“Glad to, your place or mines,” she quickly rebounded. Deidra was one of the few girlfriends I’ve had that could keep up with me. My growing irritation at George vanished as I laughed. I folded my arms across my chest and waited.
“Listen, Freedom,” she started, using my first name, which meant playtime was over. “Give the poor guy a break. You know him and Rodger are adopting a baby. George is just aiming for a little security for his family. Surely you can’t begrudge him that.”
“He wants me to give Bled Dry 3D, five stars, Dee.”
“Eeww, well why didn’t you say so in the first place? He knows there isn’t a snowball's chance in hell you’re going to give any movie five stars.” Now we were on the same page.
“There’s a chance. I’m waiting for the perfect movie, and believe me, that over budgeted nightmare is not it. If I review it the way I want, it’s going to get a D.M.B.”
Dee gasped on the other end, and I almost peed myself trying to keep from laughing. “That is so sad. At least tell George I tried, okay?”
“Will do, Dee.”
“So what are you doing for the full moon tomorrow? You haven’t called me, so I wasn’t sure if I should drive down or not.” Dee lived in Virginia now. Four months after we broke up, she stormed into the studio during the middle of taping, declaring she needed a change of scenery and moved back to her father’s pack. Part of me wishes I’d begged her to stay that day, but I couldn’t be the girlfriend that she deserved.
Dee grew up in a pack and was totally out. Once we got together she couldn’t handle hiding the fact that she was a Were. She tried for over a year to live in the shadows with me, but Dee’s like the sun. There isn’t a shadow that can contain her. In hindsight, it was selfish of me to ask, but I loved her, I had to try. Hell, I still love her, but I‘ll never admit it to her. That was six months ago, and she’s still there for me whenever I need a hunting partner for the full moon.
“No, I’m good. Rush is driving up in the morning. He got his beta to lead the pack this go-around.” I heard footsteps behind me and took a few steps forward to give George room to get out. I knew it was him because his cologne always reached his destination before he did. “Listen, Dee, I’ll talk with you later, okay? It’s almost time for me to go on air.”
I hung up and rounded on George. “How dare you get Dee into this? That was low, George, even for you.”
He crossed his arms and stared at me without an ounce of remorse. His right Jimmy Choo began tapping up and down against the floor so fast, that it sounded like a bumblebee on crack. The guy had guts. Not many people could look me in the eyes without flinching. Even though everything about me screamed normal, most humans could tell it was a bad idea to challenge me.
“Alright. I’ll give it a favorable review, but I refuse to give it five stars. I draw the line there.”
“Four,” he countered.
“Three and that’s being gracious. I was going to give it a Demand Money Back.”
George’s eyes stretched into saucers, and he pulled the crumpled review out of his pocket. “Shut up! You have got to be kidding me,” he gushed as he re-read the pack of lies. “The studio says it’s going to single-handedly, redefine the American horror movie genre.”
I laughed and ripped the review in half while it was in his hands. “Of course they would say that. The only thing this movie is going to do is drive Peak Pictures into the ground. They’ll be lucky if they make back the production cost. Combine the marketing cost and they are so far up shit creek, I can smell the stink clear across the country from LA.”
George looked like he wanted to cry. “I had no idea it was so bad.”
“Don’t worry about it, George. I understand the position you’re in.” I threw my arm around his shoulder was we walked through the backstage area. “You’ve just got to trust that I know what’s best for my show,” I teased, borrowing his line from earlier.
“I do trust you, Still…hey, no fair using my lines against me,” he laughed. “Your headset, give it to me.” I slipped off my earpiece and dropped it in his hand. He automatically cranked up the volume from the lowest setting that I always kept it on.
“Remember, I don’t care who calls. Unless it’s life or death, don’t interrupt me for anything. Just take a message and I’ll get back to them later.”
George rolled his eyes as he slipped the earpiece on his free ear. “Bitch, boo-bye. Do I look green? I’ve got this. You go be brilliant.”
