“What’s your request?” the doctor asked.
“I need some time to be here, and to work through what’s happening, without my mother and father visiting.” Reagan looked to her mom to enjoy the shocked look on her face. The moment didn’t disappoint.
“That’s a highly unusual request, especially since you’re a minor,” the doctor said.
Reagan’s hopes were lifted; he hadn’t turned her down. She had a shot.
She thought of the moments when she lost Sam and when she had to watch her grandmother leave. It made it easy to produce tears. Reagan let them flow for a moment, turning her face away for dramatic effect. “I haven’t wanted to say this, because I don’t want to hurt anyone, but,” she said, pausing to build the tension, “I blame my parents for my brother’s death.”
Mom gasped. Guilt started to bubble up, but Reagan suppressed it. She had to survive, and she didn’t see another way.
“Mrs. Cooper, can I speak to you in the hallway for a moment?”
Reagan wasn’t sure if she’d won, but at the very least she’d planted doubt in the doctor’s mind about the influence of her parents. Sitting alone, feelings began to take over. She felt horrible for hurting her mother. It wasn’t the way Reagan wanted it. But, something was happening to her, something her mom wanted to beat down. Drugs, therapy, anything to avoid letting Reagan be her true self, to explore her skills. Her mother was so afraid of their bloodline that she couldn’t see anything else.
As Reagan was alternately beating herself up and praising herself for thinking on her feet, the doctor walked back in. “I talked to your mother, and she agreed to let me work with you for the next week before she or your dad visit again. But, I need you to promise you’ll give me your cooperation. Can you do that?”
Reagan nodded.
“And no more violent outbursts. I heard there are a couple of banged-up orderlies thanks to you. I’ll keep you restrained if you have any more physical outbursts like that, do you understand?”
She nodded again, making sure she looked as demure as possible.
“I’m glad we have an understanding. Our sessions will start later today.”
“Will they all be with you, or with different doctors?” Reagan needed to know so she could prepare herself. Would she be playing games with just him, or with several different people? She was hoping just him.
“I’m the main psychiatrist on staff, but you might occasionally see one of my associates.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to go. I’ll see you in a bit.”
He left.
Reagan was alone, again. These walls were going to drive her batty. Since she didn’t know when or if Rowan was ever coming back, and sometimes she wondered if he was real or some imagined coping mechanism, she decided to focus on communicating with Nana.
“Nana, I need you.”
Reagan chanted over and over again in her mind; nothing. Her failure only made her angrier at her mother. If Reagan only knew how to use her powers, or at least knew which ones she had, she could do this. She was vulnerable because of her mother’s fears and didn’t like it.
Unfortunately, being in a psych ward didn’t leave many tools at Reagan’s disposal. It wasn’t like she could search the Internet for Wiccan spells or powers. To make matters worse, the staff had taken away all her personal effects, so she didn’t have her necklaces. There wasn’t even an old school phone in her room.
If she wasn’t crazy now, she would be after too much time locked in this padded cell. Realizing it was almost lunch time, or at least her stomach said it was, she decided to talk to the nurse when she brought the food. She might know how Reagan could get a phone call out.
Just as her stomach was starting to really protest, the nurse came in pushing a rolling tray with food on top. “Here you go, dear. Some lunch. Going forward, I’ll stop by and ask what you want, but your mother picked this meal before she left.”
“I’m getting a little antsy in here. There’s nothing to do, nobody to talk to. Am I allowed to leave the room, to have television, magazines, anything?”
The nurse took off the tops of the food trays, and then said, “Your doctor will be in just after lunch, and he’ll go over all that with you. But, we do have several magazines at the nurse’s station, I bet I could grab you a few to help until he gets here.”
It wasn’t what Reagan was looking for, but it also couldn’t hurt to keep her mind off things, at least for a little while. “Thanks, I’d like that.”
ↄↄↄↄↄ
The nurse stopped by that evening with some water and a plastic cup holding two pills. Reagan took them and held them for a minute.
