Chapter 9

“I don’t care where he is. It’s been three days. Tell him to get here and check on her. Now.” Leone wasn’t happy about something.

“Leone, she’s improving. We knew it wasn’t going to happen overnight.” Rafael was here.

“I know, but it’s been three days. She’s opened her eyes for maybe five minutes total, never talks. I just keep biting her and drugging her.” Leone was very agitated. “Fuck, she’s going to be an addict before this is over.”

“The fact that you can even do that is nothing short of a miracle, and you know it.” Rafael said sounding closer.

“It scares the hell out of me each time I do it.” Leone whispered. “You know what I went through, how bad it was.” He sighed loudly. “I almost went insane when I was confined and going through withdrawal.”

Rafael made an odd noise. “Yeah, I do, it was my face that took the beating when I tried to keep you company.”

“Yeah. Wasn’t just you, brother.” Leone sounded further away now.

“I never had the nerve to ask—then or in the time since, but was it,” Rafael paused, “was it…”

Leone made a scoffing sound. “It wasn’t sexual, Raf.” He sighed again, “It was just… I don’t know, the scent from women appealed ten times more than from males.”

“I’d say that’s a good thing, but I know it’s not in this case.” Rafael’s voice was flat.

“What am I going to do? What if I’m not strong enough to do what I technically have no choice but to do?” Leone sounded so tense.

“I don’t know, brother. All of this is so far out of my scope of knowledge.” Rafael said quietly. “Have you talked to Victor?”

“Briefly.” Leone sounded like he was moving away. “He says it’s entirely up to me. Which is no help whatsoever.”

Even through the pain and fog in my head, I felt like I was eavesdropping. It wasn’t like I could just get up and leave the room. I tried to lick my lips; my mouth was too dry. “Drink?”

“Beth.” There was a clunk and then Leone was beside me. “Let me lift your head.”

I felt my head move and then something touched my mouth. A straw. It took a lot of energy, but the reward of cool water was worth it. “Thank you.” I felt my head lower back to the pillow. I opened my eyes slowly. It wasn’t too bright. The first thing that registered was Leone’s handsome face over mine. “Hey.”

He smiled. “Hey.”

I had no idea where I was. I could see the reflection of lights off the large shiny window. “Where am I?”

“Alona’s apartment. We can’t transport you back until you heal more.”

I moved just my eyes and looked at the window, then around to the other side of the room. There were no cracks in the wall, no chipped paint, or stains on the ceiling. “Nice neighborhood?”

Rafael snorted. “The best money can buy.”

“I thought Alona was a queen in Alterealm?”

Leone knelt on the floor beside me. “She is, but this is home base for her.”

“I live in a closet.”

He grinned. “I remember.”

“I ache—everywhere.”

Rafael moved and stood where I could see him. “You did jump out a second story window.” He raised his eyebrows, “the landing didn’t go well.”

“I didn’t jump.” I licked my lips, “that idiot shoved me—with magic. Did we get them all? Did we get Herman?”

“We got them.” Leone nodded.

Rafael cleared his throat. “Herman didn’t make it.”

I glanced to Leone to see the lethal look in his eyes. “So, I can’t even say you should see the other guy. Crap.”

Leone smirked. “Can I get you anything?”

“I don’t know. My back is numb. Have I moved at all?”

He shook his head. “We can help you sit up a little.”

“Please.”

Leone looked at Rafael, who was giving him an odd look at the same time. “Just let us figure out how without hurting you.”

I frowned, “how bad is it?”

Leone motioned for his brother to move to the other side of the bed. “Ah, you cracked your head…”

“That explains the throbbing.”

“You messed up your shoulder and right arm…” Leone placed his hands under my back carefully.

“But saved your head more damage by holding it.” Rafael added as he did the same on the other side of me.

They started to lift and slide me toward the top of the bed, both watching my face. I bit my lip and tried not to make a sound. It hurt, everywhere. “Stop for second.” They immediately froze. I breathed slowly.

“Your right leg was shattered,” Leone said with pain etched on his face, “but as far as they can tell no nerves were severed.”

I looked at him, “will I walk again?”

They looked at each other over my face.

