Livvy felt hands on her, jerking her up. “Get up, Livvy,” Min whispered into her ear.
“Dominique!” someone else screamed. “Where are you?”
She heard someone groan and fall.
“Oh gods,” someone else muttered. “I think I’m blind.”
“Everybody,” said Dominique, behind them somewhere. “Stay where you are.”
“This way,” Livvy heard Min whisper in her ear.
Min propped her shoulder under Livvy’s arm. “Keep walking.”
The confused voices faded into the distance behind them. Dominique was trying to assert control but the shamans were panicking. Like Livvy, they had completely lost their vision.
“Min,” Livvy whispered, between labored breaths. “We have to go back for Claire.”
“She’s gone,” she said. “Keep walking.”
Livvy heard the splash of the fountain and Kam crying up above. Somehow he was managing to guide them and somehow Min was able to see him.
“Here we go,” said Min. “Step over and in. I’ve got you.”
Livvy did as she was told and felt Min’s firm grip around her waist as they submerged.
• • • • •
In the real world, it was blissfully dark. Livvy heard SK’s voice and then Min’s but couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.
She blinked inside the goggles. There was only blackness. Maybe she was blind. That would be okay, she thought. Better than the painful white light.
Suddenly, a lancing pain shot through her forehead from left to right and a coppery smell filled her nose. She tasted salt. The pain ratcheted up a notch. She sucked in a breath but then coughed convulsively. She felt someone remove the goggles. Even though her eyes were squeezed shut against the pain in her temples, she sensed light.
“Liv,” said SK. “Liv, can you hear me?”
“SK,” she sputtered.
“Bloody nose,” Min said.
Livvy struggled to open her eyes.
“She’s going to choke on the blood,” SK said. “Get her on her side.”
She felt hands tug her at her shoulder and hip and then she was on her left side. Warm liquid ran out of her mouth and nose and down the side of her face. She coughed again but was able to get more air. She slowly opened her eyes, but the room was dim. Had her eyesight been damaged? She blinked and inhaled again. It was dim because she was looking toward the underside of a bed. It had to be Claire’s bed.
“Claire?” Livvy moaned.
Her vision was clearing and she saw the ornate Oriental rug at the edge of her mat.
“Claire?” she tried again.
No one answered.
What’s going on?
Despite the pain in her head, she pushed up on one elbow, still facing the bed.
“Take it easy,” she heard SK say behind her and felt his hand on her arm.
“Is Claire okay?” she asked, looking up the side of the bed.
“No,” he said.
What? Did he say no?
“Claire is dead,” Min said.
Dead?
Grasping the top of the bed, Livvy got to her knees.
“Liv, hold on a minute,” SK said as he grabbed her at the waist to keep her from toppling over.
She ignored him and pulled herself to her feet, wobbling, and stared down at the bed.
Claire lay there exactly as she had last seen her, hands folded comfortably over her stomach, eyes closed and face peaceful. Livvy automatically put two fingers to her neck and then quickly thumbed open an eye.
“Oh gods,” she whispered. “Gods, no.”
She closed her eyes and bowed her head against the pain and also at the awful truth in front of her. She’d lost Claire. She opened her eyes and stared through the tears.
Please no. Not like this.
“Claire,” she whispered.
“Can you stand without leaning on the bed?” SK asked.
She felt him at her side, an arm around her waist.
“Yeah, I think so,” she said and sniffed.
“Back away from the bed,” he said.
She put her hand on his shoulder, gripping the fabric of his jacket, and took a step back. She could see now that she’d left a trail of blood on the bedding.
“Min,” SK said. “Help me get her to the ground. You’ll have to take the shoulders.”
Livvy hadn’t realized Min was standing on the other side of the bed until she began to move the bed covers aside.
They were going to attempt CPR.
Rather than be encouraged, Livvy understood it for what it was–standard procedure. In moments, although SK struggled, they had Claire on the floor next to the bed. Min immediately began chest compressions.
“I’ll get Matthew,” he said, panting as he went by.
“Matthew?” said Livvy, panicking.
“Yes, right away.”
Livvy heard the door open behind her followed quickly by Matthew’s voice. “Her heart isn’t beating?” he screamed.
She heard the sound of running feet and then Matthew flew past her. “Mom?” he yelled. “Mom!”
SK came back into the room with the cell phone to his ear. “I’m calling to request an emergency medical response for the following address,” he said.
Having finished thirty chest compressions, Min opened Claire’s airway by tilting her head back and lifting her chin. She pinched Claire’s nose and did two rescue breaths. Claire’s chest rose and fell with each.
“She’s breathing!” Matthew exclaimed.
Min went back to chest compressions.
“She’s not,” Min said, breathing heavily. “But her airway is clear.”
“But I saw her chest move!”
Min shook her head.
SK stepped forward next to Matthew.
“Emergency help is on the way,” SK said.
“Shouldn’t someone breathe for her?” Matthew asked, kneeling. “I mean, if she’s not breathing? I could do that.”
“Min’s doing it exactly right,” said SK, calmly. “Just let her do her work.” He put a hand on Matthew’s shoulder.
