They had made it out, but would they make it home?
“We'll get you home and get that toxin out of you,” Chloe said, gripping Abigail's hand. “Don't give up, you understand? Not now, not ever, you hear me?'
“I hear you...” Abigail grinned just before she collapsed in a dead faint.
CHAPTER SIX
Chloe rapped on the door with one hand, and supported Abigail's weight with the other. “Dr. Zhou! Dr. Zhou, open up!” Abigail had regained consciousness, but she didn't seem to be conscious of anyone, not even herself. Her left arm which was draped around Chloe's shoulder jerked and twitched sporadically. Her legs kicked out in all directions and her entire body was shaking uncontrollably. She was babbling nonsense and crying and giggling at the same time. Even her eyes were turning a sick, yellow color.
“Abigail, we're home. You're home now,” Chloe said soothingly. Abigail snorted and tried to jab a finger into Chloe's eye.
Before she could knock again, the door flew open and a wizened face that was lined with worry and sorrow peered out at them. Dr. Zhou's eyes rounded and lit up instantly.
“Abigail! Chloe!” He rushed out and threw his arms around the both of them. “You...you're back. You're safe...”
He peeled back in shock when Abigail started to heave and retch violently. “Wha—?” Dr. Zhou took one look at his daughter and immediately grabbed her into his thin arms. “Come in quickly,” he told Chloe. “We must hurry. There's no time. She's been poisoned...”
Chloe hurried through the door, and locked it securely behind her. “Dr. Zhou,” she panted as she scuttled after him. Dr. Zhou was a tall, thin man with a shock of unruly white hair. He carried his daughter with amazing speed and dexterity down the corridor and into her bedroom. He lowered Abigail gently onto her bed and stepped back grimly.
“Can you stay with her?” Dr. Zhou asked Chloe before she could say anything. “I need to get some water, and my medicine bag.”
Chloe nodded and sat down at the edge of the bed. Gripping Abigail's trembling hands, she leaned down and told her firmly, “You're safe now. You're home, in your bedroom. You're going to be just fine. Your dad will save you. He's the best physician in town. You're going to be all right.”
Dr. Zhou hurried back bearing a basin of water and a small black bag. Putting the basin of water on the bedside table, he dug into his bag and pulled out a box of silver needles.
“Acupuncture,” he told Chloe. “I'll try to purge the poison from her body.”
As he turned away, Chloe heard him mutter under his breath, “But what kind of poison is this? The symptoms...and the color of her eyes...it...it's not like anything...”
“Dr. Zhou.” Chloe stood up. “Abigail...” She glanced down at her friend and swallowed. “Abigail has been bitten by a werewolf. There's werewolf toxin in her body...”
“Werewolf,” the doctor repeated, his eyes narrowing.
“Yes. We were attacked by the Alpha of the Red Fangs pack. Rhett bit us and...imprisoned us in the Red Fangs compound. He's dead now.” She swallowed hard and went on in a rush, “We were both bitten by Rhett. He injected the werewolf toxin into our bodies, but not enough to turn us fully. But it was enough to mess up our minds. Abigail...she's been fighting the toxin but soon...she would begin to experience excruciating hunger and craving...” Chloe bit her lip. She hoped to give Dr. Zhou enough information so that he could decide on the best course of treatment for Abigail. But some information might be too painful for a father to hear.
Dr. Zhou stiffened and snapped the box of needles shut, making Chloe jump. “Werewolf toxin,” he mumbled, dragging a hand down his creased face. “I...” He shook his head in frustration. “I can't help her. I can't save her.”
“Wh—?” Chloe rushed forward. “Why? You can purge the toxin from her body, can't you? I've seen you remove all kinds of drugs and poisons from your patients. You are like a wizard with those silver needles!”
He laughed bitterly. “Acupuncture is not magic. I'm not a wizard. I'm just a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, an old and very experienced physician. I can treat ailments, aches and pains, drain pus and liquids, even expel unwanted toxins from my patients' bodies. But the werewolf toxin is no ordinary poison. And I can't use my silver needles on her. If the silver came into contact with the werewolf toxin in her blood, she would die. Silver would kill her.” He looked up at her and added very quietly, “And you.”