“That’s what I’m here to find out.” An older man came into the room. “Stop dallying and prop her up. Doing it slowly hurts more.”

Leone and Rafael both looked at me. I closed my eyes, bracing for it. “Do it.” I whispered. I went from flat to barely propped up, and decided no bending was good. I couldn’t stop the sound of pain that came out of my mouth when they lowered me and my body adjusted. Blowing out a few breaths, I looked at the Doctor. “My whole back hurts, is that a good sign?”

He bobbed his head, not telling me one way or the other. “The bruising is extensive, not to mention a few cracked ribs, but pain is good in this case. It’s no pain that is worrisome.”

Still trying to breathe through it, I gave him an exaggerated smile. “Then I’m the picture of health right now.” I clenched my jaw together and tried to adjust my head on the pillow, which brought more pain down through my shoulder.

“I wrapped your leg, arm and shoulder in a light, temporary casting. A longer, permanent one shouldn’t be required with the blood healing speeding up your recovery. Without it, you would be months in recovery.” He flipped the blanket off by my feet.

I looked down to see only my toes sticking out on my right foot.

“Coloring is good.” He glanced at me. “Close your eyes.” I did. He stabbed the one of my toes and I jumped, then cried out as pain flew through my body from the movement.

Leone growled and stepped toward the doctor.

“Brother, let him do his tests.” Michael stood in the door.

Rafael walked around the bed and stood between Leone and the doctor.

“Full feeling is a very good sign. The damage was so extensive, I wasn’t sure.” He stopped talking and went around the bed, completely avoiding where Leone stood. “Can you move the fingers on your right hand?” He flipped the cover down.

I looked down to see my right arm bent and wrapped flat against my body. It took a lot of concentration to focus through the pain and numbness to get my fingers to move. Which turned out to be the slightest jerking motion.

“That’s good.” He moved back to the end of the bed and then looked to the worried brothers watching. “I need her leg supported, so we can shift her onto her left side for a moment. I have to check her back.”

As much as I wanted to know, I knew this was going to suck. Moving half a foot up the bed had been excruciating.

“Use a pillow to keep her leg from jarring.” The doctor instructed them.

I watched Michael take one from the top of the bed and go down to my leg. Rafael moved around to the edge of the bed. Leone climbed on the bed and propped himself up beside me.

“I’ll try to help you block some of the pain.” He said softly.

I had no idea how he could do that, but I’d take it.

“On three.” The doctor nodded.

Rafael put his hands under my back.

“One.”

Michael placed the pillow over my left leg and nodded.

“Two.”

Leone placed his hand on my hip and slid closer. I felt a presence in my head, it was calming, soothing.

“Three.”

Despite all best intentions and gentleness, I cried out as my stiff, battered body was rolled onto my side. Biting my lip, I breathed fast through my nose.

“Slow breaths.”

I opened my eyes to see Leone right in front of my face.

“Give her a moment to adjust.” Michael said in a tense tone.

I tried to inhale slowly. “So…” I exhaled, “I’ve decided,” I winced as I tried to relax and let some of the tension go, “I don’t like mages.” I blew out a slow breath again. “Do it doc, this is as good as it’s going to get.” I watched the pain on Leone’s face as he looked over me to Rafael. I wanted to turn my head and ask why, but I wasn’t moving anything.

“Bruising is still developing, so it looks much worse than it is.” The doctor said leaning down.

“Yeah? And how bad does it look?” I asked in a tight voice.

“You don’t want to know.” Rafael told me in a hushed tone.

“I have some concern about this area,” he must have been showing Rafael, because Leone was resting his forehead against mine, his eyes on mine. “I think we should wrap her ribs, until it shows more improvement.”

I winced at the idea. I didn’t know how they were going to do that, but it the very idea of it hurt.

Giving Leone a wary look, Michael turned. “Leave what is required, we’ll take care of it.”

I didn’t know why they didn’t just let the doctor do it, but if they had some plan to move me enough to do it without pain, then I was all for it. Doctors weren’t always gentle in their execution.

“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to test for feeling down your spine…”

My eyes widened. Leone’s darkened.

“Brace her so she doesn’t jar anything.”

