a pulse. His fingers came back from Garrick’s neck covered in blood, so he tried at the wrist. The radio squawked and he yelled into it that an officer was down and they needed an ambulance now. He turned over his shoulder to look at me.
“What happened?”
“He tried to save me.”
It was all that I had time to say. In a flash, the ground crawled with professionals. Two paramedics handled Atticus, Angela, and me while an additional three worked on Garrick. I tried to listen to their words as they assessed and diagnosed his injuries, picking up only ‘bleeding out’, ‘erratic pulse’, and ‘Medivac’. He was covered with a silver heating blanket and the squeal of a defibrillator sent me into a panic. But when I was able to get a better view from the back of my ambulance, I saw it was only being charged and they hadn’t needed to use it yet.
“Does this hurt?”
A man squeezed my left kneecap and I let out a scream. “Yes! What are you doing?” I tried to calm my breathing and work past the pain. The young EMT with the last name Summers on his jumpsuit looked sheepishly at me.
“Sorry, miss. But I need to catalog your injuries.”
“Fine. But do you have to touch them?”
He smiled. “I’ll try not to.”
We spent the next ten minutes picking through each bump, bruise, and break. He thought that I might have a concussion and he was certain that my wrist was broken. As for the knee, it could have been anything from a torn tendon to a fracture, so he stabilized it in a puffy leg brace until I could get an MRI.
The thump, thump, thump of helicopter blades pounded overhead. A Medivac landed somewhere near the front of the ambulance, so I couldn’t see the process, but the wind rushed in around us. EMT Summers started to close the back doors when I told him to wait, I wanted to make sure that Garrick made it out safely. He complied and we both watched as the medical team carried a stretcher past us and to the awaiting air ambulance.
“Can you hear what they’re saying? Is he alive?”
Before Summers could answer, Detective Sherwood interrupted. “He’s alive. Barely, but he’s hanging on. I’m riding to the hospital now and will find you later.”
His tone promised that I would be questioned profusely about the happenings tonight. My heart skipped a few beats as I thought about the direction that conversation might go. He left without saying another word, and as Summers closed the doors, I saw the three supernaturals standing in the background near a couple of police officers. Conner and Mac lifted their hands in a small wave and Gallus stared. They had decades of practice covering up the unexplainable so nothing would go wrong, right? I needed to convince myself that all would be okay as I laid back and endured the ambulance ride.
I only had a slight concussion, but my knee was broken in three places. The doctors performed surgery that same night, which meant I lost an entire day to sleep and drugs. My wrist was in a cast where only the tips of my fingers stuck out. I’d have to paint some cool artwork on it. The knee couldn’t be placed in a cast, so they gave me leg brace that stretched from thigh to ankle.
When I was alert enough, I harassed the nurse until she let me see Garrick. He’d undergone emergency surgery for the rip in his neck and for the nasty break in his arm. Because he lost so much blood, he would spend two days in the Intensive Care Unit.
My new favorite nurse wheeled me up to see him, but I could go no further than the glass hallway. No one was allowed inside. His mom, dad, and brothers had arrived so I introduced myself. Apparently his brothers had heard of me and said as much when they shook my hand. This certainly wasn’t the way I intended to make a first impression, in a wheelchair with an ugly hospital gown, a full leg brace sticking straight out, and a rat’s nest in my hair. But they were gracious and promised to visit me downstairs if there were any updates with Garrick.
My hospital room felt like a drive-through, people in and out all day long. First the police and then the detectives, followed by the orthopedic surgeon, a neurologist, and a cardiologist. Why that last one came to see me I didn’t know, until he looked at the chart and apologized for being in the wrong room. Nice.
I stuck to my story that left out demons, witches, and more. The truth was close enough that as long as I stuck to the facts about being kidnapped and abused, I wouldn’t mess up. The only time I got to relax with the details was when my supernatural friends came in to check on me.
The first was Terez. She had two bouquets of flowers, one full of greenery and yellow tulips, and the other a small terracotta bowl with three different cacti. I smiled when I saw that.
“Let me guess. Because I can’t keep regular plants alive, right?”
She laughed and set the bowl on the bedside table. “You guessed it. These can survive the harshest environment in the world. Hopefully they will survive you and your condo.”
