5. Our Handicaps
Our Handicaps
Rez
Nine sets of eyes owlishly blink back at me as a clock ticks away the seconds in the room. Five… six… seven… seconds go by as my simple question goes unanswered and I’m left wondering if anyone even heard it.
“Where’s Knots, Lynx, and Levi?” I repeat. “Did someone just strike you all deaf and mute, or did I just freeze everyone again?”
“You did what?” Dad reaches for me.
Well, that answers that question.
‘What in Fates’ name do you think you’re doing?’ a masculine voice yells out into my head.
When I catch the worried looks from Steinbeck and Dean Caldron, I too start looking around in a panic. Where is that voice coming from, and how did the Leaders not know about it?
‘Shut your mouth and quit your belly aching and let us through.’ Knots’ familiar bark eases my worry for a moment until I realize I can’t see him either. Where the fuck is he?
The entire room fills with the sounds of a scuffle until a heart-stopping roar sounds, and suddenly, silence. Giving each other inquisitive looks, we slowly lean in as if listening against a door for any signs of life.
In a flash of red, a mass falls from the ceiling and lands in the middle of the floor—a mess of limbs in front of me. Chaos ensues as everyone starts surrounding it, blocking my view, Reaper barks, and I sit with my warm mug of medicine with my jaw agape.
“Holy Butterbees,” Moni gasps.
“Fates tits,” Chester yells. Moni is rubbing off on him.
“What the fuck?” JP exclaims.
“Damn,” Ryker and Knox both mimic each other.
“Impossible,” Dean Caldron says.
“Interesting,” Dr. Steinbeck comments.
“Will you get off of me, you damn hairball,” I hear Knots grunt.
“Knots?” I ask, trying to peer around Ryker’s body since he’s somehow made himself twice as wide to block my view.
“Where the hell have you guys been?” Zeke questions as everyone tries to untangle themselves.
“Oh, you know, just taking a side quest to save the Robot from the Queen Harpy, herself,” Knots’ muffled voice reaches me, but it doesn’t help my anxiety.
What does he mean by rescuing Levi from Emer? What happened when I was out?
Tapping Ryker’s thigh, he moves slightly to the right to allow me to witness the mess that is my missing mates, well, and Knots since we’ve broken up. Dad takes my mug as I dig my anxious fingers into Reaper’s warm flames.
Levi is a mess of dirt, ruffled hair, ripped leathers, and smoking hot, I must admit.
He rolls off a hairy beast beneath him and whispers a spell to clean himself up.
Well, there went that just-ridden-hard-and-hung-up-wet look.
But it gives me ideas for later. The shaking of a large creature pulls my attention back to the pile, and my jaw drops as it stands up.
“Lynx?” My voice jumps an octave as I take in the wolfy Bigfoot standing in front of us.
‘How’s it going, Rezzi-bear? Like the new look?’ Lynx asks as he turns around and shakes his ass, allowing his big, long tail to wiggle back and forth.
“Where?” my dad asks, looking around frantically, “Where’s the Lynx?” I wave away his question and tilt my head to watch the display before me.
‘Why do you have a tail? I thought Bigfoots didn’t have a tail? They were humanoid shaped, like an upright ape,’ I debate with my storm shifter. I can’t believe this is my life right now.
‘And who said what a Bigfoot really was? A human? Bigfoot isn’t even their real name.’ He rolls his eyes before he shifts into his human self, shoeless and all. “I swear humans can’t get anything right. Do you need help, old man?” Lynx turns to Knots, who’s slowly trying to get up.
He’s a sweaty mess, feathers all ruffled, and looking all pissy, and I guess I wouldn’t blame him, as he just fell from the ceiling. Looking up, I swallow my tongue as I finally notice the massive door above us. Slowly following how it's placed above us, I lie back on the sofa to see it properly.
Smoke or a thick fog rolls out at the bottom of the deep red door, as if hiding its edge or the secrets that lie at its feet. Deep scratches or claw marks litter the side panels, I dare say, as if someone tried to claw their way out at some point.
“Or they were kept in, ma chérie,” JP says, easily reading my thoughts.
“How did we not see this door before, Matthew?” Dr. Steinbeck inquires.
“Because Dragon’s been hidden,” Knots growls out as he stares daggers at the door.
‘Thanks for that. Now I’ll be a beacon for everyone who wants to find the plagued mountains,’ the surly door grumbles.
“I highly doubt anyone would want to find this place,” Ryker speaks up. “It’s a damn death trap. But my question is, where do you lead to? It’s not like we can take you out of here.” Ryker examines the door from the floor and looks down at his feet as if he can make the jump.
Zeke smirks at his brother. “Fae can’t make that jump, only Vamps and, of course, Angels.”