“I need to watch you take those,” the nurse said, “so go ahead. Here’s some water.”
Reagan considered her options. She didn’t like the way the drugs made her feel, but she needed to act cooperative. It wouldn’t look good to refuse or to have some nurse find pills in her linen or on the floor later. After all, they’d just untied her hands after the session with the doctor earlier.
Then it dawned on her. Maybe she could dream up some answers if she couldn’t talk to Nana. It was worth a shot. Reagan took the water and threw the pills back, swallowing.
“Good girl.”
Knowing she had limited time before she’d be asleep, she tried again to contact Nana. Fifteen minutes of chanting was draining. Not long after, the medicine took effect.
ↄↄↄↄↄ
Darkness.
It always started with darkness.
Reagan wished she had the power to turn on the light, so she could see what was happening around her better.
Then, she heard the screaming.
No matter how many times she relived the sound, it never ceased to tear through her soul. Her brother—screaming, dying.
She stepped outside the tent and let her eyes adjust. Before she saw him, she sensed him, smelled him even. Then she felt his breath on her neck and turned. The great wolf, golden eyes blazing, stood less than three feet from her.
“It’s been a while,” he said.
“I know.” She wanted to say more, to attack him with questions, but his eyes made her lose focus.
He started circling her, breaking the spell. “You need to own who you are. You’re a strong one, I’ll give you that. But you’re fighting the wrong people.”
More riddles. “What are you?”
The question stopped his circling. He faced her yet again. “People call me many things.”
“You never actually tell me anything!” she screamed. It was so frustrating!
“No, you don’t listen.”
“Are you a werewolf?” It had been on her mind ever since the night with Rafe, but she’d been afraid to ask; afraid to know.
Before he could answer, she heard a gunshot.
“Time’s up, Reagan.” The wolf was gone in a flash.
Darkness took over again.
ↄↄↄↄↄ
Reagan rose from her dream to the feeling of someone shaking her. Dazed from the drugs, she slowly opened her eyes.
Rowan.
“Wait, is that really you?” she asked, afraid he was an apparition of a drug-induced brain.
“Yes, it’s me. Try and wake up.” Rowan pressed some buttons to get her bed to move up, helping her to sit. Then he gave her some water.
“Thanks, I’m up.”
“You were starting to talk in your sleep. I didn’t want anyone else to hear you. This isn’t the best place to be talking about werewolves.”
“Oh God, I didn’t know I talked in my sleep! I was trying to find answers,” Reagan said. Then she realized Rowan had just said werewolves without batting an eye. “Why aren’t you freaked out by me, by the things I say?”
“I’m here to help, just like I was there to help you in Yellowstone,” he said, touching her hand.
She had to force herself to ignore the sensation running through her from his touch so she could speak. “What do you mean? You weren’t in . . .
” She stopped, trying to remember. A nurse did mention a guy helping her in the ambulance; one that supposedly saved her life. “Wait, that was you?”
“Yes, do you remember?” Rowan asked, his gorgeous eyes brightening.
Things started rushing together . . . his voice, his golden eyes, the dream she’d just had. “Are you the one? The one from that night; the one in my dreams?”
He moved in closer, his face almost touching hers. “You already know the answer.”
Having him so close took Reagan’s breath away. She felt like some force was pulling her to him. “Can you tell me one thing? Please tell me I’m not going crazy, this thing with you is real, and it isn’t something to be afraid of.”
“That wasn’t a question, but I promise you, you’re not crazy.” He leaned in closer, and Reagan thought he would kiss her. She closed her eyes and gave herself to the idea. Instead he brushed his lips along her neck. It was slow and rocked her body. For the first time, she understood desire. She wanted to beg him to kiss her, touch her.
He pulled away, but stayed close.
“It is you,” Reagan said, breathlessly.
Rowan jumped backward, like he sensed something. “Time’s up, Reagan.”
