by K. R. Willis
I patted Rya, and said, “Let’s go.”
She stayed right beside me as I limped off down the road in the direction I told Leo to look for me.
Chapter 11
The night was pitch black with barely a star to light the way, but I still kept to the shadows cast by the trees that lined the road as much as possible. It was late, or early depending on who you asked, making the road mostly deserted. Only one car had passed since we’d started walking, and it hadn’t been a black Mercedes.
Unlike the Blu Moon, which had been built in the city with several blocks left undeveloped around it, they built Nite Vale several miles outside of town, more than likely to not only keep down the noise complaints, but to also keep the vast majority from knowing about the fight club. If you weren’t connected—or had a puma who could sniff it out—you’d never know it was there.
With the adrenaline long gone from my system, the pain and shock of everything I’d just gone through had kicked in at full force. My body shook so hard my teeth chattered, and I couldn’t get warm even though the night was unseasonably mild. Of course, the fact that my dress—which hadn’t covered much to begin with—was torn and bloodied didn’t help.
Rya bumped my leg as we walked, a constant reminder of her presence. Now that I had nothing else to do but get absorbed in the silence, I could feel her exhaustion as much as my own. It leaked from every pore and weighed me down like a heavy blanket.
Is something wrong? I’d never felt her exhaustion before, and it worried me.
I used up most of my magic reserves hiding my presence so much tonight, she said, weariness clear in her voice. Spirit Warriors don’t normally cloak themselves and fight that much in such a short period of time. I’m running on what little I have left.
You should have said something. I would have figured out a way to do it on my own. Guilt clawed at my insides from her admission.
She growled low in her throat. And leave you to fight alone? Never. I’m fine. I just need to eat and rest before my magic reserves get too low. The urgency in her voice raised the hairs on the back of my neck.
Or what? I asked, dread settling into my chest. She kept walking, but didn’t respond. I stopped and knelt down beside her, wrapping my hands in her fur. Instead of being warm as I’d expected, she was cool and shivered lightly beneath my hand, adding to the fear taking root in my cells.
What will happen if your magic gets too low? I laid my head on her neck and hugged her close, hoping some of my warmth, what little I had, would seep into her.
She rubbed against me with her massive head, her whiskers tickling my shoulder. I am here because the Great Spirit breathed life into me, imbuing me with some of his magic. That magic is my life force. If ever it ran out completely, I would cease to exist. I would become your tattoo one last time, and remain that way, never to walk the earth again, or speak to you as I do now.
The blood in my veins seemed to freeze with her words, because my chest suddenly felt so heavy it was difficult to breathe. I collapsed onto my knees, ignoring the sticks that stabbed into them, and tried to calm my breathing, which came out in frantic little pants. My eyes burned and everything went blurry as they filled with tears.
A life without Rya?
Now that I had her, I couldn’t imagine her being gone. She’d so quickly become such an integral part of my life, of who I was, that the thought of her not being around anymore made me hurt physically. To never hear her voice in my head again, or see her beautiful puma self...I shook my head against her neck. I couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Never,” I whispered to her. She purred as I held her, comforting me, and I feared even that small amount of energy would be too much.
The sound of an engine roaring toward us, and twin beams cutting through the darkness, interrupted my worry-filled thoughts. As the car drew closer, I saw the sleek outline of the black Mercedes and stood up so Leo would see me. The engine complained as he downshifted quickly and pulled over beside us.
In an instant, he stood beside me, looking me over and examining my wounds in the darkness. The smell of spice cake, which I associated with Leo, filled the air, comforting me.
“There better be a good explanation of why Arnaud left you in such a state,” he growled. “Come.” He led me to the passenger’s side of the car and opened the door. Rya climbed in the back, immediately collapsing on the black leather, her massive body covering the whole seat. I took the front. Seconds later, we had flipped a U-turn and were on our way home.
“Explain.” His hands gripped the steering wheel so tight his fingers left indentions in the leather. The seriousness of what I’d had Arnaud do settled on my shoulders and I knew I had to make Leo understand. Arnaud had been tasked with not only helping me, but also protecting me to some degree. The fact that he’d left me, and that I was injured, would seem like a betrayal to Leo—and that was unacceptable.
I blew out a weary breath and told Leo everything that had happened. By the time I finished, he no longer seemed angry with Arnaud. His voice was softer when he asked where I’d had Arnaud take George.
“Sally’s,” I said, sinking deeper into the buttery leather. “She’s a nurse, and dated Tom for nearly a year. I figured if anyone could help George, it would be her.”
Leo nodded his agreement with my assessment. “I am sure she will be able to assist with his care, but the silver poisoning is a different matter. I only know of one cure, and it is not something that is shared.” He became quiet for a moment, as though deep in contemplation.
I’d closed my eyes, exhaustion and the sound of the engine lulling me toward sleep, but Leo’s words brought me upright with a start. I hadn’t known there was a cure for the silver poisoning, but had hoped Sally would know something I didn’t—some secret she’d learned at the hospital after years of working with supernaturals, or had learned from Tom. The alternative hadn’t even crossed my mind. I wouldn’t let it.
