Chapter Nine
Neith
“I am not used to having anyone to tell. That’s going to take some adjustment,” I reply honestly.
It’s not a sad thing, it’s just the way that it has been for the past decade, and it isn’t going to be something that I can just give up so easily. I’m being slightly generous with the years, there were a few where I relied on Dimitri, before he proved himself to be truly psychotic. I don’t allow myself to dwell on that though.
“We won’t get mad,” Ransom says firmly as if he is daring anyone to argue with him. No one does. No one even looks like they were considering it.
“Neith, you were right, I’m going to have to cut the shirt off so that I can see your shoulder.” Doc starts to explain as he pulls out some scissors from his doctor’s bag.
Apparently, River isn’t too fond of that, and I don’t know whether it's because of the scissors, or because Doc will be cutting his shirt. Either way, the whole room takes a collective breath as his magic builds, he partially shifts one of his fingers into a claw and slices the shirt from the collar by my neck, over my shoulder, and down my arm. He does it with such precision that he only cuts the fabric, and all I feel is the softest touch that makes my skin prickle with sensitivity.
The fabric near my neck and on my shoulder doesn’t move because it's glued to me with blood, but the fabric on my arm falls away with ease.
“Did you know he could do that?” Ransom asks.
I glance up just in time to see Raiden shake his head, “No, I didn’t.”
“Me neither,” Van replies.
“He’s never behaved like this about anyone, though, has he?” Reed points out.
I stiffen slightly, and River’s big hand strokes along the outside of my thigh, soothing me until I relax again. I look at Reed and ask, “He hasn’t?”
Reed doesn’t reply verbally; he just shakes his head.
Oh. That’s a big deal, at least I think it is. Now probably isn’t the time to ask. While we were talking, or rather I was listening to them talk, Doc has got to work removing the shirt sides from the wound. It hurt, but I was able to block it out.
“Fuck, Neith, this bite is huge. If the creature had bit down any deeper or pulled, it could have taken your arm,” Doc curses, and all the guys refocus on my arm.
“I can’t believe that you were able to block the pain of that out,” Evander says.
“You don’t seem to heal like a supe,” Griff points out.
My laugh is somewhat sardonic as I reply, “No, I definitely don’t.”
“Sully said that it was just the beginning, so maybe that’s something that will happen when her supernatural side develops.” Ransom suggests thoughtfully.
I shrug, “Maybe. I sure as hell hope so.”
“What did it?” Doc asks as he continues to inspect the mark. “The bite is big, bigger than anything that I have come across for a long time.”
I frown, “I have no idea. I can describe it, but it wasn’t an earth animal. Like Flinotive said, he transported me to another realm somehow and then just told me that I had to get home. I ran into a puddle that ate my shoe, and I mean literally ate my boot and I couldn’t carry on running with one boot on, so I sacrificed the other one to the puddle too. Then this tiny timer showed up, all glowing and shit letting me know how long I had to get to the door that would lead me out of the realm, three hours by the way, that was how long I was there.”
“What?” Reed barks. “How is that possible? You were gone for twenty minutes maximum.”
“Flin said that time worked differently, and not as much time had passed here,” I explain and then continue my previous explanation because I know that they are about to ask me anyway, “then I got chased, well hunted by this creature that was really fucking disturbing,” I quickly describe the long-limbed, backward knee, all mouth and teeth thing to the guys.
“I have never heard of a creature like that,” Evander frowns.
“Something about the description jogs a memory, but I can't quite place it, leave it with me and I’ll see what I can find,” Raiden says thoughtfully.
“That’s what bit you?” Doc asks.
I shake my head, “No. That was chasing me and I thought that it was the end. It was too fast, and I had no weapons on me. It knocked me over, and I spent ages rolling around, missing its claws as it tried to pierce me, and then I saw my sword just lying there. I grabbed it and sliced off one of its arms, hence this mess because I was still underneath it,” I gesture to the yuk all over me, “then I managed to stand, but it was only momentarily distracted. I took its head and kicked it as far away from the body, just in case, and then I had to run to the door because I wasn’t going to make it in time.”
“I’m going to start healing you now,” Doc says.
I nod and carry on my story as the warmth of Doc’s magic spreads throughout me, “I was nearly there when this giant beast like a giant dog, dark purple and black fur covered it entirely, huge pointed ears, built like a tank, really muscled, and easily as tall as my shoulder, it’s muzzle must have been as long as my arm and it was pissed. It bit me just as I threw myself through the gate.
