“That would be wonderful, Mr. Andersen. And much appreciated,” Felicity said gratefully. “And perhaps eventually compensation for their hours spent in training?”
“Yes, yes. We can come to an agreement suitable for all. Perhaps extra duties, or those who are here full-time rather than dropping by for a couple of hours a week, will be considered training, rather than volunteer. They will, of course, have to attend a nursing school in order receive their credentials. But this would give them entry into the field and a skill set to take with them.”
“It’s a wonderful idea, Mr. Andersen. Thank you very much,” Felicity said, smiling warmly.
He looked to Anna. “And you, young lady, will you be our first candidate?”
“Yes, sir. I will. I am very anxious to get started.”
He smiled and nodded. “Give me this afternoon and tomorrow to speak with our nursing supervisors. Hopefully, we can get the program off the ground soon. In the meantime, you are welcome to begin volunteering your time if you’d like to get a jump on things. Or possibly, you could begin housekeeping in your off hours, just a few here and there, if you would like a small income for now. We always have need of additional housekeeping staff.”
“Yes, sir! I’d very much like that.”
“Wonderful! Shall I tell Miss Burns to expect you in the morning?”
“Yes, please. I will be here.”
Mr. Alexander stood and extended his hand across his desk to Felicity, “Thank you for coming to see us with this idea. It has been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Goins.”
“Likewise, Mr. Andersen. I look forward to a long working relationship with you and the hospital.”
They shook hands, then Mr. Andersen turned to Anna. “And I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be here.”
“Report to personnel, and I’ll have a packet waiting for you. Miss Burns will be expecting you and will introduce you to housekeeping and the duties you’ll be expected to perform. Later in the week, Nurse Pichel will meet with you regarding shadowing our nurses and assisting them in an effort to learn some skills needed to follow in their career path.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll be here and ready.”
Anna and Felicity left Mr. Andersen’s office and barely made it down the corridor and around the corner before Anna let out a squeal of excitement and spun grabbing Felicity and hugging her tightly while chanting, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Felicity laughed, hugging her back. “You’re welcome.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to actually be a nurse. I never thought I’d ever be anything to anyone except mom. And it’s all because of you!” she said, looking Felicity in the eye, her own filled with emotion. “Thank you, Miss Felicity. Thank you so much.”
“The only thanks I want is to see you succeed. It’s all on you now. And I have no doubt you’ll make us all proud.”
Anna squealed again and twirled in a circle like a young girl. “I’m so excited!”
They walked down the hall speaking excitedly about things Anna would need to start her day tomorrow. Some comfortable shoes, and suitable, yet comfortable clothes. They had no idea they were watched, stalked, as they left the hospital.
The sounds of laugher and excited female voices in the hallway drew Darren’s attention. He hurried to the door and opened it just enough to get a view of the women moving down the hallway.
His mouth dropped open. “Rotten bitch!” he muttered. A deep scowl took up residence on his face. He looked back over his shoulder at his brother. His completely insane brother, lying in his hospital bed, no clue who anyone was, himself included. Simpering like a frightened little child, drool falling from his gaping mouth, his eyes staring off in the distance seeing nothing. Darren had no doubt his brother’s bitch of a wife had something to do with this. And the high falutin’ woman keeping her company, too.
Darren reached out and put his hand on his brother’s shoulder, “Don’t you worry none, Darrel. I’ve found Anna. I’ll find out what she’s done to you, and you’ll be right as rain in no time. Just hold tight, I’ll be back soon.”
Darrel shied away from Darren’s touch, whimpering at the contact.
Darren huffed in frustration. “That wife of yours will be sorry she ever wronged you. I swear it!”
Chapter 9
Ata’halne sat in the sunshine in front of Aubreigne’s home, watching her daughter play and enjoying the warmth from the sun. He lifted his face to the sun and closed his eyes, a relaxed smile on his face. It had been a very long time since he’d felt peace, contentment. Yet here he was, in the company of kind people, in a body that no longer ravenously wanted, enjoying the laughter of a child and warmth of a sunny afternoon. Life, it seemed, was good once again.
