by Jaime Reed
“No, no!” she moaned. “I need to go. He needs me. He said he needs me.”
“Mom, calm down. I need you to lie back.”
“No! I have to be with him. I need him!” Her arms flailed around her head.
Ducking fists and nails, I pinned her shoulders still, all the while my heart was breaking. Mom was the bravest woman I knew, and to have things come to this brought me to tears. Summoning strength I never knew she had, she shoved me to the corner of the room. Screaming, she pulled at her hospital gown, clawing at her neck and chest as if she caught a rash and in the process ripped her IV from her arm. A shrill beeping noise filled the room. In seconds, orderlies rushed to our aid.
Mom made a valiant effort to fend them off, but she was outnumbered.
“No, please, I have to be with him! He needs me!” she screamed, her torso lifting off the bed, as her head tossed from side to side. The veins of her neck rose in bas-relief as her face reddened with blood.
“It’s all right, Ms. Marshall, just relax,” the nurse crooned, sliding the IV back into her arm.
Fighting every step of the way, Mom spat curses at everyone within reach, including me. Realizing that didn’t work, she tried a guilt trip. Her head whipped in my direction; her mop of curls fell over her face.
“Samara, baby, why are you doing this to me? Why are you keeping us apart? I thought you would be happy for me. Please, let me go,” she begged as the nurse injected a sedative into her arm.
The weight of my sorrow pulled me to the floor, where I curled up and cried. I didn’t realize Dad was there until he lifted me into his arms and ushered me outside.
“It’s okay, baby, I got you,” he whispered and kissed my hair. “Your mother’s on heavy medication. She’s just having a reaction, that’s all.”
Man, if only that were true. She was having a reaction all right, and it had nothing to do with drugs. There was too much activity in my head, different themes playing in a series of fear. Having only a blink of sleep and a swig of courage, I needed a target, an outlet.
When we reached the waiting room I found Nadine and Caleb standing by the sign-in desk, watching me in horror.
Dad looked at the familiar pair, then back down at me. “Samara, you wanna tell me what’s going on? Why are all these people here?”
“They’re here for me, Dad. I told them to come.”
“Why? This is a family matter.”
“I needed to talk to them. If it’s a problem, I’ll leave.”
“No. It’s just ...” He shot a heated look at Caleb before closing in on me. “You’ve been acting strange lately, and if it has something to do with that boy—”
“Dad, it’s not him. If anything, he keeps me sane. That’s why he’s here. He’s my counselor of sorts.”
“You sure? I’ve got a weird feeling about it.”
“That’s just because he’s a boy. It’ll pass. Besides, do you really think I would have him as a boyfriend if I hadn’t put him through the wringer?”
That made him smile. “You are your mother’s daughter.” He glanced up at them once more and sighed. “All right, but all these people can’t stay here.”
“I know. Are you gonna stay with Mom?”
“Yeah, but I gotta head back home before nine. I got work in the morning.”
“Not to mention a family at home. I’m surprised Rhonda hasn’t dragged you out of here yet.”
“Rhonda and I have an understanding that you don’t need to worry about. But I do have to get back home.” He pulled me in for another hug. “Go on, get some rest and something to eat, and tell that boy to keep his hands to himself.”
“Love you, Daddy.” I pulled back and made my way to Caleb.
He stood with wide eyes and a huge question mark on his face. Before he could open his mouth, I said, “Let’s go. We’re having a little meeting. You’re gonna tell me what you plan to do about your dad, because if you’re not going to handle it, I sure as hell will. Cambion or not, your dad’s going down. And if you stand in my way, you’re going with him.”
It didn’t surprise anyone that Mr. Ross had vacated the parking lot. The hospital was placed on high alert, and the increased security on the ninth floor was the only reason Dad left in good conscience. No one but staff and family would pass the sign-in desk.
Police compiled a detailed description of Mr. Ross, though that would do little good if the female staff members had unhappy love lives. This was the only time when equal opportunity was a bad thing, and Mr. Ross exploited women’s liberation as his personal playground. Women were everywhere: airport ticket holders, flight attendants, hotel receptionists, police officers, doctors, lawyers, and nuns were all at his service ... and his mercy.
