by I. T. Lucas
It made her feel a little better to think that she’d been the one who’d put that relaxed expression on his face. He’d fallen asleep looking like that after they’d made love, and the relaxed expression stayed because he hadn’t woken up since.
She poured herself some coffee from the thermal carafe and took a tentative sip. It tasted amazing, going down without causing more nausea. Thank God.
She should ask Syssi what brand it was. Perhaps she could serve it in the café. If it wasn’t too pricey. Though, like everything in the clan’s keep, it probably was.
Nathalie counted their affluence as a blessing, grateful for the clan’s plentiful resources that provided the clinic with the best medical equipment to monitor Andrew. Even to her untrained eyes it looked impressive.
Pushing away the cart, she stood up and went over to Andrew. “You are so handsome, my love,” she whispered, smoothing her palm over his forehead, his cheeks, then bending down to kiss his lips. They were dry, and she reached for her tote and pulled out the little tube of Vaseline she used whenever her lips got chapped. One drop was enough, and she rubbed it in.
Kian’s voice percolated from the corridor outside, giving her a moment’s warning that Andrew’s distinguished visitor was almost there. Quickly, she pulled out one of the perfume samples she carried with her for emergencies like this one. Not that she’d ever dreamed she was going to meet a goddess. Nathalie chuckled. But it was nice to have something to cover up the traces of puke clinging to her. It gave the illusion of feeling refreshed.
Annani glided into the room just as Nathalie dropped the sample back into her tote.
“Come, child.” She opened her arms in invitation.
Damn, the last thing Nathalie wanted was to walk into those arms. The perfume could do only that much, and up close there was no chance Annani wouldn’t smell something. But one didn’t refuse a goddess.
Annani held her close and kissed her cheeks one at a time. “Wipe your tears, Nathalie. You are stronger than that.” She let go and looked up into Nathalie’s eyes. “You are going to have a long and fruitful life with Andrew.”
Nathalie nodded. One didn’t argue with a goddess either.
“Now I need you to leave. The special blessing I am going to say over Andrew requires complete privacy.”
Strange. But whatever. Annani wasn’t going to harm Andrew, that was for sure, and if she wanted to perform some weird, secret ritual over him, she was welcome to it. At this point, Nathalie would’ve accepted the help of witch doctors and voodoo priests. A real honest to goodness goddess was a step up from those.
“Thank you for coming again and doing this for Andrew, Clan Mother.” Nathalie bowed a little. “I’ll be outside.”
The Goddess seemed impressed by Nathalie’s good manners and nodded imperially.
With one last glance at Andrew, Nathalie stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her. Kian, who’d been standing outside with Bridget and Syssi, leaned his back against the door and crossed his arms over his chest.
Given the perplexed expression on Syssi’s face, Nathalie wasn’t the only one who thought this was strange. But the one who spoke up was Bridget.
“I don’t think Annani is in any danger down here, Kian.”
The sheepish look on his face was proof that the guy was hiding something, and not particularly well. Kian was not a good actor or liar. “My mother asked not to be disturbed until she is done. I’m making sure her wishes are obeyed.”
Syssi waved a hand. “Fine. You stay and guard the door. Nathalie, I have a big box of saltines for you. Let’s go eat them in the kitchen, shall we? You’re coming, Bridget?”
“Count me in.”
The kitchen was about a hundred feet away down the corridor, and it wasn’t the small thing Nathalie had been expecting. The place was a cook’s dream. Or with a few modifications, a baker’s. Huge, it had a center island that was at least forty feet long, and brand new, top-quality commercial appliances that her fingers itched to explore.
She walked in and started touching everything like a kid on her first visit to Disneyland. “This is amazing. Who is cooking in here? And what?”
Syssi joined her on her walkabout. “Mostly it is used for storing food supplies. Our butler keeps a few cooked things in the fridge for the Guardians, and the rest are bottles of beer and sodas. I think the first time this kitchen was utilized to its full potential was for our wedding.”