Ata’halne heard Deaumanique’ call out a greeting and turned his face toward her, while opening his eyes. Since his face had been turned to the sun, he had to blink several times to regain focus from the bright sun light shining on his closed lids. At first all he could see was the outline of a man headed in their direction, but from the greeting Deaumanique’ offered, he didn’t believe the man was a threat. Finally his vision cleared enough to give him more than just an outline, and he saw right away that the man approaching them was Enthrall. He struggled to stand, leaning heavily upon the tree branch that Aubreigne had given him to use as a walking cane.
Enthrall saw him struggling to stand and raised a hand, calling out, “No need to stand, I’m coming to you. Rest easy.”
Enthrall finished speaking to Deaumanique’ and hugged her to him, telling her how much he enjoyed seeing her again. He was always making the children feel as though they were special to him. And they were. He wanted children of his own one day and knew only too well the loneliness of believing he’d never have his own. Each child was a lifetime of dreams and limitless possibilities bursting at the seams to be realized. He couldn’t wait to see what each of the children he knew grew up to be and achieve.
Enthrall approached Ata’halne and reached out a hand to shake, “Hello. Welcome to Whispers.”
Ata’halne looked at the hand Enthrall extended to him, waiting for him to respond by placing his in Enthrall’s. He looked up at Enthrall and said, “You’ve welcomed me before.”
“In a manner of speaking. But you are yourself now, harboring no other. So, I say again, welcome.” Enthrall raised his hand a bit to indicate that Ata’halne should take it and waited until he did so.
Ata’halne reached out hesitantly and shook Enthrall’s hand.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Ata’halne expected everyone to fear touching him, so when Enthrall didn’t, it made him smile. “I am thankful to be here.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Enthrall asked.
“No, thank you. I have all I need. Though I’d like to find a way to repay Aubreigne for her hospitality and any expense she’s put out caring for me.”
Enthrall smiled and nodded. “I’ll see to it that Aubreigne has all she needs.”
Almost as though her name being spoken had summoned her, she appeared from the back of the house, carrying a laundry basket, stacked with freshly folded linens from the clothes line.
“Enthrall, what brings you here?” she asked, clearly unnerved to find Enthrall standing over Ata’halne. She hurried toward them and placed herself between them as best she could without being too terribly obvious.
“Hello, Aubreigne. I heard you had a new house guest, so I came to welcome him.”
“How thoughtful of you,” she answered. Then her eyes flashed to Ata’halne and looked him over briefly before returning to Enthrall. She looked back and forth between the two several more times before Ata’halne finally said, “We are well. He’s just arrived.”
“Is there a problem, Enthrall?” Aubreigne asked.
“No, not at all. Just wanted to stop by and make sure that you all have everything you need.”
Aubreigne seemed to
look into Enthrall’s soul, as much as he’d allow anyway, and satisfied with what she saw, fairly certain that he didn’t mean Ata’halne any harm, she visibly relaxed. “I was about to make lunch. Would you care to join us?”
Enthrall brightened and smiled, nodding. “Yes, thank you. I would. It’s been a while since I enjoyed your cooking.”
“Let me put away the linens, and I’ll have lunch ready in no time.”
“Here, allow me to help,” Enthrall said, taking the basket from her hands. “Where do you want them?”
“If you could bring them inside, that will be fine.”
Enthrall followed her inside her home and following her direction, set the basket down on the bed in her bedroom. As he turned to walk back into the main room of her home, she was standing in the doorway between the two rooms and said, “He’s not the same, you know. He’s human now. There is no need for worry.”
He smiled, genuinely. “I’m happy to hear it. He has suffered much. He’s due a bout of good luck.”
