“I can in Romani. My fa’der, he insisted we learn both Romani and Italian. It’s just English dat I have problems wit’.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you there.”
“I have many, many books in my library that might help as well. You are welcome to use any of them.”
Zeke isn’t nearly as bad as I’d first thought he was. Then again, we’re the only people trying to find his daughter. It gives him a reason to be super nice to us.
“That’s very kind of you,” Alesha murmurs. I’m not sure she means it, though. Witches think of Gypsies as slaves, and Alesha, nice or not, has those same preconceived ideas about Aleric’s people. Racism exists everywhere, it seems, even in the supernatural world. Alex threatened to cut Alesha out of her life if she didn’t accept Luka. Her mom’s working on it.
Zeke stands. “The sooner you can get me the information, the better. I have people coming today who will be able to help.”
“People?” Alesha asks.
“James Malone and his family. James is Dan’s biological father, and he loves Emma Rose as much as Dan does. They’re the only hunters besides Cass willing to help locate my daughter.”
“I’ve dealt with James and his unit in the FBI over the years. He’s good people.”
Zeke doesn’t agree or disagree, just tips his head our way and takes his leave.
Considering Ezekiel Crane is a criminal, I’m guessing the thought of having an FBI agent in his home is not sitting well with him.
“Come, Draga, we will go put toge’der dis list for Monsieur Crane.” Aleric stands with me in his arms and starts toward the path leading to the back deck. I barely have a moment to shout good-bye to Alesha before he’s inside and taking the back stairs to our room.
He’s upset, and there’s only one thing that’s going to relax him enough to get through the next few hours. One thing I am more than happy to help him out with.
He kicks the room door shut and lets me slide down his body as he reaches behind him and locks the door.
Yes, I am more than happy to help him relax.
Emma Rose
Fulsome Sanitarium, MO
The door creaks open, and I look up to see the ghoul who is loyal to Kristoff come in, carrying a McDonald’s bag and a drink. He sets it on the floor then picks up the bucket I’ve been using to relieve myself in. He looks disgusted, but hey, that’s not my fault. They are the ones who have me here. I’m not squatting on the floor if something’s been provided for me.
“You need to eat.” He kicks the bag to me, unwilling to come any closer. I try to remember if I’d hurt him at some point, but everything is blurred together. I’m not even sure how long I’ve been here, honestly. It could be hours, days, or weeks.
And I know it’s Kristoff doing this. He wants me off my game.
Eli comes up behind me, his heat pressed against me. I take comfort in his presence. He hasn’t left since he showed up. He promised not to, and so far, he’s kept that promise.
“I’m not hungry.” I’m starving, actually, but for once my stomach doesn’t give me away by growling.
“I don’t care if you are or not. The more blood Kristoff takes from you, the weaker you’re going to be. He wants to keep you around for a few more days. If you don’t eat, you die, and I’d rather keep my head, thank you.”
So, he’s been charged with keeping me alive. Good to know.
When I don’t move to pick up the bag, he gives me a look meant to make me cower. Only it’s not in me to cower to him. He doesn’t scare me. He’s only a lackey.
“I will shove that burger down your throat.”
“You can try.”
He smiles, and it’s not at all nice. “Oh, I’ll do more than try, little girl. Don’t test me.”
“You won’t kill me.”
“No, I won’t, but that doesn’t mean I won’t hurt you.”
“I guarantee I’ll hurt you more.”
He shakes his head and comes at me. I’m ready for him, though. When his hands reach for me, I duck and sweep my leg at him, hitting him squarely in the knee. It’s the one spot I know that will take down the biggest opponent. Eric taught me that, and Dan reinforced it.
I’m faster than he is, and when he drops, I’m behind him, and his arm is pulled up in the most painful hold I can manage. He struggles, but I yank it up tighter. A distinct crack sounds, and he screams.
I broke his arm.
Holy fudgepops.
I broke his arm.
How did I do that?
“Bravo, pet, bravo.”
I go completely still at the sound of that voice. The voice that scares me worse than anyone or anything.
“He’s not worse than Deleriel.” Eli’s whispered words pull me out of the rabbit hole I’d been perilously close to falling into. “Don’t show him any fear. He feeds off it. Be strong, Hilda. I’m right here with you.”
No, Kristoff isn’t Deleriel, but he’s close. It’s those ice blue eyes of his that cause me the most dread. They’re the eyes of a deranged psychopath. One whose sole purpose is to hurt me.
But Eli’s right. Fear only feeds the monster.
“I told him not to test you, pet.” Kristoff picks up the McDonald’s bag. “Let him loose.”
I drop his arm and take an instinctive step back. Kristoff tosses the bag to me.
“But he is right. You need to eat if you’re going to get through the games I have planned for you tonight. You’ll need your wits about you.”
“Games?”
“Mmmm.” He reaches down and pulls the ghoul up, inspecting the quickly swelling arm. “It’s a clean break. It should heal in a day or two.”
“Can I…will you…” The ghoul licks his lips, and I turn away, disgusted.
“No,” Kristoff snaps. “You brought this on yourself. I told you to leave her alone. You know how dangerous she is, even in her limited state.”
Another fact I file away. I may not have access to my gifts, but apparently my strength is still there. I’ve only ever accessed this type of strength when my demonic side comes out. Interesting.
I sit down on my mattress and open the bag. A Big Mac and three of those little double cheeseburgers are inside. I am hungry, and I feel woozy. Food will help me with that. It’s been a few days since I ate last, I think.
“Eat, Hilda. You need it.”
I unwrap the first little burger and bite into it. Tastes okay. It’s not long before I’m devouring the second one. Kristoff hands me the Coke, and I drink it down greedily.
“There’s something different about you.” Kristoff sits beside me, his eyes assessing. “What is it?”
I shrug. I’m not telling him my Guardian Angel is on my other side. He’d probably find a way to make Eli go away.
“You seem calmer, more confident.”
“I remembered something.”
“What is that, pet?”
“I survived a Fallen Angel.”
“You did. I was very impressed.”
“You’re not worse than he was. I survived him, and I’ll survive you.”