A Gift of the Darkest Magic (5 page)

business, but his talk of a lineage of employment was reminiscent of vampire movies she’d seen.

Thinking about the odd inheritance made her wonder just how many bits of vampire movies or

books were really true.

She bit her lip, worrying it between her teeth. She looked down at the vial she’d kept

warm and hidden in her hands. Clarissa wondered if this truly was the miracle cure she’d been longing for since Matt became ill, or yet another hoax. Could she really have the priceless cure for cancer in her own hands? The blood didn’t look any different from that of a human.

Oh my God, what if this turns him into a vampire?
She’d never asked Lord Drago about the possibility. What if Matt became a bloodthirsty monster? Looking at the vial, she realized she’d take the risk. Monstrous was at least a step above dead, and without it she’d lose him. She wanted to ask Matt for his permission, but she knew the morphine wouldn’t allow him clear

judgment. Explaining vampires wouldn’t be easy either.

Pulling her cellphone out of her purse, she called Caren. The phone rang and she thought

it might go to voicemail, but then her sister answered in a sleepy voice. “Hello.”

“Caren, are you all right?”

“Oh God, is it Matt?” Caren asked quickly, sounding more alert.

“No, I just wanted to check on you. What did you do tonight?”

There was a pause. “I’m really tired. I don’t know, everything is sort of a blur. Were we

supposed to go somewhere tonight? I can’t remember, but I feel like I let you down.”

“No, you’d never let me down. Matt’s hanging on, but I wanted to make sure you were

okay,” Clarissa lied, relieved that her sister was home and fine. She really didn’t remember

anything about vampires, Clarissa could tell.

“I’m fine. I’ll call you when I wake up,” Caren said as she yawned.

“No, I’ll call you when I can. Everything is fine. I love you so much, sis.”

“You’re scaring me. What’s really going on?”

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“Nothing. See you later.” She didn’t add the words “I hope” that hovered on the tip of her

tongue.
Will I ever see you again?

She hung up without letting Caren question her further and thought about Tiffany. Would

the woman wonder how she’d gotten the bite marks on her arm? If they paid her, would she find a roll of cash and wonder where it’d come from, or had Lord Drago stiffed her on the wages as punishment? She’d ask him when she saw him later. The thought of seeing him caused

butterflies to flutter in her stomach. She’d have to return to the lair of a vampire and give him some mysterious gift, but Matt was worth whatever ordeal awaited her.

She dialed home. A very sleepy sounding Marsha answered her call on the last ring.

“Hello.”

“Hi. I have a huge favor to ask you.”

“Are you okay? You don’t sound like yourself.”

“I’m fine, but I’ve run into a bit of a situation. Can you take the girls to school for me in the morning?”

“Sure, but you’re not coming home?” Marsha sounded more awake and very surprised,

and a little disappointed.

“I’m not cheating on Matt, I swear. This problem is unique, but I’d never hurt him.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to get judgey. Yeah, no problem. Are you sure everything is fine?”

“Yes, it is. You’re awesome, thanks,” she whispered, hanging up before she started to

cry.

She made a final call to her mother, who agreed to pick the kids up from school and let

them stay with her for as long as Clarissa needed. Her mother didn’t question her or ask how she was. She just accepted her daughter’s need. When Clarissa hung up she took a deep breath, that small understanding was what really pushed her over the emotional edge and she gave into the

tears she’d been holding back. For the duration of the short ride, Clarissa cried quietly.

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Chapter 5

Franz pulled up to the emergency room entrance; it was the only one still open this late.

He rushed around to get the door for Clarissa. She grabbed her purse and began scooting out of the car. “My Lord was once a very good man. Even as what he is, I have seen far worse than he,”

Franz told her with a look of sympathy on his face as he helped her to stand.

“Thanks,” she mumbled, not sure how she felt about his defense of the vampire causing

her such emotional turmoil.

He pressed a small card into her hand. “This is the number to me, call and I will meet you

here again.”

