Geist (27 page)

Uh...nothing. I just figured out the locum. Gonna be some heavy shit heading your way. I'm about to open the borders. Hang tight. A door's going to open at the front of the theater. Grab Daniel. Geist is going to make sure Joe gets out. 

As if in on cue Joe's eyes opened. They were black. Geist was in control. He gave me a half smile and I helped him stand. Then I dove off the stage and went searching for Daniel. 

He was laying in a far corner on his side. I gingerly touched him and instantly felt Inanna's connection.
Help us, please.
 

"I am. Just keep him alive." 

One of the powers came charging at us. Anger surged up inside of me and I pointed at it. The Power burst into flames and vanished. Okay...that was new. And somehow I knew it was only indicative of this plane. I doubted I could do that in the Physical Plane. 

I was careful picking Daniel up. He felt light in my arms, and from his size, I realized I was a lot bigger here. I was sort of a seven foot monster. Which made sense I suppose, since the Throne was that large. Or had the Throne made me grow? 

Oh great. I already had trouble getting dates because I was tall. Now I was humongous. 

I carried him in my arms and not over my shoulder. Doing that would interfere with my wings which unfurled as I started walking through the battle. His wounds looked like they hurt and I wanted him as comfortable as possible. So I kept him close, his head tucked against my breast. As I moved past them, I growled at an Ethereal. It evaporated. My wings knocked someone out of the way. 

Just as I reached the theater's entrance, the pressure changed around me. Instantly the Ethereals vanished. The world lightened and I knew TC had opened the gates. He'd also kicked all the Ethereals out. A cheer went up around me but I was more focused on getting Daniel out. 

Joe was waiting for me by the door to the men's room. He opened it and went inside.

I stood there looking at it. "Oh you've gotta be kidding me." 

Not my idea. Just get out of here, luv. Now. I'll be in touch. 

I felt a slight nudge behind me, as if someone had patted my ass. My face grew hot as I remembered his kiss and with my wings tucked in; I kicked the door in and stepped through. 

-43-

Return Home

I bumped into Tel and my mom on the other side. Both of them put guns to my face. 

"Zoë!" Mom was the first one to shout my name as hands pulled Daniel out of my arms. 

Mom was on me like cute on a puppy. I'd somehow shrunk to the right size and wrapped my arms around her too as my wings flapped and tried to find a place to go around us. She was warm. So warm. And she smelled of
White Shoulders
. 

My mom. 

I decided I wouldn't mention my obliterating dad. Didn't seem like the right time. 

"He's going to be fine," I heard Rhonda's voice. "Just get him back to the penthouse. You know what to do." 

Umayma's voice answered. "Yes, Rhonda. We'll take care of him." 

I pulled away from mom long enough to watch as Jason, Tel and Umayma half carried Daniel out. I resisted the urge to go with them—wanting to make sure they took care of him the right way. But he was a part of their world now. And I knew what he needed more than anything else right then was blood. 

And a lot of it. 

"Zoë—did you bring the page?" 

I looked over at Rhonda. She was still standing by Dags' sleeping form. I nodded and reached inside my shirt—in this form it was inside the V-neck collar of this lacy, spirally thing I wore. I pulled out the page and handed it to her. 

She immediately flattened it out and set it on the book that hovered over his chest. I watched as Joe stepped up beside me. A glance over at him and I knew Geist was no longer with him. It was just Joe. 

We both watched as the book grew brighter and the page sunk down inside. The book closed and with a wave of her hand, turned sideways and slowly sieved back inside of his chest. Once it was gone, the glow vanished, and Dags gave a deep, long sigh. Rhonda put her fingers against his neck and smiled. "He's just sleeping." 

I wanted to go to him and hug him—but I also knew that in this form if I did that, I might start sucking his soul. Instead I was content to admire him and make plans for a long vacation on the beach. 

Naked. 

With lots of sex. 

"Where's Azrael?" Mom said. 

I blinked at her. Uh-oh. 

Joe cleared his throat. "Uh...the locum wouldn't go in." 

I looked at Rhonda who stepped away from Dags and stood by mom. "Wouldn't go in?" 

"No," I shook my head. "Joe tried to push it in, but it was like just slapping a piece of paper against glass." 

