“You need to hurry. I’m feeling disconnected.” Marcus’ voice sounded strained.
Jason said nothing. The car surged forward. Serena wondered just what the drug would do to him. Jason had said there was a poison that would drive a vampire crazy. Was there an antidote for it? How long would it last and was it permanent?
“You know I’m getting tired of Daniel getting away from us. The man’s slippery but this is ridiculous. One way or another we have to catch him.” She squeezed his hand gently, determined to keep his mind off the drug and its possible effects if she could.
“We’ll catch Daniel. You know it takes time.” Marcus’ fingers tightened around hers. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to lose control just yet.”
“I didn’t think you were going crazy on me. Anyway, aren’t you the one who was sure that there wasn’t anything on that blade? That you didn’t need even a couple of stitches.” She winked at him to let him know she was just teasing him.
“Trust a witch to say I told you so.” Marcus shook his head at her, a smile curving his lips. He looked more amused than reprimanding.
“Well, you know I did say he’d targeted you and that he had to have wanted to do more than hit you. I know it’s tempting but I don’t think it would have been worth the risk of capture if he hadn’t planned to cause some kind of trouble. You’ve made life very difficult for him,” she said slowly, raising her brows.
“You can wait to crow about it until after I’m back to my normal self.” His deep voice sounded a bit strained.
“I’ll do that. I’ll ask you more about Daniel then too.” She felt relief flood through her as they pulled into the parking lot of the nondescript building. Finally, they were somewhere he could get some help.
Jason came around the car and opened the door, helping Marcus out. Serena scrambled out of her seat and followed them. Jason was carrying Marcus along the sidewalk. He was going so fast that she had a hard time keeping up with him. That he felt the need for such a pace alarmed her. Marcus hadn’t seemed even mildly concerned until they’d been well on their way here.
Someone must have called ahead with the news because again there was a man waiting to open the door. Serena blinked when she walked through the doors. A wheelchair waited in the center of the hallway but it was like no wheelchair she’d ever seen. It was made entirely of metal with ample padding at the back, seat, arms and legs. Thick bands rose above the armrests and at the ankles. Straps hung in position to secure the chest, waist and thighs.
“Are we going to need this?” the dark-haired man at the door asked.
“Yes,” Marcus answered. “I can already feel the disorientation beginning to take hold.”
He sat down in the chair, placing his arms on the armrests. Jason and the other man began strapping him into the chair and securing the bands at his legs and arms. Serena could only stand and watch them. She didn’t understand why they were doing that. Couldn’t they give him something to counteract the effects of the drug?
“Why are you…” She stepped forward to stand just in front of the chair. She didn’t care if she was in the way. She just couldn’t stand by and let them do it without some sort of explanation.
“It’s the only way to keep him from going wild and doing something he might regret later. If he’s not restrained, he’ll be a danger to himself and others.” Jason looked over at her as he secured the last restraint.
“I’ll be fine, Serena. Jason, don’t take her back to my place. She might not be safe there. Daniel could know where I live.” Marcus’ fists clenched. “Keep her safe until I’m back to normal.”
“I will, Marcus. I’ll keep guards on her.” Jason nodded, his answer fast and in a reassuring tone.
“I’ll be safe. I can take care of myself but that’s beside the point. I’m not leaving you.” Serena folded her arms across her chest. They could try dragging her away from him if they wanted. They weren’t going to have much luck. She was only beginning to come to terms with what he was to her but she wasn’t going to waste time denying the truth.
“You can’t be in the room with him.” Jason shook his head sharply. “There’s nothing you can do here.”
“I’m not leaving him alone. He wouldn’t leave me to suffer without someone I know nearby and wonder if anyone even cared about me.” Serena took a deep breath and struggled to keep her tone even and calm. “Besides, do you really think you can take me out of here if I don’t want to go? I might not be up to vampire strength but I’ve got tricks of my own.”
“We need to get Mr. Castillo back to one of the containment rooms. You can argue about it there.” The man cut Jason off before he could respond.
