Chapter Fifteen. #2
“Thanks for having us. Soul has been worried ever since we heard you were shot. Ham was ill, which is why we didn’t come straight away. I hope you won’t hold that against us,” Bryony said as the kids shot after Soul.
“Not at all. You’re welcome here, although you could have brought Noble with you. I hear this little lady has quite the temper,” I said, gazing at the sleeping baby in Bryony’s arms.
“Yeah, but she’s learned control. Noble, keeping a shield around her for three weeks, taught Grace that she doesn’t like being wet.”
“At least she learned,” I replied.
“It took some time, but yes. Now she only drowns someone if she’s startled or frightened,” Bryony said and laughed.
“Damn. That’s power right there.” I motioned for Bryony to follow me into the clubhouse.
We opened the doors, and I pulled back a little at the sound of excited children’s voices.
There were no kids in the club, so it felt alien hearing them—but not unwelcome.
Maci and Ham were talking Storm’s ear off as she smiled indulgently at them.
Soul was sitting watching them as he studied his sister. Some of the tension had left his shoulders at seeing that Storm was actually okay.
“I’ll show you to the guest rooms. We’ve put you in a couple of adjoining ones if that’s okay for the kids to share?” I said.
Bryony nodded. “Thank you. Maci sometimes wakes up and comes in to us. We’ve a travel cot for Grace so she can sleep in our room.”
I opened the door and let Bryony pass me by. “This is great.” She looked at me and bit her lip.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Is Storm really okay? Soul’s been going out of his mind with worry. He wants to take her back with us, but I don’t think she’ll go for that.”
“No, Storm won’t. She’s as safe here as she would be at Camden. Soul often forgets that we have powers too. He’s the typical overprotective male. But Soul needs to remember it was Storm who looked after him all those years and who found us and gave him a home.”
“Soul mentions you a lot. He cares deeply for all of you,” Bryony said, slight defensive.
I smiled at her. “Don’t take offence, Bryony.
As far as we're concerned, Soul will always be our little brother. It’s kinda hard for us to accept he’s grown up and got a family of his own.
Storm brought him to us, but we all fought for him.
He’s family. You and your kids are also family now.
If you need someone and RBMC can’t get to you, we will. That’s a promise.”
Bryony smiled slightly, too. “We’ve gone from having no one to two massive families. It’s overwhelming sometimes.”
“Yeah. That’s how each of the Royal Harlots felt when they found their way here. At first, it was Belladonna, Sparrow, and me. Slowly, the others trickled in, making us what you see today. We’re stronger to stick together.”
“I envied Soul that, the fact he knew no matter what that you and the RBMC would be there for him. He was so secure in his place with you all. I didn’t know that. The times I spent running to protect the kids—well, you could imagine it.”
“Bryony, we’ve been there. Hiding what we are in a world that would judge and condemn us.
You no longer have to hide from everyone, because there are people around you who can accept your kids.
I can guess how difficult it was being a ‘normal’ mom to kids with abilities. It was hard accepting myself.”
“Thanks, Sapphire. For everything and for helping make Soul the wonderful man he is,” Bryony said, and I felt the sincerity in her words.
“You’re welcome.”
Hayden
Sapphire had said she wouldn’t be here tonight as Storm’s brother was arriving and they were having a cookout. Even so, I missed her and wished to be selfish and call her. Cassidy was on his laptop, earbuds blocking out the world, when the door opened and Hatton walked in.
“Captain,” I said.
He nodded and glanced at Cassidy, who removed his earbuds. “Okay, Capt.?”
“Yes. No. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Both of you. And we’re off duty, call me Chase.”
That instantly made me cringe inside. Nobody called the captain Chase. He was either Capt., Captain or Hatton. Never Chase. Hatton grinned as he saw how uncomfortable we both were.
“Hatton is fine, guys.”
I puffed out a sigh of relief. Fucker! He did that on purpose.
“How are you both feeling?”
“It’s time to get out of here,” Cassidy quipped, and Hatton nodded.
“It must be hard being you two right now. But we almost lost both of you, and that’s what I would like to talk about.”
“Us nearly dying? Sorry, Capt., not something I really want to consider,” I responded.
“What do you know about the Harlots? Stitch in particular?”
“Huh?” I muttered eloquently.
“Bear with me. This is heading somewhere. Have any of you heard any rumours concerning Stitch?”
“No,” I replied for Cassidy and myself.
“Okay. Do either of you realise that if you crash during an operation, the time is recorded, as are the steps taken to restart your heart, etc?”
“No.” Where the hell was Hatton going with this? Considering it’d only been a few days, it was far too early and morbid to discuss this.
“Cassidy, you crashed during surgery. The time you did was three-forty-four. Remember that time. Wylde, you had three crashes. Three-fifty-eight, four-ten and four thirty-eight. You also came dangerously close to dying at six-fifteen and six-fifty in recovery. I’ve written those times down for you. ”
“Capt., what the fuck is this?” Cassidy demanded as I stared at the piece of paper he placed in front of me.
“Give me your laptop,” Hatton said and snatched it from Cassidy.
I was starting to wonder if the events had made Hatton crack. He tapped a few buttons, then turned the laptop to face us.
“This is the footage from the waiting room. Unfortunately for Stitch and Vengeance, they didn’t realise there was a camera right above them. I’d like you both to watch Stitch and note the times.”
I frowned and wondered what the fuck Hatton was on about.
He pressed play, and the footage began playing.
At three forty-four, Stitch went as white as a ghost, and her eyes rolled up.
At first, I thought she was fitting, but I noted how calm her body was.
An intense look crossed her face, and Vengeance moved in front of her to protect her from nosy parkers.
Pure white eyes stared at Vengeance without an ounce of recognition.
Then, a few minutes later, her eyes turned back to their normal colour, and Stitch relaxed.
The clip continued, and at three-fifty-eight, Stitch repeated her actions.
I stiffened as the footage kept playing, and each time I crashed, Stitch went into…what? A trance?
“Play it again,” Cassidy ground out as I stared at the video ended.
Hatton played it three more times. Finally, I turned to him. “What the fuck is this?”
“Just before she left, Sapphire ordered Stitch to sit in the waiting room. I thought it was a strange thing to do. But a while ago, I heard a rumour about Stitch. She calls herself a healer. By rights, both of you should be dead. I’ve spoken to the doctors; they’re all in agreement.
Cassidy, you were bleeding out like crazy when suddenly your artery pinched and the blood loss slowed dramatically.
But they couldn’t get enough blood into you, and you were dying.
Even now, they’re calling it a miracle you ain’t brain damaged,” Hatton said before gazing at me.
“As for you, there’s no doubt you should have died. You had a less than ten per cent chance, and yet three days later, you’re sitting here almost healthy. Those times your heart stopped correspond exactly to when Stitch went into whatever the fuck that is.”
“I don’t know what you’re getting at, Capt.,” I muttered as my brain tried to make the connection. Was Hatton honestly saying that Stitch had special powers?
“I believe Stitch is psychic, and that right there is proof she’s a bona fide healer. In fact, there’s a reason I wanted you watching them. I think at least half of them are hiding skills.”
Hatton dropped a bombshell that made me question my long-time friend’s mental abilities. But my eyes didn’t lie. Every time Cassidy or I crashed, Stitch did something. What the fuck was real and what wasn’t?