Dr. Wolf, the Fae Rift Series Book 1- Shockwave (11 page)

“The last thing we need is for Mister Social Tornado here to wake up,” Dartan said. He threw the refrigerator door toward the hospital dumpster and ducked quickly into the shadows of the backdoor. The door landed in the dumpster with a loud crash.

“Seriously?” Aleric said. “We’re trying to keep a low profile, remember?”

“That was an amazing shot,” Dartan replied.

Aleric shook his head. “It was loud.”

“It was amazing,” Dartan repeated. “I’m not opening this door until you admit it.”

Aleric glared at him.

Dartan shrugged.

Aleric rolled his eyes. “Fine. It was amazing.”

“Thank you,” Dartan said with a grin. He pushed the door open. “I thought so myself.”

They were halfway up the hall when Gregory burst through the E.R. doors.

“Dr. Wolf, hurry! You’re on television!”

Aleric and Dartan exchanged a glance.

Dartan reached for the demon. “I’ll get him situated in the D Wing. Go check it out. I’ll meet you there.”

Aleric followed Gregory to the break room. Dr. Worthen and Nurse Eastwick stood staring at the television with Dr. Indley. Alex looked past them to the screen.

The image was a bumpy recording of the alley where Aleric had fought the demon. It showed them from a higher viewpoint as he launched himself in wolf form at the demon just as the tranquilizer dart struck the creature’s back. The camera panned to the top of Dartan’s head. It was difficult to make out the vampire’s face. The image moved back to Aleric as he finished pulling on his shirt. At their feet, the demon slowly changed form back to human. Aleric glanced up. He remembered looking at the sky when Dartan mentioned the sun. The image froze, zooming in on his face.

“A city-wide sweep has been called for this man. Anyone with information leading to his arrest has been asked to call the police at the following number….”

“What did I miss?” Dartan asked, bursting through the door.

Everyone turned around. Dr. Indley’s gaze met Aleric’s.

“You’re the wolf?” she demanded.

She crossed to him in three angry strides.

“I, uh,” Aleric began.

Marae grabbed his shirt and pulled it up. The claw marks from the demon had torn the glue and were bleeding again from the fight.

“You want to explain this?” she said, her voice trembling with anger.

“There was this demon,” Aleric began.

Marae glared at him. “I’m not stupid! I knew something was going on around here. You said ‘I think creatures that vanish into thin air don’t exist’, and that ‘Somebody must be pulling a prank’?” Her voice rose. “You made a fool out of me!”

She stormed out of the room.

Aleric stared after her. It took him a minute to realize that his mouth was open. He shut it.

“You’re horrible with women,” Dartan said. “You’re going to have to get a different girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend!” Aleric protested.

Gregory appeared at the door.

“Uh, everyone, there’re reporters demanding to be let in.”

“Why here?” Dr. Worthen asked.

“I think Tarli called the police and told them Dr. Wolf was here,” Gregory said. He met Aleric’s gaze. “I’m sorry. I tried to stop her.” He lowered his voice, his face pale, “But she’s mean.”

“Great,” Dr. Worthen muttered. He shoved past Gregory intent on the Emergency Room.

Nurse Eastwick followed him to the door, then paused. “Aleric, do you need a place to stay?”

Aleric met her worried gaze. “I’m not sure what to do. Give me a minute to figure something out.”

“My place is always open,” she told him. “You could crash in Harrison’s room. He’s not going to need it until the end of the term. You boys would get along.”

Touched by the offer, Aleric smiled at her. “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

She nodded and left through the door.

Aleric leaned against the end of the couch. He glanced at Dartan who watched him silently.

“I really appreciate your help back there,” he told the vampire.

“Don’t mention it,” Dartan replied.

Angry voices arguing caught Aleric’s attention. He rose and went to the door. A glance at the E.R. doors showed several officers in dispute with Dr. Worthen.

“Get out of here,” he told Dartan. “They didn’t see your face.”

“I did as much as you,” Dartan replied.

Aleric turned to face him. “If they take us both, who’s going to help the fae and keep them hidden? I need you here.”

Dartan looked like he wanted to argue.

Aleric didn’t give him the chance. “The last thing the police station needs is a hungry vampire behind bars. That’s not going to help anyone.”

“I’m not hungry right now,” Dartan pointed out.

“How about a few hours from now when that blood bag goes through your system?” Aleric asked.

“What will you do tomorrow night when the full moon forces you to be a wolf?” Dartan shot back.