George really was an excellent producer, and on top of that, a good friend. I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and walked onto my small green-screened set. It didn’t look like much, but once the t.v. magic was added, I would be sitting in front of the movie posters as I reviewed them. The selected clips would also play behind me, taking me into the movie so I could point out errors or critique wardrobe selections, up close and personal.
I took my place on the worn loveseat that was a transplant from my first apartment, and grabbed the battery-less remote from the popcorn covered table in front of me. Melody did a final touch up and rushed off camera. The green light blinked to life. Showtime.
Chapter Two
I bobbed my head to the opening guitar riff of Muse’s Super Massive Back Hole, as I counted down the seconds it took for the credits to roll. The music faded, and I leaned forward to stare into the camera, letting my elbows rest on the soft black denim covering my knees.
“Hello Charlotte, North Carolina and surrounding areas. My name is Freedom Still Waters and welcome to Reel Time.”
I leaned back and shook my head, trying not to laugh at the running joke that was my name. “If you’re joining me for the first time, please forgive the handle. My mom thought she was doing a good thing by giving me such a crazy name. See my dad was part Native American, and it was her way of honoring his culture.”
I rolled my eyes and flopped back on the loveseat, propping my legs up on the table and sighed into the camera, talking to my audience like I would any visitor to my home. “I can’t tell you the time’s I’ve been called Freedom’s still waters run deep, so if that’s what you were thinking…come up with some new material.”
George pointed and I changed the subject to match the movie poster that should be behind me. “Tonight I’m going to be reviewing four movies, one of which is the directorial debut of mega movie star, Chad Holden.” I paused for dramatic effect and to give the crew enough time to load the right picture. “That’s right people, tonight I’m going to give the world my two cents on Bled Dry 3D.”
I was just about to read a list of Holden’s accomplishments from the teleprompter, when George began waving his arms like a mad man, and pointing to my earpiece that was flashing in his ear. My lip curled in confusion, until I felt the vibrations coming from my pocket. I looked toward the control room unsure of what to do. I seriously didn’t want to ruin George’s chance of getting a better job. Answering my phone on camera was so not the way to make a good impression, although my on air hijinks were a big draw.
George followed my line of sight and all but shrieked at me when he saw. “Fuck them! Still, you need to take this! Cicely’s on the line, and says your brother has been in a wreck!” My heart skipped a beat as I jumped up from the loveseat and pulled my phone from my pocket.
“Cici, what happened?” I slammed the phone to my ear; oblivious to the pain the noise would cause me this close to my ear.
My sister-in-law was hysterical on the other end. Her voice was so thick with tears and worry that I would barely make out a word she was saying. “Listen, Cici, you’ve got to calm down and tell me what’s going on.”
A hand tapped me on the shoulder and I almost turned and snarled. I caught myself, when I saw it was George. He’d come in front of the camera to relieve me. I didn’t bother with words. I just looked at the camera and pressed my hands together in the universal sign for prayer. Pray for my brother, please, I thought as I walked off the stage as fast as humanly possible.
> Cici took a deep breath and started over. “It’s Rush. His truck got side swiped by some type of tanker. He left this morning to surprise you.”
“What the-where is he?” I rushed through crowded backstage area, ignoring the worried looks as I headed for the back hallway that led to the employee parking deck, kicking off my heels as I went.
“He’s already in Charlotte, Still. He’s been there all day shopping for the overnight camping trip he was taking you on. The EMTs took him to a human hospital! I just got the call from the ER doctors not five minutes ago. Still, they have no idea he’s a were. You’ve got to get there before something goes wrong!”
Jesus Christ, I had to get to the hospital. There was no way a human hospital was prepared to handle an injured werewolf, and an alpha at that. The closed-in, confined spaces alone were enough to scare him into a shift. Depending on how bad he was hurt, his body would shift anyway. Shifting heals a lot of injuries and is the always the first step when a wolf was injured badly enough to need medical care.
