Authors: Rebekkah Ford
“I normally don’t do this, Mr. Caswell,” he whispered, his eyes darting around us, “but follow me.” For a guy barely five six with short legs he moved fast, and I followed appreciating his hastiness. “It’s not good,” he said out the corner of his mouth. I bent my head toward him to appear like I had to strain my ears to hear when really I heard him fine. We crossed several halls to the end of a deserted one. Without hesitation, he entered a room and held the door open for me. When I stepped past him, he stuck his head out the doorway for one last sweeping look. “Carrie’s physician is gathering a team as we speak to do immediate surgery on her.”
I took a couple deep breaths to compensate for the sudden stillness of my heart. If Carrie died, it would completely shatter Paige. I shook my head, pushing the thought aside and listened to Dr. Sweeney lay out Carrie’s results in a detailed manner. He stopped several times to look at his watch, and I felt a sting of guilt for keeping him from his duties. He still had to explain all of this to Carrie’s family. Then I wondered why he seemed eager to tell me. Why would he jeopardize his job by violating the patient-doctor confidentiality law?
I noticed the beads of sweat dripping down his broad face.
What was going on?
But before I could get a word in edgewise, he continued with his assessment. I had to admit he knew what he was talking about, which gave me some comfort. He also wasn’t shy to boast about him being one of the best neurosurgeons in the country, and Carrie’s life rested in good hands.
He looked at his watch again. “I’m going to grab Carrie’s doctor and set up a quick meeting with her parents. If all goes well, we’ll start the operation within a couple hours.”
“What procedure are you going to do, and how will it help her?” I asked.
“We’re going to relieve the pressure in her skull by placing a ventriculostomy drain in there. Its function is to remove the cerebrospinal fluid.”
“What’s the recovery rate?” My eyes were wary on his face. I didn’t feel comfortable with this solution, but I knew I had to trust him.
He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ve done this procedure many times. It’s quite simple and could actually be done at the patient’s bedside.” He smiled, but the corners of his mouth twitched nervously. “I’ll take good care of her.”
“Thanks, Doctor,” I said, feeling reassured when I saw the sincerity in his eyes. I could imagine it being nerve-wracking to have people’s lives depended upon you, which would explain how nervous he seemed. I followed him to the door and stopped when he turned.
“Will you please keep this between us, because what I’ve told you could cost me my position and possibly my career?”
“Yes, of course,” I reassured him. “But may I ask why divulge information not meant for my ears?” I knew he was in a hurry, and I hated wasted more of his time, especially with Carrie’s life hanging by a thread, but the question just fell out of my mouth.
He let out a strangled laugh. “Let’s just say I had no choice and leave it at that.” He shook his head in disgust and turned away from me.“I was such a
fucking
idiot,” he scolded under his breath, flinging the door open. He practically ran down the hall, his white lab coat billowing behind, his heavy footfalls, echoing against the powder blue walls.
I stood, staring after him as everything clicked into place, like puzzle pieces snapping together to form a whole picture.
Son-of-a-bitch!
Bael’s filthy hands were smeared all over this. But why would he . . .?
Oh. God. Paige.
My heart jackhammered against my chest as I raced through the halls, nearly knocking a few scrub wearing people out of the way, throwing out “sorry” and “excuse me” in my haste. Instead of taking the elevator, I took the stairs two at a time. My ears rang, alerting me of a dark presence nearby. As I flew down the stairs, a dark-haired guy was just about to exit when I slammed my hand against the door. “What’s going on, Ayperos?” Like Bael, he was predictable in the vessels he chose. This one was a little different from the last one he possessed, by about ten years older. He looked like a young Sean Connery with long hair he had gathered in a ponytail. I stepped back when he turned and greeted me with a plastic smile.
“Nathan. Fancy seeing you here. Shouldn’t you be comforting Paige and her
wretched
friend?” His condescending, carefree tone turned disdainful when he said the last part.
Tree and I were definitely on his hate list, but I didn’t give a shit.
“What’s going on?” I repeated.
He batted his eyelashes, his smile turning tight. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
In one swift move, I had him by the throat and pinned to the door. “I may not be able to cast you out, but I can break your neck, and it might be days, weeks, maybe even months before you can possess another human.” His dark eyes narrowed on my face, the iris partly glowing with annoyance. “So what’s it going to be?”