A chill ran through Aleric’s veins at the thought. “I’ll figure that out when I get to it.” He glanced through the door. “They’re coming. Promise me you’ll take care of the others and not drink the fairy’s blood.”

Dartan forced a smile despite the worry in his gaze. “Fairies taste horrible anyway. Their blood is chock full of positivity and light. It’s disgusting.”

“Thanks,” Aleric told him. “Go before they find you.”

He watched the vampire make his way back to the D Wing. If anyone had told him at the beginning of the day that he would trust the entire fae wing to the vampire, he would have laughed in their face. The fact that Dartan was the only one he could truly trust made him somber.

“Dr. Wolf?”

Aleric pushed the door open completely and stepped through. Dr. Worthen was followed by the three officers and he didn’t look at all happy about it.

“Yes, Dr. Worthen?” he said.

The lead officer stepped around the doctor. He looked Aleric up and down. Aleric knew his clothes were disheveled and blood showed through his shirt from the battle. It wasn’t his finest moment.

“Dr. Wolf, you are under arrest for aiding and abetting fae creatures,” the officer said.

Aleric didn’t fight as another officer handcuffed him. He listened numbly as his rights were read. In the corner of his eye, he saw Dr. Worthen arguing in vain with one of the other officers. Nurse Eastwick joined them and added her argument, but none of the officers appeared to care.

A thought occurred to Aleric. “The officers in the alley should be here,” he said. He looked at Dr. Worthen. “I told them to come here because we have experience with demons.”

“I’ll take care of them,” Dr. Worthen promised.

“I know you will,” Aleric replied.

He was pushed roughly past the doctor. Dr. Worthen put a hand on his arm.

“It’s been a pleasure working with you, Dr. Wolf.”

That brought a small smile to Aleric’s lips. “I feel the same. Thank you for trusting me.”

Dr. Worthen nodded and Aleric was led away.

Chapter 10

Aleric watched the buildings speed past. The detached voice in the back of his mind noted that his journey into the alleys had taken him to barely a sliver of the massive city. Skyscrapers blocked out the sunlight in places while in others, massive parks spanned entire city blocks. All around him, humans lived their lives unaware or uncaring of the creatures that had appeared in their city.

People clogged sidewalks and crossed the streets in huge groups while drivers honked and motioned for them to move. Bicyclers, people on scooters, skateboards, roller skates, and loud motorcycles congested the roads and sidewalks. Aleric could barely believe that so many people lived in one place.

The police car he rode in paused at a traffic light. Aleric’s gaze lingered on a lamp in a store at the base of one of the buildings. The glass of the lamp had been crafted in swirls of red, yellow, and blue. He wondered if the lamp would throw colored lights on the walls if it was plugged in. He imagined it would be beautiful. The car pulled away; he watched the lamp until it was out of sight.

“What happens to the city if the demon gets out again?” Aleric asked.

“That’s somebody else’s problem,” the officer in the front seat said.

“It’ll be your problem. That creature can throw humans around like rag dolls. Trust me. I’ve seen it,” Aleric said. “Someone else will get hurt if we don’t figure out a way to get them home.”

The officer didn’t reply. Aleric leaned his forehead against the window.

“What if an Archdemon gets through?” Aleric continued, musing quietly aloud. “Who’s going to stop it?”

A few minutes later, the car pulled in front of the Edge City Precinct. Inside the building came a blur of paperwork questions about residences Aleric didn’t have and contact information he didn’t know. In shorter time than he thought possible, Aleric found himself sitting in a room handcuffed to a table with the two chairs and the mirror across from him as the only furnishings.

He could hear officers talking on the other side of the mirror. Without anything else to do in the room, Aleric concentrated on the voices.

“How do we know he’s the werewolf for sure?”

“You saw the video.”

“Some kid took it. It could have been made up for all we know.”

“In that short of time? Impossible. He fought the monster.”

“Officer Ling said he saved their lives,” a third voice said. “Teri and Daniels wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.”

The sound of a door opening stopped their talking.

“Has anyone been in to question him?”

“Not yet, Commissioner. We were waiting for you.”

“Do we have his list of collaborators?” the Commissioner asked.

“He didn’t give up any.”

“No one helped me.”

At Aleric’s words, silence filled the room beyond.

“I think he can hear us,” one of the officers said, his voice uncertain.

“He’s a wolf guy, remember?” another said. “Of course he can hear us.”

