by Dale Mayer
She gave a weary nod. “Cody, can you turn them over please.”
The room had somehow filled with vamps silently watching her. The men were so big, Cody and Serus struggled to turn the two Nordic men who had attacked her onto their backs. She studied them carefully, then reached down and filled the energy channel she’d created with her own positive energy. Instantly both men opened their eyes, saw her, and backed up in confused panic.
“You’re fine,” she said in a hard voice. “And as long as you don’t attack me again, you’ll remain fine.”
She walked over to the leader, checked his pulse, and realized he was just unconscious, much as she had been after Deanna’s entrance into her mind. She nodded. “Move him back please so I can work.”
Again, silently, Serus and Cody struggled to shift the huge man’s weight. Goran entered the room and shoved himself front and center. Watching the other two struggle, he reached down and helped. “Is he okay?”
“He is. He’s just unconscious. Now please keep the rest of the goons off my back. We’ve wasted too much time. I don’t know if I can save him as it is.”
“You can save him?” asked one of the men who’d attacked her. “How? I thought he was dead.”
“Given that his father’s reaction was based on the fear of having just lost his son, I will forgive you for what you did, but I won’t be so happy if you try a repeat performance,” she snapped. “I’m tired and low on energy. If you want him back, I need every bit I have available.”
With that, she sat down beside the dead man. Cody watched her giving the male a careful once over, hating that the work had taken such a toll on her. She reached up a trembling hand to her own temple. She didn’t know if she could do this.
A warm hand landed on her shoulder. “Use my energy,” Cody said calmly. “Make sure that as you give, you also take.”
“I might take too much,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
He smiled. “I’m willing to risk it.”
She gave him a small smile then reached out and got to work. Cody stepped back to give her some room.
No one made a sound. She worked tirelessly even though her arm shook at times with the effort of holding them up. Cody wanted to help her but didn’t know how. Her color faded and her shoulders drooped.
Taking a step forward, Cody laid a hand on her shoulder again, willing his own energy to the forefront to help her out. He didn’t know if he was doing any good, but she seemed to perk up.
He glanced around the room to see several dozen vamps’ gazes locked on every movement she made. If she saved the young man, she’d become a legend in her own right. A hero of the people as this man came from one of the ancient lines. If he died – which technically he’d already done so before she’d ever entered the room – they’d hold her responsible.
The Nordic Councilman sat on the floor, slowly recovering. His gaze too was centered on Tessa. But there was no hope in his gaze. Only defeat and grief.
But he didn’t know Tessa like Cody did. Cody had faith in her. He glanced over at his father to see worry etched in every line. His father knew Tessa too, but that he was so worried said much about how important this man – this scenario – really was. Serus stepped over to Cody and stood with his back to his daughter. Cody understood he was standing guard in case things went bad.
Which, as Cody watched Tessa’s shaky movements, he realized was all too much a possibility.
Call on your vampire heritage, he whispered.
She faltered as if surprised, then straightened her back. As if her genetics did indeed kick in and give her more power, more energy, her movements sped up, her actions more decisive.
Then she was done. Or rather she was done in. Her arms dropped. Her head bowed and a heavy sigh escaped.
Silence.
Everyone waited.
Tessa? Cody asked. Is he dead?
She reached down to the man’s chest and did something odd. Then as if not liking something, she reached up and grabbed Cody’s hand and repeated the motion. This time there was a spark between Cody’s hand and Tessa’s. The young man’s body jolted. Hell, so did Cody. She repeated the spark thing. The young man took a deep, life–saving breath.
She repeated the spark one more time and nodded in satisfaction, studying the young man. Cody switched his gaze over to the man in the bed then shook his head. “I’ll be damned.”
The murmur in the room rose into a crescendo of shock. The Councilman jumped to his feet and raced over. Serus stepped in front protectively.
“It’s all right, Dad, he’s just concerned about his son.”
And with that, his son gave a low rumbling groan as if a mountain was awakening from deep inside. And he opened his eyes.
*
Goran almost danced in place as the Nordic Councilman collapsed on his son’s bed, tears rolling unashamedly down his face. He knew just how he felt. He’d been to hell and back over Tyson and if anything happened to Cody, he’d kill everyone involved. He couldn’t imagine losing that boy. And the look on everyone’s face when they’d seen Tessa pull off the stunt of the century. Like wow!
The first time, there’d only been kids watching. No one would take their stories seriously. Now the Nordic Councilman, well, everyone listened to him. His size alone commanded attention. If you added his presence, ancient bloodlines, and his position, everyone listened.
Now Tessa would get the respect she deserved.
Serus was going to go nuts trying to keep her out of trouble. As for Cody, he was going to go nuts trying to keep the men away. Tessa had just become one hell of a hot commodity.
She’d been interesting before, but she’d just transcended that now. He wouldn’t be surprised if some of the clans didn’t offer the joining of the two clans by asking for Tessa’s hand in marriage. It was a hell of an honor should that happen. He chuckled. A couple of the young pups looked his way. His grin widened. The pups switched their attention back to the action.
