My Savior(55)

Human medicine could kill you!

"Guys, my arm hurts." Keelan said, wiggling in the seat.

Darian walked over to see Keelan's hand was starting to turn a dark, purply-red color.

"Is it supposed to do that?" Darian asked Aiden who shrugged.

"Okay guys, this shit hurts, get it off!" Keelan said pulling on his arm trying to extricate it from the cuff.

"Just press the release button," Bill called out.

Colton looked around and pressed the button. He looked down at Keelan. "Well?"

"It's still squeezing!" Keelan yelled.

"I will go get Bart." Gavriel volunteered and headed to the front.

"Get it off me!" Keelan screamed hysterically.

"What do we have here?" Bart asked.

"We can't get his arm out of this contraption." Aiden pointed to Keelan.

"Did ya press the button?"

"Yes," Colton said pressing the button again.

Bart rubbed his chin. "Well, ain't this a pickle." He turned toward the pharmacy. "I told you this darn thing was broke," he yelled.

"I can't feel my fingers," Keelan whimpered.

Gavriel turned to Aiden. "We have a sword in the car."

Keelan's eyes widened and he began to struggle even harder to get free.

Bart turned to Gavriel. "A real sword?" His eyes were bright with curiosity making him seem more like a little boy than a grizzled old man.

Gavriel winked.

"You don't really need two arms, do you Kee?" Colton joked.

"Yes I do!" Keelan yelled back.

"We could try cutting the cuff off," Aiden suggested.

Keelan shook his head. "You'll cut my arm off!"

"Don't be silly Keelan. If we cut your arm off, blood will get everywhere." Aiden chastised.

Keelan had just started to hyperventilate when Darian had an idea. He stepped forward and leaned in close to his friend. "You're a witch who has mastered air; can you deflate the cuff," he asked.

Seconds later, Keelan yanked his arm out of the blue cuff and slid off the small bench to sit on the floor.

"I hate going to the store. I hate going to the store. I hate going to the store..." Keelan repeated over and over.

"Hey, blondie!" A cantankerous voice called. Darian turned to see Bill waving him over. "Give this to him. It will calm him down. If you tell anyone I gave it to you, I'll deny it. I normally wouldn't do this, but it is my fault for not getting that thing fixed." Bill dropped a small pill in his hand.

"Will this cause hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, fever...?"

Bill rolled his eyes. "Just give it to him." He turned and disappeared again.

Darian looked around. He spotted a display of bottled water and grabbed one. He walked over to Keelan and knelt down. "Here you go Keelan. This will help." He handed him the small pill and the opened bottle of water. Keelan didn't even question what it was; he just downed it.

"How's the arm?" Aiden asked.

Keelan looked up, his eyes a little less wild. "I can move it." He extended his arm and rotated it.

Aiden turned to Darian. "Did you get Amelia's medicine?"

"Yes, though I have concerns about giving it to her." Darian frowned.

"Trust Rheia, she wouldn't give her anything that would be harmful," Colton said.

"I say, is the boy all right?" Bart said pointing to Keelan who had slumped over on one side, mouth open and drooling.

"Keelan!" Colton knelt down and checked for a pulse.

Bart turned to the pharmacy counter. "What'd ya give the boy?" he demanded.

"Just a little something to calm his nerves, though it shouldn't have kicked in so soon, it usually takes between thirty and forty minutes to get that sort of reaction." Bill said peering over the counter.

"Pick up him, Colton. Let's get him home," Aiden said.

Colton pulled Keelan into a sitting position and wrapped the witch's arm around his neck. "Come on kiddo, let's go home."

"I try so hard, but nothing changes," Keelan murmured incoherently before passing out again.

"I know, I know." Colton nodded and stood. "We'll get you home and then you can go beddy-bye."

"He is out cold." Gavriel observed.

"The only thing that could contribute to this type of reaction is possible sleep deprivation. Has he been sleeping?" Bill asked.

Or it could be that it affects witches quicker than humans. Darian shook his head. Trust Keelan to find out the hard way.

The men looked at each other. "He did say at breakfast that he was having a hard time sleeping lately," Gavriel said.

"Then I'm glad he's getting some sleep now," Aiden said before turning to Bill. "You have my thanks."

Bill waved off Aiden's thanks. "He should be fine by morning."