When Evil Comes To Play (The Veil Diaries Book 5)

by B. L. Brunnemer

  “He is, but I’m enjoying the air on my junk,” Ethan responded. I rolled my eyes.

  “Lexie’s here,” Zeke informed him.

  “Cool, she can join the pants-less party,” Ethan countered.

  Zeke opened the curtain only enough for him to peek in. Ethan chuckled as Zeke flung opened the curtain the rest of the way. Ethan was in the left bed, half sitting up. The curtain between his section and Miles’ was pulled all the way back. He had stitches over one eyebrow, and a few bruises, but seemed fine, if out of it.

  Ethan smiled and waved. “Hola, linda!”

  I eyed him. “You’re loopy.”

  He smiled a big smile. “Yep. They’re gonna take me to get an MRI in a few minutes.” He pointed at Miles. “You might want to come in. He’s blind right now.” I slid past Zeke to stand between the beds. Miles was half sitting up; his left arm was covered in blood-soaked bandages while resting on a table. His glasses were gone. Half his forehead was black and blue. The bruising ran down the side of his face. I didn’t know who to go to first. I just wanted to hug both of them and hold on tight.

  “Lexie, can you shut him up? My head is killing me,” Miles asked, his voice slurred.

  “Miles?” I asked softly. Worry filled my heart. That didn’t sound like Miles.

  “They’ll be taking him into surgery soon,” Zeke informed me, “so he’s drugged too.”

  “Oh.” I moved around Ethan’s bed to the other side and sat on the edge.

  “Mujer que es dueña de mi corazón,” he said with a wide smile.

  “Hey, Snoopy, can you lower your voice? Miles hit his head, hon,” I reminded him. His eyes grew wide, he covered his mouth.

  “Oops,” he stage whispered. He dropped his hand and took mine. “Don’t worry, we’re going to be fine.”

  I squeezed his fingers. “I hope so.”

  Ethan winked at me. Then he turned to Asher. “Did you call Isaac and Ma?”

  Asher nodded. “Maria is on her way. Isaac’s phone went to voicemail. He’s probably training right now.”

  Someone pushed back the curtain. A man in scrubs stepped in and eyed all of us. “Ethan Turner?”

  Ethan raised his hand enthusiastically. “Present!”

  I snorted.

  The man chuckled as he pulled the curtain open all the way. “We’re taking you to get your MRI.”

  I moved to get off the bed, but Ethan’s hand pulled me closer. His glazed eyes met mine. “I’ll be right back, Beautiful. Don’t worry.”

  I smiled. “Okay, I’ll see you when you get back.” I leaned down to kiss his cheek and he turned his head so his lips were there instead. I barely pulled back in time. He snickered. I held his chin, and then leaned down and kissed his cheek.

  “Worth a shot,” he muttered. I was shaking my head as I got off the bed and moved out of the way.

  Soon Ethan was gone. The guys grabbed the chairs from the other side of where Ethan’s bed had been. I moved to Miles’ non-injured side.

  “Hey,” I said softly. “It’s me.”

  He grinned. “I know; I see a red blur and smell rosemary.”

  I chewed on the corner of my lower lip as I looked at him in the hospital bed. Miles lifted his hand from his chest and held it out to me. I took it. Relief filled me as I felt his warm skin. His thumb moved over my knuckles slowly.

  “I’m okay. I just need some pins and plates in my arm,” he explained.

  “We’ll push back the climbing trip,” Asher offered. “How much recovery time will you need?”

  Miles made his thinking face, the one that made a small wrinkle in between his eyebrows. “I… can’t think right now.”

  My eyebrows went up. “Well, that’s a first.”

  His lips twitched. His fingers squeezed my hand. “I hate to ask, but will you please go get my extra pair of glasses?”

  “Of course. Where are they?” I asked, grateful there was something I could do.

  “I’ll go get ‘em.” Zeke stood up.

  Miles turned his head. “No, you won’t. I don’t trust any of you in my room after last time.”

  Asher chuckled.

  “What happened last time?” I asked, curious now.

  “I came home and my room was a disaster,” Miles explained, his voice slurring.

  “We moved his books around on his shelves,” Asher countered.

