Accession of the Stone Born: The Vigiles Urbani Chronicles (30 page)

Alexander stepped forward and snatched my bag off the floor. “This is yours, right?”

The ability to speak was quickly leaving me and I nodded.

Alexander swung a big meaty arm under my shoulders, holding me upright. “Good. Andrew’s in a bit of a rush to get you home.” He hefted me up when I started to sag. “I’ll drive if that’s not a problem.” He moved us around and took in the place. “Your uncle is going to be shocked about Marcus.”

Maybe it was the blood loss, but part of me felt a little bad for the man. “I’m starting to feel a little bad about killing the guy.”

Alexander’s tone was harsh when he said, “Don’t. He was a complete bastard who enjoyed being a slave to what he called his ‘betters.’”

“And who did he serve?”

Alexander grimaced. “Walter Percy.”

And we have a winner! “Well, that means I’m on the right track.” Looking around the loft, I growled. “Is there any chance that you guys can hold this place till I can get back and make sure I didn’t miss anything?”

Alexander cackled. “Oh, we can do that. I’ve been looking for a place for the rest of my clan to hold up until things calm down.”

Giving the man a curt nod, I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard the door pull open. Reaching for the gladius, I felt power ripple off Alexander as he prepared to turn. We both relaxed when we recognized the man coming in as one of the guards from Alexander’s crew. Five minutes later I was in the passenger seat and headed home. Hopefully, Andrew had something that could fix me up quickly so I could get back on the road again.

Chapter 23

We were about ten minutes into the drive when we hit a vicious bump in the road and I felt a rib puncture my lung and another edge up against my heart. I screamed and time stopped…not the you’re-about-to-die-and-your-life flashes-before-your-eyes kind of stopped. I mean it stopped. I couldn’t move and I heard a whisper behind me.

The creature spoke in a cold, haunted flat whisper. “The little spirit inside you thinks you’re going to die.”

It paused, and I felt something slip through the flesh of my back and boney fingers protruded from my chest. “It’s correct.” It hesitated, flexed its fingers, then pulled back, rearranging the broken ribs. “That is something I cannot allow!”

Then time resumed its natural course. I howled in agony when the power of the denarius sprung to life and brilliant blue flames erupted from the gashes on my chest, cauterizing them instantly.

Alexander nearly wrecked the car when my shirt caught fire. He might have done less harm to me if he had. Instead he waved a big meaty hand in my direction, beating the flames into submission and me along with them.

Fifteen minutes later we arrived at the old house. One would think that with the rib out of my lung and off my heart things would be better. They’d be wrong. My ribs were still broken, two at least, and while I wasn’t losing blood any longer, I hadn’t exactly replaced it either. Then there was my burned chest and my smoldering shirt. Add that to the fact I had to climb the stairs to the second floor, and it made for a very long painful trip.

Every breath sent waves of pain through me and every step jarred my body, but this wasn’t my first rodeo. I grunted and shuddered with each and every step. Alexander patiently walked behind me to make sure I didn’t roll down the staircase.

When I pushed the door open Kimberly stopped mid-step. I saw a moment of shock on her face, quickly replaced by a blank, all business expression. The woman must have been a trauma nurse at one time and her training kicked in. She waved me into the nearest chair, taking stock of the visible damage. When I didn’t immediately respond to the nonverbal order, her expression hardened and she pointed at the chair once more.

Kimberly’s voice carried an edge I’d never heard before. “You need to sit and let me look at you.”

Andrew swung around to stand over me, taking in the damage. “What the hell happened to you?”

Thankfully, Alexander grabbed Andrew’s elbow to pull him out of the way and answered the question. He pulled his mobile out and clicked through a few photos before holding it out to Andrew. “Gavin and Marcus Gray went ten rounds, and Marcus lost.”

Andrew’s shock was complete, his eyes wide, ignoring the phone and focusing on Alexander. He pointed at me and fury filled his voice. “He did this? Where did that son of a bitch slither off to?”

Alexander wisely kept his mouth shut, tapping the top of the phone and forcing Andrew’s eyes onto the screen. Andrew recoiled at the sight of the severed head.

Alexander hooted, mirth in his tone. “I’m happy to say Marcus didn’t make it.”

Andrew took the phone and stared at it a long time before turning his attention to me. “You did this?”

