by Lara Nance
1
DEALERS OF LIGHT
By
Lara Nance
Dealers of Light
Lara Nance
ISBN-13: 978-1481843652
ISBN-10: 1481843656
© Copyright - Lara Nance 2011
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Ebooks/Books are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Cover Art:
Lara Nance
Editors:
Elizabeth Walker & Lynn Rush
Dedication
To the Givers.
Chapter One
“Vampires, Nicki? Come on, this isn’t funny.” Cara Collins swept her gaze over the shivering girl perched on the edge of the exam table. A cut on her bruised cheek oozed blood, and raw scrapes ran down one arm. A whiff of stale beer wafted from the clothes Nicki had discarded in a heap on the floor. Dear Lord, had she slept in a bar instead of her apartment? “Let’s talk about what happened to you, not vampires.”
“I just wanted to know if you believe in them.” Nicki clutched the thin exam gown at her neck with shaking hands and her wide, sunk-in eyes followed Cara’s movements.
“Stop joking and tell me what the hell happened to you.” Cara frowned and placed her stethoscope on the girl’s chest. A throbbing pulse tapped out a fast staccato rhythm. It was too early in the morning to deal with the evasions her patients offered to avoid snitching. She’d only had a sip of coffee before Nicki stumbled into the clinic, looking like a scrawny, wrung out street cat, as the doors opened at eight.
“I’m not joking. Oh, God.” Nicki gulped, and her shivering morphed into jerky sobs. Cara put an arm around the girl’s thin shoulders to steady her on the narrow table. Lord, Nicki was really frightened about something.
Nicki’s weeping increased. Cara grabbed a blanket from under the exam table and draped it about her. As she tugged it close against Nicki’s chest, she slipped her hand to the area just beneath the girl’s right collar bone. She concentrated on the glow of Light floating in the core of her being and drew out strands of power. Focusing on her fingers, her thoughts guided the Light to flow into the shivering girl. Nicki’s skin warmed a fraction, and the shaking eased immediately. The girl sighed and her shoulders slumped.
Cara withdrew her hand, and the strands of power retreated into a heated, glowing center. The tingle of energy passing through her body subsided, and the Light settled into a dormant tickle of warmth. The small amount of Light lost didn’t faze her. She rubbed Nicki’s shoulders and murmured soothing words until Nicki sat straighter and rubbed her head.
Satisfied she’d stabilized the distressed girl, Cara sprayed wound cleanser on the cuts and scrapes, then patted them with gauze. Next, she applied antibiotic ointment and covered the worst areas with bandages and tape.
“So?” Nicki twisted at the waist to face her, brow wrinkled.
Vampires, did she say? Good grief, what a bizarre question, but then she never knew what went on in the girl’s head. Nicki had tossed out crazy questions before. Cara held Nicki’s chin and flashed the scope to check her eyes. Good, pupils equal and reactive to light.
Cara opened the back of the exam gown and ran her fingers down Nicki’s bony spine. Poor girl probably hadn’t eaten a good meal in a year. On her lower back, a dark tattoo of a dagger with a snake twisted around the hilt contrasted with her pale skin. The tattoo hadn’t been there six months ago when she gave Nicki her regular check up. But at least she found no other injuries than the ones on Nicki’s face and arms.
Cara smoothed back the shaggy black hair falling across Nicki’s forehead and obscuring one eye. Her skin felt cool and clammy. An eyebrow piercing glittered in the harsh overhead lighting—a new addition to the already impressive collection adorning Nicki’s nose, tongue and lip.
“Vampires? No, I don’t believe in them. So, tell me what happened to you. We might need to call the police.” She hoped Nicki hadn’t been raped.
Nicki bolted upright, eyes wide. “No police.” She scooted to the edge of the table, poised like a frightened bird ready to take flight.
Cara held one hand high in surrender. “Calm down. I can’t call them unless you agree. I’m trying to help. To keep you from being hurt again.”
The poor girl sagged back and hung her head, twisting her hands in her lap. “I just want to know if you believe something can suck the life out of you.”