  “Isaac moved his clothes from drawer to drawer,” Zeke added. I shook my head. Yeah, that would drive Miles crazy.

  He turned back to me. “Which is why I’m asking you to get my glasses.”

  “Where are they?” I grinned down at him.

  “Right nightstand, top drawer,” he said.

  I squeezed his hand. “I’ll go when they take you to surgery.”

  He squeezed my fingers back. “Thank you.”

  “Is there anything else you need from home?” I asked.

  He blinked hard. “Um… I… damn it,” he bit out. My eyebrows went up. He practically cursed. “I can’t think. Stupid meds.” He closed his eyes, frowning.

  I carefully sat down on the edge of the bed facing him. “It’s okay, sweetie, I’ll bring you a set of clothes just in case.”

  Asher leaned forward and picked up a bag from under the bed. He opened it and rifled through its contents. “He’ll need new clothes, these are covered in blood.”

  I closed my eyes as I wondered how much blood it would take to ruin clothes. I’m sure I didn’t want to know. Miles squeezed my hand, bringing my attention back.

  “Thank you,” he muttered.

  “No problem,” I assured him.

  The curtain was drawn back. “Miles Huntington, it’s time for surgery,” a man announced.

  Miles squeezed my hand again.

  “I’ll go get your things,” I told him, my voice fraying at the edges. I leaned down and kissed his cheek. “If your surgeon fucks up, I’m slashing their tires,” I whispered softly into his ear. He gave me a small smile as I pulled away. Hating to leave him, but needing a minute, I left Miles’ sectioned off area and headed out of the ER without another word.

  By the time I reached the Blazer, I was shaking. I took deep breaths and focused on the fact that they were okay. They were alive and breathing. It took several minutes before I could start the truck and drive over to Miles’ house.

  I pulled to a stop in front of the house. Going over what Miles might like at the hospital, I unlocked the door and turned off the alarm.

  It wasn’t long before I was in Miles’ bedroom. The room was black for the fiber optic stars in the ceiling. One wall was completely bookcases, and another a large corner desk with multiple computers and monitors. Finding Miles’ closet, I opened it and tried not to move too many things as I found his book bag. I went to his dresser and pulled out a pair of loose mesh workout shorts and one of his loose gamer shirts. I hesitated at his top drawer. It had to be his underwear drawer, since I had already found everything else. Well, he was going to need a pair. I opened the drawer and found two different kinds. Short boxer briefs, and boxers. Okay… An image flashed of Miles in nothing but… I picked a pair of both and shoved them into the bag before I quickly closed the drawer. I didn’t need to remember him almost naked. Making sure to grab a pair of his slip-on sandals, I zipped up the bag and moved to the right nightstand.

  As I wondered how Miles was doing in surgery, I opened the drawer and found his extra glasses case. My fingers brushed paper. Curious, I looked at the folded paper. It had to have been read many times, it was wrinkled to hell and back. It was just sitting there… so tempting. Curiosity nudged at me. Determined not to look, I got up, grabbed the bag, and went to the bookshelf. I pulled out a few books Miles’ might like if he felt like reading. Then I was rushing out the door to get back to the hospital.

  Waiting at the hospital sucked. There wasn’t any other way to say it. It just sucked. I shifted in my chair and turned the page of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein.’ Ethan had been discharged a couple hours
ago, so he was sitting beside me playing a game on his phone. Maria was pacing the waiting room. Isaac, who had finished training, was to my right, quiet as can be.

  I put my book down. “You okay, Cookie Monster?”

  He nodded. “Yeah.”

  I didn’t buy it. His eyes had dark shadows underneath, and he was bouncing his knee. I leaned closer and rested my head on his shoulder. His knee stopped bouncing. “He’ll be okay,” I reminded him.

  His shoulders stiffened. “Yeah, sure.” His voice was clipped and strained. I wrapped my arm around his and squeezed to get his attention. Those amber eyes found mine. I gave him a small smile.

  “Hey, they’re okay,” I reminded him.

  His shadowed eyes softened a little. “I know. No thanks to me.”

