Dark Fae (23 page)

I took a left hand turn and started to navigate through a sub-division. Bismarck wasn’t a huge town, but it was expanding and when all the houses were cookie cutter look a-likes, it was easy to get turned around.

Slowing for a stop sign I continued. “I’m on a salvage right now,” that was my word for going after kids, just in case we had anyone listening in. “I don’t know how long it will be, at least a week. If you can start to get Giselle out, I’ll help you when I get back.”

Silence on the other end of the line. “Milly? Are you still there?”

“I can’t help her Rylee.”

Shock filtered through me. This wasn’t like Milly, not at all. What the hell was going on?

“The coven wants me to break ties with all people who aren’t witches. That includes you and Giselle. This is what I’ve always wanted. I’m so sorry.”

“Do you mean like forever?” I whispered back, my heart breaking at the thought of losing one more person in my life.

Her hiccupping sobs were all the answer I needed. “You can always come home Milly. No matter what, you know that right? I’ll always look out for you.” It was the best I could do. My own emotions were choking me. I didn’t want to be left behind again.

Her words hitched into sobs, I couldn’t be angry with her. We both had wanted only one thing growing up. To fit in. And now she had a chance and I couldn’t begrudge her that, no matter how much it hurt. Swallowing the pain back I said one last thing before hanging up the phone.

“You’ll always be my witch Milly.” Only then did I let the tears fall and feel the hurt of being abandoned once again.

5

I didn’t have time to relocate my mentor if I was to save India. But there was no way I was going to let Giselle stay in her house with what felt like an early winter coming on. I wove back through the subdivision to Giselle’s house and parked out front for the second time that day.

Bundling her up in a threadbare lightweight jacket, I tucked her into the passenger seat of the Jeep, and cranked the heat up.

Her eyes followed me, a silent question in them, as I walked around to my side of the vehicle.

“We’re going for a ride,” I said, as I put on my seatbelt and pulled away from the curb. She huddled in her seat, lost in her mind’s abyss, somewhere far beyond my reach.

She’d been the one to name me, name my abilities. I was an Immune and a Tracker all bundled up into one. My tracking abilities had come on line very early in life; I could always pinpoint where any member of my family was, and even friends and even strangers when I worked at it. Could lead you right to them, no matter the distance. But more than that, I knew if they were hurt, happy, sad, alive or dead. With the kids I hunted for, this ability was priceless. It only failed me if the kids weren’t on this side of the unseen veil, which often they weren’t. If they’d being taken by supernaturals interested in the kid’s powers and abilities, they weren’t kept where I could find them easily.

My thoughts flickered as I glanced over at Giselle, sound asleep and snoring lightly, a blush of color on her cheeks. I reached over and brushed my hand over her forehead, letting out a sigh of relief. “No fever.” I murmured to myself.

I took a left hand turn and went back to the day that I’d been bitten by a large rattlesnake, not long after moving in with Giselle and Milly. We’d been in the back yard, me practicing my tracking on the neighborhood children, pinpointing them for Giselle, while Milly practiced her incantations under her breath. I’d stepped back into a large bush, and felt a sharp jab into my left leg. Looking down there was a massive diamond shaped head hanging off my left calf, venom pumping into my system. Its eyes transfixed me as it worked its teeth deeper into my flesh, trying to get a better grip on my calf.

Giselle shouted, but I was too frozen by shock to move.

That was the day that Giselle told me I was an Immune. Immune not just to supernatural bites that could turn me furry or sunlight hating, but immune to poisons of all kinds. Not to mention immune to most magic and invisible to most psychic probing. It was a sweet deal and not a part of my nature that many people knew about.

We pulled up to the hospital and I parked on the curb getting Giselle as close to the door as possible.

“Here we are.” I said, as I opened the passenger door. At first she looked surprised to see me. Then she smiled and said, “Did you find your blue socks dear?” I shook my head.

“I was hoping you could help me find them. I think I left them here.” I pointed to the hospital.

She squinted in the direction of my hand. “You think you left them in a hospital?”

I blushed. This would not be a good time for her to be more lucid. When she was angry, she could give O’Shea a run for his money.

“Yes, the hospital. I think that’s where they are. Can you help me?” I asked again, hoping to just get her in.

Giselle followed me in through the sliding front doors and up to the reception desk without a word lowering herself slowly into one of the padded chairs set out for the infirm. I watched her a moment before turning to the clerk. “I’d like to admit my friend. She’s not competent and I think she may be quite sick. Maybe an infection of some sort. She’s been hanging around the neighbors who just got back from Mexico.” That got the clerks attention real fast what with all the upheaval of the swine flu coming up from down south. Of course it wasn’t true, but I didn’t want them pissing around with whether or not to admit her and for how long. Just the possibility of Swine flu was an automatic admittance and a minimum of a one week observation around here.

Within moments they had Giselle under quarantine, settled into a private room, and on a heavy dose of sedatives to keep her quiet.

I stood by her side, mask over my nose and mouth, holding her bare hands with my gloved ones. “I’ll be back as quick as I can.” I whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear me anyway. The week of warmth and good food would help her more than anything else, and having her in the hospital would keep me from worrying when I should be focusing on India.

Leaning in I gave her a kiss on the cheek through the paper mask, then started out the door.

“Milly will come back Rylee.”

I spun back towards her. “What?” But her eyes were closed and her breathing was even, her body slumped with sleep. There was nothing more and again I headed out the door. Maybe I was hearing things, or maybe I was just hearing things I wanted to hear.

Sundered, A Zombie-ish Apocalypse Book I
 
http://bit.ly/QgEgMfDF2Sund

Bound, A Zombie-ish Apocalypse Book II
http://bit.ly/PsgUzWDF2Bound

Dauntless, A Zombie-ish Apocalypse Book III
http://bit.ly/UbZcT2DF2Daunt

Acknowledgements

As always, I couldn’t have made these pages sing without my amazing team of editors, Melissa Breau and Rachel Peterson who worked overtime to help me get “Dark Fae” out to the readers.

To my amazing husband for his support and love, and his belief in me and my writing.

And to my readers. Your reviews, emails, tweets and Facebook messages truly keep me going on the tough days when my muse wanders away.

Dark Fae
Celtic Legacy
Book I
II

Shannon Mayer

Copyright © 2012
Shannon Mayer

Electronic Edition
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Cover
Art: Patricia Schmitt