Cara planted her hands on her hips. “You mean suck the blood out of you? As in Dracula?” Nicki must be protecting someone with this crazy story—a violent boyfriend or drug dealer maybe.
The girl didn’t answer for a moment, then leaned forward, eyes intent. “Not Dracula. Be real, he’s just in the movies. But something like that.”
A chill ran up both Cara’s arms at the depth of fear in Nicki’s eyes. “What are you talking about? If there’s something bad going on in the neighborhood you need to tell me. Maybe I can help.” A gang hazing gone wrong might be one explanation. No telling what violent rituals the girl had witnessed. Only twenty-one and her short life had been rough.
Nicki leaned back, a fresh flash of fear lit her eyes. “Maybe. Maybe I seen something.”
Several sharp raps on the door made Cara jump. She opened it a crack, and one of the clinic nurses, Regina, stood there frowning. Damn it! Just when I was getting somewhere with Nicki.
“It’s Miss Emmie, and her condition is bad, but she won’t let anyone touch her. She keeps asking for you,” Regina said.
Oh, no, not Emmie. Cara didn’t want to leave Nicki, but at least the girl was calm, her brown eyes veiled and cautious now—more like the tough street persona she usually portrayed. “Nicki, go ahead and get dressed, but wait here. I want to talk some more, but I have an emergency. Okay?”
“Sure.” Nicki crossed her arms, and her gaze slid away from Cara’s.
Cara gave an encouraging smile then closed the door behind her. Her heart pounding, she followed Regina along the hall to the left, two doors down where they had taken Emmie.
Regina held up the chart. “Pulse is rapid at one-ten, but her BP is low, eighty-six over fifty. Respirations 28 and oh-two sats at 86%, but she won’t let us give her oxygen.”
“Good lord. She won’t go to the ER?” Those vitals indicated issues with both her heart and lungs. They couldn’t handle such acute situations in the clinic.
“No, kept demanding to see you.”
Cara burst through the door, and a chill pierced her bones. Two other nurses knelt beside the chair where the old woman sat. Emmie’s normally rich mahogany skin had taken on an ashen hue.
Cara glanced back at Regina. “Any sign of trauma?”
“None we can see. But, as I said, after getting vitals she wouldn’t let us touch her.” Regina handed Cara the chart.
The old woman’s gaze met Cara’s and Emmie took a deep, ragged breath, slumping in the chair. Her light blue eyes, which used to twinkle in humor, had now dulled to silver. One hand clutched her battered black patent purse to her chest.
“Shall we put her on the exam table?” Regina rested her hand on the paper covered bed.
“No!” Emmie’s eyes flashed, and she jabbed one finger at them. “You leave me be.”
“Leave her where s
he is if she’s comfortable.” Cara sank to her knees beside the chair, taking one of the woman’s hands. She inspected her patient up and down, detecting no obvious injuries. She removed the slack blood pressure cuff from Emmie’s arm and tossed it on the counter. “Miss Emmie, what happened?”
Emmie’s face scrunched up, and she reached a shaking hand toward Cara’s face. “Tell them to leave,” she whispered, her gaze shifting to the nurses.
Cara bit her lip, weighing Emmie’s request against the need for the nurses’ help. But, in the end, it was Emmie’s decision, so Cara gave a dismissive wave. The nurses filed out, reluctance and concern etched on their faces. She turned back to Emmie. The wrinkles on the old woman’s face smoothed, and her breathing slowed. Cara unwound the stethoscope from her neck, but Emmie laid a hand on her arm.
“No need for you to examine me.” Giving her a weak smile, Emmie tightened her grip on Cara’s arm. “I decided it was my time this morning. I woulda been here sooner but I was way ‘cross town at St. Columba’s shelter last night.”
Cara slipped the stethoscope into her pocket with a trembling hand. She fisted her hand around the cool metal, her heart aching at the sight of her old friend on the brink of death. “Do you need anything? Water? Something for pain?”