We went to visit Haden in recovery. He didn’t say much between apologies and swearing, but offered his hand in marriage if Caleb didn’t have the “bollocks” to do so. His words, not mine. He confessed that he had been drugged and held against his will for two weeks. Beyond the point of civil compromise, he was more than willing to aid in his father’s capture. Seeing that the sedatives and major concussion might slow our progress, Caleb advised that he sit this one out and recover.
For the next three hours Haden’s room became our headquarters, where Caleb conducted a conference call with his other brothers. Brodie explained—with a very posh English accent—that he was in the air and would land in a few hours.
In light of all this, both brothers sounded delighted to meet me, more than anyone should given the situation. As the oldest, Brodie gave me a crash course in Cambion 101, via speakerphone. Most of it was pretty simple, stuff I already knew. It intrigued me to learn that Cambions could sense the presence of their chosen mate. Also, the death of a host will result in the spirit’s release from the body, a departure that could be seen with the naked eye. All that was well and good, but we were still no closer to finding out how to deal with Big Daddy.
With a phone book splayed on her lap, Nadine called every hotel in the city, which was substantial considering Williamsburg was one big inn. No one knew where Mr. Ross boarded, or how he even entered the country seeing as the brothers confiscated his ID and passport ages ago.
The man had to be stopped. The question was if we wanted him dead or alive. At the moment, all we could do was wait until Michael and Brodie arrived. After the party line ended, Caleb and I worked on alternate means to lure Mr. Ross out of hiding. The method of his father’s demise steered the debate, and I could almost see the ten-ton weight settle on Caleb’s shoulders.
The loud boom of a phone book hitting the table shot us upright. Finally, after hours of silence, Nadine spoke up. “You may not be able to do it, but when the time comes, I can. I will make it quick and painless.”
Caleb left Haden’s bedside and touched Nadine’s shoulder. “I can’t let you do it.”
“This man has killed innocent women and will continue to do so if not stopped,” she argued. “We have no choice and we are on our own. Lilith is well-disciplined and strong enough to overpower his spirit. When the occasion arises, I am down.”
Nadine’s enthusiasm melted away some of my stress. At least Caleb and his brothers wouldn’t have to take down their own flesh and blood.
“We seem to be the only women who aren’t badly affected by the draw,” I added, rubbing my throbbing temples. “It only makes sense for one of us to do it.”
Caleb rounded on me in fury. “Sam, I don’t want you involved in this.”
“It’s a bit late for that. I’m neck deep in it, and my mom nearly lost her mind over this mess. So whatever you plan to do, I want in.”
“I’m not putting you in danger.”
“I already am in danger!” His overprotectiveness grated my nerves. “No one is safe around this man, and he has to be stopped. Now quit bossing me around and tell me what you plan to do.”
I stood up and moved away from the table—perhaps too quickly because I developed a head rush. Fatigue finally caught up with me
at the most inopportune time. My body and all its components joined together in revolt and abandoned their post. Stumbling in the hall, I leaned against the wall for support. The world grew fuzzy as little lightning tadpoles swam across my vision. Blood pounded my skull as the distance between my head and the floor decreased. But for some reason, I never hit the floor. My feet kicked from under me when an unseen force lifted my body upward.
“I got you.” A low, familiar voice whispered in my ear.
Though I enjoyed not having to walk on my own, I made some attempt at protest. “Put me down. I weigh a ton.”
“Stop that. You’re just fine. Now keep still,” Caleb answered tartly as we began to move.
Nadine’s head peeked over Caleb’s shoulder. “Sam, you need rest. When have you eaten?”
It was difficult to recall. The days congealed into one collective moment. “Last night?” I guessed.
Caleb let out a loud and irritated sigh. “Sam, you need to take care of yourself. You’re no good to anyone like this. I’m taking you home before you end up sharing a room with your mother.”