“What about the tulips?” It was a beautiful arrangement with at least a dozen flowers in full bloom.
“I think you should read the note.”
She held them low enough for me to reach the plastic card holder. I opened the tiny envelope and read the hand written letter.
I am sorry for my mistake and hope you can forgive me someday. Get well soon. King.
“Hmmm,” I mumbled.
“He feels terrible for nearly killing your detective. If you can find it within you, I hope that you can accept his apology. Werewolves are very loyal and it seems that our King has taken a liking to you. Betraying your trust is the worst thing he could have ever done.”
“I’m not angry with him and I understand how he made the mistake. But I also feel like he needs to apologize to Garrick.”
“Well, maybe someday that will happen. How is the detective?”
I filled her in on what I’d learned the last two days. He was due to be moved to a regular room later tonight and I’d already begged to see him.
“That certainly is good news then,” said Terez. She spent another half hour with me explaining how the police were handling the investigation. Jake Montgomery had disappeared, and when I told her what really happened to him, she shook her head.
“Those poor parents,” she said, emulating my exact thoughts from the dungeon. She hugged me and promised to stop by my home to check in. I felt glad to have her in my life. She was a good friend despite any of my earlier objections of her behavior.
My next visitors were Gallus and Elise. They dressed somewhat normal in tight jeans and white shirts, except for the knee high brown leather boots covering their legs. I’d never get away with that. Instead of flowers, I got a box of chocolates and a stick with a little hand on the end. When I raised my eyebrows, Elise giggled.
“It was his idea,” she said and nudged the vampire.
“You put it down your cast or…brace, when you have an itch,” Gallus added.
I twirled the scratching stick around and examined the tiny fingers splayed out on the end. Testing the procedure on my leg, I smiled up at Gallus when I could tell how good it felt.
“This is great! How’d you ever come up with it?”
“I have been in many casts throughout my life. Believe me, you will need it.”
“I thought vampires healed quickly?” I asked.
“They do, but sometimes it takes a full day or two. He’s a wimp. Your cast will be on much longer,” Elise finished. Only the petite medium could get away with words like that.
If only humans healed like vampires. I suddenly had a dreadful thought. “Gallus, what will happen to Garrick?” He cocked his head in question. “I mean, King bit him. Will he be a werewolf now?” I could barely get the words out.
In a surprisingly foreign gesture, Gallus grabbed my hand and squeezed. “It doesn’t work that way in the real world.” Real world, yeah right. “Werewolves are born, not bitten. Your detective will be fine.” It was the longest speech I’d ever heard from him.
“Thank you.” I breathed, relieved for that news.
“Now if I would have attacked him…” Elise elbowed him hard in the side, but not before he exposed his fangs in his smile.
“She doesn’t need to think about that, Gallus,” she scolded the vampire. Turning her attention back to me she continued. “Just get better, Leila. Detective Garrick will heal, and in time, this will all be in the past.”
I smiled up at the both of them and thanked Gallus for his help with my rescue. He nodded and Elise hugged me goodbye with a promise that the two of us will do something girly together once I got better. She was definitely someone I would be good friends with and I looked forward to my recovery.
Dinner time came soon after they left and I was blessed with a serving of chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The nurse shook her head when I reminded her that I would get my visit with Garrick a little later. She confirmed that he’d been moved and was awake. As to whether or not there would be any permanent damage to his body, she couldn’t comment. She claimed ignorance, but I suspected secrecy.
Just as I ate the last of the potatoes, a fairy materialized beside my bed.
“Jesus, Mac!”
I started to choke on my food. He laughed and slapped my back. Tonight he dressed in something like the S&M outfits at the porn shop. I couldn’t tell how all of the pieces wove together, just that there were a lot of leather straps and silver studs.
“Don’t you think someone is going to notice you? It’s not like you blend.”
“Ah, my lady. I do not plan on staying long.” The charisma was back. “I wanted to give you this.”
He handed me a stuffed Tinker Bell doll. She stood eight inches high and her tiny hand held a plastic balloon that said Get Well Soon! I laughed.
“Gift store?” I asked.