The young Nordic boy was sitting up, looking a bit green, but he was holding solid. Damn, Tessa was good. He wondered how fast she had to get to a vamp after he’d died in order to save him. They’d been in the morgue with over a dozen dead vamps and she hadn’t made a move to help them. Had she known she could? Or were they too far gone? She was a fascinating woman – okay child – woman–child. Or child–like woman. Whatever. He shrugged his shoulders and grinned wider. She was a hell of a girl, and she was going to give his son the runaround.
And that was a good thing. Cody would appreciate what he had to work for.
As he watched, Tessa tried to withdraw from the room, from the limelight. Cody tried to clear her path so she could get away. It wasn’t working so well. Everyone surrounded Tessa and ignored Cody.
“What are you grinning about?” Serus growled from right in front of him.
“Damn, I didn’t even see you.” Goran laughed at his disgruntled look.
“I’m trying to get Tessa out of here,” Serus said, “She’s tired and needs some air.”
Goran looked around, saw nothing but black suits and big men, and called out in the Councilman’s language. “Councilman Njordvik – Tessa needs space to leave the room, and she needs fresh air to recuperate.”
A spate of Norwegian soared across the room.
Instantly a channel between the men freed up, allowing Cody and Tessa, with Serus on their heels and Goran taking up last place, back out into the hallway.
“Oh, thank heavens, I wasn’t sure how to get out of there,” Tessa said weakly, her hand trembling as she pushed a few tendrils of hair back.
“It was crazy, but you can rest out here.” Cody motioned to the long corridor ahead.
“Ha. It’s a hallway. Any chance of a place to sit down and rest – in private?”
“Except this is a hospital,” Serus said. “It’s not our home.”
“Too bad,” she muttered. She hopped up on the wide window ledge and leaned back, closing h
er eyes. “Damn, I’m tired.”
“How long until you recuperate?” Goran asked, studying her pale features and the bruises under her eyes.
“I don’t know,” she smiled wanly. “Hopefully soon.”
Her father reached out and patted her shoulder. “Call on those vampire genes, girl. You should get fired up in no time.”
That surprised a laugh out of her. But obediently, she leaned her head back and followed his instructions. Goran spoke quietly with Serus and Cody but kept an eye on her progress. When the flush of pink returned to her cheeks and she gave a heavy deep sigh, he realized she was back. Good thing. There were other vamps who needed her help. Not ones that had died, at least he hoped not, but there were others that were barely staying ahead of death. He could only hope she had enough reserves to finish this.
Then again, considering the number of vamps on the other floors, he realized this was likely too big a job for anyone. Considering it was a young girl who wasn’t sure yet exactly how this worked, she wasn’t going to be able to train anyone else to help her. Besides, they’d need someone who could see the same energy stuff that she did.
He’d lived centuries, and Tessa was the only one he knew. He hadn’t even heard such a thing was possible.
Hell, she’d taught him so much in the last couple of weeks, he couldn’t imagine what she’d teach them all in the next century.
For the first time in a long time, he was looking forward to his future.
*
Rhia watched Wendy and Sian search for license plates, drivers, and patients. She wanted to help, but they were adamant. She needed to rest.
There was nothing she wanted to do less.
She’d been lying here for hours, maybe days. Who could tell anymore? She was lost…and found. But the voice in her mind haunted her. She heard him. She knew him, but didn’t. He was distant. Foggy. She tried to get closer to him, to speak with him. It was important.
He was important.
To her daughter. She just didn’t know why. Or if it was her imagination? It was so hard to know what was real and was not.
In the background, she heard Wendy mutter, “There’s no record of that patient anywhere. Not even in that home.”
“What?” Sian walked closer and read the monitor screen.
“No, there’s no record of him arriving at the home. No record of him leaving.”
Sian leaned back. “Which means no one knew either way. He became an asset they could do anything they wanted to.”
“So he wasn’t sick?” Wendy asked, starting to look sick herself. “Or rather he wasn’t sick originally?”
The two women stared at each other. The shock was mirrored on their faces.
Rhia spoke up, “He’s their guinea pig.”
The other two spun, having forgotten she was there. Sian’s face twisted in revulsion. “I thought there couldn’t be anything worse than the blood farms, but this…to think that Tobias was ill and recovering, then sick again, at their whim…it’s gross.”
“Are we really thinking that they made him sick?”
“Or kept him sick and made him sicker.” Rhia swung her legs over the couch and sat up. “The home and hospital made great cover for all of this.”
“But that’s the vamp hospital. Tobias is involved in the human medical system. Not ours.”
At Wendy’s words, the two women turned to look at her – neither said a word.
“Oh no.” She sagged in her chair. “Please don’t tell me there are traitors at the human’s hospital.”
“There must be,” Sian said in defeat. “I’m not sure any place is safe.”
“Neither is anyone,” Rhia muttered. “You must protect Taz.”
Sian gasped. She spun away and pulled out her phone.
The look on her face when she heard Taz’s voice was heart–wrenching to Rhia.
“I’m sorry about your memories,” Wendy said in a quiet voice. “Is there nothing you can do to help them along?”
