by CC Solomon
The Silver Spring mage clapped his hands. “Yes, we could mix the blood with some healing potions, and based on how that mixture reacts with a paranormal’s blood we can tell if they are sick or not. It’s worth a try.”
Murmurs in the group erupted with agreement.
“So, we just find someone who is immune,” Phillip said. “Let’s take it to the streets. We can put a force together and check.”
We got right to the search, not wanting to waste any time. The resources to question everyone was easy to find. Of course, we didn’t tell Seth if we found an immune person. I was certain he’d be poised and ready with a gun to the poor person’s head if a cure or test didn’t work. Not that it mattered, most people weren’t willing to volunteer that they’d been attacked after Seth sent out the announcement that the attacked would be killed. We’d have better luck in Hagerstown.
That evening, before taking a break to see our loved ones, I met with Phillip back at the office.
“We need to tell them about my attack. There’s a high probability that I’m immune,” I stated.
“If you tell them you were attacked by an infected person, not only will Raya be killed, but Seth will try to kill you,” Phillip said.
“Which would mean your death too.”
“Not that I would want you to die, even if we weren’t connected. You’re my soulmate. I won’t abandon you,” he searched my eyes as he spoke.
I looked away, conflicted. I believed he cared about me. I wasn’t ready to put my life in his hands, but I no longer believed he was out to control me. Or that he could if he wanted to. I was slowly opening myself up to becoming his friend. “So, you and Chelsea? This isn’t some type of trick or magic mind control you’re doing for whatever insidious reason I haven’t yet discovered?”
“It’s a thing. I really like her,”
“You like her that much? That quickly?”
“I’m mesmerized by her.” He smiled and touched his chest.
I raised an eyebrow. What an interesting choice of words to describe how he was feeling. At some point I’d thought that was how he felt about me. Soulmate magic played a part there. This time there was no magic. He seemed to genuinely like Chelsea.
He looked down at me, his eyes glazed over with lust, love, or whatever the hell he was in. “I have to see her now,” he stated and then vanished.
“What? Wow. Just like that? Okay, bye,” I said to no one and feeling strangely unsettled. “What the hell just happened here?”
As I thought, we didn’t find anyone in Silver Spring jumping to say they were attacked or had swapped any bodily fluid with the infected but never saw signs. In Hagerstown, we got no one stating that they were immune, but we did have some people who admitted that they were infected.
I got Carter to secretly draw my own blood and tell the others that he’d found someone. From there, we began developing several potions that we’d test on the infected. We’d gotten some volunteers from Hagerstown. The paranormal there were more open because they had to leave regardless. In Silver Spring, being infected meant death.
The rest of the week involved searching for suitable volunteers, coming up with healing potions, or revealing magic spells that would mix well with the testing blood. The revealing spells would reveal if someone was sick. The spell on its own did not work for this purpose, but we hoped the right blood infused with the spell would be the right tool.
I went home at some point on Saturday to shower, see Erik and Brandon, and check for any emails before heading back to the office. Sunday was our last full day, and we didn’t have any time to waste.
“Who’s this woman walking into my apartment?” Erik questioned when I came home. He gave me a mock frown, hands on his hips.
I sighed. “Oh, don’t make me feel guilty. I’m trying to save the Paranormal world with my non-existent medical background,” I stated, taking off my snow boots and puffy coat.
“How’s the progress?” He asked, wrapping his arms around me.
I leaned into his chest, resting my cheek on his solid frame. I inhaled, enjoying the scent of him, and the warmth radiating from his body. I was slightly obsessed with this man and hated being apart from him. How I managed three months without him, I couldn’t figure out now.
“Slow. We came up with a bunch of potions using my blood that we’re trying on some volunteers from Hagerstown. There haven’t been any immediate changes, but we’re hoping our latest go round will just take a couple of hours to kick in. We’ve got until tomorrow, and then your alpha is going to murder me or something. Well, I mean, he’ll try.”
Erik gave me a protective squeeze. “He won’t lay a finger on you. I’ll ask Seth for an extension. This will take as long as it takes.”
“Any more information on the Seth front?”
Erik cursed. “No. No news on anything. I’m beginning to wonder if he knows we’re listening in now because it’s been silent.”
“Shit, he just might. We need to get to his wives. They know something.” I gave another sigh. “Where is Brandon?”
“In his room, still sleeping.”
I pulled away from Erik. I looked up at him and, for the first time noticed his eyes were bloodshot. “Are you feeling well?” I touched his forehead. It was hot. Hotter than his normal body heat. “Are you sick? Please don’t tell me you have the sickness or were drugged. I can’t take that.”
Erik turned away and coughed into the back of his hand. “No, Mina. I’m fine. It’s just a minor cold.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I thought weres didn’t get sick.”
“They can catch a supernatural based virus. I’ve gotten a cold before as a were. Especially in the winter.” He smiled at me. “See what happens when you spend too much time away from me.”
“There you go guilting me again. You need to go lay down. I can heal you.”
He waved me off. “I’ll be fine. I need to build up a better immune system anyway.”