Aubreigne was surprised when he didn’t try to warn her away from Ata’halne or threaten his safety if he showed any sign of the Windigo still inside him. Her brow creased. “Yes. He has.”
“Is there anything else you need help with?” Enthrall asked. He watched Aubreigne closely. It was clear that she’d become very attached to the man and had in fact positioned herself to be his protector until his strength returned. He’d gone years without sustenance of any type, and his human body had and was suffering for it. It would be some time before he regained enough strength to fully feel himself again, if ever.
“No, thank you. We are well.”
“You’re feeding three now. Your supplies will deplete more quickly. Are you sure you don’t need more supplies before the usual deliveries?”
Aubreigne looked back over her shoulder into her kitchen. It was true, she would need food sooner than she usually did. “Well, perhaps, just a little.” She turned and walked into her kitchen, pulling four plates down from the shelf she stored them on and four cups as well.
“Is there anything in particular you’d like?” Enthrall asked.
She didn’t need to check her storage of food. She was explicitly detailed and knew down to the very last morsel what she had and didn’t have.
“He really seems to enjoy fresh fruits, especially. It’s been a while since he was able to eat. If you could arrange for us to have a little more than usual, I’d be very grateful.”
“Of course. I’ll see to it.”
“Thank you, Enthrall.”
“You’re welcome. Now, what are you feeding us?”
“I’ve some leftover turkey from last night. And I’ve got some wild mushrooms and onions I thought I’d simmer with a bit of bacon for spooning over the top of the turkey.”
“Sounds wonderful. I believe you’ve missed your calling. You could have been a world-renowned cook, Aubreigne,” Enthrall said, his grin huge, and his stomach rumbling in anticipation of the coming meal.
Aubreigne’s delightful laughter filled the house, and though Enthrall had no problem resisting it, he fully understood why Destroy avoided her. She was without even trying, one of the most alluring females he’d ever met. The lilt of her voice only served to strengthen the pull any man would feel toward her. Her laughter enough to hypnotize any human male. Which made him think, why wasn’t Ata’halne trying to be nearer to her?
“Aubreigne, why is your new friend — Ata’halne?”
“Yes, that’s his name.”
“Why isn’t he pulled toward you? He is human, isn’t he?”
Aubreigne nodded. “Yes. He is.” She faced away from him, toward the kitchen counter and the stove top as she worked. She shook her head and shrugged, “I don’t know. But, I’m glad that he seems immune to me.”
Enthrall watched her work for a few minutes longer. “Why? Do you not want him to want you? You seem somewhat attached already.”
She set down her knife and turned to face Enthrall. “I am. And I do want him to want me. But only if he truly wants me.” She patted her chest between her breasts with a small closed fist. “Me. Who I am inside. Not the magics that flow from me. Do you understand?”
“I do.” He said simply. And like Destroy, he felt bad for the beautiful, gentle woman standing before him. Given her very nature, at birth she was gifted with untold beauty. But cursed by the same. Any male drawn to her would be lured as though a wild animal to a bait, and she’d never know if the male loved her or was under her spell. It must have been a lonely existence. “Have you heard of a man not being drawn to a Siren before?”
She shook her head and turned back to her task, finishing cutting up the mushrooms and dropping them into a sizzling pan already filled with bacon. “Only mated males.”
“Did you ask if he was mated?”
She shook her head but didn’t voice her answer.
After a few moments more Enthrall said, “I shall go visit with him until lunch is ready.”
“It won’t be long,” Aubreigne answered.
Enthrall walked back outside to find Deaumanique’ doing cartwheels in the grass.
“Great job!” Ata’halne said. “You are very talented, Deaumanique’. Where did you learn such tricks?”
“My mother taught me.”
“Well, you are certainly a very good student.”
“Thank you. Do you want to see more?”
“I do! Do you know other tricks?”
“Yes!” Deaumanique’ began running back and forth across the yard, executing flips and turns.
