Blood & Roses: Warriors of the Krieger

by Theresa Hissong

  They looked at me stunned; like they would never expect a Krieger to do dirty work. I ignored their shocked faces and walked over to the bed.

  “Yes, we wanted to get this done before she awakes for the evening. If we bump her now, she won’t hurt,” the smaller nurse said. In fact, they were both small and I don’t see how they could even lift someone half Charity’s size without help. “Could you sit her up so we can clean the wound on her back?”

  “Gladly,” I smiled at them. I reached over and slid my arms under hers and raised her up as carefully as I could. The nurses worked quickly to clean the wound and wash her back.

  The other nurse was a small middle aged human and she unfolded a sheet while the other removed the tubs from the side of the bed. “Can you lift her completely so I can put clean sheets on her bed?”

  This was a little harder than it looked. I had to hook my arm behind her knees and behind her neck without hitting the tubes or the wounds. I didn’t want to jar her leg, possibly breaking it again. They assured me it would be okay.

  As soon as we were done and the nurses left, I heard her take her first ragged breath of the evening. I sighed and tucked the fresh blanket around her waist. She didn’t move when I tried to speak to her, “Charity? Can you hear me?”

  I bit into my wrist and placed it up to her lips. She opened her mouth and took my vein with a little more strength than the night before. I straightened a few curls that had fallen across her face as we bathed her. She moaned softly before she stopped feeding from my wrist. The wound closed up and I debated whether or not to try again.

  “Good evening,” Lydia whispered from the other side of the door. She must have been outside the room, giving us some privacy.

  “Evening,” I stood up to give her room to stand next to Charity. Lydia’s eyes welled up with tears as she took Charity’s hand.

  Lydia reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of pajamas and placed them on the bedside table. “How is she?”

  I told her about the Morphine pump and showed her how to use it. I needed to go back to the office and catch up on some work. Lydia told me to take my time, but I intended to be back here well before sunrise.

  Once I arrived back at the station, the first thing I did was to call the local florist and order two dozen white and red roses to be sent to the hospital. Next, I found Ashby in his office, knee deep in paperwork. He hung his head over a stack of folders; each one requiring his attention.

  “You looked swamped,” I laughed. He looked up over the stack of paperwork and grimaced.

  “How is she?” he asked, concerned.

  “She’s stable, but they are keeping her sedated for a few days. I came in to see if you needed me for anything.” He handed me a folder for new recruits needing approval for our program.

  While I reviewed the applicants, I told Ashby about Charity’s injuries. He was relieved that she would be okay. But now I needed to get back to the matter at hand.

  “Has there been any word on Adam?” I asked.

  “Nope, he seems to have a way of evading us,” he paused. “We found two more victims last night. They were homeless men camped out on the other side of the river.”

  “We need to step up patrols even more. Maybe take some of the senior recruits out for some footwork. It’ll do them good.” Kill two birds with one stone.

  “Sounds good,” Ashby sighed. “We need all the help we can get.”

  “Alright I’m going back over to the hospital. Call me if you need anything.” I grabbed my jacket and headed for the hospital.

  I knocked lightly on the door and let myself in. Lydia was standing over Charity wiping away blood from her chin. “How is she?” I asked as I walked around the foot of her bed to stand on the other side.

  “She seems better. They took her down for an x-ray and the doctor will be in tomorrow to let us know what the results are,” she sighed. “I really need to be going. Are you going to be here for the rest of the night?”

  “Yes, I’m staying. Go ahead and deal with your affairs. I will call you with any updates from the doctors.” I watched as Lydia leaned over and kissed the top of Charity’s head. The friendship between those two was mesmerizing, almost like they were sisters. I could understand their connection. I feel that way about my brethren.

  After she left, I settled in to stay with her. Hopefully her ribs and leg have healed enough that they can take her off the Morphine soon. I would feel much better when I see her eyes open.

  Chapter 7

  Dragus

  On the third night, Dr. Combs came in shortly after sunset to check on Charity, “Looks like we can back off on her Morphine.”

