"Sarcasm. Another endearing quality."
"That sounded like sarcasm."
"Maybe." The corner of his mouth turned upward in the beginning of a smile.
He parked in front of the diner and left the engine running.
"Thanks for the ride."
"Thanks for coming with me."
I opened my door and slid out of the Jeep, dropping to the ground. Jeeps, even Cherokees, were not made for smaller people. I was taller than average and still had a difficult time. Getting in was worse.
"Let me know when you need me next," I said and reached to close the door.
"I'll refrain from making a dirty comment…"
I sighed and shut the door. He might be hot, but he was frustrating as fuck. I waved as he pulled away. When he turned into to the station, I got into my car and started her up, cranking the heat.
I felt the spell trigger. Focusing my energy into my shield, I screamed, "Sciath cloiche!"
My shield coalesced and hardened to stone as the dashboard of my Kia exploded inward as the engine blew up in a gigantic fireball, shooting my hood straight up into the air. Even through the shield I felt the impact of force and it doubled as the gas tank behind me caught and went. The ringing in my ears almost drove me insane, but it was the heat that sucked the air from my lungs and plunged me into darkness.
∞ ∞ ∞
Beep. Beep. Beep.
It was the only sound that greeted me when I came to.
I was lying in a bed, or assumed I was. It felt like a bed, though I couldn't open my eyes to verify. I reached out and felt metal rails on either side. A stinging sensation in my forearm caught my attention. Even unable to see, I knew it was an IV needle.
Hospital. I'm in a hospital. I'm alive. Sweet Lady, I'm alive. I wonder how bad the damage is…
I opened my mouth and tried to call out. I managed a weak cough. It felt like the inside of my lungs were coated in soot. I reached up and felt the oxygen tube in my nose. I counted my blessings there wasn't a tube in my throat. I probably would have puked waking up to that.
"You're awake?"
Recognizing Chief's voice, I nodded.
"Nurse!"
His chair slid backward, and I felt his hands gently grab mine.
"Yes?"
"She's awake."
"I'll be damned. She is one tough cookie."
"You have no idea."
"Can you hear me, sweetie?"
I nodded again. Not even wanting to try and speak.
"You've been in an accident."
I tilted my head and gave her a dirty look. I hope she could tell it was dirty with a swollen face and closed eyes.
It didn't go unnoticed. "Your eyelids are swollen shut, but the doctor doesn't think there is any damage. You did inhale a good amount of smoke, but again, there doesn't seem to be any permanent damage. Other than a nasty bump to your head, you came out relatively unscathed. Even your hair didn't get singed. The angels were with you today, young lady."
Oh, thank the Lady. Blessed be.
I wanted to cry, but my eyelids didn't even let me do that. If I could speak, I might be able to heal myself a little. It wasn't one of my major talents, but anything to help would be great.
"Are you thirsty?"
My throat feels like an ashtray. Of course, I'm thirsty. I nodded emphatically at her.
I felt the straw touch my lips and took a tentative sip. I could feel it soothing my cracked and parched throat as it slid down. I even pictured little wisps of steam when she pulled the straw away.
"Better?"
"Yes," I managed to croak. I sounded like a muppet gargling broken glass.
"Okay. Relax for a while. The doctor should be in to check on you shortly."
I nodded and melted into my pillow, listening to her squeaky footsteps as she left the room.
"What happened?" Chief whispered after she left.
"My car exploded." I choked out.
"Yeah. I kind of knew that much. I pulled you out of the burning rubble."
"Thanks."
"I'm guessing it wasn't an accident?"
I shook my head. "Felt the spell. Turned on the heater and kaboom."
"How the hell did you manage to survive?"
"Stoneshield. Talk later?"
"Sorry. Yes."
He surprised me when he bent over and kissed me on the forehead. I smiled, or at least I hoped I did, up at him. Hopefully, I didn't look like a deranged ash-monster doing it.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"What?"
"For not dying."