  I frowned up at him. “What do you—”

  “Ms. Turner?” A woman walked in wearing scrubs. Everyone turned to her.

  Maria strode over. “How is he? Is he awake? Will he have full function of his arm?”

  The doctor smiled. “He is fine. The surgery was flawless, no complications. He should have a full recovery in the next six to eight weeks,” she announced. I sagged against Isaac’s shoulder. “Since we did have to operate he will be spending the night with us, especially with the hit to the head. He’s in room two-three-two on the second floor if you’d like to see him.”

  Everyone got to their feet and started for the door, leaving Maria behind to grill the doctor. Isaac and I fell into step behind Asher and Zeke. When we hit the stairs, I glanced up at him.

  “What did you mean?” I asked.

  “What?” He pulled a little ahead as we turned a corner in the stairwell.

  “In the waiting room, you said, ‘no thanks to me?’” I kept my voice quiet.

  “Nothing, forget about it,” he muttered as he pulled ahead and reached the second floor before me. By the time I stepped through the door, he was already down the hall with the others. Strange. I followed at my own speed; short leg speed. Ethan, realizing I wasn’t with them, stopped and waited for me.

  “We lost you, huh?” Ethan asked with a grin.

  “Yep, you guys were going the ‘we forgot Lexie is short’ speed,” I teased. He chuckled as we turned the corner and found Miles’ room.

  I pulled Ethan to a stop carefully. “I think your brother is upset,” I whispered. He stepped closer so his ear was next to my lips, his arm sliding around my waist. My skin warmed. I reminded myself to breath.

  “Why?” he asked softly.

  “He said something… I told him you guys were going to be okay. And he said, ‘no thanks to me.’” I pulled back to see his face.

  He didn’t seem surprised. “I’ll check on him.”

  “Thanks,” I whispered. He squeezed my waist before turning and heading into the room. I followed.

  Zeke was against the wall opposite the door. Asher was next to Miles’ bed on the right wall. Isaac was against the wall near the door. Ethan walked in and sat down in the only chair in the corner of the room. Miles was half sitting up in bed again, squinting as Asher spoke to him. His left arm was in a white cast, held in a sling against his chest.

  I pulled Miles’ glasses out of the bag and moved to the right side, beside Asher. I put the case in Miles’ hand.

  Miles turned to me still squinting. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” I squeezed his hand and pulled the bag off my shoulder. “I brought you some shorts, a shirt and sandals for when you go home.” I set the bag down on the bed.

  “Shorts sound like a good idea,” Miles admitted, voice tired.

  “And that’s my cue to leave,” I announced. The guys chuckled.

  “I can go in the bathroom,” Miles offered, his ears tinting pink.

  “Not with a hit to the head,” I countered. “Don’t worry, I’ll pick up some drinks.” I headed for the door.

  It wasn’t long before I was back with an armful of sodas and waters.

  “Are you sure?” Maria’s voice asked from behind the curtain. “Alright.” Maria came out of the hospital room, closing the curtain behind her. She smiled when she spotted me. “They’re getting him dressed now.”

  “Then I’ll stay outside,” I said. She chuckled as she stepped out of the room.

  “How are you doing, honey?” she asked quietly

  I smiled. “I’m worried about Ethan’s back, and, well, Miles.” I looked over her shoulder at the curtain. And I was starting to worry about Isaac. He’d been off for a couple of days now.

  “Ethan will be okay, his doctor has already changed his pain meds,” she reassured me, “though the brat won’t go home until Miles does.”

  I smiled up at her. “I’ll make sure he takes care of himself.”

  She wrapped her arm around me and squeezed. “I know you will. It’s the only reason I’m agreeing to let him stay the night.” I snorted. Maria squeezed me again. “I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow?”

  I smiled. “For Miles’ birthday? Of course.” She chuckled. There was cursing coming from inside.

  Maria sighed before she headed back in. “Boys, what are you doing?” she demanded as she slipped behind the curtain. Laughter erupted in the room.

  I was giggling until that chill ran down my neck. No… not now. I turned and looked down the hall. The soul of a woman in a hospital gown walked down the hallway in a daze. Her short, wavy hair was messy, her eyes wide. She looked to be in her early forties. Her triangular face was classically pretty, her cheekbones sharp as she looked around the hallway, trying to talk to the staff around her. But what caught my attention was the fact she was in black and white, her image fading in and out. I’d only seen that one time before.