  “When will she wake up?” I begged.

  “It could be as early as tomorrow evening. It will take some time for the medicine to leave her body. If she wakes up in pain, just buzz the nurses and they will bring her a shot. She will probably be sore, but I’m hoping most of the pain will be gone.”

  “Thank you doctor,” I stood up and shook his hand. He signed her chart and left the room. After the nurses removed the tubes, I sat on the edge of the bed and opened the vein on my wrist.

  Charity had been accepting blood from me and Lydia with a little more force the past two nights. She remained fairly peaceful; except for the few times she would wince and start to whine from the pain. After I would press the plunger on the pump, it only took a few seconds for the medicine to settle her. But now there was no way to settle her pain immediately. Those nurses better be on their toes, or I will have their heads on a platter; if they don’t get her sedated quickly.

  I spent the rest of the night watching her every move, looking for any sign of distress.

  Charity

  The sound of footsteps woke me from my deathly stupor. My natural instincts told me it was well into the early morning just before dawn. I tried to open my eyes but I was just too tired. Knuckles brushed my cheek and for a split second I stiffened, until my senses recognized it was Dragus. I still felt like there had been a metal table rammed straight through my body, but the pain wasn’t as sharp. Instead of feeling like I had been stabbed, I felt like I had been hit by a freaking big rig. This was a good sign; I was healing, slowly of course. These wounds wouldn’t kill me, but it would take a long time to repair my mangled body. I’m just thankful the table broke my fall, instead of the wooden deck. Catch my drift?

  “I hurt,” it came out more like a jumble of mush. When I talked, the pain in my chest flared and I bit down on my lip.

  “Shh, mi amado,” Dragus whispered. I heard a beep and a voice came over an intercom.

  “Nurses’ station,” the voice whispered.

  “Ms. Harwood needs pain medicine now,” Dragus demanded. The nurse gave him a “Yes sir” and then there was silence.

  I turned my head toward the sound of his voice and opened my eyes. The lights above where I was laying were shining bright. I winched from the burning in my eyes and groaned, “Too bright.”

  I heard the sound of a switch and very carefully pried my eyes open. Dragus was draped protectively over the side of my bed. He looked me over, checking my bandages, touching my forehead. His eyes held a deep burning pain combined with worry.

  “Where…am I?” I whispered. It was hard to talk because my throat was on fire; I was parched.

  “You’re at Sacred Heart hospital. You were in bad shape, but I’ve had the best doctors tending to you.” His voice was strained and I wondered how long I had been here. “You’ve been here four days. Lydia has been by every day, helping me feed you.”

  “Four days!” I squeaked and then flinched. Dragus spoke soothing words in a language I didn’t recognize as he stroked my cheek. Four days was a long time to be out of it. What happened to Adam? Did anyone get hurt? Wait! How did Dragus read my mind?

  “Sorry, my lady,” he shrugged. “You have a lot of my blood in you. I can pick up some of your thoughts and I could even find you if you were a needle in a haystack, if needed.” He laughe
d, but it was all wrong; like he was struggling to make the sound fit into the situation.

  The nurse arrived with a syringe full of pain killers. Morphine is the one, and only, human medicine that will work in our bodies. Don’t ask why, because I don’t really care at this point. After the injection, she gave me stern warning to stay put and to let myself rest. The doctor had cut back on the amount of Morphine I was to be given, since I was now out of danger. She instructed Dragus to feed me and slipped out the door.

  He raised his wrist and I wrapped my pale fingers around his forearm. His left hand remained on my forehead as I bit into his vein. Just like before the taste of power and strength assaulted me. I moaned at the taste and Dragus stroked my cheek, whispering to me again in what I assumed as his native tongue. The sound was so mesmerizing; I couldn’t help but look into his eyes.

  There were faint black rings under his eyes, like he had been up too long. He looked weak, like he hadn’t feed in a few days. I sensed his worry, and felt bad for his unnecessary stress. He shouldn’t be worried about my injuries; they wouldn’t kill me.