It was like watching a play from onstage. Livvy saw the fear in Matthew’s face, the trembling of his mouth, how he followed every move that Min made.
“Come on, Mom!” he yelled.
Livvy looked at SK–unflappable, in control, but resigned. He knew what Livvy and Min knew–Claire was dead. They were only doing what the paramedics would do when they arrived.
Min did more rescue breaths and went back to chest compressions.
Two maids stood in the doorway, eyes wide, staring. “Is she–” said one.
“She’s going to be okay,” Matthew yelled. “Where are the paramedics?”
He swung his gaze wildly around the room as if he might spot them and noticed Livvy. He frowned as though he were trying to remember something. The sound of more rescue breaths made him wrench his gaze away and turn back to Min.
Finally, they heard the faint sound of sirens, rapidly growing louder. In what seemed like only moments, heavy running came up the stairs and down the hall.
A paramedic team came into the room and quickly moved to Claire’s side. One of the men jumped in and replaced Min. As the changeover took place, the other man immediately felt Claire’s jugular and then donned a stethoscope and listened. He checked his watch as his partner waited.
Min stood, still breathing hard, and went to Matthew’s side, kneeling down with him. “I’m sorry, Matthew. She didn’t return with us,” she said quietly.
“But,” he said, then shook his head. “This was supposed to be so simple.” His face was turning red. “She wasn’t even sick.”
They could hear more sirens arrive outside.
The paramedic who had replaced Min began chest compressions as the other turned around to Matthew. “Is there a physician in attendance?” he asked.
“A what?” Matthew said, confused.
“No,” said SK. “I’m the
one who called 911. There is no physician in attendance.”
Pounding feet came up the stairway again. Two more men, in slightly different uniforms, came into the room. The paramedic who had been talking with Matthew stood.
“We’re going to continue CPR and transport,” he said.
The message beneath the words: the patient was dead but there was no doctor present who could pronounce death. Although EMTs and paramedics might make a determination of death and stop CPR, the usual course was to transport the patient to an emergency room.
The two men who had just entered immediately turned on their heels.
Matthew slowly got to his feet. “What’s going on?” he demanded.
Even more sirens began arriving outside.
“Sir,” said the paramedic. “The EMTs are getting a gurney and we’re going to take the patient to an emergency room.”
The piercing pain in Livvy’s head had subsided, but there was an ache in her ribs and the blood loss was making her nauseous.
SK was at her side. “Liv, you should sit,” he said.
“No I’m okay,” she said.
The maids in the hallway were crying and more servants had shown up and were hovering outside. The two EMTs pushed past them.
“Stand aside please,” the one in front said.
The paramedic who had been talking to Matthew came over to check Livvy. Behind him, an EMT was saying something to Matthew.
“He’s right,” said the paramedic in front of Livvy, taking her wrist and looking at his watch. “You should sit.”
Livvy jerked her wrist back.
Matthew’s voice erupted. “I don’t understand. What’s a medical directive?” he yelled.
It was all happening too fast.
The EMTs had Claire on the gurney. They raised it up with metallic clicks and a locking sound. With one EMT still performing CPR, they started for the door.
Matthew turned in a daze, feeling his front pant pockets, then the back. “Get a driver,” he yelled to the group at the door.
The maids jumped and the crowd scattered as the gurney came through. Matthew began to follow but stopped and turned, his glare landing on Min, SK, and Livvy. He looked Livvy up and down, staring hard at something. When she looked down, she realized she was covered in blood. Her silver coat, white blouse, and leggings were heavily spattered with bright red streaks and blotches from the nosebleed.
“I’m going to get to the bottom of this,” he snarled.
They could hear the gurney rolling across the marble in the hallway.
“You’ve got my number,” SK said
“Damn right, I do,” he said, turning away. “My lawyer will be in touch.”
Suddenly, the three of them were alone.
“All right,” said SK quietly. “Let’s go. Can you walk?”
“Yeah,” said Livvy.
Min quickly scooped up the goggles, mats, and bags as SK helped Livvy to the door. On the wide stairs, Livvy gripped the handrail and started down, past the sparkling chandelier. Servants stood aside and gaped at their procession. A siren started up just outside.
It was like a nightmare.
Min passed them, hurrying down. “I’ll get the car,” she said.
But it wasn’t that easy. A police officer met them at the bottom of the stairs and another passed them on his way up. Names, addresses and phone numbers were taken and then a few questions. SK did all the talking, brief as it was, and described their involvement. Seeing shamans at the scene wasn’t as rare as it had once been and they were released, pending further questions. Min left to get the car.
Outside, the media at the gate had swollen to ten times its previous size. Every local news channel had a van present and the paparazzi were swarming. As soon as she was out the door, people were screaming.
“Olivia, tell us what happened?”
“How’s Claire?”
“Why the police?”
“Olivia, just a word!”
The silver sedan swung around in the circular driveway in front of them. SK opened the door before it had fully come to a stop. Livvy climbed in and scooted to the far side, a little dizzy from bending over. She closed her eyes, heard the door close and then felt the car moving. She fumbled for the door handle to hold on to something.
“Here,” said SK.