“What a waste,” Nathalie blurted.
“Yeah, it is. Isn’t it? Maybe if we had someone that was interested in the culinary arts we could put it to good use…” Syssi winked.
Nathalie shook her hands and raised her palms. “Don’t look at me. I’m a baker not a chef. This kitchen is set up for a restaurant or a banquet hall.”
Syssi shrugged. “It was just a thought. Now how about those saltines?”
“Yes, please.”
Chapter 47: Syssi
The second day since the start of Andrew’s transition had come and gone and he was still unconscious.
Everyone’s mood was somber.
The only glimmer of hope Syssi had was that his vitals hadn’t fluctuated, remaining within a normal range, and Bridget reassured them that his life was in no immediate danger. What the doctor hadn’t said, though, but what everybody was thinking, was that the lack of change also meant Andrew wasn’t transitioning.
Nathalie was going out of her mind. And with good reason. Between worrying about Andrew’s unchanging condition and having to rely on a couple of teenagers to run her shop and take care of her father, she was nearing her breaking point. Not being able to keep any food down wasn’t helping either.
The woman looked like a ghost.
They needed to help her in any way they could. Peeking through the glass doors to Kian’s office, Syssi checked to see that he wasn’t in a meeting before going in. Shai was there, but what she needed to talk to Kian about didn’t require privacy.
“Hi, guys,” she said as she entered. “Kian, do you have a moment?” She sat in one of the chairs facing his desk.
“For you, always.” He closed his laptop and moved it aside.
“Nathalie is in really bad shape. We need to help her.”
Kian grimaced. “What can we do? Bridget said she wouldn’t accept any medication.”
Syssi shook her head. “She is stressing not only about Andrew but about being away from her father. You know he has dementia, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know who is taking care of him and running her shop while she is gone?”
“No.”
“Jackson, a teenage boy. And Vlad, another teenager, is helping him.”
Kian’s features darkened. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? We can send a caretaker to look after her father. Hell, I’ll get the best money can buy.”
Syssi shook her head. Not everything could be solved by throwing money at it. “Nathalie told me that her father doesn’t trust strangers, and aside from her, the only person he is comfortable with is Jackson. She and Andrew interviewed several caretakers and none were a good fit.”
Kian thrummed his fingers on the desk. “So what do you want me to do?”
“I want you to allow him in here. The man has dementia and wouldn’t remember any of it. And besides, even if he gets a glimpse of fangs and later talks about it, you think anyone is going to believe him? Nathalie says he has hallucinations and talks to people who aren’t there. So if he claims that he met vampires, it’s not a big deal.”
That got him to smile. “You’re right. But if Jackson is the only one Nathalie’s father trusts, and the kid is running her shop, who is going to look after the old guy here?”
“Nathalie says he doesn’t really need much. He can still take care of basic stuff himself. Her biggest concern is him wandering away. Apparently, he is an escape artist, looking for any opportunity to sneak out and then gets lost. Down here, he can’t get away. Not without a thumbprint access t
o the elevators. We can slap a locator cuff on him, so he doesn’t get lost in the corridors. As to company, we can ask Michael, or even William to spend some time with him. And Nathalie would be around in case he needs her.”
Kian’s fingers stilled for a moment, and then he tapped the desk with his entire palm. “Fine. Ask Bridget if he can stay in one of her patient rooms.”
“Already did.”
Kian grinned. “You knew I was going to agree.”
Duh.
“You’re a reasonable guy, and you’re also compassionate, of course you were going to say yes.”
“Yeah, yeah. I love you too.”
Ignoring Shai, Syssi pushed to her feet, went around Kian’s enormous desk, and kissed him long and good. “Thank you.”
As she made her way to Andrew’s room, Syssi was happy to have a piece of good news for Nathalie. It wasn’t much, but something was better than nothing.
“Hey, girl, how are you doing?” Syssi asked even though there was no need. Nathalie looked as bad as she felt.
