Chapter 5
Ivan filled the tank up, gazing at Jamie as he walked away and into the shop, and smiling at him when he turned around.
His eyes tracked Jamie as he walked into the petrol station shop.
Being this close to Jamie was making him want things he shouldn’t.
Jamie was perfect, he literally looked like his ideal man, but he had been in this position before, well, not the mate thing, but he’d been in love before, and it hadn’t ended well.
So, so, not well. He wasn’t sure he could go through that again, but then everything about Jamie was far different than Derrick.
The nozzle clicked, and Ivan gave it a few extra squeezes before putting it back and closing the petrol cap. He strode into the shop and saw Jamie on the phone, looking concerned, and hurried to his side, just as Jamie dropped his head into his hand.
Ivan touched his shoulder.
Jamie looked up, fear reflecting in his eyes. “Dad caught them and threw Karl into a wall. He’s unconscious and bleeding, Kitty’s scared.”
Ivan held his hand out. “Can I have the phone?”
Jamie handed it over.
“Kitty, my name’s Ivan, I’m a friend of your brother’s. We’re on our way to collect you both. We’ll be there as soon as we can. I know you’re injured, but can you look after your brother?”
“I can try,” she replied with another sniff.
“Good going, princess. Jamie and I will be with you as soon as possible.”
“Thanks,” she replied.
Ivan handed the phone back and went to pay, grabbing some sweets on the way.
Jamie stayed where he was. “Be strong, Kitty Kat, love you.”
“Love you, too,” and with that Jamie hung up, just as Ivan walked back, took his hand and quickly walked back to the car.
Ivan handed the sweets to Jamie, and as soon as they were belted up, they were off. “Call Seth,” Ivan said.
Ringing sounded in the car.
“What news?” Seth asked, answering.
“The news is bad. I need a quicker way to get to Wallingford, and we’ll need either Adrian or a hospital.”
“Okay, let me see,” they heard clicking. “I’ve located you, now let me see. In four miles, the road is blocked because of an accident.”
Ivan swore.
“In about a hundred yards, there’s a turning on your left, take that road. I’ll stay on the phone and direct you. Adrian arrived back earlier, and Gio has just texted him for me. Dave, Louise and Annie are making up some rooms here for Jamie and his siblings.”
Ivan took the turn, not really slowing down. Jamie grabbed the ‘Oh shit’ handle and seatbelt, but didn’t say anything.
“Take the next road on your right and stay on it for about three miles.”
“Thank you,” Jamie said softly, biting his thumbnail.
“We’ll keep you all safe. I’ve also messaged everyone to see if anyone is closer to Wallingford than you are.”
“I wonder if Gabriel and Mathis can help,” Ivan suggested.
“Who are they?” Jamie asked.
“Mathis is a brother vampire, Gabriel is his mate and a witch,” Ivan replied.
“Witches are real as well?” Jamie asked, surprised.
“They are,” Seth replied. “Gio is ringing Mathis, I’ll three-way call when he answers.”
“Hey, Gio,” Ivan heard Mathis say.
“Mathis, it’s Seth. I have you in a three-way with Ivan.”
“Kinky, but I’m happy with my mate, thanks,” Mathis replied with a laugh.
Seth snorted. “Glad to hear it. But we require urgent help that we hope Gabe can provide.”
Mathis’ tone became serious. “What’s up? I’m putting you on speaker.”
“Ivan and his mate are on a rescue mission to save Jamie’s siblings, but things have just taken a dangerous turn, and we need to rescue them quicker than the nearly three hours they have left in their journey,” Seth told him.
“I can help,” Gabriel said. “Tell me where we need to be.”
“If I park up, can you come to us and then Jamie can tell you where to go? His brother is currently unconscious, and his sister has a possible broken arm, courtesy of their parents.”
“There is a carpark just coming up on your right,” Seth told him.
“Got it,” Ivan replied, turning into it and parking quickly. Luck was on their side as the carpark was empty. “Okay, Gabe, we’re ready. Thanks, Seth, Gio, chat later.” Ivan disconnected the call. “Let’s wait outside.”
By the time they both got out of the car, a portal opened and Gabriel and Mathis walked out, David, Bert, Cairo and Troy with them. The portal closing behind Troy.
“It’s a shiny door,” Jamie said, looking a bit shocked. It looks like a shiny doorway, minus the actual door.
“It’s a portal and a quick way to travel. I’m Gabe, this is my mate Mathis, and my friends, David, Bert, Cairo and Troy. We can do official introductions later.”
