by Dina James
Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Show-off.”
She found what she needed and went back downstairs.
Syd was leaning against the doorframe, shaking his head and laughing.
Billy sat at the table, looking extremely put upon.
“Hey,” Rebecca said, giving Syd a poke under his folded arms as she entered the kitchen. “You’re here to help, not laugh at poor Billy’s misfortune.”
“Yeah,” Billy said, and looked even more pathetic. How that was possible, she didn’t know, but she was sure it had something to do with being a wolf in human form. He could do puppy-dog eyes like no one else. Billy lifted his injured arm and rested it atop his head, exposing his wound.
“Oh, Billy,” Rebecca said as she knelt down beside him. “I told you not to move.”
“Didn’t!” Billy protested as he brought his drink to his mouth. “Well, not much,” he said around his mouthful of fae ale.
Rebecca rolled her eyes again. “Want anything for the pain? This has to hurt.”
“Nah,” Billy replied, shaking his head. “Don’t need none.”
“Remember you said that.” She stood up. “Let me clean this properly and we’ll get started.”
Billy sighed and reached for another bottle. “Hey, Syd? Be a sport and shove them others over here so Bit don’t yell at me for movin’.” Syd uncrossed his arms slightly and twitched two fingers at the bottles Billy indicated.
“Aw, thanks man,” Billy said.
“Don’t mention it,” Syd replied.
Billy continued to drink as Rebecca cleaned his wound. He winced occasionally, and kept offering her sips of his ale.
“You’re stalling, Acolyte,” Syd said from the doorway. “That wound is clean enough. Get to it.”
Rebecca almost protested, but she knew Syd was right. Just...the idea of putting a needle into Billy. Into anything!
“What, you ain’t scared of me, are you, Bit?” Billy asked as he swallowed a sip of ale. “Ohhhh...you’re scared of hurtin’ me, or messin’ up, ain’t you?” Rebecca bit her bottom lip and nodded.
Billy grinned. “I’m already messed up and you ain’t gonna change that by tryin’ to help. You can’t be scared anymore, remember? You’ll only get yourself in trouble that way. ‘Sides, how else you gonna learn if you don’t do things? I might hate needles, but I ain’t gonna hurt you none!” Rebecca looked at Syd.
He just gestured to the wolf in human form sitting at her kitchen table.
“All right,” Rebecca sighed. “Here goes nothing.” She threaded a very large curved needle with some kind of gossamer thread she knew to be specifically made for Ethereals and grasped the two pairs of scissor-like suturing ties. She clamped the needle with one of them, took a deep breath and pierced the undamaged skin of one side of Billy’s wound. The anubi didn’t flinch. She let out the breath she’d been holding slowly and repeated the same thing on the other side of the wound. With the second instrument in her other hand, Rebecca pulled the needle and suturing thread through.
“Atta girl!” Billy encouraged. “Hardly felt a thing!” Rebecca smiled and looked over her shoulder at Syd.
He peeled himself away from the doorframe and came to kneel beside her. He took a clean cloth from the table and dabbed at the blood dripping down Billy’s arm, clearing the area for Rebecca’s next stitch.
“This is what your Helper would be doing for you, if you had one,” he said. “Sometimes you need more than two hands, and another pair makes it easier. Otherwise you’d have to put down one of your instruments and do this yourself, which, while possible, would make your task longer.” She nodded her thanks.
“Continue,” Syd prompted with a nod at Billy’s wound.
“Yeah, I ain’t got all day,” Billy grumbled as he uncapped another bottle.
Rebecca sighed and shook her head. Syd offered encouragement and instructive comments as she went on, slow and methodical, stitching Billy’s long wound. She was nearly finished when Billy yelped and pulled away from her.
“Ow!”
“Hey, you’re the one that said you didn’t want anything to numb you up!” Rebecca said. “I’m not finished! Almost, but not yet. Now, come on.”
“Aw, come on! That’s good, ain’t it? I ain’t bleeding much anymore!
Can’t you be done now?”
“Just a few more stitches, Billy, honest, then I’ll find the ice cream in the deep freezer and you can eat the whole carton. Just let me finish, okay?” Rebecca cajoled.