Emmie shook her head, still smiling. “No, child. I’m not in any pain. I’m at peace knowin’ I got here in time to see your pretty smile and those deep hazel eyes I love. I always knew I was seeing your soul through them. You got a good soul.”
Cara glanced back at the door to make sure it had closed completely then turned to Emmie, grabbing her shoulders. “I can help, Emmie. Please, let me give you some Light.” She moved one hand toward the old woman’s chest. Emmie swatted it away with surprising vigor. Tears stung Cara’s eyes. Emmie could be so stubborn. How exasperating when she knew the Light might keep the old woman from dying. She clenched her hands, nails biting into her palms.
“No! I didn’t come for healin’.” Emmie’s eyes narrowed, and she took a deep breath, then let it out. Her shoulders slumped and her grip on her purse loosened so it fell into her lap. “Fact is, I got something to give you.”
“But maybe I can save you.” She clasped Emmie’s hand and squeezed it. If ever she wanted to use her unusual gift it was now. The thought of losing her dear friend shattered her heart with grief.
Emmie frowned and shook her head.
“At least let me ease your passing. I can’t bear the thought of you suffering.”
Emmie fixed her with a stern stare, blue flickering through the film of gray covering her eyes. “Now just you listen. I got little time left and what I got to say is important. You hear?”
Cara drew back and blinked.
“Good girl.” Emmie’s lids eased shut, and she patted Cara’s hand. After three long breaths, Emmie’s eyes snapped open. Instead of gray and clouded, piercing blue eyes pinned Cara with their stare. Icy fingers gripped Cara’s hand like a vise.
“Now listen. Something’s coming. Somethin’ powerful. I got a premonition. It’s an evil growing out there, like you ain’t never seen the like of,” she whispered, and Cara leaned closer from her kneeling position. Emmie’s breath fanned her face.
A shiver sliced down Cara’s spine. Did the temperature just drop ten degrees? Emmie’s warm hands still retained some strength despite their feeble appearance. Cara placed her other hand over the one Emmie grasped. “What do you mean?”
“Danger,” Emmie’s voice dropped even more.
Cara grabbed the arms of the chair and leaned closer until her face was only inches from the old woman’s. Emmie’s familiar scent of lavender soothed the sharp antiseptic smell of the exam room.
“They’re like us. In a way. But different, too. Greedy, willing to kill. Powerful.” Her gaze bore into Cara’s. “You got to do something to stop them before they hurt people. This is your destiny, child.”
“What are you talking about?” Cara’s mind whirled at the confusing words tumbling from the old woman’s mouth.
Emmie closed her eyes, her breathing slowed, and her grip on Cara’s hand loosened. After several seconds, Emmie gasped, and her breaths came in irregular puffs. “Oh, lordy. I got so little time—”
Cara guided the light blue knit cap from Emmie’s head. She smoothed back the gray hair, kinky but soft, and stroked her forehead.
Emmie opened her eyes. “You always been so good to me. I knew the first time I seen you, I said, ‘That girl’s one of us. She’ll help others with her gift.’ And I was right, wasn’t I?”
Cara’s lips trembled as she attempted to smile. She continued to stroke the hair from the woman’s forehead. Tears stung her eyes, but Emmie needed strength from her, so she swallowed the aching emotions.
“You helped me many times, and now I want to help you. You gonna need some help with the ol’ evil a comin’. I got something inside me you need and I hurried here to give it to you before I’m gone.” Her breath came in ever shorter rasps, but her face remained calm and peaceful.
“Emmie, please, just rest. When you’re better you can tell me.”
“Didn’t you hear me? I got no time.” A frown wrinkled her brow. “This gift is powerful important. I done told you it’s about your destiny. This is what you been waitin’ for your whole life.”
“I don’t understand. Please, what do you mean my destiny?” Confusion clawed her brain. Cara was a nurse practitioner who helped poor people in the city’s free clinic—that was her destiny. The only one she’d ever wanted.
“You just put your hand on my chest like you do, and when I go, what I got will go into you.” She pawed at Cara’s hand, tugging it toward her chest.