“Very well,” he choked. I released him and watched him rub his neck and cough. “Bael paid Paige a visit. He had a doctor distract you so he could do it. That’s all I know.”
“Does Bael want to kill Paige?”
He looked at me, aghast. “No. Why would he want to do such a thing? He needs her to find the incantations. Otherwise, the ring is useless. He’s also quite fond of her.”
The tension in my shoulders lifted. He wasn’t aware of Solomon’s power inside Paige, which meant Bael probably hadn’t told anybody. Ayperos was his right-hand man. If he told anybody, it would have been Ayperos. But why would he pay Paige a visit? I didn’t like this. Bael was cooking something up, and it had to do with Paige. I had to get to her. Now.
“Wait, “Ayperos said when I pushed past him and opened the door. I stopped and threw him an impatient glare. “There are others who want to destroy Paige and willing to risk your wrath.”
“Well, if Paige is so important to Bael, then why won’t he stop them?” It was a smoke and mirrors question–a hidden form of manipulation designed to give me more information without him realizing it. I lifted my brows to prompt him to answer the question.
“It’s not Bael’s style to babysit every disgruntled spirit out there, and we don’t know who they all are,” he said. “But if you’re worried about Paige’s safety, you can hand her to us. I can assure you we’ll keep her safe.”
I gritted my teeth. “Not going to happen!”
“You can’t fight us all, Nathan,” he said. “At least Bael and I want to keep Paige alive.”
“Until she gives you what you want, which she’s not going to do.” Before he could reply, I bolted out the door, a feeling of dread consuming me.
When I entered Carrie’s room, it was swelling with her family, a nurse and two men in lab coats, one of them was Dr. Sweeney. Tree stood beside Carrie’s bed with his arms around his chest, his head bowed as if in prayer. My eyes frantically searched for Paige, and when I saw her walking through the wall of bodies around and near Carrie’s bed, I breathed a sigh of relief.
“How are you doing?” I asked. She looked so pale and sad I couldn’t help but embrace her, desperate to comfort her.
“I love you,” she said, squeezing her arms tightly around my waist.
Something wasn’t right. She said “I love you” in a way that spoke of longing and possible broken hearts. I heard it in her tone. “Let’s go get some coffee and give Carrie’s family some time alone,” I whispered in her ear. I took her hand, and we left the dismal scene.
A half hour later, we were sitting on a bench outside the hospital, drinking coffee out of Styrofoam cups, watching a couple squirrels chase each other into the woods. The crisp, cool air held the smell of autumn while wafting the scent of burning leaves and pine cones around us in its feathery breeze. I breathed it in through my nose, loving this time of year.
Paige took a sip of her coffee and gazed up at the colorful trees blazing around us in rich red, gold and orange colors. She sighed. “I love this time of year.” I smiled. “What are you grinning about?”
“I was thinking the same thing.” I kissed her soft hand. “I love how connected we are.”
She smiled in agreement, but then it faded. She took another sip and looked away. I knew she was worried about Carrie. She had told me everything the doctors had said when I wasn’t in the room, including the procedure Dr. Sweeney mentioned to me. I kept my promise to him and didn’t tell Paige everything he’d told me. It didn’t really matter though, because he essentially gave the same information to Carrie’s parents, and they’d decided to go through with the surgery today.
While Paige updated me on what I’d missed, I clamped my mouth shut to keep from hijacking the conversation by asking her about Bael. It would have been insensitive to do in a time like this where Paige’s thoughts should be with Carrie and loved ones, not on insidious beings such as Bael.
So I gave her some space and support, but now as we sat, listening to the gentle rustling of the leaves, I decided to bring it up. “Did Bael visit you while I was out of the room?”
She looked at me in surprise and stared into my eyes for a long moment. “Yes,” she finally said. I waited for her to continue because I could see it on her face. There was more. A lot more. But then she blinked, and her expression turned hard. She looked away.
I nudged her chin so she had to look at me. “What are you not telling me?”
“Bael wanted to know if I found out where the incantations are. When I told him no, he said he’d be in touch. I just wish he’d leave me alone,” she mumbled, breaking eye contact.