“I’m Jamie, thank you for helping me. My sister doesn’t know if Karl is alive or dead,” he choked back his tears. His brother couldn’t be dead; he had no idea what he would do if Karl was.
Gabe pulled him into a hug. “Then let’s not waste another moment. Think of where they are.”
Jamie hugged him back, then, pulling back, he thought of his parents’ lounge.
Gabe swirled his hand, and another portal opened.
Jamie saw his parents’ lounge through the shiny doorway.
“Let’s go,” Bert said, leading the way.
Bert walked out of the portal first and saw a man sitting on a sofa, drinking beer from a can and watching the television.
Judging by how many cans were on the floor, that wasn’t his first. A woman was slumped in a chair, a bottle close by and a broom in her hand.
He wrinkled his nose at the smell of the room, body odour and stale alcohol.
Bert moved out of the way as the others walked through.
The man stumbled to his feet. “What the hell!” he exclaimed, swaying slightly. He was a large man, both in height and width, his shirt straining over his stomach.
Jamie stomped forward. “Where are they?”
His father sneered. “Pathetic fairy, not man enough to come on your own?”
Ivan stepped forward. “He’s more than man enough to come alone, but why should he when his friends can help?”
“Like this pathetic idiot has friends,” he sneered again.
“I’m going to find Karl and Kitty,” Jamie said, ignoring his father and quickly turning away towards the lounge door.
His father moved forward, but Troy stepped in front of him.
Ivan left them to it and rushed out with Jamie, Gabe and Mathis following.
They didn’t have to go far before Jamie saw them on the floor by the dining room. He ignored the bland oatmeal-painted walls and the hideous seventies-patterned carpet and focused on his brother and sister. Kitty was kneeling next to a still unconscious Karl, her arm in a sling.
“Kitty, Karl!” Jamie rushed to their side.
Kitty jumped up, holding her bad arm. “He’s still not woken up.”
Jamie dropped to his knees as Kitty leant against him. He slipped an arm around her and touched Karl’s shoulder. “Karl?”
His brother didn’t move. Jamie gasped at how pale his brother looked. He had a gash on his head that had bled into his hair and onto the carpet.
“Let me have a look,” Gabe said, kneeling next to Karl, as Jamie shuffled out of the way.
Gabe put his hands on Karl and closed his eyes.
“What’s he doing?” Kitty asked in a loud whisper.
“Gabe is healing your brother, princess,” Ivan told her, putting a hand on her shoulder and one on Jamie’s. “I’m Ivan.”
Kitty nodded while watching Gabe work. As they spoke, light surrounded Karl. They all watched until Gabe opened his eyes and took his hands off Karl, the light fading as Karl let out a sigh and opened his eyes.
Karl looked scared until he saw Jamie. He sat up and threw himself into Jamie’s arms, shaking.
“I’ve got you,” he said gently, hugging him tightly, then looked at Gabe. “Thank you.”
“It’s good we arrived when we did, your brother didn’t have long left. I’ve fixed his injuries and started the healing for his brain trauma, but it will take several days for it to clear completely, although I’m hoping Adrian might be able to help it recover quicker.”
“Is Karl really better?” Kitty asked him.
“Almost all better,” Gabe told her. “Can I help with your arm?”
Kitty looked from Jamie to Ivan, who gave her a reassuring nod.
“Okay,” she replied softly.
“Can you hold your arm out for me?”
Ivan carefully untied the sling and helped her move her arm.
“I’ll be gentle,” Gabe promised her, smiling softly.
She nodded and again leant against Ivan.
Ivan was surprised that she seemed to trust him so quickly. He wondered if that was normal. He was pulled from his thoughts as the bright light surrounded Kitty’s arm. A moment later, it vanished and Gabe opened his eyes.
“There now, all fixed. How does it feel?”
Kitty prodded her arm and moved it around. “It doesn’t hurt, and the swelling is gone. Thank you.”
Gabe patted her shoulder. “You’re welcome.”
“We should probably pack your things and get out of here,” Mathis suggested.
“We have a backpack each that we packed earlier,” Karl said, pulling back from his brother, still looking pale, the dried blood still on his face.
“Where are they?” Ivan asked them.
“In here,” Kitty said, leading the way to the dining room.
Ivan found the bags by the door and picked them both up.
Cairo joined them in the hall. “Troy and I packed more of your things. We’re ready to go when you are.”
Jamie looked at Karl. “Can you move?”