Saying nothing, she just lifted a pair of tired eyes.
“I’ve got good news for you. Kian agreed to your father staying here. We can send for him right away.”
Nathalie perked up a little, but then slumped back in her chair. “I don’t know if it’s wise. He’ll see me looking like shit and will get worried. Besides, where would he stay? What would he do?”
Syssi dragged a chair over to Nathalie and clasped both her hands. “Bridget is letting him use one of her recovery rooms, and those are outfitted just like a regular bedroom. There are plenty of people here who can take turns keeping your father busy. And as to you looking like shit? You are right. He can’t see you like this. So how about you go take a shower, change into fresh clothes and go for a little walk? Sitting here and staring at the monitoring equipment would drive anyone insane.”
Nathalie shook her head. “I can’t. I don’t want to leave Andrew alone.”
Poor Nathalie. After years of shouldering everything on her own, she didn’t know how to ask for or accept assistance.
“He is not alone, and neither are you. There is a whole clan of people ready and willing to help. Take it, use it. I’ll stay with Andrew while you go catch a breather.”
For a split moment, it looked as if Nathalie was going to argue, but then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Thank you. I need to get out of here, stretch my legs and move a little, or I’ll start screaming. Just a walk up and down the corridor a few times. Ten minutes. That’s all I need.”
Syssi shook her head. “First, go shower and change. Then take your walk. If you want to go out to street level, I’ll ask someone to take you.”
“No, I want to stay close. Shower, clothes, a little walk. That’s it.”
Chapter 48: Nathalie
Fifth day and still nothing.
Not even after the Goddess had given Andrew another blessing. On the third day, as she’d said her goodbyes before going back to her sanctuary, a somber expression dimmed the luminosity of her beautiful face.
Everyone was doing whatever they could to help, and Nathalie was grateful to each and every one of them.
The clan was wonderful.
At first, Fernando had been confused and anxious, clinging to her and casting worried glances at Andrew. All of that had changed when Amanda had taken him to William. Now it was hard to drag him away from the computer lab. Asides from the simple computer games William had her father playing, the guy was also a chatterbox who kept up a constant stream of conversation—much to Fernando’s delight.
Michael and Kri came to take him on walks, and even Bhathian had spent some time with him. His trip to Rio had been postponed until Andrew woke up.
Jackson had stopped by with her checkbook, and she’d signed a bunch of blank checks so he could pay for supplies. He was managing just fine without her. According to him, the shop was working like a well-oiled machine with the help of Vlad, Gordon, and another of Jackson’s friends, a guy named Chase. When her regulars asked about her, Jackson told them that she was visiting a sick friend.
Everything was under control, except the most important part.
Andrew was still out.
Nathalie closed the door. Careful not to dislodge any of the tubes and wires, she climbed on top of the tall hospital bed. Andrew was a big guy, and she barely managed to squeeze in, lying on her side. She rested her cheek on his chest and wrapped her arm around his middle.
He was warm, and as she felt his chest go up and down, Nathalie could pretend he was merely sleeping. A tear slid down her cheek and made a little wet spot on his hospital johnny.
There was nothing left to do but pray. And she did, repeating the same thing over and over again.
God, please let Andrew wake up.
Repeating it like a mantra, she dozed off, but in her dream she was still praying and Andrew was still unconscious. The sound of fingers clicking against glass didn’t belong, and she opened her eyes to see Bridget typing away on her tablet.
Nathalie sat up. “I’m sorry. Let me get off.”
Bridget’s expression was soft and compassionate as she put her hand on Nathalie’s forearm. “Stay if you want. Just be careful around the tubes and the wires.”
Andrew was hooked up to an intravenous drip, a catheter, and a bunch of wires that were attached with little sticky pads to miscellaneous places on his body.
Nathalie lay back, propping her head on her elbow.
“Do you want me to bring you a pillow?”
Bridget was so nice.