“Tell me,” I said, the words coming across more demanding than I’d intended. When Leo’s jaw tightened, I added, “Please. You know how important this is to me. He helped me when he shouldn’t have. I owe him.” Not to mention the fact that it was the right thing to do. I’d do whatever I could.
Leo stared straight ahead at the highway. Silent minutes stretched between us as he seemed to weigh whether or not to tell me. I kept my mouth shut and waited as the miles rolled by, believing he would tell me. If he didn’t, I’d figure out how to find it on my own. Surely someone other than Leo would know about it.
A few miles away from Sally’s neighborhood, he exhaled, the sound completely foreign coming from him. Vampires didn’t need to breathe, and only did so to make a point or show frustration. If I had to guess, I’d say it was the latter of the two.
“Because my instincts tell me you would search for the answer even without my help, I will tell you. But believe me when I say the chances of you getting the cure are slim at best. You may not even survive meeting with the people who have it.” He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Tell me anyway.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Very well,” he said. “For as long as supernaturals have been dying from silver poisoning, the Vampire Council has been working on a cure. A man by the name of John of Rupescissa, a Franciscan friar who went through the Change brought on by the Great plague, believed that we would need the help of many things, including alchemy, to survive the coming of the Antichrist. One of the things needed would be for God’s followers to be in pristine health, and that this could be achieved through the creation of the Fifth Essence, an element so pure it prevents corruption, decay and preserves the body against illness. He is actually the one who has studied your blood since we learned of your existence, and identified the marker unique to it.”
He slowed and turned right when I pointed to Sally’s street, then continued. “His tests were unsuccessful for centuries because the technology nee
ded to achieve the level of purity he requires did not exist. Within the last decade, however, modern advances have changed all that. Two years ago he perfected his technique, and Aqua Vitae—the Water of Life—was created. Though it does not do what he originally sought for it to do, it somehow prevents the further spread and decay caused by the silver in the blood, and purifies it enough that the supernatural’s body can remove it on its own.” He pulled into Sally’s parking spot when I indicated which one, killed the engine, then turned to face me.
“But Keira, the Council is possessive and power hungry. They keep its existence closely guarded—only the highest ranking of our kind know about it. I found out from Loukas by mistake. I eavesdropped once while he and another Council member discussed it. They certainly will not be willing to share it with you, and may kill you just for asking after it. And to make matters worse, when I pretended to be Loukas long enough to have the death order rescinded on you, I had to appoint a new interim leader in his absence. Dorian is his second-in-command, so even though I personally would never have given it to him, I had to in order to keep them from becoming suspicious. Although it is not unheard of for Loukas to leave on short hiatuses, convincing them had been difficult enough on its own without also appointing someone Loukas would not have chosen.”
I sat there for a moment, shocked, trying to absorb everything he’d just told me. “Well shit” was all I could think to say. So the Vampire Council, the big bads of the supernatural world, had the cure I needed—and Dorian, the asshole who had cried for my blood to be spilled when I was on trial for the deaths of Tom, Brian, and several vampires, was the head honcho while Loukas was trapped with the Evil One. That was just downright peachy.
Leo waited patiently while I worked through it.
If I chose the easy road and did nothing, that would mean the Vampire Council (which should be freely sharing the cure with those who needed it), the new Alpha (no one knew the identity of who had sacrificed George to the fights), and Izabella (a vampire who lived off the pain of others) would win and a good man would die in horrific pain. My jaw tightened. That didn’t sound like much of a choice to me. I knew my answer, and judging by the dark look on Leo’s face, he knew it, too.
“I see you have made your decision.”
I nodded. He stared at me for a moment, then a hint of a smile curved the edges of his mouth, brightening his eyes. “You are a wondrous creature, Keira Blackwater. Rarely have I met anyone, much less a woman, willing to sacrifice so much for those she deems worthy. I can only hope someday you will find me worthy.”
I sat there dumbfounded, unsure what to say. A heartbeat later he continued, saving me from myself.
“I will send a request to Dorian for an audience with us as soon as possible. If he accepts, I will pick you up tomorrow night. George will have to hang on until then. Daylight is only a few hours away. That is the best I can do.”
Somehow I found my voice, and said, “Thank you.” I leaned across the seat and kissed him on the cheek, his skin soft and cool beneath my lips. He turned his head a fraction, and his lips brushed mine in the barest caress as I pulled away. My lips tingled.
Reluctantly, I climbed out and headed for Sally’s apartment. Rya’s movements were sluggish as she followed, and I thought once again of the conversation we’d had before Leo picked us up. First order of business once I got inside was to find Rya something to eat. Then I’d talk to Sally and check on George.
Sally opened on the second knock and ushered us inside. “Keira, why the hell do I have an injured werewolf in my guest bedroom bleeding all over the linens?” She smelled of antiseptic, and her flower printed apron with the words Kiss the Cook embroidered on the front had blood splattered all over it.
“Look, I have a lot to tell you, but first, do you have anything for Rya to eat? She’s exhausted and needs to eat something substantial, then rest somewhere quiet.” I didn’t tell her the rest of it. There was no need to add to what she already had on her plate dealing with George. That would be a big enough bombshell.