I shook my head. “Wish I could take a nap. If we don’t find a cure by tomorrow, I’m coming home regardless and taking care of you.”
“You’d better. Come home, that is.” Erik kissed my forehead and then headed to lay down.
I wanted to fall onto the bed in our room and snuggle, but I needed a shower and food. After I took care of my basic needs, Brandon woke up, and I had breakfast with him. Then I watched a streaming cartoon with him from the internet while checking my email that I’d neglected most of the week. An email from Mercy caught my eye. She rarely contacted me, and by rarely, I mean, I’d only received one email from her before, and it was just a test.
The subject line read: Concerned.
I clicked open the email and began to read.
Hi Amina, howya? I hope life is good with you and your sexy jackal. Don’t want to concern you but Phillip’s been acting like an eejit lately. Have you noticed? Yes, I know he’s with a skank who’s got a face like a cat’s hole. Anyway, Ed sees it too and we’re worried. You said he used to be bad and I just wanted to let you know in case it’s happening again. See us when you can, and we’ll tell you more. Mercy
Face like a cat’s hole?
Anyway, I was deeply concerned if she thought Phillip was going bad again. That was something we really didn’t need right now. It’d give the soulmates what they were looking for. I’d have to see for myself if he had reverted, but first, I needed to know what Mercy was talking about.
I got up from the couch and put on my winter gear. “Hey, Erik, I’m going back to the fake lab. But first I’m going to swing by Ireland. Okay, bye.” I shouted.
Erik instantly appeared in front of me. With his werejackal speed, he was already in front of the door. “For some reason, I thought I heard you say you were going to Ireland. I must be hearing things.” He looked at me with wide eyes and a tight smile.
“Oh, yeah, I was just going to stop by super quick,” I began. I then went on to tell him about Mercy’s email.
“You aren’t going
there by yourself,” He stated. He looked over my shoulder. “Bran turn your movie off and put on your boots and coat. We’re going on a little trip.”
I huffed. “Is this necessary? I’m not going to be gone long.”
“You have no idea what the state of Dublin is right now after Mercy’s email. And you should know that I would never let you go back to Ireland without me. Not again.”
“Let me?” I muttered.
He glared at me. He had a right to be insecure about it. I understood the paranoia. Still, I was a grown woman, and no one would be telling me what to do.
“Babe,” I began with as sweet a smile as I could muster. “I love you. And I know we’ve been through a lot, and I haven’t said anything these past several months when you’ve done all but followed me into the bathroom, and sometimes you even do that. But I have to be able to do things like leave the country to visit friends in Ireland or campaign against these original assholes… Without you.”
He squinted his eyes at me. “I’m not going to argue about this.”
I widened my smile until I could barely see. “Good, so you’re staying and watching Brandon, here. Love ya, k, bye.” I turned away from him, and he grabbed my arm again.
“Erik, I won’t be long. I will go there, then go to the lab. I will email you as soon as I get to Ireland and then when I get to the lab. If you don’t get anything from me within fifteen minutes of me arriving places, then you can follow me for the rest of my days. Even to the bathroom when I have to do a number two.”
At that last sentence, Erik threw back his head and laughed. He pulled me to him in an embrace. “Fine, I’m holding you to it. While you’re there, maybe you’ll find someone immune to help.”
“Good point,” I said into his chest before teleporting away.
I arrived in Dublin in front of Ed’s house. I knocked on the door hoping, he was home.
“Amina?” called an unfamiliar voice. “He’s not home.”
I turned around to face a blond-haired young man whose face I recalled but not his name. “Hey there. Any idea where he could be?”
“At the town restaurant.”
“You have a restaurant now?”
The young man nodded proudly. “Yea, we’re growing every day here.”
“Outstanding. Can you point me in the right direction?”
“I can do you one better. I can take you there.”
“Awesome, but, first can I go somewhere to send an email?”
On the way to the local restaurant, we swung past a house with a computer and I sent Erik an email telling him I arrived safely. He responded as soon as I sent the email.
“Oy, your man let you out alone?” Ed wrapped me in a hug when I arrived to what appeared to be a large cottage filled with tables and chairs and the soft sounds of popular rock music.
I rolled my eyes. “I escaped,” I cracked. I looked to Mercy, who walked up to us soon after, greeting me with a hug as well. “I can’t be gone long. I’m on a short deadline to find a cure or test for the paranormal virus. So, what’s the deal with Phillip?”
Mercy and Ed exchanged looks.
“Let’s go back to my place,” Ed sounded grave.
Once reaching his cottage, we got comfortable, I took a seat on the end of his couch, and Mercy sat in a love seat. Ed walked out of the kitchen, holding an unmarked bottle of dark liquid and a few glasses. He offered me a drink, and I declined.
“So, I’ll get to it then,” Ed started. “You know I’ve been close to Phillip with this campaign but out of fuckin nowhere, he falls for this woman.”
“He’s moving on,” I shrugged.
“He’s been talking about you nonstop, and then one day he stops.”
“He ignored every attempt I made at him,” Mercy huffed. “I’m not ugly, am I?”
