“I tried to move,” I said softly, not certain why I felt the need to explain myself.
He nodded once before taking a step toward me. I tensed instinctively, making me wince. Merc stopped dead in his tracks, his mask of darkness taking over his countenance.
“I'll go get Doc.”
Without another word, he disappeared from the room. Doc arrived moments later to check on me.
“I need to look at your wounds, Piper,” she said with a grim expression. “I don't want you to be alarmed when you see them. I can't figure out why they're not healing...” Her voice trailed off, as though she were going over the possibilities while she spoke. “At any rate, you might not want to look at them until they're in better shape. I don't want you to be traumatized any more than you already have been.”
It was my turn to nod silently, turning to focus on the mint green tiled walls off to my left. I felt the blanket lift off of me, Doc being meticulously careful as she pushed both it and my gown to the side, exposing all of me from the breasts down. The air in the room felt exceedingly cold on my damaged tissue, but I tried to ignore it, counting the porcelain squares on the wall to occupy my mind instead.
A sound escaped Doc's mouth that I didn't think she'd meant to let out. It was ominous to say the least. Without thinking, I let my eyes dart to the sight that had drawn that noise from her. When I took in the charred and oozing, festering mess that was my torso, I choked back a sob. Doc had been right. I wasn't healing. In fact, my guess was that they were getting worse—infected.
“I just don't understand,” she whispered in disbelief.
“Am I going to die?” I managed to squeak out, tears streaming down my face.
“You shouldn't,” she replied in a faraway tone as she stared at my abdomen. Her answer was evasive and far from comforting. “Something is wrong, though. I've worked on every kind of magical being this world has to offer, and never once have I come upon one who could not heal wounds like this. Some may have required more intervention than others, but...”
“But what?”
“But I've done positively everything I could think of for the past two weeks, and you're still no better off.”
“Two weeks?” I blurted out.
She frowned slightly, pulling her gaze up to meet my eyes.
“Yes. I needed to buy time to try out different forms of treatment. It's taken more time than I expected it to.”
“How could I be out for that long and not know it?”
“Nothing I gave you for the pain worked, Piper. I had to explore other options and quickly.”
“Meaning?”
“Merc,” she replied with a sigh. “He's been with you this whole time, waiting for you to wake up in pain only to work your mind back to rest again.”
“What do you mean 'work my mind'?” I asked, knowing that some vamps could mess with the minds of humans to maintain their unknown status, but they couldn't do it to other supernaturals. Not that I knew of.
What a powerful vampire that would be.
She exhaled heavily before she pulled up a chair to sit next to me. She looked stressed. Tired. It appeared that she truly had been working night and day to find a way to help me.
Apparently Merc had as well.
“Merc is special, Piper. He has...gifts. Gifts that are rather extraordinary, but they come at a price.”
“How so?”
“They've left him a bit remote. Antisocial. And, at times, unstable,” she explained. “One of those gifts is the ability to work the minds of other supernaturals as though they were human.”
Holy shit. A memory flashed through my mind, one of Jase and Dean exchanging a dubious look when the king spoke of Reinhardt's willingness to not seek retribution for his warlocks after the attack in the alley. Had Merc been responsible for that pardon?
“The night he brought you in,” Doc continued, pulling me from my thoughts, “he'd already been trying hard to keep you calm, your pain suppressed. He's been doing that ever since, but he's nearly pushed himself over the edge in the process. I had to sedate him after his last session on you. By then he had finally found a way to permanently dull your pain to a manageable level, but—”
“But what?” I implored, my chest tightening at her words. “What happened?”
“It's your mind, Piper. I don't think he's ever encountered anything like it before. It's like a code he couldn't break, and he nearly broke his own mind trying to.” She took my hand in hers gently, trying not to disturb my body in the process. “There's a reason he's been gone for a long time. He's special beyond compare, but it comes at a cost to him and those around him. From now on, you need to stay away from him for his own good as well as yours. He's only just returned to us and it seems he's teetering on the edge of sanity.”
“And you think I will be the one to push him over?”
She nodded silently.
My mind—my enigma of a mind—was working overtime, trying to make sense of everything that had occurred from the time the attack had happened until the present. It was a lot to try and process. Especially the parts regarding Merc.
The infirmary phone rang, distracting both Doc and me from our conversation. She rushed over to answer it right away. Her skin grew pale when she saw who was calling.
“Yes, your highness,” she said, curtsying as though she were standing before him. “Yes. She is. I will put you on with her immediately.” She rushed to my side, hesitating for a moment while the king spoke to her. “Yes, of course, sire.”
She handed me the receiver.
“I'll be outside. Please let me know when you're finished.”
I nodded once and she took her leave.
“Piper,” the king began before I could even address him. “I am so pleased to hear that you are awake now. I know my timing is unfortunate, but I need to speak with you. It's rather urgent.”
“Of course,” I replied, wondering what urgent matter the king could possibly have to discuss with me.
“What happened to you...do you remember anything about it?”
“Yes. I remember it all.”
“Who did this to you, Piper?” he asked, concern in his tone.