  My barriers shook and cracked. The need to be heard swamped me, making me fight for breath. Fuck. After crossing thirty souls this morning, this was going to hurt. I set the soda cans and bottles of water on the inside of the door and headed down the hallway. I walked past her and made eye contact. Her eyes grew wide as she realized I could see her. My barriers shook again. Shit. I moved further down the hall; the woman followed. I found a guest bathroom and went into the handicap stall. I closed the door and locked it. I stepped back before the woman walked through the door.

  “You can see me?” she asked.

  “Yeah.” I sighed. “Who are you?”

  “Caroline Peters,” she said. “They aren’t listening; they have to let me go.”

  Fuck me. “You’re on life support.” What was with today?

  She nodded. “I want off of it. I don’t want to be a vegetable the rest of my life.”

  My face ached, my nose started bleeding. I grabbed some toilet paper and held it to my face. “Look, I can’t get them to take you off the machines.”

  “Please, you have to tell them—”

  “And then I’ll be thrown out because they’ll think I’m nuts,” I countered. “But I can try to cross you over.”

  “Do you think that will work?” she asked. “I don’t want to stay here.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried and I don’t know what will happen to your body. I might be killing you.”

  “I don’t care,” she told me. “I just want to go.”

  I nodded, and then slid down the wall to the floor. It’s what she wanted; was it murder to do this? I didn’t know. I reached out to her and wrapped that gold ribbon of will around her wrist. I dropped. As we fell there was resistance. We slowed. Shit! I focused on pulling her with me. Pain tore through me as I fought to drag her down. It took time.

  When we finally landed in the Veil I felt scratched, torn. I dropped to the grass and shook. That hurt like a bitch. Caroline was smiling as she looked around. A golden ball came down from the Way.

  “Thank you,” she said. I waved to her as I tried to get my strength back. It took a few minutes. By the time I was on my feet again she was gone. I closed my eyes and pulled myself out.

  Opening my eyes, my stomach rolled. I scrambled across th
e tile to the toilet. I was sick over and over. My head exploded and lights danced in front of my eyes. When I finally stopped heaving I stayed where I was. Blood poured into the bowl. When I could, I sat up and put tissues to my face. Leaning my head back against the stall door, I closed my eyes.

  I don’t know how long I sat there, miserable, but eventually the bleeding stopped. I tossed the tissues into the toilet and struggled to my feet. Throwing the latch, I moved out into the rest of the bathroom. I leaned against the counter and looked in the mirror. Dried blood caked my ears and trailed down my neck. I grumbled as I grabbed some paper towels and got them wet. Then I went about cleaning my neck and face.

  I looked into the mirror. How much longer could I do this? How much longer could I keep pushing it like this? Honestly? I looked at my paler-than-usual face, and my less-than-bright eyes. Not much longer. It was time to face it. I reached into the pocket of my shorts and pulled out my bracelets. I didn't even have a choice anymore; my barriers were going to hell. I needed to pull back... I slipped my beads on, resigned to spending the rest of my life wearing them if I had to. Don’t be so dour, Lexie. Start with a day or so.

  When I felt human again, I headed out into the hallway. People were running. I stayed near the wall. Down the hall, medical personal were spilling out of a room. I leaned against the wall and watched through the window as the doctor used the defibrillator on Caroline Peters.

  I closed my eyes as I listened to the sound of a heart monitor flatlining. She was dead. It was her choice; she asked me to. It helped, but it didn’t erase the guilt.

  With a heavy heart, I headed back towards Miles’ room. It felt farther than before. I turned the corner and almost ran into Isaac.

  “Hey, Red. I was coming to look for you,” Isaac told me as his eyes ran over my face. “You okay?”

  I nodded and gave him a strained smile. “Yeah, fine.”

  He frowned at me. “Fine, don’t tell me.” He walked towards Miles’ room.

  “Isaac…” I called, my voice cracking. He stopped and turned back to me.

  "What?" he bit out.