Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (37 page)
“Mmmmmm, wait until I telllll everyone I kissed the hunky doctor. Of course I can’t do that…Ryan would be soooo maaaadd. Cause he loves me. He’s so sweet.” She frowned, looking into Dr. Bane’s eyes, “You won’t tell him will yoooou?” she loudly whispered and then hiccupped again.
“No, Cat, I won’t. In fact, we won’t tell anyone, okay? This will be our little secret.”
“Soooooo mannnny secretssss I keeeeeep. I-” Cat’s head fell forward as she passed out. Dr. Bane sighed, pressing numbers on his phone again.
“Carol, it’s me, please meet me on the 2
rd
floor of the hospital. I have a little issue that I need you to help me with. Yes, and bring me a wheelchair. I’m in the temporary blood room. Thanks. And please hurry.” Hanging up the phone he knew in the next few hours he’d have a lot of explaining to do.
Half an hour later Cat was safely buckled into Aldon’s back seat. As Carol took off with the wheelchair, Dr. Bane watched Aldon pull out of the back parking lot, merging into the traffic. Sighing, he made his way back to Matt’s room preparing an explanation for Cat’s absence.
Rachel placed a cool washcloth on Cat’s forehead, and grumbled worriedly at the fact her sixteen-year-old was lying in front of her inebriated. She thought back to when Aldon had called during breakfast.
“Drunk?” Sam had asked after answering the phone and hearing what happened. “But she’s staying in Matt’s room with the others. How did she get drunk? Oh, I see. We’ll see you soon then.”
“What? Cat’s drunk? How?” Rachel exclaimed.
Taylor laughed. “Way to go, Red Freak! Little sis is looking to be grounded for life.”
“Quiet Taylor, Cat didn’t drink on purpose. It seems our little girl forgot to take her pill, and Dr. Bane had to improvise by giving her blood bags. I guess a few of them were tainted. Aldon’s on his way here with Cat. She’s unconscious, but okay,” Sam explained
“She’s gonna have one heck of a hangover though. Hey, does this mean I can drink too?” Taylor asked, trying to look innocent.
“No young man, it does not. This was an accident,” Sam said, and Taylor jumped up to answer the door when the bell chimed through the house.
“Let’s go take care of our little drunkard,” Sam joked, smiling as he grabbed Rachel’s hand, leading her out of the kitchen toward the foyer.
“So my little ones, tell me again of this cloaked figure who has thwarted you for a second time,” Andrei said, leaning back in the chair while crossing his legs with a puzzled expression on his face.
“We have no idea. They come out of nowhere,” Amy complained.
“Out of nowhere?” he asked.
“And they’re really strong too, like super strong!” Becca chimed in.
“Well, girls, it would seem that we have a little issue that needs to be dealt with. But for now, I think we should plan for something a tad bigger, and see if we can’t draw this person out. Yes, Amy, I see your hand is raised, what do you want?”
“I think we need a cow, because cows give us milk, and we really need milk,” she snickered, causing Andrei to roll his eyes.
“Okay, ladies, we shall find you a cow. Has to be a strong one, though. One that’s able to sustain you three.”
“Andrei, I think I know just the perfect person,” Amy’s sinister smile caused Linda’s stomach to churn, dreading who Amy had in mind.
Sitting on the bench just outside her oval bay window, Cat fiddled with the locket her aunt Ròs had given her. As she studied the pictures within, Cat felt a sense of sadness overcome her. “I look just like her,” she said to herself in a reflective tone, tracing the picture of her mother with her index finger.
He looks so regal, and I definitely know where I get my fiery red hair from
, she mused, gazing at her father’s photo. Tears formed in her eyes as Cat clasped the locket shut and clutched it tightly in her hand. Looking up into the night sky at the full moon looming overhead, she tried to ward off the oncoming flow of tears.
Staring down at the locket once more, Cat noticed the Celtic knot on the back of it was now flush with the face, and not raised like before. Examining it further, she found herself turning the symbol one full rotation, trying to reset it. With the Celtic knot back in place, Cat set the locket down on the bench beside her. Standing up, she leaned against the balcony railing, closed her eyes, and let the frigid wind caress her cheeks and tussle her hair. She turned around abruptly when she heard a clanking noise behind her. Cat watched in awe as the locket bounced along the bench. She moved forward and it stopped. As she reached out to pick it up, the locket moved away and began to glow with a faint violet light. “What the heck?” Cat asked, her eyes wide with shock.
The locket suddenly popped open and the violet light shot into the sky. Watching its path, Cat saw the light intersect with a trail of purple smoke making its way toward her house. It seemed like it was coming right at her, but at the last minute switched directions, heading for the widow’s walk at the top of the roof. Cat hurried up the icy ladder, her Ugg boots giving her traction. Reaching the widow’s walk, her eyes met her aunt Ròs’.
“Catherine, Catherine, what’s wrong?” Are you in trouble?!” Ròs asked in a panic, pulling her up onto the roof, and grabbing her in a hug.
“I’m fine. What are you doing here?” Cat’s voice was muffled, being smothered by Ròs.
“Well, you called me!” she replied, pulling Cat away to look at her.
“Wait, I did?”
“The locket, you used it right?”
“I called you with that?” Cat asked.
“I guess I did not explain that properly. Well, you see, it’s enchanted with witch magic. A transportation spell to be exact.” Noticing Cat’s confusion, Ròs said, “It’s a long story.”
“Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be?” Cat joked.
My life keeps getting weirder and weirder.
“You have to be careful with that locket. Its
magics
are very sensitive,” Ròs explained.
“I’m really sorry,” she apologized.
“Oh, it’s okay. Just try not to use it again unless it is a dire emergency,” Ròs said with a laugh.
“Got it,” Cat replied.
“Since I’m here now anyway, how are things? Has anything interesting happened lately?” Ròs asked.
Oh, if only you knew,
Cat thought. “No, not really. Just trying to survive high school,” she chuckled. Cat didn’t want Ròs to know about what was really going on. She didn’t want to be forced to leave the Colvins, her friends, and most of all, Ryan. She knew lying to Ròs wasn’t right, but she was willing to do so in order to not jeopardize her “normal” life more than it already was.
“Survive high school?” Ròs sounded confused.
“Yeah, you know,” Cat began and then realized Ròs was from a different world. “Oh, I guess you don’t. Well, you have your bullies, horrid teachers, and gawd awful homework! Plus, peer pressure and the list goes on,” Cat explained.
“Sounds positively dreadful,” Ròs replied.
“Yeah, so goes the life of a teenager,” she drawled unenthusiastically.
“Well, as long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters,” Ròs stated, putting her hand on Cat’s shoulder.