I clenched my jaw and waited while Leone moved closer and held my hip. Rafael put his hand near my neck and held me still. I didn’t even know if Michael was doing anything, I was too focused on how much this was going to hurt.

“Just tell me when you feel it.” The doctor sounded like he was sitting on the floor.

“Okay.” I held Leone’s look. I felt a pressure near my shoulder blades. “Felt that.”

“Good, good.”

Another poke, and I was guessing was on top of a bruise. “Sure felt that one.”

“And where am I trying now?”

I winced, “lower back.”

“Good.” The doctor stood up. “Let’s leave her on her side for now, to relieve the pressure off her back.”

“I’ll go and get some more pillows.” Rafael said quickly.

“Thanks.” Leone said in a hushed way, still looking at me.

“I’m seeing remarkable things here. The road to recovery is going to be longer then I’m sure you would like, but you are recovering.” He cleared his throat. “Michael told me you’ve been using eufori to manage the pain, I don’t have any issues with this. Pain medication blocks the pain receptors and you could do more damage not being able to feel everything. The aid of eufori is allowing your muscles and circulation to relax which in turn is helping the healing process.” There was a pause. “I don’t suggest getting up just yet, but possibly by tomorrow or the next day we can remove the catheter and get you upright…”

My brain paused on catheter, why hadn’t I realized that. Oh, wait, probably because everything hurt but there.

“Plenty of broths and liquids—and blood several times a day. I will check in tomorrow.”

I looked to see the doctor standing at the end of the bed as if he were waiting to be dismissed.

“Thank you, doctor.” Michael moved into my line of vision as he walked the doctor out the door.

Rafael came in, arms full of pillows. “Let’s make you a pillow bubble.” He grinned.

Michael came back in. “Mitz is coming over with Daxx to help wrap her ribs first.”

Leone lifted his head and looked at his brother. “Has Mitz ever been over to this side?”

“Not that I know of.” Michael looked serious.

“Me either.” Rafael added as he placed a pillow behind my legs.

“Nonsense.” Mitz stepped into the doorway, “your mother and I… well, never mind.” She touched her head. “Whoa, head’s a bit light. I’d forgotten the rush.”

I looked at her. “Sadist.”

She smiled and came in. “Oh, I had my time to feel like my insides were coming out.”

Daxx walked in carrying a bowl on a tray, with other items.

Mitz looked to Michael and Rafael, “You men, out. Out. Now.” She leaned over the bed and touched Leone on the shoulder. “Give her a little something to dull it love, then get out.”

Leone looked to his brothers leaving. “I need…”

Mitz made one of those sounds mothers make to say, ‘don’t be silly’, “You’re not going to do a thing to harm her.” She motioned to the door. “Daxx and I will be right by the door.”

Leone looked to her then back to me, I could see the worry in his eyes.

“Would it help if I said bite me?” I tried for a smile, but the pain seemed to radiate through my body like a heartbeat. I tried to move my good hand to reach for him, then realized I was laying on it. I winced.

“Don’t try moving around,” he said with annoyance, “the doctor just said not yet.” He took a deep breath and exhaled in a nervous way. He brushed my hair over my shoulder, “how is it the addict has turned into the drug?” He mused, quietly as he leaned closer. I could feel his breath on my neck, hot against my skin.

“Be my superman.” I whispered against his ear.

With a quiet sound in his throat, his fangs bit into me. I inhaled sharply, not from the pain, but the intimate feeling it brought. I could feel each muscle relaxing and must have made a soft sound in appreciation, because he jerked his head up.

Red eyes looked down at me, assessing I was all right. With a ragged breath, he leaned down and licked where his teeth had marked and then rolled away in slow motion.

I felt bereft when his warmth was gone.

“Just thought we’d check in on sparky before bed.”

I looked over to see Chase and Alona in the doorway.

Alona smiled. “I’ve come to help. Chase will help me block my feeling your pain.”

Chase hugged her against his side. “Brother?”

Leone made a sound of annoyance. “I’m fine.” He sat up. I could see the tension in his body now. “I’ll help you lift her, then go feed.”

Mitz shook her head. “We’ll manage, Leone, she probably doesn’t weigh as much as your dinner plate when it’s got half a cow on it.”