“Not through this glass. It’s too thick.”

“Tell that to the wolf guy.”

“Werewolf.”

Silence filled the air again.

Aleric looked down at his hands cuffed to the table. “The correct term is werewolf, not wolf guy. I just figured since I’m obviously here for questioning, the clearer you are on what I actually am, the better for both of us. No secrets, right?”

He heard the door open and close. A few seconds later, the door to his room opened. Aleric found himself looking at the biggest man he had seen since being torn from the fae world.

“Are you here to rough me up?” he asked with only half a smile. The thought of being pummeled by the man after his battle with the demon wasn’t a pleasant one.

“I’m Commissioner Oaks,” the man replied. “I just want to ask you a few questions.”

“Are they taking notes?” Aleric asked of the other officers he could hear speaking quietly behind the mirror.”

“They better be,” the Commissioner replied.

He took a seat across the table. Instead of asking questions, the man merely looked at him for a few minutes. Aleric was amazed the tiny chair he sat on could hold the man’s impressive mass. Commissioner Oaks clasped his thick hands together on the table and studied Aleric without speaking.

Aleric fought back the urge to shift positions in the silence. He didn’t relish how his body healed so slowly in the human world. The front of his shirt stuck to the gashes across his chest. He could tell he had a few more lacerations and bruises along his back from being thrown against the wall. He decided walls weren’t his favorite thing and he would do what he could to avoid them in the future.

Werewolves in the fae world were generally regarded with suspicion because they were Ashstock, not Light fae or Dark fae, but somewhere in-between. Because of that, Aleric was used to the distrustful expression on the Commissioner’s face, but he felt he had done nothing to deserve it. The patients in the hospital needed him, Dartan would require blood soon and there was no one to get it without him seeking out a nurse or orderly, and Aleric didn’t imagine that would go over well. With Dr. Indley gone, there was nobody to keep an eye on Braum. The last thing they needed was a terrified faun with a broken leg hobbling around making it worse.

And Tranquility. Please, oh please don’t let Tranquility have the run of the hospital. He could just imagine what trouble the poorly named fairy would get into without him there.

Aleric knew no one else was going to come to his defense. As the silence drew on, he decided he would have to do it himself.

“All I did was stop a demon from killing your officers; I didn’t know saving lives was an offense in your world.”

The Commissioner’s thick eyebrows rose and he met Aleric’s gaze. The sharp intelligence in his eyes was intense. “You’ve nailed the problem on the head.”

Aleric sat back. His handcuffs pulled at his wrists, forcing him to sit forward again. “What does that mean?”

“You said ‘Your world’. That is the problem, isn’t it? You are in this world, currently, which makes it your world as well, yet you separate yourself from it. This is what makes you dangerous.” The Commissioner’s voice was deep and rumbling. It rolled around the room like a tidal wave.

“I’m not dangerous,” Aleric replied.

Oaks gave him a straight look. “We both know that’s not true.”

Aleric broke the silence that followed. “So what are you going to do? Throw me in a cell and toss the key? You could swallow it. Nobody would ever get that back. That’s a favorite pastime of trolls where I come from. You never want to get locked in a troll dungeon. Trust me. I’ve been there.”

Commissioner Oaks tipped his head to one side and gave Aleric a thoughtful look. “You know, Police Commissioner of Edge City isn’t an easy job.”

“I can imagine,” Aleric said quietly.

Oaks held his gaze. “Do you know why I’m the Commissioner?”

“You ate the last one?”

The barest hint of a smile touched the Commissioner’s lips. He opened his meaty hands. “Because I am very good at knowing whether a person is telling the truth or lying.” He sat back and crossed his arms. “The problem is that I don’t get the feeling that you’re lying.”

Aleric tried to cross his arms as well, but the handcuffs prevented it. He gave in and sat forward again with his hands on the table.

“I’m not lying.”

The Commissioner inclined his head. “I know. Three days ago I would have had you placed in the psychiatric ward for monitoring and drug therapy to help with your belief in this apparent other world with trolls and demons and all that.” His gaze bored into Aleric’s. “Unfortunately, given the events of the past two days, I am liable to believe you no matter how farfetched it sounds. As the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes said, ‘Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.’”

That brought a glimmer of hope to Aleric that he wasn’t going to be thrown into a jail cell and forgotten about. “So you believe me?”

