Chapter 6 #2
Sighing, I get into my favorite pajamas, trying to ensure that I’m as comfortable as possible.
My heating blanket is ready for me as I get into bed, and I turn on a movie on my tablet as I scroll through my phone.
There’s a message from Malcolm asking if I’m okay and that Hollis is awake and asking about me, and another from Lars.
Me
I’m okay, Malcolm. Please tell Hollis I’ll be back in town soon once she’s feeling better.
I’m somehow psychically linked to her, which means that I’m feeling her pain.
Caleb and Lars need to be able to concentrate on keeping her safe, so I’ll be gone for a few days. The key to the house is under the mat.
Malcolm
Leaving isn’t the answer, Nova. Those assholes can figure it out, pop a pill, and still guard Hollis. You’re important too.
Me
No I’m not, but thanks for thinking I am. I’m really fine. I just need a little time.
Malcolm
Where are you?
Sighing, I turn my phone onto airplane mode for now and put it away. The camp has WIFI, so I’m able to snuggle under the covers to distract myself. This is seriously going to suck, but I have toys with knots beside my bed. I can get through this.
There’s no other option.
HOLLIS
“Where is she?” I rasp, wanting to see Nova. She’s the first person I thought about when I woke up. I refuse to be deterred.
“Gone,” Malcolm growls, glaring at his phone. “Come on, why won’t you tell me where you are?”
“She’s…why? What happened while I was out?” I ask.
“Caleb and Lars are her scent matches and they aren’t handling it very well,” he grunts.
“She found out in the worst way when you were taken. I don’t even think she’s been able to scent them because her sinuses are all messed up.
Nova's a very private person, and I have a feeling she keeps a lot to herself.”
“Like what?” I ask, worried. The monitor isn’t very happy with me, but it can respectfully get fucked. I want to know everything about my sister.
Even if it’s from someone else.
“She’s psychically linked to you,” he sighs. “When you have your migraines, so does she. I don’t know how often or what she feels, but now she can feel your pain. Unfortunately, so can Caleb and Lars as her scent matches, so Nova chose to leave town to get some space.”
“No!” I yell, breathing hard. “She can’t leave. I just found her.”
The heat burning in my gaze becomes angry tears as they fall, and Adrain comes running in.
“What’s going on?” he asks, checking the monitor before looking at me. “Hollis, talk to me.”
“I need…Nova,” I gasp, unable to breathe. I claw at my throat as if it’ll help, and Malcolm grabs my hands.
“Baby, she’s coming back. Nova has clients and a life here,” he reminds me.
Caleb and Lars rush in and I feel a rush of anger.
“You!” I scream, my chest heaving. “What did you do to my sister? She left.”
“She told me she was going home,” Caleb says, rushing over to me. “I swear, I didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late, Hollis. We can’t get her, not if you’re at the hospital and unprotected.”
“I’m fine,” I rasp, glaring at Adrain. “It’s just some bruising. There’s no reason for me to be here.”
“You were passed out for hours,” he says. “I didn’t know if you were sexually assaulted, and you were covered in blood.”
Glancing at my skin, I’m surprised by how clean it is.
“None of it was mine, and I wasn’t assaulted, well not sexually anyway. I have lots of broken bones that’ll heal just as well at home. Who cleaned me up?” I ask.
“Nova,” Adrain says thickly. “I’m pretty sure she checked to see if you’d been sexually assaulted as well.”
Well fuck. Just another way my poor sister has been traumatized I guess. Fantastic.
“Caleb and Lars knew I wasn’t though,” I say, glaring at them. “Is no one fucking talking to anyone?”
“No one asked. I didn’t think to say anything. I didn’t realize that’s something they’d check for,” Lars grunts. “There’s been a lot going on. It’s not an excuse though.”
“Give me the phone, Malcolm. I want to call her,” I insist.
“I’m pretty sure she blocked my number,” Caleb says. “I don’t have a great track record lately with her.”
“If I had a knife it would be used to remove your knot from your goddamned body,” I snarl. “I just fucking got her back!”
“I know,” he whispers. “I’m so sorry, Hollis.”
Malcolm hands his phone over and I begin to blow up her phone with messages. All of them aren’t delivered and I shake my head in confusion.
“None of them are going through,” I mutter. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
“If she was tired of getting messages and calls, she could have turned off the phone,” Caleb says softly.
“I want to go home, Adrain. Now. I’m perfectly fine to have the guys watch over me,” I insist.
“You need to take the pain medication if I send you home,” he says. “I’m serious. Your body could get overwhelmed by the pain and you could seize. Take it.”
“Fine, fine. Anything to get the fuck out of here,” I grumble. “Get my discharge papers going, please. I’m very impatient.”
“I’d call you a pain in the ass, but I like my knot right where it is,” Adrain says, cupping himself as he backs away. “You’re the patient everyone has nightmares about, Hollis.”
“I know what I want,” I correct. “Find my sister, Lars and Caleb. I don’t fucking care what it takes. I want to see her.”
They nod, but refuse to move until I’m discharged an hour later. Adrain insisted on running tests to make sure nothing else was broken and I wasn’t hiding any maladies.
What he should be worried about is the rest of the world. I refuse to let anything keep me from my sister. I haven’t even been able to speak to her.
That’s not acceptable.
Come back, Nova. I’ll even torture my best friends for you.