I noted he had black polish on his nails as he pointed back at Gray. “He can’t see me.”
“Then he needs glasses,” I shot back. “Now, whatever the hell you are, we’re going to have a talk.”
“Not on your life, sister. I think we have what we need.” He winked and took off running.
Not happening. Gray continued to plead with me, but I was confident he would be all right. I took off after the witch, or whatever could pull that kind of magic. I wasn’t really thinking too much about his species as I chased him up the street. He was fast, really fast, but I turned it on. I didn’t question the fact that I’d never run so fast or that I wasn’t even breathing hard as I continued my chase. I sidestepped pedestrians without even thinking. If they even realized I was there, I didn’t notice. All I saw was that black leather jacket trying to get away from me, and I thrilled at the fact that it was getting closer. I was going to catch him.
He crossed a street and I registered in my peripheral vision that a car was coming. I jumped, landed on the hood and sprang forward, not missing a beat. The Goth boy had caught that move and he stopped, his mouth hanging open. He’d finally realized he could run, but I would catch him in the end.
“What are you?” He stood there in the middle of the sidewalk. He didn’t seem to care that people were walking all around him. They didn’t see him there. They altered their paths to avoid him, not one meeting his eyes.
“I was about to ask you the same question.” I steeled myself. I was going to get answers out of him one way or another. “Who are you and why are you testing me? What do you want from me?”
He shook his head, black hair moving around his pale face. He kept his hands at his sides, but I saw a glint of metal. “Damn it. My master’s gonna kill me.”
Then he lifted a gun and shot me. I registered the bullet hitting my chest, but it was weird. It didn’t go completely in and there was a strange hissing sound. I pulled it out and threw it to the ground as a fog started to develop in my head. Even with the fuzziness, I moved forward. I needed to get my hands around him. He was my prey and he was right there. All I had to do was reach out and grab him.
Another shot and another hiss.
I staggered forward, unwilling to give up.
The Goth guy shook his head as I inched ever closer to him. He shot again and this time I was going down. My knees hit the pavement with a painful thud and then I fell forward, not even able to move my arms to brace the fall. I caught a glimpse of the man who’d tricked me and then shot me as he loomed over me.
“God, I hope I didn’t kill you,” he muttered and then he was gone.
Somewhere, as the world was getting darker, I registered the pounding of feet racing toward me and Gray’s desperate voice. He was calling 911, barking orders for assistance.
A warm hand enfolded mine. It was so nice to feel someone, I thought as I started to float. I tried to squeeze his hand so he could maybe keep me tethered to the ground, but I was already flying.
“Hold on, sweetheart,” he said. “Please hold on.”
I was already gone.
* * * *
“Three hours, Gray,” I heard as I started to come out of the fog. I squeezed my hands into fists to get the circulation back in them. I registered that I was lying on a bed. The world seemed way too bright as I opened my eyes. I had to stop myself from shivering and there was an awful antiseptic smell coating my nose. There was the steady hum of several machines and the sound of Jamie’s voice. “She was with you, in your care, for roughly three hours and she’s in the hospital.”
Yep. I was in hell and hell was a hospital.
“Well, I didn’t plan it that way, Jamie.” Gray’s voice sounded ragged, like he’d been yelling for hours and it was going to give out soon. “Do you think I wanted her hurt? I fought like hell.”
“You were supposed to take her to a nice dinner.” Even without seeing Jamie, I could tell his teeth were grinding together as he spoke and his fists were at his sides. “You were supposed to treat her like a lady and be gentle with her. Damn it, you promised me you would be good to her. You were not supposed to get her involved in your little war with dear old Dad.”
“I don’t think it had anything to do with demons,” Gray tried to explain.
“I don’t give a shit who was involved. My sister is in a coma. What are you going to do about it? If you don’t have anyone who can help then I’ll call Nathan and have him bring some of his friends in. We’ll see what they can do.”
“Don’t you dare,” Gray growled.