“I’ve been trying,” Rhia said sadly. “It’s not working.”
Wendy smiled. “Somehow I feel like Tessa would tell you that you’re going about this all wrong.”
At the mention of her daughter, Rhia smiled. “Would she? In that case, what would her advice be?”
“To forget about trying,” Wendy grinned, “And instruct your genes to work double time.”
“Oh my God.” Rhia sat down heavily. “Could it be that simple?”
Chapter 17
She lost track of the time, but Tessa figured she’d been at this energy business for several hours. If not longer. The only good thing about the last few hours’ work was that her energy was holding. It was thanks to Cody’s assistance and his constant reminder to call on her genetics. The issue only got worse the more tired she became. She kept moving forward as it all seemed like too much to sort out, so she just dumped it from her mind.
When she had time, she’d stop and figure it out.
After they’d finished going through the top two floors of the hospital without being challenged by any hospital staff, it made her wonder if they’d gone into hiding.
She mentioned that concept to her father.
He shook his head. “No. There have been several attempts to get to this floor, but Goran has the entrances covered. The top floors are ours. Take your time and do what needs to be done.”
She nodded. She understood that his voice was flushed with success, but she didn’t understand how holding the top floors of anywhere was a help.
Don’t worry about it, Cody murmured. You need to shut down.
I do, she whispered, hating to hear the fatigue in her own voice. Is there a place where I could lie down and just close my eyes for a few moments?
Cody led her out into the hallway and over to her father. “Serus, Tessa needs to lie down. So we need to have a room clear for her.”
“She can come over here,” called out one of the many young males that had followed her from room to room, a group that was getting bigger with every stop.
Cody led her forward and motioned to the clean, non–creased bed. She looked at it gratefully but was loathe to lay down.
What’s the matter? he whispered. Go lie down. She glanced around the room at the men she’d helped still slowly healing and the rest that just watched her.
I’ll lie down if you sit beside me and watch over me, she muttered.
There was a gentle silence. You know I will. No one will touch you while I’m here.
She gazed into his eyes and realized he wasn’t mocking her and would do his best to watch over her while she slept. And his best was pretty damn good.
Thanks, he murmured on a laughing note.
Don’t make fun of me, she whispered. I can’t think straight. I’m so tired.
She fell more than sat down then rolled over to face the wall. She lay tense, waiting for him to sit down beside her. When she felt his reassuring weight beside her, she closed her eyes.
Just before she drifted off, she murmured, Thank you.
*
Cody watched the gentle rise and fall of Tessa’s chest and listened to the sound of her breath leaving her body. She was exhausted. Once again having called on herself to do too much – and like always – to help others. She’d been unable to stand on her own for the last ten minutes, and he doubted that she even understood that he’d been half supporting her.
He shifted slightly to block her from view. Over a dozen men lounged around protectively. He wished he could take her away from here. At least for a little while. Help her to rejuvenate. And get her away from so many people, the curiosity, the prying eyes. She’d pulled off major magic in the mines, but there’d been no one to see. Now there was no way to stop the masses from seeing and hearing about what she’d done and continued to do.
“Cody my boy,” Goran boomed from the doorway.
“Shh, Tessa’s asleep.”
“Then come here so we can talk.”
“I promise
d her I’d sit here and watch over her until she woke.”
Goran winced. “Yeah, she has good reason for asking that.” He moved closer, dropped a bag of supplies at Cody’s feet, and squatted down in front of Cody. Serus followed him in. “Okay, here’s the scoop. There are more vehicles arriving. We’ve had attacks from the roof and the lower floors, but so far they are piddly attempts. I’m sure bigger and stronger are coming.”
Serus said, “We need to regain the roof.”
Goran grinned fiercely. “We already have. Now I’ve got a couple of fliers up there so they can do aerial combat if needed.”
“Nice.” Cody smiled. “So what’s next?”
“I say we should go down a floor and take it over. Then go down one more. Eventually we’ll be able to push them out completely and we’ll have complete control over the hospital.”
Serus straightened. “Have you got men picked out?”
“Picked out, and Motre is already leading the pack on the next floor. I’m going to head down to give him a hand. I’ll keep in touch.”
Serus nodded. “That works.”
“And remember – no survivors.” Goran grinned at the men.
The look on his father’s face made Cody’s heart freeze for a long moment before he realized he was safe as Goran’s son.
Goran added in a very satisfied voice, “Not a problem. There haven’t been any survivors yet.” He twirled and walked back out to the hallway. From a distance, Goran could be heard asking the men gathered around outside the room, “Anyone here looking for a little payback?”
The resounding cries made Cody proud. They might not have known the assholes existed, but now that everyone had felt their first bite – the bloodbath was about to begin.
*
“If you’re okay here,” Serus glanced down at his daughter, sleeping heavy and still, then over at Cody. “I’ll go up to the roof level and make sure all is well.”
Cody nodded. “We’re fine.” He hesitated then added, “Shouldn’t you and Goran be exchanging places?”
“Yeah, we should,” Serus admitted, “But your dad is stubborn. He won’t want to be stuck on the roof now that it is secure if all the action is below.”