Jason nodded but Serena knew that he’d take it up when they’d gotten Marcus to safety. She had plenty to say to them about it too. Containment room. It sounded like they considered him to be contagious or very hazardous. She didn’t care if he was contagious. They weren’t keeping her from him. The man was her mate. She knew vampires didn’t have a single mate like witches. She had no real claim on him. Regardless of her feelings, she couldn’t force him to feel as connected to her as she did to him. That didn’t change how she felt about him. She thought he wouldn’t want anything more permanent than an affair. That scared the hell out of her but she had to focus on the present. She’d deal with the end of the relationship when it happened.
They went into the doctor’s office and past the exam room where she’d been seen. The nurse stopped only long enough to clean and put some butterfly bandages on Marcus’ wound. She followed them through the door at the end of the hall. The door led into a stone hallway but the doors along this hall were much sturdier. She couldn’t tell by the finish but they might be metal.
“What does this drug do? Why are you going to put him into a room with what looks like prison door, maybe still strapped into that medieval torture chair?” Serena asked.
“Basically, the drug takes away the ability to think. While under the effects, the people are also paranoid and antisocial. They’ll see a threat when their friends are only trying to help,” Jason said. “He’ll stay in the chair for at least fourteen hours and in the room for another day of isolation.”
Marcus’ muscles tensed and he glared at Jason. “Get away from her.”
“It’s starting. We have to get him into one of the rooms.” Jason pulled her away from the chair.
The other man keyed in a code and the door opened. Jason pushed the chair into the room. Serena stepped forward and looked into the room. It was padded floor, ceiling and walls. The white made it seem so sterile.
“You can’t be in there with him.” Jason guided her back out of the room. His hand rested on her shoulder.
Marcus roared and his body arched as he tried to get out of the chair. His hands clenched into fists. His fangs were bared and he seemed totally out of control.
“Don’t touch her! Serena! You’re not going to take her from me!” The chair rocked back and forth as he jerked against the restraints.
Jason stepped out of the room and the door slid shut. Serena stood outside the room, her hands clenching and unclenching. She felt torn apart. She needed to be with him but logic told her that Jason and the other man knew what would be best for Marcus. Jason and the male nurse began walking down the hallway toward the exit. Serena couldn’t move. She was just resisting the urge to go into that room with him. Walking away from him wasn’t an option. She leaned back against the wall and ran her shaky hands down her jean-clad legs. Having him in there and so upset almost felt like a physical pain.
“Serena! You can’t have her.” Marcus voice seemed to echo in the hall.
“You can’t do anything for him. Come with me. If you want to wait here, you can at least be comfortable.” Jason came back down the hallway and lightly touched her arm. “He wouldn’t want you to stay out here all night.”
“Well, I’d like to be in there with him.” She looked at the door. It was possible but she didn’t think it was th
e best idea right now to be in there with him. “Since that isn’t an option, I think I’ll stay here.”
The intensity of her feelings scared and amazed her. She really should be trying to put some distance between them. That wasn’t a choice because Daniel was still roaming free. When the hunt ended, she’d have to walk away from him. Hopefully with time and distance, the feeling would lessen. She couldn’t even think about it while the rogue was still loose. It was going to rip her soul apart to leave him. Part of her wanted to hold on to hope until Marcus ended their relationship but she knew walking away wasn’t going to get any easier.
“He’s too dangerous right now. Let’s go find somewhere to sit. It’s going to be a long night.” Jason’s hand cupped her elbow and he began to guide her down the hallway.
Another inarticulate roar came from the room. She actually heard the chair rocking and slamming into the floor. Serena froze. He sounded as if he were in agonizing pain. What if it wasn’t the drug? It could be something else. She turned back.
“Look. You can’t stay here. Do I have to carry you out of here? Marcus will want to kill me if he finds out you didn’t go somewhere safe.” Jason’s grip firmed, preventing her from moving closer to the door.