Kimberly, meanwhile, was poking and prodding at my chest. Swinging around, she pushed Andrew out of the way with a grumble, disgust written across her delicate features. “Get the fuck out of my way! You can gossip later, but right now I’ve got a patient to attend to.” She gave Alexander and Andrew a pointed glare. “Unless either of you want to be second and third in line, find somewhere else to be!”

Even the slightest pressure caused my chest to vigorously object, so I kept mostly quiet minus a couple of grunts as she continued her examination. “Think you could ease up a little? I just got a rib out of a lung…I don’t need another.”

She acquiesced to my request, then she grabbed a pair of surgical scissors out of her bag and cut away my shirt. She winced at the burned mess on my chest. “What the hell did you do?” She wheeled on Alexander. “Did you take a goddamn blow torch to him?”

With a weak wave, I pointed at the mark on the back of my right hand. “This isn’t Alexander’s work. It was the denarius.”

He paled and looked down at us. “I don’t know what happened, but it scared the shit out of me. One second he was sitting there bleeding, the next he was on fire and the car filled with the scent of burning flesh.” Alexander’s pallor worsened and I thought he might puke. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Andrew stepped closer, handing the phone to Alexander. This new information had garnered his full attention. He got close enough to get a good look at the blistered and melted skin, but stopped far enough away to not impede Kimberly’s work. “Fascinating,” he mumbled. “The denarius did all that?”

I didn’t understand why he was suddenly so interested. I rolled my shoulders noncommittally. That was a mistake…pain coursed through my body in long nauseating waves. Trying to keep the contents of my stomach off the floor, I tensed and held my breath until it passed. “Thankfully. I may’ve bled out if it hadn’t.”

For a split second I considered telling them about the boney hand that fixed my ribs, and the denarius panicked.
No, that wasn’t my doing.

Then who
? I wondered.

I don’t know, but that information is not for them
.

The denarius was certain on that fact, and who was I to question it further?

Andrew was curious when he turned to Alexander. “How serious were the wounds?”

Alexander didn’t look well, and his voice was low when he spoke. “I’m not sure how Gavin was conscious when I arrived. I’ve seen men die from far less.”

During the conversation, Alexander and Andrew had drifted too close for Kimberly’s liking and she growled. “If you don’t step back I’m going to cut the both of you!”

She pulled an ancient brown vial and a couple of cotton balls from the open bag on the table. Removing the stopper, the room filled with a foul stench as she poured a thick, green ichor onto my chest. Replacing the stopper, she used the cotton balls to smear the near vomit inducing fluid over the charred wound.

The green ooze suddenly started to crackle and bubble. Kimberly fell back in surprise, and my chest felt like it was on fire for the second time in less than an hour. Sickly gray and black smoke rose into the air and the last of the ichor boiled away, leaving my chest covered in a thin layer of ash.

Everyone stood there, dumbfounded. It took nearly a minute before Andrew turned and disappeared, returning quickly with wet washcloths and a towel. Kimberly held out a hesitant hand to take the washcloth before regaining her composure. Once she was fully in control of her body she started wiping the cool cloth against the wound.

The sensation of the cold cloth against the hot skin felt good, and then I realized I wasn’t in pain. Testing a theory, I took a deep breath…nothing. With each stroke, Kimberly revealed the bright pink of new skin. Sure it was in the form of four really nasty jagged scars, but I was healed.

“That’s fucking awesome!” I said, mouth agape.

I’d expected to find satisfaction on Kimberly’s face, but instead she looked confused and perhaps a little frightened. She peered up at me, her voice barely above a whisper. “How do you feel?”

Taking the towel from Andrew, I wiped the rest of the ash away and tentatively leaned forward. My ribs still ached, but it was nothing a hot shower wouldn’t cure. The room was quiet and I craned my neck around to see their stunned faces. “What? I’m fine. Hell, I’m better than fine. I feel great.”

Kimberly tucked the vial away and scrambled to her feet. “You shouldn’t. The salve was meant to speed up the healing process only slightly, fight off infections, and ease the pain.” She gestured at me and her face scrunched up in disbelief. “Nothing like that was supposed to happen.”

“Oh,” was all I could manage. Getting my head on straight, I looked at Alexander. “Think you could give us a minute?”

Alexander was only too happy to comply. Personally, I thought he’d seen enough weirdness and only needed an excuse to leave.

Kimberly kept her distance but I could see curiosity getting the better of her. “That’s just so odd.”