Worry crept through his stern demand, and I didn’t own the strength to rebel. I buried my head in his chest. The soft thud of his heartbeat and the gentle rocking lulled me in to a dreamless sleep.
After what could have been days or five minutes, a hand shook me awake and a car engine cut off. Voices murmured around me, filled with concern and sympathy. Keys jingled and a car door slammed, making me jump. I was airborne again and cradled in the safety of a man’s arms, a man who smelled a lot like cake. A humid blast of air trapped my face and snatched the breath from me, then soon fell away to blessed air-conditioning and a strange beeping noise.
“Sam, you need to turn off the security alarm,” Nadine said nervously.
It then occurred to me that I was home, so Nadine’s anxiety came with a good reason. With one eye open, I reached over and disabled the security system before the entire Williamsburg Police Department caravanned to my front lawn. With that accomplished, more murmurs occupied the room on my behalf. Nadine remained downstairs while Caleb transported me upstairs in the direction of my bedroom.
“No, I wanna sleep in my mom’s room,” I whined, pointing across the hall.
“Okay.”
We crossed the threshold like a newlywed couple, and Caleb played the role of happy groom to the hilt, laying me ceremoniously on Mom’s bed. Keeping with the matrimonial theme, Caleb knelt in front of me as if ready to propose. Instead, he gathered my left foot and unlaced my sneaker.
His nimble fingers pulled at the laces, removing the offending footwear. The footie socks soon followed along with a slow exploration up my ankle before moving on to the next foot. Caleb could make any action look X-rated, or maybe it was just me.
He worked with silent efficiency, engrossed in the solemnity of the task.
I stared, almost hypnotized, as his hair hung in a feathery veil over his face. He looked distant, almost complacent, like a servant who had accepted his fate. There was no task too belittling, to base for him, for he had seen and probably done it all. I also saw the love in his eyes, the wordless devotion, and the longing for true physical contact. Though it was clear what would happen if we went too far, it didn’t stop him from dipping his toe in the water.
I couldn’t quite put a finger on my feelings about this crazy boy, but somehow he had managed to slip under my radar and steal a piece of my heart.
My shirt fell away, with very little effort on my part. I didn’t respond; I grew too distracted by clothing flying in the air in a colorful blur. I must have been out of it, because there was no way in hell I would let a guy undress me. But I was too tired to care if Cake Boy got an eyeful of my goodies.
Caleb was far from a saint, and his wandering eyes validated that point. They drifted down my body, stopping at my small chest and not-so-small abdomen. He’d seen naked women before, but he approached the situation with the fascination of untried youth. Cupping the back of my head, he eased me to lie back, his eyes expanding under a haze of indigo light.
“Well, since we’re here, I might as well go all the way.” He gave a playful smile and reached for the button in front of my slacks.
“Caleb, if you try anything, I swear ...” I warned, with little conviction, especially while lifting my hips to aid the disrobing.
“Oh please,” he scoffed as the fabric crawled farther away from my body. “You would like that, wouldn’t you? Now shut up and keep still.”
Ever the gentleman, I thought.
His hands traveled over my inner thigh, making me burn with fever, but Caleb remained diligent in his task.
“Relax, Sam. I’ve got you,” he promised, tossing my pants to the opposite side of the room.
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
He stopped. “You’re afraid of me?”
“I’m afraid of what you do to me,” I confessed.
“Lethargy: the ultimate truth serum.” He chuckled and set me up straight. “For what it’s worth, you have the same effect on me, if not worse.”
“This is abuse, you know,” I mumbled under a cloud of cotton that suddenly cast me into darkness. Once light returned, a T-shirt draped my body in a baggy tent.
“Oh, I can tell you’re really suffering, you poor baby.” He pulled the covers back and tucked me inside.
A moment later, soft pillows and blankets swallowed me whole. The environment embodied safety and familiarity, an oasis for the weary traveler. Enfolded in a cocoon of Mom’s floral perfume, I drifted deeper into peaceful oblivion. A warm body spooned behind me, its fingers tracing my arm and rounding the ball of my shoulder. “Sam?”