Billy whimpered and Rebecca felt horrible, but she reached for his elbow and pulled him back toward her.
She pierced the sensitive flesh near his armpit with the needle and Billy yelped again.
“Would you stop it?!” Rebecca cried, exasperated. “That’s an awful noise! You didn’t even flinch when this happened to you, and I’ve seen demons almost tear you to bits, and now you’re whining about a little needle poking you?”
“That ain’t a little needle! ‘Sides, that’s different!” Billy protested. “Little things like this hurt a lot more than a bite or something!” Syd tried to suppress a laugh and couldn’t. Rebecca scowled at him.
Billy sighed, deep and dramatic, and made a big show of forcing himself to lean back toward Rebecca. “What kind of ice cream?” Rebecca’s reply was cut off by a knock at the door. Everyone froze and glanced toward the noise.
“Cripes,” she whispered. “Maybe they’ll go away.” The knock came again and Rebecca winced and swore. “I can’t leave this right now!”
“Go see who it is and what they want,” Syd murmured. “I’ll make sure Billy doesn’t move, and that we’re not seen if it comes to that. It will be all right for that long. Go on.”
Rebecca nodded and went to the door. She looked out the peephole and sighed in quiet relief.
“It’s okay! It’s Robin!” Rebecca called into the kitchen.
Syd looked confused.
“The one I want to ask to be my Helper,” Rebecca clarified.
He considered that a moment, then nodded.
“Bring her in if you think she’s ready,” Syd replied. “If it goes badly...
well...”Rebecca nodded and closed her eyes for a long moment before going back to the front door. She opened it a crack and motioned Robin inside and put a finger to her lips.
“Sorry to come barging in on you like this,” Robin apologized in a rush.
“But I didn’t see you yesterday afternoon and you weren’t in school today and I heard what Marla did and—”
Robin stopped short as she saw the blood on Rebecca’s hands.
“Oh my god, are you all right?” Robin asked as she seized Rebecca’s wrist and brought up her hand to look at it. “What’s going on? Are you making steak for dinner or something? Where’s your Nana? Is she okay?”
“It’s all right, Ro,” Rebecca assured her friend. “It seems I’ve got...
another secret for you to keep, unless you’re tired of keeping secrets for me.” Robin studied Rebecca for a long moment before she nodded.
The confusion was clear on Robin’s face as she followed Rebecca into the kitchen. It gave way to shock as she took in the sight of the huge, muscled Billy sitting with a needle and thread trailing from the nearly-sewn wound in his arm and another guy, blond, wearing sunglasses indoors kneeling by his side.
“What is going on?” Robin managed.
“Have a seat and I’ll tell you while I finish up what I’m doing,” Rebecca said, and returned to Billy’s side where she picked up the needle once more.
Billy took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, his free hand clenching into a fist as Rebecca finished stitching his wound.
w x
“So, you’re a werewolf,” Robin said, looking across the kitchen table at Billy.The young man was again fully clothed, sitting at the table with Robin and Rebecca. They shared a pot of tea between them while Billy sat with another bottle of fae ale.
Syd, his assistance with Billy’s wound finis
hed and confident that Robin wasn’t going to have a complete fit about becoming a Helper, went back upstairs to check on Ryan. Robin had stared after him and, when she was sure Syd couldn’t see her, gave Rebecca a smirk, fanning herself while mouthing “gorgeous.”
“That’s what you humans call us,” Billy said, shrugging, heedless of his freshly-sutured injury. “My people are called ‘Anubi’ by everyone else.
Well, mostly. The vampires got some pretty rude names for us, but yeah, I’m a werewolf.”
“Prove it,” Robin said.
Billy snorted. “What? You want me to change forms right here at the table?”“Yeah. What? You need a full moon or something?” Robin asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
“No,” Rebecca interrupted. “You’ll tear your stitches. No changing forms for at least a couple of mortal days, Billy.”
“‘Need a moon or something’. .” Billy muttered as he took a swig from his bottle. “Sorry to disappoint you, girly.”
Robin gave him a murderous look.