“Kingston and his crew.”
My reply was met with silence that lasted longer than was comfortable. Just as I was about to explain further, the king spoke.
“This presents a problem, Piper. As I said before, the treaty hangs in a very precarious balance at the moment.”
“I know...”
“If certain parties were to be made aware of who did this to you, I fear that a deep-seated need for retribution would overshadow the bigger picture,” he said tightly. “Do you understand what I'm saying, Piper?”
“I think so,” I said quietly.
“Jase and Dean adore you. I do not think you need me to tell you that. Their actions the other night along with Merc's are evidence enough.”
“You think they'll go after Kingston despite your direct order not to...”
“Though it pains me to admit it, yes. I do.” He fell silent again, and my anxiety with the situation grew. Just when I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin, he began to speak. “Piper, do you know why I took you in?”
“You felt sorry for me?”
“Hardly. I see something in you, Piper. I always have, but the trouble is and always has been that you yourself do not see what I do. I fear that your insecurities will be your undoing one day. Maybe the undoing of those that are closest to you as well,” he explained gently. “Our world is one without forgiveness, as you well know. One where the weaknesses of some are exploited for the benefit of another. Imagine what will happen if the treaty fails? If I am unable to hold together the very agreement that keeps such behavior within our community to a minimum—crimes punishable under the stipulations set forth?” I swallowed back my fear. “We cannot afford for things to go back to the way they once were, Piper, and so I am going to ask something of you that brings me no pleasure.”
“Okay,” I whispered, sensing what he was about to suggest.
“I need you to keep quiet about who was behind your attack.” My blood ran cold. “Rest assured that Reinhardt and I will be revisiting our previous agreement that resulted from the incident two weeks ago.” I still sat silent, my heart racing. “Please do not mistake this as my ignoring the despicable events that you suffered, Piper. Someone will pay dearly for that, but it needs to be handled carefully. Quietly. Say yes if you understand.”
“Yes...”
“Thank you for your compliance in this matter, Piper. You are a good girl in a harsh world. A world that you must one day learn to navigate.”
The line went dead in my hand.
I sat there speechless for a minute or two, trying to sort through the reeling emotions that replaced my fear and concern over my unhealed wounds. But before I could wrap my head around what had just happened, I heard the clacking of Doc's heels from across the room as she approached me.
“All done?” she asked, knowing full well that I was. She could hear the buzzing sound of the phone. “Is everything all right?”
I nodded.
“Is it about your attack?”
I nodded again.
“Piper, do you remember something?”
I looked up at her with tears in my eyes, then shook my head no.
“Let's not worry about that for now, okay?” she said, patting my hand sympathetically. “For now, we need to focus on helping you heal. I have to say, Piper, I'm at a loss. I'm seriously considering bringing in some others on this case to help me. Maybe the witches know of something—”
“NO!” I shouted, grimacing as the pain my outburst caused shot throughout my body. They couldn't know. Nobody could, for more reasons than I could count, not the least of which was the treaty. Nobody could know what had happened to me. “No. Please. They all hate me. They'll do nothing to help. If anything, they'll find a way to capitalize on the situation and make me more miserable.”
Doc's eyes grew dark at my words.
“They wouldn't dare.” Her tone was ice.
“Maybe not, but they certainly wouldn't help you even if they knew how. And the—” I cut myself off before letting loose the truth, lest I should start a war.
“Do you have something you want to tell me?” she asked, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.
“No. It's just that we need to find a way to fix this on our own. Without any outside help. Okay?”
She continued to eye me strangely. There was suspicion in her gaze.
“What aren't you telling me, Piper?”
“Nothing. I promise. I just don't want any of the Magicals brought in on this.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“Then we need to start thinking outside of the box, or I'm afraid your status may never change for the better.”
I quickly read between the lines.
“Will it change for the worse?”
She hesitated for a moment.
“I don't know. But I won't let that happen without a fight.”
Neither will I, I thought to myself. Neither will I. Suddenly I felt a strong sense of conviction. A fortified will to live. I was going to find a way to heal my injuries.
And then I would find a way to pay back those who had inflicted them upon me.
“Excellent,” I replied, a smile overtaking my countenance. “Let the cage match begin.”
* * *
In a harebrained attempt to help me, Kat offered to take me outside in a wheelchair that Jase had found for me. She thought the fresh air might do me some good—let my wounds breathe a bit. Understatement of the century.
I learned a thing or two about myself and my magic that day. Something that I'd never fully put together until the moment she pushed me gently through the front door of the mansion and into the sun that awaited me, greeting me with its warmth on my face. All beings were creatures of the Universe, supernatural and human alike, but not all of us were connected to her equally. To me, the Earth, more specifically nature itself, was like a touchstone, a place to recharge—to heal. I felt the pull to her almost instantaneously. With some help from Kat, I was able to stand and inelegantly shuffle my way over to the lawn. I refused to let her carry me there. I needed to do this for myself as much as possible. I needed to know that I wasn't as weak as I'd long thought I was.
The reason why the others shunned me.