“Could you? I feel less nauseous when I’m not lying flat.”
Bridget put her tablet down on the rolling table. “I’ll be right back.” She ducked out from the room and returned with two pillows.
“Sit up,” she commanded, stuffing the pillows under Nathalie. “I can raise the bed a little.” She stepped on the pedal that was under the bed, and the motor wheezed into action, lifting the head part a few inches up. “Better?”
“Much. I never had stress affect me like this. Though there is one good thing about not being able to keep anything down. I’m probably losing weight.”
Bridget’s lips lifted in a small smile. “You have a beautiful figure, Nathalie. You don’t need to lose anything.”
Nathalie snorted. “You’re very kind, but I wouldn’t mind to see my butt shrink a little.”
“Why?”
“It’s huge, that’s why.”
Bridget laughed. “Not true. I have a nonexistent bottom, and I envy yours. No one is happy with what they got.”
“True. I envy your boobs. Mine are small.” The doctor wasn’t wearing her white coat for a change, and the neckline of her red sweater revealed an impressive cleavage. Bridget had the type of body Nathalie always wished she had.
Not fair.
On top of being a doctor, one of the most respected professions, Bridget was also hot. Had Andrew been attracted to her? Or worse, had she been the other immortal woman Andrew had mentioned?
For some reason, the idea of Andrew with Bridget had Nathalie’s jealousy flare hotter than for him pining after Amanda. Kian’s sister was so stunning that she didn’t look real— just as Andrew’s feelings for her hadn’t been real. But Bridget was a different story. She was pretty and approachable, and she was single. Add to that the immortals' promiscuity, and it almost seemed like there was no way Andrew and Bridget hadn’t hooked up. It must’ve been her.
Oh, shit.
Nathalie felt the bile rise up her throat. She made a shooing motion for Bridget to clear the way as she bolted out of bed and ran for the toilet.
When she came back, Bridget was still there, waiting for her. “I would like to give you something for the nausea. This is going on for far too long.”
Nathalie shook her head. “I’d rather not. The saltines are helping.” She pulled a few out of the box and stuffed one in her mouth. The act of swallowing helped calm her stomach, stopping the dry heaves
.
Bridget put her hands on her hips and pinned Nathalie with her smart eyes. “Is it possible that you’re pregnant?”
“What? No! I’m on the pill. And I didn’t miss my period.” Frankly, the thought had crossed her mind, but it was impossible. Except, there had been that one night she’d forgotten to take the pill before going to sleep, but she’d remembered the following morning. No way the extra six hours made a difference.
“The pill is not one hundred percent effective. Women occasionally get pregnant while on the pill even when they take it exactly as directed. Did you miss a dose this month?”
“Well, once, but I took it six hours later. Can such short time delay make a difference?”
“It shouldn’t. But just in case, you should take a pregnancy test.”
Nathalie snorted. “I’m not pregnant. It’s just stress or something I ate. Andrew and I dined out a lot in the days between the first and the second ceremony.”
Bridget didn’t seem convinced. “If you change your mind, tell me. We can do either a blood test or a urine test, whatever you’re more comfortable with.”
Neither.
She wasn’t pregnant. She couldn’t be.
Chapter 49: Andrew
Hospital.
The beeping and hissing of medical equipment was so familiar that it was almost soothing. It meant that he’d survived and was being taken care of. Usually, the first thing Andrew did upon waking up in an intensive care unit was to check that none of his limbs were missing, but this time he didn’t need to. The intolerable pain radiating from every part of his body confirmed that all of his parts were still there.
Andrew stifled a groan. He was badly injured, that was an indisputable fact, but he couldn’t remember the mission he’d gone on or who’d gone with him.
Had any of the others survived?
He must’ve gotten hit multiple times to hurt this much. Or perhaps he’d been careless and had stepped on a landmine. That would explain the shattered bones, but not the burn in his throat. A bullet or shrapnel must’ve been responsible for that.