  I released his wrist and breathed a sigh of relief. My vision was a little hazy as I looked around, trying to make out what was going on around me. The pain dulled in my leg, but I didn’t know if it was the Morphine working, or the warrior’s blood.

  Of course, warrior blood was the strongest, your maker’s was next, and human blood was the most common. Vampires who are mated get their blood from their significant others. Human blood was still needed occasionally.

  “How are you feeling, mi amado?” he whispered.

  “I’m sore,” I admitted. “I think one of those tanker trucks ran over me a few times.”

  “You need to rest. We will talk at sunset.” Sunrise was close and I wondered if Dragus would have enough time to get home. I searched the room and found a cot to my left. The sheets were in disarray, like someone had been staying there. Dragus cleared his throat and whispered, “I’ve been staying here.” I smiled and yawned.

  The pull of death was upon me. Dragus kissed the top of my head and walked around the hospital bed. He settled into the cot and I closed my eyes. But I had to ask him something. “Dragus? What does ‘mi amado’ mean?”

  Just before I slipped under I heard him whisper, “My angel.”

  “Hm, that’s Spanish; I could have sworn you were Romanian.” I giggled.

  “I am,” he whispered as I felt the pull of dead on my body.

  Friday evening I woke up in pain. The morphine had worn off in the night and now that I was alive again, the pain returned. And it returned with vengeance. My lungs were better but my ribs still hurt like hell. My vision had greatly improved from the night before. I pressed the button for the nurses’ station and politely told her to get in there now.

  It wasn’t long before I was in the land of the floating clouds. The pain was all but vanished. Life was good, except I was thirsty.

  Dragus was gone and I was just about to buzz the nurse again, when Lydia popped her head in the room. “Hi,” she whispered.

  “Hi,” I said, a little too enthusiastically. That was the morphine talking. Lydia smiled and came into the room. She tossed her Coach purse on the cot and sat in the chair next to my bed.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked.

  “Like a metal table was rammed through my body,” I laughed. She nodded and immediately rolled up the sleeve of her shirt, then offered me her wrist. I took her offering and watched her eyes well up with tears, as I greedily drank from her vein. When I sighed she whispered, “S’okay, Charity. I’m just so happy you’re okay.”

  I released her wrist and grabbed her up into a hug, “I’m so sorry.”

  Lydia immediately dropped her hold and looked sternly into my eyes, “This is not your fault; don’t you dare take the blame on this one, sweetie. You should blame that damn hybrid!” I flinched back. Her eyes had fire in them; they had turned red. She was not happy.

  “The only person I’m going to blame is whoever flung my ass two hundred yards and impaled me on my patio furniture.”

  “Well, too late. Dragus killed the fiend. From what they have told me, one of the Lycanthropes broke away from Adam and slammed into you, then all hell broke loose.” I reached up and wiped one stray bloody tear from her cheek.

  “I saw some of what happened. Did they catch Adam?” I hoped the Krieger had found him. He promised he would be back and I’m pretty sure that is something I did not want to deal with again.

  “No. He got away before the fight was over. The Krieger are out tracking him,” she said.

  I’ve seen it first hand, how the Lycans can get out of control. I did not want Dragus or the other Krieger out in the woods looking for them in the dark. It was just too dangerous. One bite and they would become like Adam; lost, scared and changing into something we all feared. What if we could find the cure? Lydia was on my side, she could help.

  “First, I need your help. We have to find a cure. Adam thinks there is something that can be done. I just can’t let him suffer.” I studied her expression to see if she would cave.

  Lydia’s face became saddened, “Charity, there may be no cure, honey.” She walked into the bathroom and got a washcloth from the rack. After dousing it with cold tap water she returned to my bedside and placed it on my forehead. “There is nothing we can do for him. He may be too far gone.”

  “The hell there’s not!” I yelled and then gasped from the pain in my lungs. Lydia wiped my face off with the cloth. The pain had me sweating bullets and my stylish hospital gown was covered.

  “You need to worry about healing,” she scolded me. “The Krieger will take care of the Lycanthropes.”