“Oh, not the cows,” I said with a calm tone, “they were my only company when I walked half of Alterealm.” I smiled. “I thought of trying to ride one…”

Michael was standing in the door. “I’ve seen your riding skills; it’s probably best you didn’t try.”

Leone glanced from me back to him.

Michael shrugged, “put her on Lucian.”

“You put her on my horse? And Lucian let her ride him?” Leone got up off the bed.

“I wouldn’t say riding, but he sniffed at her and allowed her on.” He shrugged, “she must have carried your scent.”

“Michael recognized after ten seconds—it wasn’t going to end well.” I told him.

“I’ve come to help. I brought our strongest healing salve.” Clairee pushed past Michael and came in. She looked like she was going to cry when she saw me. “I tried to slow your fall; I wasn’t fast enough.”

I would have shrugged, but figured I’d scream for trying. “It was a pretty fast trip. Thanks for trying.”

Mitz walked up to Leone and looked up at him. “Go, feed and freshen up. I left some food in the kitchen here for when you come back.” She reached up and touched his cheek softly. Leone hugged her briefly and then looked at me.

“I’ll be right back.”

After he left, Mitz looked at me with tears in her eyes. “You just have to live through the first fifty years of stupidity,” she nodded, “and then your heart fills with so much pride you fear it might burst.”

“Fifty years? I think that might be one hundred and fifty when it comes to Raf.” Chase said with a grin.

“Raf is standing right behind you.” Rafael said, not sounding amused.

“I know. What fun would saying it be if you didn’t hear me?” He turned and kissed Alona, “I’ll be right outside.”

~

When the door closed, I looked at the four women looking back at me. “This is going to suck.” I whispered.

“Yes. You may not know it, but you are so much better than you were the first two days.” Clairee said coming around the bed. “Rafael called me and told me how bruised and swollen your back is, this salve will help with that.” She leaned over me, so she could see my face. “I can’t believe Leone is able to use his eufori and not be tempted to feed. That’s… amazing.”

“I’m his kryptonite.” I mumbled, feeling like my head was floating.

“You are his something, that’s for sure.” She said quietly. “Now, will it be better to put this on first, before we sit you up to wrap our ribs?”

I made a face, “now. Sitting up is not going to go well.”

Alona came over and knelt so I could see her face and not have to turn. “We’ll do it as fast as possible.” Her brows were drawn together.

“If you can’t be this close, it’s okay.” I told her.

She shook her head. “It’s not unbearable, I’ll just blubber all over Chase when we go home.”

“That will go over well.” Daxx quipped as she unwrapped bandages and set them on the bed.

“Oh, thank you for letting me use your apartment.” I sighed, “I don’t think my place would fit even a few of you.” I remembered my rent and having no job. “What are the chances of being up and moving within a week?”

“Too soon to know, love.” Mitz was shifting pillows around.

I winced when Clairee touched my back.

“Sorry.” She whispered.

My mind was swimming now, from the eufori I hoped. “Can you take a picture of it? The guys won’t tell me how bad it is.”

All of them paused and glanced to one another.

Daxx nodded, “I got it.” She pulled out her phone and went behind me. I heard the sound of her using her camera. She reached over and held it in front of my face.

I looked at it, barely recognizing it was a back, never mind my own. There were scrapes, welts and larger puffy areas. The colors ranged from deep red to almost black. “I almost died.” I said feeling hollow. “How didn’t I die?” I looked at Alona to see a tear running down her cheek.

“We don’t know.” She said in a strained voice.

“Beloved?” Chase’s voice came through the door.

“I’m fine, Chase.” She took a deep breath and looked at me. “It may have been your connection to Leone or the traces of it. You were barely responding that first day.”

“We were afraid we’d lose him.” Mitz said with sadness.

That brought me back full circle. To what I’d done to him, to this family. I cleared my throat. “I’m probably going to be evicted soon.” Not that it mattered when I would be living in a clear cube, I thought. “I’d like to get some of my stuff before they toss it out.” Would they let me take anything with me to their prison?