The words chilled her to the bone. It sounded just like the wolf in her dream. Except it wasn’t the wolf, it was Rowan. Or were they the same?
“Don’t go,” she said, reaching for him. But he was gone.
Within minutes, the doctor came into the room. “How are you this morning, Reagan?”
Reagan stared at him for several seconds, unable to stop thinking about what just happened. Tingling sensations still spread throughout her body.
“Reagan, are you okay?”
Get it together, Reagan. Now more than ever you have to get out of here. Figure things out. “Yes, I’m sorry. The medicine always does this to me.”
“Does what?” he asked, coming over to check her pulse. He also shined a miniature flashlight in each eye. He was as close as Rowan was seconds ago.
“Makes me feel not myself. My mom always wanted me to take them, but I don’t like them,” Reagan said. A little honesty would only make her story seem more plausible. Too bad she hadn’t had more time to figure out exactly what her story was going to be or how much she could share without ending up in this place forever.
“I’ll make a note; maybe we can adjust the dosage. The nurses said you had a very fitful sleep, and that you were mumbling a lot.”
Reagan hoped she squelched the panic rising in her before it appeared on her face. She didn’t want the doctor to sense it. “Sorry.” She was afraid to say anything more.
“Later today, I have someone I want you to speak with. Dr. Luna is from Denver. He read about your story earlier in the paper, and offered his services. He’s well thought of in the field. You’re lucky he wants to work with you.”
Another doctor, the idea didn’t resonate well with Reagan. She had an uphill battle as it was to get out of here. Plus, she wasn’t sure what Dr. Fischer, finally taking the time to read the good doctor’s name tag, meant about her story. “What story was in the paper?”
“Oh, I guess a while back your brother’s death was reported, and then there’s been some stuff in the paper about your former boyfriend.”
“What about Rafe?” Reagan asked. As much as she was trying to control her frustration, she knew Dr. Fischer was sensing it. She chanted to herself to calm down.
“Don’t worry about that right now. I’ll stop in later today so we can talk some more, and then Dr. Luna will be here after that. I’ll stay while you talk to him.”
“You have to leave before he gets here.” Reagan wanted to jump up and squeal at the sound of Sam’s voice. He hadn’t been in her head for a while. “Go with Rowan. Trust him.”
Every part of Reagan knew Sam was right.
ↄↄↄↄↄ
“It’s time to go. We have to get out of here now,” Rowan said.
She was thrilled to see him, but she had no clue what he was talking about. “I can’t go anywhere. I don’t have any clothes.”
A smile spread across his face. For the first time, she took in his handsome, dark features. She knew how enchanting his eyes were, but she’d never lingered on the rest of him. He was quite the specimen. It was obvious the scrubs he wore hid a lot of muscles because she could see hints of them through the baggy clothing when he moved and the fabric was pulled taut. His dark skin made her look even fairer.
“So, let me understand, I come in here and tell you we have to get out of here, and your only concern is not having clothes?” He came to her side and leaned over the bed. With each word his face came closer. “You do trust me.” His breath on her face felt like a slow, seductive caress.
Swept away, she knew she had to go with him. She had to trust these feelings. Once she got away, she’d call Nana and figure things out. Then Reagan’s parents’ faces flashed in her mind.
“But, my parents; I don’t want to hurt them anymore than I already have. I can’t make them face losing another child.” Deep in her heart, she knew they’d already lost the daughter they wanted, the daughter they had before Sam’s death.
“There isn’t another way; not now. The others are coming. I can’t let them have you,” Rowan said, straightening back up. His eyes smoldered like molten gold.
“The others? What are you talking about? Rafe is still in jail,” Reagan asked, fear starting to take hold.
“I don’t have time to explain. Can you trust me enough to come with me?”
Sam’s advice filled her head but, even without it, she knew the answer; didn’t doubt it for a second. “I trust you.”