Chloe stared at him and had to turn away as her vision blurred suddenly. “You can't save her,” she whispered.
“Only a witch can reverse the turning. But I've heard that the process is not always successful. But...it's a chance I am willing to take.” Dr. Zhou grabbed his coat from the chair and said determinedly, “I'll go out now and try to look for a witch who is willing to help us.”
“It's late...” Chloe began, but Dr. Zhou was already striding towards the door. The whole town would be asleep. And most of the witches in Misty Valley slept and rose according to the sun. Following the natural rhythm of the earth fed their power and their magic, and made their spells more effective. Any witch worth her salt knew this basic rule. So how would Dr. Zhou be able to find a witch who was up and about at this unearthly hour? They would just slam the door in his face for waking them up.
“It's never too late,” Dr. Zhou said in a steely voice.
Chloe snapped her head up. “Wait!”
Dr. Zhou turned to her, his eyes expectant and knowing.
“I...I am a witch.”
He gave her a nod and smiled kindly, but he didn't push her or pressure her. He waited for her to make her own decision.
“I...I will try to reverse Abigail's turning,” Chloe said shakily. “If you trust me...”
“I trust you.” Rolling up his sleeves, he said, “Just tell me what you need.”
“I don't know if I can erase the trauma from her mind,” Chloe stammered, touching her hand to Abigail's burning forehead. “I know some witches can purse the toxin, and erase the terrible memories of the werewolf attack...”
“My daughter is strong. There is no need to erase her memories. She has survived...because of you. You brought her home, and I thank you, Chloe.” Dr. Zhou took both her hands in his wrinkled ones. His hands were covered with age spots, but they were firm and capable. A healer's hands. “She will survive, and she will grow even stronger. So will you, Chloe. You must not allow what you have gone through to break you and scar you. You are a powerful witch, a healer. You—have it in you.” He smiled and patted her hand.
Chloe gulped. “I...I don't know...I might k-kill her...” she stuttered.
“You won't. Abigail believes in you. So do I.”
Chloe closed her eyes and whispered, “I killed my patient. I thought I could heal her, but I couldn't. And I killed my parents!”
“No.” Dr. Zhou shook her gently but firmly by the shoulders. “What happened to your parents wasn't your fault, Chloe. You tried to save the life of a wounded hyena shifter. I'm a physician, a healer too. I know how it is. We do our best, but sometimes, our best isn't enough. We can't save them all. Your patient died. You did everything you could. Her pack should have been grateful. But instead, they blamed you. What they did...was wrong. Her pack tried to kill you, and your parents died to protect you.” Dr. Zhou took a deep breath and went on, “Your parents wanted you to live, Chloe. They wanted you to continue living and using your amazing talents as a healer to help others. They wouldn't want you to give up and live in doubt and regret all your life.”
“I...”
“You can do this. Don't be afraid, Chloe.”
Chloe stared into Dr. Zhou's deep, black eyes. Abigail had his eyes. Intelligent, determined, courageous.
I'm not afraid.
Those were Abigail's words as they stood facing the pack of snarling, savage red wolves at the gate. Abigail hadn't been afraid to die. She'd have been proud to die
. She just didn't want to die as a monster, a half mad, half turned werewolf.
Gripping Abigail's limp, cold hand, Chloe gulped loudly. “I'll do my best. I promise. I...I'll heal you. I can do this, right?”
She thought she saw her friend's lips quiver and curve slightly. And she felt Abigail give her hand a quick squeeze. Abigail wanted her to do it. Even if she failed, at least she wouldn't have failed her friend.
Abigail had always encouraged her to try to use her healing magic again. She'd even volunteered to let Chloe practice on her.
But Chloe had refused. She had studied to be a healer just like her mom. She worked hard and followed her mother's instructions diligently. When she felt she was ready, she went out and tried to heal someone. She failed. She hadn't been ready. She had failed as a healer. And her parents had paid with their lives for her failure.
