Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
MAX
Holding the throat of the boogeyman, I’m filled with temptation to squeeze the life out of the monster who hurt Tilda and kidnapped a child of my friend.
Dripping in black blood as well as covered in bright red blood, if I wait, the creature might die of its wounds. I tighten my grip. “You came to the wrong town.”
Voice grating and strangled, it says, “I go where my nature takes me, forest beast.” It gags. “Kill me. It is what your kind do,” it taunts.
Sasquatch have chosen to hide rather than fight for centuries, but in the past, we were hunters and at the very top of the food chain. The proliferation of humanity pushed us deeper into the woods. I chose to leave that life.
Before he speaks, I catch Ion’s scent. “Killing the monster will not ease your soul, Max.”
“How do you know?” It would be so easy to rid the world of this filth.
“Because a man who chooses to serve justice will suffer if he becomes judge and jury.” Ion lays his hand on my shoulder.
“Is Tilda alright?” My heart pounds, and adrenaline forces my hand tighter.
The boogeyman struggles to free itself.
There’s a long pause. “No. She needs care.”
It’s hard to breathe. “And Olivia?”
“The child is unharmed, but filled with fear.” Ion steps around me. He presses his finger to one of his fangs, then applies that finger to a deep bite mark on the monster’s neck. “Sleep.”
All the energy goes out of the boogeyman, and it becomes limp in my grasp.
Releasing it, I watch as it falls to the floor of the cave.
The chief walks into the cavern. “Is it dead?”
It’s hard to catch my breath, I’m so filled with rage that I struggle to get under control. “No. Mr. Radu put it to sleep.”
“How long will that last?” Chief Martinez crouches down to get a better look with his flashlight.
Ion says, “Several hours. You should have time to reach the monster authorities to take over its incarceration.”
“I called for assistance when you first told us what this thing was. Hopefully, some help will come soon.” He turns to me.
“The EMTs don’t really know how to help Miss Schwan.
She’s lost a lot of blood, and she’s not healing the way she should.
They’ve got her on an IV of fluids, but she’s going to need something else, I think. ”
With a nod, Ion turns, and I follow him toward the exit of the cave. “If her sire were alive, his blood would restore her quickly. Hopefully, as her distant relative, my blood will help.”
“Mr. Radu, I know you’re far older and wiser than I am, but it’s my blood that Tilda needs, not yours.” I reach the four-wheeler that the EMTs are using to get her out of the woods.
She is secured to a backboard, which is strapped to the back of the vehicle. Pete, an EMT I’ve known since I came to Harmony Glen, holds an IV bag filled with saline and sits so that he can monitor her while they move. His expression is grim. “Meet us at the hospital, Max.”
The driver’s name is Carol. She’s a panther shifter who came to town a year ago.
Always pale, anyone who didn’t know Tilda might not see the gray in her skin. Everyone can see the blood seeping from several wounds despite Pete’s efforts to bandage the worst of them.
Gripping my arm, Ion’s eyes are bright as if a golden light emanates from within.
“You may be right. I can see that… things have developed since I was last in Harmony Glen. Vampires in this kind of state can die without the nourishment of their sire.” There’s a touch of panic in his voice.
“I’ll only give her a few drops. When she can make her own choices, you will be the source of her full recovery. ”
I’d lop off my arm if I thought that would help her. I nod. “Whatever it takes.” I hold up a hand to signal Carol to stay put.
Ion draws a knife from his jeans pocket and slices open his palm.
Praying for some sign of life, I press my fingers against her jaw and open her mouth.
Mouth in a thin line, a bead of sweat drips down Ion’s temple. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a vampire perspire. He lets a few drops of his blood fall into Tilda’s mouth before the cut closes as if it were never there.
Pete presses his fingers to her throat. “Her heart rate slowed.”
“Good.” Ion lets out a long breath. “Your hospital won’t do her much good, I’m afraid.”
“We can give her blood,” Carol says.
Shaking his head, Ion says. “May I suggest her own home would be more appropriate for healing? This may take some time.”
“My house.” I can take care of her. It’s away from the bustle of town, but close enough for her family to come. Besides, Mari uses Tilda’s house for music lessons. “Take her to my house. I’ll be right behind you.”
I can tell that Carol wants to argue, but Pete says, “I’ll call the hospital and have them send some O-negative blood just in case, Max. Do you remember your medical training?”
“I can manage.” I lean in and kiss Tilda’s forehead. “Don’t you dare leave me before we’ve even had a proper date.”
A soft moan and a flicker of eyelashes are the only responses.
I head for home through the woods, but Sam calls out, “Max, my truck is less than a mile away. It will be faster.”
Over my shoulder, I meet Chief Martinez’s stare as he and two other officers chain the boogeyman to a very large tree to wait for backup. He gives me a nod. “We’ve got this, Max. Take care of Miss Schwan.”
Ion and I follow Sam and Mari at a run to the south. When we reach some kind of dirt service road, it’s only a hundred yards to Sam’s custom truck made to accommodate the giant.