“Shut up.” Ryker shakes his head and pulls me up into a sitting position before sitting down between Dad and me.
Dad gives him a stern look, and Ryker blows him a kiss before swinging his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his warmth.
“Are you okay, Rezzi-bear?” Lynx asks, sitting down by my legs and cuddling into me.
“I’m alive,” I whisper as I think of the hell we just went through. I take in the room, seeing that everyone I love and care deeply for, even Dean Caldron and Dr. Steinbeck, is all here, and I should be thankful that I still have them.
“Now, can you tell me how we all got separated?” I plead.
“Oh, that’s simple, he was dumb enough to get kidnapped,” Lynx explains, pointing to Levi leaning against a wall.
“I wasn’t truly kidnapped. I agreed to go with them. I figured I could find out what they gave Rez if I went peacefully,” he explains with a small grimace.
“Dude, you know you can’t trust anything Emer says. She walks around the truth all the time, even though she’s a fucking elf!” Ryker spits out with venom.
“You can’t trust her, man,” Knox agrees.
“Can we get back to the Lynx?” my father interrupts, and I roll my eyes as I hear a few chuckles around the room.
“It’s not a Lynx, Dad, just Lynx,” I emphasize and gasp as a twinge in my right side has me flinching in pain, drawing Ryker’s attention to me before he starts to undo my leathers.
“What are you doing?” I grab his hands, stilling his progress.
“We need to see what the damage is,” he insists, easily breaking my hold.
“I already healed it, Ry. Back on Level Two, don’t you remember? Whatever it is, it’s not visible,” I tell him, trying to keep my voice down, but it’s obvious everyone’s listening when I look up and find their focus on me.
“You’ve been physically injured, Miss Taylor?” Dr. Steinbeck gives me a stern look and nods down at our joined hands at my side.
“Fine,” I relent, rolling my eyes and sighing.
Reluctantly, I turn slightly so Ryker can continue without my interference.
He makes quick work of taking off my leather top and leaving me in my bra.
He takes off my weapon’s belt as Dr. Steinbeck pulls out his tablet and pulls up a chair next to me so he can begin questioning me.
“Do you know what you were injured with and how long ago it was?”
“Are you kidding me? It was a knife, and I don’t even know what day, month, or year it is, so I can’t give you a time, Doc!” I snap, already getting frustrated. I’m tired, sore, hungry, and beyond confused as to what’s going on.
Dr. Steinbeck, being the professional that he is and used to dealing with me, sits back, takes in a deep breath, and gives a genuine smile.
“This is not your—” He pauses to rearrange his glasses before continuing, “What is it that the humans on Earth say now? First rodeo. What symptoms did you have along with your knife wound? Nothing is that simple in this world.” He peers over his glasses at me as if I should know better.
And unfortunately, yes, he would be correct.
I suck on my teeth before sighing and giving in. There’s no point in hiding my past injuries or what Angel was hinting at. Besides, I healed myself, right? This is just the side effects.
“You’re right, Dr. Steinbeck,” I give him a tight smile.
“On Level Two, Angel got me with a knife, and since then, I’ve had a twinge in my side while moving, and a deeper pull when using my magic.
That is, if my magic even works, it’s been spotty recently,” I admit, licking my suddenly dry lips.
“Right now I’ve been getting chills and hot flashes, and feeling really weak spells, and bouts of dizziness. ”
Ryker pauses while undressing me, his jaw slack as he looks up at me.
“What?” I snap. “I’m still me. I’m not a weakling just because I have the symptoms.” I glare at him.
“You’re right.” He darts in for a quick kiss before continuing his task.
“Miss Taylor, you and your party have been gone from Purgatory Prep for a complete school year and a few months,” Dean Caldron informs me.
“Technically, you would be at the end of your Sophomore year. Since your bracelets have activated, you are eligible to graduate and test The Gauntlet,” he explains, turning to look at the others.
“We could say that you passed after your first year, so congratulations. Again,” he tells everyone.
A wave of nausea washes over me as the room spins for multiple reasons, and I reach out for the sofa. Ryker leans me against his chest, where his heat warms my back.
“Damn, we missed that much? Hey Levi, is that the same amount of time you were tracking?” JP asks, and we all look towards Levi, who looks extremely pale and is leaning against a wall.
“Levi?” Dean Caldron quickly approaches him, running his hand over his head and chest. “What’s wrong?” he demands as he guides Levi over to sit in a lounge chair closest to the window.
I try to get up, but Ryker, Lynx, and Reaper don’t budge, keeping me weighted to the sofa.
Levi slowly shakes his head as it rests against his chest, waving off his father’s concern. “It’s just the effects of what Emer gave me.” He groans before rubbing his chest.