But now, there was no choice. Time was running out. She couldn't let Abigail and Dr. Zhou down. And she couldn't let her parents down again.
She felt Dr. Zhou's assuring hand on her shoulder. “Whenever you're ready, child,” he said softly.
She blew out a breath. “I'm ready, and I'm doing this.” Flexing her fingers, she growled, “I am so doing this!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Dawn broke over Misty Valley, and the early morning sunlight crept tentatively through the window into the messy bedroom. Rags, cups and buckets of water were everywhere. Chloe slumped over Abigail's body and closed her eyes.
She could hear Abigail's steady, rhythmic breathing, and she smiled. Abigail was going to be all right. She had done it. She hadn't failed.
Chloe yawned and tried to raise her head, but her head felt like it had been filled with lead. Her limbs felt too heavy, and she felt so very tired. She had used up every bit of her magic in her to force the werewolf toxin out of Abigail's body. Abigail had jerked up and heaved violently, throwing up the meager contents of her stomach. Dr. Zhou had hurriedly mopped up the mess without a fuss. He had been a quiet, soothing presence in the room as Chloe called forth all her energies and latent magic.
Gently, he had dabbed away the perspiration on Chloe's forehead and given her small sips of water as her hands hovered and glowed over Abigail. Chloe concentrated so hard she nearly burst a vein. She touched Abigail's skin and forcefully pushed the toxin out of her body with her healing magic. As the pungent, viscous liquid oozed out of Abigail's pores, Dr. Zhou had efficiently wiped away all that repugnant toxin from his daughter's body with a washcloth.
Using all her willpower, Chloe had pushed her magic through Abigail's body and forced every ounce of toxin out through her skin. There was no antidote to the werewolf toxin, so potions wouldn't work. The turning could only be reversed by the counter power of healing energies. Most people thought that magic involved chanting tongue-twisting incantations and waving wands to cast spells. But really, to cast a spell, you had to focus your will, your energies, your power. Like any power, it could be used for good, or for evil. It could be used to heal or to hex, to create or to destroy.
Chloe could feel that she was sorely out of practice. It took her much longer to call up her power. It was difficult and strenuous, and terribly, devastatingly taxing. But it was worth it. It was all worth it. She had succeeded in purging the werewolf toxin from Abigail's body. Now they just had to wait and see. The toxin might be out, but Abigail still wasn't out of danger. The first twenty-four hours were critical. Her body was still very weak, and she could go into shock or cardiac arrest any time.
Chloe pushed herself up and staggered towards a chair. Dr. Zhou caught her arm just before she landed face first on the floor. “Rest. I'll go make you some nourishing soup. You need to replenish your strength,” he said and turned to hurry out of the room.
“No, Dr. Zhou, please,” she croaked. She caught his hand. “Please. Abigail needs you. She's still very weak. I'm fine, I really am. I just need a few minutes to catch my breath, and then I'll go home and crash. A good long nap, that's what I need. Don't bother with the soup, Dr. Zhou. Stay with Abigail. Her condition is still...”
“But...”
“I did my best, Dr. Zhou.” She looked up and gave him a smile.
He patted her hand. “You did, Chloe. I know you did. And you did so well.”
“Take good care of her. Please, let me know when she wakes up.” Chloe gave a loud yawn and rubbed her eyes. “I should go. I really need my bed now.”
“I'll walk you home.”
“No! You have to stay with Abigail, every minute, every second.” Chloe bit her lip hard, and whispered, “You never know when...if...” She swallowed painfully. “I can't fail. Not again. Not this time...please...”
“You didn't fail,” Dr Zhou told her sternly. “You did well, so well, Chloe. Thank you. Thank you very much.” She saw the glint of tears in the old physician's eyes. “You get on home then. I will check on you later, okay? And I will bring you some herbal soup. Are you sure you can...?”
“Yes, yes, I can get myself home in one piece. Really! Now stop fussing and worrying about me,” she grumbled as she walked to the door. “Don't...”
“I will come by in an hour.”