  “I promised I would help Adam. Lydia, you have to help me.” I felt myself starting to panic at the thought of no one helping Adam. I couldn’t just let him become a hybrid, or let him get killed over something that wasn’t his fault. That poor man was scared and lost, with no one to help him.

  She pegged me with a warning glare, “If you don’t calm down, I’m going to give you an illusion of being on a beach somewhere. One that you won’t even realize is faked.”

  Lydia had this odd way of making someone see an illusion of whatever she created. It’s her ‘special’ ability. She’s done it before, just because I thought it was neat. That was in the beginning, when we first met. Now, if she did it, I would consider it an invasion. “So help me, Lydia. If you do that, I will never forgive you.”

  “Char, you need to calm down,” she patted my head. “Dragus will kill me if he finds out you were getting stressed. The doctor told us you need to stay somewhat sedated until you’re healed. If you don’t relax, they’re going to give you another shot.”

  “Okay, I will try. But no illusions, okay?” She nodded. I lifted my hand up and wiped sweat off of my brow. Lydia reached into the bedside table and pulled out some clean pajamas. After she helped me into a pair of my favorite lime green pajama set that she brought from my house, she continued reassuring me about the Krieger’s intentions.

  “They seem to want to help, but they warned me that this is their duty, not yours.” Her voice was stern, like my mother was scolding me for getting in trouble at school.

  “Speaking of the Krieger, where’s Dragus?” I begged. I’ll admit that I was a little disappointed when I woke up and he wasn’t there. He was growing on me. Deep down, I kind of liked his me-warrior-you-woman attitude, but if there was going to be something to this, whatever it is, he was going to have to back off on the doting.

  “He’s out tracking, told me to tell you he would be back before sunrise and for you to rest,” she chuckled. “So, what’s the hubbub with him?” She tilted her head to the right, pointing toward the table against the wall. There were four crystal vases filled with a dozen roses in each one. Each bouquet had the most beautiful white and red rose buds intertwined with those little white flowers. I don’t know what they’re called, but it made the arrangement look twice the siz
e it should have been.

  Lydia laughed at my mouth-gaping-open expression. “He’s brought a dozen for each day you have been in here,” she sighed heavily. “How romantic is that? So, what’s the dish?” I couldn’t keep this from my best friend, so like a tattle-tale, I spilled the beans; even about the ‘mi amado’ thing.

  She was so surprised, then that surprise turned to excitement. I swear I heard her murmur something that sounded like ‘spring wedding’. I ignored her. Now that my happy juice was kicking in, I actually fell into an honest to God sleep listening to Lydia ramble on and on about weddings and Krieger and whatever was on her mind. I didn’t really mind, it helped me relax as I drifted off.

  I woke a little later to the smell of warrior blood in my face. Dragus was propped on the edge of my hospital bed, with his bleeding wrist in my face. I frowned at him.

  “I’m perfectly capable of taking your vein, Dragus,” I rolled my eyes. “You don’t need to cut yourself.”

  He laughed and pushed his wrist into my mouth. “Drink, my lady,” he demanded. “We’ll talk once you’re finished.” I wasn’t one to argue. Much. Risking a glance at the table, I noticed there was an addition to the garden of roses that had taken bloom in my hospital room.

  After my evening elixir, a-la-Dragus, I immediately berated him with the questions. “Where is Adam? Is everyone okay?”

  “Everyone’s fine, mi amado, you worry about others before yourself, that’s very noble of you, but you need to heal first.” I noticed how he didn’t answer my Adam question. He must have read my mind, because after a deep sigh he continued, “We haven’t found him. I need to know what happened the other night.”

  I really don’t want to relive the agony, so I grabbed his monstrous hands and placed his palms on the side of my temple. Dragus closed his eyes and bowed his head. He replayed the whole scene from our stolen kiss to the last moment before I blacked out. His territorial growl backed up my concern about Adam’s promise to find me again, which didn’t surprise me one bit. With the way Dragus treated me, you would think that he would kill anything or anyone that got within ten feet of me.