"So how did—" Rhonda pointed at me. 

Joe held up a hand. "Azrael figured it out. Though I think Geist helped him. The locum could only phase in with an Abysmal. I'm afraid even though I had Geist with me—I'm not a part of that. So Azrael—" and he looked at me.

Mom's eyes widened. "He—" she put her hand to her mouth. "Oh shit." 

Rhonda got it. "Azrael—is the Phantasm?" 

"Well him and that locum," I said. "He seemed okay with the idea. He was the one that pulled me out and stepped in with the locum. Though, if he was stepping in I don't see why he took it to begin with. Unless he thought he could put it in and then jump out?" 

"No," Joe said and had a faraway look in his eyes. "Geist told him to. I could sort of hear them talking. Said the locum had to be inside the Throne. So he took it." 

Huh. Weird. I looked at Rhonda, who looked like a dear caught in the headlight. "What?" 

"Oh...nothing. I just didn't expect him to do that. Azrael I mean. So...he's the Phantasm." 

I nodded. I felt something pressing on my shoulders and decided it was high time I let the Wraith go for a while. I wanted a shower and pizza. Not necessarily in that order. 

But when I shifted back to human form—all hell broke loose for me. 

I lost balance and fell, and would have broken my face if Joe hadn't of caught me and picked me up. 

I had no energy. None. And my legs were not going to support me. When I looked up at Joe, his expression alarmed me. "What is it?" 

"Oh baby," My mom said as she put a hand against my cheek. "You...you've been in there for months." 

Yeah? My eyelids felt heavy and I was really dizzy all of a sudden. In fact...I felt sick in my stomach. "I'm...I don't feel so good." 

"You look like
shit
," Rhonda said. "Zoë—oh good Goddess—your body—" 

But that was about all I got before I checked out. All dark. 

-44-

Recovery

Oh no. The beeping. 

I knew immediately where I was. And it'd been a long time since I'd been there. 

Hospitals make me nuts. 

I sighed and opened my eyes. Time to see what the crazy was now, meaning how bad had I messed myself up this time. 

The first thing I saw was colors. And a lot of them. I was used to the drab of aqua green and turquoise—a favorite color of the older wings of hospitals in the south. And I expected to smell industrial cleaner. 

But all I smelled was green. Like plants. 

Ah to smell again! 

I looked to the right and waited for my eyes to focus. I saw a rose. A white one. And then I saw it surrounded by red ones. This was about the time I realized I had a tube in my nose and I was punctured in several places with other various tubes. 

"Hey Sunshine," came a gentle, familiar voice. 

Daniel moved to the left of the roses. He was standing over me. He looked great—not a scar on his face or neck to show where he'd been cut. His eyes were bright and full of worry, and his hair was brushed back and touched his collar. He was even more beautiful than the first time I'd seen him. I felt his hand on mine and I laced my fingers in his. I started to answer but swallowed. The nose tube had to look
soooo
attractive. "Hi." 

Wow. Wordsmith. That's me. 

He leaned in and pressed his warm lips to my forehead. "You look better. How do you feel?" 

Feel? I moved a few parts of my body. "Stiff. Like...I ran the Peachtree. So...what happened?" 

He held up my right hand and settled himself on the bed as best as he could. The bed rails were up on either side of me. Just in case I fell out. "What do you remember?" 

"Everything, up until lights out. Somebody said something about my body?" 

"Yeah..." he looked apologetic. "Your body was in the Abysmal for four months, Zoë. No food, no water, no light, no real air. Kept alive because part of you is like me—Abysmic. Once you were released back into the Physical Plane—" 

I made a face. "Oh God....I look like a bulimic?" 

"You did. But you've been on a steady diet of food and saline. Proteins. Vitamins. You've got cheeks again and not hollows. And you've started to fill out again. Before you kinda looked like—" and he winced. 

You looked like a mummy. 

I gasped at Inanna's voice. So loud and so clear. 

"Did she talk to you just then? I heard an echo." 

I nodded. "She said I looked like a mummy." 

"Yeah...you did. But the doctors say you'll make a complete recovery. But you'll need physical therapy to re-train your muscles for walking. And you'll need to build up your tolerance." 