She felt his hand on her arm and looked over. He’d taken off his jacket and folded it into a small pillow.
“Lie down,” he said, gently tugging her over.
“I can do that,” she said, barely audible.
Without another word, she slumped over and closed her eyes. The clamor outside was growing louder. As the car slowed for the gate to open, Livvy could hear shouting and then some thumping on the window. The car seemed to be spinning.
“Stay down,” SK said, as he rested a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll be through this in a second.”
She could hear cameras hitting the windows now and even through closed eyelids she could see the flashes.
“Run ’em over if you have to,” said SK.
In answer, Min laid on the horn. It must have done the trick. In a few seconds, they were finally moving.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
“YOU SHOULD HAVE seen it, Nicole!”
Dominique threw her bag down on the couch, still breathing a little hard from having run up the steps. Nicole stood at one of the easels under the muted light of the windows. Dominique threw her arms around her and nearly picked her up.
“It was glorious!”
Nicole smiled sheepishly but didn’t take her eyes off the canvas. Dominique hadn’t expected to be acknowledged and immediately released her, too excited to stand still.
“I had her under my boot,” she said, striding to the kitchen and turning around. “Under my boot!” She clapped her hands together. “I tell you, Nicole, it was too easy.”
Dominique entered the kitchen but then turned around again. “And the dwarf, he had no idea–not a hint.”
The dwarf had indeed helped. The tidal wave was perfect, unlike anything she’d been able to do before. It had taken Liver and her little friend completely by surprise.
Dominique paused. Yes, that shaman with the light. She squinted her eyes at the memory. Everyone had been blinded. Their only choice had been to leave the Multiverse. Liver had escaped but only narrowly.
“Except for that little friend of hers, Liver would be dead.”
Next time, she’d have her. Next time, she’d make sure no allies came to the rescue. Next time, Liver would be Chopped Liver.
“I’m starving,” she said, heading to the refrigerator. “How about you?”
Behind her, Dominique heard something clatter to the floor. She turned around.
Nicole was standing rigid in front of the canvas, her hands in fists, the palette and paint brush on the floor.
Dominique ran to her bag and dumped its contents on the couch.
Where is it?
She shoved the items back and forth.
There!
She grabbed the plastic vial and dumped out two small yellow pills. She took the bottle of water that had been in the bag and dashed over to Nicole.
She put the pills into Nicole’s already open mouth and then the bottle of water, holding it for her. “Drink,” she said.
Nicole swallowed once, gulping loudly.
The two of them stood still, waiting. Nicole stared at the canvas while Dominique stared at her. More than likely she’d gotten the pills into her in time but it didn’t always work like that. Sometimes she’d fall into a seizure.
With all the preparations for the attack, making arrangements with Mayet, all the technical issues with the goggles–she was making excuses. She couldn’t remember the last time Nicole had taken her medication.
Slowly, the rigidity in Nicole’s shoulders began to slacken.
Dominique breathed a sigh of relief. “Sorry, Nicole,” she said, still waiting. “I lost track of time.”
Finally
, Nicole started to move her arms. She backed up from the canvas and looked down at the palette and brush.
“Let me get those,” said Dominique. “You sit down.”
Then Dominique remembered the goggles. They had spilled onto the couch with everything else. “No wait!” she said, but it was too late.
Nicole’s shriek was ear piercing.
Dominique snatched the goggles up and stuffed them in the bag. “They’re gone,” she said. “See. They’re gone.”
Nicole stifled another shriek with both her hands and sat down heavily on the couch, her eyes wide with fear, her nostrils flaring to keep up with her heavy breathing.
Dominique clutched the bag in front of her and shook her head. “By all the gods,” she muttered, trying to keep the anger in check.
From the first time Nicole had seen the goggles she had reacted this way. For no known reason, she had been terrified of them.
“Nicole,” Dominique said. “It would be so much easier if…if you didn’t do that. This is my work,” she said, gripping the bag. “This is how I’m going to get us out of this…” Dominique glanced around, “this place.”
Suddenly, she heard herself saying those exact same words, somewhere else, far away.
The goggles had been a complete windfall. They had been sitting on the police sergeant’s table. The fool had no idea what they were but she did, although that knowledge was based only on descriptions. She wanted them and, for a few ‘extras’ that day, she’d gotten them. When he was finally through with her, she hurried down to the docks, and then to the basement of the bar where she and Nicole had their mattress. She pulled them out of the sack only to have Nicole start shrieking. Dominique immediately wrestled her to the ground and clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Shut up,” she whispered harshly in her ear. She glanced up toward the bar. “Shut up! I don’t have a new room yet. We can’t get kicked out of this…this place.”
Dominique blinked and saw Nicole sitting on the couch. She had started to get herself under control, lowering her hands from her mouth. Then she silently put her hands in her lap and stared down at them.
First, forgetting the drugs, then the goggles, thought Dominique. Two mistakes in as many minutes. Get your head out of the clouds because you don’t live there yet. You live here, in this cheap loft under LAX’s traffic pattern, and your sister needs your help.
Olivia Lawson Techno-Shaman Books 1 -3 Page 46