The door at the end of the hallway slid open and the male nurse burst through it as soon as there was room. He looked harried. “Whatever you’re doing, stop it. He was relatively calm but now he’s almost tipped the chair over. If he keeps going, he’s going to tear the straps. I wouldn’t lay money on that door holding him if he does manage to get loose.”
Serena’s head whipped toward the door of the cell where they were holding Marcus. She’d probably never be able to convince Jason, the male nurse or the doctor but she knew Marcus needed her with him. Deep inside her, she knew he’d never hurt her. All his anger, his yelling had been over someone else touching her.
“Just let me stay here. I’ll talk to him through the door. I want to be here and he obviously doesn’t want me anywhere near you.” Serena twisted her arm in his grip and took a step down the hall. “I’ll be out in the hall, safe from any danger.”
Jason looked at her. “I’ll get you a chair. The first time I see you nod off to sleep, you’re coming out of here.”
Serena sat and talked until her voice was hoarse and she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She drifted off in the chair and woke on a sofa in an office. Done in light beige and browns, it was a nice office. She saw a picture of a couple sitting on the desk along with a very thin computer. Somehow she hadn’t expected anything quite so normal in an office that dealt mostly with vamps.
The door opened and the nurse stopped in the doorway. “Oh good, I don’t have to wake you up. We need you to go back and talk to him. He’s been raging that the rogue is going to get you, that you have to be protected.”
“The rogue has been giving us some trouble. It’s been on all of our minds for the past few days.” She yawned and sat up, combing her fingers through her hair.
“I know but reassuring him is all that matters. We don’t want him to hurt himself or anyone else trying to get to you,” the nurse, Tony Ames, said with a hand on his hip. “He still rambles and rants but when you’re near him he doesn’t try to rip himself out of the chair.”
“How much longer do you think he’ll have these rages?” Serena stood and walked toward the door.
“Maybe another ten or eleven hours. The drug seems to be very strong and it’s taking longer than usual. You’ve been here for nearly ten hours already. Then we’ll just keep him for observation. The drug sometimes has some lingering effects but he’ll be back to normal after it leaves his system.” The nurse stepped back and waited until she joined him in the hallway. They headed back toward the isolation area.
“This drug is dangerous. Is it such a popular weapon that you often have more than one man in under its effects? I saw four doors in that hallway.” Serena tilted her head. She had a whole new world to learn about and right now everything seemed overwhelming and a little frightening.
“Well, it’s not often used but we have had three or four drugged people brought in to the clinic from a single battle. Since only vampires know of its effects, it’s only used by vampires on other vampires. Like tonight, rogues use it on their hunters to gain time to escape.” Tony shrugged.
The moment the door to the isolation area opened, she heard Marcus shouting. She rushed forward, leaving Tony to follow or not at his own pace. She pressed her hand to the door, needing to see him, to comfort him if she could.
“Daniel will kill her. You have to let me out of here, you bastard. She’s in danger. He knows where she is. He’s got spies everywhere.” Marcus’ voice sounded harsh desperate.
“Marcus, I’m here. Daniel can’t get to me. He can’t find me because I’m right here with you. I’m not going anywhere.” Serena wished there was some kind of window or even a viewscreen to the side of the door. In a way, she could understand their reasoning. Although they probably had a camera for monitoring the room somewhere high on the walls, they probably didn’t consider it necessary to connect it to a view screen here. She just wished they had.
As soon as she said it, she realized she was wrong. She hoped Marcus wouldn’t be able to find the holes in logic in that explanation. Daniel might know where she was right now. It wouldn’t take a great deal of intelligence for him to figure out that Marcus would have to be at a hospital or clinic. But she doubted even as brazen as Daniel was that he’d try to get through the vampires stationed outside the clinic.
“Serena, get in here!” Marcus’ voice carried easily through the door.
“I can’t, Marcus. They need to watch you for a little longer.” She leaned her head against the cool metal door. She didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to resist going into that room with him. Locked doors wouldn’t stand in her way long.