"My pleasure."
"I'll be back to check on you in a while. One of the other officers will be guarding your door. He has a list of people who can see you. I put Josie on it. I texted her from your phone since I don't have her number. She should be here any time."
I nodded my gratefulness.
"I have a street to go clean up. By the way, you're going to need a new car. Call your insurance when you can. There isn't enough for them to do much of an investigation, though."
I nodded, only slightly caring. I did love my Soul, but it was just a car at the end of the day.
"I'll see you in a little while."
I waved at him, wanting nothing more than a little silence.
It lasted all of five minutes.
I heard the whirlwind that was my best friend outside the door. She was arguing about something with the police officer. I smiled. A little normalcy might be nice. She finally made it past him and entered the room.
"Oh, my Lady. Are you okay?"
I couldn't see her, but I could hear the pain in her voice. "Yeah. They tell me I'm fine. My head hurts and I can't see, but I'll be fine in a while. Once the swelling goes down."
"Someone did this to you?"
"My car. It sploded."
"I know that! It's the only damn thing the whole town is talking about. I heard about it from Marge before Chief texted."
She was pouting. I could hear it in her voice. "Sorry. I was unconscious. Blown up, sir."
"I can't believe you're okay. You're really okay, right? Not faking it?"
"I'm fine. I got my stone shield up in time. Just the impact hurt my face. My eyes are swollen."
I felt her cool hand touch my face. She whispered, "Sana cito." A cold tingling sensation spread through my forehead and face. Literally, I could feel the swelling going down. I still couldn't open my eyes, but I wasn't nearly as uncomfortable.
"Thanks."
"Sorry I couldn't help more."
"You're better at healing than I am."
"Yeah. Well, you're better at everything else. So, let me have this one."
"Fine. You're coven healer."
"Isn't that what gamer guys make their girlfriends? Does this mean we're dating now?"
"Please. Besides. I heard you got yourself a girlfriend already."
"Not yet. But I'm working on it. She is adorable."
"Just be careful."
"Cough–Jimmy–Cough."
"Shut up."
"Grumpy."
"Help me up, would you? I got to pee."
"Let me get the nurse. You still have the IV and are tied to all kinds of machines."
"Is the IV on a rolly cart?"
"Yeah?"
I slid off the bed and ripped the monitoring clamp off my index finger, ignoring the blaring alarm. "I really have to pee. Help me to the bathroom."
"You are so stubborn."
"Yes. She is. There's a bedpan right next to the bed." The irate sounding nurse was tapping her foot from the doorway.
"Well, my friend didn't tell me that. Since I'm up, may I please use the bathroom?"
"Yes, but let me help you over there. Hospital liability issue."
I held out my arm. She slipped under it. I took a tentative step forward, grateful for her assistance. I was a little wobblier than I was expecting.
"Your balance is probably off because of the whack you took to the head.
Not being able to see isn't helping."
"It will come back, right?"
"Doc took X-rays. Said there was no damage. I'm sure you'll be fine. Most people who blow up, actually blow up. Care to share how you're still in once piece and not all over Main Street?"
"Kia has the highest safety ratings for small to mid-sized sedans and SUVs."
"You're a strange lady."
"It's one of my most endearing qualities. Or so people keep telling me."
She got me down on the seat and thanks to the wonders of modern hospital gowns, I didn't have to do anything.
"Ahh. Thanks."
"Sir, you're going to have to wait outside for a moment."
I shook my head. "Which one is it?"
"It's me." Jimmy's voice threatened to crack with laughter.
"It's okay, nurse. He's seen me naked."
"I bet he has. You seen him? Got any pictures?"
I started laughing. At least I got the cool nurse. I finished up and the nurse helped me back into bed, draping the blanket over my legs.
"Let me go find the doc, tell him you're up and about. I'll be back."
"Thanks."
"Heard you had a rough afternoon." He'd tried for lighthearted and witty, but sounded more worried and afraid.