It was no use arguing with Dr. Zhou. She knew that he wouldn't leave her alone. He would take care of Abigail, but he would worry about her as well. She had no doubt that he would come over and check on her before the hour was up.
Dr. Zhou and Abigail were like her family. She had dinner at their house almost every evening. Dr. Zhou and Abigail took turns to prepare dinner, and they were both great cooks. She loved their homemade dumplings and glutinous rice balls. They cared for her and worried about her, and she loved them both. They were good, kind, brave people, just like her parents.
Soundlessly, she slipped out of Abigail's bedroom and let herself out of the house. The sunlight was strong and warm, but still she found herself shivering as she walked the short distance over to her house. She managed to retrieve her keys from under the potted plant beside her front door, but a full minute ticked by before she could unlock the door. Her hands were just shaking too much.
As soon as she was in the house, she slammed the door shut behind her and flopped onto the sofa.
She had lied to Dr. Zhou. She couldn't sleep this off. She had to try to purge the werewolf toxin from her body right away. She could feel the toxin burning through her veins and rushing towards her heart and brain. She would soon go into heat, and she would go mad from the tormenting animal hunger and lust. She had to get the toxin out of her system before the damage became irreversible. She needed to heal herself now.
The trouble was, she has used up all her energy and magic. She was empty, but totally happy. She had saved Abigail's life. She only hoped that she had enough magic left in her to save her own life.
With her eyes closed, Chloe tried to steady her breathing and center herself. She just might have the teeniest bit of magic left in her. She could feel it. She just had to focus and draw on that hidden reserve of power. Once the first drop of toxin was forced out of her body, the process would become much easier.
She could feel her whole body vibrating as her muscles throbbed and twitched with the remnants of her magic. Chloe's hand jerked up and grasped desperately at the empty air. She needed something, someone to hold on to. This was...too hard. If only there was a witch here to help her. She couldn't do this on her own. She felt so, so tired, and the blackness was clawing at her, pulling her down, down, down...
A strange keening sound echoed around her. It took her a while before she realized that she was the one making the sound. From the back of her head came a distant, insistent pounding.
She whimpered and tossed her head from side to side but the pounding didn't go away. Instead, it grew louder. Muffled voices drifted through her consciousness.
“Hellooooo!”
“Anybody home?”
“Chloe Sullivan! Hey, Chloe!”
“You alive in there?”
With a gasp, she realized that the pounding wasn't in her head. Someone was knocking furiously on her front door, and yelling nonstop. She tried to open her eyes but she saw only flashing spots and psychedelic circles.
“I can see her through the window. Oh, shit. We have got to get to her now! I said, now, people!”
“Okay, don't yell.”
“I'm not yelling!”
“Shut up! Both of you. Chloe, we're coming in!”
“We're kickin' our way in!”
“Ready or not, here we come!”
Chloe only managed to choke out two words, when her front door crashed open with what sounded like an explosion. “Not...locked...”
The three silhouettes moved in a blur, and she blinked up at three pairs of bright, black eyes. She recognized the Wilette sisters at once. Layla, Kaylee and Peyton Wilette were the owners of a successfully automobile repair business in town. The three of them were witches, and they always claimed that with just a little bit of magic and lots of attitude, they could fix just about anything. Vehicles, machines, even people, they boasted.
“You didn't have to kick her front door in, Kaylee,” Layla admonished her sister. “It wasn't locked!”
“Now you tell me,” Kaylee huffed.
“Will the two of you knock it out? We have a witch that needs fixing right now!” Peyton yelled.
Chloe groaned as the triplets' faces swam in and out of focus in front of her. The three of them were so alike in looks and mannerisms. It would have been impossible to tell them apart if not for their different colored hair. All three witches were tall and curvy with intelligent, intense black eyes. Chloe could recognize Layla with her short, black hair. She knew that the brunette was Kaylee. Chloe blinked up at a pretty, rosy face. That sweet-looking face had a loud, sassy mouth and was framed by a shock of flame-colored hair. This had to be Peyton, the youngest Wilette.
Fight For Me: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Misty Valley Shifters Book 2) Page 5