I’m grateful for the silence as Sam breaks every speed limit to get us to my house. It’s not possible to make small talk, and since these are the people who care the most about Tilda, I assume they feel the same.
We arrive at my house just before the ambulance pulls down my drive. Everyone goes into action as if this kind of thing happens every day.
Mari heads directly to my bedroom, and I follow. We pull down the blankets and stack pillows for Tilda’s comfort. “She’s going to be fine.”
I can’t tell if she’s trying to comfort herself or me. I manage a grunt of agreement as I pull extra blankets and draw the shades, since the sun will be coming up soon. My vampire won’t like bright sunlight streaming in.
In the living room, Sam and Ion have moved the furniture aside to make it easy for Carol and Pete to bring Tilda through on a gurney.
Pete says, “We’ll leave the backboard in case she complains of back or neck pain. The wounds stopped bleeding on our drive over.” He gives a little half smile. “It’s a good sign.”
They lift her onto my bed.
She’s small and pale and covered in bandages.
Heart in my throat, I need a few deep breaths to get my emotions under control.
Losing her is not an option. A sudden wash of regret comes over me because I didn’t kill that miserable boogeyman.
It deserved to die for what it did to my beautiful swan.
She is all things good, and that monster tried to kill her and harm a child.
“Do you want help cleaning her up?” Carol asks.
In the lamp-lit room, she looks even worse than she did outside that cave. Panic steals my breath.
Mari says, “I’ll help him, Carol.”
Sirens are getting closer, and I move to defend the bedroom.
“It’s just the blood, Max.” Carol grips my arm. “You’re going to have to calm down if you’re going to help Tilda.” She rushes out of the bedroom to meet the officer bringing the blood.
Taking my hand, Mari’s voice is soft and calm. “Carol is right, Max. I know how you feel, and I don’t blame you, but you found her and kept her alive in that cave. Now you have to get yourself under control and help her recover.”
“I know.” I take several deep breaths. “Let’s get her cleaned up. I have a tee shirt we can put her in.”
Pete comes in rolling an IV pole. “Mr. Radu thinks a pint of O-negative can’t hurt.” Without waiting for a response, he sets up the pole while Carol comes in with the bag of blood.
While the EMTs work, Sam brings in a bucket of soapy warm water and a washcloth. I cut Tilda out of her shredded clothes while Mari washes the grime off. It’s a relief when, beneath the blood, the wounds are starting to heal. The bruise on her neck and collarbone is still dark and looks painful.
We put fresh bandages on the deeper cuts and slip my white tee onto her. It almost reaches her knees.
Mari brushes her hair and braids it while Pete replaces the saline with blood to drip into Tilda’s IV.
The fact that Tilda didn’t stir through the entire process is terrifying. I pull a chair over to the side of the bed and sit. If she wakes up, even for a moment, I want her to know she’s not alone.
I don’t know when Carol and Pete left, but when I look up, they’re gone.
Maybe I thanked them, but I’m focused on Tilda.
Ion comes in and hands me a bowl of food. “Eat. You’ll need your strength.”
My stomach growls at the scent of chili. I spoon some into my mouth. “How did you make this so quickly?”
“You’ve been sitting like that, staring at her, for two hours, my friend.”
I look at the light around the blinds. “She hasn’t moved.”
“Her body needs to heal. It’s normal for a vampire to go into a deep trance when they’ve been seriously hurt or poisoned.
I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s a good sign.
At least her body is doing what it’s supposed to.
” He steps to the door. “Sam and Mari are going home to sleep. They’ll be back later.
I’m going to check on the child and make sure the boogeyman was picked up without incident.
My number is on your kitchen counter. If you need me, call. ”
“Thanks.” I set the bowl of chili on the nightstand. “For everything.”
“You should try to sleep as well, Max. You’re strong, but you’re not a vampire. You need rest in order to take care of Tilda.” He steps out of the room.
The front door opens and closes, and Sam’s truck starts and then pulls away.
I lean on the edge of the bed. There’s no color in Tilda’s lips, and her eyelids are dark, almost looking bruised.
Reaching forward, I toy with the end of her braid.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t faster. I shouldn’t have been so far away.
You were brilliant. Olivia wasn’t hurt at all, though I’m sure she was scared.
” Hoping she’ll react, I wait. “You’re the bravest person I’ve ever known.
That monster was out of a nightmare, but you battered it.
I know you would have died to protect the child, but I’m so angry at you for risking your life. ”
Lowering my forehead, I let it rest on the mattress.
“You probably think I’ve got a lot of nerve being angry when we haven’t even had a proper date.
I don’t blame you. It never seemed like the right time to ask.
Our night together was a surprise. A really wonderful one, but I had plans to take you out for wine.
I bought a few bottles to drink here. I think you’d like my pond out back.
Sometimes wild swans like to visit. Maybe when you wake up, you’ll see them. ”
Emotions flood me. “You have to wake up, Tilda. Please. You’ll say it’s too soon, but I know how I feel. I’ve loved you from the moment I first saw you. Wake up so I can show you every day how much you mean to me.”