“Yeah,” his brother replied.
Gabe helped him stand, and Ivan held his hand out to Jamie.
“Thanks,” Jamie said, smiling at him. “I’m almost scared to ask, but where’s our dad?”
Cairo snorted out a laugh. “He took one look at the kitty and passed out.”
“I’m not even going to pretend I understand that at the moment,” Jamie said, shaking his head.
“I’ll open a portal here, wouldn’t want to shock the neighbours,” Gabe said, swirling his hand and a portal opened in the dining room.
“What the hell?” Karl exclaimed. “I think I might have injured my head worse than I thought. There looks to be a shiny doorway right there,” he said, pointing.
“Gabe is a super cool witch,” Jamie told him. “We used one of these to get to you quickly, and thank goodness we did.”
“Guys, we’re going,” Cairo called out.
Bert and David walked out of the lounge and joined them in the hallway.
Kitty took Ivan’s hand. Ivan looked at her again in surprise and smiled down at her. “Ready?”
Kitty bit her lip but nodded.
“Come on then, there’s nothing to this,” and with that, Ivan led Kitty through. They came out in the coven kitchen. Ivan moved them out of the way so the others could come through.
He saw Seth and Gio jump up as they entered. Adrian, Kevin and Ian were also there.
Gabe clicked his fingers when they were all through and closed the portal.
“Somehow I wasn’t expecting to come out in a kitchen,” Jamie commented. At a quick glance, Jamie could see that this room was massive. At one end was a shiny modern kitchen, and in the middle of the room was the biggest table Jamie had ever seen.
“Welcome to our home,” Ivan said.
Bert saw his brother. “Bacon, what are you doing here?”
Some of the others smirked.
“Catching up with Seth and Gio, Gerty.”
Just then, Dave and Max rushed into the kitchen.
“Oh, thank goodness you’re all safe,” Dave said, pulling Jamie into a hug. He pulled back and then went to say hello to David.
“Thank goodness,” Max said, before catching sight of Bert. “Hi, I didn’t know you’d arrived back.”
“Literally just back. We were all together when Seth called for reinforcements, so we all came.”
“Wait,” Jamie said, looking from Dave to Max. “You both live here?”
“I do, Max doesn’t yet. Hunter lives here as well,” Dave replied, still wrapped in David’s arms.
“Tattoo Hunter?”
Dave nodded. “Yep. This is a big place, I’m trying to fill all the rooms up.”
As they were talking, Adrian walked close, looking at Karl, then Gabe.
“I healed what I could, which was a fair bit of damage. Karl’s brain took a big blow. I started healing it, but my healing will take time. I’m hoping you can heal his brain quicker than I can.”
“I can,” Adrian agreed, then looked back at Karl. “I’m Adrian. Can I fix your head for you?”
Karl was leaning into Jamie’s side, still looking pale, pain reflected in his eyes. “Please, I think my head is about to explode.”
“Have a seat at the table,” Adrian said.
Being closest, Troy pulled a chair out, and Jamie guided his brother over and helped him sit down.
Adrian knelt at his side. “All I’m going to do first is put my hands on your arm. I need to see what the damage is like and how best to help you. Is that okay?”
Karl nodded, then closed his eyes, groaning. “Remind me not to do that again.”
“I’m going to start now,” Adrian said, gently putting his hands on Karl’s arm.
Ivan moved around and slipped his arm around Jamie. He still held Kitty’s hand, who was leaning against his side. He caught the smile Seth sent him and deliberately didn’t look at Dave.
“So, I can help clear the last of your head injury, and luckily for you, I don’t need any of my instruments to help. Just stay there, and I’ll have you right as rain in a few moments. Okay?”
“Thank you,” Karl said softly.
Adrian nodded and put his hands back on Karl’s arm and closed his eyes.
Unlike Gabe’s healing, light didn’t surround them, but they saw colour start to drain out of Adrian’s hair.
By the time he took his hands off Karl and opened his eyes, he had a large grey streak in his hair and more grey hairs scattered amongst the brown. “How are you feeling?”
Karl moved his head and then grinned. “The pain’s gone. Thank you,” he then threw his arms around Adrian, hugging him.
Adrian laughed and hugged him back.
Karl pulled back and looked at Adrian, suddenly frowning as he looked at his hair. “Did I hurt you?”
Adrian shook his head. “No, my hair shows how much healing I used. It will be back to normal after a good night’s sleep.”
“Thanks, Adrian,” Jamie said.