She nodded and ignored the curious looks she was getting from a pair of EMTs near an

ambulance. Rushing inside with the vial well hidden, she went straight to the elevator that would let her out closest to her husband’s room. She was getting to know the hospital so well, she even had the cafeteria specials memorized. Standing alone in the elevator, she glanced down at the vial, realizing it might be her ticket away from the depressing half-life of existing in the hospital and waiting for her husband to die. Freeing her family from the darkness of coming death was

worth everything. She’d be able to face the vampire lord with courage if this worked.

The elevator dinged and the door opened. She rushed out and hurried to Matt’s room. His

nurse was adjusting the IV bags. She looked at Clarissa with surprise. Clarissa knew how she

must look to the woman, wild-eyed and all dressed up.

“Hi,” she lamely greeted the nurse.

“He’s having a rough night. I’ll send the doctor in to talk to you since you’re here now.”

She hated how worried the nurse sounded. “Thanks. Give me a couple of minutes with

him. I just need to look at him.” Her voice broke and she cried again. She’d fought the grief for so long that it just kept coming to the surface without her permission now.

The woman nodded and gathered her equipment, shutting the door as she left.

When she was sure they were alone, she sat on the edge of the bed. “Honey, can you hear

me?”

His eyes opened just a little and the smallest trace of a smile hovered on his lips. Seeing

the smile constricted her heart painfully.

“You need to drink this for me. Please, it’s going to help you.” She didn’t wait for a reply

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because his eyes had already closed again. Clarissa’s hands shook as she opened the vial and

held his head up slightly. Awkwardly, she poured the blood between his lips, not wasting a drop.

He made a gagging sound and she grabbed some Kleenex off the tray table while she worked on

making him drink. His monitor bleeped and she glanced at the door, terrified of what they’d do if they found her pouring blood down her dying husband’s throat. No one came.

“Please drink,” she whispered. “I love you, Matt. Do this for me.”

Her words must have penetrated the morphine, because he began swallowing. She

breathed a sigh of relief. Only a small amount of the blood ended up on the tissue. She wiped any traces from his lips, wrapped the vial and bloody tissue in more tissues, and then rushed over to the bathroom sink to wash her hands. The bleeping of his monitor stopped and when she

returned, she immediately noticed he lay more peacefully. She pulled a chair close to the bed and took his hand.

Time passed, and she just relished being near him. He looked less pale and the pained

frown he’d worn for weeks had smoothed. Seeing him looking peaceful was a gift in itself.

“Mrs. Blair?”

She squeaked with surprise, she hadn’t even heard the doctor come in. She turned and

noticed that the doctor was looking at the monitors slack jawed.

“I was going to tell you he’s taken a considerable turn for the worst, but seeing his

readings, I’d say I see a large improvement.” The doctor popped his stethoscope in his ears and listened to her husband’s lungs. “I’d like to order some x-rays for the morning. I thought he’d developed pneumonia, but now I don’t hear a single rattle.” Beaming, the doctor went to the

computer affixed to the wall and entered in some information. “I thought I was going to be

telling you this could be it, but it looks like your husband isn’t ready to give up yet.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Thank you, doctor.”

“Don’t thank me yet, we still have to get those x-rays, but his condition has drastically,

miraculously improved in just the last hour. He must’ve really needed some TLC. I’m glad you

came in tonight.”

“When will we know if he’s getting better?”

“You understand, in his condition
better
is subjective. He’s held on longer than most patients I’ve treated in this stage of this type of cancer.”

“I understand.”

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“I am amazed. His color is much better too. Will you be here in the morning?”

“No, I have something that can’t wait, very early. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get here

at all tomorrow. Please call my mother’s number if there’s an emergency.”

“I’ll have the nurse make a note of it. Is everything all right, Mrs. Blair?”

She really wished everyone would stop asking her that question. “Yes, doctor. Thank

you.”

He nodded and left the room. Matt opened his eyes.