Daxx was in front of me again. “We can pay the rent…”

“No. It’s not the same without Erin.” I inhaled through Clairee’s touch, trying not to wince. “I gave up my job to try to…” I wasn’t out of it enough to say kidnap Leone’s mind, “get her back.” I looked to Alona. “I had no idea the truth of all of it.”

She nodded in an understanding way. “Yes, Michael told us about your visit to her.”

I sucked in a breath, from both the pain in my heart and my body. “I don’t know what Marcus has done to her.”

Clairee stood up. “I was discussing it with Rafael, we’re going to try a few things, Romulus and I, to see if we can,” she gave me a soft look, “find her again.”

“You can do that?”

She shrugged, “hopefully.”

“I really need to know more about magic. Erin did stuff like you do, but I just—mine is just there.”

Clairee smiled, “yours is purer than all of ours. That’s very rare, a natural witch and not a learned one.”

“Is that good or bad?”

She chuckled, “In my world, that is both coveted and admired.”

“Okay, love, we’re ready to do this.” Mitz stood behind me.

I cringed, “and if I say I’m not?”

“Let’s get it over with.” Daxx said, giving me a nod.

Closing my eyes, I nodded. “How bad can it be, right?”

~

It was bad. I almost threw up a few times, only willing my body not to because that would have hurt worse. I broke out in a sweat and they had just laid me back on the stack of pillows when Leone opened the door with such force I thought it would fall off the hinges.

He looked at the women, and then to me and came over to the bed.

My face was wet with tears. “All done.” I said completely exhausted.

“I could feel it.” He whispered, “I may have broken Rafael’s jaw.”

Rafael appeared in the door, rubbing his face. “We held him back so you ladies could finish.”

Chase came in behind him and zeroed in on Alona. She immediately went and wrapped her arms around him. “I don’t think I’m man enough to do that again.” He said hugging her tightly.

“It had to be done, loves.” Mitz smiled at me, “I think Bethany took it better than all of you did.”

“Daxx?” Troy came through the door and went to her quickly. He lifted her chin. “Are you all right?”

She nodded and leaned into him. “I’m not cut out to be a nurse. Breaking bodies I can do, but fixing them, not so much.”

Leone was beside me on the bed, his back to everyone in the room, He touched my cheek with a shaky hand and wiped the moisture away. “I don’t think any amount of eufori would have blocked that.”

I closed my eyes, still trying to settle down. “It did help but sitting up is evil.”

Leaning down, he kissed my forehead softly.

“Bethany is going to be evicted from her place soon.” Daxx said.

Leone turned to look at her then back to me. “Do you want me to go speak…”

I shook my head. “No, I have no use for it now. With Erin…” I couldn’t finish, the pain had made me breathless.

“We’ll see how you’re doing in the next few days and I can take you there to get your things.” He offered.

I nodded. “Okay.”

“I’m going to be a raging alcoholic soon if we don’t stop all this.” Chase said with a smirk.

“Alcohol,” I frowned and looked at Leone. Why hadn’t I remembered before? Oh, wait … because you tried to fly and have been busy being unconscious. “A bar.” I bit my lip, trying to remember. “I think I know another place they use.”

I hadn’t even realized Michael was in the room again. “Use?”

“Yeah.” I glanced at the water on the table. Without asking Leone reached over and got it for me and held it so I could have a drink. “Erin and I went to a bar to meet Marcus.” I nodded telling him I was done with the water. “When she was still herself. It’s like a biker bar, but I don’t think they’re bikers.” I looked to Chase then Rafael, “they dress almost the same as you do to fight, and they just— some of them gave me the creeps.”

Michael looked at Chase for a long moment before looking back to me. “Do you remember where it is?”

I closed my eyes, trying to dig through the fog. Opening them I glanced at Leone, whose expression was as close to murderous as I’d ever seen. “Yeah I think I can point it out on a map.” I looked at Michael, “it’s outside of the city.”

Michael’s jaw clenched. He looked at Alona. “Do you have a map here?”

She moved away from Chase. “Yes, we have one on the wall in the office to help with our searching.” She left the room.

Michael looked back to me, his eyes flicking from Leone’s back to me a few times. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I hoped I’d just bought myself a little more favor in his eyes when it came to my judgement.