“Emmie, no.” Horror crawled over her skin like a million bugs. “I won’t take your Light. No.” She resisted and bile rose in her throat—taking another’s Light—anathema to a Dealer.
“Now listen here, you do what I say.” Emmie’s eyes flashed.
She didn’t care what Emmie said. Cara would never take her friend’s Light. Burning dread surged in her chest. All this cryptic talk and yet Emmie wouldn’t let her do something to save her. “Emmie, I can’t.”
“Hush up. Listen to this old woman. I know what I’m talking about. It ain’t my Light you’re takin’, it’s my gift. You got to figure out how to use it or them evil people are gonna cause a lot of heartache and death. I got no will. This is all I got to leave behind. You gonna give me my last wish or not?” Emmie squeezed Cara’s hand until a stab of pain bit into her knuckles.
Cara froze. She had no choice. Emmie’s words reached the panic in her gut. This truly was the last gift she could give this woman she loved—to consent to her wishes. With a soft sob, she allowed Emmie to guide her hand toward the portal. After years of secretly giving Light to heal, Cara’s fingers trailed the sternum with practiced precision to the dip under the clavicle. She pressed the tips of her first two fingers against the contact area. Warm and dry. So different from Emmie’s clammy forehead. Normally, Cara would be sending the Light into someone, but now she waited to receive Emmie’s gift.
Emmie sighed. “Ah, yes, good girl.” She leaned back in her chair, folding her hands over the black patent purse in her lap, and closed her eyes. “Not long now. Take care of yourself, child. And warn your friends—the ones like us—the Givers. Warn them about the evil coming. Promise?” she murmured, lips barely moving.
“But, Emmie, I’m nobody special. How can I stop some great evil?” Emmie made no sense. Cara’s idea of reality blurred with sorrow and helplessness.
“You’ll have help when you need it. Now promise.”
“No, you can’t die on me. Let me help you.” Cara’s heart pounded, desperation surging through her soul.
Emmie’s gaze did not waver, and the old woman gripped Cara’s hand over the portal. “Promise.”
With her free hand, Cara clutched Emmie’s faded print dress. “Okay, yes, I promise. But this all makes no sense.”
Cara released t
he dress and stretched her fingers out on Emmie’s chest. Did it still rise? An itching temptation urged Cara to send some Light into the woman. But she wouldn’t betray her dear friend’s last wishes. She pressed her lips together and waited, kneeling on the hard tile floor.
“No…time to…explain. You must find your own way. Important. Love you—” Emmie’s lids squeezed tight then fluttered. Her mouth opened, a sigh escaped, and her lips remained parted but still. Her head fell back and her body slumped in the chair. The wrinkles creasing Emmie’s forehead smoothed.“Emmie,” Cara whispered, tears spilled over to run down her cheeks.
Heat gathered at the tips of Cara’s fingers and she gasped. Rich warmth flooded through her fingertips and into her chest to course through her entire body, invading her limbs. Unlike receiving the Light, no tingling surge of energy accompanied this, just the heavy heat that faded in a passing wave as it settled, resonating in her core. She drew her hand back, staring at Emmie’s dear face. The hint of a smile on her lips was Cara’s only solace.
Emmie was gone. Silent sobs bent Cara double. She hugged her chest, rocking back and forth on her haunches as the loss swept through her. A tidal wave of grief.
A muffled moan escaped her lips and she sucked in a breath that steadied her. She used the arm of Emmie’s chair to push to her feet, knees aching from kneeling so long. Two steps brought her to the counter, and she gripped the edge until her knuckles protested. She reached for the tissue box, but tears ruined her vision, and she knocked it to the floor.
“Damn it.” She pressed her palms against her eyes, fighting to regain her composure in the haze of grief. When her vision cleared, she grabbed the tissue box and yanked out a handful to blow her nose. A ragged sigh stuck in her throat. She went to the sink and splashed cold water over her face. The streams of icy liquid shocked her back to the moment. She remained there, resting her elbows on the counter until her breathing returned to normal.