“He’s really a werewolf, Ro,” Rebecca said. “I’ve seen him change, and it’s like the blink of an eye, not like those ones you see in the movies. And there are vampires too. That blond guy you just saw? He’s one. And I’ve been taking care of Ry—um—his friend for a couple of days now.”
“Which is why you haven’t been in school, right? And you’re a...what again...?” Robin asked. “Healer? Stranger?”
Rebecca and Billy both nodded.
“And you want me to help out?” Robin asked. “How?”
“By doing just what you already do,” Rebecca said, taking a sip of tea. “Like you’ve seen, I might need to miss school so you’ll have to cover for me, just like you’ve done before with Nana. Questions would be a bad thing. That’s what Helpers do. They’re kind of a bridge between us and the human realm.”
“You make it sound like you aren’t human,” Robin said with a nervous laugh.“The way I understand it, I’m mortal,” Rebecca replied. “But a different kind of human, with different abilities. I can see and...and do...things most other people can’t—”
Billy interrupted. “What Bit’s trying to say, girly, is that she’s going to need a Helper. A human Helper. You may have to be an extra pair of hands now and then, maybe help hold down a tough customer or ornery patient.
Most times you just gotta make sure she eats and stuff. Days in the enclave can get long and busy, especially during wartime, and the way things is lookin’, that’s comin’ up right quick. You’d be spendin’ a lot of time here.”
“You’re so busy though, Ro,” Rebecca said. “And there’s school to think about, and your friends—”
“Rebecca, I’m not going to let you do this alone! I think this is a bit more important than stupid slumber parties,” Robin said, shaking her head.
“I’m totally in. You’ll have to tell me more about everything, though, starting with what’s been going on the last couple days.”
“That’s kind of a long story,” said Rebecca.
“Well, if you gals are going to sit around flapping your lips, I’m going to find somethin’ to eat,” Billy said, and got up from his chair.
As Billy moved away to rummage through the fridge, Robin moved closer to Rebecca and whispered in her ear.
“I always knew there was something about you, Rebecca. Ever since first grade, when you stood up to those boys for me. You took care of me—wouldn’t let me be hurt, and it just makes more sense now. I always knew that mark you hate so much was something special, and have always been just a little bit jealous of how cool it is. Knowing what it really is, what it really means, makes it even cooler.”
“Really?” Rebecca managed. Robin is jealous...of me ? What? Why?
Robin nodded. “You’re way cooler than I’ll ever be, no matter how popular I am or who my boyfriend is.”
“Ain’t nothin’ to eat in this house,” Billy growled and slammed the fridge door shut. He turned and was about to head out of the kitchen when Rebecca eyed him.
“And where do you think you’re going?”
“Uh, out?” Billy replied in a cautious tone. “Grab a bite to eat, find somewhere to den up for the night—”
“What about right here?” Rebecca said, gesturing around the house.
“Syd told me that you don’t have a safe place to den, and by the look of you, it’s been more than a while since you’ve had a real home.” Billy scowled. “Seems Syd said more than he oughta. My gratitude for the offer, Bit, really but neutral ground or no, I ain’t about to hide behind your skirts like a whelp.”
“I’m not offering you a place to hide,” Rebecca protested, hurt as she took another sip of her tea. “I wouldn’t do that, and I didn’t ask because I think you need one. I didn’t mean for you to think that, either. It’s just...
well...go on then. Sorry I offered.”
“Aw, Bit, I didn’t mean it like that—”
“I’m scared, Billy!” she said. “You and Syd keep telling me not to be, because it just makes things worse, but I can’t help it! I need help! I turn seventeen in two days. You would be doing me a huge favor if you’d stay...I mean den here. Not just for tonight, either, or until my birthday. Permanently.”
“Stay here?” Billy said, incredulous. “Bit, you live here! Martha, too! And having me here is just asking for more trouble than I think you’re figurin’ on.” Rebecca and Robin exchanged a look. Robin looked back at Billy, and Rebecca could see that her friend was totally enamored with the big wolf.
Rebecca shrugged. “I’m already in big trouble, according to Syd.