He pulled some clothes out of a bag and handed them to her. She went to the bathroom and changed as quickly as she could. Everything fit, even the shoes. He knew her size better than her own mother did. Thinking of Mom, Reagan felt awful. She couldn’t stand the idea of doing this. But what choice did she have? She couldn’t live her life in fear.
At the very least, Reagan knew she had witch blood in her. Nana would have said Wiccan, but somehow Reagan knew witch was a better fit. It was the wolf side she hadn’t figured out. Her mom couldn’t understand. Reagan wasn’t even sure she could understand, but she knew the answers were with Rowan. Even Nana never tried to explain the wolf side.
For a brief moment Reagan stopped to think. Oh my God, I’m talking about my wolf side. Maybe everyone is right, and I’m just suffering from the stress of losing Sam.
“Trust Rowan. Trust yourself.” It was Nana, just when Reagan needed her most.
“Thank you,” she said back.
When she opened the bathroom door, Rowan was standing there. His scrubs were gone and he had on a t-shirt and jeans. It was the first time she’d seen him in normal clothes. Holy moly he looks good!
“Tala,” he whispered, holding his hand out for Reagan to take. “If you come with me, I promise to keep you safe.”
“Tala?”
“It means red wolf.”
It should have shocked her, caused her to drop his hand. But it didn’t. She knew it was true.
“Okay, we have to go. Follow me. Put your hood up and keep your head down. And make sure and keep your hair tucked in.”
Reagan did as she was told. Once they were out in the hallway, she couldn’t see much. She had Rowan’s hand, and she let him guide her. For better or worse, she believed he would lead her to answers.
She squeezed his hand for comfort, letting the warmth run through her.
Moving down the hall, Reagan saw a security guard and turned her head to look at the ground. Her heart was racing. They rounded a corner, and Reagan looked up again. Rowan pushed the button for the elevator. Then a piercing sound rang out and lights started flashing. Alarms.
Rowan pulled Reagan toward the stairs and slammed into the door. She wasn’t sure what floor they were on, but they were running full force for several flights. Reaching the bottom level, Rowan threw his hand out
to open the door to the main hallway. As soon as they came through, she noticed a security guard blocking their exit. They considered turning around, but the guard had apparently spotted them. He ran their way.
Summoning every ounce of strength she could, Reagan ran full force at the brutish man blocking their path. A guttural scream escaped her mouth as she grabbed the security guard and threw him aside like a rag doll. She ran through the double doors leading outside, and Rowan caught up.
In the distance, they heard sirens.
“Follow me,” Rowan said, and took off in a flash. Reagan stood for a moment, stunned. There was no way she could follow him. He was already gone.
“Follow me.” This time the voice was in her head. Rowan’s voice. “You can do it. Believe.”
She was a descendent of witches and a Sioux Indian tribe. Could she also belong to a wolf pack? Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she took off just as the police car pulled in front of her and blocked her path. Determined, and wanting to be with Rowan, she hurdled the car like it was a small branch lying in the street. She landed in a crouch and turned to look back on her old life for a moment, giving it a silent goodbye.
Rising back to her feet, she took off, running with speed that made the trees blur into fuzzy images. Heat surrounded her, and Reagan felt she wasn’t alone. A hand reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her forward movement. Turning to attack, she saw it was Rowan. She threw herself into his arms.
“It’s okay. You’re safe. And there’s someone who’s eager to see you.”
Rowan moved to the side, and a figure began to emerge. Reagan squinted in the darkness. Recognition dawned on her as he came closer.
“Papa. Oh my God! Is it really you?”
Jed opened his arms to let Reagan come in. “Yes, Reagan. It’s been too long. There’s so much I need to explain, but first we have to get out of here.”
Papa took one hand, and Rowan took the other. Just as they were about to take off, Reagan noticed several other people coming out of the woods.
“There’s no time to waste. We must go,” Papa said.
She took off with her two companions, running with wild abandon.
Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series Page 17