“Yeah. Not much to choose from, but I thought this was perfect. She will forever remind you of me.”
“Aside from her sense of fashion.”
He leaned over and kissed my cheek before rustling my hair. I slapped his hand away.
“Hey! Stop that. It’s already a disaster.”
“You look fine, Leila.” He paused and looked toward the door. “Someone else is here to see you now. I’ll check in later.” And he popped out of existence.
I hoped he wouldn’t stop in for a visit while I was changing clothes or going to the bathroom when someone cleared their throat in the doorway. Conner leaned against the frame with his head bent down and his eyes tilted up, asking for permission. I waved him in.
The warehouse battle had been rough on my psyche. I didn’t know how I felt about the cambion standing before me. He told me a little bit about his demonic activities, but to see it in person toyed with my emotions. I watched him kill Leanna in a matter of seconds. On the other hand, he saved my life at a cost I still didn’t fully comprehend.
He sauntered over to my bed, hands in his pockets and curly hair a stylish mess. Bright blue eyes bored down on me with what I could only interpret as trepidation.
“How are you feeling?” he finally asked.
“Okay. Well, I’ll be okay in time. The wrist should heal in a few weeks, but the knee’s going to take a little longer. Physical therapy and stuff.”
“May I?” He pointed to the end of the bed.
“If you can find room around my giant brace leg.”
He smiled and managed to sit down without disturbing anything. We sat in silence for a long time. I certainly didn’t know what to say. Conner finally broke.
“I have something for you.” He leaned back to reach into his front pocket. In doing so, he brushed against the brace, and even though it hurt a little, I didn’t make a sound. He looked at me knowingly. I’d forgotten about the emotional reading thing.
“Sorry. Here.”
He held out his palm to show me a bracelet constructed out of vines. I took it from him and examined the hand-made jewelry. It was an intricate design with several thin root-like pieces tied together with white string. The tiny knots gave the impression of little jewels wrapped all of the way around the bracelet. I slipped it on my good wrist and held out my arm to admire the unusual gift.
“Um…thanks? What is it?”
He smiled again and some of the tension eased out of his posture. “It’s Devil’s Shoestring.”
“Huh?”
“It’s a protection charm. Some say it will keep the Devil away from you and bring good fortune.” His grin widened at my expression. “Present company excluded, of course.”
“I wasn’t going to ask that.”
“Yes, you were.”
Yes, I was. I didn’t know what to say, so instead I continued admiring the charm.
“It works even if you aren’t wearing it, at least acc
ording to folklore,” he continued. “So make sure you keep it nearby.” Something about his tone made me nervous.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
I gave him an exasperated stare. “Why should I keep it nearby all of the time? Is there something you aren’t telling me? Can he come after me?”
“No, Leila. He would have to be summoned. You don’t have anything to worry about.”
“And what about you? What will happen now?”
He paused and studied the ground intently. “I don’t know.”
“How bad will this be for you?”
He laughed at that, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “It’s a much better deal than I’ve had in the past. I’d like to stay here.” He looked at me with a crooked grin. “I find the company intriguing.”
I couldn’t help but smile back. Remembering why Leanna had kidnapped me in the first place sent shivers racing through my body. But when he reached for my good hand, I instinctively tensed. Even though I knew that he would never hurt me, I still feared him on some level. Of course he sensed this and dropped his arm. His face deepened with sadness.
“But maybe a change of scenery would be warranted.” The bed squeaked when he stood. “I wish you the best, Leila. Send my regards to the detective.”
I was too stunned to say anything, but when he leaned over and kissed me, I responded in kind. His lips were soft and his mouth was experienced, and I grabbed the back of his head to pull him closer without even thinking. This wasn’t a normal friendly kiss, this was a goodbye kiss. That realization tore through me like fire and my heart began to throb. I didn’t want him out of my life. I just needed some more time to get used to his non-human side.
He pulled away and smiled. I tried to go in for another round, but instead he grabbed my face with both hands, kissed me on the forehead, then turned and walked out the door. If he was as good at reading emotions as he claimed, he would have known that I was not forcing the kiss. He would have known that I did care for him and that I was grateful for his help. He would have known all of that, but he still chose to leave.