I slipped into a run that no human could possibly match, pushing muscles harder than I had in my adult life. Rush couldn’t afford for me to be cautious, and I was past the point of caring whether or not people found out what I was. I had to get to CMC fast, and I was faster in foot than in my car at this time of day. It was almost twelve am, the night-time rush hour for Extras. Thank God I was only a few blocks over. I could run to the hospital in two minutes as opposed to the ten it would take me to drive. Tack on parking time and that equaled too late.
I rounded a corner and almost slammed into a witch that was setting up a street cart full of charms and potions. I vaulted over the six foot display at the last moment. “Excuse me!” I yelled, as I sailed over her head. Just a few more feet and I would be there.
I cut down a side alley and burst into traffic on the other side of the buildings. The shrill blast of a few dozen horns screeched in my head. Tires squelched all around me as stunned drivers slammed on their brakes, trying to avoid me as I darted between them. One car got so close that I could feel the heat of its radiator against the denim of my jeans. I sent yet another silent prayer to the heavens. I didn’t want anyone hurt because of me. I listened for the sound of cars colliding, but the crunch of metal on metal never reached me. Somebody up there was listening.
I ran through the automatic doors and slid to a stop in front of the registration desk. I lifted my head into the air and pulled a stream of air into my nose. So many smells assaulted my senses; death, blood, human filth, underneath them was wolf, as well as three other types of Extras.
The area was too well traveled for me to pinpoint Rush in the shape that I was in. I was too anxious to concentrate. I turned toward the reception desk and let a small rumble rattle in my chest. The few people in line took the hint and stepped out of my way. The young man behind the desk jumped back and grabbed a call bell that was hanging on the wall beside him. “Listen lady we-”
I leaned across the counter and slapped the alarm away from him. I saw movement in the corner of my eye and jerked my leg back, kicking away the security guard that was coming to investigate. “There was a man brought in by ambulance. He was in a wreck. He’s about six-five, African American, and he’s probably dressed like a lumber jack. His name is Rushing Waters.” I said, explaining what I needed as fast as I could.
The guy gazed at me like he wasn’t all there; then he actually started laughing at me. “Are you serious, lady? Who names their kid Rushing Waters?”
I didn’t have time for this. I grabbed him by the front of his polo and jerked him clear out of his seat. I brought him up and over the desk; one handed and dumped him on his ass. The guards that were approaching stopped dead in their tracks. The fevered atmosphere of the nearby waiting room took on a different tone as the inhabitants looked on. A lobby full of witnesses just watched me one hand a body that out weighted me by at least fifty pounds.
“This could have been avoided,” I growled at the receptionist through clenched teeth. “Accident victim, what room is he in? I need to know, now!”
The guy shrugged his shoulders and tried to back away from me. “I just transfer the calls, lady. You need to talk with a nurse. Please don’t hurt me!”
“Screw it. I’ll find him myself.” I stepped over the guy and headed for the entrance to the exam area. It was behind a set of secured doors. Maybe once I got past them I could catch Rush’s scent. Patients and staff alike scrambled to get out of my way.
“You can’t get in there without a code,” a guard called out when I tested the handle. “We’ve already called the CMS. They’re sending over a team of Sentinels. I suggest you just come on over here, have a seat and wait for them to get here. It’ll be a lot easier on you.”
My wolf struggled for control. Her brother was hurt. A pack mate needed her and the silly humans were standing in her way. She wanted out so badly; I could feel fur rolling beneath my skin. I ran a shaky hand through my hair and exhaled. I needed to appear less aggressive, okay; I could do that.
I let my shoulders drop and hunched my back a little before I took a half step back and turned to the guard who had spoken to me. “Listen, I promise, I’m not here to make trouble. I just need to make sure that my brother is alright. He was in a wreck, and I believe he was brought here.”
The guard shook his head as he frowned at me. “No, I’m sorry. The EMT’s wouldn‘t have brought him here. The minute they looked at his license and saw he was an Extra, he would have gone straight to the CMS.”