“I’ve been hearing reports of demons, vampires, trolls, goblins, jackalopes, spider people, upright cows, unicorns, hippogriffs, and bigfoot over the past two days. Now I’m talking to a werewolf. I have to believe you or else check into the psych ward myself.”

“It might be easier,” Aleric suggested.

That brought a smile to the big man’s lips. “Yes, it just might.” He sat forward and linked his fingers again. “Aleric Bayne, I want my city to go back to normal with its petty crimes, sadistic gangs, and homicides. I like my city. I can keep my city under a semblance of order when things are normal. What I can’t control is Edge City swarming with creatures from nightmares plaguing the citizens and causing fear and unrest. You seem to be the only one able to do anything about it, so tell me about yourself.”

The request caught Aleric off-guard. He studied his hands for a moment. “Well, I’m from a place called Drake City in the fae continent Blays. It’s a city much like yours, but instead of gangs we have werewolf and werepanther packs. We went through a recent civil unrest when vampires broke the Fallow Conflict, and the homeless are made up of Dark fae orphans who band together for survival. Petty crime is when fairies steal shiny gems from the elves and homicides are usually the result of territory wars between the werepacks or if someone gets on the wrong side of a demon; though the occasional outbreak of howling pixies can make anyone want to end their lives.”

If the Commissioner was surprised by any of this information, he didn’t show it. Instead, he sat back in his chair and said, “That is all very interesting, but I want to know about you. Are you someone I can trust to help us rid the city of this outbreak?”

Aleric watched the man closely. His instincts said he could trust the hulking Commissioner, yet he had never been one to open up about himself lightly.

“Outbreak?” he repeated. “You act as if the fae people are a plague.”

“They are,” the Police Commissioner replied. He held up a hand. “Not to be rude, but by definition, an outbreak is the sudden start of something unwelcome in a particular area. The rise of your
fae people
, as you call them, have disrupted life in this city and endangered the citizens I work so hard to protect.”

Aleric sat back. The restraint of his handcuffs pulled him forward again.

The Police Commissioner surprised him by drawing a key from his shirt pocket and unlocking the cuffs. He let the handcuffs fall to the table with a clatter.

Aleric sat back and studied the man. “You have a point. I imagine that a sudden influx of humans with guns and hostile attitudes would be considered a plague in Drake City.”

“I’m glad you understand,” the Commissioner replied.

Aleric folded his arms and thought for a moment. “You want to know about me. I’ll be one hundred percent honest.” He met Commissioner Oak’s gaze. “If we were in Blays, I would tell you not to trust me. Werewolves and other Werecreatures are called Ashstock. We are neither Light nor Dark fae; because of this, we are regarded with enmity from the other fae. We work the jobs nobody else wants, and many of us end up on the streets fighting or scrounging at an early age.” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t trust the werewolf I was in Blays. I lost people I cared about, I was bitter, and I fended for myself because that’s all I had.”

Something showed in the Commissioner’s gaze when he motioned for Aleric to continue. Aleric realized that the light was one of respect.

“And now?” Commissioner Oaks prompted.

Aleric looked at the table. “In the past two days, I have saved the lives of several fae creatures I would have otherwise passed by on the streets of Drake City. I have battled a demon to keep him from harming humans, I have worked beside a medical doctor and a veterinarian to save the life of a faun, and I stood in the way of harm to protect your officers from getting killed.” He rolled his shoulders in an attempt to ease the tightness caused by the battering and met the Commissioner’s gaze again. “I’m a different werewolf in Edge City. I want to help people, and I think I have been placed in a position where I can.”

“You’re not a doctor,” the Commissioner said.

Aleric shook his head. “No, I’m not; but I am also the only individual here who seems to know how to take care of the fae creatures so that they can hopefully return to Blays and get on with their lives.”

The Commissioner sat forward. “How is that going to happen?”

Aleric shook his head. “I wish I knew. That’s something I’m still working on. Until then, not only are your people at risk, but so are mine through the ignorance of our two societies. You have a job to protect the citizens of Edge City. I see it as my responsibility to do the same for the fae.”

The Commissioner gave a grunt of acceptance. “Well put,” he said. “Are you sure you don’t want to go into politics.”

That brought a wry smile to Aleric’s face. “In Blays we have a saying, ‘Let the Light fae lead the Light and the Dark fae lead their own. The best place for a werewolf is to leave the twain alone.’”

The Commissioner nodded. “Werewolves stay out of it. Probably smart.” He stood. “Aleric Bayne, I appreciate your frankness.”