Besides, with you here...what’s a little more? Now you said the other day to think of you like my bodyguard, and I’m asking you to please stay and keep being that.”
“I don’t know, Bit... This ain’t no kind of casual offer. You can’t just ask an anubi to den—”
“I can so,” Rebecca interrupted, smiling him. “Please, big guy? The house is more than big enough, and Nana said I should have been learning this stuff all along, and you know how new I am to all of this. What you explained to me the other night about power made sense, and with you around to explain more of the stuff Syd tries to teach me, I’m sure to learn quick like we all want, especially him. Please?” Billy rubbed the back of his neck and looked thoughtful for a long minute.
“Well, Syd did say I should look out for you,” the anubi said with a deep sigh. “And it is true I ain’t got a place. Sure as hell ain’t denning at the lair with them bloodsuckers. Sleepin’ in Rox gets old real fast and it’s hard to get any kind of comfortable...so I guess if you don’t mind a hairy roommate—”
“You’ll be able to take your true form as often as you like,” Rebecca said. “After you’re healed, of course, and not have to worry. Syd told me he sealed the windows with illusion, so no one can see anything out of the ordinary from the street.”
“Illusion?” Robin asked.
“You can see why I’m going to need a Helper,” Rebecca replied. “But I’ll understand if you don’t want to.”
“Of course I want to, especially if he’s going to stay here.” Robin smiled at Billy. Oblivious that he was the subject of their conversation, she spoke a little louder, addressing him. “You’re staying, right?” Billy turned red and mumbled something before he left the room quick.
Robin and Rebecca giggled together.
“How many people get to meet a werewolf? I mean, without, you know, being eaten or something,” Robin asked with a laugh as Rebecca refilled their tea mugs. “Or a vampire? You said you’ve been taking care of that cute blond one’s friend. Can I meet him...or her?”
Rebecca shook her head. “I don’t think he should be disturbed just now.
He’s healing, and it’s just now starting to get dark. Let’s let him rest. You’ll meet him another time. Being a Helper, you’ll have plenty of chances to see a vampire up close. You’ve likely already met one as it is. They’re everywhere.” Robin turned around, ma
king sure they were still alone and whispered,
“Is the hurt vampire as gorgeous as Billy?”
Rebecca snorted as she tried to hide her giggling. “Hardly. You didn’t get to see the blond one’s eyes behind those glasses. They glow and pulse, like living liquid metal. They’re this absolutely gorgeous blue, too. But you’re really not supposed to look a vampire, especially one like him—he’s a Master, meaning he’s the leader of a clan—in the eye. Just sneak a quick look next time. His name is ‘Syd.’”
“Are all vampires totally hot?” Robin asked.
Rebecca couldn’t hide her blush as she nodded. “From everything I’ve been reading, it looks like most male Ethereals are...um...yeah.”
“Well Billy sure is!” Robin said with another wicked grin. “I wonder if he’s busy for prom.”
“Robin!” Rebecca protested, though she couldn’t quite hide her grin.
Robin closed her eyes a moment, daydreaming. “How old is he?”
“Eighty-seven!” Billy yelled from the other room. “And stop talking about me!”
Robin looked horrified for a moment before she and Rebecca looked at each other and burst out in a fit of giggles.
“For...forgot to say...! Great hearing...!” Rebecca managed through her laughter.
w x
Her Helper set on her first task of cleaning up the carnage in the kitchen—that is to say Billy’s bottles—Rebecca went upstairs to check on Ryan.
She went into the enclave. Syd was nowhere to be found, and Rebecca wondered why she felt a twinge of disappointment. She’d been hoping to see him, she realized. To thank him for his help.
Rebecca went to the boy on the bed and sat down beside him. Ryan groaned, making Rebecca jump in surprise. Was he waking up?
She checked his eyes. They were open, but completely blank. Cripes.
No such luck.
Rebecca lowered the band of the clean pajama bottoms she had found for him to check his hellhound bite. She was so focused on her work that she didn’t hear Robin come in.
“You didn’t say the vampire you were helping was Ryan Dugan!” Robin said from around the privacy curtain.