Chương 53: Chapter 53
☆ ☆ James ☆ ☆
I ran from the Estate ecstatically. Sylas had released me from training tonight to return to Kara since it was possible for her to come back home this evening. I had already taken the time to set up the wing to accommodate her so that she could remain in the master bedroom and bathroom with me nearby.
I arrived at the hospital earlier than normal, and immediately when I walked through the parking lot, I could tell there was something off. A foreign scent in the air, musky and damp, it lingered in the lobby of the hospital, too. A woman walked out of the restrooms as I entered, and she could tell what I was.
No normal human's heart race would quicken at my approach, nor would the hairs on their neck stand up. She was slender and pale, with long black hair and icy blue eyes. The musky, damp scent and the distinct smell of maple trees were apparent on her skin. She was a werewolf from up north. There was no doubt in my mind she had been here for Kara.
I needed to deal with this situation to keep Kara safe, but I couldn't in public. I waited for her to leave the lobby and stealthily stalked her. She ran when she left the hospital and got into an SUV. The tinted windows still let enough light pass through, and I could tell she was with a male. Were they keeping tabs on the place?
I pulled out my phone and called from the lobby doors, "Sylas, the werewolves are here at the hospital, at least two of them in an SUV in the parking lot near the trauma entrance." Sylas assured me that he would handle it and instructed me to go to Kara to ensure she was still safe.
I hung up the phone and proceeded to Kara's room. Had they come to kidnap her? Kill her? Kill me? If my heart still beat, it would be racing with worry. I walked in, and the nurses at the station greeted me. "You're here early.", one exclaimed. I scratched my head nervously, "Did Kara have any visitors today?"
"Yes, in fact. Her older sister and her husband stopped by earlier. They didn't want Kara to know they stopped by because they didn't wake her; they just looked in and said they would be back tomorrow." I sighed, "Tomorrow? Kara isn't coming home tonight?" My face twisted in concern; I couldn't protect her during the day tomorrow.
"Don't worry. It's nothing serious. She's just having trouble swallowing thicker food like mashed potatoes." I nodded and waved as I headed for Kara's room. Kara looked shocked but happy as I entered the room. She quickly took her whiteboard and jotted down, "You're early; I didn't think you'd be back til late tonight."
I responded, "Sylas, let me skip training since we thought you would be getting discharged." A frown fell across her face. "It's okay, don't worry about it; the nurses filled me in." I could tell she felt as though she had let me down, but in actuality, we wouldn't even be in this situation if Sylas hadn't lost his temper.
"Did anyone visit you today?", I asked. Kara looked confused by my question. I reiterated, "The nurses said your older sister and her husband visited you today." Kara shook her head and wrote on the dry-erase board, "I'm an only child; my mom died during childbirth, and my father never remated." I nodded.
"Do you know a female werewolf about five foot six inches tall, with striking features, long black hair, icy blue eyes, and a beauty mark to the left of her upper lip?" Kara shook her head once again and wrote, "She's not from my pack." I saw panic spread across her face, and I said, "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe, and we'll have a human staff member stay with you during the day while you rest."
She nodded and teared up. "We won't let anything happen to you, Kara." I paused for a moment, "I need to make a call. Do you mind?" Kara shook her head and waved me off. I stepped back out of the room and returned to the main floor, peering out of the windowed doors through the lobby. I could no longer see the SUV. Had Sylas taken care of them already?
I dialed his number, and when he answered, I said, "The SUV is gone; Kara needs surveillance during the day; can you arrange a human staff member to watch her while I'm unable?" Sylas said, "I sent six of my underlings to handle the situation. I've already called one of the members of the police force and offered him a hefty sum to stand guard outside her door during the day."
I added, "If the staff asks, tell him to say there has been another attack in the park, and Kara is now being guarded as a material witness as the other woman didn't make it." Sylas hissed, "Understood." He had to have known that we would have to make up some story to explain her injuries, but still, he almost seemed irate that he didn't receive credit.
Before hanging up, I asked, "Can you call me with an update?" Sylas responded, "Of course, James." I rushed back to Kara to continue our evening. I calmed myself before entering Kara's room. She seemed happy to have me back. I hugged her gently, and I felt her tense body relax in my embrace.
"Everything's going to be okay, Love.", I whispered. "There will be an armed police officer outside your door when I depart, but he won't leave until I return in the evening. I felt her nod her head against my chest. I tried to change the subject, "What do you want to do this evening?"
She sat up and thought for a moment, then frowned. She wrote, "I guess it's unsafe to sit outside for a while tonight." I nodded, "Yes, there are at least two, and I'm a young vampire." I paused, "I couldn't tell what their status in the pack was, but anything higher than an Omega would give them the advantage in numbers and strength."
She nodded, disappointed. I held her close, saying, "I'm sorry, Love. We could walk around the hospital if you want to stretch your legs." She nodded, and I stood, helping her out of the bed. She got around even better today, and for that, I was grateful. Even the nurses were impressed with her recovery.
One said, "You'll have no issues with those mashed potatoes tomorrow; I just know it." Kara smiled weakly at them; I think she felt embarrassed because she had difficulty eating such basic food. I wrapped my arm around her encouragingly, "That's right!" She smiled at me and nodded, seemingly determined to accomplish the task.
We continued to walk around, and with the support of the IV pole, she had no issues at all. After we traversed the entire wing, she stopped at the nurses' station and requested one of her smoothies using basic sign language that she was taught. We then went back to her room and awaited her dinner.
She went to the restroom when we got back, and once she came out, her smoothie was already waiting on her. She crawled into the bed, put her nasal cannula on, and began to drink it. She flipped on the television while she ate to counteract the silence in the room. My phone rang a few minutes into the program.
"I have to take this.", I said, standing and walking to the door. I hurried down to the lobby of the main floor and took the call, "Yes, Sylas." I stood there in silence, shocked as his words fell on my ears. I was in a trance as I stared out into the parking lot. His voice finally broke through after he called my name several times.
I stammered, "I'm sorry, say that again." Sylas began again, "One survivor just contacted us, but his demise is near; he's been bitten." I asked, "What happened?" Sylas said, "They followed the SUV to a nearby hotel. They watched the room to figure out which one they were in. They attempted to sneak in to assassinate the werewolf couple."
He paused, hurt by the loss, "Those fucking flea-ridden beasts killed them all." I thought about his words; if six vampires met their demise at the hands of two werewolves, they had to be Betas or Alphas, and obviously, they had shifted; that's when their saliva is venomous to us. "Were the wolves injured or killed at least? What do we do now?", I asked.
Sylas responded, "They are in the wind now. Just stay there. I will send a protective detail to retrieve you and the girl; tell the staff you are both leaving tonight." He paused briefly, "I'll strengthen security here during daylight hours, and we'll shut down the pedestrian foot traffic immediately."
I gave him Kara's room number before hanging up. I went back upstairs and told the nurses to start discharge paperwork; I told them that the police had called with an update about Kara's case and that there had been another attack, but the woman didn't make it. They were shocked as they started getting the paperwork ready.
One nurse said, "She'll have to sign some additional paperwork because we wouldn't advise that she leave in her current condition." I nodded, "I understand, but I have to keep her safe." I headed back to her room, "Kara, we're leaving. We have to go now so that I can keep you safe." Her eyes filled with concern as she saw me frantically race around, gathering her items into the bag.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực