Chapter 8 #2
I’d pick that apart later. Shouts came from back along the path.
Marcas grinned and aimed the gun again. I changed to mist form, and the transformation happened faster than I was expecting, faster than the bullet Marcas shot at me.
In that instant I was even able to expel the first bullet, sectioning off only those molecules and sending it to the ground.
I’d never had that ability before, never knew it could be done.
I'd worry about how I'd gained these new skills later.
I was only slightly surprised to find my bullet wound had healed when I reformed to my human shape, chest-to-chest with Marcas.
Before he could react, I stabbed him in the gut and yanked away his gun with my other hand.
“Cal!” Greg’s shout came from the path behind us.
Reno yelled, “No guns! If you miss it could hit civilians!”
Time to end this. Marcas staggered back as I lifted the mek’leth to cut off his head, but he misted and moved swiftly toward where Roibeart was fighting the others.
Dammit. I spun around and raced ahead of him, arriving just in time to slam into Roibeart, who had a short sword and a knife and was easily fighting off Greg, Tucker, and Reno. Each of them had cuts here and there. They were arrayed in a line in front of Cal, who was on the ground, lying still.
I slashed at Roibeart’s throat as he recovered from my hit, but he ducked and I only got his shoulder. Marcas’ mist form hovered nearby, and Roibeart wasted no time misting himself, and they sped away.
“Fuck!” I spun and drove the mek’leth into the soft soil next to the path, both to clean it off and express my frustration. Then I put it back in the case on my back as I jogged over to the others. “Is Cal okay?”
Greg was kneeling next to Cal’s head. “He’s unconscious, and he’s got a nasty head wound. The vampire blocked his bat’leth and drove the handle into his temple.”
Fuck, that could’ve gone so much worse, but I didn’t say it. “Let me go get the rabbit shifter and we’ll figure out what to do.” I let go of the barrier I’d created in Reno’s and my connection, but no emotions came through immediately.
I didn’t see any civilians on my way back to the girl, which was fortunate. She was alive, but she’d lost quite a bit of blood. I picked her up, hoping no one would notice the bloodstained grass before it rained, and we were back to the others in seconds.
Cal was awake, blinking but appearing aware of himself. His eyes opened wide when he saw me. “Is she okay?”
“She will be.” I hoped.
Reno and Tucker were packing Cal’s bat’leth into its case. Reno scowled at me. “Are you injured?” He pointed at my side, where my shirt was coated in blood. Damn, I hadn’t thought to try cleaning my shirt while I was in mist form. I could do it, I knew.
“Not anymore.” I regarded Cal, then I turned to Tucker. “If you’ll carry her, I can carry Cal to the car.”
“The hell you can! I’ll walk.” Cal struggled to sit up as Greg tried to keep him prone.
I gave him an exasperated look. “Cal, I promise you, I can.” Sure, he was heavier than the average human male, but Tucker could carry him, though for a shorter distance. With my new abilities, however I had gained them, I was pretty sure I’d be able to lift two of him without an issue.
I set the rabbit shifter down while Tucker removed his Kevlar vest and took off his t-shirt. I helped him dress the woman in it, which hid most of the blood covering her neck and chest.
Shane’s grandmother popped into view. I couldn’t stop my reflexive snarl as I rushed to put myself between Reno and the perceived threat.
She frowned at Cal and the rabbit shifter as I relaxed and grimaced ruefully at the others, who’d all gone tense at my reaction. “Sorry, Dimi’s here.” I carefully didn’t look at Reno as I walked over to Cal.
Dimi waved a hand at him. “Jackson is willing to try to heal both of them, but they’re worried they might not be able to due to the restrictions the Elves put on that ability.”
I thanked her and relayed what she’d said to the others.
“What restrictions?” Cal winced as I lifted him into a bridal carry.
I was glad of the distraction answering him gave me.
Between the fight and Reno’s rejection of our mating, I was not interested in being alone with my thoughts.
“Jackson is a dèideag dìon, which is a sentient being created by powerful Elves when their children are born. The dèideag dìon have their own magic for protection and healing, as long as it is for the benefit of a child. They can heal any child, not just the one they were created for, but for them to heal an adult requires the magic to be convinced it’s necessary for a child’s well-being. ”
I began walking back the way we’d come. Greg hovered at my side, glancing anxiously at Cal’s head every few steps.
“But Jackson healed Nicky, and he’s not a child.” Reno scanned the park continuously, probably looking for civilians.
“No, and Jackson says they don’t remember this, but Nicky is the child for whom Jackson was created.”
This caused some murmurs of surprise. Cal touched his fingers to his temple and grimaced. “So when I gave Jackson my magic a few months ago, did it, like, turn them into some sort of super version of, um, whatever you called it?”
I smiled. “No, you helped them get to where they should’ve been.
As the child they are paired with grows, the dèideag dìon slowly absorbs enough of the child’s magic to go through what we call ‘Becoming’, which is basically an evolution from a barely cognizant toy into a being capable of complex thought and body shapes.
It is considered a sign an Elf is a great leader if their dèideag dìon Becomes capable of taking the form of an adult Elf.
Or, in this case, an adult human. Jackson’s Becoming was inhibited early on.
When I found them after Nicky was kidnapped, they were unusually small for their age, and I believe that was caused by their giving Nicky a majority of their magic to try to fight off the vampires.
And then of course later they were stuck in one room for decades. ”
We reached the cars without any humans coming near us.
Reno said he’d call Dominic to update him on the fight.
I put Cal across the back seats of Greg’s SUV, and Tucker put the rabbit shifter in the back of his car.
I would have preferred to ride with Reno, but there wasn’t room, and he didn’t want me near him anyway.
Cal dozed and Greg was silent on the way back to Reno’s house.
He kept flexing his hands on the steering wheel, and I could tell he was checking on Cal through their bond every few minutes.
Cal’s magic looked strong, and he was already healing.
He probably wouldn’t need Jackson’s help, but he’d have to take it easy for a few days.
The rabbit shifter wasn’t bonded, so she wasn’t as resilient.
When we arrived, Cal was able to stand to get out of the car, and he let Greg help him into the house. “I just want to lie down for a little while, and then I want to go home.” Greg nodded and kissed him on the forehead. I offered Cal the guest bedroom, and Greg went with him.
Tucker carried the rabbit shifter into the living room and set her down on the couch.
Reno waved a cell phone at me as he went toward the backyard to get Jackson.
“Her name’s Meg. I found this in her pocket, and I was able to get hold of her emergency contact, which is her roommate.
They’re in town from Colorado for some conference. The roommate’s on her way over.”
Great. If Jackson could heal her, Meg would be well enough to leave with her roommate. We had enough on our hands looking after Nicky.
Jackson and Shane came inside. Jackson hurried over to Meg, and Shane gestured toward the backyard. “Nicky doesn’t want to see another vampire bite.” I suppressed a wince, hoping he never had to see me feed.
Jackson perched on the couch cushion next to Meg’s head. They frowned. “She needs healing, but my magic won’t let me do it.”
Reno sat down on the ottoman he had instead of a coffee table. It looked like it might be hollow inside, and I imagined sitting next to Reno on the couch, pulling my knitting out of the ottoman while he watched TV or played a video game. One day.
Reno leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. He still had smears of blood on his arms, but the cuts from the fight with Roibeart were healed. “Jackson, Nicky can’t bear to see another vampire bite. He won’t be able to come inside until Meg here is healed.”
I smiled. My mate was so smart. Then my smile died and I sighed. I wished he was my mate.
Jackson gazed at Meg as they considered this, but they shook their head. “Not enough.”
Reno held up Meg’s cell phone. “I don’t know their relationship, but Meg lives with a very young girl.”
Jackson cocked their head. “How young?”
Reno shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you exactly, but very young. Very.” His voice rang with conviction.
Jackson smiled and used one finger to scoop some glittering goo out of their knee.
Shane went back outside, and I headed for the kitchen to wash my hands and find some snacks for Jackson to replenish their energy.
Everyone else would probably want to eat as well.
I needed blood, but I didn’t have the same urgent hunger I usually did after misting.
I put together a tray of cheese, fruit, and crackers and gave it to Reno, who had been looking at his phone while he and Jackson waited for Meg to wake up.
I took another plate of the same snacks outside, though I doubted Nicky would be very hungry after I told him Marcas and Roibeart were still alive.