She wiped her bloodied hands on the apron and pointed toward the kitchen. “There’s a large T-bone steak in the fridge I’d planned on grilling tomorrow, and a pork shoulder in the freezer. Help yourself. Anywhere she wants to rest in the house is fine by me, though if she wants peace and quiet, she shouldn’t pick the spare bedroom where I’ve placed George. As soon as she’s settled, you have some explaining to do.” She left us to help ourselves, and went back to whatever she’d been doing with George.
I pulled the steak out of the fridge and tossed it to Rya to get her started, then grabbed the four-pound shoulder out of the freezer and set to work thawing it for her. In no time, she’d devoured both, and trotted off toward a corner of the living room to curl up and rest. Once I’d taken care of her, I headed for Sally’s spare bedroom and prepared for what was likely to be a long night of worry and explanations.
∞∞∞
Sunlight streaming in through Sally’s living room window woke me. After spending several hours explaining to Sally everything I’d learned, and helping her clean and dress George’s wounds, which had stopped trying to heal, I’d taken a hot shower, thrown on a pair of her pajamas, and passed out on her sofa, unable to stay awake any longer.
I disentangled myself from the blanket Sally had thrown over me and got to my feet, wiping drool on my shirtsleeve as I did. It had been a long time since I’d slept that hard, the mental and physical exhaustion of last night’s events catching up with me. And by some miracle the nightmares had taken the night off, letting me get some much needed sleep.
The smell of coffee drew me to the kitchen where I found Sally halfway through her own cup, and bacon and eggs frying on the stovetop. My stomach grumbled, announcing my arrival to Sally as she flipped the bacon.
“Hey,” she called over her shoulder. “Biscuits are in the oven. Can you set the table?”
“Sure.” I did as she asked, making quick work of the place setting. Before long, everything was piled high on plates and brought to the table. We set down to eat. Even Rya had a plate of bacon and biscuits on the floor next to me.
“Thanks,” I said. “For everything. I didn’t know where else to take him since he refused to go to the hospital.” I stuffed two strips of bacon in my mouth, followed by a big hunk of biscuit, and groaned about how good it was.
“You’re welcome, but you should have taken him to the hospital anyway. He’s unconscious; he wouldn’t even know he was there.”
“I made a promise,” I told her around a mouthful.
She set her fork down and cleared her throat. “There’s nothing more I can do for him except try to keep him comfortable. He may have a few days, or he may have only a few hours. Depending on how strong he is and how hard he fights.” She picked up her fork and took a bite of scrambled eggs.
Neither of us said anything for several minutes. We chewed our food, lost in our own thoughts.
“Leo and I are going after the Aqua Vitae,” I said. “Do whatever you can for him.” There was a chance he wouldn’t survive the day, and Leo’s and my trek through Vampire Council hell would be for nothing, but I had to try anyway.
“What’re you going to tell Sam?” Sally asked softly. “You know he’ll be angry if he finds out after the fact.”
I’d been thinking about that, too. Sam’s and my relationship had been a little tense after what happened last time when I didn’t tell him straight up what was going on. He’d been hurt and overprotective ever since. I didn’t want either of those to happen again.
“I’m going to tell him this time,” I said, my shoulders sagging as I thought of how he would react. He would be pissed that I was putting myself in harm’s way again, but at least he couldn’t be angry with me for not telling him.
Sally whistled low. “Good luck with that.”
Yeah, I needed all the luck I could get. Best case scenario, he was angry, but understood why I had to do it. Worst case scenario, he’d lock me up
and throw away the key. I was hoping for the first, but expecting the second.
Now I just had to go find out which one it would be.
Chapter 12
With nothing to do but wait for Leo’s call after the sun set, I left Sally’s apartment in the tattered dress I’d started last night in, covered in a long coat she lent me. None of her everyday, form-fitting clothes fit me. Even the pajamas she’d let me borrow last night, which were designed to be loose, had been snug on my more muscular frame. At least enough of a chill filled the air that I didn’t look like an idiot wearing the long coat.
Sometime during the night while we tended to George and then slept, Leo or Arnaud had dropped off my truck. I found it in Sally’s guest parking spot, fueled and ready to go. Sometimes it paid to have supernatural friends.
After eating two large meals and sleeping all night, Rya felt well enough to become my tattoo again. We decided that’s where she would stay all day, and would only reappear if I needed her to. She needed to regain her strength and let her magic rebuild itself, and the best place for that to happen was on my side as my tattoo.
Since I needed a new pair of jeans anyway, I headed for the local department store instead of home to grab a new outfit. The store was crowded as people bustled about, picking out one outfit or another, and then trying them on. I knew exactly which jeans to buy without trying them on, but the two tank tops I couldn’t decide between were a different matter, and required a trip to the ladies’ dressing room.
The burnt orange one won out over the dull brown, so I kept the orange one on and slipped into the jeans, then removed the tags to carry to the front with me to pay. I stuffed the battered dress into the long coat, then draped it over my arm so no one would see it. As I placed the losing tank top on the return rack and turned to leave, I nearly ran over a woman standing outside the dressing room.