I don’t mention the guy that I saw because he doesn’t seem relevant to the story and I kind of want to keep him to myself, although I am unsure why I feel that way. The voices, that have been easily ignorable, suddenly get louder and become a buzz in my brain. I have no idea if that means that they agree with my decision or not, but it only lasts for a moment before they quiet back down again.
My shoulder must be healed because I feel River relax slightly underneath me, although he doesn’t let go and holds me just as tightly.
“All done,” Doc says with a smile.
I gingerly test my arm, smiling in relief, and then reach for him, pulling him in for a hug and kissing his cheek.
“Thank you. You are awesome,” I tell him, and he nods, an emotion swirling in his eyes that I’m not entirely sure I can identify.
“Here you go, Neith,” Raiden says as he hands me one of my dessert choices and a spoon. “When you want one of the others, just yell.”
“Thank you,” I say again, but this time to Raiden.
He just smiles, and takes a seat next to River, who doesn’t growl and didn’t when I hugged Doc so he must be calming down.
The conversation turns back to my little adventure.
“I don’t recognize that creature either,” Doc frowns. “Definitely not an earth realm creature, not even one that was brought over after the war.”
“I will have a look for it when I look for the other creature,” Raiden says and then looks back at me, “do you know what realm you were in? That would help narrow it down a lot. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of different realms, and the creatures in the realms that are occupied are all different. Outside of the official portals, realm travel is rare now, but it’s not unheard of.”
“Official portals?” I ask curiously.
Raiden nods, his eyes lighting up, “Yes. It’s not something that the humans are aware of because of the issues that it could cause if they went through, wanted to use them, or tried to control them like they have the propensity to want to do. Quite a few supes travel to different realms to gather things that they can’t get here, some even go for vacations, or move completely. The majority of the other realms are harsher than here, with their laws and way of life. Some are worse than others.”
“Wow,” I say. “That’s really interesting. Can you tell me about them?”
Raiden’s smile is wide and full of happiness, “Yeah. I would love to . . .”
“Raid, I’m sorry, man, but we should probably try to work out Neith’s situation,” Evander interrupts.
Raiden’s face falls, and he starts to look slightly embarrassed.
“Later?” I ask, trying to let the genuine curiosity I have leak into my voice so that he knows that I am just as interested in it as he is. I add, “I absolutely love knowledge, all knowledge, and I know it’s probably really lame, but I love research too, looking through a stack of books to find that one piece of information that makes everything click into place and make sense.”
Raiden looks surprised, and Evander nudges him, “I told you she was like you when it comes to research.”
“I know, I just didn’t believe you,” Raiden replies, clearing his throat, and looking back at me, “do you want to help me figure out what these creatures are? We should have the books in the library here, but if not, we can go and find some more.”
My eyes widen, “You have a library, and it took you this fucking long to tell me!”
Raiden’s eyes widen, “Er, sorry. I didn’t realize that you would be interested.”
“I am very much interested,” I reply, “and I would love to help, tomorrow though. You asked me a question?”
He frowns slightly as he tries to remember, “Ah, yes. Did the imp tell you what realm you were in?”
I shake my head, “No, he gave me very little fucking information and he didn’t answer one of my questions, I don’t even know why I had to do the task. He wouldn’t tell me. I also don’t know why I could understand him and you couldn’t.”
“You spoke his language too,” Griff reminds me.
“Exactly, and I have no idea how the fuck I managed to do that,” I reply, yawning. “I know there is quite a lot to discuss, but it’s light out; we have been up for most of the night and early morning, and I need sleep. Do you think River will let me up yet?”
Reed smirks, “River has been back in control since you stopped bleeding.”
I twist, looking up at a slightly sheepish-looking River who smirks but is clearly worried about my reaction to what happened.
I chuckle, making him relax, “Jeeze, dude if you wanted a cuddle, you should have just said so!” I wrinkle my nose, “You definitely should have let me shower first.”
“I don’t mind,” River says, and then adds, “I just need to know you were okay.”
Doing something that is completely unlike me I place my hand on his cheek, “Thank you.”
I mean it, it has been a long time since someone has actively cared about the fact that I am injured to the degree that River does, even Sully was just like you will be alright. River let me be vulnerable about it if I wanted to be and hugged me while it was dealt with.
“Anytime,” he replies. He smirks, his arms tightening around me, “I suppose that you would like me to let you up?”
I sigh, “I really do need a shower.”
“Fine,” he grumbles teasingly and reluctantly lets me go.
I get up, already missing the warmth of River’s arms and half tempted to crawl back onto his lap, he makes me feel safe and that’s a feeling that I like. Griff holds up Betty to me, and I smile as I take her off him.
“Thanks for looking after her,” I say, through yet another yawn.
He smiles just a little bit, “Of course. Go and get some sleep. We will all sleep until we are rested, and we will probably write the rest of today off.”
“Thank fuck for that,” I reply, “if you were about to tell me that I needed to be up in a couple of hours, I was going to rebel.”
“How?” Evander asks, memories sparking in his eyes.
I shrug, “Oh, I don’t know, steal everyone’s clothes so that they had to stay in their rooms, and I could sleep more.”
“I don’t think that would work with us,” Reed points out. His smile surprises me when it turns wicked, and he adds, “We would just walk around naked.”
I’m momentarily speechless as the images play through my mind like the best dirty movie before I smile slowly, “In that case, I am definitely going to steal all your clothes. I don’t see the downside of that scenario.”
“It’s not really fair if we are all naked and you’re dressed,” Ransom teases, a sexy half smile on his lips.
“And that’s enough of that,” Doc says, his eyes briefly flashing gold, and I would be willing to bet that his incubus is getting a good hit of desire right now.
I wink at him because I can, and apparently, I do that now. I swear I have done that more in the last few days than I have in the entirety of my life.
Without waiting for any sort of response, because Doc is right, that conversation needs to stop before I say something like, I will take mine off if you take yours off, and we all end up naked.
Teammates: they are my teammates.
In my tired state, I really couldn’t give a shit, a good fuck before I fall asleep would be awesome, but then I always think that is the case.
As I’m walking toward the door, my intuition prickles.
“Neith!” Ransom yells, sounding panicked.
I turn, once again moving faster than I should be able to, my hand lifting as I catch my sword that is flying straight toward the back of me. I instinctively know what was wrong as soon as it’s in my hand.
I chuckle, “Apparently, it didn’t want to be left behind.”
“Well, that’s an extreme way to go about making sure it was taken with you. It nearly impaled you,” Reed growls, looking like he is trying to calm himself down.
I shrug, and then draw my eyebrows together, “It knew that I would catch it, but it’s also testing me.”
“Testing you?” Griff asks, not pleased by that prospect at all.
“Yeah,” I reply, and shrug again, “I don’t know why.”
Raiden smiles, “It’s curious how you found it and how it’s now definitely attached itself to you.”
“Are we surprised though? Neith seems to defy all of the rules,” Reed rumbles.
A fissure of insecurity unfurls inside me, and I pull on my best unaffected mask as I ask teasingly, “I bet you wish I hadn’t turned up on your doorstep now.”
“Never, I wish you had turned up sooner,” Evander says.
“Me too,” River adds, his eyes serious like he can tell that this means a lot to me, “we missed out on a lot of Neith time.”
“Life has been a hell of a lot more interesting with you here,” Raiden adds.
“Definitely,” Griff agrees in one-word fashion.
Doc smiles, “I’m afraid it looks like you are stuck with us.”
Reed just nods in agreement, his expression serious and assuring me that he agrees with the others.
That knot of tension that had made itself known unravels, settling. It will probably come back at some point, they don’t even know everything about me that makes me weird, and until they do, I will be continuously worrying that they are going to walk away, that the next thing that they find out about me will be the thing that tips them over the edge and makes them tell me to leave.
“Thanks, guys,” I mutter with a soft smile. My thoughts move back to what we were initially discussing since I now desperately want to change the subject before they realize just how serious I was being when I said that. “Sully’s poker game is at the end of the week; I have got to go because Ernie is convinced that he can win his money back and wants a rematch.” I smile affectionately as I continue, “He is petty enough to send people for me, pretending he’s all big and scary just so that I’ll play.”
“He is big and scary,” River points out, his eyebrow raised.
I pull a face, “Nah, he’s a softie.”
Reed shakes his head, “I can’t believe that you call the high vamp of the western cities a softie.”
“I’ve met him, if anyone else dared he would have their heads, literally,” Doc adds.
I just shrug, I suppose to the majority of people Ernie would appear to be that way, mainly because he actually is. He didn’t earn the title of High Vamp out of the goodness of his heart, supernaturals don’t work like that, their system is brutal, and violent and quite frankly I love it. The thing about Ernie is that once you have earned his loyalty, that’s it, you are good with him for as long as you live, unless you do something to fuck it up.
I earned Ernie’s trust years ago.
I decide that there is no point trying to explain that to the guys right now, especially since that will lead to more questions and I really want to shower and sleep, so I carry on what I was going to say, before I forget what I was saying in the first place.
Of course, my brain gets sidetracked, and I don’t say what I had intended and instead, say, “If Ernie surprises you then the others definitely will.”