Darkest Deception, page 11
part #4 of Rise Of The Dragons Series
“Hold her down. This is going to hurt.”
“Shouldn’t you give her some drugs or tranquilisers or something?!”
“She’ll metabolise it too quickly and it might trigger her healing ability.” Curse my shifter metabolism. No drugs for me. “Brace yourself, I’m going in.”
I felt a light pressure as Dick pushed on my one good shoulder. Then a spark of pain exploded in the other one. Red clouds filled my vision. I forced myself to stay still, but my body had other ideas. I twitched and nearly threw Dick off the sofa.
“I said hold her!”
“I got it,” Gwen strode over and heaved Dick up before taking his place. I felt her weight settle across my chest.
Another burst of pain as the fae forced something into the wound and searched for the lead shot stuck around my shoulder joint.
“Can’t you use your magic?!” I glared at the young medic.
She gave me a pitying look, “It doesn’t work on lead. Too bad for you. Got to do this the old fashioned way. It might hurt a bit.”
“No schiztz!” I growled as she dug around some more. Red sparks flashed across my vision. With a snort of triumph, she pulled another piece of lead out with her tweezers and dropped it into a plastic evidence bag.
Gwen pulled a flask of something from her pocket and offered it to me. I reached out before clocking the silver colour. The harpy saw my hesitation. “It’s aluminium.”
I took a long drink of the liquid inside. It burned down my throat in a good way. I coughed before taking another slug.
“Dwarfish whisky. Strongest in the world!” she smiled. I didn’t even want to think about why she was carrying that around. Maybe we needed to have a talk when I was fully healed.
The fae had finished digging around in my shoulder and was looking for an alcohol wipe in her medical kit. She did a double take at the size of the hole and the small sealed wipe she was holding. Her bright green eyes lit on the bottle in my hand and she reached for it. I curled my hand to my chest.
“Come on, it’ll do you more good in your shoulder than your stomach.”
I disagreed with her, but conceded the bottle. I clenched my jaw as she poured it into the open wound. If looks could kill, she’d have dropped dead on the spot. As it was, she gave me a chirpy smile and moved down to my leg. Gwen smiled at me as she transferred her weight to my hips, thoughtfully tucking her dove grey wings against her back so they didn’t brush me.
More pain as the medic extracted the pieces of metal one by one. It seemed like an age before they were done. Gwen stepped back, giving me some room now her strength wasn’t needed to hold me down. The small fae handed me a green bottle of Cure All and I downed half of it.
“Want me to speed up your healing?” she waggled her fingers at me.
“Not on your life!”
She shrugged, “Have it your way.” She turned to Dick and looked him up and down. “Want me to sort that ankle out for you?” I felt the sticky sweet flutter of fae magic before she flounced out of the door to deal with Billy, “You’re welcome.”
“How ‘bout that?!” Dick was testing his weight on his healed ankle in astonishment.
Gwen ignored him, crossing her arms as she stared down at me. Her grey eyes were the same colour as storm clouds. “Right mess you’ve caused…again. Seems like I’m always cleaning up after you.”
“Keeps you in a job,” I replied weakly. I could already feel my body beginning to heal itself. I was tired but back in control. I shut my eyes.
She burst into throaty laughter and eased herself onto the floor next to me, “That it does. Keeps my life interesting too. I know you need to sleep to finish your healing but I need to ask a couple of questions first. You up for that?”
I nodded and forced my eyes back open.
“OK number one, did you bite or otherwise maim anyone?”
I shook my head.
“Next, did you shoot anyone?”
“Nope, that was all Dick.”
“Huh, OK then,” she turned to take in the tall man now leaning against the wall watching us. “Who saw you turn?”
“Billy, that’s the one who got himself shot and his friend…and Dick here.”
“Billy’s out there getting some treatment now. We’ll find the other one and bring them both in for questioning. Anything you want to tell me?”
I shrugged and regretted it, “They threatened a civilian. I had to act. Couldn’t get to my phone to call the police or to my weapon. Things went south. No one’s dead.”
“Guess that’ll have to do then. You want me to take him in too? Explain things to him?” she pointed with her thumb over her shoulder at Dick.
“I’m right here!”
Gwen carried on ignoring him and held my gaze. I shook my head. It was only fair that I explained things to Dick myself after what he had witnessed.
“OK then, I’ll go supervise the team. Next time, call me direct. I don’t want anyone else cleaning up your messes!” With a friendly squeeze of my good shoulder, she was gone. Unfurling her wings, I heard the whoosh as she took to the sky. Looking for the one who got away I guessed.
I allowed my eyes to close and drifted off into oblivion.
Chapter 16
I awoke to daylight streaming through the window. The rays hit my face and I groaned before rolling over. A dull ache pulsed in my shoulder and leg. Memories came flooding back. The storm. The gunshot. The clean-up team. I groaned again and forced myself to sit. I rolled my shoulder experimentally. The dull pain was an indication I was nearly fully healed. I allowed myself a smile in appreciation of my body’s healing powers. In a few hours even the slight ache would be gone and there would be no trace of the gunshot wounds.