My wolf slammed into me, trying to force me into action. My hands jerked and curled inward, as they began shifting into paws. The fiery pain of the change ripped through my body, and almost brought me to my knees, but I fought against it. I stood there with my head hung low, shaking as I pulled back the transformation. Let me handle this, I pleaded to my wolf.
“My brother is visiting from out of town. South Carolina doesn’t require Extras to list their status on their licenses,” I said, as I slowly lifted my head, knowing that my eyes were glowing with the amber tint of my wolf. I’d done the best that I could and stopped my change when it shouldn’t have been possible. But while I may have calmed her down for the moment, she wasn’t giving me full control back until we saw that Rush was alright.
I was so wrapped up in swallowing my change that I didn’t notice a guard had walked up to me. The scent of wolf filled my lungs, but it wasn’t the wolf of a were. Every instinct I had told me to step away from the shifter, but I remained still and watched as he leaned past me, reaching for the number pad on the wall.
“Are you crazy,” someone yelled.
“Don’t let that thing back there,” another called out. Soon the people of the crowd were arguing amongst themselves, defending or opposing me and my rights.
The door swung open, and the shifter leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Your brother is in E-Four. I’ve been trying to keep people out of there until one of you guys showed up, but you’d better hurry. He doesn’t look good.”
My wolf was obviously satisfied with the word of the shifter because I felt my eyes return to normal. I didn’t look back to thank him. I just ran through the doors and past the nurses’ station. The station was in the center of the exam area, dividing it into two main halls. Heads popped up in curiosity and confusion as I hurried down the nearest hall, mumbling to myself as read the numbers.
As I jogged down the corridor looking for the right room, I scented the area. Finally, there among the overpowering stench of blood, I picked up my brother's smell. He was on the opposite hall. I cut through the work station, oblivious to the bodies that were following me, heading for the exam room.
I got within feet of the door, my hand already outstretched to grab the handle, when I heard a deep grunt come from inside. Please don’t let it be too late, I prayed as I wrapped my fingers around the cool metal and twisted it. “Nurse, I’m going to need you to hold his arm while I take a look at this burn,” a doctor was saying
as I let myself inside.
“Don’t, get near him,” I warned her before she could move into position. She froze and looked back to the doctor for help.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t be back here,” the older, graying man interjected as he straightened up to look at me. My eyes darted past him and saw that Rush lying peacefully on the bed. I breathed a sigh of relief and turned my attention to the human doctor that was dangerously close to my brother's bedside.
I opened the door wider and stepped back, making it painfully obvious that I wanted both of them to leave. “You’re the one that doesn’t need to be here. There’s been a mistake; this man shouldn’t have been brought to this facility.”
The doctor slid a pair of forceps into the pocket of his lab coat and motioned to someone in the hall. “This hospital has the best burn facility in the state; he’s right where he needs to be. Guards, please, if you will.”
I wasn’t worried about their guards. I was sure that they knew by now, they were dealing with an Extra. My attention was solely my brother's. At the mention of burns, I took another look at the bed and really focused on his condition. What I saw was enough to send tears streaming down my face. Rush was strapped to a gurney with all types of tubes running into his arms. A pristine white sheet covered him up to his waist, but the rest of him was covered in a heavy layer of soot.
His red, checked shirt had been cut away as much as possible to reveal cracked and blistered skin. Singed red swatches of cloth melded with his deep brown skin in some areas, making an odd, patchwork collection of angry, blacken-skin, and shirt. His face was so swollen that I could barely recognize him. He was breathing on his own, but there was an oxygen mask resting near his head at the ready. My brother was so burned and banged up; it was a miracle he was still in human form.
My hand flew to my mouth to hold in the sob that was building in my throat. My wolf cringed and howled inside, feeling Rush’s pain as intensely as if it were her own. I ground my teeth together; fighting the compulsion to throw my head back and let her sorrowful bale, free.
Black Moon Rising (DarkLife Saga) Page 30