"Wow...how long is that gonna take?" 

"You'll be in another month. No less." 

I looked around. There were so many flowers. Had Dags sent these? "
Another
month?" 

I didn't like his face. "Well...you've already been in here a month. It's November 3rd." 

The date sounded familiar, but that realization was drowned out by the fact I'd been in the Abysmal plane four months and now I'd lost another month in a hospital! "I've...I've been unconscious all this time?" 

"Well in and out. You were so emaciated they weren't sure you'd make it. The First Borns knew you would and all pulled together to make sure you got the best treatment. We're all grateful, Zoë. All of us." He squeezed my hand. "Especially me." 

"I'd do anything for you, Daniel. It's my fault all that crap happened to you in the first place." 

"No. It's not. No thinking that way." He smiled. 

I didn't want to be rude, but I couldn't wait anymore. "Where's Dags?" 

His face went rigid and I knew I'd screwed up. He was here with me and all I could think about was someone else. I felt bad. "He's....busy. There's been a lot do this past month. The Society's back up and running, but getting the building back is proving difficult. The CCE still has it. There's been court battles. Litigation. So we're building a new place. They did a bit of restructuring, and Darren's been working with them to rebuild." 

 "I see. So...does he come by here?" 

"Not lately," Daniel said. "He and Rhonda have been traveling some, looking for a few more items the Society wanted. Oh, but Maureen's back. And the two Familiars seem to be speaking again."

"Daniel...what are you not telling me? Is it the
Grimoire
? Did the page not work?" 

"Oh no...It worked all right. He has full control and access to the book now." He let go of my hand and reached up to brush my hair from my face. "Don't worry kiddo. You've had someone with you round the clock. Azrael wanted to pop in, but he tends to play havoc with machines now, so we send him regular reports." 

"Azrael," I laughed. "So is he the full Phantasm now?" 

"Yeah...he is. And Geist and he seem to get along great. Your dad was more than pissed off about that. But the Ethereals seem to have pulled back for now. Even the CCE is quiet...but still there." 

"So TC is finally the Phantasm. I'm not surprised. And I think Sophia would be happy?" 

Yes. She would have been. 

"There's one other thing." 

I felt my heart flip. "What?" 

"Your mom—" 

When he paused I panicked. "My mom what? Did something happen? Did dad try something?" 

Daniel laughed. I loved the sound. He'd always had the best laugh. "Oh no. No. It's just that, the restructuring I mentioned? In the Society? Well...the new board of directors voted her in as CEO." 

I let that sink in for a second. "Wait...what? How can she be CEO? I thought that was Rhonda?" 

"Rhonda...was dismissed. She's no longer in charge." 

"Dismissed? Was she fired?" 

Remember what I said about how this whole event sort of showed us who we can trust? "Rhonda was pretty much shown she couldn't be trusted." 

I got the impression he was leading up to something. Something important. But before he could tell me, a nurse came in and announced I needed to have blood work and things done. He stood and leaned over me and kissed my forehead. "I'll be back, Zoë. Tomorrow. Joe's up next. He'll be in about a half hour from now." After a wink, he left the room. 

The nurse came in with a smirk on her face. "I swear; you have more men traipsing in and out of this room than a men's bathroom. Though that's gotta be the prettiest one of them all. And the dark haired cop is nice. My daughter likes the one that looks like he rolled around in a tackle box." 

I laughed. That had to be Tel. 

She checked my vitals and then changed a few necessary things that made me blush. But apparently I wasn't fully in control of my functions. And I wasn't in any condition to take care of myself. Then she set a tray of tubes on the table and started pulling blood from a shunt in my arm.

"It's good to see you awake. The staff was taking bets on if you'd survive. The pretty boy that just left was insistent, though. Between him, this really handsome guy in a business suit and your mom, I don't think there was any way you wouldn't." 

I smiled at her. It was nice to know they were there, especially after spending so much time alone in that Throne. "Was...did you see a shorter guy? Longish black hair and gray eyes?" 

She pursed her lips and blinked. "You have more?" 

"No...no. He's my boyfriend. Did you see him?" Boyfriend...I remembered what Dags had told me about being his wife.