"You have no idea. Somebody blew up my car with me in it."
"Look at the bright side. You're still here."
"Yeah. Goody. My head wishes I weren't."
"It doesn't look bad at all. Looks like your forehead swelled and drained into your eyes. You have some bruising. You won't need eyeshadow for a while."
"Cut me, Mick…"
"That's pretty funny. Now get some rest. You need anything?"
"Just some sleep. And my own bed."
"I don't think they'll let me bring that in here, and I don't think you're going home tonight."
"I figured."
"Want some company?"
"No, not really right now, at least I have a cop guarding the door so I don't have to worry about them trying again. I'm in a shitty mood anyway. You working tomorrow?"
"No."
Trepidation filled me, and a little fear. I wanted to be honest with Jimmy, but I was unsure on how he was going to respond. "I'm going to be honest with you. I have a date tomorrow with Jason. I invited him over to get him out of that trailer."
"I know. And you're going out with Bill on Friday."
"Seriously, how the fuck do you people keep doing shit like this? Did you plant a microphone on me?" I wanted more than anything to see his face, to judge his reaction.
He laughed. "No. I saw him in the lobby."
"And you guys just happened to discuss my dating schedule?"
"Amongst other things."
"What?"
"Kidding."
"Then how did you know?"
"Oh, not about that part. He really did tell me, so I didn't make plans and then you have to break them."
"You don't mind?"
He leaned over and kissed me on the forehead. "You are the head of our coven. You can date whomever you want. Even if you weren't, I just met you a week ago. I wouldn't presume…"
"I've stepped into the Twilight Zone. That's the only explanation."
"No. Welcome to Cedar Falls."
"Did Bill's wife…?"
"No! They were married before she became high priestess. Besides, those two were so in love you couldn't stick a fork between them."
"Gotcha."
"Alright. I'm gonna go home. Call me if you need anything."
"I will. Thanks, Jimmy."
"No problem."
I let the trepidation and fear go. If neither of them had a problem with me dating more than one of them, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I'd worry about it when it became a problem. I just wondered how long I had…
Chapter 16
The mid-morning sun glaring off the new snow outside the hospital threatened to drive me back inside. My eyes had stopped being swollen in the middle of the night, and I could see again. But damn I was snow-blind.
"You okay?"
I nodded at Chief. "Bright."
"Here." He took his sunglasses off and put them on my eyes.
"Bless you. And thanks for picking me up."
"Well, it's not like you had a ride home."
He opened the door and helped me into the Jeep. I missed my Kia already. "Thanks."
He practically ran around the other side of the car. "I also took the liberty of calling your insurance. They weren't too happy, but sent an adjuster out this morning from Syracuse. I let him inspect the wreckage."
"Thanks. That's something off my plate."
"Yeah."
"What's up? You're acting weird."
"What do you mean?" He coughed nervously.
"Chief William Bob Jingleheimershmidt, or whatever your name was… What did you do?"
We pulled onto my street. Luckily, I wasn't far from the hospital. Just out of decrepit walking distance. I looked at the house and on my front stoop. For a brief moment, I thought Josie was waiting outside for me. She wasn't, but my mother was…
"Oh, no you fucking didn't."
"Surprise," he said weakly.
I literally thought about incinerating him on the spot. If he wasn't driving, I might have. "We will discuss this later," I said through my clenched teeth, plastering a fake smile on my lips and waving to my mother.
"I thought I was doing good," he whispered back. "Then I met her."
"That isn't punishment enough."
"Sorry."
Without another word, I opened my own damn door and slid out of the SUV myself, wincing in a little pain as I landed.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" She rushed over and helped me steady myself.
"Hi, Mother."
"Don't you dare 'Hi, Mother me. You don't tell me where you are, you don't answer my calls. Then you go and get yourself blown up! What the hell, Dorothea?"
"Mother. My head hurts. Can we discuss this inside, out of view of the rest of the county?"
"Don't get smart with me, young lady."
"Inside. Go. Shoo."
She growled and stomped her foot as only my mother could, but she did walk up the stairs and into the house. That's when I noticed Josie staring at me hopelessly out her front window. I waved at her and rolled my eyes.
"I thought you were scary. Is your mother really a witch?"
"What else would she be?"
"I don't know. Italian? Demon?"
I sighed. He wasn't far from the truth. I wondered myself sometimes. "No. Holy water works on both of those. I tried it."
He chuckled.
"No!" I rounded on him, my finger shaking in his face. "You don't get to laugh. You're in deep shit. This is your doing! You better take me to the nicest restaurant in Syracuse for this one. Only through pain will you learn that the demon mother must never be called."
He laughed even harder.
"You owe me dessert now, too."
He pressed his lips against mine. Magically, it shut me up.
"What are you doing?"
"Kissing you?"
"Why?"
"Seemed like a plausible way to get you to stop yelling at me."
"Shut up and kiss me again."
He did. The scratchiness of his unshaven face was quite the contrast to Jimmy's almost boyish skin. He tasted like coffee and heat. I felt myself getting dizzy and it didn't have anything to do with trauma to my inner ear…
He pulled back and looked me in the eye. "Better?"
"Yes. But I might need more therapy after dealing with my mother. You better take responsibility."
"Oh, I will. Are you still up for dinner with Jason tonight?"
"Shit."
"I told him what happened. He was worried about you, but not you missing the date. Want me to tell him to come or postpone?
"He's off tomorrow isn't he?"
"Yes."
"Tell him I'm taking him to dinner. There
's no way I'm going to subject that poor boy to meeting my mother on the first date."
"I'll let him know."
"Thanks, Chief. You coming in?"
"Uh. No. I have some…um…paperwork back at the office. I just snuck away to bring you home."
"You are a horrible liar."
"Yes," he said and kissed me one more time, a soft brush of a kiss. "Good luck."
He turned around and got back in his Jeep. He didn't even help me up the stairs. "Thanks, Dick!"
He waved and backed out of the driveway. I'd take it out of his hide later. I turned around and walked to the steps, hanging on to the iron railing with everything I had. It wasn't really to steady me. I was more slowing my ascent into the pit of hell that waited for me through the front door.
Josie came out and helped me.
"Has it been bad?"
"Nuclear biohazard zombie apocalypse bad."
"Sorry. Chief thought he was being helpful."
"Oh, I already ripped him a new one." She chuckled evilly.
"Look at the bright side. Your mother didn't come."
"Wrong! But thank you for playing. She is currently at the motel in the room adjacent to your mother's. I have been berated and humiliated all morning."
"Oh, shit."
"Yeah. Best day ever."
"So, what am I walking into?'
"You got blowed up. What you think gonna happen?'
I sighed and opened the front door, resigned to my fate…
Mother sat coolly on my sofa, sipping tea and staring off into space. She didn't acknowledge my entrance or existence, just continued sipping and sipping some more.
Great. She's gathering her thoughts.
"Do you hate me?" She began, and I groaned.
I plopped down on the love seat. Josie made a mad dash back to Josie-land. Coward!
"No, Mother. I don't hate you. I'm sorry for not calling you, but this move was to start my own life. How can I do that if I don't do it by myself?"
She didn't hesitate. "A visitation from the Lady herself? I'm sorry, Dorothea, but that deserved a phone call. Getting yourself blown up? Phone call. Murders? Guess what? Phone call!"
"Sorry," I said meekly. She kind of did have a point. Small one.
"What am I going to with you?"
"I'm not going back home, Mother!"
She held up her hand. "No. You are not. If you were not smack dab in the middle of exactly where you were supposed to be, the Lady would not have shown you her favor. I am not here to bring you home. Nor am I here to guide you. I just missed you and wanted to make sure you were really all right."
First Moon : A Reverse Harem Tale (Lovin' the Coven Book 1) Page 12