After I was certain I was on the road to recovery, I took in my surroundings. I was in the small double bedroom in the cottage. Light bounced off the bright walls through chinks in the curtains. I guessed it was late morning. Patches was curled up beside me, a spot of comforting warmth. I’d been out all night. I wondered where Dick had been sleeping while I’d been recovering here. It was decent of him to let me use his bed. I trailed my hand across the cotton sheets, briefly letting my mind drift to other uses of the bed. Dot was right. It had been too long.
I shook my head and got up. Patches gave a plaintive meow, stretched and padded out of the door. I followed. The pang in my leg had me limping slightly, but not too bad considering I’d been shot. I was still in my underwear since the Fae had disapparated my clothes. After a moment’s hesitation, I rifled through the wooden set of drawers next to the bed. I selected a plain t-shirt and pulled it over my head. I considered finding some shorts too but Dick was tall enough that the shirt fell to my thighs. It would do. I was just shutting the drawers when the man himself walked in. His hair was tousled and wet. He smelled of moisturising soap. I guessed he’d just showered and that was why he was topless. In the bedroom. My eyes trailed down his chest and I noticed the breakfast tray laden with food. My stomach rumbled in anticipation. Healing always made me ravenous. His eyes roamed up and down my body.
“Incredible!”
I guessed he was talking about my healing wounds rather than my body. I plucked at a corner of the t-shirt before regaining my composure, “Hope you don’t mind, I borrowed your shirt.”
“Keep it, it looks better on you.”
I gave him a shy smile. Pull it together Jones. The man has seen you in your underwear for goodness sake. “Is that for me?”
He nodded.
“You’re an angel!”
He smiled, “Glad you think so. Gwen didn’t think you’d be too impressed that I moved you into the bedroom.”
I was glad I didn’t blush, “You carried me?”
A nod, “Now sit back down and have something to eat.”
I complied gladly. Breakfast in bed was a rare treat. Breakfast brought to me by a topless toned man was exceptional.
I tucked into the pile of bacon with relish. I normally preferred fruit in the morning, but my body needed to refuel after expending so much energy on fixing the large wounds.
“Better?”
I nodded as I stuffed the last of the bacon in my mouth and started on the toast.
“Do you want to tell me what happened?” his voice was low and soft. I met his chocolate brown eyes. He deserved the truth.
I finished the toast and took a sip of the coffee. He’d made it black and I ignored the small jug of milk he’d left on the tray. I nearly sighed in pleasure. It was the good beans. Then I met his gaze. “What do you want to know?”
“You turned…into an animal…how is that possible?”
“You’re the fantasy writer.” I stopped. I wasn’t being fair to him, “You know dwarves and elves exist?” He nodded along. Everyone had heard of the most populous magical races, the ones who were more integrated with mundane beings. They were tolerated with a mixture of resentment and awe for being special, for having magic. I decided to be blunt, “Well, I’m a shifter. A supernatural being. There are a few of us around…I don’t have magic other than the ability to change my shape.”
“Like a werewolf?”
“Yeah, except I’m a were-lynx.”
He thought for a moment, “So it was you who saved me on the mountain.”
“Saved is a strong word…”
“And you took a bullet for me that night. Thank you. If you hadn’t been what you are, I’d be dead.”
I felt that wave of heat flood my body again. I was still wary. This was the first human I’d ever told about my abilities. “So, you don’t hate me?”
“Why would I hate you?” he seemed genuinely baffled.
I shrugged, “It’s what happens. People find out the truth then they hunt us down, for sport. You saw those two. They wanted to kill the lion, they wanted to kill me.”
“That’s terrible!”
“Like I said, it’s what happens.”
I saw him thinking, “You said your Dad was killed…was he…?”
I took a drink of coffee, wishing it was something stronger. “Yep. He was a shifter too. He shifted in the middle of town to save a little girl from a fall. Instead of thanking him, they turned on him. Hunted him down to our house. He went outside to buy me and Mum time to leave. They tore him apart right in front of our house. It takes a lot to kill us without the right, uh, tools, but…they managed it. Mum took us as far away from that town as she could. Moved us out to rural Wales. Kept us apart, or as apart as she could given I insisted on going to the local school…I don’t like to think about it.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you…and no…I don’t hate you.” The look he gave me was full of concern, and something else.
“I don’t want your pity,” I shook myself, “What other questions have you got?”
He stared at me for a second, “OK…is it true about the full moon?”
“Unfortunately, yes. It triggers something in our brains, forces a change.”
“How does that work?” I furrowed my brow in confusion. “I mean, you living out here, I get it. Lots of wide open spaces, as long as no one’s trying to hunt you. But you said you’ve lived in London, how can you change then without anyone noticing?”
“Most big cities have agreed full moon roaming rights in their larger parks and it’s not like we lose ourselves completely. The human side is still there, it just takes more effort to control the…other side. We act more like animals, so a good run in the park, some fights with other shifters, it helps keep the animal at bay the rest of the month.”
He thought that over, then asked another question, “Does it hurt, when you…change?”
“Yeah, it’s not a pleasant experience but, you get used to it. Besides there are some benefits to being a shifter.”
“Like you’re ability to heal.”