I dropped my hands and sighed, wishing the same thing. The only way to get him completely out of her life would be to find the incantations and have her use them to control him. We never really talked about what she would do once we found them. Originally, we were going to find the ring and destroy it, but since the power dwelled in Paige and not the ring, that plan was shot to hell. I guessed I’d assumed she’d learn those incantations, rally up all the dark spirits and keep them on a short leash.
I suddenly realized we were going to have to engage in an in depth conversation on the topic real soon. But in the meantime, the current situation with Carrie and what had occurred today took precedence over all things. Besides, it wasn’t like we were going to find Solomon’s incantations tonight.
“I ran into Ayperos,” I said, deciding to deal with our present situation and to stand by my word to share all information with her–except the promise I made to the doctor.
“You did?” Her eyes were wide, locked on my face, and she listened intently when I told her everything. “I wonder . . .” She trailed off and rubbed her shoe against the dry grass.
Alarmed, I turned to her. “You wonder what?” I had a feeling of what her answer would be but had to hear it to be sure.
“I wonder if I should go with them and get it over with.”
“No, Pa--”
She placed her fingers on my lips. “Ayperos is right, Nathan. You can’t fight them all.” She sounded defeated, and it scared the hell out of me. “You just can’t.”
This was unacceptable. I took her shoulders in my hands, feeling every muscle in my body tightened. I may not be able to fight all of them, but I’d be damned if I would sacrifice Paige’s safety because of it.
“Listen to me,” I said, my voice hard with desperation. “I may not be able to fight every single one of them, but if we’re cautious and use our wits, we can find the incantations and end this.” She didn’t look convinced, so I continued. “Paige, please don’t give into them. Instead, believe in
us,
and know we’ll get through this.”
She laid a hand over my racing heart, and with some hesitation, met my gaze. “I believe in us,” she said, and though I felt relieved to hear her say those four words, the dreadful feeling I had earlier reemerged.
Paige’s pocket vibrated. She pulled out her cell phone and read the message. It was Tree telling her they were getting ready for Carrie’s procedure, and the doctor said it wouldn’t take long to do. Paige texted him back telling him we’d be right there.
“Carrie is going to be upset,” she said as we entered the hospital lobby. “The doctor has to shave a small section of her head to do the procedure, and she’s not going to be happy about it.” She tried to smile but couldn’t and bit her bottom lip instead.
“Paige!” a familiar voice called when we turned down a hall leading to the waiting room.
We stopped and watched Brayden hurry toward us. His face was red and blotchy, worry shadowing it. Paige released my hand and stepped into Brayden’s outstretched arms. I stood there while they hugged, wondering if I should give them a moment to console each other about Carrie’s misfortunate circumstances. I half turned, but then caught Brayden’s eyes looking up from Paige’s shoulder with a gloating expression on his face. I knew then he decided to stick to his previous threat:
“
Paige and I were destined to be together. She may not realize it, or maybe she doesn’t want to admit it to herself, but one day she will, and when she does, she’ll be in my arms instead of yours,
” he had said, adding,
“I’m going to do what I can to get her to realize it.”
I had hoped he’d changed his mind in trying to manipulate Paige’s feelings for him to gain her favor but apparently not. His gloves were on, so I mentally reached for mine. Drawing myself up, I squared my shoulders. If Paige wanted to be with him, I’d step aside. However, I wouldn’t allow Brayden to toy with her emotions to get want he wanted. His deplorable behavior disgusted me, using this fragile time to try and benefit from it. His moral compass seemed to me to be cracked beyond repair.
“Where’s your girlfriend Cassie?” I asked, knowing Cassondra wouldn’t dare set foot in this town after I had snapped her neck. Maybe one day she’d have the nerve to face me, but not now, not after what she’d done.
Paige released Brayden and shoved him back. I couldn’t help but smirk at the stunned look on his face. I knew it was juvenile for me to take pleasure in it. But I also knew if I were to tell Paige about Brayden’s devious plan, it would be another added problem to her list of things to worry about. I wouldn’t do that to her and would deal with Brayden’s self-centered, tenacious behavior starting right now.