The second my foot touched the lush green grass, I collapsed to it.
“Help!” I cried, reaching out for Kat before I landed face first on the lawn.
What should have been a painful slam was more like a gentle caress—like the ground itself enveloped me. I could feel its energy coursing through my body, centering primarily on my wounds. Kat grabbed me to help me up, but I waved her off.
“It's okay,” I mumbled, my face still smooshed into the front lawn. “It feels good. Just leave me here.”
“Piper, I'm not—”
“Can you take this stupid gown off first?”
I watched her feet as she hesitated for a moment, ultimately stepping closer to do as I'd asked.
“This can't be good for your burns, Piper. They're already infected. They're going to get dirt and God knows what else in them...”
I could hear the irritated concern in her voice, but when she rolled me over to help me out of my clothes, she gasped in disbelief.
“You're healing!”
“Just get it off. Please.” She ripped it off in two pieces, exposing my wounds to the blazing sun above. “I'm going to be fine, Kat. Just leave me here.”
“I'm going to go tell Doc.”
“Great. Tell her I'll see her once the sun goes down.”
Although I was still weak and my delivery wasn't up to par, Kat caught the humor in my words and laughed.
“I think you can probably bet on that. You'll have a whole gaggle of vamps out here to join you in your naked lawn party.”
“Sounds great. Tell Dean to bring me a margarita. With salt.”
“Will do,” she said, walking away slowly to alert the good doctor, leaving me to lie naked in the yard of the mansion. Werewolves never seemed too concerned about nudity, so I didn't let it bother me. Instead, I placed my hands behind my head and shamelessly basked in the glorious, healing sun, letting whatever magic was to be found in it heal my burns.
When I awoke hours later, the sun nearly gone from the sky, I pushed myself up onto my elbows to inspect the state of my wounds. My eyes went wide when they took in the sight.
Then I screamed.
5
“You have to get out of this house, Piper,” Kat argued, throwing her purse over her shoulder. “You've practically been a recluse ever since you healed. More than you were before. It's not healthy. And you smell. I swear to God, if you don't start showering soon, I will hose you off in the front yard myself.”
“All right!” I shouted. “Give me ten minutes. I'll be down by then.”
“Don't forget to shave while you're in there...”
“Jesus, Kat!” I yelled down the stairs at her. Her laughter echoed through the foyer up to me as I stormed down the hallway to my room and its en suite. I slammed the door behind me for effect, letting Kat know that her words had me irritated. Unfortunately for me, her points were valid. I didn't like leaving my room, let alone venturing out. Not after what had happened in the yard that day.
The boys had been good about not pressing the issue because they knew something was still wrong with me—that I wasn't myself. Nobody knew why I was acting the way I was. About the shame I felt. The thing about Kat was that she didn't care.
In fairness, she really did care. She just wasn't going to let whatever it was that I was such a mess about be a weight that dragged me down. Bowl through everything, that was Kat's motto. Maybe she was right. Maybe that was exactly what I needed to do.
I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, not wanting to undress, but I really did smell funky. It wa
s time to start to coexist with the eternal reminder of my attack. I pulled my shirt up over my head, exposing the marred flesh that lay beneath. My entire abdomen and most of my back were covered in a topographical scar, its pattern full of lines and edges that carved themselves into my healed skin. The pigment of it was different, a shade or two darker than my own, as if it was permanently sunburned, but not severely.
I hated everything about it.
Turning away from the person in the mirror, I jumped into the shower, the water still cold. I just wanted the whole thing to be over with so I could cover myself again. Hide the gift that Kingston had bestowed upon me.
After showering, I got dressed and threw on my boots, racing down the hall to meet my ten-minute E.T.A. Kat stood by the door, a smile on her face.
“You smell better already.”
“Let's go,” I said, punching the security code into the keypad. Once it beeped and flashed a green light, I swung the massive metal door open and stepped through to the breezeway between the actual exterior door and the one inside. When your existence depends upon you not setting foot out in the sunlight, or someone accidentally allowing it inside, such precautionary measures are necessary.
“Where are we going, anyway?” I asked as I sped toward her silver Boxster. It was every bit as curvaceous and beautiful as she was. They were a perfect match.
“Nowhere exciting. I didn't think you'd be up for that,” she said with a tight smile, looking over the top of the car's roof at me. “Baby steps, kiddo. We're taking baby steps.”
“So where is nowhere exciting?”
“The grocery store. I'm tired of you eating that crap you order or have the boys pick up for you. It's disgusting. Your body is a temple, Piper.”
“Not anymore,” I muttered under my breath.
“What's that?” she asked, seeing the window of opportunity I'd given her.
“I don't really want to talk about it, Kat,” I said, folding my arms over my stomach as she pulled out of the driveway.
“I can see that,” she replied, clearly refusing to drop the subject. That didn't bode well for me. Kat had a way of bulldozing her way through your defenses one way or another. It's how we became friends in the first place. I could tell by the set of her shoulders as she drove that the grace period was over. She was going to get answers come hell or high water.
From the Ashes (Force of Nature #1) Page 6