I got to my feet and looked at them. “I’m sure everyone has questions, me included, but if there are no objections I’d like a shower.”

Not hearing any, I went to clean up. Twenty minutes later I was clean, and to my surprise my ribs were no longer an issue. I still hurt, but it was more of a forgettable dull ache. Grabbing a clean set of clothes, I made sure everything was a George original. If I’d been wearing one of his shirts this morning, I wouldn’t have had my chest torn open.

Stopping in the kitchen, I found Isidore and Alexander standing over the counter, whispering. They nearly jumped out of their skins when I popped in. Isidore looked at me, shaking his head. “Do you ever make noise?”

Grunting out a, “Meh.” I craned my neck trying to see what was on the counter. “Occupational hazard.”

Isidore stepped aside to reveal the heaping plate of burgers and grumbled. “Normally I’d tell people to mind themselves so as not to get hurt, but I think I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

Alexander chuckled. “Wisest thing you’ve said in years.”

I suppressed my amusement and tried to do a little damage control along the way. “Ever think I might’ve gotten lucky?”

Isidore snorted. “Please! I’ve seen Marcus. Nobody's that lucky!”

I could see by the looks on their faces there wasn’t a chance in hell of convincing them otherwise. My stomach growled and I pointed at the burgers. “Any chance I could get one of those?”

Isidore thumbed at the table. “Take a seat and I’ll make you one.”

That was an offer I couldn’t pass up. “Thanks.”

Isidore set about making the burger with all the trimmings, allowing me to eat in relative silence as he and Alexander discussed house security. Finishing up, I headed into the living room to find Kimberly and Andrew having a heated discussion at the desk.

Kimberly waved a triumphant hand in my direction. “Do you believe me now?”

Andrew’s eyes fixated on me. “I’m not convinced.”

Kimberly’s mouth fell open in disbelief. “Seriously?”

It couldn’t have been more plain to see that I was the subject of conversation and they were having a serious disagreement on theories. I’d never liked being the center of attention, and I liked it less when people talked behind my back. Strolling over, I gingerly sat in the chair next to Kimberly. “Anyone care to fill me in?”

Irritation covered Kimberly’s face, and glaring at Andrew she waved for him to interject. “Yes, Andrew, please tell Gavin what we’ve been talking about.”

He looked more than a little put out at the suggestion. “I’d like to know how you’re feeling first, if that’s all right?”

Gesturing at my chest, I scowled. “I’m a little sore in places, but otherwise fine.”

Andrew contemplated my words for longer than it took me to speak them. Turning to Kimberly, he shook his head. “If your theory was correct he’d be completely healed by now.” He paused, gaining strength for what must be his defense. “Think about it…the entire grounds are covered in enchantments, which I might add haven’t lost an ounce of their potency since he arrived.”

Kimberly didn’t appear to be convinced, but his words had clearly shaken her confidence. Turning to face me, she pushed herself up in the chair. “But you are feeling significantly better since I applied the ointment?”

“If you mean have I improved since then, the answer is no.” I felt a need to clarify the situation. “All my relief came from the ointment itself. Sure, the hot shower took away the aches, but then again that happens for everyone.”

She deflated at the words. “I see.”

Even with the defeated look on her face I felt like they were pushing me into a corner. “I have no idea what you guys are talking about. Maybe if one of you came out and said what was on your mind I could help.”

Kimberly dug up the courage to speak first. “With everything I’ve seen recently, and after a long discussion with your uncle, I was starting to think that you were a siphon.”

The denarius woke up at the words, and it urged caution.

“What’s a siphon?” I asked.

Andrew glowered at Kimberly. “They’re a myth and nothing to concern yourself about.” His gaze never left Kimberly when he spoke. “There’s never been recorded proof of their existence.”

That was a fucking dodge and not helpful. “That didn’t answer my question.”

Andrew tore his gaze from Kimberly. “A siphon absorbs power from the world around them. They can use any sort of magical energy to heal themselves, and they drain the life from those around them at an astonishing rate.” He turned to Kimberly. “That is if you believe the legends.”

Draining the life out of everyone around me and transforming magic into healing properties. I could definitely check one of those things off the list. But my gut told me that I wasn’t a siphon. I may have some of their traits, but it was obvious even to me that she was wrong. “Granted I may heal quickly when exposed to certain types of magic, but I think we can all agree that I’m not sucking the life out of you. Think about it…if that were the case Heather wouldn’t be getting better.”