“Hi, honey.” She leaned in close to him. She could see he wasn’t completely with it. The

pain medicine definitely had a hold of him.

“Hi,” he murmured. His voice sounded rusty. She hadn’t heard him speak in days.

“I love you.” She fought her tears with every ounce of willpower inside of her. He hated

it when she cried.

“Me too. Feeling better. Long time since I felt okay. What’s up with your hair?”

“What a guy. You get a gold star—sick and drugged and you still notice when your wife

does something new with her hair. I hope they make a Hallmark card for that because you’ve

earned one, buddy!”

“Missed you.” His voice was weak, but she relished the sound.

“I missed you too. You’ve been sleeping when I’ve been here. It’s nice to see your eyes.

Almost forgot how hot you look with your eyes open. You really feel better?” She held her

breath, afraid to hope.

He snorted. “Hot, you need to get your eyes checked. Yeah, but I had a crazy dream just

now. I’m hungry.”

He hadn’t been hungry for weeks; they’d had to start intravenous feedings. “I’ll get the

nurse. What would you like?”

“Steak and eggs.”

“Ha, he jokes. I’m guessing they’ll be a little weird about that order, but I bet you could

get some broth.”

“That sounds good. Tired now. In the morning, tell the nurse.” He yawned and went right

back to sleep. She stood up and hurried to the nurses’ station.

“He said he’s hungry.” She beamed.

“Really?” The nurse sounded amazed.

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“That’s great,” said another nurse.

“He said he wants some broth in the morning.”

The nurse looked skeptical. “If he still wants it, we’ll make sure he has it. What does he

like, beef or chicken?”

“Whichever one is less salty. He hates it when things are too salty.”

The nurse smiled. “I’ll taste-test them myself.”

“Great. I have to go. If anything changes please call my mother’s number.”

The nurse nodded. Clarissa hurried to the elevator before the nurse could ask her why she

requested a different emergency number for contact or if she was all right. She was really getting irritated by the repetition of that particular question.

She took the driver’s card from her pocket and began to punch the number into her

phone. There was no service in the elevator, so the moment the doors opened to the first floor she hit
send
. It was two in the morning and the hospital was deserted. A random janitor gave her a curious look. She ignored the way the man checked out her butt as she passed him. It had been an impossibly long day.

“Hello, Franz. I’m ready to go. Thanks.” She hung up.

The car was waiting at the same door she’d come in. The driver hurried to open the door

and a new pair of EMTs gave her curious looks. She did feel a little bit like a movie star, having a driver open the door—a horror movie star. In the span of twelve hours, she’d been told

vampires exist, come to believe in their actual existence, traded some random gift for her

husband’s life with one, and now was about to return to an unliving, unbreathing real-life

vampire. Maybe the hospital messed up and gave her the morphine, because she felt totally out of her mind. The engine purred quietly and Franz remained silent. She yawned and rested her

head against the backseat. Clarissa was asleep the moment she closed her eyes.

Gasping, she sat up; the car jerking slightly as it stopped had roused her. “What…”

“You are at the Full Moon Club, Mrs. Blair,” Franz said quietly.

“Sorry. Did I sleep?”

He smiled. “Yes, and you snored quite charmingly.”

She rolled her eyes. “Wow, that’s the nicest lie anyone has ever told me.”

The man chuckled. “I like you, Mrs. Blair. I hope to see you tomorrow.”

The way he phrased the statement made her wonder if she’d be alive to see him again.
I

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hope to see you tomorrow.
There was an underlying sadness in his voice. She wanted to ask him if he knew something about her future she didn’t, but she knew he wouldn’t narc on his

bloodthirsty employer, so she remained quiet.

Franz opened her door and she stood; the evening air felt cool and fresh against her skin.

Clarissa took a deep breath. When Franz took her elbow, she fought the urge to struggle. He

looked at her sympathetically and the look pissed her off.

“I can walk,” she announced.