“Hmm?”
“I have to pick up Brodie in a few hours. Nadine will stay here with you while I run to the airport. You promise to behave while I’m gone?” he teased.
“Uh-huh,” I mumbled into the pillow.
Soft lips pressed against my temple, and the weight of his head settled next to mine. His arm snaked across my stomach and dragged me closer to his warmth. With an assuring squeeze, he whispered, “I won’t let anything happen to you. I finally found the one thing that’s mine. He’s not taking that too.”
“Okay,” was all I could get out before the world disappeared.
28
Somewhere between comatose and coherent, I heard movement stirring in the house.
My eyes fluttered open and focused on the darkness soaking the bedroom. The high beams from a passing car filtered through the blinds, dragging bands of light across the ceiling. Turning onto my back, I traced the left side of the bed, which was now empty. Events of the day slowly returned to memory, and I immediately wanted to go back to sleep. But Nadine had played babysitter long enough, so I forced myself to get up.
More noises came from the bottom floor, low murmurs and thumps; then a light footfall treaded up the stairs. It drew closer, those foreign feet unfamiliar with the creaking wood on the eighth step. That sound could break the deepest sleep, and I gained just enough clarity to recognize the figure in the doorway.
I smiled up at him and admired the familiar bends and slopes of his face. “What are you still doing here? I thought you were going to the airport.”
Purple eyes twinkled in the dark in response. Moonlight cut across his features, which took the smooth consistency of marble. “I’ll leave in a bit,” he said. “Sleep well?”
I sat up and stretched. “Yeah. Where’s Nadine?”
“She’s asleep, so we have to be real quiet, okay?”
I leaned over to turn on the lamp and noticed that the digital alarm clock was off. No bright red numbers glowed in the dark. In fact, no lights were on in the house save for two purple spheres following my every move.
“Caleb, what’s going on?”
Instead of answering, he drew deeper into the room, his eyes locked on mine. His gentle hands slid around my waist, luring me to him with the slightest persuasion. His warmth was inviting, and I co
uldn’t find one good reason to argue. My lids grew heavy as I drifted within that purple mist, surrendering to the weightlessness of dreaming.
“Don’t be afraid, Sam. I’m here,” he whispered.
Soft fingers touched my cheek, and I welcomed the affection, needing the closeness to ease my fear. The comfort only lasted a second as I began to note something off center. Caleb lacked that sweet, sugary scent that seemed to ooze from his pores. His touches were heavy handed, greedy, and pinched my skin as his grip tightened around my waist.
“Caleb, stop. You’re hurting me.”
“Not yet.”
He wasn’t acting like himself. Questions rose to the surface and spread like a violent rash. Had he fed today? Was Capone lashing out again? Maybe seeing his father again had triggered a reaction. Whatever the case may be, I had to get away from him, but I could barely look away, let alone manage a good shove. All my energy had been tapped by one glance, and the luminous glow in his eyes told me he wasn’t satisfied. Only when his mouth lowered to kiss me did I find the strength to look away.
“Caleb,” I choked out, evading his lips. “Snap out of it. It’s Sam.”
“I know,” he rasped and dove in for another kiss.
“Where’s Nadine?” And where was Caleb for that matter?
The more I struggled, the more I realized that this dream had taken an unpleasant turn. My head tossed from side to side, dodging his hungry mouth and fighting to shake out of this nightmare. So imagine my shock when I discovered I was already awake.
Fingers pinched my cheeks and firm lips found mine. A pulling sensation soon followed, and trickles of energy passed my lips, pure, unencumbered potency. I kicked and punched, but he wouldn’t move.
“You’re a strong one, just like your mother. You’ve made it difficult for me to get to her now, so you’ll make a good substitute. I can wait until she’s released to finish what I started.”
That was all the clarification I needed. Though he shared a visual and vocal likeness, this was not Caleb. This only meant one thing. I was under the draw, and a powerful one at that. I’d pondered the idea for a while, but now I understood what the draw entailed; that strange gravitational pull that lured women to their death.