“I keep telling ya, lass, maybe you’re just not his type,” Ed turned slightly to Mercy. He turned back towards me. “Look, I didn’t ask for you to come here just because he’s gotten a new woman. I just want to make sure everything is legit. I’ve met this Chelsea woman, she’s a vampire, but I don’t think she can control Phil.”
“You think he’s bespelled?”
“I think he’s something. You don’t have to have superpowers to tell when something’s not right.”
“Could he be infected?”
Ed shrugged. “Not my expertise. I think it’s that woman.” Ed walked over to the couch and sat down. “When we visit places, he doesn’t talk about you to the people we meet, Mina. But you’re part of the deal, right? The plan is that people don’t follow the original soulmates and instead support you both.”
I tilted my head. Well, now that was confusing. “He’s campaigning as a solo project?”
Ed’s brows narrowed in concern. “He’s campaigning for him and that woman.”
I leaned towards him. “What?”
“She’s a bitch. Not really friendly. Thinks she’s better than me, she does,” Mercy growled.
That didn’t sound like Chelsea, and it didn’t sound like Phillip to go around leaving me out. What would be his reasoning and why replace me with Chelsea, she didn’t have the power.
“Has Chelsea been going on your travels with you?” I asked Ed.
He snorted. “She runs him. Phillip isn’t a weak man. He didn’t even let you run him. But with this Chelsea lass, he’s like a damn puppy. It’s embarrassing.”
“Have you talked to him about it?”
“He says some garbage about this being the best way to protect you so that you can live a normal life with your man.”
I looked up at the ceiling, pondering his words. “He didn’t talk to me about all this, but I guess I could see why he would think that he was doing me a favor.”
“You sound okay with this,” Mercy spat. “They’ve been plotting and scheming behind your back to take over things once we win this fight. These are your mates. This isn’t right.”
No, it wasn’t, and I was going to find out what the hell was going on. If Phillip was bad again, I was going to have to do something drastic.
Chapter 21
The more I thought about what Phillip and Chelsea were doing, the angrier I got. The feeling of betrayal was palpable. Chelsea was my best friend and Phillip was becoming a friend. How had I once again been played?
I wanted to rush home to Erik and strategize about how to handle it, but the day was getting away from me, and we had to make headway on a cure or test. I felt guilty enough for being gone, especially without an immune person to show for it.
When I walked into the makeshift lab, the others were moving around excitedly.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Carter turned to me from his desk, where he’d been mixing something in a clear beaker. “We did it,” he said, grinning widely.
“Where have you been?” Phillip questioned, eyeing me suspiciously while mixing an orange looking liquid inside a container.
“With my family,” I partially lied.
“Don’t mind us, we’re just on a time crunch here,” muttered the Silver Spring mage with a disapproving look on his face.
I ignored him, looking back to Carter. “What did we do?”
“We found a way to test for the virus. We still can’t cure it, but that blood coupled with a revealing spell, becomes solid when mixed with the blood of an infected person. When it mixes with the uninfected, it stays in liquid form. We got Seth his damn test.”
“And maybe it’ll be enough to keep the Hagerstown paranormals in town,” said the Hagerstown mage.
I clapped my hands together in delight. My blood had helped. But it was only a limited fix. No one could replicate my blood or Phillip’s, so the test would only go so far. We wouldn’t have enough to save every town. Nor did I think it a wise idea to spread my blood all around. There was magic in blood, and our blood was unique. Even sharing it with the Maryland towns was risky. In the wrong hands, someone could use my blood with dark magic.
; I looked over to Phillip, and he gave me a stern look. I knew he was thinking the same thing I was, and I had a bad feeling he wasn’t planning to be so giving of his own blood. Especially with his future plans with Chelsea in the balance. My blood boiled again at that thought. I really wanted to strangle him.
“Are we sure this is an infection and not a drug side effect?”
“No,” replied the Silver Spring mage. “We haven’t been able to get our hands on the magic drug yet. Once we do that’ll help us figure that part out, which hopefully will move us towards a cure. Till then, we just have the test to let us know if a person has the drug or infection in them.”
“Mina,” Carter called. “We need more blood from this person. Enough to test every paranormal here and in Hagerstown. I think we have enough to test a quarter of the town here.”
I looked to him. “Sure, but this person wants to remain anonymous. Give me enough bags to fill with blood, and I’ll get it from … the person.”
Carter nodded knowingly and moved to find the blood bags.
Once he got them for me, I headed towards the door. Phillip followed me out.
“That’s a lot of blood you’re going to donate,” he said, walking beside me once we were outside of earshot.
“Wouldn’t be a lot if you also gave,” I muttered.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
I stopped walking and turned to him. “Right because you have big plans, and you can’t have anyone getting their hands on your blood.”
He frowned. “You’re angry with me. Why?”
“You’ve been campaigning for you and Chelsea, not you and me.”
He paused and sighed. “I see you’ve been talking to our friends in Ireland. They must really be concerned.”
“And rightfully so.” I stopped walking as well and folded my arms.
Phillip gave me a chiding smile, and reached out to unfold my arms. He grasped my wrists as my hands were holding the blood donating tools. “This is to protect you.”