“They’re going to take you to Daniel. You have to get away from them and come to me.” Marcus again started wrestling in the chair.
She only knew because she heard the chair thumping again. She realized she shouldn’t have said that. She’d only made things worse.
“I’m not going anywhere, Marcus. I’m staying right here.” She rested her hip against the door.
“You can’t trust them.” Marcus’ voice rang with anger.
“I’m right here. There’s no one else here,” she said. She didn’t have much hope that the reassurance would work but wanted to try everything.
“Get in here,” Marcus growled the order, and she heard the rattle of the chair.
Tony appeared in the door at the end of the corridor. “It’s not working. He’s getting more agitated than he was before you came back. Come on. Maybe we can distract him if you’re in another room. Get him onto another subject.”
Serena looked at the door and then back down the hallway at Tony hurrying toward her. She didn’t want to leave. Marcus’ torment tore through her. Marcus must have heard Tony because his struggles increased.
“No, Serena, come in here. Don’t be fooled. They want to hurt you!” Marcus yelled, and she heard a distinct thump.
The fear she heard in his voice made her decision. Calling on her magic, she focused on what she wanted. Power swirled through her mind and body. Bright light surrounded her and she felt a tug in her belly as if something was pulling her through thick, warm liquid. When the spots cleared from her eyes, she saw only white walls in front of her. She frowned. Where was Marcus? Had she gone beyond his room and into another? A thump and a low growl drew her attention. She turned and saw the chair and the back of Marcus’ head. The straps still held him securely but he jerked hard and the chair tilted. Somehow she’d ended up behind him.
“Serena! You’re not going to hurt her!” Marcus’ arms jerked upward but the straps held for the moment.
“I’m right here, Marcus. They’re not taking me anywhere, especially not away from you.” She walked in a wide arc around the chair. She knew he’d need to see her before he
’d believe she was in the room with him.
“Don’t go away from me again, Serena. You’re not safe. Daniel would love to get his hands on you.” Marcus seemed to relax a little once he could see her.
“I’m here. I’ll stay with you.” Serena took a seat on the padded floor, stretching her legs out in front of her.
“Serena, are you in there?” Tony’s voice came from just outside the door.
“I’m here. I’m not leaving until he’s free from the effects of the drug. He’s calmer now and I’ll make sure he stays that way.” Serena leaned her head back against the wall. “Just go away and watch the monitor. I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself if the situation warrants it but it won’t.”
“Don’t make me come in there and get you.” Tony’s hand hit the door heavily.
“Don’t you have something better to do? I’m safe in here. He’s still in the chair.” Serena threw an annoyed look at the door. The man was on her nerves. She could see the tension cording Marcus’ muscles again just at the mention of her leaving.
“You’re not taking her!” Marcus jerked forward, the chair coming slightly off the floor.
“I’m not going anywhere, Marcus,” Serena directed the first part of her response to Marcus. She was more worried about him than the annoying man outside the door. “Tony, go find something to do. You’ve got a camera and I have a shield. Marcus isn’t going to hurt me.”
There was a long pause outside the door. She waited tensely. Would she have to keep him from taking her out of the room by force? She hoped not. She was tired even after the nap. Using her magic hadn’t really helped that.
“I’ll leave you in there for now. If you get into trouble or he gets agitated again, I’ll pull you out of there,” Tony warned.
Serena rolled her eyes. As if she’d let him. She wouldn’t be in danger. Marcus was strapped into the chair and wasn’t a threat to her right now. It was danger to her that ruled his mind, not hurting her. He seemed to consider anyone near her a danger.
Marcus rambled but as long as he could see her, he didn’t try to get out of the restraints. Serena discovered that just walking behind him could upset him when she had to walk around and stretch her legs after sitting in one place for so long. After that she stayed in front of him. Finally, he seemed to get calmer and more in control. He quieted. Her eyes slowly closed and her body relaxed against the cushioned wall.
Vampire's Witch Page 12