I raised my coffee mug in a toast, “It comes in handy.”
“And the medic was…”
“A fae.”
He nodded, still thinking, “And Gwen?…I’ve been too scared to ask what she is!”
I laughed, she had that effect on people, “She’s a harpy, just be grateful she wasn’t in her full bird form. Wait, she’s still here?”
“Yep, she insisted on staying, we’ve been working on the house while you were out for the count.”
“What? You’ve been working on the house since last night?!”
He gave me a look, “You’ve been out for three days! I was worried, but Gwen said you’d be fine.”
“Three days! Dzrak! That’s the longest I’ve been out for.” I stared off into middle distance contemplating the events of that night. It must have been bad.
“One more question…” there was something about the way he said it that pulled me back from my introspection and made my stomach do a little flip. I caught his eyes and raised my eyebrow. He leaned in and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear tenderly “…now you’re all better, can I do what I’ve been wanting to do since the car?”
“What’s that?” my voice came out breathy, a hoarse whisper.
“Kiss you.”
I put down my mug on the bedside table and leaned into him. Our lips connected. It started soft then his hands were splayed through my hair. I responded and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
Gwen burst into the room, “I thought I heard you, this came for you…oh!” She crossed her arms as we pulled apart, the padded envelope she was holding rumpled. “No, no, you carry on, don’t mind me!”
The breakfast tray tumbled to the floor with a crash. Dick sprang up and began picking up the plates. With a wicked grin, the harpy walked out, “Meet me at the house when you’re done!”
I groaned and got out the other side of the bed. Great. Now I was going to be the subject of her merciless teasing. I snuck a glance at the tall man mopping the floor with a napkin. Maybe it was worth it. Dick caught me looking and gave me a wink before taking the tray and the debris back to the kitchen. I followed him out, limping slightly. I refilled my coffee cup and made one for Dick before I opened the envelope. A small black box fell out. It looked like a Dictaphone. I picked up the note.
This might be useful. Keep it in your handbag, Maxi.
Strange. I tested it out by saying hello a few times. I replayed it and was nearly deafened by my own voice. I shook my head in irritation. Dick swore. Maxi could never resist meddling with technology. I packed it away in my bag. I started to walk over to the main house. Dick offered me his arm but I waved him away, I could still walk dammit.
The house was surrounded by scaffolding but underneath, I could see subtle changes. The shutters were all rehung on the front and had been repainted in a deep blue colour that accented the stonework on the house.
“Gwen’s been a big help,” Dick was rambling. I let him fill the silence, “she can fly so she’s been helping Sam on the roof and she rehung those top shutters with no problems at all.”
I looked up, the harpy was indeed on the roof. She was using her hands to take off the slate tiles and placing them into a heavy duty bag hung from the chimney. When it was full, she unhooked the bag, flew down and lined them all up in a neat row, sorting any broken ones from those that could be reused. It was an unorthodox building method but it worked. They were already half way done with stripping the roof.
“Nice work, I think you missed your calling!” I called over. She turned and gave me a look.
“I wish I’d missed your make out session this morning, no one needs to see that!” I groaned and she slapped me on the back, “Hey, just kidding, it’s good to see you with someone, I just don’t need to see what you do with them!”
I closed my eyes and forced myself to count to ten. I heard a rattling sound. When I looked, Sam was making his way down a ladder, followed by another builder I guessed was his partner.
“Glad to see you’re awake! That was some flu you had.” I looked at Gwen, who shrugged. Really helpful. “Gwen’s been brilliant though, I didn’t know you knew any supernaturals. We don’t get them much round here, but my Claire’s a big fan.” I smiled my thanks at his accepting the tall winged woman in front of him.
“I’ve been trying to recruit this one as my partner instead of Sam, but she’s insisting on going back to her day job.” The other builder joked. He gave her a dig in the ribs with his elbow.
My eyes widened, I don’t think I’d seen Gwen let anyone touch her without her permission, at least not without causing them some serious pain.
Gwen gave me a wink, “I’m gone at the end of the day.”
The builder’s face fell, “Not straight away…” he said hopefully.
The harpy sized him up. “We’ll see.”
I raised my eyebrows at her. She was one to talk. If my instincts were anything to go by, she was already sleeping with my builder. The men started inside and I hung back to talk to Gwen, “Sleeping with him huh? And you’re giving me grief!”
“Well we’re not doing much sleeping…” she gave me a wink coupled with a smile and turned to follow them inside. I shook my head and followed. She was incorrigible.
They stuck me on so-called light cleaning duties while I was recovering, because I insisted on doing something. I dusted, swept and mopped, building up a sweat. They checked on me regularly throughout the day, trying to be casual about it. Gwen brought me a cup of strong coffee. Dick made sure I stopped for lunch. Sam came down from the roof to talk me through his plans for the house, forcing me to take a break from the endless cleaning. Even his assistant was sent in with a slice of cake mid-afternoon. I was getting sick of all the care taking and was glad when they all called it quits at four o’ clock. Gwen gave me a wink as she slid into the builders’ van. I shook my head at her in mock despair.
That left me and Dick alone on the farm.