Enthrall took a seat next to Ata’halne and smiled as he watched her show off her skills. “She’s a wonderful little girl.”
“Yes, she is. And very kind-hearted, too.”
Enthrall nodded, while watching her as she called out, “Watch this one!”
“She is very in need of a father’s approval,” Enthrall said.
Ata’halne looked away from Deaumanique’ to Enthrall. “Where is her father?”
“He’s not a part of their lives any longer.”
“I wonder if he knows all that he’s giving up by deserting them?” Ata’halne said quietly.
“Aubreigne made the choice for him. They were not deserted. She took Deaumanique’ to safety as soon as it became apparent she needed to.”
“He tried to hurt his own daughter?!” Ata’halne gasped.
Enthrall looked from Deaumanique’ to Ata’halne, smiling sadly. “Not all parents are good ones. The ability to have a child does not make you a father or a mother.”
Ata’halne looked back toward Deaumanique’ where she still ran this way and that, tumbling and twisting in the air.
“I try to make sure to let her know she is loved and appreciated every chance I get. She is a very smart little girl, and very, very intuitive. But I’m not her father. That position has yet to be filled.”
Ata’halne, still looking at Deaumanique’, nodded his understanding. Suddenly, he called to her, “Ohhh! That one is amazing! Show me that one again!”
Enthrall smiled approvingly as he watched the joy cross Deaumanique’s face at Ata’halne’s request for her to do one of her tricks again. This just may be a good thing, he thought.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Hours later Enthrall stood on the ground beside a raised stairway, looking up at the deck above him and pulled on a rope causing a bell up top to ring. He grinned when he heard a flurry of little feet slapping on the wooden floor and the slam of a screen door followed by the shout of a child, “I get it!”
A little face peered over the railing framing the deck above, and he laughed heartily when the child shouted, “It’s Trawl! It’s Unca Trawl!”
“Can I come up?” he asked, still laughing.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she shouted, jumping around in a circle.
He ghosted to a place right beside her and swept her into his arms, snuggling her and kissing her. “Hello, Lily. I missed you!”
“I miss you,
too!” she answered, squealing and giggling while he kissed her and tickled her.
The sound of the screen door slamming closed again had him looking up to see Carnage heading his way. “Trawl!”
“Carnage! How goes it?!” Enthrall asked.
“Goood. ‘ou?” Carnage asked.
“I’m fine. Very good.”
“Mate?” Carnage asked, looking over the side of his deck as though he expected her to be there.
Enthrall sobered just a little. “Not yet. But soon, I hope.”
Carnage nodded and patted Enthrall on the back before leading him toward the house. He yelled loud enough to wake the dead. “Leenah! Trawl!”
Carnage opened the screen door and ushered Enthrall with Lily still in his arms inside his home. Immediately Lily started squirming to get down, so Enthrall put her on her feet.
Somewhere toward the back of the house, Enthrall could hear what sounded like Carolena, losing the contents of her stomach. “Is Carolena well?” he asked, concerned.
“’Es!” Carnage said. Then he mimed vomiting, complete with sound effects. And he seemed quite proud of it.
“You know that it’s not normal for females to vomit, right? Maybe when she comes out here, you shouldn’t look so pleased about it,” Enthrall suggested.
“My doo eeeet,” Carnage boasted. Then he thumbed at himself. “Baybee. Leenah Baybee.” Carnage grinned, puffed his chest up and strutted in a small circle. “Mine Baybee.”
“Ahhh, another baby!”
“’Es!” Carnage answered, pure joy and happiness showing from his eyes.
Carolena finally shuffled into the room. “Hello, Enthrall.”
“Congratulations, Carolena! I’m so happy for you! Another baby! How wonderful!”
Carolena sighed deeply and weakly smiled at Enthrall. “Thank you. We are very happy about the new baby,” she said rather unconvincingly.
Enthrall raised his eyebrows and took a good look at her. “Are you sure?”
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